On October 1, Armenia observed a national day of prayer as nearly all 120,000 residents of Nagorno-Karabakh fled the region, triggering both refugee and political crises.
Armenia Marks National Day Of Prayer For Nagorno-Karabakh
Armenians pray in the city of Vagharshapat, Armenia, on October 1. Armenia observed a national day of prayer with Armenians around the world marking the event with peaceful protests of the upcoming dissolution of Nagorno-Karabakh, which Armenians refer to as Artsakh.
Armenians participate in the day of prayer at St. Trdat Church in Vagharshapat.
In a briefing on October 1, Armenia's presidential press secretary, Nazeli Baghdasarian, said 100,483 people had already arrived in Armenia from Nagorno-Karabakh, which had a population of about 120,000 before Azerbaijan's September 19 offensive. Following two days of fighting in the disputed region, ethnic Armenian separatist forces surrendered after a decades-long struggle.
An Armenian woman embraces a monk during the ceremony.
On September 19, Azerbaijan launched a military operation in Nagorno-Karabakh following a months-long blockade of the breakaway territory.
Armenians pray in Vagharshapat.
Armenia worshippers pray for refugees who fled from Nagorno-Karabakh.
The exodus from the breakaway region has fueled a political crisis in Yerevan. For several days demonstrators called for Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian to resign over what they called inadequate government support for ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Armenian women take part in the day of prayers.
Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II (right) leads the prayers.
Armenian Health Minister Anahit Avanesian said some people, including older adults, had died while on the road to Armenia as they were “exhausted due to malnutrition, left without even taking medicine with them, and were on the road for more than 40 hours.”
An Armenian woman prays for Nagorno-Karabakh refugees.