Karabakh liberation movement marks 25th anniversary

February 19-20, 1988, saw the start of the Karabakh liberation movement.On February 20, 1988, the Nagorno-Karabakh Council of Deputies applied to the Supreme Councils of Soviet Azerbaijan and Armenia for a decision on secession of Nagorno-Karabakh from Azerbaijan and its integration with Armenia.The first political rally was held in Theater Square in Yerevan.Gagik Ginosyan, a Nagorno-Karabakh war veteran, recalls: "On February 20 morning we began gathering."The first participants' slogans were "Unification!" and "Lenin, party, Gorbachev!"A few days later, such well-known figures as Viktor Hambartsumyan, Silva Kaputikyan, Sero Khanzadyan and Sos Sargsyan were speaking at the rallies in Theater Square.The Karabakh committee was formed in March 1988, with branches in Armenia's regions.Armen Mazmanyan, Rector of Yerevan State Institute of Theater and Cinema, told Tert.am that Levon Ter-Petrosyan was the first to join the Karabakh committee and bring a statement of solidarity by the staff of the Institute of Ancient Manuscripts (Matenadaran)."There was an atmosphere of spiritual struggle, perfect mutual understanding, respect and unity," Mr Mazmanyan said.   Read more... (171 words)

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