December 10 marks the 22nd anniversary of the national Referendum in the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, which served as a public endorsement of the political status of the newly-formed NKR as the nearly all eligible Artsakh voters (98.9%) voted for an “independent state acting on its own authority to decide forms of co-operation with other states and communities”.

More than a decade later, on the same day in 2006, Artsakh people reaffirmed their commitment to live in a free and independent state by adopting Artsakh’s main law – Constitution of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, which consolidated all basic principles of state sovereignty and determined a new stage in republic's development.

Conducted in full compliance with international norms and acting legislation, the referenda represent pillars of Artsakh's independent statehood and mark key stages of continued democratic development.

On the occasion, NKR President Bako Sahakyan issued a congratulatory address: “December 10 is significant date for the Artsakh people due to important state events, which have been serving as a basis and guideline for our further development,” Sahakyan said. “In 1991 Artsakh chose once and for all the path of building an independent democratic state and 15 years later reconfirmed that historic decision with the basic state law - the Constitution.”

“Committed to democratic norms and requirements, guided by universal principles and values protecting human rights and freedoms, we passed a difficult way and achieved significant success. However, we still have much to do. The rule of law must become a way of life for our society. Only in this way can we build a powerful and developed country,” Sahakyan stressed.