VANADZOR, ARMENIA – Responding to the call to action “Defending Artsakh, let’s defend Armenia”–voiced on April 5 in Freedom Square–to place the flag of the Artsakh Republic in the cities of Armenia, more than 300 people from Vanadzor were in the city’s “Artsakh Park” today.
The event, which was initiated within the framework of the All-Armenian Resistance Movement, was held under patriotic inspiring music. Speaking at the event were Armenia Member of Parliament Armenuhi Kyureghyan, Vanadzor City Council “Homeland” faction leader Vahe Dokhoyan, and artist Hrachuhi Loretsyan, who recited poetry.
Below we present the speech of Armenuhi Kyureghyan, translated from Armenian to English. Kyureghyan is a member of the ARF Lori regional structure, and MP of the “Hayastan” faction in the National Assembly.
Dear Citizens of Vanadzor!
Today, it is obvious that the current authorities, deceiving the people, came to power with false promises. They promised a more prosperous life, but it turned out to be so only for themselves. They promised a more prosperous life, but the people are becoming more and more burdened by the debt they are feeling the impact of inflation on their families more and more. They promised democracy, he [Pashinyan] said that the people will significantly influence the decision-making on their own lives, but today the results of the election of the people of Vanadzor are declared invalid [by the authorities], they want to decide who will be the mayor of Vanadzor. Listen, Pashinyan, the people of Vanadzor have elected their city council; no one has the right to ignore the choice of the people of Vanadzor.
They promised peace, ‘Artsakh is Armenia period’, but they brought war, brought martyrs and handed over 75% of Artsakh to the enemy.
Dear Citizens of Vanadzor!
We have gathered here today, in Artsakh Square in Vanadzor, to stand the flag of the Artsakh Republic, thus proving that we are the owners of Artsakh, that we are the owners of Armenia, we are the owners of Armenia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
We place the flag of the Artsakh Republic in Artsakh Park to prove that the people of Vanadzor are united with the Armenian people in determining the fate of Artsakh. The people of Vanadzor are well aware that the issue of Armenia’s existence depends on the fate of Artsakh; every day the people of Vanadzor do not believe in the thesis of false peace at the cost of new concessions. By placing this flag, the people of Vanadzor prove that the claims that the Armenian people are not interested in Artsakh are false.
We are here today to declare that this government has no legitimate right to make concessions on behalf of the nation. The people of Vanadzor and the Armenian people did not give him that mandate.
The installation of the Artsakh flag in this square has its meaning. This is where the people of Vanadzor started the Karabakh movement, this is where the people of Vanadzor fought for Artsakh, the flag of Artsakh, for the tricolor, for unity, for tomorrow’s victory. And from here we confirm again. The people of Vanadzor stand up to lead Artsakh together with the Armenian people, the people of Vanadzor stand up to lead Armenia together with the Armenian people, the people of Vanadzor stand up to defend our homeland together with the Armenian people.
Vanadzor, stand up, Artsakh, stand up, Armenia, stand up.
