Today in Stepanakert/Khankendi, the de-facto capital of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh region, several tens of thousands of people attended a demonstration to show their support for the region's independence from Azerbaijan. The protests were sparked by the situation on the Lachin road which remains partly blocked by Russian peacekeepers and Azerbaijani ecological activists who are demanding to stop illegal exploiting of natural resources in Karabakh by Armenian companies.
The de-facto Prime Minister of Nagorno-Karabakh, Ruben Vardanyan, declared that "We have three options: integrate with Azerbaijan, leave or fight. I made my decision on September 2nd, I am here, I fight and will not yield to Azerbaijan’s demands".
However, the response in Armenia itself was relatively muted. Armenian public television ignored the event and didn’t air it live, causing criticism against the broadcaster and the government.
First Lady Anna Hakobyan made a resonating statement in which she criticized the organizers of the rally in Karabakh for using children as instruments for their political goals.
Azerbaijani media sources have also weighed in on the demonstration, asserting that it was organized with administrative resources and protesters were bussed in & given $30 for attending the rally. As yet no evidence has been provided to back up these claims.
The protest rally lasted for about two hours. It is unclear what outcome this rally will have for the situation on the Lachin Corridor, an important road connecting Armenia to Nagorno-Karabakh, or what other demonstrations may take place in the future.
