BY JIBID MELKONIAN and MAYA BALMANUKYAN

As the United States marks 250 and Armenia celebrates 35, it is important to reflect upon the democratic values that Armenian Americans have long embraced and celebrated. The Armenian community is defined by resilience and perseverance. In honor of this legacy, ensuring that our voices are heard and our concerns are represented is both a privilege and a responsibility. Participation in the democratic process honors those who fought to preserve our identity, and helps shape a future that reflects our community’s values and aspirations.

In pursuit of higher education, we have come to acknowledge the reality many hope to avoid; voting is not something separate from our everyday lives. The sanctity of higher education instilled upon us by the Armenian-Americans who have fought to provide us with the opportunity to establish ourselves reminds us that the people we elect make decisions about education, job opportunities, housing, and the cost of living. Whether we are thinking about tuition, rent, or future employment, public policy directly affects the opportunities available to us. At a time when many young people face uncertainty about the future, participating in the democratic process is one of the most effective ways to help shape the communities in which we hope to live, work, and thrive.

As Armenian Americans, this responsibility carries an even deeper meaning. Our community understands the importance of advocacy and collective action. It is our duty to continue voting with Armenian interests in mind as our diaspora grows. From strengthening Armenian-American relations to ensuring that issues important to our community remain visible, civic engagement allows us to transform our presence into meaningful influence. Communities that vote are communities that are heard. For a people who endured genocide, displacement, and generations of hardship, participation should never be taken for granted. Many of our ancestors did not have theopportunity to freely participate in democratic institutions. Today, we do. Casting a ballot is not only a way to influence the future, but also a way to honor the sacrifices that made our opportunities possible.

Voting strengthens our collective voice. Armenian Americans have built communities across the United States, particularly on the West Coast. As our numbers grow, our participation must grow alongside them. Every ballot cast sends a message that our community is engaged, invested, and committed to shaping a better future for ourselves, our families, and our homeland. Institutions such as HyeV otes have worked to register and mobilize Armenian-Americans, making civic participation more accessible and encouraging greater involvement among younger generations. Their efforts remind us that democracy is strongest when citizens take an active role in it.

As we codify America250 and Armenia35, let us resume our commitment to the democratic principles that have allowed Armenian Americans to thrive. Voting is one of the simplest yet most powerful ways to make our voices heard, hold leaders accountable, and help build the future we want to see. For a people who value community and unity, voting should become second nature. Being passive has never defined the Armenian spirit, and it should not define our generation. Our voices matter, our votes matter, and the future of our community depends on both.

Jibid Melkonian and Maya Balmanukian are alumni of the ANCA-WR Rising Leaders Internship Program.

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Azerbaijani soldier Nasimi Musayev shot at Syunik resident Ani Avetisyan in her home in Shaki village

The chair of the Investigative Committee became another government official who downplayed the breach of Armenia’s sovereign border, saying that the Azerbaijani soldier who crossed into Syunik and held a family at gunpoint “had no intent to kill.”

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Investigative committee chair Artur Poghosyan said that Nasimi Musayev, the Azerbaijani soldier who entered Shaki village resident Ani Avetisyan’s house on October 1, had been questioned and provided his account of the incident to his office.

Poghosyan sustained serious injuries when Musayev shot her, while holding her young children at gunpoint. Poghosyan has said that if she hadn’t acted her family would be dead.

“He has been questioned and has given testimony. I cannot disclose the content of the questioning. But I can say that he has given testimony and indicated the location, the incident, the route he used and how he arrived — he has described it all,” Poghosyan said.

Asked by a reporter why Musayev had opened fire, Poghosyan replied: “All I can say is that he had no intent to kill.”

The committee chairman stressed that this assessment was based on the factual circumstances of the incident.
He said Musayev was accused of causing grievous bodily harm, unlawful deprivation of liberty, violating the inviolability of a home, theft and illegally crossing the border. Poghosyan also said the preliminary investigation would be completed soon.

Efforts to downplay the events of October 1 began when Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan called the incident “a random criminal act” and went on to rebuke Poghosyan for not waiting for law enforcement to arrive.

According to Posghosyan, law enforcement officials arrived at the scene only after she was able to repel Musayev and he had fled her home.

Armenia’s National Security chief Alen Simonyan went on to seemingly defend Musayev, saying that he was lost and wandered into Armenia by mistake, effectively sweeping the fact that Armenia’s national border was breached under the rug.

In discussing this matter, Pashinyan and other government officials have said that the incident should not derail efforts to establish peace with Azerbaijan.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is interviewed at the Euronews Summit in Brussels on Nov. 3

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Tuesday said that Armenia could formally apply to join the European Union in 2027 or 2028.

Pashinyan made the announcement in Brussels where he is taking part in the Euronews EU Enlangement summit. He called Armenia formally applying to join the EU in 2027 or 2028 “realistic.”

“Next year we can be realistic. 2028 can be realistic,” Pashinyan said. “We started the process which will bring us to the final decision to submit application for formal membership of European Union.”

In presenting his government program to the National Assembly in August, Pashinyan said that the application for EU membership will take place “in the near future.”

That statement, and Yerevan’s general shift toward the West, have widened tensions between Armenia and Russia, which has said that a referendum on whether Armenia will join the EU or remain in the Eurasian Economic Union must occur “as early as possible,” effectively giving a deadline for the end of the year for Pashinyan to hold such a vote.

Russia and other EEU member states published a report last month that clears the way for the economic bloc to suspend Armenia’s membership.

The report, posted on the Russian government’s website on October 20, says that that Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan “have the right to consider” such a measure because of a 2025 Armenian law that declares the start of a “process” of Armenia’s accession to the European Union. The law runs counter to the EEU’s founding treaty and other rules, it says.

Armenia’s foreign ministry said at the time that it was still reviewing the report.

Pashinyan said Tuesday that membership in EU was a strategic choice for Yerevan, aimed at protecting Armenia’s democracy.

“For our people, democracy isn’t a matter of circumstances. It is a strategic choice,” Pashinyan said. “The European Union was one of the main partners of the Republic of Armenia in the democratic reform agenda implementation.”

“Our first intention is to create an alternative for the people of Armenia and for the Republic of Armenia, because, traditionally, the perception of our society and maybe our neighborhood was that Armenia has no alternative,” he added, reiterating his long-held position that Armenia must diversify its political and economic relations.

When asked about recent Russian threats that Armenia could become the next Ukraine, Pashinyan dismissed the comparison and claimed that his government’s priority was to the safeguard Armenia’s independence.

“Our goal is to level up, to develop our independence. And that is a legitimate goal. Nobody could reduce Armenia’s aspiration to be a more independent, more integrated country,” Pashinyan continued.

Pashinyan also said that ultimately the choice would be made by the Armenian people. Until recently he was dismissing Russian demands for a referendum, saying the timing was not right since an application to join the EU had not been submitted. His announcement at the Euronews summit, seemingly, changes that timeline.

Pashinyan also said that Armenia will not be able to simultaneously maintain full membership in the EU and the EEU.

He noted that under the current rules, membership in both organizations is incompatible, and contradictions exist particularly in the area of customs regulation.

“At some point, Armenia will have to make a choice. Our task now is to create a real alternative so that people can make a decision by understanding what opportunities both paths offer,” Pashinyan said.

· November 3, 2026

· November 3, 2026