Azerbaijan's Attack Leaves Artsakh Facing Serious Challenges, Says Ruben Vardanyan

Former Artsakh State Minister Ruben Vardanyan made a post on his Facebook page stating, "Artsakh is currently facing extremely serious challenges, and we have no other path than to confront them with dignity. In this difficult situation, I find the promotion of divisive agendas and various vague formulations unacceptable, as I am more than convinced that we can, we are capable, and we have enough strength to preserve Artsakh, passing on to our generations a SAFE, FREE, DIGNIFIED, ARMENIAN ARTSAKH.

The task of leaders should be to unite the people around the idea and our ONLY objective, to inspire them, and to instill faith and confidence in our own abilities since it is hard to defeat a people that resists with spirit and will. It was exactly that spirit and will that urged our boys to give a worthy response to the Azerbaijani terrorist actions on March 5.

Yesterday marked the seventh day since the death of our fallen heroes. I mourn their loss, but I believe that at their wake and burial, the atmosphere should prioritize not despair and grief, but unity and becoming a strong fist. They would demand that of us.

We have not sufficiently appreciated our living heroes, who swiftly responded to the Azerbaijani terrorism, stood behind the police, and delivered a proper counterattack against the adversary, showing us how we should manifest ourselves. We also did not value the actions of the Russian peacekeepers, who provided first aid to our boys and ceased the fire, as well as communicated precise information about the events, which was extremely important in this situation. Instead, they even became the target of anti-Russian actions.

The idea, will, and spirit are much stronger than any weapon and threat," wrote Ruben Vardanyan.