YEREVAN, JUNE 12, ARMENPRESS. Lawyer Zinavor Meghryan will pursue the goal of making the voice of Shaumyan residents (now deported from their homeland) more sound, solving their problems and restoring the justice.

ARMENPRESS reports Zinavor Meghryan wrote on his Facebook page on the occasion of the 28^th anniversary of the occupation of Shahumyan region by Azerbaijan that it’s already nearly 3 decades that the residents of Shahumyan wake up every morning with the dream to return to their homes.

Meghryan's statement runs as follows:

''Dear compatriots, 

Tomorrow, the 13th of June, will mark 28 years since one of the marvelous corners of our homeland, the Shahumyan region, has fallen. It’s been alread 3 decades since we, the people of  Shahumyan, every single day, wake up with  desire to return to our motherland, where we will rebuild our daily life, will again light the withered fire in our fireplaces, will cultivate the land that has been “missing” its owners hands and will drink the water from the pure springs. 

It’s been already three decades since our houses have been invaded and seized, and our rights have been violated. This can continue no longer, and today I’m raising the voice to bring back the issue of Shahumyan people and people from nearby territories to the moral, legal as well as  political  agenda. 

Dear compatriots, 

During all these years we have done much to liberate and to make the Shahumyan region thrive again. Thousands  of our co-villagers have tied their lives to the Armenian Army. Most of them, even now, still serve in the military units located in the geographically closest positions to the Shahumyan region. Most of them make all possible efforts to provide the soldiers with necessary supplies to make their service in the Army easier and safer. Most of them still live in villages close to Shahumyan, being confident  that in nearest future it will be possible for them to return home. 

But it is obvious that all this is not enough to regain what has been lost and restore justice. The 28 years of silent efforts, silent work and even more silent devotion of our compatriots from Shahumyants and nearby regions seem to have given reason to think that we are not demanding, that we can be ignored, disregarded and disrespected. This is a delusion which has no justification. This cannot continue even  a day or an hour longer. 

Today I am speaking  about our rights. I am speaking  about our loss, about restoring what has been lost, and receiving compensation for damage. Today I am speaking about bringing back the issue of Shahumyan to the negotiating table and giving it a fair solution. I am speaking  about our future…

Dear people of Shahumyan, 

On this symbolic day, let us commemorate all the heroes who fell for the defense of our wonderful homeland. Let each of us, in our minds, in our hearts, speak to them and promise that we will not leave their efforts unfinished.  Shahumyan still has something to say, something to do, from now on, it is under our responsibility. Let's start it for the cause, dear compatriots. 

From now on, every day, every hour, I will pursue the goal of making the voice of the people of Shahumyan louder and will try to solve their problems and restore justice. And let this very day be the new beginning of the cause, which is the most important for all of us.''