According to tradition, the ruling elite of Armenia and the Nagorno Karabakh (NKR; Artsakh) is at the Sardarapat Memorial of Armenia on Thursday, May 28, to mark the First Republic Day of Armenia.

The 97th anniversary of the May victories and the establishment of the First Republic of Armenia are celebrated at the memorial (PHOTOS).

The Armenian News-NEWS.am reporter informed from the location that Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, government members, ruling Republican Party MPs, NKR Prime Minister Arayik Harutyunyan, NKR Defense Minister and Defense Army Commander Movses Hakobyan, Yerkrapah (Defender of the Land) Volunteer Union members, members of the clergy, and foreign diplomats accredited in Armenia have visited the memorial on this day.

At this time, President Serzh Sargsyan is participating in the traditional award ceremony at the Memorial Complex of Sardarapat Battle, National Museum of Armenian Ethnography and History of Liberation Struggle.

Armenia celebrates First Republic Day on May 28.

In May 1918, the Armenian regular military forces and volunteers defeated the Turkish troops, and prevented the latter’s invasion of Yerevan, the capital city of Armenia.

This triumph enabled the Armenian people to restore their statehood, which was lost centuries ago.

It was 97 years ago on this day in Tbilisi, the capital city of Georgia, that the Armenian National Council declared the independence of Armenia and the establishment of the First Republic of Armenia.

The May 28 celebrations in Armenia are traditionally held at Sardarapat Memorial, which eternalizes the memory of the Armenian heroes who prevented a Turkish invasion of Armenia back in 1918.

Unfortunately, however, the first independent Republic of Armenia had a short life. The country lost its independence on December 2, 1920, when the 11th Red Army of Soviet Russia invaded Armenia.