Hayk Nazaryan - Speech near Dro's tomb with English translation (31-05-2025)
03:00:00 31.05.2025
Speech #8
At Dro’s Grave
Around this time last year, we had gone to Sardarapat to pay our respects to all the fallen and martyred heroes who, 107 years ago during the May Heroic Battles, fought a life-and-death struggle against our mortal enemies. Thanks to their bravery and countless sacrifices, we achieved victory and established our First Republic, restoring our lost statehood after 500 years. This year, however, we decided to come here—to Aparan—to visit the grave of Drastamat Kanayan, known by his nickname Dro. We chose to come today, on the 141st anniversary of Dro’s birth, to honor him not only because he was a unique hero of our nation in this modern world, but also because he was one of the founders and architects of our First Republic.
Dro was one of those commanders who, in the gravest moment, fought heroically without hesitation, when the very existence of the Armenian nation was hanging by a thread. His determination, courage, and brilliant leadership were the force that repelled the enemy’s assault on our fatherland. Through such actions, he not only engraved his name in golden letters into the pages of our national history, but also became the embodiment of the idea of independence and one of its lasting symbols.
Sardarapat, Bash-Aparan, and Karakilisa were not only military victories, but also a spiritual awakening for an entire nation that had endured every kind of catastrophe over the centuries. These heroic battles showed that even after the disaster of genocide, even in a broken and devastated state, the Armenian nation does not surrender, does not betray the sacrifices of its ancestors, but instead proves to the world that it still has the power to live, to fight, and to triumph. We showed the world that the Armenian nation is not only a creative and cultural people, but also a military-political force that can forge its independence through force and guarantee its security with its own strength.
And yet, despite these victories, a very dangerous and destructive idea continues to circulate in our country, especially after the treacherous 44-day war. It is the idea that we Armenians can supposedly live more safely and peacefully without independence, if only we surrender our sovereignty and statehood to some superpower. This is not only enemy and anti-Armenian propaganda, but also directly contradicts the truth, because history has repeatedly shown us that independence is synonymous with security and peace.
When we have not had independence and were forced to fight for some empire, we sacrificed incomparably more lives than when we fought for our own independence. A clear example of this is the Second World War, during which hundreds of thousands of our compatriots traveled thousands of kilometers from their fatherland, perished fighting for the interests of an empire that had nothing in common with our national interests. This clearly showed us that if we are not ready to sacrifice for our own independence, then we must be prepared to make tenfold sacrifices for foreign empires. He who gives up his independence for the sake of security and peace will have neither independence, nor security, nor lasting peace. Therefore, let us scorn the rootless neo-Bolsheviks and their ramblings, who simply do not care about our independence. Let us finally understand that the true patriot, the true nationalist who truly cares about the development of his nation and the prosperity of his fatherland, is the one who is ready to fight at all costs for the independence of his country.
Today—107 years after the May Heroic Battles—we, the new generation who carry Dro’s spirit, must prove ourselves worthy of those great victories. We have no right to despair, to retreat, or to doubt our strength. If they were able to fight under inhuman conditions and achieve victory, then we too are obligated, in the face of our era’s challenges, to remain strong, united, and determined.
Drastamat Kanayan—a man whose name instilled fear in the hearts of enemies—taught us that serving the fatherland stands above all personal and partisan interests. His example tells us today: do not surrender, do not betray your identity, do not lose yourself in defeatism. Dro combined in himself the courage of a soldier and the deep wisdom of an intellectual. He knew that victory is not achieved by arms alone, but also by iron will, steadfast spirit, unshakable faith, and the power of a just cause. We must continue his mission—strengthen our army, empower our state, and guarantee the development of our nation in this hostile world.
Today, on this sacred land, I speak with faith: The generation of those martyred in the May Battles is rising again, and we will show everyone that we are worthy to be their heirs and to continue their struggle for independence until victory.
Glory to Dro’s memory!
Glory to our heroes!
Glory to the fighting and heroic spirit of the Armenian nation!
Glory to the independent, united, and powerful Armenia we shall build tomorrow!
— Hayk Nazaryan
May 31, 2025
