The activity of “De-Occupation of Shushi” non-governmental organization was launched on 8 May. This organization was established to work on solving the problem of de-occupation of the city of Shushi, Karin Tak village, as well as other areas of Shushi region.

Mr. Karen Zadoyan, the President of the Armenian Lawyers’ Association delivered a speech at the opening ceremony to the NGO, congratulating on the establishment of the structure.

“I thank the founders and the leadership of the organization for choosing 8 May as the day of the official presentation of the foundation of the organization. The day is symbolic and inspiring, because on 8 May, 1992, more than 70 years after the occupation of Shushi, the operation to liberate Shushi was launched under the leadership of legendary commander Arkady Ter-Tadevosyan, which was crowned with a victorious result: the de-occupation of Shushi.

Unfortunately, the Armenian Shushi is in captivity again and with the establishment of “De-Occupation of Shushi” NGO, on this symbolic day, again a message is sent saying that

• Armenian Shushi is occupied again,
• The process of legal-political demands for the de-occupation of Shushi has resumed.

A few words about the initiative.

As you already know, “De-Օccupation of Hadrut”, “De-Occupation of Shushi”, “Return to Dizak”, “Return to Kashatagh”, “Return to Karvachar”,  “Kumayri” of Artsakh Armenians Harmony” Shushi Women Non-governmental organizations were already founded by our compatriots forcibly displaced after the Artsakh war in 2020. In addition a number of other organizations are in the process of founding.

With the establishment of the above-mentioned public organizations, a system of resistance with a common agenda, has been created:

• Raising the legal and political issues of de-occupation of the occupied parts of Artsakh, raising the legal-political issues of the population, and including the issue in the agendas of international and national competent structures,
• International legal protection of Armenian spiritual, cultural and historical heritage in the occupied territories of Artsakh;
• Protection of the rights of our forcibly displaced compatriots.

All the above-mentioned non-governmental organizations are separate sovereign nodes of the resistance system, which are aimed at defining and implementing a common agenda of resistance. “Shushi De-Occupation” and the other newly established non-governmental organizations are a truly sovereign, strategic organization focused on the needs of their beneficiaries. Structures that have an inclusive strategy with in-depth analysis of the situation, vision of the future, mission and values, specific goals, objectives, actions and clear definition of expected results.

I believe that under the joint agenda of this resistance, all the Armenian-centered, pro-Armenian and demanding forces of Armenia, Artsakh and Diaspora should unite under the common agenda of this resistance. The common agenda of resistance requires consolidation of potential and efforts, not exhaustion. In other words. There is simply no alternative to a common resistance agenda.

“Taking an advantage of this opportunity, I call on all political forces that have applied for participation in the upcoming parliamentary elections to include in their programs; provisions on recognizing the right of Artsakh Armenians to self-determination, as well as issuing from it the provision of recognition the status of Artsakh, ensuring the security of Artsakh Armenians, and clear actions to protect the rights of the forcibly displaced Armenians of Artsakh.,” Karen Zadoyan said.

Notably, the “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 organizations and a number of other structures were and are established with the support of the Armenian Lawyers’ Association.

Photo by Armenpress.am