| Independence Day Armenian:Հայաստանի Անկախության օրը | |
|---|---|
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| Observed by |  Armenia ArtsakhArmenian diaspora |
| Type | State |
| Significance | The day theArmenian SSR voted in areferendum in 1991 to gain independence from theSoviet Union. |
| Celebrations | Fireworks, Concerts, Parades |
| Date | September 21 |
| Next time | 21 September 2025 (2025-09-21) |
| Frequency | annual |
TheIndependence Day of Armenia (Armenian: Հայաստանի Անկախության օրը) is the main state holiday in Armenia. This date is celebrated on September 21.
On August 23, 1990, Supreme Council adopted theDeclaration of State Sovereignty of Armenia proclaiming the Armenian SSR abolished and the establishment of the Republic of Armenia.[1] Armenia refused to sign theNew Union Treaty. After thefailed August putsch, the people of Armenia voted in areferendum to proclaim independence from the Soviet Union on September 21, 1991.Levon Ter-Petrosyan was elected the first president of Armenia in November 1991. On December 21, 1991, Armenia joined theCommonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Armenia gained independence formally on December 26 in connection with the dissolution of the USSR.[2]
This is the second declaration of independence in modern Armenian history, the first having occurred on May 28, 1918 which led to the formation of theFirst Republic of Armenia. This First Armenian Republic was short-lived due to its partition by theRussian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic andTurkish Nationalist forces in late 1920.[3]
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The following celebratory events are held on Independence Day one way or the other:
During a ceremony in honor ofGyumri's City Day,Armenian Prime MinisterNikol Pashinyan announced a new tradition to hold national celebrations in different parts of the country, starting with Gyumri in 2019.[4] In 2020, a revised ceremony took place atVictory Park, during whichSukhoi Su-30 fighters performed a flyover in afinger-four formation above the park'seternal flame.[5][6]
Military parades celebrating the independence of Armenia have been held onRepublic Square inYerevan in 1992, 1996, 1999, 2006, 2011, and 2016.[7]
The celebrations begin as the parade commander (Usually theChief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces with a billet of a Lieutenant General or Colonel General) arrives on Republic Square to receive the report from the Commandant of theVazgen Sargsyan Military University on the readiness of the troops participating in the parade. At 10 am, the President and the Prime Minister arrives as the parade commander orders the parade to present arms for theDefence minister of Armenia. The parade commander then is driven on aNissan Patrol SUV to the center of the square to inform the defense minister that the parade is now ready for inspection. The minister then inspects the parade contingents and congratulates them on the holiday. At the conclusion of the inspection, the minister approaches the president on the tribune and says"Mr/Madam President, the troops of theArmed Forces of Armenia participating in the parade in honor of the anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Armenia, are ready for the parade to march past". After the minister finishes their report to the president, the parade commander orders the parade to stand at ease, to where the Presidential Fanfare is then sounded, and the president then delivers a holiday address to the assembled formations.
The referendum of 1991 also included the Armenian population of Artsakh voting for independence from the Soviet Union. With the population being 99% Armenian both historically and during the 1991 referendum, there was a unanimous decision to be recognized as an independent republic.
At the conclusion of the address, the parade formations shout a threefold Oorah, followed by the playing ofMer Hayrenik by themassed bands of the general staff. The parade is then ordered to prepare for the march past, with armed linemen and markers from theHonour Guard of the Ministry of Defense of Armenia marching to their post in front of the central tribune to provide the security for the march past. The parade commander then orders the parade to march past the saluting base with theCorps of Drums from theMonte Melkonian Military College setting the pace of the parade led by its drum major, followed by the national colour guard and then the parade contingents. As the Corps of Drums marches past the grandstand, the drum major executes eyes right as the drummers swing their sticks. The parades includes personnel from theArmenak Khanperyants Military Aviation University, theMilitary Police, the12th Peacekeeping Brigade, theArmenian Border Guard, and veterans of theNagorno Karabakh Defense Army.[8]
The parade in 1996 celebrated the 5th anniversary of independence.[9] It coincided with the1996 Armenian presidential election, which would take place the day after. The opposition charged PresidentLevon Ter-Petrosyan, who was in attendance, with putting on ashow of force to his opposition and particularly supporters of his opponentVazgen Manukyan.[10]
The 1999 parade that celebrated the 8th anniversary of independence was commanded by Major GeneralManvel Grigoryan and inspected by Lieutenant GeneralVagharshak Harutiunyan. New rocket systems were seen among the military hardware seen. Many questioned the wisdom of spending public funds for the parade while others were enthusiastic, with an Armenian-American described the parade as "beautiful to see" and as a demonstration of an "ability to take care of ourselves and not to be massacred as we have in our history".[11]
2006 celebrated the 15th anniversary of Armenia's independence. The parade began with Defense MinisterSerzh Sargsyan, and Chief of StaffMikael Harutyunyan inspecting the troops congratulating them on the holiday.[12][13] This was the first time the parade speech was given by the President of Armenia.
Armenia celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2011.[14][15][8] Inspecting the parade wasMinister of DefenceSeyran Ohanyan, and theChief of the General Staff Colonel GeneralYuri Khatchaturov.[16] A group representing theRussian Army's102nd Military Base in Armenia took part in the parade alongside Armenian troops for the first time.[8] TheKrunk UAV was demonstrated for the first time at the parade.[17]
Armenia's 25th anniversary parade in 2016 was the biggest celebration in Armenia's history.[18][19] Commanding the parade was Major GeneralAndranik Makaryan, the commander of the Joint-Forces. More than 350,000 people were spectators and participants of the events. Among the new participants were students of Small Mher School and the youth wing of theYerkrapah.[20] An international peace brigade carrying the flags of theUnited States,Germany,Italy,Poland andGreece took part in the parade.[21] Several Russian-made weapons were on display, the most important of which were9K720 Iskander. A dozenMiG-29 fighter jets from Russian and ArmenianSu-25 attack aircraft flew overhead.[21]
The parade also saw the introduction of the posting of theFlag of Armenia, the flag of the Ministry of Defence, and the flag of KingAshot II the Iron before the parade proceedings. The flag-bearing group was headed by Major-General Ishkhan Matosyan. Also before the start of the military parade, was the head of the military clergy, Bishop Vrtanes Abrahamyan, reading the "Lord's Prayer".[22]
Independence day celebrations are also held in diaspora countries such asRussia,Lebanon and theUnited States. In theUnited States specifically, Armenian-American youth organizations hold rallies and cultural programs on this day.[23] The Armenian Independence Day Festival inLos Angeles'sLittle Armenia was established in 1998, attracting around 5,000 spectators on Independence Day.[24] In 2019, Prime Minister Pashinyan visited the city during the Independence Day celebrations, the first visit of its kind.[25][26] On the holiday in 2020, the personal star of singer Arman Hovhannisyan was installed on theWalk of Fame inLas Vegas.[27] That same year inLebanon,Aram I (head of theCatholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia) led thedivine liturgy and ceremonial flag blessing inAntelias.[28] Also on the holiday in 2020, the Mayor ofWashington, D.C.,Muriel Bowser proclaimed September the 21st as “Armenian Independence Day” in the United States capital city.[29]
In early September 2021, the government announced plans for celebrations of the 30th anniversary independence on a large scale. These plans were criticized by the public, with many, including family members of soldiers killed in the2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War, deeming it as inappropriate considering Armenia's defeat in that war. Many opposed to these plans proposed a gathering atYerablur on 21 September.[41][42][43]
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