Speaker of Artsakh’s National Assembly Artur Tovmasyan released the following statement on the 34th anniversary of the pogroms against Armenians in Sumgait:

"Dear compatriots,

34 years have passed since the Sumgait pogroms,

Many peoples and nations around the world have suffered and continue to suffer from genocide, and for the Armenian people it’s about the past and the present, but never the future.

Azerbaijan, an artificial state born in early 20th century, has pursued an anti-Armenian mission since its formation, as evidenced by the 1988 Sumgait pogroms and the recurrent wars.

Azerbaijan’s sole purpose and obsession is to achieve the final occupation of Artsakh and the annihilation of the ethnic people.

Impunity and intolerance pushed the Azerbaijani authorities to commit new genocidal acts.

Armenophobia reached its peak in the September 2020 war unleashed by Azerbaijan, in particular in the form of inhuman treatment of the population of Artsakh and Armenian captives, murders, torture and cultural genocide.

Strongly condemning the Sumgait crime and Azerbaijan's long-standing policy of Armenophobia, we call on the civilized world to take effective steps to prevent the genocidal policy of Azerbaijan against the Artsakh Armenians.

We need to get out of this difficult situation, continue to live on our ancestral land, and demand that our rights be respected.

My homage to the memory of all our compatriots who fell victim to the Azerbaijani violence and all fallen heroes of the Artsakh wars.”