Aghdam Route Is a Path to Sumgayit: Stepanakert Responds to Bayramov

For us, the proposed Aghdam-Stepanakert route by Azerbaijan is a red line. This was stated in a press release by the Artsakh Movement for Security and Development.

The announcement reads:

“On July 14, a rally called urgently by the country's authorities in Stepanakert could have become a unique opportunity to confront the escalating challenges in Artsakh, which have reached the brink of irretrievability, and to continue the fight for the right to self-determination with dignity. The public movement 'Artsakh Movement for Security and Development' has repeatedly voiced its formula for struggle during these crucial days for the country and has expressed its willingness to stand by everyone who carries a banner stating 'Free, Safe, Happy, and Armenian Artsakh.'

Participants of the movement were among the first to respond to the call for a popular rally; however, we must regretfully note the disproportion between the actual state of the country and the messages delivered during the rally. We find it unacceptable that in this responsible situation, the President of the Republic of Artsakh did not address the people, and his silence at such a critical moment was unjustifiable. A call to the rally was directed at everyone except the Armenian government, which has effectively recognized Artsakh as part of Azerbaijan.

No message was issued in anticipation of the negotiations scheduled for tomorrow in Brussels. We condemn that no words were spoken in support of the Hayakve process, which defends Artsakh's rights. We do not believe that a sincere conversation took place with the people until the end. We find it unacceptable to sow sentiments leading to despair; we faced much more complicated situations in the 1990s, and we succeeded due to unwavering unity.

In this context, we declare that for us, the proposed Aghdam-Stepanakert route by Azerbaijan is a red line, and we will not allow it to be crossed because it is a historically established fact that the Aghdam road leads to Sumgayit.”