Armenia marks First Republic Day

Today is May 28, First Republic Day, when the Armenian statehood was restored in 1918, and the National Council declared the establishment of the Independent Republic of Armenia on May 28.

It was the Battle of Karakilisa of May 21-28, 1918, when the Armenian defenders managed to turn back the Ottoman forces, which broke the armistice, signed on December 1917, with Transcaucasian commissariat entering Western Armenia, conquering Erznka, Erzerum, Sarighamish, Kars and Alexandropol and reaching Karakilisa. The victory here and in Sardarapat and Aparan was instrumental in allowing the Democratic Republic of Armenia to come into existence.

On June 4, 1918, the Armenian-Turkish peace treaty was signed in Batumi, which remapped Armenia. Yerevan, Etchmiadzin, Alexandropol, Karalagyaz, Kazakh, Borchalu and Nor Bayazet were perceived as Armenia, which in accordance with the treaty was established in the territory of 11,000 square meters.

On August 1, 1918, a ceremony of opening the Armenian Parliament took place at the City Hall in Yerevan. Avetik Sahakyan (Father Abraham) was elected as chairman of the Parliament. Hovannes Kadjaznuni became the first prime minister.

Since 1992 Armenia has been officially marking May 28 as First Republic Day.