Hayren Republic
Hayren Republic Հայրենի հանրապետություն | |
|---|---|
| 1974–1980 | |
 Flag | |
| Capital | Ashtarak |
| Common languages | Hayren |
| History | |
• November Declaration | 18 November 1974 |
• Disestablished | 7 March 1980 |
The Hayren Republic (also known as the Hayeren Republic) was a self-declared ethno-state that was located within the southern regions of Ruvelka and the Republic of Syara among land populated predominantly by ethnic Hayren. Neither Ruvelka nor Syara recognized the Republic as legitimate and conducted legal and military action against it to re-assert their own territorial claims. The foundation of the Republic effectively set off the Hayren War in 1974, which brought about its dissolution in 1980. The Hayren Republic did not receive significant international recognition nor did it exercise control over most of its claimed territory during its existence.
The concept of a unified Hayren state emerged with Pan-Hayrenism in the decades after the Siduri War and culminated with the formation of the Hayren Collective in 1955 with the goal of establishing an independent Hayren state. Following the outbreak of the Granika Border War the Collective, led by Mgrditch Virabyan, Marie Torigian, and Hmayag Sarian, began gathering support and stockpiling weapons in southern Syara and Ruvelka. The Hayren Republic was officially established on 18 November 1974 with what became known as the November Declaration. The Republic laid claim to most of the Aszód District of Ruvelka and Hayreniky, with a capital in Ashtarak.
Despite efforts to attract as many Hayren as possible, the Republic faced strong opposition from Syaran and Ruvelkan Hayren who opposed the independent republic especially among Syaran Hayren, many of whom were Zobethos fundamentalists. Both Ruvelka and Syara refused to recognize the Republic and in a rare agreement between the two traditionally hostile powers, agreed to dismantle the state. Mutual suspicion and mistrust, however, prevented a truly unified response which resulted in a disorganized deployment of military forces from both states between 1975 and 1978. The destruction of shrines and temples sacred to the Zobethos faith by militia associated with the Republic led to outcry among Syarans, especially Wardens, leading to increased violence in 1976 and 1977. By 1978 much of the Republic's territory was in Ruvelkan and Syaran hands, but escalating violence led to clashes between the two nations. Virabyan, Prime Minister of the Republic, was killed in 1978, and many of the Republic's militia had been disbanded or destroyed by 1979 amid increased hostilities between the Imperial Armed Forces of Ruvelka and the Armed Forces of the Syaran Republic. Syara eventually re-occupied Armavir while Ruvelka controlled Tarnova and a ceasefire was agreed to in 1980, effectively ending the Republic.