Artsakh ombudsman responds to Pashinyan's remarks

Artsakh Human Rights Defender Gegham Stepanyan has criticized Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s statement that the "Karabakh movement should not continue", insisting on the right of Artsakh's forcibly displaced Armenians to repatriation.

Speaking to reporters ahead of a rally in Yerevan’s Liberty Square in support of the Artsakh Armenians' rights on Saturday, Stepanyan condemned the violations of their socio-economic rights over the past year and a half. He warned that the termination or reduction of social support programs would have devastating consequences, pushing many Artsakh Armenians into poverty, homelessness and forced emigration.

"The people must stand up, know their rights and be ready to fight for them. We are grateful to those in Armenia who have stood with us and are fighting for our rights. Our united struggle is rooted in the fundamental rights of the Artsakh people," Stepanyan stated.

He rejected claims that the fate of Artsakh can be decided without the will and voice of its people.

"The people of Artsakh have the right to return to their homeland and live in freedom and security. We will never give up this right. Those who wish to abandon this cause may do so, but we cannot betray ourselves. For us, closing the Artsakh chapter would mean losing the very meaning of our existence. We will continue our struggle to keep the issue of Artsakh alive and defend our rightful claim," the ombudsman added.