Artsakh and the Right of Return: From Political Theater to Responsible Action

“Return” rally in Yerevan reaffirms Armenian commitment to Artsakh

YEREVAN, Sept. 2—On the 34th anniversary of Artsakh’s declaration of independence, Yerevan’s Freedom Square filled with thousands of Armenians, united under the banner of “Return” to reaffirm their unwavering commitment to their homeland. The rally, organized by the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF), called for the defense of Artsakh’s collective rights, the release of prisoners of war and the demonstration of national unity amid ongoing p…

Artsakh and the Right of Return: From Political Theater to Responsible Action

BY RAFFY ARDHALDJIAN The Republic of Artsakh was proclaimed by the people of Nagorno-Karabakh on September 2, 1991. Thirty-four years later, the date continues to resonate, marked this year both by remembrance and by opposition rallies in Yerevan calling for a ‘return to Artsakh.’ These rallies reflect the nation’s enduring bond with Artsakh, even as the harder work of statecraft lies ahead. For Armenians, the phrase “right of return” is not an …