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Alvina Aghababyan, the head of the Center for Strategic Studies, reflected on the history of Artsakh’s Handaberd fortress which fell under Azerbaijan’s control as a result of the 2020 war, stating, “you can’t beg for peace, you have you impose it.”

"Handaberd was one of the most important defense structures of Artsakh. The oldest structures were built back in the 5th century. Each subsequent local prince expanded and strengthened the fortress with new and even more powerful walls and fortification constructions,” she wrote on Facebook on Thursday.

“In the first half of the 9th century, during the reign of Prince Atrnerseh Smbatian Handaberd was a powerful defense center, which had accompanying fortresses – observation points on the neighboring mountain peaks.

“Artsakh princes didn't beg for peace, they strongly defended their land, moreover, they imposed peace on those who wanted to invade our country. That’s why when we lost our statehood in almost all parts of Greater Armenia (Mets Hayk), the Armenian statehood in Artsakh was preserved in the form of melikdoms up to the 19th century.

“Handaberd, Shahumyan region, Artsakh. Since 2020 it has been occupied by Azerbaijani forces,” Aghababyan said, adding the hashtag “re-liberation as a national goal”.