Breaking
USAID Doubles Five-Year Aid Package to Armenia from $120 Million to $250 Million
Amnesty International Calls on Azerbaijan to Release Bahruz Samadov and Other Government Critics
U.S. Helsinki Commission
On September 10, the Helsinki Commission held a hearing on “Supporting Armenia’s Democracy and Western Future”.
In his opening statement, Chairman Joe Wilson (R-SC) said:
“The United States has a unique and crucial role in supporting Armenia’s future. I’ve been so impressed by the people of Armenia with my second and third visits to Yerevan this year. The recent history of this proud nation is one of struggle and resilience. The Armenian people whose ancestors have suffered centuries of adversity have never waivered in pursuit of their freedom and self-determination. The Armenia people want peace, they want democracy. We (the U.S.) must be there to support Armenia on its journey to Democracy. There is clear bipartisan support for the United States to step up in its support for Armenia assistance.”
In his opening statement, Co-Chairman Senator Ben Cardin said:
“Myself and others were impressed by how Armenia has changed in a relatively short period of time, and how they’re struggling with the challenges in their region. And how the U.S. can play a more important role in not only helping Armenia on her path towards a democratic state and its relations closer to the West, but also how it affects the region generally. It’s a country that wants to determine its future, but it’s difficult because they have external factors. Azerbaijan recently came in and took over Nagorno- Karabakh and did the ethnic cleansing. They not only decided to displace the whole ethnic group, but there’s a reasonable risk that Azerbaijan is not going to stop where they are right now,”
Congressmen Steve Cohen (D-TN), who has been Co-Chair of the Congressional Turkey Caucus for his entire 18 years in Congress, said:
“Over these 18 years, I’ve come to not like Turkey so much.”
U.S. Senate
Senator Cardin Urges Azerbaijan to Release Political Prisoners Ahead of COP29
U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called on Azerbaijan to release political prisoners, including Armenian detainees and activists, ahead of the COP29 conference in Baku. “Hosting a major international conference like COP29 should come with responsibilities and expectations that host countries allow frank discussion of information and issues, which requires recognizing freedoms of speech and assembly. Azerbaijan has not done so,” Cardin stated.
U.S. Ambassador
U.S. Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation Awards Grant for Rare Nagorno-Karabakh Manuscripts
Armenian Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan and United States Ambassador Kristina Kvien have visited the Yereruyk Basilica in Shirak where conservation work is underway for the historic structure with a $175,000 USD grant from the Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation.
Azerbaijan’s Ethnic Cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh and Genocidal Policy
- Expresses anticipation for his visit to Armenia in September, where he will collaborate with local leaders to develop a unified strategy for COP29.
- Calls attention to Aliyev’s broader abuses, including environmental destruction, suppression of free speech, and corruption, linking these issues to the global fight for justice.
- Warns that Azerbaijan’s hosting of COP29 could be used to greenwash its geopolitical ambitions and distract from the ongoing genocide and hostage situation.
- Questions how the survivors of the 2023 genocide will safely return to their homeland, with no clear solutions yet in sight.
The Center for Truth and Justice Hosts Third Annual International Conference: “Human Rights and Accountability – Pathways to Post- Conflict Justice
The conference will feature distinguished speakers and panels on topics including legal pursuits from the Armenia perspective, ICC state party responsibilities, victim representation and global approaches to prosecuting international crimes.
The conference will feature respected speakers and experts from around the world, including The Honorable Raul Cano Pangalangan, ICC Judge (2015-2021), The Honorable Stephen J. Rapp, U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Issues (2009-2015), and Dr. David Donat Cattin, Adjunct Professor of International Law at NYU.
International Association of Genocide Scholars Adopts Resolution on Genocidal Actions in Nagorno-Karabakh
- Calls upon the international community, including national governments and international organisations, to recognise the atrocities perpetrated against the ethnic Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh as constituting gross violations of human rights, war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity, as applicable, and to take appropriate measures in response to prevent further violations and crimes.
- Recommends the application of transitional justice measures, including sanctions, investigation of the case by the International Criminal Court.
- Calls on the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to investigate the crimes.
- Calls upon Azerbaijan to remove its soldiers from the territory of the Armenian Republic and to respect the right of self-determination of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Feminist Peace Collective Calls to End Political Repression in Azerbaijan During COP29
- Refuses to legitimize Aliyev’s regime by participating in COP29, an event that shields a dictator behind a façade of international cooperation.
- Demands an end to the systematic persecution of intellectuals, activists, and anyone challenging authoritarianism.
- Denounces over 200 years of Russian colonialism, which has brought nothing but misery and despair to the Azerbaijani people, offering no genuine alternative to Western liberalism.
- Condemns the hypocrisy of Western governments that prioritize oil, gas, and strategic interests over their professed values, legitimizing autocrats like Aliyev through actions like hosting COP29 in Azerbaijan.
Setting the Record Straight: Uncovering the Ethnic Cleansing of Artsakh
An event highlighting Azerbaijan’s human rights violations against Armenian Christians in Artsakh. Keynote speakers include Amb. Sam Brownback, former United States Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom; David Curry, CEO of Global Christian Relief; Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of America; and Alberto Fernandez, who will address the broader implications for U.S. national security.
Driven by Fear from Nagorno-Karabakh
Hungary Summer Camp Receives Forcibly Displaced Children from Nagorno-Karabakh
Photos of the Month
Zibeyda Osmanova, grandmother of political researcher and peace activist Bahruz Samandov, held a protest in front of the Ombudsman’s office of the Republic of Azerbaijan. She demanded an end to the isolation and psychological torture imposed on Mr. Samadov and called for an immediate meeting with him.
Photo Courtesy of Nurlan Libre (Twitter Account).
Tigran, just 3 years old, sits with his three siblings, all of whom lost their mother in a fuel warehouse explosion near Stepanakert a year ago. Now living in a rented home in Abovyan, Armenia, their father fights daily to provide for them, saying, “Every day is a battle to give them a better future amidst the pain.”
Photo Courtesy of Siranush Sargsyan.
People walk past a massive sculpture of Jesus Christ by Armenian sculptor Armen Samvelyan in a Yerevan workshop. The statue, set to reach 33 meters in height, will be installed on Mt. Hatis, about 30 kilometers from the Armenian capital.
Photo Courtesy of Radio Free Europe.
Security
EU Monitors Patrol the Armenia-Azerbaijan Border: EU Mission in Armenia Marks the 3000th Patrol
Azerbaijan’s Elections: No Real Competition, Diminishing Freedoms, Say Observers
Vice-President Schinas in Yerevan for the Launch of a Dialogue on Visa Liberalization with Armenia
The European Commission and the Republic of Armenia announced the start of a visa liberalisation dialogue. This process aims to support Armenia in achieving a visa-free regime for short-stays with the EU, provided that the relevant conditions for well-managed mobility and security are put in place.
Armenian Security Council Secretary Joins Online Forum on Food Security under Ukraine’s Peace Formula
Economy
US Confirms Nuclear Pact with Armenia ‘Under Consideration’
The United States has confirmed it is studying a request by Armenia to ink a deal that would allow Washington to transfer civil nuclear technology to Yerevan.
Europe Warned About Russian Gas Being Secretly Mixed Into Supply
The European Union’s gas supplies next year may contain flows from Russia that are furtively mixed in, giving Moscow an undesirable workaround when a current transit deal expires, said a candidate tipped to run the bloc’s energy policy.
Opinion
Is Erdogan the Sick Man of Europe?
By Michael Rubin
As Turks recognize Erdogan himself is the problem, he may find himself facing a Talaat Pasha precedent in another way, especially if his victims grow too impatient to outwait his current decline.
Protecting Armenian Churches in Nagorno-Karabakh Should Be a Condition for Peace
By Stephan Pechdimaldji
While peace in the South Caucasus should be welcomed, Armenia must demand Azerbaijan end its ongoing campaign of cultural erasure of Armenian churches, monasteries, khachkars (cross-stone monuments), and other religious sites that have stood in the region for thousands of years as a condition for any peace agreement.
EU Condemns Azerbaijan Crackdown After Peace Activist Charged with ‘Treason’
By Gabriel Gavin
Bahruz Samadov was detained just months before the South Caucasus country hosts critical U.N. climate talks. The EU has called on Azerbaijan to respect the rights of a prominent scholar jailed after publicly criticizing the government, amid a wave of arrests that has seen journalists and academics put behind bars.
How Lies on Paper Enabled Azerbaijan’s Destruction of an Armenian Community
By Taleen Mardirossian
This history of violence is being repeated today. Yet many people know nothing about Azerbaijan’s recent attacks against Armenians in the Caucasus because, for the last four years, the limited coverage has often misrepresented the truth.
‘We Couldn’t Work Properly’: How Azerbaijan Obstructed Red Cross Relief During the Nagorno-Karabakh Siege
By Rasmus Canbäck
Tens of thousands of people were going hungry — but the International Red Cross faced growing obstacles as it tried to deliver help. Among them was hostile rhetoric from the Azerbaijan Red Crescent, a local member of the Red Cross movement.
Azerbaijan’s Mistreatment of Armenian POWs—Human Trophies or Hostages?
By Anzhela Mnatsakanyan
As the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) draws near, it’s hard to ignore its host, Azerbaijan—a country that’s not just rich in oil but also controversial. While it’s tempting to delve into the country’s authoritarian tendencies, where election results are released before the start of elections, and the president’s wife happens to also be the country’s vice president, there’s a more urgent issue that’s been swept under the rug— Azerbaijan’s treatment of Armenian prisoners of war (POWs).
Azerbaijan Clears out Critics Ahead of COP29
By Ramil Niyazov-Adyljan and Arzu Geybullayeva
Young scholars and researchers were detained in the most recent crackdown.
Azerbaijan’s Government Turns on its Critics at Home
The war with Armenia has ended in victory, so the regime needs another target.
Is Azerbaijan Becoming Both Transit and Proxy for Russia?
By facilitating Russia’s strategic objectives, Azerbaijan is locking itself into a dependency that will be difficult to escape and the brief window of relative sovereignty that Aliyev enjoyed post-2020 could soon close.
Nato Must Wake up to Russia’s Nuclear Power Deal with Turkey
By Gönül Tol
While Turkey was criticised and placed under sanctions for purchasing the S-400, western countries have been muted on Akkuyu. But now Turkey wants to build a second nuclear reactor
and Russia is ahead in the bid.
How Lies on Paper Enabled Azerbaijan’s Destruction of an Armenian Community
By Taleen Mardirossian
Why are these carved facts not presented alongside what we are told by a source as thin, transparent and fragile as paper? Because we’ve failed to ask this question, this evidence — Armenians’ cultural heritage — is being actively destroyed by Azerbaijan, just like our presence is being erased from its books.
Lost Wineries in Conflict: How an Entire Wine Region Ceased to Exist
By Ani Duzdabanyan
The wine industry in Nagorno Karabakh, Armenia started to develop over the last decade—then everything changed in the fall of 2020.
Jerusalem’s Armenian Quarter Under Threat: Urgent Call for Protection
By Nadav Tamir
Jerusalem’s Armenian Quarter faces a critical threat from real estate deals and far-Right ambitions. Urgent action is needed to protect this vital part of the city’s cultural and religious heritage.
Persecution Watchdog Calls for US Sanctions on Azerbaijani ‘Torturers’
By Anugrah Kumar
The persecution watchdog International Christian Concern has requested that the U.S. government impose sanctions on several Azerbaijani officials accused of torturing Armenian Christians. The request, based on findings from its investigation, invokes the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, which targets individuals implicated in human rights abuses by freezing their assets and banning their travel to the West.
It’s Time the U.S. Census Counted Armenian Americans
By Thomas Simsarian Dolan
We live in an era when Americans’ hyphenated identities are inescapable parts of the national discourse and more importantly, how our society sees itself. Nonetheless, the U.S. Census seems inexplicably determined to ignore a large, proud, and important community— Armenian Americans.
Turkey: Ongoing Violations against Greek Christians
By Uzay Bulut
To be a civilized member of the international community, Turkey should cure itself of its Christianophobia, and make peace with the fact that most of its inhabitants are Islamized Greeks, Armenians, or Assyrians.
Iran Warns Russia Against Siding with Azerbaijan in Border Dispute
By Patrick Wintour
Row may signal that newly elected Tehran government is willing to take tougher line with Moscow.
Armenia Sending Signals that it Wants to Back out of a Nuclear-Energy Deal with Russia
By Brawley Benson
Yerevan pursuing US option for building new plant.
Pleading for Permanence
By Fr. Benedict Kiely
The Turkic Azerbaijanis seek to eradicate all signs of the ancient Christian history of Armenia.
