NKR residents celebrate Victory Day, 23rd anniversary of Shushi liberation, and Defence Army Day

On May 9, the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) celebrated three traditional holidays at once, including the 70^th anniversary of Victory in World War II, the Day of the Defence Army, and the 23^rd anniversary of the liberation of the town of Shushi. The holidays were marked by memorable events, concerts, and exhibitions.

On May 9, 1992, the Armenian armed forces entered the Azerbaijani-controlled side of the town of Shushi, from where, according to the Armenian side, Stepanakert was permanently shelled since the beginning of the war. On May 12, the Armenian forces entered the town of Lachin, and thereby Nagorno-Karabakh ceased to be an enclave within Azerbaijan and got direct access to Armenia through the Lachin corridor. The date of May 9 is the official day of the creation of the Defence Army of the NKR.

According to David Mikaelyan, a staff member of the press service of the City Mayor's Office, in the morning of May 9, columns of soldiers solemnly marched through the streets of Stepanakert, and after that, the official delegations of the NKR and Armenia laid flowers at the memorial complex in memory of fallen warriors. In the afternoon, the central square of Revival hosted cultural and sports activities, which ended with a festive concert and fireworks.

According to Samvel Avanesyan, the Minister of Labour and Social Security of the NKR, veterans of World War II will be paid a one-time financial assistance in connection with the holidays.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.