"Artsakh Has Not Been Forgotten": Armenian and Cypriot Fans Display Symbolic Banners in Yerevan

The UEFA Nations League match between Armenia and Cyprus was memorable not only for the action on the pitch. Supporters of both national teams displayed banners at the Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium in Yerevan, highlighting the historical memory of their two nations.

During the match on November 12, Armenian fans unveiled a banner bearing the English message "Artsakh Has Not Been Forgotten."

A photograph of the display was published by the Argentine-Armenian newspaper Diario Armenia. The message referred to Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), which came entirely under Azerbaijani control following the military offensive in September 2023, forcing more than 100,000 ethnic Armenians to flee their homes.

Cypriot supporters, who had traveled to Yerevan to support their national team, also joined the symbolic display. In the stands, they presented flags featuring the Greek phrase "Δεν Ξεχνώ" ("I Do Not Forget"), referring to the events of 1974 and the continuing division of Cyprus.

Cypriot media outlets also highlighted the messages "Cyprus Does Not Forget" and "Artsakh Has Not Been Forgotten," drawing attention to the historical parallels between the experiences of the two nations.

The symbolic displays were reported by Cypriot publications Kerkida and SigmaLive, as well as Armenian media outlets.

The messages carried particular significance because of the shared historical experiences of Armenians and Cypriots. Northern Cyprus has remained under Turkish control since 1974, while the Armenian population of Artsakh was forced to leave the region en masse following the events of September 2023.

Notably, ahead of the match, a delegation from the Cyprus Football Association, led by its president Haris Loizides, visited the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex in Yerevan and laid a wreath in memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide.

The meeting between the two national teams therefore became more than a football contest, providing an opportunity for supporters from Armenia and Cyprus to express historical remembrance and solidarity.

The UEFA Nations League Group C2 Matchday 5 encounter ended in a 1-1 draw. Cyprus striker Yasonas Pikis opened the scoring in the 9th minute, before Artur Gharibyan equalized for Armenia in the 58th minute.