Artsakh Leaders Mark War Anniversary, Call for Return
The Region in Brief
On the sixth anniversary of the September 27, 2020 war, Artsakh National Assembly acting speaker Gagik Baghunts issued a statement connecting the conflict to the subsequent displacement of the region's Armenian population. Baghunts cited lack of accountability after 2020 as contributing to blockades, renewed military action, and forced displacement.
Displaced Artsakh leadership identified three priorities: protecting Armenian cultural heritage, securing the release of Armenian prisoners held by Azerbaijan, and clarifying the fate of missing persons. Baghunts maintained that a lasting peace settlement must restore fundamental rights and allow "dignified, safe and collective return" to Artsakh under international guarantees.
Meanwhile in Armenia, the government faced criticism for limited public commemoration of the war anniversary. State television aired an entertainment concert on September 27, drawing widespread backlash. The broadcaster later apologized, calling the programming decision a "mistake."
