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It has been 27 years since the flag of independent Artsakh Republic has been waving on top of the Presidential building in capital Stepanakert. The year 1992 was a hard period for Artsakh people who along with fighting for their freedom had to create their state symbols as an independent state.

“An extraordinary session of the Supreme Council took place on June 2-4 in 1992 at State Drama Theatre in Stepanakert. The election of the Chairman of the Supreme Council was on the agenda of the session following the tragic death of Artur Mkrtchyan. The adoption of the “Law on the flag” was among the agenda items as well. Following the adoption, the flag was installed on the top of the Presidential building,” Vardges Baghryan, member of the Artsakh parliament, former reporter told Panorama.am.

He was present at the historical session. “It was October 1992. I worked for the state TV company. We were told that the flag was planned to install on the building and were asked to go and prepare a reportage. We went there, reached the rooftop of the building. One of the guys installed the flag and it started waving. 27 years have passed since that day and the flag is still there, waving. Pride was the dominant feeling not because of being present at a historical event, but rather for the fact that even at a war, we had the confidence the new country would be victorious. The confidence was there. I can assure the feeling has been with us till today and will remain forever as Artsakh will be ultimately reunited with mother Armenia,” added Baghryan.

In his words, the flag symbolized the hope and light for people amid the severe fighting and the defense of Artsakh people. “The State Defense Committee was already established by Robert Kocharyan that recorded breakthrough in the war. We were planning to launch counter attacks, and the people who gathered at central square got inspiration from the flag, a firm desire and commitment to keep it there,” recalled the former reporter.

The Artsakh Republic flag derives from the flag of Armenia, with only a white pattern added. A white, five-toothed, stepped pattern was added to the flag, beginning at the two verges of the flag's right side and meeting at a point equal to one-third of the distance from that side. The white pattern symbolizes the current separation of Artsakh from Armenia proper and its aspiration for eventual union with the Motherland. This symbolizes the Armenian heritage, culture and population of the area, and represents Artsakh as a separated region of Armenia by the triangular shape and the zigzag cutting through the flag. Artsakhpress reports that he author of the flag is LA-based artist Vahe Fatal.

The video of the flag installment is from the personal archive of PhD in History Taron Hakobyan generously shared with Artsakhpress.