The Rights Protection Council of Artsakh Armenians has issued a statement urging the public not to lose hope and to be ready for a consistent and determined struggle “for the rights and just demands of us all.”

The statement notes that the Armenian government has not responded adequately to the demands voiced during the March 29 rally.

“The Rights Protection Council of Artsakh Armenians, based on the one-week timeframe announced during the March 29 rally and the developments since, declares the following:

1.The Armenian government has failed to properly respond to the protest demands, holding only very limited discussions with our representatives. Furthermore, it submitted a written response with partial comments on the five-point list of demands, which mostly do not align with our vision. The only practical proposal they offered was to establish expert groups to develop certain solutions.

2.Considering the trust granted by the wider public and the expectations placed upon the Rights Council, we are announcing the following next steps in our struggle:

2.1. We are initiating a broad mobilization, calling on all concerned civic and political actors from Artsakh, Armenia, and the diaspora to unite around our proposed agenda and support this nationwide movement. Those interested may approach our headquarters tent on Freedom Square, where future actions will be jointly discussed.

2.2. Based on public consultations and mobilization efforts up until April 15, we will announce the date and location of our next large-scale rally, which will be followed by specific mass actions.

2.3. During this time, we will organize local protests and awareness-raising gatherings near various institutions and locations to present our demands and related concerns.

We urge all our compatriots not to lose heart and to remain ready for consistent and resolute struggle for the rights and fair demands of us all. We believe that the demands we have raised concern the entire Armenian people and expect everyone’s support, regardless of place of residence or origin. Together—for our rights,” the statement reads.

On April 3, during a meeting at the government building, Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Khachatryan informed representatives of the Rights Council that a return to the “40+10” support program is not planned. Following the meeting, Council representatives emphasized their intention to continue the struggle, stating that “40+10 has no alternative.”