On December 10, 1991, just a few days before the official collapse of the Soviet Union, a referendum, monitored by numerous international observers, took place in the Nagorno Karabakh Republic. The overwhelming majority of the voters – 99.89% - declared for the full independence from Azerbaijan.
At the December 28 parliamentary elections, following the referendum, the NKR Parliament was elected, which formed the first Government. So, in the conditions of total blockade and lasting military aggression by Azerbaijan, the top leading bodies of our state were established.
The NKR state independence is the highest value for the people of Artsakh. Though currently the international community takes the NKR as a de-facto independent state and an essential factor of regional security, appeals are sounded to turn back the time, to return to the past, from which we are divided by a whole generation of young people who have never seen despotism, discrimination and violence, which their parents underwent in Azerbaijan.
Nobody should have any illusions - there is no return to the past.
* Disclaimer: NKR Office does not necessarily
share views of these writers
or news organizations.
