Today Armenia Celebrates the 101st Anniversary of the First Republic

Armenia and the Armenian diaspora celebrate on May 28 the 101st anniversary of the establishment of the First Republic of Armenia and the historic victory in the Battle of Sardarapat, also known as Republic Day.

On May 28, 1918, the victory in the fierce life-and-death battles fought in Qarakilisa, Bash-Aparan, and Sardarapat restored the independence of the Armenian people, which had been lost for nearly nine centuries.

By defeating the Turkish army at Sardarapat, Armenian forces managed to halt the Turkish invasion of the South Caucasus and save Armenia from complete destruction.

The Republic of Armenia lasted for only two years until December 2, 1920. At that time, troops from the 11th Red Army entered Yerevan, and the republic was Sovietized.

The opening of the Sardarapat Memorial took place on the 50th anniversary of the historic heroic battles fought against the Turkish invaders from May 22 to 28, 1918, at the very site where the Battle of Sardarapat occurred.