Author: Alex Jidarian

Over 45 Members of Congress Co-Sign ANCA-Backed Letter Advancing Pro-Armenian

Alex Jidarian
by Contributor

 

 March 12, 2026

 

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

Bipartisan Letter to House Appropriations Subcommittee Calls for Armenia Security Aid, Artsakh Refugee Relief, Azerbaijan Accountability, and TRIPP Oversight

WASHINGTON– The Armenian National Committee of America welcomed a Congressional Armenian Caucus letter — backed by over 45 Members of the House of Representatives — urging the House Appropriations Subcommittee on National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs to include critical pro-Armenia/Artsakh provisions in the Fiscal Year 2027 Appropriations Bill.

The letter, addressed to Subcommittee Chairman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) and Ranking Member Lois Frankel (D-FL), calls for expanded U.S.-Armenia security cooperation, $100 million in humanitarian assistance for Armenians forcibly displaced from Artsakh, a prohibition on U.S. military aid to Azerbaijan, Global Magnitsky Act sanctions accountability measures, and meaningful Congressional oversight of the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) framework.

“Over forty-five members of Congress have put their names behind a clear, principled message: the United States must stand with Armenia, hold Azerbaijan accountable, and deliver justice for the Armenians of Artsakh,” stated Aram Hamparian, ANCA Executive Director. “This letter — secured through the hard work of Armenian Americans mobilizing across the country — gives the Appropriations Subcommittee a bipartisan mandate to act. The FY27 appropriations process is one of the most powerful tools Congress has, and this Caucus letter puts that power to work for our Armenian American priorities.”

Congressional Armenian Caucus Founding Co-Chair Frank Pallone (D-NJ) led the letter and was joined by Representatives Gabe Amo (D-RI), Jake Auchincloss (D-MA), Nanette Diaz Barragan (D-CA), Joyce Beatty (D-OH), Don Beyer (D-VA), Nikki Budzinski (D-IL), Salud Carbajal (D-CA), Judy Chu (D-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA), Jasmine Crockett (D-TX), Danny Davis (D-IL), Valerie Foushee (D-NC), Laura Friedman (D-CA), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Steven Horsford (D-NV), Jared Huffman (D-CA), Jonathan Jackson (D-IL), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), John Larson (D-CT), George Latimer (D-NY), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Seth Magaziner (D-RI), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), James McGovern (D-MA), Rob Menendez (D-NJ), Dave Min (D-CA), Kevin Mullin (D-CA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Chris Pappas (D-NH), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Luz Rivas (D-CA), Linda Sanchez (D-CA), Janice Schakowsky (D-IL), Brad Schneider (D-IL), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Darren Soto (D-FL), Tom Suozzi (D-NY), Eric Swalwell (D-CA), Dina Titus (D-NV), Paul Tonko (D-NY), Lori Trahan (D-MA), and Nydia Velazquez (D-NY).

Armenian Security Assistance
The letter calls for $20 million in Foreign Military Financing (FMF) and $10 million in International Military Education and Training (IMET), warning that additional assistance “would play a critical role in strengthening Armenia’s defensive capabilities and establishing a deterrent against Azerbaijan’s unabated expansionism and threats of aggression and use of force.” The Caucus further cautioned that “the Aliyev regime will seek to take advantage of Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine and turmoil across the Middle East to press its military advantage against Armenia during this critical stage in negotiations.”

Humanitarian Relief for Displaced Armenians of Artsakh
The letter requests $100 million in AEECA Humanitarian Account funding, documenting that Azerbaijan’s 2023 invasion resulted in “the genocidal ethnic cleansing of the region’s entire indigenous Armenian population” following “a 10-month siege on the region, which saw Azerbaijan deliberately deprive over 120,000 ethnic Armenians access to food, fuel, medicine and other essential goods.” The Caucus warned that existing assistance “has been wholly insufficient to meet these families’ outstanding needs” and that Azerbaijan’s “continued refusal to guarantee the safe and secure return of Armenians to their homes, as required under international law, remains an ongoing obstacle to lasting peace in the region.”

Accountability for Azerbaijan and Release of Armenian Hostages
The letter calls for a full prohibition on U.S. military aid to Azerbaijan, documenting that “despite ongoing peace talks, Azerbaijan continues to engage in conduct that contradicts its stated commitment to peace” — including sentencing 16 Armenian prisoners of war to prison terms ranging from 15 years to life “following lengthy sham trials, during which Armenian detainees were subject to abuse and torture, and deprived of their fundamental legal rights.” The Caucus stated plainly: “President Aliyev has repeatedly demonstrated that he is not an honest broker for peace in the region, and the U.S. must not reward his regime with security assistance of any kind.” The letter also calls for a Global Magnitsky Act sanctions review targeting Azerbaijani officials responsible for human rights abuses.

TRIPP Oversight
On the TRIPP corridor framework, the letter acknowledges the agreement “raises concerns regarding Armenia’s sovereignty and ownership rights over its sovereign territory” and flags “unanswered questions regarding the security of the route, especially assurances that the route will not be used to facilitate military transportation or arms sales between Turkey and Azerbaijan, which would undermine Armenia’s security interests.” The Caucus also expressed concern over “Azerbaijan’s solicitation of foreign investment to engage in the demolition, reconstruction and redevelopment of formerly Armenian-populated areas,” calling for State and Commerce Department reporting on whether U.S.-based entities operating in Azerbaijan have “materially aided Azerbaijan’s ongoing human rights violations.”

The ANCA mobilized Armenian Americans nationwide through its action alert to contact their Representatives ahead of the co-signature deadline. Armenian Americans can continue to engage their Representatives and track legislative developments.

https://asbarez.com/over-45-members-of-congress-co-sign-anca-backed-letter-advancing-pro-armenian-foreign-aid-priorities/?fbclid=IwY2xjawQgjsNleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe9gOBbE79WdRq4I7Ir_kFZ2AgqcVV4qUysQsrrooDsrVTFFn7SG9oaq_827M_aem_xj9fZxHMkmoEwREVfVfYog


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Asbarez: European Lawmakers Urge EU to Reassess Policy Toward Azerbaijan

Alex Jidarian
by Asbarez Staff

 

 March 11, 2026

 

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

A group of 36 prominent Members of the European Parliament, representing the major political forces, issued a formal letter to European Union’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, demanding a fundamental “reassessment and strengthening” of the EU’s policy toward Azerbaijan.

This effort was spearheaded Marie Toussaint, who, along with the other signatories raises a series of alarming developments, including the recent sentencing of Artsakh leaders to lengthy—including life—prison terms and documented evidence of Azerbaijan helping Russia circumvent EU sanctions, the European Armenian Federation for Democracy and Justice reported on Wednesday.

“Continued engagement without meaningful conditionality risks undermining the credibility of the European Union,” the signatories warned, citing a “systematic repression” of political opposition and a “hostile” rejection of EU diplomatic efforts by the Azerbaijani Parliament.

A central focus of the European lawmakers’ demand is the unresolved humanitarian crisis following the 2023 military offensive against Artsakh. The letter explicitly condemns the “continued denial of the rights of Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh,” emphasizing that there is currently no credible framework for their right of return nor any functional mechanism for economic compensation for those displaced.

“The EU cannot remain silent while the fundamental rights of an entire population are erased,” the signatories stated, noting that the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly has already underscored the urgent need to address the status of displaced persons and the release of political prisoners.

The Members of the European Parliament called for five immediate actions:

A Human Rights Review: A comprehensive audit of the EU-Azerbaijan Partnership and Cooperation Agreement.
Targeted Sanctions: Activation of the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime against those responsible for arbitrary detentions.
High-Level Dialogue: An urgent summit to address the rights of displaced Armenians and the release of political prisoners.
Energy Suspension: The freezing of enhanced energy cooperation until Azerbaijan demonstrates tangible progress on human rights and sanctions compliance.
Anti-Circumvention Measures: Restrictive measures against entities, including the state-owned SOCAR, involved in facilitating Russian oil exports.

The letter also highlighted the the sentencing of Artsakh leaders such Ruben Vardanyan and Arayik Harutyunyan last month as a violation of international humanitarian norms. Furthermore, the letter pointed to the role of Azerbaijani nationals and networks in “shadow fleet” operations that allow Russian oil to bypass EU restrictions.

The European lawmakers concluded that the parliamentary momentum built throughout late 2025 provides a “clear political mandate” for Kallas to move beyond rhetoric and take principled action to defend the rule of law and international integrity.

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Asbarez: New Azerbaijani Attack ‘Highly Likely,’ Pashinyan Again Warns

Alex Jidarian
by Asbarez Staff

 

 

 

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

An Armenia border patrol soldier in Gegharkunik


An attack by Azerbaijan against Armenia is “highly likely,” Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan warned during an interview with France 24.

“Upon analyzing the statements coming out of official Baku, we conclude that indeed an attack on Armenia is highly likely,” Pashinyan said.

“Why?,” he asked, “because, for example, Baku very often makes statements about the so-called Western Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan is basically calling the entire Republic of Armenia ‘Western Azerbaijan.’ calling the territories of the Republic of Armenia as belonging to Azerbaijani,” said Pashinyan.

“On the diplomatic front, Azerbaijan is assuring that it doesn’t have intentions to attack, but where do these opinions on the likelihood of an attack come from? First of all, upon expressing the publicly agreed principles in the text of the peace treaty we see some difficulties caused by Azerbaijan,” the prime minister added.

“Secondly, it is the public narrative voiced on the highest level, which, in short, is reflected in calling the Republic of Armenia as ‘Western Azerbaijan.’ Third, the aggression on the border. For example, the latest incident, when we had four deaths, this incident wasn’t anyhow justified,” Pashinyan said.

“They stated that one of their soldiers was wounded, and we stated that we would investigate, because there’s an order not to carry out any unjustified actions, and if it turns out that there is a violation of that order there would be consequences envisioned by law,” Pashinyan explained.

“Despite these statements, Azerbaijan took advantage of that occasion in order to display aggression. It is the combination of these facts that leads many Armenian and international experts to conclude that Azerbaijan is planning a new attack on Armenia,” said Pashinyan.

He also addressed Azerbaijan’s continued warnings about Armenia’s military reforms, specifically Baku’s condemnation of arms supplies to Yerevan by France, saying that efforts to revitalize Armenia’s army should not concern other countries.

“Azerbaijan raises an uproar every time we have new cooperation [agreements] in the military-technical sector, but it does not say anything about the billions of dollars its spends on arms purchases. This is an important fact,” Pashinyan told France 24.

“Why is Azerbaijan concerned about the reforms of the Armenian army when it continues to occupy sovereign territories of the Republic of Armenia, and when we propose, based on the Alma Ata Declaration, to delimit our borders and conduct a simultaneous withdrawal of troops? This would be a significant step toward mutual trust. The reforms in our army should not concern anyone,” added Pashinyan.

Media: Zelensky may visit Armenia in near future

Alex Jidarian
Kyiv Independent, Ukraine
Feb 23 2024

President Volodymyr Zelensky may visit Armenia in “the near future,” as relations between Kyiv and Yerevan warm up, the Armenian news outlet FactorTV reported on Feb. 23.

Preparations for the visit are currently underway, but the exact date has not yet been confirmed, the outlet reported, citing its sources.

Ukraine's charge d'affaires in Armenia Valeri Lobach neither confirmed nor denied plans for a visit were in the works in response to FactorTV, instead hinting that Zelensky is preparing to come to Yerevan, Armenia’s capital.

"I can only say that spring will bring many positive events to Armenia,” Lobach told the outlet.

Once a long time-ally of Russia, especially vis-a-vis its primary regional foe Azerbaijan, Armenia has largely refrained from getting involved in Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine.

The calculus changed after Russian "peacekeepers" failed to prevent Azerbaijan's offensive into the Nagorno-Karabakh region, primarily populated by ethnic Armenians, in September 2023.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on Feb. 1 that Armenia's defense strategy cannot rely on Russia as it used to, and that Yerevan needed to more closely examine its security relations with the U.S., France, India, and other countries.

Lobach also told FactorTV that “Ukraine is ready to support Armenia,” and “will do everything for the regulation and stabilization of the region."

Zelensky met Pashinyan for the first time in October 2023 during his visit to Spain for the European Political Community Summit in Granada. The two discussed the security situation in the South Caucasus, bilateral cooperation, and interregional economic projects, Zelensky said at the time.

Armenia delivered its first batch of humanitarian aid to Ukraine in September of last year. Later in February 2024, representatives of the Union of Armenians of Ukraine and the Armenian Embassy in Ukraine delivered 10 tons of medical equipment to one of Ukraine's main military hospitals.

Sports: Sofia 2024 Day 7: Armenia wins gold and silver in non-Olympic categories

Alex Jidarian
Inside the Games
Feb 19 2024
  • By Rafael Khalatyan

    •  

  •  Monday, 19 February 2024

Armenia's weightlifters won their third gold and fifth medal at the 2024 European Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria. So far, however, all their medals have come in non-Olympic weight categories.

Hakob Mkrtchyan and Davit Hovhannisyan topped the podium in the men's 96 kg category. Hovhannisyan, the returning champion, was at his best in the snatch. He finished with 169 kg, 3 kg better than Mkrtchyan. Pavel Khadasevich (AIN) was third with 165 kg. But Mkrtchyan, former world champion, was more successful in the clean and jerk. 

He lifted 209 kg in his third attempt, while Hovhannisyan missed the 210 kg, and became double European champion with a total of 375 kg. Hovhannisyan was 1 kg behind. Yulian Kurlovich (AIN) was slightly better than Khadasevich in the clean and jerk, but it was Khadasevich who went home with the bronze medal in the total. 

Without Iryna Dekha there was no clear favourite in the women's 81 kg. Three lifters managed 103 kg in the snatch, but Weronika Zelinska (Poland) was the first to lift the weight and took the gold medal. Elena Erighina (AIN) was second and Ilke Lagrou of Belgium third. 

Zelinska and Erighina battled for the gold medal in the clean and jerk, with the Polish athlete finishing first with 132 kg, 1 kg ahead of Erighina. Lagrou failed in all three attempts, leaving Turkey's Dilara Narin in third place.

Katherine Vibert had come to the European Championships with the aim of improving her total and breaking into the top 10 of the Olympic rankings, but she failed all three attempts in the snatch at 110 kg and two attempts in the clean and jerk at 140 kg. 

Armenian Resistance hero Manouchian joins France’s Panthéon luminaries

Alex Jidarian
Feb 21 2024
Amanda Morrow with RFI

The ashes of Armenian genocide survivor and hero of the French Resistance, Missak Manouchian, were on Wednesday inducted into the Paris Panthéon – 80 years after he and his comrades were executed during the Nazi occupation.

The solemn ceremony shines a light on the significant role that foreigners played in the liberation of France.

Manouchian’s wife Mélinée – also part of the Resistance – joined her husband in the mausoleum of revered historical figures in line with the wishes of his family.

She survived the war and died a French citizen in 1989.

In a speech in front of their coffins in the monument's nave, French President Emmanuel Macron said Manouchian had wanted to be a poet, but instead became "a soldier in the shadows".

The decision to give him France's highest posthumous honour was taken by Macron in 2023.

The names of 23 of his communist comrades – including Polish, Hungarian, Italian, Spanish and Romanian fighters – will be added to a commemorative plaque inside the Panthéon.

Far-right leader Marine Le Pen attended the ceremony despite suggestions by Macron that the presence of her National Rally party would be disrespectful.

  • France pays tribute to Badinter, minister who won fight to end death penalty

Born in 1906 in what was then the Ottoman Empire, Manouchian was an orphan and a survivor of the Armenian genocide of 1915 and 1916.

"In their footsteps walked inspectors from the police headquarters."

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/armenian-resistance-hero-manouchian-join-090912635.html 

Armenia warns that Azerbaijan is planning a ‘full-scale war’

Alex Jidarian
Feb 15 2024

Azerbaijan is planning a “full-scale war” against Armenia, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said Thursday, two days after a skirmish on their border left four Armenian troops dead.

“Our analysis shows that Azerbaijan wants to launch military action in some parts of the border with the prospect of turning military escalation into a full-scale war against Armenia,” Pashinyan said at a government meeting.

Azerbaijan continues ‘policy of military coercion’ against Armenia, warns Pashinyan

Alex Jidarian

 11:38,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 15, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has commented on the latest Azeri aggression targeting Armenia which left 4 soldiers dead and 1 wounded.

Speaking at the Cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that 4 on-duty servicemen near Nerkin Hand in Syunik Province were killed as a result of the aggressive actions of Azerbaijan on February 13. He expressed condolences to the families and friends of the fallen troops and said that the shooting was yet another manifestation of Azerbaijan’s destructive policy.

He reminded that Armenian authorities had launched an investigation into Azeri allegations that a day before an Armenian border guard had opened fire and wounded an Azeri soldier. Troops are instructed to not allow ceasefire violations and not give in to provocations, and thus, if the investigation were to conclude that a violation had taken place, those guilty would face consequences. “Nonetheless, the next morning Azerbaijan opened intense fire at the abovementioned position, which resulted in four deaths. The description of events shows that Azerbaijan’s intentions remain the same: to engage in a policy of military coercion against the Republic of Armenia. It is our impression that Azerbaijan doesn’t display any interest in ensuring border stability and security and there are numerous grounds for this. For example, back in 2022, we reached an agreement that the delimitation commissions’ mandate should include also border security issues. In accordance with the agreement, the Republic of Armenia created the Commission on State Border Delimitation and Border Security Issues between the Republic of Armenia and Republic of Azerbaijan, assuming that the commissions would also work around matters of border security, but Azerbaijan, despite the agreement, named its commission the State Commission for State Border Delimitation between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia, skipping the security component. This and several other circumstances give the grounds to conclude that Azerbaijan continues to engage in the so-called ‘give me what I want through talks otherwise I will take it through war’ policy,” Pashinyan said.

Armenia-EU partnership agenda enriched with new important mechanisms – Foreign Minister

Alex Jidarian

 19:49,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 13, ARMENPRESS.  The Armenia-EU agenda has been enriched with new important mechanisms, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan announced this at the end of  the fifth meeting of the EU-Armenia Partnership Council during the  joint press conference with the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell.
The parties noted with satisfaction that since the latest session, the Armenia-EU agenda has been enriched with new important mechanisms. Security, economy and mobility issues were at the center of the discussion.
Ararat Mirzoyan, highlighting the political and security dialogue and the deployment of EU observation mission on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, noted that the EU continues to be one of Armenia's main trade partners in the economic sphere.
"We have agreed to utilize all the existing mechanisms to further strengthen trade and economic ties, both at the bilateral level and through regional projects. In this regard, the importance of Armenia's participation in the Black Sea electric cable project, as well as the effective implementation of economic and investment programs was emphasized," said Mirzoyan.
The Armenian Foreign Minister  touched on the process of liberalization of the visa regime and emphasized that all the necessary requirements have been fulfilled and it is time to start a dialogue on the liberalization of the visa regime between Armenia and the EU.
"This is a choice that will bring our people together and ensure tangible results of our cooperation," Mirzoyan said.

Armenia, Iran could soon enhance energy swap deal

Alex Jidarian

 16:35,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 12, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures Gnel Sanosyan doesn’t rule out that Armenia and Iran could soon increase the volumes of the gas for electricity swap deal. 

The gas for electricity agreement between Armenia and Iran has been extended until 2030 and enables Armenia to import greater volumes of natural gas and export more electricity.

“I believe that in terms of the legal documentation we have implemented the important phase and soon, as required, according to needs and also infrastructures, we will be able to use that opportunity. New power transmission lines are under construction in order to be able to export greater volumes of electricity to Iran. Both sides have the desire to increase the volumes, and the changes will be visible in various stages,” Sanosyan told Armenpress.

The minister also spoke about the involvement of Iranian companies in construction projects in Armenia. He said that the bigger the project the harder it is to find contractors.

Iran, having highly developed construction firms and being Armenia’s neighbor, can have participation in construction programs in Armenia, and it has done so in some cases.

“I think this is a mutually beneficial process. We need a construction company, and they have the corresponding construction company, we are neighbors geographically, and it is easy to involve them in this work,” Sanosyan said.

The minister confirmed that Iran is interested in the reservoir construction projects in Armenia.

Armenia plans to built 15 new reservoirs and 3 projects will soon be put for bidding.

An Iranian company that won the tender to construct the Kajaran-Agarak section of the North-South road is now transporting equipment and will launch the construction soon.