It Has to Be Said

Three years ago today, on September 27, Azerbaijan launched a catastrophic war against Artsakh, leaving thousands dead and swathes of territory captured. Three years on, the world is witnessing the mass exodus of the indigenous Armenian population of Artsakh.

A news story that was supposed to be a stand-up, an on-site narration laying out the facts, describing the situation, a crisis, a national calamity, an ethnic cleansing as it unfolds…

Baku does not want to end the humanitarian catastrophe it precipitated by blockading the Lachin Corridor. Its intent is to ethnically cleanse Artsakh of its indigenous Armenian population that has lived and flourished on that land for millennia.

Fifteen soldiers died today in Armenia. Another three were wounded, two of whom are in critical condition. They were not killed by enemy fire. They were simply trying to stay warm.

There’s a sense of powerlessness among the Armenian people surrounded by two states—Azerbaijan and Turkey—whose sole intention appears to be our annihilation. But we are not powerless if we remain vigilant, rational and resolute.

Today on Army Day, Armenian soldiers continue to protect our fragile borders in difficult and sometimes dismal conditions and now, more than ever, fundamental reforms of the Armed Forces is of paramount importance.

After a bitter election campaign, three political forces are poised to enter parliament. What they do and how they behave will determine the future of the country.

A Military Trophy Park-Museum dedicated to Azerbaijan’s military victory over Artsakh was inaugurated in Baku. It is a gruesome display that includes hundreds of helmets of Armenian soldiers killed in battle and grossly exaggerated life-size figures of dead and dying captives.

The defeat in Artsakh was a profound loss on multiple levels. The actions taken today, will impact the future of the Armenian nation.

For over a century, almost every generation has experienced a disruption of continuity, security and safety, resulting in a cycle of upheaval, writes Maria Titizian.