A triple holiday – Victory at the Great Patriotic War, creation of the NKR Defense Army, and Shushi Liberation Day – was celebrated in the Nagorno Karabakh Republic.
NKR first and second Presidents Robert Kocharian and Arkady Ghukasian, Armenia's delegation, with RA National Assembly Chairman Hovik Abrahamian at the head, participated in the festivities. The delegation comprised deputies, ministers, and other officials.
A ceremony of putting wreaths and flowers on the monuments to those deceased at the Great Patriotic and Karabakh Wars took place. A saint liturgy was served in the Ghazanchetsots Church in the town of Shushi.
On the occasion of the holiday, NKR President Bako Sahakian sent a congratulation message, in which he, in particular, noted: “The heroic example of our compatriots at the Great Patriotic War inspired us and called for new victories. The NKR Defense Army was developed and strengthened at the Artsakh liberation struggle, and one of the glorious pages of the Armenian people's history was written with the blood of our motherland’s brave sons. The liberation of Shushi revived the spirit and belief of Armenians in their own strength».
Within the festive events, a grand meeting took place at the Officers' Palace in the NKR capital town of Stepanakert. During the meeting, the NKR President handed corresponding awards to some participants of the Great Patriotic War and Artsakh Liberation Struggle, as well as servicemen of the NKR Defense Army and individuals who had made their considerable contribution to the Republic's development.
Festive columns of servicemen marched along the streets of Stepanakert. The basic festivities took place in the Revival Central Square and at the republican stadium, where a grand concert with the participation of artists from Armenia took place.
The festivities were completed with fireworks.
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