Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) President Arayik Harutyunyan announced Monday evening that he is going to stage a sit-in and join the ongoing sit-ins in capital Stepanakert's Renaissance Square.

Harutyunyan said that he is resorting to this extreme step, because the situation in Artsakh is dire and there is nothing left to do because the international community only makes kind words and does not take any effective steps to resolve the situation.

"This is an additional effort and alarm to attract the practical attention of the international community, to urge the international community to fulfill its obligations, to impel the Armenian people, and all our friends to active and immediate actions," Harutyunyan said.

He noted that with this sit-in, they expect that Armenia, Russia, the US, France, the EU, the UN Security Council, and other authorized bodies will refrain from encouraging further aggressive, criminal steps by Azerbaijan and will fulfill their obligations towards the proper implementation of the tripartite statement of November 9, 2020, orders of the UN International Court of Justice, and some other international acts and agreements.

Also, Arayik Harutyunyan pointed to some of the positions of Artsakh residents.

"First: We are fighting for the exercise, recognition, and protection of our inalienable right to a dignified life and self-determination in our own homeland, and this right is natural and not subject to negotiation and concession.

“Second: In the conditions of the systemic policy of ethnic hatred and discrimination against the Armenian people ruling in Azerbaijan, especially the Armenians of Artsakh are facing a real threat of physical destruction, the clear proofs of which are the crimes against humanity manifested by the 2020 war and the current blockade [of Artsakh by Azerbaijan]. In such conditions, the recognition and protection of our right to external self-determination is an irreplaceable way not only to control one's own destiny, but also to guarantee the physical existence of an entire indigenous people.

“Third: Considering the criminal methods and consequences of the war of 2020 as unacceptable, at the same time we are forced to take into account the new reality formed by the tripartite statement of November 9, 2020, hoping that at least this will ensure a certain stable environment for the safe and dignified existence of our people in their homeland for a long time. Nonetheless, during this period, we had a series of military aggressions by Azerbaijan, and two years after the end of the war, a blockade, then a complete siege [by Azerbaijan], violating not only the well-known norms of international law, but also the military provisions of the tripartite statement, in terms of Kashatagh, Lachin corridor, guarantees of the Russian peacekeeping contingent [in Artsakh], and other aspects.

“Fourth: At the same time, we have always been open to discuss with the Azerbaijani side all the components of the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict and the concerns of the parties. We have always shown ourselves as a constructive party, realizing our vulnerable situation, but also striving to preserve our vital rights and interests. But Azerbaijan never wanted to have a real dialogue with us, encouraged by international impunity, choosing the path of growing repression and subjugation," the Artsakh President said.

According to Harutyunyan, throughout the blockade, the Artsakh authorities hoped that various players of the international community would lift the blockade and prevent its further deepening, but, instead, the people of Artsakh have heard only kind words from them, and no practical implementation of neither the tripartite statement nor the orders of the UN International Court of Justice nor the decisions of the ECtHR, nor calls of international organizations, individual countries, and other players.

"Throughout this period, the authorities of the Republic of Artsakh have taken many measures both on the international platforms and on the ground to ensure proper resistance to the Azerbaijani aggressions. The main part of them is not visible, taking into account various sensitive circumstances. It is also thanks to these efforts that we have been able to face the heavy challenges of the blockade for so long."