Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II has said that more than a century after the Armenian Genocide, Artsakh was depopulated through new genocidal actions.
In a message marking the Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide victims, he noted that April 24 is a day of vow, intertwined with the claims of the worldwide Armenian people, free from hostility and hatred.
“Today in Armenia and across the Diaspora we commemorate the memory of our holy martyrs of the Armenian Genocide carried out in the Ottoman Empire, who became immortal, keeping alive in their souls love for Christ and for the homeland.
April 24 symbolically encapsulates the collective suffering of our people, in which are concentrated the memories of one and a half million martyred Armenians, our nation deprived of its homeland and scattered, our monasteries and churches subjected to cultural destruction, and our devastated settlements. Yet that tragedy did not break the spirit of our nation. Our people survived the genocide, revived life everywhere, and restored Armenian statehood.
April 24 is a day of vow, intertwined with the claims of our worldwide Armenian people, free from hostility and hatred, aimed at restoring justice and truth and preventing the denial of the genocide.
A century after the catastrophic events of the genocide, when it seemed such horrific crimes belonged to the past, unfortunately, Artsakh was depopulated through new genocidal actions, and more than 120,000 Armenians of Artsakh were forcibly displaced.
In the face of this grave situation and existing threats, the sacrifice of our martyrs obliges us to strengthen our unity and solidarity and reinforce Armenian statehood. Indeed, it is through nationwide unity that we will be able to advance efforts toward universal recognition of the Armenian Genocide and make progress in initiatives for national development and a peaceful and secure life.
Let us pray and ask that, through the intercession of our martyred saints, the heavenly gifts of peace and the mercy and love of our Lord Jesus Christ be bestowed upon the whole world, our homeland and our people, now and always. Amen,” the message said.
On September 19, 2023, Azerbaijan launched a large-scale attack on Artsakh, subjecting the territory to mass shelling. A day later, local authorities accepted a ceasefire proposal by Russian peacekeepers, agreeing to Baku’s terms, including disarmament and dissolution. The assault left 223 dead, including 20 civilians, among them six minors. From September 24, forced displacement began, with over 100,000 people fleeing to Armenia. According to some data, only about 20 Armenians remained in Artsakh, most of whom later left.
