Today, on 28 April, the official presentation of the opening of “Return to Kashatagh” NGO took place. The organization was founded in December 2020 and received state registration in January 2021.

“For 30 years, since the resettlement, people have rebuilt the almost destroyed Kashatagh. The objective of the organization is to protect the interests of Kashatagh people in the created situation, both the legal and social issues and what is the most important, to bring together the people of Kashatagh,” Ms Karine Movsesyan, Director of “Return to Kasahatag” NGO said in an interview with Iravaban.net.

She thanked Mr. Karen Zadoyan, the President of the Armenian Lawyers’ Association, for his continued support in establishing the “Return to Kashatagh” NGO, developing a strategic plan, and developing organizational capacity. She also expressed gratitude to the “Pyunik” Charitable Foundation in the face of benefactor Gabriel Jmeberjian for the provided support.

Mr. Karen Zadoyan, President of the Armenian Lawyers’ Association, made a welcoming speech at the event, noting that it is very important to create a system of resistance in Armenia, and with the foundation of the NGO “Return to Kashatag” NGO one of the important nodes of this resistance system has been created. “As you already know, the directions of the non-governmental organization are already coordinated, covering the range from the legal and political issues, solving rights protection issues, to the problems of international protection of historical and cultural values,” Karen Zadoyan said.

The representatives of the people of Kashatagh delivered speeches as well. “I have spent 16 years of my life in Kashatagh. I I started campaigns to familiarize myself with Kashatagh in anew. When the war began, we returned here and our house was left in Berdzor. About a month ago I learned about the “Return to Kashatagh” NGO. Our objective is to present Kashatagh to those who did not have the opportunity to be in Kashatagh and to get acquainted with it. We want everyone to know the value of Artsakh, because many people here, in Yerevan, do not really grasp its value and importance for us. I really hope that we will return and rebuild Kashatogh. I remember when we were little, we had some goals related to Berdzor: for example, the playground was not good, we dreamed of rebuilding it, but, unfortunately, we did not manage to do it,” Mane Adamyan from Kashatagh says.

The schoolchildren born in Kashatagh performed during the event, introducing Armenian culture through music, recitation and dance.

It should be added that “Return to Kashatagh”, “De-occupation of Hadrut”, “De-occupation of Shushi”, “Return to Karvachar”, “Return to Dizak”, “Kumayri” Non-Governmental Organizations of Artsakh Armenians, “Harmony” Shushi women non-governmental organization and a number of other structures were and are established with the support of the Armenian Lawyers’ Association.

Material and photos by Hasmik Sargsyan