Many residents of Askeran and Martakert could not come and join the nationwide movement. But today our brothers and sisters in Martakert and Martuni presented public demands to the Russian peacekeeping forces stationed in those cities, to their command, to open the lifeline. Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) Minister of State Gurgen Nersisyan stated this during Friday’s protest being held outside the headquarters of the Russian peacekeepers in Artsakh.

"Today, Artsakh is not under a blockade as a whole; now Artsakh is divided into four parts under a blockade: Martakert region, Askeran region, Martuni region, and Stepanakert and Shushi regions. The problems that exist today, those regions will not even have the opportunity to establish contact with the [Artsakh] capital [Stepanakert], in just hours or days later," Nersisyan added.

The nationwide movement started in Artsakh Friday morning.

Thousands of Artsakh residents assembled at Renaissance Square of capital Stepanakert. Artsakh President Arayik Harutyunyan also participated in the rally.

Artsakh Minister of State Gurgen Nersisyan on Thursday announced the start of this movement.

Later, former Minister of State Ruben Vardanyan issued a video message and announced that he was joining the movement.

The objective of this movement is to achieve the unblocking of the Lachin corridor, the lifeline of Artsakh, which Azerbaijan has blocked.