Ceremonial unveiling of Call of Artsakh memorial takes place in  Yerablur 

ArmInfo. Today, September 2, the opening ceremony of the "Call of Artsakh" memorial dedicated to the heroes who fell in the Artsakh wars, as well as those killed during the tragic explosion at the fuel depot during the exodus of  the entire Artsakh population in 2023, took place in the "Yerablur"  military pantheon.

As part of the ceremony, the khachkars of the memorial were lit,  which was conducted by the head of the Artsakh Diocese of the  Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC), Bishop Vrtanes Abrahamyan. The  ceremony was also attended by Artsakh President Samvel Shahramanyan  and other Artsakh and Armenian officials, as well as parents and  relatives of the fallen heroes.

The head of the Artsakh Diocese of the AAC Vrtanes Abrahamyan noted  that the khachkars are a symbol of national pain and pride. "Every  day, fallen heroes whisper in our ears that the Homeland is more than  just a visible reality. And it was with this vision that they went to  the battlefield. No country has ever received freedom, independence  and statehood as a gift, but only acquired it through national unity  and struggle. This is an undeniable reality. Artsakh is a living  spirit that continues to exist inside every Armenian," the bishop  noted.

In turn, the 5th President of Artsakh Samvel Shahramanyan recalled  that the heroes laid down their lives so that today the Armenian  people could have the Republic of Armenia, the Republic of Artsakh,  and so that today could be celebrated as the Independence Day of the  Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. "However, today we find ourselves in an  unfair reality. These people laid down their lives and fought for  Artsakh, but, unfortunately, today their loved ones are considered  refugees in their own Homeland," the politician noted with regret.

Shahramanyan emphasized that the memorial will become a sanctuary and  a reminder that the Artsakh people must always maintain their faith  in collective return. "I am sure that one day this day will come,"  the 5th President of Artsakh assured.

And the former head of the National Security Service of Armenia Artur  Vanetsyan recalled that in 1991 the Armenian people proved that there  is no other alternative to a dignified and safe life in the Homeland.   However, he noted with regret that the events of recent years have  formed a new reality in which the Armenian people are offered a false  peace. "And at the same time, they are consigning to oblivion our  fallen heroes, the struggle of our people. In addition, the Armenian  authorities are trying to convince us that the page of Artsakh is  closed. But I am sure that it is simply impossible to close this page  of the history of the Armenian people. Artsakh was, is and will be.  We must not lose hope and must not forget," the former head of the  National Security Service of Armenia said.

Vanetsyan also recalled that today there are still Armenian prisoners  of war in the Azerbaijani prison and stressed that in these realities  the struggle of the Armenian people should be for real peace, for  real justice and for the protection of sovereignty and independence.  It should be noted that the Armenian authorities tried to hinder the  events on the occasion of the anniversary of Artsakh's independence,  first by turning off the lights in the memorial area, then by  prohibiting loudspeakers from being brought to the ceremony. 

However, these actions did not prevent the solemn opening ceremony of  the memorial. And "Call of Artsakh" will become a place of pilgrimage  for the residents of Artsakh who miss the graves of their relatives  buried in Nagorno-Karabakh.