Ex-president defends Artsakh people's right to return

Former Artsakh President Samvel Shahramanyan has reiterated that the right of displaced Artsakh Armenians to return to their homeland remains a pressing issue that cannot be abandoned.

“We have the right to go back to our homes, to the graves of our loved ones and to our sacred sites. This is not a closed subject for us,” Shahramanyan told reporters at Yerablur on Tuesday.

He stressed that the key question now is how such a return could be achieved, pointing to discussions in the Swiss parliament and possible support from other international actors.

He also opposed the dissolution of the OSCE Minsk Group but acknowledged that forced displacement occurred even during its period of activity. “We hope new mechanisms will be established,” the ex-president added.