Armenians to Pashinyan: Stop your claims, we don't want to fight! Nothing but peace!

Seventy Armenian citizens have addressed an open letter to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan with a request not to step back from the peaceful agenda with Azerbaijan and forget about the territorial issues. The essence of the appeal boils down to one thing: we have had enough of war, and we want peace.

Caliber.Az presents the letter and the list of its signatories.

"According to the list of public holidays of the Republic of Armenia, May 9 is celebrated as the "Holiday of Victory and Peace". We, the undersigned citizens of Armenia, interpret the advice of the day as a clear demand for peace, because peace is victory, and "victory" not culminated with peace is defeat. We oppose the land claims to the demand for peace, we insist that there is no alternative to peace. And this is not a "noose around the neck of the loser" but the free will of the people of Armenia to live under a peaceful sky, ratified at the 2021 extraordinary elections.

We regret to state that the leaders of the non-violent, bloodless people's revolution of 2018, when they came to power, joined the ranks of "traditional" war parties and fell into the trap set by the past. At the same time, we cannot ignore the efforts of the current government to bring the country out of the deadlock of isolation and ethnic animosity, unblock and settle relations with its neighbours - especially amid the current extremely difficult geopolitical situation, when state sovereignty is vulnerable and Armenia faces serious security threats.

We believe that there is nothing left for the war parties in Armenia to do: the vicious circle of coups seeking justification in speculation on the Karabakh issue is over. So they have nothing to do but try to seize power by provoking a final civil war. It is clear that none of the self-proclaimed "saviours of the nation" are going to war with Azerbaijan, let alone Turkey. Hence, the only available target for "Armenian retaliation" these days is the "inner Turk": ordinary Armenian citizens like us, who chose not to die for their homeland, but to live in their country - free, dignified and happy. We break the silence of thousands of citizens who think like us, but are disgusted by the label of "Turk" and "traitor to the nation," and demand that the legitimate authorities of the Republic of Armenia keep their promise and resolve the Karabakh conflict with a peace treaty.

Sharing the pain and sorrow of our people who suffered the catastrophe of war, and all the justified fears of our civil society colleagues, we demand nothing but peace. We will celebrate the victory of peace!" reads the appeal, which was signed by the following:

Arpi Manusyan, researcher

Anton Ivchenko, a citizen of the Republic of Armenia

Armen Ohanyan, writer

Nvard Margaryan, human rights defender and researcher

Mariam Khalatyan, sociologist, researcher

Gohar Shahnazaryan, sociologist, teacher

Arman Grigoryan, artist

Armine Markosyan, linguist

Shahaneh Khachatryan, journalist

Anna Nikoghosyan, researcher

Naneh Khachatryan, researcher

Lara Aharonyan, human rights defender

Anoush Poghosyan, psychologist

Tatev Yesayan, graphic designer

Lusine Papanyan, Turkologist

Evia Hovhannisyan, social anthropologist

Hovhannes Azoyan, actor

Gohar Khachatryan, a citizen of the Republic of Armenia

Agapi Ivanyan, economist

Lilit Avetisyan, psychologist, teacher

Nikolay Hovhannisyan, human rights expert

Hovhannes Margaryan, artist

Artur Petrosyan, artist

Laura Babayan, business analyst

Kristina Achemyan, programmer

Tigran Khachatryan, artist

Araks Asatryan, artist

Elmira Petrosyan, manager

Elena Babayan, SMM specialist

Vahagn Sargsyan, R&D expert

Kristina Soloyan, a citizen of the Republic of Armenia

Mamikon Hovsepyan, human rights defender

Ripsime Kizogyan, sociologist

Armine Harutyunyan, social worker

Vahan Durinyan, R&D expert

Tigran Sargsyan, architect

Vahram Aghasyan, artist

Knar Khudoyan, journalist

Arpi Mkhitaryan, activist

Mariam Karagyozyan, economist

Zara Harutyunyan, journalist

Yuri Manvelyan, journalist

Tigran Amiryan, linguist

Sona Simonyan

Avetik Karagulyan, mathematician

Hrayr Manukyan, a citizen of the Republic of Armenia

Levon Hounanyan, public figure

Laura Manukyan, cultural worker

Marianna Eghiazaryan, lawyer

Khachatur Mkrtchyan, accountant

Lilit Saribekyan, dance teacher

Michael Kotanjyan, musician

Lilit Ghazaryan, housewife

Stella Hounanyan, obstetrician

Sevak Kirakosyan, free time teacher

Hrayr Savzyan, a citizen of the Republic of Armenia

Hasmik Petrosyan, lawyer

Anahit Baghdasaryan, a citizen of the Republic of Armenia

Vardan Dzhaloyan, art critic

Karen Tonoyan, a citizen of the Republic of Armenia

Naira Mnatsakanyan

Gevorg Keyan

Shoghik Khachatryan, quality control specialist

Emin Ohanjanyan

Armen Harutyunyan, a citizen of the Republic of Armenia

Volodya Hakobyan, journalist

Anahit Krischyan, psychotherapist

Shushanna Tevanyan, a citizen of the Republic of Armenia

Ani Sakhlyan

Shagik Matevosyan, specialist in international law.