The Republic of Armenia today, 21 September, marks the 29th anniversary of its independence. On this day 29 years ago, the Armenian people said their decisive “yes” to Armenia’s independence through a referendum. The absolute majority of Armenia’s adult population answered in the affirmative to the question “Do you agree that the Republic of Armenia should be a democratic, independent state outside the USSR?”. Two days later, on 23 September, the country’s Supreme Council proclaimed Armenia an independent, sovereign republic.
The “founding” of this most important holiday in Armenia’s national calendar was preceded by 23 August 1990, the day on which the process of establishing independent statehood was set in motion. At its first session, Armenia’s newly elected Supreme Council adopted the “Declaration of Independence of Armenia”. With this, the republic’s parliament signalled the start of the process of establishing independent statehood. Immediately after the adoption of the declaration, on 24 August, the Supreme Council of the Armenian SSR decided to rename the “Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic” the Republic of Armenia, and to consider the sitting Supreme Council of the twelfth convocation the Supreme Council of the first convocation of the Republic of Armenia.
With the adoption of the declaration, a new era began in the life of the Armenian people, and the construction of the third republic began in Armenia’s history. The result was that only the Constitution and laws of the Republic of Armenia operate on Armenia’s territory. The bearer of Armenian statehood is the people of the Republic of Armenia. Citizenship of the Republic of Armenia is established for all citizens residing on the territory of the Republic of Armenia. The Armenian diaspora abroad has the right to citizenship of the Republic of Armenia.
The first Constitution of the newly independent Armenia was adopted on 5 July 1995 by popular referendum. The current Constitution was adopted on 27 November 2005, again by popular referendum. The flag of the Republic of Armenia is the tricolour; the coat of arms of the newly independent Armenia is the coat of arms of the First Republic of Armenia (1918-1920), whose authors are the architect Alexander Tamanian and the painter Hagop Kodjoyan. Armenia’s anthem is also the anthem of the First Republic of Armenia. The author of the anthem’s words is Mikael Nalbandian; the music was composed by Parsegh Ganachian.
21 September is a day of national pride: the Armenian people’s age-old dream of having an independent homeland has now been a reality for 29 years.
This year, the festive events dedicated to the 29th anniversary of the Republic of Armenia’s independence will take place under the motto “Our Homeland”, which symbolises the idea of the unity of all Armenians around the world and of a common homeland. Owing to the pandemic, a significant part of the events on 21 September will take place online.
