1) The idea of the reality of the restoration of Western Armenia as a state arose in the early 90s, in the ranks of the defenders of Artsakh. One of the main inspirers of the idea of awakening and revival was the founder of the Liberation Army Leonid Azgaldyan (born November 23, 1942, Tbilisi – died June 21, 1992, Martakert, Artsakh). The idea found a response in the ranks of fighters and intellectuals, who before the war were members of various Western Armenian communities and non-partisan patriotic unions.
The basis for the restoration of Western Armenia as a state was the fact that it is a state of continuity of the continuity of the state of Armenia of the 20s of the 20th century, recognized on the basis of a number of international documents. After the end of the war in Artsakh, patriots carried out work to prepare and create a future base – an organization of Armenians of Western Armenia, descendants of those expelled and who survived the Genocide, living in different parts of the world. Thus, the National Council of Armenians of Western Armenia was created.
2) The basis for the re-establishment of Western Armenia as a state was the fact that it is a continuation state of the State of Armenia of the 1918 – 1920s, recognized on the basis of a number of international documents:
- Decree of the Government of Russia (Council of People’s Commissars of Russia) “On Turkish Armenia” (On Western Armenia) dated January 11, 1918;
- Decision of the Supreme Council of the Union States during the Paris Conference on the recognition of the de facto independence of the State of Armenia dated January 19, 1920;
- Decision of the Supreme Council of the Union States on the recognition de jure of the independence of the State of Armenia dated May 11, 1920;
- Discussion of the mandate of Armenia, held in the US Senate May 29 – June 1, 1920, meaning that the United States de facto recognized the right and title of the Armenian state in relation to the Armenian territories, thereby invalidating the right and title of the Ottoman Empire in relation to these territories;
- Declaration of independence of Armenian Cilicia dated August 4, 1920;
- The Sevres Peace Treaty (Articles 88-93 of which concern the State of Armenia) dated August 10, 1920;
- The Arbitral Award of the 28th US President Woodrow Wilson, dated November 22, 1920, on the establishment of the state border between Turkey and Armenia, on the landing borders of Armenia to the sea and on the demilitarization of Turkish territories adjacent to the Armenian border.
3) Declaration “On the Right of Self-Determination of Armenians in Western Armenia” adopted in December 17, 2004․ Declaration “On the Process of Forming the Government of the Government of Western Armenia” adopted on February 4, 2011.
4) On the basis of the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Convention on the Rights and Duties of States (Montevideo Convention), the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the institute of national identity and citizenship of Armenians of Western Armenia was formed, on the basis of which the legal and political foundations of the Republic of Western Armenia (the state of Armenia) and its state structures were formed.
In accordance with Article 21 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Declaration of the National Council of Armenians of Western Armenia “On the Right to Self-Determination of Armenians of Western Armenia”, Shushi, dated December 17, 2004, the Declaration “On the Beginning of the Formation of the Government of Western Armenia in Exile” dated February 4, 2011 and the Law “On the State Structure of the Republic of Western Armenia (State of Armenia), the Status of the National Assembly (Parliament) of Western Armenia and the Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly (Parliament) of Western Armenia” dated January 21, 2014, starting from 2013, the Republic of Western Armenia (State of Armenia) has formed absolutely legitimate bodies of state power – the National Assembly (Parliament), the Government and the institution of the presidency;
5) From November 22 to 30, 2013, for the first time in the world, elections of deputies of the National Assembly (Parliament) of Western Armenia of the 1st convocation were held by direct electronic voting via the Internet, which were conducted under universal and equal suffrage, by free and secret ballot. The elections were held in 41 countries, in which 17,155 voters – registered citizens of the Republic of Western Armenia took part and voted, 64 deputies of the National Assembly (Parliament) of Western Armenia were elected.
On January 18, 2014, at the 1st session of the National Assembly (Parliament) of Western Armenia of the 1st convocation, the mandates of the deputies of the Parliament of Western Armenia were approved, the Chairman of the National Assembly (Parliament) of Western Armenia, his deputies were elected, as well as 13 standing committees of the Parliament were formed and the chairmen of the standing committees of the National Assembly (Parliament) of Western Armenia were elected.
On January 20, 2014, at the 1st session of the National Assembly (Parliament) of Western Armenia of the 1st convocation, the President of the Republic of Western Armenia was elected, the Government of the Republic of Western Armenia in exile was formed and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Western Armenia was approved.
The Chairman of the National Council of Western Armenia Armenak Abrahamyan was elected President of the Republic of Western Armenia, the active participant and organizer of the latest armed liberation struggle of the Armenian people, public and political figure Tigran Pashabezyan was approved as Prime Minister of the Republic of Western Armenia, the major figure of the Armenian diaspora, active participant of the national liberation struggle Armen Ter-Sargsyan was elected Chairman of the National Assembly (Parliament) of Western Armenia.
6) On June 11, 2017, by the decision of the 5th session of the 1st convocation of the National Assembly (Parliament) of Western Armenia, the powers of the President of the Republic of Western Armenia Armenak Abrahamyan were terminated for gross violations of the state laws of the Republic of Western Armenia and an attempt to usurp power.
On June 11, 2017, by the decision of the 5th session of the 1st convocation of the National Assembly (Parliament) of Western Armenia, an active participant in the national liberation war in Artsakh, deputy of the National Assembly (Parliament) of Western Armenia Radik Khamoyan was elected President of the Republic of Western Armenia.
7) From September 1 to 5, 2018, the elections of the National Assembly (Parliament) of Western Armenia of the 2nd convocation were held, in which 51,505 voters – registered citizens of the Republic of Western Armenia from 47 countries of the world took part, and 101 deputies of the National Assembly (Parliament) of Western Armenia were elected according to a single list.
On September 27, 2018, at the 1st session of the National Assembly (Parliament) of Western Armenia of the 2nd convocation, the mandates of the newly elected deputies of the Parliament of Western Armenia were approved, the Chairman of the National Assembly (Parliament) of Western Armenia, his deputies were elected, as well as 16 standing committees of the Parliament were formed and the chairmen of the standing committees of the National Assembly (Parliament) of Western Armenia were elected.
On September 28, 2018, at the 1st session of the National Assembly (Parliament) of Western Armenia of the 2nd convocation, the President of the Republic of Western Armenia was elected, the Government was formed and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Western Armenia was approved.
Radik Khamoyan was elected as the President of the Republic of Western Armenia, Tigran Pashabezyan was approved as the Prime Minister of the Republic of Western Armenia, Armen Ter-Sargsyan was elected as the Chairman of the National Assembly (Parliament) of Western Armenia.
8) From August 29 to September 3, 2023, elections to the National Assembly (Parliament) of Western Armenia of the 3rd convocation were held, in which 63,724 voters – registered citizens of the Republic of Western Armenia from 53 countries of the world took part, and 135 deputies of the National Assembly (Parliament) of Western Armenia were elected according to a single list.
The elected deputies come from 30 regions and provinces of Western Armenia.
On September 23, 2023, at the 1st session of the National Assembly (Parliament) of Western Armenia of the 3rd convocation, the mandates of the newly elected deputies of the Parliament of Western Armenia were approved, the Chairman of the National Assembly (Parliament) of Western Armenia, his deputies were elected, as well as 17 standing committees of the Parliament were formed and the chairmen of the standing committees of the National Assembly (Parliament) of Western Armenia were elected.
On September 24, 2023, at the 1st session of the National Assembly (Parliament) of Western Armenia of the 3rd convocation, the President of the Republic of Western Armenia was elected, the Government was formed and the Prime Minister and the Secretary of the Security Council of the Republic of Western Armenia were approved.
Nobel Prize in Economics and Nobel Peace Prize nominee, member of the National Assembly (Parliament) of Western Armenia, academician, doctor of economic sciences, professor Martik Gasparyan was elected President of the Republic of Western Armenia, Tigran Pashabezyan was approved as Prime Minister of the Republic of Western Armenia, Armen Ter-Sargsyan was elected Chairman of the National Assembly (Parliament) of Western Armenia, Radik Khamoyan was approved as Secretary of the Security Council of the Republic of Western Armenia.
Press Service of the National Assembly (Parliament) of Western Armenia
September 25, 2023
