The 6 Armenian parties, members of the European political families, addressed today in a joint letter to the EU leadership, the participants of the European Political Community Summit to be held in Yerevan, and the leaders of their political families, raising the issue of the anti-democratic developments in Armenia, as well as the problems of our compatriots and Artsakh Armenians held in Azerbaijan.

The authors of the letter are members of the European People’s Party RPA and “Heritage” party, ARF, a member of the Socialists and Democrats, “Prosperous Armenia” party, a member of the European conservatives and reformers, ANC, a member of the Alliance of European Liberals and Democrats, as well as Artsakh Democratic Party, a member of the European Free Alliance. We present the letter below.

Antonio Costa, President of the European Council,

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission,

To the heads of European political families,

To the heads of states and governments participating in the European Political Community Summit in Yerevan

your excellencies,

Dear colleagues,

As representatives of Armenian political parties that are members or observers in your respective European political families and are bound by a shared commitment to democracy, the rule of law and fundamental freedoms, we appeal to you with urgency and responsibility ahead of the European Political Conference Summit in Yerevan.

The RA government actively “takes care” of the international image of democratic progress.

However, that message is misleading. In fact, Nikol Pashinyan’s administration is consolidating power, weakening institutional checks and balances, and systematically using the law enforcement and judicial systems against political opponents and clergy.

Under these circumstances, the holding of the EEC summit in Yerevan is fraught with a dangerous political message. that democratic retreat can be ignored when it is politically convenient.

We urge you not to ignore the following realities.

1. Democratic retreat and political pressures. Armenia’s democratic indicators have deteriorated, as reflected in the evaluations of Freedom House, Transparency International and V-Dem Institute. Judicial and law enforcement mechanisms are increasingly used as political tools. Peaceful protests are restricted and political activism faces threats and arrests.

2. Political prisoners. More than 50 people are detained on various politically motivated charges, and their number is growing. Continued silence on these cases threatens to “normalize” politically motivated imprisonment.

3. State pressure on the Armenian Apostolic Church. The government is using prosecutions, lawsuits, travel bans, and an ongoing political campaign to bring the Armenian Apostolic Church under state control.

Clergy were arrested on trumped-up charges, bishops were restricted from traveling, and the courts were used to override church authority. The most obvious thing is that the ruling “Civil Agreement” party has clearly included the issue of the removal of the Catholicos in its political program. This is not a policy dispute, but an unconstitutional attack on a constitutionally protected institution.

4. Media suppression and destruction of free speech. Independent media are increasingly restricted. Journalists face physical attacks, threats and deprivation of state resources. As a result, the space for free speech is reduced and censorship increases.

We also use this opportunity to call on you to address the issues surrounding the reality created by the actions of the government of Azerbaijan, which seriously undermine the prospects for establishing peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

5. Armenian prisoners of war in Azerbaijan. According to official data, 19 Armenian prisoners of war and civilians remain in Azerbaijani custody, despite official claims to the contrary. Reports of torture and staged trials continue. At the same time, the issue of missing persons remains unresolved. The lack of transparency and tangible progress on this issue further undermines public trust and raises serious humanitarian concerns.

6. The ethnic cleansing of Artsakh and the imperative of return. The ethnic cleansing of Nagorno Karabakh/Artsakh, which forcibly displaced its entire indigenous Armenian population, should not be silenced. The continuous and systematic destruction of the Armenian Christian spiritual and cultural heritage in the region is a continuous insult to civilized values. International law unequivocally obliges Azerbaijan to guarantee the safe, voluntary and dignified return of all displaced persons to their homeland, an obligation that European leaders must actively defend.

Our message to European leaders is clear.

This is a moment of political clarity. Engagement should not be at the expense of principles.

We urge you to:

• Publicly and unequivocally demand the release of all political prisoners in Armenia and Armenian prisoners of war in Azerbaijan.

• To speak clearly against the pressures on the Armenian Apostolic Church and restrictions on media freedom.

• Ensure balanced engagement by meeting with opposition forces, independent civil society and representatives of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
The credibility of Europe’s commitment to democratic values ​​is at stake.

We call on you to act accordingly to stop hypocrisy and protect democracy.

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