During the rally today in Yerevan’s Freedom Square to focus attention on the rights of displaced Artsakh residents, former Artsakh Minister of Culture Lernik Hovhannisyan criticized the Armenian government for agreeing to drop all claims against Azerbaijan in the European Court of Human Rights.

 “Artsakh is the treasury of Armenian culture. Today, Azerbaijan is committing cultural genocide in Artsakh. Armenia, by withdrawing its claims against Azerbaijan from the European Court of Human Rights, will give Azerbaijan a green light,” Hovhannisyan told rallygoers.

At the end of the rally, the organizers will present a several-point demand letter on behalf of Artsakh residents to the Armenian government. Further steps will be decided depending on the government’s response.

Until the government responds, rally organizers and supporters will set up tents  in Freedom Square for a scheduled sit-in protest.

In their letter, rally organizers call on the Armenian government to “Proactively, consistently and responsibly implement all possible legal, political and diplomatic steps to ensure the collective return of the people of Artsakh to their homeland and a safe, dignified, stable and self-determined life there.”

They also demand stable and dignified living conditions for the people of Artsakh now residing in Armenia and employment programs for those with no work.

They also call on the Armenian government to “Refrain from the extremely dangerous approach of withdrawing complaints filed against Azerbaijan in international courts, which would grossly and directly violate the rights of the people of Artsakh and numerous other Armenians without the existence of any alternative and adequate mechanism for their protection and restoration.”