During Two-Week Visit to DC, Artsakh Officials Advocate for Rights and Safe Return of Artsakh’s Armenians

Antranik Varosian
by Contributor

 

 

 

in Armenia, Artsakh, Featured Story, Latest, News, Top Stories

Artak Beglaryan and Gegham Stepanyan participated in a panel at George Washington University


WASHINGTON – Republic of Artsakh Human Rights Defender Gegham Stepanyan and former State Minister Artak Beglaryan concluded a two-week advocacy mission to Washington that called on U.S. Congressional leaders, Administration officials, and a broad array of faith-based and human rights groups to hold Azerbaijan accountable for the genocide against Artsakh’s 150,000 indigenous Armenian Christians and to provide support to refugees as mechanisms are explored to ensure their safe return to the homes from which they were forcibly displaced.

Artsakh Human Rights Defender Gegham Stepanyan with Rep. Chris Smith Rep, Ted Lieu received a briefing about Artsakh

Amb. Rashad Hussein Rep. David Valadeo with Artak Beglaryan Sen. Gary Peters with Artsakh reps. Sen. Armed Service Committee chair Jack Reed Sen. Gary Peters

Rep. Barbara Lee

The Armenian National Committee of America joined with Stepanyan and Beglaryan in over 60 meetings and briefings with Congressional offices, coinciding with the introduction of two resolutions that would cut military aid to Azerbaijan’s genocidal regime, holding Azerbaijan accountable for its crimes.  

In the Senate, Senators Ed Markey (D-MA) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) introduced a bipartisan resolution (S.Res.540) that would require the State Department to provide a detailed description of widely documented human rights abuses perpetrated by Azerbaijan, pursuant to Section 502B(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act, which could block all military aid to the genocidal Aliyev regime.  

U.S. Representative Mike Lawler (R-NY) was joined by Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and House Foreign Affairs Committee member Gabe Amo (D-RI) in introducing the House counterpart (H.R.7288) of the Senate’s unanimously-adopted “Armenian Protection Act,” (S.3000), which would block US security aid to Azerbaijan for two years.

Stepanyan and Beglaryan offered eye-witness accounts of the brutal realities of Azerbaijan’s ten-month blockade of Artsakh, which culminated in the September 2023 genocidal attack that forcibly emptied Artsakh of its indigenous Armenian population. In addition to the passage of the latest legislation urging an end to U.S. support for Azerbaijan’s genocidal actions, the Artsakh people’s advocates urged:

— Sanctions on Azerbaijan, including the enforcement of Section 907 and the application of Magnitsky sanctions on Aliyev government officials for war crimes and ethnic cleansing committed during the 2020 Azerbaijan-Turkey attacks against Armenia and Artsakh and subsequent genocidal aggression.

— U.S. aid for Artsakh’s forcibly displaced Armenians, including housing and job placement assistance, until a secure mechanism can be put in place through international oversight and mediation with Artsakh authorities to guarantee the safe and dignified return of forcibly displaced Armenians to their Artsakh homes.

— Expanded U.S. and international efforts to help secure the immediate release of Artsakh leaders, POWS, and all the other captured persons illegally held by Azerbaijan since the 2020 Azerbaijan/Turkey attacks and the 2023 aggression.

— Preservation of Artsakh’s Armenian cultural and religious heritage already vandalized or under threat of destruction by Azerbaijan.

Stepanyan and Beglaryan stressed that without international efforts to address the Artsakh people’s right to safe return, dignified life in Artsakh, and justice for the crimes committed, it will be impossible to establish sustainable peace in the region. They also emphasized that the systemic anti-Armenian hatred fomented by the Azerbaijani Government must be eradicated to ensure an enduring settlement of the conflict and regional stability.

While in Washington, Beglaryan and Stepanyan participated in the International Religious Freedom Summit, co-chaired by Ambassador Sam Brownback, the U.S. Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom (2018-2021) and Katrina Lantos Swett, President of the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights.  

During a presentation made to a diverse group of faith-based organizations and US government officials, Stepanyan explained, “I speak before you today not just as the human rights defender (Ombudsman) of my people but as a witness and a survivor of genocide.” He stressed that the world is witnessing the systematic erasure of “the Christian and world heritage of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), of its ancient churches and hallowed cemeteries, now standing silent under the shadow of occupation and desecration by the dictatorial Aliyev regime of Azerbaijan.” Stepanyan urged faith leaders and government officials to rally together and serve as “the shield that protects the vulnerable, the voice that speaks for the silenced and the light that pierces the darkness of cultural erasure. Only then can we ensure that the soul of Artsakh, its ancient and sacred Christian heritage, is not lost forever.”

“Artsakh’s rights were center stage these past two weeks in Washington, DC, as two of the Republic’s most eloquent voices – Artak Beglaryan and Gegham Stepanyan – made the case to U.S. legislators and international religious freedom leaders for the safe return of indigenous Armenians to their ancient homeland,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “Over the course of dozens of Congressional meetings, legislators heard first-hand about the Artsakh Genocide and explored the concrete U.S. steps needed to restore this integral part of the Armenian homeland.”

Beglaryan and Stepanyan’s visit was part of a 120,0000 Reasons coalition effort, supported by the Tufenkian Foundation and the Philos Project, and over 20 human rights, faith-based, and ethnic organizations, calling on the US Government to hold Azerbaijan accountable for its genocide against Artsakh’s Armenian population and to prevent further aggression against Armenia.

The Artsakh people’s representatives also participated in a fireside chat, organized by the George Washington University Armenian Law Students’ Association, where they shared the ongoing challenges facing Artsakh’s displaced and the need for concrete political and legal action. They also shared their powerful message of survival and issued an international call to action during a series of press interviews

In addition to educational efforts in the nation’s capital, the trip also included a robust series of meetings with international organizations and community leaders in New York.  While in Washington, they met with the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Earlier, Stepanyan and Beglaryan participated in meetings with California state and local government officials, various university law programs, and community forums organized through the Armenian Bar Association, in conjunction with their annual meeting.

Pashinyan Warns of ‘Large Scale Attack’ by Azerbaijan

Emil Lazarian
by Asbarez Staff

 

 

 

in Armenia, Artsakh, Featured Main, Latest, News, Top Stories

An Armenia border patrol soldier in Gegharkunik


Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Thursday warned that Azerbaijan might be planning a “large scale attack” on Armenia and rejected Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s continued demand for changes in Armenia’s laws.

Pashinyan said that a series of statements from Baku in recent days about the legislative framework of Armenia are a violation of Armenia’s sovereignty and can been seen as “interference in our country’s internal affairs.”

“Attempts to interpret whether there is any provision in Armenia’s legislation preventing the signing of the peace treaty [with Azerbaijan] have nothing to do with reality,” Pashinyan said, after Aliyev, a day earlier, again called for changes to Armenia’s laws.

“Armenia and Azerbaijan have succeeded in reaching an agreement on a number of articles; and one of them is that the parties cannot refer to their legislation in order to refuse to fulfill any provision of the peace treaty. Therefore, there is no provision in the legislation of Armenia preventing the implementation of the peace treaty. This is not only a political, but also an expert assessment,” Pashinyan explained.

He also accused Baku of deliberately dragging out the delimitation and demarcation of the border process, saying that Baku was undermining this process in order to launch a military attack “in some parts of the border” with the aim of instigating an all-out war with Armenia.

Aliyev’s latest threats were made a day after Azerbaijani forces attacked Armenian position in Syunik, killing four soldiers and injuring another.

Pashinyan detailed the steps taken by Yerevan to advance the border delimitation process, all based on agreements reached by the leaders of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Yet he accused Baku of undermining the process.

“Our analysis shows that there can only be one reason for this, and the reasons could be their [intentions] to launch military actions in some parts of the border with the prospect of turning the military escalation into a large-scale war against the Republic of Armenia. This intention is read in all statements and actions made by Baku,” Pashinyan said.

Asbarez: Iran will Ensure Regional Security and Stick to Its ‘Red Lines’

Emil Lazarian
by Asbarez Staff

 

 

 

in Armenia, Artsakh, Featured Story, Latest, News, Top Stories

President Ebrahim Raisi of Iran hosts Armenia's Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan in Tehran on Feb. 15


President Ebrahim Raisi of Iran said Thursday that his country is ready to ensure the strategic security of the Caucasus region, keeping in mind the “red lines” that Tehran has advocated regarding its opposition to any changes in regional borders.

During the past several weeks, Iranian officials have reiterated their strong opposition to a scheme advanced by Baku — and backed by Ankara — on the creation of a land corridor through Armenia to Nakhichevan.

Tehran views this as a “red line” in its regional policy.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi  has welcomed the peace talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan, expressing Iran’s readiness to ensure the strategic security of the Caucasus region given the red lines of the Islamic Republic in this regard.

Raisi made the remarks on Thursday during a meeting with Armenia’s Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan. The Iranian leader also warned about “outside forces” attempting to sway matters in the region under the pretext of assisting to overcome crisis, essentially referring to the West’s recent interest in Armenia.

He added that not only does the involvement of “outsiders” not yield solutions, but it brings about more severe challenges, the IRNA news agency reported.

Raisi welcomed the peace talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan, expressing Iran’s readiness to assist in that process.

He voiced his country’s full support for the implementation of all agreements between Tehran and Yerevan.

Armenia and Iran have signed agreements on economic cooperation in 19 different sectors during their intergovernmental commission meeting, IRNA reports.

AW: Artsakh Update: A Roundtable with Artak Beglaryan and Gegham Stepanyan

Albert Nalbandian
 ARF Eastern US Central Committee Community News, Diaspora 0

NEW YORK—On February 4, 2024, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Central Committee’s Public Relations Committee organized an “Artsakh Update” roundtable featuring distinguished guests Artak Beglaryan and Gegham Stepanyan. The meeting was graciously hosted by His Eminence Archbishop Anoushavan Tanielian of the Armenian Prelacy of the Eastern USA, marking a significant gathering of community leaders and organizations at a time of critical importance for Artsakh.

ARF Central Committee Public Relations Committee member Hrair Baronian, Human Rights Ombudsman of Artsakh Gegham Stepanyan, His Eminence Archbishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Former Artsakh State Minister Artak Beglaryan, ARF Central Committee chair Ani Tchaghlasian and Very Rev. Father Sahag Yemishyan

Ani Tchaghlasian, ARF Central Committee (CC) Chair, opened the roundtable by welcoming the leaders of various Armenian community organizations, including the Armenian Relief Society (ARS), Armenian Youth Federation (AYF), Homenetmen, Hamazkayin, Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU), Armenian Bar Association and the Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA). Razmig Boyadjian of the ARF CC’s Public Relations Committee introduced Beglaryan and Stepanyan, highlighting their roles and dedication to the human rights and welfare of the people of Artsakh.

ARF Central Committee Public Relations Committee member Razmig Boyadjian, Human Rights Ombudsman of Artsakh Gegham Stepanyan, Former Artsakh State Minister Artak Beglaryan and ARF Central Committee member Ani Tchaghlasian

Beglaryan served as the State Minister of the Artsakh Republic until early September 2023. Before that, he served as the Human Rights Ombudsman of Artsakh from October 2018 to December 2020. Beglaryan brought a wealth of experience and insights to the discussion. His extensive educational background, including a Ph.D. in political science and various international research and training programs, has equipped him with a deep understanding of Artsakh’s geopolitical and human rights issues. 

Stepanyan was elected as the Human Rights Ombudsman of the Artsakh Republic in March 2021 and continues to serve in that role. Stepanyan also shared his perspective during the roundtable, based on his broad foundation in international relations and political science. His experience in the Artsakh National Assembly and his academic contributions have made him a key figure in the ongoing struggle for Artsakh’s rights and recognition.

A capacity crowd listening to His Eminence Archbishop Anoushavan Tanielian deliver his message

In his opening remarks, Boyadjian eloquently stated, “Artsakh is the pride and dignity of the Armenian people. The fight for Artsakh and our nation’s survival will continue until achieved.” He underscored the critical role of the Diaspora in supporting Artsakh, especially in these challenging times.

Beglaryan and Stepanyan emphasized that Artsakh is not lost – if collective support and determination persist. They highlighted the dire needs of the people of Artsakh, particularly regarding the right of return, housing, employment and the lack of adequate support from the current Armenian regime. To this end, Beglaryan and Stepanyan have engaged in advocacy work with an international dimension. Before visiting New York, they spent a week in Washington, D.C. in meetings with members of Congress and government officials organized by the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). 

AYF Central Executive members Niree Kaprielian, Alec Soghomonian and Isabel Hagopian, New York and New Jersey AYF members, Former Artsakh State Minister Artak Beglaryan and Human Rights Ombudsman of Artsakh Gegham Stepanyan

His Eminence Archbishop Tanielian’s closing remarks focused on the collective struggle for Artsakh, affirming its central place in Armenian identity. He called for increased political, financial and moral support for the people of Artsakh during these dark times. The event concluded with blessings from Archbishop Tanielian and the clergy, followed by further discussions among the community leaders and guest speakers.

The “Artsakh Update” roundtable served as a powerful reminder of the resilience of the Armenian spirit and the critical role of the global Armenian Diaspora in supporting Artsakh. Through informed dialogue, shared commitment and strategic action, the event demonstrated the importance of unity in the face of adversity and the ongoing struggle for the rights and recognition of the people of Artsakh.

His Eminence Archbishop Anoushavan Tanielian blessing the table

On September 19, 2023, the Armenians of Artsakh were subjected to genocide through ethnic cleansing. This egregious act of violence was compounded by a preceding 10-month blockade imposed by the Azerbaijani government, effectively isolating the population and severing essential lifelines for food, medicine and energy. This dire humanitarian crisis unfolded under the indifferent gaze of the international community, which largely remained passive, betraying the fundamental principles of human rights and dignity. The silence and inaction of global powers in the face of such blatant aggression not only underscore the vulnerabilities of international diplomatic mechanisms but also serve as a grim reminder of the challenges Armenian communities face in preserving their existence and autonomy against overwhelming odds.

  •  Bio
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The ARF Eastern Region Central Committee’s headquarters is the Hairenik Building in Watertown, Mass. The ARF Eastern Region’s media and bookstore are also housed in this building, as are various other important Armenian community organizations. The ARF Eastern Region holds a convention annually and calls various consultative meetings and conferences throughout the year.


AW: Armenian Students for Artsakh research competition concludes with final event in Yerevan

John Hovhannisian
 Guest Contributor From the Party, Youth 0

The event concluding the “Armenian Students for Artsakh” Research Competition held at the ARF Aram Manukian Youth Center, Yerevan, February 1, 2024 (Photo: Hakob Kolyan)

YEREVAN—On February 1, the concluding event of the “Armenian Students for Artsakh” Research Competition took place at the ARF Aram Manukian Youth Center in Yerevan. The event was organized by the ARF Bureau Youth Office of Affairs under the auspices of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Science and Sports of the Republic of Artsakh.

The program, initiated in 2023, aimed to harness the professional abilities of Armenian students across various fields to address the Armenian cause, particularly the Artsakh issue. It sought to make the conducted studies available for effective utilization by influential institutions engaged in pro-Armenian activities. In the long term, the initiative strives to analyze issues objectively, foster analytical thinking and develop approaches crucial for mature political thought and activity.

The event was graced by the presence of the Artsakh Republic’s Minister of Education and Culture Norik Mkrtchyan, Artsakh National Assembly deputies Vahram Balayan and Metakse Hakobyan, as well as RA National Assembly deputies Armenouhi Kyureghyan, Christine Vardanyan and Garnik Danielyan.

At the event, top-performing students participating in the program delivered speeches presenting their studies, while their mentors provided testimonials. Twelve individual students and one student group from Armenia, Artsakh, Lebanon, Iran and the United States dedicated themselves to the project.

Special appreciation was accorded to the following two articles, distinguished by their importance and relevance.

  • “The destructive impact of the blockade and forcible displacement of Artsakh on the rights and mental state of the children of Artsakh”
    • Mentor – Gegham Stepanyan, Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Artsakh
    • Student – Datev Davtyan, Republic of Armenia
  • “The urgent necessity to preserve the spiritual and non-material heritage of Artsakh”
    • Mentor – Father Garegin Hambardzumyan, director of Artsakh’s spiritual and cultural heritage preservation office in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin
    • Student – Vahagn Khachatryan, Republic of Artsakh

The following students were recognized as winners.

  • First place – recipient of a $1,000 scholarship: 
    • “Relations between Azerbaijan and Georgia”
    • Mentor – Abraham Gasparyan, founding director of Genesis Armenia Center
    • Student Group – Hovhanes Ghazaryan, Lilit Yekmalyan, Latush Simonyan, Republic of Armenia
  • Second place – recipient of a $750 scholarship:
    • “Azerbaijan’s Caviar Diplomacy in Europe”
    • Mentor – Heghineh Evinyan, director of the European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy
    • Student – Narod Noramanian, Holland
  • Third place – recipient of a $500 scholarship
    • “Relations between Azerbaijan and Israel”
    • Mentor – Shahan Kandaharian, editor-in-chief of Beirut Aztag Daily
    • Student – Zhanna Vardanyan, Republic of Armenia 

At the conclusion, all participants were presented with certificates and gifts.

The organizers and winners of the “Armenian Students for Artsakh” Research Competition (Photo: Hakob Kolyan)

The ARF Bureau Office of Youth Affairs extends sincere thanks and gratitude to the donors and mentors of the project.

ARF Bureau member Hovsep Der Kevorkian (Photo: Hakob Kolyan)

In his remarks, ARF Bureau member and liaison to youth affairs, Hovsep Der Kevorkian, emphasized the three main focal points of the project: the students, the studies and the institutions dedicated to safeguarding Armenian rights. He highlighted that these studies serve not only as sources of information but also as platforms for recommendations and prospective action. Der Kevorkian underscored the strength of the Armenian people, particularly its students, portraying this project as a modest contribution toward consolidating their potential and enhancing their involvement in national affairs through innovative methods.

He added that some studies delve into how, over the years, Azerbaijan has leveraged various means to achieve its current successes, including stonewalling, diplomatic maneuvers, alliances and other strategies. The pressing question today, he argued, is how Armenians can strengthen the state and halt the gradual erosion of their positions, transforming this trend into a path of growth and recovery leading to new triumphs.

To rally Armenian students around this crucial issue, the ARF Bureau Office of Youth Affairs will continue its mission to encourage their engagement in pro-Armenian activities, prioritizing support for Artsakh and the protection of the rights of Artsakh Armenians.




RFE/RL Armenian Service – 02/15/2024

Emil Lazarian 
                                        Thursday, 


Iran Again Warns Against ‘Outside Powers’ In South Caucasus


Iran - Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi meets Armenian Deputy Prime Minister Mher 
Grigorian, Tehran, .


In what appeared to be a fresh warning to Armenia, Iranian President Ebrahim 
Raisi told a visiting senior Armenian official on Thursday that Tehran remains 
strongly opposed to the geopolitical presence of outside powers in the South 
Caucasus.

Raisi’s office singled out the issue in its readout of his meeting with Deputy 
Prime Minister Mher Grigorian reported by Iranian news agencies. The 
intervention of “outsiders” in regional disputes could only exacerbate, rather 
than resolve, them, he said in a clear reference to the United States and the 
European Union.

Raisi made the same point in a December phone call with Prime Minister Nikol 
Pashinian. In recent years, Pashinian’s government has increasingly pinned its 
hopes on U.S. and EU efforts to broker an Armenian-Azerbaijani peace treaty.

Russia is very critical of those efforts, saying that they are primarily aimed 
at driving Moscow out of the region and could only spell more trouble for the 
Armenians.

“The future of the South Caucasus should be decided by the countries for which 
this region is a common home. Neither the United States, nor France, nor the 
European Union are among such countries,” Russian Deputy Foreign Minister 
Mikhail Galuzin told the Moscow daily Izvestia in an interview published on 
Thursday.

“Therefore, we believe that the involvement of extra-regional forces, 
representatives of the West in this region, something towards which official 
Yerevan is unfortunately inclined, is not useful,” said Galuzin.

Amid Armenia’s unprecedented rift with Russia, Pashinian’s government has 
pledged to “diversify” the South Caucasus country’s foreign and security policy 
through closer links with the Western powers. Last September, it hosted a 
U.S.-Armenian military exercise criticized by both Moscow and Tehran.

Despite his clear warning to Yerevan, Raisi on Thursday described Iran’s current 
relationship with Armenia as “friendly” and “constructive.” He called for the 
“full implementation” of economic agreements reached by the two neighboring 
states.

An Armenian delegation headed Grigorian visited Tehran for a regular session of 
an Armenian-Iranian intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation.

Iran backs Armenia in its rejection of Azerbaijani demands for an 
extraterritorial corridor that would connect Azerbaijan to its Nakhichevan 
exclave through Syunik, the only Armenian region bordering the Islamic Republic. 
According to an Armenian government statement, during his meeting with Raisi, 
Grigorian praised Tehran’s stance on “the inviolability of Armenia’s territorial 
integrity and sovereignty.”




Pashinian Warns Of ‘Large-Scale’ Azeri Attack On Armenia


Russia - Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and Azerbaijan's President 
Ilham Aliyev listen to a guide during a visit to the Catherine Palace on the 
sidelines of the CIS summit in St. Petersburg, December 26, 2023.


Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian on Thursday rejected Azerbaijan’s continuing 
demands for legislative changes in Armenia and said that Baku may be planning 
“large-scale” military aggression against his country.

Pashinian complained that despite his readiness for compromise, the Azerbaijani 
leadership is pursuing a “policy of military coercion” in an effort to clinch 
more Armenian territory and other concessions from Yerevan. He said that it is 
reluctant to delimit the long border between the two states where four Armenian 
soldiers were killed in an Azerbaijani ceasefire violation on Tuesday.

“Our analysis shows that there may be one reason for this and that reason may 
be, for example, the launch of military operations at some sections of the 
border with the prospect of turning the military escalation into a full-scale 
war against Armenia,” he said during a weekly cabinet meeting in Yerevan.

Pashinian went on to reject Azerbaijani statements regarding the Armenian 
constitution and other legislative acts, saying that they constitute a violation 
of Armenia’s sovereignty and interference in its internal affairs.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev reiterated on Wednesday that he will not sign 
a peace treaty discussed by the two sides “if Armenia does not bring its 
legislation to a normal state.” He said that legislation contains territorial 
claims to Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan - Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev is sworn in for a new term in 
office, .

Aliyev said on February 1 that Armenia should remove from its constitution a 
reference to its 1990 declaration of independence which in turn mentions a 1989 
unification act adopted by the legislative bodies of Soviet Armenia and the then 
Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast.

Pashinian countered on Thursday that during their peace talks and written 
exchanges last year two sides agreed to make sure that they “cannot refer to 
their respective laws to refuse to comply with any provisions of the peace 
treaty.”

“Therefore, there are no legal provisions in Armenia that prevent the 
implementation of the peace treaty,” he said.

Pashinian himself declared last month, before Aliyev’s statements on the issue, 
that Armenia needs a new constitution reflecting the “new geopolitical 
environment” in the region. His political foes and other critics say that he did 
so under Azerbaijani pressure. They also maintain that Pashinian’s appeasement 
policy will not stop Azerbaijan from demanding further Armenian concessions and 
resorting to military action for that purpose.

Pashinian has denied that he wants to scrap the current Armenian constitution at 
the behest of Baku. Still, he has said that peace with Azerbaijan will be 
impossible as long as the constitutional reference to the 1990 declaration 
remains in place.

Aliyev on Wednesday also indicated that he still has no intention to resume 
peace talks with Armenia mediated by the European Union and the United States. 
“We don’t need mediators to normalize relations with Yerevan,” he said after 
being sworn in for a fifth term in office.




Karabakh Official Unconvinced By Russia’s Calls For Return Of Refugees

        • Shoghik Galstian

Nagorno-Karabakh - Russian peacekeepers help ethnic Armenian civilians to take 
shelter at their base near Stepanakert, September 21, 2023


Nagorno-Karabakh’s human rights ombudsman dismissed on Thursday Russia’s offers 
to help Karabakh Armenians displaced by last September’s Azerbaijani military 
offensive return to their homeland.

Gegham Stepanian insisted that they will not go back even if Moscow offers them 
additional security guarantees.

“I believe that international guarantees are needed instead,” he told a news 
conference in Yerevan. “The track record of the Russian peacekeeping contingent 
deployed to Artsakh after 2020 shows that that guarantee is not enough to ensure 
security in Artsakh.”

Armenia has denounced the Russian peacekeepers for their failure to prevent or 
stop the September 19-20 assault that restored Baku’s full control over Karabakh 
and forced the region’s practically entire population to flee to Armenia. 
President Vladimir Putin and other Russian officials have rejected the criticism.

The Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, said on Wednesday 
that Moscow is now discussing with Baku the possibility of the safe return of 
the more than 100,000 Karabakh refugees. Earlier this week, Russia’s Deputy 
Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin similarly called for “creating conditions” for 
their repatriation.

Armenia - Gegham Stepanian, Karabakh's human rights ombusdman, at a news 
conference in Yerevan, .

Galuzin also claimed that the Karabakh Armenians left their homeland willingly. 
Stepanian condemned the claim.

“The Russian peacekeeping contingent should have been the first to certify that 
people left under real threat of physical annihilation,” said the ombudsman 
exiled in Armenia along with other Karabakh leaders.

Moscow is not known to have contacted any of those leaders so far to discuss the 
repatriation issue. It did not prevent Azerbaijani security services from 
arresting eight former political and military leaders of Karabakh during the 
mass exodus.

The 2,000 or so Russian peacekeepers remain stationed in Karabakh despite the 
fact that only a few dozen ethnic Armenians are reportedly left there. A senior 
Russian diplomat said in October that their mission “will also be necessary in 
the future.”




Fired Armenian Minister Indicted

        • Robert Zargarian
        • Naira Bulghadarian

Armenia - Economy Minister Vahan Kerobian speaks in the Armenian parliament, 
December 6, 2023.


One day after being relieved of his duties, former Economy Minister Vahan 
Kerobian was indicted and detained on Thursday in an ongoing corruption 
investigation criticized by him.

Armenia’s Investigative Committee implicated him in the alleged rigging of a 
procurement tender which was organized by the Ministry of Economy and 
invalidated by a court last June.

Kerobian entered the committee headquarters in Yerevan early in the afternoon 
and remained there as of 9 p.m. local time. His lawyer, Tigran Yegorian, said 
later in the evening that the law-enforcement agency has asked a court to remand 
his client in pre-trial custody on charges of abuse of power. Kerobian denies 
the accusations, Yegorian told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service.

A U.S.-registered software company, Synergy International Systems, initially won 
the tender despite submitting a much higher bid, worth 392 million drams (about 
$1 million), than the other bidder, Harmonia. In a statement issued on Thursday 
evening, the Investigative Committee said a group of ministry officials colluded 
with senior Synergy executives to illegally disqualify Harmonia and ensure 
Synergy’s victory “at any cost.”

The statement said that the unnamed officials planned on granting the 
procurement contract to Synergy even after the Ministry of Economy reluctantly 
declared Harmonia the winner of the tender in August. It did not accuse them of 
bribery or give any reasons for the preferential treatment allegedly enjoyed by 
Synergy.

The committee spokesman, Gor Abrahamian, confirmed that Kerobian is among five 
ministry officials indicted in the case. But he did not elaborate on the charges 
brought against the ex-minister.

The investigators rounded up the four other officials, including Kerobian’s 
deputy Ani Ispirian, on January 31. They all were set free or moved to house 
arrest in the following days.

Also arrested two weeks ago were Synergy’s founder Ashot Hovanesian and two 
current and former employees. The latter were set free on Monday. Hovanesian’s 
lawyers on Tuesday condemned his continuing detention as “illegal and 
discriminatory.”

Another ministry official was arrested in a separate corruption inquiry jointly 
conducted by the Investigative Committee and the National Security Service. It 
stems from the alleged misuse of government aid meant for private entrepreneurs 
setting up intensive fruit orchards.

Kerobian repeatedly criticized both criminal cases before losing his job, 
arguing that the investigators did not charge his subordinates with bribery or 
embezzlement of public funds. He complained last week that the inquiries have 
“paralyzed the work of the entire state system” as many government officials are 
now not sure that “their honest work will not be punished in the end.”



Reposted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
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MS: Will There Be Any ‘Syunik Corridor’?

Paul Hambardsumian

by Suren Sargsyan
Suren Sargsyan

Last week, Ilham Aliyev won the presidential elections held in Azerbaijan. The victory was given to him quite easily, without any upheaval and he will continue his presidency in the following years. Now, nothing prevents Aliyev from continuing his aggressive actions against Armenia. In particular, he will try to bring to life the so-called “Syunik Corridor” (or “Zangezur Corridor”) project.

This is a project that the Turkish-Azerbaijani tandem had in mind since the collapse of the USSR and, no matter what the official statements are now, it is hard to believe that the two countries have changed their geopolitical priorities. Turkey needs this corridor for its aspirations to unite and lead the Turkic world, and Azerbaijan needs to provide a direct connection with Nakhichevan. At the same time, the implementation of this project is also necessary for Russia, because the settlement of Armenian-Turkish and Armenian-Azerbaijani relations will mean that it will no longer make sense for Russia to have a military presence in Artsakh (there are no Armenians there but there are Russian troops still there) or on the territory of Armenia against Turkey (the Russian military base in Gyumri). Therefore, Russia needs this project if it is to ensure the security of the corridor, routes and communications, as well as its physical military presence on the ground. Actually, an agreement about the implementation of this project was reached with the statement of November 9, 2020 and it can be assumed that the Armenian authorities have given their consent to the project verbally, despite the fact that this statement is just a piece of paper.

When we talk about outside players, we also need to talk about those who will oppose this project. It is important to understand Iran’s position and it is unequivocally negative. Iran will not want to lose its regional transit position, and at the same time it will not want to lose or reshape its external border with Armenia which provides it an exit to Georgia, the Black Sea, etc. Yet another player is the United States, which opposes this project because Washington’s number one priority is to contain Russia, and with the implementation of this project, Washington will not be able to push Russia out of the South Caucasus region.

It is also important to understand which player is ready for what kind of actions to implement or to oppose the project. It is natural that the problem should be solved militarily so that the Armenian authorities can justify what happened in their own country and the Turkish-Azerbaijani tandem will also give Russia a solid opportunity to move its troops from Nagorno-Karabakh to Syunik and deploy them right there in Syunik as the only security guarantor of Armenians.

In this scenario, everything may seem too logical. But there is also another important factor, which is adroitly chosen timing. Timing is crucial. It could happen when there is a tense pre-election or post-election processes in the USA and no one in Washington is particularly interested in what is happening in the South Caucasus – just as it happened during the 2020 elections.

Of course, this is not the only scenario for developments, but at the moment it seems the most possible one, to which Armenia cannot be an obstacle. But here, Iran and the United States, which surprisingly have common interests on this issue, can hinder Azerbaijan’s plans.

A day of love, Armenian style

Elizabeth Jabejian
Feb 14 2024
By Mayalie Cieutat

Gyumri, ARMENIA – Newlyweds in Gyumri, Armenia got all fired up about their traditional spring event, Trndez.

The whole town has been preparing for a few days now for the big firelit night held February 13th in celebration of prosperity, love, spring and renewal.

Trndez is an Armenian apostolic holiday, where newlywed couples traditionally jump above a bonfire for a long and prosperous marriage. 

A few hundred people gathered on Vartanants Square, the central square of Gyumri, at 5 p.m. and formed a circle around a big pile of hay. As more people joined, old women, parents and their c

hildren threw flower crowns and other plants on top of the hay. 

“It’s meant for happiness in the family and health for the following year,” said Tamara Hovannissian, an Armenian language teacher in Gyumri, who attended the event.

Hovannissian said the flowers and plants might be a reminder of the olive branches that were brought with Jesus to the temple of Jerusalem 40 days after his birth, according to Armenian apostolic belief. 

She also said that normally, families get those flowers during Easter of the previous year. They keep them in their house all year and burn them on Trndez to keep sicknesses away.

At 5:40 p.m. the crowd was split in half to make way for the priests coming from the Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God, on Vartanants Square.

A compact horde of eager old women quickly followed them to get closer to the center of the circle. A few unfriendly looks and irritated Armenian comments later, everyone was ready for the ceremony. 

Children were placed on the inner circle, holding each other by the pinkie. 

Children stand around the haystack. (Mayalie Cieutat/YJI)

The priests sang and read the prayers to the sound of the cathedral bells. Separated into two groups with different attire, they spun around the hay as they recited prayers.

“It does not symbolize anything” about the meaning of the mysterious choreography, said Hovannissian, who is an Armenian and French language teacher in Gyumri.

Women, men and children all made the sign of the cross in unison all throughout the ceremony. In 2011, approximately 92% of the Armenian population claimed to be of the Armenian apostolic faith, according to the U.S. State Department’s Office of International Religious freedoms.


One of the priests then took a long torch, lit it with a candle and then ignited the hay all over. As it caught fire, the crowd seemed to reorganize itself.

All decked out in green t-shirts made for the occasion, members of Hrayrk, a traditional dance group based in Gyumri, came to the front with loud enthusiastic shouts. Music seemed to start blurting out from the ground. The front-liners of the circle started dancing around a blaze that reached about two meters higher than them. 

Temperature rose as fast as spirits as children and young people started to dance and shout.

But as people kept spinning, they grew dangerously close to the fire and a group of men urged the crowd to keep away.

And then the fire started turning into ashes. The dances stopped and the women rushed to the fire to light candles from the flames and to collect the ashes.

“The light is illumination,” said Varduhi Harutyunyan, a local holding a candle to her heart.

Harutyunyan, who was born and raised in Gyumri, explained that Trndez is celebrated “40 days after the birth of Jesus Christ” when he was, according to Armenian apostolic belief, taken to the temple of Jerusalem and purified.

A man lights a candle to bring some of the fire home with him. (Mayalie Cieutat/YJI)

“We also do it on Christmas Eve,” she said, which in Armenia is celebrated on January 5th.

“The ashes are for under the trees and flowers,” said Harutyunyan, “for blessing the plants and for a good harvest.” They are meant for “unity, no war, and peace in the world.”

Candles like hers – held inside a Coca-Cola plastic bottle cut in half – were sold around the square by local residents.

The crowd, which had scattered across the square, came back together to start the jumping part of the ceremony. Children, couples, grandparents and toddlers started jumping in pairs and creating a human tunnel with their arms for following jumpers.

New couples and newly married people are most likely to jump over the fire, said Arsen Sahakyan, who works at a marketing and creative lab in Gyumri.

Locals believe that the couples who got married that year should jump over the fire to be happy, healthy, blessed and purified.

“During the wedding, it makes it so it brings happiness,” said Hovannissian. She added that “it’s mandatory” for the fire to touch the couple’s legs while they are jumping, for it to bring happiness.

Matthew Elyan, an Armenian American who was present at the ceremony, said he once celebrated Trndez in Los Angeles, where he is from. He remembered jumping over a fire in what was “similar to a marshmallow stove.”

“Actually jumping over the fire is not really common,” Elyan said, of celebrating Trndez in Los Angeles. “We have to change that. We’ll buy some more stoves.”

Trndez wasn’t always celebrated as it is today though, said Sahakyan.

When Armenia became Christian, the church reclaimed this tradition to mark a clear break with pre-fourth century polytheistic customs.

“They had a mission to kill other religion stuff,” Sahakyan said. “They started to jump over the fire to say that ‘we are over that other god.’”

Instead, Trndez used to be a pagan celebration for the god of fire in ancient polytheist Armenia.

Back then, Sahakyan said, there was “no jumping, just celebrating.”

Mayalie Cieutat is a Junior Reporter with Youth Journalism International.



Video Interview: "Armenia, My Home" ’s Andrew Goldberg

Hagop Kamalian

Feb 14 2024

Video Interview: Armenia, My Home’s Andrew Goldberg

2 hours agoAlexa Alfano

Directed by So Much Film’s Andrew Goldberg and narrated by Andrea Martin (Only Murders in the Building), the upcoming documentary Armenia, My Home explores the storied country’s past and present. Through interviews with familiar faces from the diaspora, archival photographs and rich footage of the nation known for fusing the East and West, the doc delves into the modern-day Republic of Armenia’s unique cultural tapestry, which spans thousands of years.

TV Real Weekly spoke to Goldberg about what prompted the film, sifting through mountains of history for what shines through, the partnership between So Much Film and PBS and more. Armenia, My Home is set to bow on PBS stations on February 23.