Expert: The defeated authorities` position on normalizing relations with the enemy should not affect the rights of Artsakh refugees

ArmInfo. The Armenian authorities' position on normalizing relations with Azerbaijan should not affect the rights of displaced residents of Artsakh. Political scientist Tigran Dumikyan made this statement in connection with the 35th anniversary of Artsakh's declaration of independence.

He emphasized that September 2 will remain in the memory of the Armenian people and will take its rightful place, despite the Armenian authorities' attempts to consign this issue and this historical date to oblivion.

The expert further recalled that before the 44-day war of 2020, there were 228 formed communities in the Republic of Artsakh, including 11 urban ones.

"Imagine, 228 prosperous communities were surrendered to the enemy." "Moreover, we are talking about established communities, since there were many more settlements, over 300," he noted.

Noting the sensitivity of this topic, he called for attention to the inhumane social conditions in which the people of Artsakh, driven from their homes, find themselves today.

"Today, three years after the exodus of Armenians from Artsakh, the majority of our more than 100,000 compatriots are still struggling to rebuild their lives from scratch. Their problems are not only social: they also have a difficult psychological and humanitarian component," he noted.

According to Dumikyan, the defeated authorities' stance on normalizing relations with the enemy should not affect the rights of the deported residents of Artsakh and their ability to live a dignified life in their homeland. He noted that they are already trying to get back on their feet, and often, instead of receiving support, they remain unnoticed. According to him, as a result, some Artsakh residents are often forced to leave Armenia.

"Are there mistakes? Of course. But these mistakes can be corrected, and it's never too late. And it doesn't matter how much time has passed since the dearmenization of Artsakh," Dumikyan added.

Exactly 35 years ago, on September 2, 1991, the Declaration on the Proclamation of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic was adopted at a joint session of the Nagorno-Karabakh Regional and Shahumyan District Councils of People's Deputies. The people of Artsakh, in the independence referendum of December 10, 1991, and in the constitutional referendums of December 10, 2006 and February 20, 2017, expressed their determination to build and strengthen their statehood based on democratic norms. 99.89% of citizens (108,615 people) who participated in the referendum answered affirmatively to this question. In September 2023, Artsakh was de-Armenianized following its violent seizure by Azerbaijan.