The Karabakh Movement: Part II
THE BEGINNING OF THE KARABAKH MOVEMENT
The Armenians of Artsakh, believing in the new “restructuring” policy announced by the party, started a struggle for reunification with the motherland, Armenia, through the constitutional way. From February 13, 1988, mass demonstrations were held in Stepanakert, the regional centre, with the participation of several tens of thousands of people. On February 20, the 20th convocation session of the Regional Soviet of the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region, in accordance with the Constitution of the country, adopted a decision to apply to the Supreme Soviets of the Azerbaijan SSR, the Armenian SSR and the USSR to withdraw the region from Azerbaijan and include it in Armenia. A great wave of mass demonstrations of solidarity with the Armenians of Artsakh began in Armenia and the Diaspora. Multi-thousand rallies were organized in Karabakh, the capital, and in various cities of the republic. In February 1988, an organizing committee was created under the chairmanship of Igor Muradyan, which was called the “Karabakh” committee from the following days, and its membership was later expanded.
On February 26, 1988, Catholicos of All Armenians Vazgen I made a speech at the rally in Freedom Square. The rally was exceptional in terms of the number of participants. Obviously, the people understood the historicity of the moment: “If we don’t do it now, it will be too late later.” The spirit of unification and consolidation was awakened. During multi-thousand rallies and demonstrations, there were no public disturbances; people treated each other with emphasized care as a sign of unanimity and solidarity around a common national issue.
The political leadership of the USSR adopted a negative position towards the movement from the beginning. The leadership called the rallies in Artsakh and Armenia “provocative,” “extremist,” “a demand of a group of nationalists.” M. Gorbachev’s appeal addressed to the “Armenian and Azerbaijani peoples” was broadcast on Armenian and Azerbaijani television and other media: “We are not in favor of avoiding the open discussion of different ideas and proposals, but it should be done in a calm, democratic process and within the legal framework…” The General Secretary promised to discuss the issue at the upcoming plenum dedicated to national issues.
The trumpet
During the rally on February 21, 1988, the trumpet sounded for the first time, accompanied by which the protesters gathered in the courtyard of the Opera House moved to Baghramyan avenue. The trumpeter was Ashot Mirzoyan, who had no idea that the trumpet, which he found in the basement of the Philharmonic concert hall in 1978 as an item unsuitable for use, would become a symbol signaling the start of rallies.
