Armenia’s Independence Day, celebrated annually on September 21, marks a significant milestone in the country’s modern history. It commemorates Armenia’s declaration of independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, following decades of being part of the USSR.
The roots of Armenian independence trace back much earlier, however. Armenia has a long and tumultuous history, dating back thousands of years, with periods of great cultural achievement and times of foreign domination. The most significant early step toward modern independence came after the collapse of the Russian Empire during World War I. In 1918, Armenia briefly enjoyed independence as the First Republic of Armenia, but it was short-lived, as the country was incorporated into the Soviet Union in 1920, following pressure from both Soviet Russia and neighboring Turkey.
For the next several decades, Armenia was one of the Soviet Socialist Republics, experiencing both development and repression under Soviet rule. However, with the loosening of Soviet control in the late 1980s under Mikhail Gorbachev’s policies of glasnost and perestroika, nationalist sentiments and demands for greater autonomy began to rise across Armenia.
A pivotal moment came in 1988, when Armenians began demonstrating for the reunification of the Nagorno-Karabakh region, which had a majority Armenian population but was part of Soviet Azerbaijan. These protests sparked a broader national movement for independence.
In a historic referendum on September 21, 1991, more than 99% of Armenian voters chose independence from the Soviet Union, signaling the birth of the Republic of Armenia. Shortly afterward, on September 23, 1991, Armenia formally declared independence, joining the international community as a sovereign state.
Today, Armenia’s Independence Day is celebrated with military parades, cultural events, and public ceremonies. The day symbolizes not only the country’s independence but also its resilience and determination to thrive as a free and sovereign nation, despite the many challenges it has faced throughout its long and storied history.–Worldwide Events