31 years ago, on 21 September, the citizens of Soviet Armenia made a historic decision, choosing independence as the only correct path for the country’s future development and establishment.
On this day in 1991, the citizens of the Republic of Armenia said “Yes” to independence. The referendum was held under the electoral code of the Soviet Union. Of the 2,163,967 people eligible to participate, 2,056,792 cast their votes. 2,042,617 people — 99.5% of voters — voted in favour of independence. The population of the Republic of Armenia answered the following question: “Do you agree that the Republic of Armenia should be an independent, democratic republic outside the USSR?”
The next day, the appeal of the first independent legislative body of the Republic of Armenia to the Armenian people was published: “On the path to freedom, new trials await us; this will be a daily examination for us. Let us preserve our enthusiasm, but be imbued with realism; let us continue to be dreamers, but with sober judgment.”
On 23 September, the Supreme Council of the Republic of Armenia, summarising the results of the referendum, declared the Republic of Armenia an independent state.
Let us recall that, as a result of the large-scale attack by Azerbaijan’s armed forces, the government of the Republic of Armenia postponed the event dedicated to Independence Day this year.
