Author: Andranik Taslakhchian

Asbarez: Declaration of the Diaspora Mobilization Conference

Andranik Taslakhchian
by Contributor

 

 April 12, 2026

 

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

The Diaspora National Mobilization Conference took place from April 11 to 12, in Paris, bringing together more than 150 distinguished intellectuals, political leaders, and public and community figures from Armenia, Artsakh, and 26 countries across the Diaspora. The conference provided a comprehensive assessment of Armenia–Diaspora relations amid ongoing national challenges and evolving geopolitical realities, highlighting the urgent need for coordinated mobilization around a unified pan-Armenian agenda.

At the opening session of the conference, welcoming remarks were delivered by His Holiness Karekin II and His Holiness Aram I, as well as by the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Artsakh and Acting President of the Republic of Artsakh, Ashot Danielyan. Best wishes for the success of the conference were also conveyed by ARF Bureau Representative Armen Rustamyan.

Following discussions on the four-point agenda, the conference adopted relevant decisions, outlined key priorities, and identified the steps to be undertaken in that direction.

A. THE STRATEGIC ROLE OF THE DIASPORA AND THE POLITICAL AGENDA

The role of the Diaspora in addressing the challenges facing the Armenian people holds strategic importance. Today, as Armenian statehood faces serious security threats and the foundations of national identity are being targeted, a pan-Armenian mobilization around national agendas has become imperative. The national and state interests and goals of Armenia, Artsakh, and the Armenian people are inseparable.

At the current stage, the key priorities of the Diaspora’s political agenda are:

Strengthening Armenian statehood. Developing and implementing a comprehensive strategic program aimed at reinforcing the Republic of Armenia’s strength and security.

Recognition and reparation of the Armenian Genocide. Despite the policies pursued by the current authorities of Armenia, the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide and the pursuit of reparations remain imperative.

The Artsakh issue. The issue of Artsakh remains on the agenda and includes the following practical steps:

  • Pursuing the immediate release of prisoners of war
  • Protecting the rights of the people of Artsakh and internationalizing the right to collective return
  • Safeguarding the Armenian cultural heritage of occupied Artsakh
  • Providing full support to the functioning of Artsakh’s state institutions
  • Working to protect the civil rights and address the socio-economic challenges of forcibly displaced Armenians from Artsakh currently residing in Armenia

B. THE ROLE OF NATIONAL VALUES AND THE ARMENIAN CHURCH IN PRESERVING ARMENIAN IDENTITY IN THE DIASPORA

Armenian identity is rooted in Armenian history, the Armenian Church, language, culture, and national values, which constitute the fundamental pillars of the Diaspora’s existence. In the current critical circumstances, the Armenian Church, as in the past, continues to serve not only as a spiritual anchor but also as a cornerstone of the Armenian people’s national and spiritual identity.

Condemning the campaign unleashed by the authorities of the Republic of Armenia against Armenian values and the Armenian Apostolic Church, it is necessary to take into account the following priorities:

  • Resistance. Any step or action directed against national identity must be met with organized and unified resistance.
  • Unity. Prevent division and establish strong unity around the Church.
  • Education and upbringing. Strengthen and expand the educational, cultural, and spiritual systems of the Diaspora to ensure the preservation and transmission of Armenian identity to larger numbers of future generations. Foster in the younger generation a sense of awareness of national collective interests and the will to uphold and take ownership of them.

C. KEY ISSUES AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS OF ARMENIA–DIASPORA RELATIONS

The national value system is the primary source of strength for the Republic of Armenia and the Armenian nation as a whole. It must serve as the indispensable foundation for shaping Armenia–Diaspora relations and the pan-Armenian agenda. Following the 44-day war, as well as the most recent war in Artsakh and the subsequent ethnic cleansing, the policies pursued by the Armenian authorities have led to deep disappointment and disillusionment among the Diaspora, giving rise to concerning tendencies of internal detachment from the homeland.

The policy of the current Armenian authorities—marked by the neglect, division, and disregard of the organized Diaspora and its support for the homeland—is strongly condemnable. Equally concerning is the inaction of the Armenian authorities toward Armenian communities in the Middle East facing existential threats.

Accordingly, the priorities of Armenia–Diaspora relations are:

Strategic Armenia–Diaspora cooperation: Restore and elevate institutional ties with the Diaspora to a new qualitative level.

Effective mechanisms for utilizing pan-Armenian capacity and networks: Ensure the broad participation of Diaspora professionals across various state projects and sectors, with the prospect of assuming responsibilities.

Formation of a unified Armenia–Diaspora framework: Develop and implement a unified policy across political, diplomatic, economic, scientific, military-industrial, informational, and educational-cultural spheres. In this context, the Diaspora’s professional potential plays a significant role in the application of Armenian soft power.

Western Armenian is endangered: The protection and development of Western Armenian requires an active role not only from the Diaspora but also from the Republic of Armenia.

Enhancing the role of the Diaspora: Initiate professional discussions on the possible models of Diaspora participation in the governance of the Republic of Armenia and in advancing pan-Armenian issues, with the aim of achieving national consensus and legal solutions within Armenia’s political system.

D. DIASPORA MOBILIZATION AND REVITALIZATION FOR PAN-ARMENIAN GOALS

The need for unity, strengthening, and reorganization of the Diaspora around pan-Armenian agendas is indisputable.

It is imperative to consolidate the Diaspora around national goals, modernize Diaspora structures and overall modes of operation, foster direct cooperation between communities, and consistently strengthen collective capacity. In this process of reorganization, the full engagement of youth is especially vital.

Diaspora mobilization must be carried out around strategic programs, taking into account the following priorities:

  • Strengthening the global Armenian nation and the Republic of Armenia as two components of one nation
  • Supporting the process of building a strong national state
  • Advancing the Armenian Cause and pan-Armenian objectives

In light of the above conclusions and outlined priorities, the Diaspora National Mobilization Conference emphasizes that, in today’s complex geopolitical environment, the vitality and strength of the Diaspora are inseparably linked to the homeland.

Our unity must be anchored in enduring national values and a vision of strengthening statehood as a shared agenda. The national and state interests and goals of Armenia, Artsakh, and the Armenian people are inseparable.

We reject the divisive and alienating approaches adopted by the current authorities of the Republic of Armenia.

Instead, we call for the establishment of healthy, coordinated, and balanced relations, which are the only guarantee for strengthening the Armenian nation and preserving Armenian statehood.

With a strong sense of national responsibility, our collective potential must serve exclusively pan-Armenian goals, ensuring a secure and guaranteed future for the Armenian people.

To this end, we emphasize the importance of the participation of all citizens of the Republic of Armenia—regardless of their place of residence—in National Assembly elections. We call on all citizens of the Republic of Armenia, including those abroad, to travel to Armenia by their own means and take part in the elections.

It is necessary to change the current authorities’ anti-national course and establish a national state-oriented path of development.

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Armenian, Estonian foreign ministers hold talks in Yerevan

Andranik Taslakhchian
External policy12:54, 10 April 2026
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Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan held a meeting on Friday in Yerevan with his Estonian counterpart Margus Tsahkna.

The one-on-one meeting was followed by talks in an expanded format.

A joint press conference is expected afterwards.

The meeting comes during Tsahkna’s official visit to Armenia and a day after the inauguration of the Estonian embassy in Yerevan.

Published by Armenpress, original at 
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Verelq: “Publication”. EU observers spend most of their time in entertainment venues

Andranik Taslakhchian

“Hraparak” newspaper writes:


“It turns out that EU observers, abandoning their mission, spend most of their time at entertainment venues.


Even when recording serious incidents, they cover up so as not to cast a shadow on false peace.


According to our information, on February 24, near Shorzha, the observers came under fire, they opened fire on them while guarding the border in two vehicles, and the observers wore the designated insignia and informed the Azerbaijani side in advance about their visit. There were no casualties, the members of the mission immediately returned to their cars, reported the incident to the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Armenia and Azerbaijan. However, no party has made a statement about this, fearing to disrupt the “peace” process.


By the way, they say that the head of the observation group M. After Ritter’s departure from Armenia, the rest of the group found themselves in a state of despondency, perhaps they understand that their presence is no longer meaningful, and instead of border control, they spend their time in entertainment centers.


We have photos that show observers visiting saunas, restaurants or just having fun in nature. “Dahuk” restaurant in Tsaghkadzor, “Khrchit” in Martuni and Yerevan saunas have become favorite places of Europeans.

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The erasure of historical memory cannot be caused by short-term politics

Andranik Taslakhchian

April 10, 2026

A letter regarding the forced resignation of Gzoyan, director of HCTI

April 9, 2026

Committee on Academic Freedom

Armenia:

N.G. Nikol Pashinyan

Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia

Your Excellency,

We are writing to you on behalf of the Committee on Academic Freedom of the Middle East Studies Association of North America (MESA) to express our concern regarding reports of the forced resignation of Dr. Edita Gzoyan, director of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute Foundation (AGMIF).

We urge his immediate reinstatement and demand that your office guarantee the academic integrity of the institute.

MESA was founded in 1966 with the goal of promoting scholarly research and teaching on the Middle East and North Africa. As a leading organization in the field, MESA publishes the “International Journal of Middle East Studies” and has around 2,800 members worldwide. MESA is committed to promoting academic freedom and freedom of expression both in the region and in the context of research in the region in North America and elsewhere.

Dr. Gzoyan, who was elected to his position in 2024 by the HCTI Board of Trustees, has played a key leadership role in promoting new scholarly work on the Armenian Genocide, modernizing the museum, and integrating young Armenian scholars into the global community of Genocide scholars.

His own scientific works on the transportation of children during the Armenian Genocide were published in leading European and American periodicals. He drew positive international attention to HCTI.

Therefore, we are concerned about press releases and communications with Armenian colleagues, according to which Dr. Gzoyan was forced to resign on February 10, 2026, after the official visit of US Vice President JD Vance to HCTI.

During that visit, he presented several of the Institute’s publications, including a paper on early 20th-century American press coverage of massacres and attacks against Transcaucasian Armenians that mention Nagorno-Karabakh, and accompanied Mr. Vance and his wife, Usha Bala Vance, to the museum and Armenian Genocide Memorial.

During the press conference on March 12, 2026, you mentioned that you demanded his resignation due to the inclusion of the Institute’s books on Nagorno Karabakh, calling those books “provocative” and contrary to Armenia’s foreign policy. Then, you bypassed the established procedure and appointed one of your staff members to the position of director, and replaced the members of the independent board of trustees with political allies.

We understand that Armenia is in a difficult and difficult situation, striving to end the multi-year conflict with Azerbaijan and reach a normalization of relations. However, erasure of historical memory cannot be caused by short-term political needs.

One of the goals of the establishment of HCTI was to confront the denial of the Armenian Genocide.

Protecting the academic freedom of scientists associated with one of the world’s leading research institutions and an important scientific resource dedicated to the study of the history and memory of the Armenians of the Ottoman Empire, HCTI, is essential.

We ask you to immediately restore Dr. Gzoyan to his position.

We urge the Government of Armenia to act quickly to remedy what appears to be an unjustified interference with scientific independence, and to restore the confidence of the international academic community in the institutional integrity of HCTI and Armenia’s commitment to academic freedom and fundamental human rights.

Հարգանքներով՝

Osama Makdisi

President of MESA

Professor, University of California, Berkeley

Judith E. Tucker

Chairman of the Committee on Academic Freedom

Professor Emeritus, Georgetown University

Պատճենը՝

Zhanna Andreasyan, RA Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports

Anahit Manasyan, RA Human Rights Defender

Michael O’Flaherty, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights

International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS)

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Moscow Scoffs At Yerevan’s Warnings

Andranik Taslakhchian
April 08, 2026


Russia – Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova listens during the annual news conference of Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow, January 18, 2023.

The Russian Foreign Ministry shrugged off on Wednesday the Armenian leadership’s threats to leave Russian-led defense and trade blocs voiced by parliament speaker Alen Simonian.

Simonian, who is a leading member of the ruling Civil Contract party, responded to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s stern warnings to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian publicly issued during their April 1 talks in Moscow.

Putin said, in particular, that Yerevan’s moves to eventually join the European Union are “not compatible” with Armenia’s continued membership in the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), which gives Armenian exporters tariff-free access to Russia’s market. Putin noted that Russia remains Armenia’s most important trading partner and supplies natural gas to it at a significant discount.

Simonian said on April 4 that Armenia will withdraw from the EEU and the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) if Moscow raises the gas prices or imposes other economic sanctions on the South Caucasus country. The Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, likened that statement to “threatening a hedgehog by baring one’s own capabilities.”

“I don’t want to seriously comment on statements by emotional politicians, who have already made numerous controversial comments, including on the topic of the CSTO,” Zakharova told reporters.

“We’ve even heard this: it’s not Armenia that’s leaving the CSTO but the CSTO that’s leaving Armenia,” she said, citing Pashinian’s past statements. “I don’t know whether this process is complete or still ongoing.”

Pashinian insisted on April 2 that his talks with Putin were “very successful.” He said they reached unspecified “concrete understandings in all areas of our agenda.”

During the talks, Putin also warned Yerevan against disqualifying pro-Russian opposition groups from Armenia’s upcoming parliamentary elections. Zakharova repeated that warning.

“We cannot ignore processes unfolding in the republic, and we hope that pro-Russian forces will be able to freely participate in the _expression_ of the will of Armenian citizens,” she said. “This is not about interference in internal affairs but rather about ensuring that those Armenian citizens who … favor ties and relations with Russia will also be able to do so freely and democratically.”

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Increasing the priority of the economy in Armenian-Russian relations is not

Andranik Taslakhchian

April 7, 2026

The Pashinyan-Putin meeting held in the Kremlin the other day continues to be widely discussed in the context of the upcoming parliamentary elections and tense internal political developments in Armenia. As we already reported, in his speech, Russian President Putin emphasized the benefits that Armenia’s economy receives due to EAEU membership and cheap Russian gas prices.

Vladimir Putin also referred to the prospect of RA EU membership, talking about the impossibility of combining EAEU with EU.  And most notably, Putin said that he would like pro-Russian forces in Armenia to be able to participate in internal political developments and not face restrictions.

The meeting was followed by the Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk’s reference to the current Armenian-Russian situation, saying that Yerevan is very close to the point after which Russia “will be forced to build” economic relations with Armenia in a different way. According to him, in case of Armenia’s accession to the European Union, Armenia will not have air communication with Russia. “Now there is no air communication with the countries of the European Union. This means that we will not have air communication with Armenia,” said the Russian Deputy Prime Minister.

According to Overchuk, the citizens of Armenia should be aware of the possible consequences of the decision taken by the official Yerevan regarding rapprochement with the European Union. “Perhaps it sounds very harsh, but we want people in Armenia to understand that if this happens, it will happen, because the decisions of rapprochement with the European Union have been made,” said the Russian official. By the way, Overchuk is the official who from time to time addresses the topic of Armenia’s EU integration, noting the impossibility of the EU and EAEU, and the fact that Russian business is beginning to lose interest in Armenia. In one of his last references, he also noted a trend that the Armenian-Russian trade turnover is starting to decrease significantly. This was also done by the Russian President during his previous meeting with Pashinyan.

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168.amin a conversation with Russian analyst Konstantin Simonov said that the Armenian-Russian relations have entered a pragmatic phase based on mutual interests. According to him, there is a significant decrease in the component of political loyalty in relations.

“Naturally, the economy came to the fore, because Yerevan is trying to seek political cooperation, as well as security in the West. This is a qualitative change due to regional realities, reinterpretation of the parties’ interests. For years, Armenian-Russian relations were built mainly around security: military cooperation, presence of a military base, Russia’s role as the main guarantor of security. However, the events of recent years have reduced the perception of the effectiveness of that model, as a result of which there has been a need to rethink the structure of relations. And against this background, the economy becomes the platform where the parties can maintain and even develop cooperation, avoiding the sharpest political contradictions.

It is especially important that Armenia remains a member of EAEU, which provides access to the Russian market, and for Russia, Armenia is an important economic partner in the region, both as a market and as a platform to maintain economic presence in the South Caucasus. In this sense, the deepening of economic relations also has a geopolitical context.

Emphasizing economic priority does not mean that political or security issues are completely off the agenda, but they have been moved to the background. This can be interpreted as an attempt to depoliticize relations in a difficult period, when the parties focus on the areas where cooperation is more realistic and effective,” said Simonov.

Therefore, according to him, it is no coincidence that the Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation mostly refers to Armenian-Russian relations, referring to EAEU, economy, business, etc.   According to him, increasing the priority of the economy in Armenian-Russian relations is not only a situational step, but also a consequence of new realities, an attempt to maintain the strategic connection in the changing geopolitical environment, moving it to a more pragmatic and calculated dimension.

“However, the stability and effectiveness of this process will depend on the extent to which the parties will be able to combine economic interests with security and political contradictions. At the same time, Russia’s desire to maintain its influence is noticeable. However, the observations about the gas price and the impossibility of the EU-EEU combination should not be considered as a negative statement, I think that these statements are aimed at showing the fact that Armenia’s benefits are in the EEU, and Armenia aspires to the EU, which, if it joins, cannot be a member of the EEU and receive the same benefits as currently. This is an open conversation, I think it’s natural that it’s like this, because it’s about the quality of people’s lives,” said Simonov.

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Prime Minister reviews new gas supply in Armenian village

Andranik Taslakhchian
Armenia12:05, 3 April 2026
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Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is touring Armavir Province to inspect government-funded renovation projects and meet local residents. After visiting a kindergarten in Vagharshapat and a school in Metsamor, Pashinyan stopped in Lernamerdz village, where the government recently completed the installation of gas supply. 

Local residents thanked the Prime Minister for resolving the “vitally important” issue. The gas supply was installed under a subvention project, with 45% funded by the government and the remainder covered by the Vagharshapat municipality.

“And that money has been collected from the taxes paid by citizens. It is very important to note this. Please always remember: the richer the state is, the richer you will be; and the richer you are, the richer the state will be. I want us to understand this logical connection,” the Prime Minister said.

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Flyone Armenia launches direct flights Yerevan-Vienna-Yerevan

Andranik Taslakhchian
Armenia20:00, 3 April 2026
Read the article in: العربيةFrançaisՀայերենRussian

Flyone Armenia, the first national airline of Armenia, has launched regular direct flights on the Yerevan – Vienna – Yerevan route starting from April 3, 2026.

The official inauguration ceremony of the regular direct flights took place at Zvartnots International Airport, the press service of the airline said in a statement.

“Today marks our inaugural flight. We are very pleased that Vienna has become part of our route network. We are confident that this destination will be in high demand,creating new opportunities for tourism and travel, as well as for our compatriots and transit passengers traveling to Europe,” said Aram Khachatryan, CEO of Flyone Armenia.

Flights will be operated from Zvartnots International Airport to Vienna International Airport twice a week — on Mondays and Fridays — with a convenient schedule and affordable fares.Tickets are available at flyone.am and via the FLYONE mobile app.

Read the article in: العربيةFrançaisՀայերենRussian

Published by Armenpress, original at 
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The relatives of the Armenian prisoners ask for the activation of the “Patronizing Power” mechanism

Andranik Taslakhchian

Relatives and representatives of Armenian prisoners held illegally in Azerbaijan have written to RA Minister of Foreign Affairs Ararat Mirzoyan, Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of the Swiss Confederation Ignazio Cassis, as well as President of the International Committee of the Red Cross Miryana Spoliarich Eger, with a request to launch the mechanism of “Patronizing Power” within the framework of international humanitarian law. This was reported by the Center for International and Comparative Law, whose head is Siranush Sahakyan, representative of the interests of Armenian prisoners at the ECHR.


“We, the relatives and representatives of Armenian prisoners held illegally in Azerbaijan, express our deep concern regarding the complete closure of the office of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Azerbaijan. This has significantly worsened the already dire situation of our relatives, leaving us in deep uncertainty about their fate and whereabouts.


Taking into account the above and recalling the obligations defined in the framework of international humanitarian law, we, with all respect, but also firmly call on Armenia to officially appeal to the government of the Swiss Confederation, so that the Swiss side assumes the role of “Patron Power”. This is a necessary and urgent step to ensure the protection of the rights, safety and dignity of our relatives through internationally recognized mechanisms.


We realize that the institution of “Patronizing Power” has not been used in recent decades and may seem unusual in today’s context, but the exceptional and illegal circumstances we are dealing with require just such exceptional measures. “Azerbaijan continues to keep Armenian prisoners isolated from their families, independent lawyers and impartial humanitarian organizations, which is a gross violation of international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions of 1949,” the letter states.


Noting that at least 19 people are currently being held in Baku, their relatives report that this situation has led to a serious vacuum in the protection of rights, creating high risks of violence, ill-treatment and even enforced disappearance.


“Given these urgent and extraordinary circumstances, as well as Switzerland’s status as the host state of the ICRC and a major supporter of international humanitarian law, we respectfully request:


The Government of the Republic of Armenia to officially appeal to the Government of the Swiss Confederation to assume the role of “Patronizing Power” in relation to all Armenian prisoners held by Azerbaijan.


To the Government of the Swiss Confederation to grant Armenia’s request and act as a “Protecting Power”, protecting the rights and dignity of prisoners as much as possible.


The International Committee of the Red Cross, as a substitute for the “Patron Power”, to support this appointment and assist Switzerland in the performance of its functions.


Time is of crucial importance. Continued delay may exacerbate the suffering of illegally detained persons and increase threats to their lives and physical integrity. Therefore, we call on the governments of the Republic of Armenia and Switzerland to take appropriate steps within the scope of their mandate, and to do it at the right time. In addition, we ask the International Committee of the Red Cross to support it in order to ensure the effective application of international law and the proper protection of the rights of ethnic Armenians in the conditions of ongoing violations,” the letter states.

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Past versus present. The asymmetry of the approaches of Yerevan and Baku

Andranik Taslakhchian

The statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan regarding the events of March 31, 1918 shows that history is a tool of political pressure for Baku.


The events that took place more than a century ago are presented one-sidedly as “Armenian genocide against Azerbaijanis”, forming a clear narrative that tends to influence the negotiation processes.


The events of Baku in 1918 are evaluated in historiography as complex and multi-layered conflicts due to the collapse of the Russian Empire, the chaos of the civil war and the power vacuum. Mutual violence was recorded during those events, and their one-sided presentation distorts the historical reality, serving specific political goals.


One of the key points of the Azerbaijani MFA’s statement is the use of the wording “genocide”. However, from the point of view of international law, genocide requires clear evidence of deliberate and systematic destruction. Giving such a qualification to the events of 1918 does not have a sufficient legal basis and is more propaganda in nature.


The use of the name “Irevan” instead of Yerevan deserves special attention. This is a clear political message with a territorial context. It shows that Azerbaijan continues to question the irreversibility of Armenia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.


The structure of the statement is also telling. The events of 1918 connect with the developments of the late 20th century, creating a single chain of blame, up to Khojaly and subsequent conflicts. This approach aims to form the perception in the eyes of the international community that Armenians are the authors of long-term and systematic violence. This is a narrative strategy, through which an attempt is made not only to justify one’s own actions, but also to prevent Armenia’s diplomatic opposition.


All this happens in the conditions when the Armenian authorities talk about “established peace” and try to reduce the political significance of historical topics. However, Baku’s behavior shows the opposite. Azerbaijan has not only not closed the pages of the past, but is actively turning them into a tool of political pressure.


As a result, an obvious asymmetry is formed. Yerevan is trying to close the historical agenda of the conflict, while Baku is turning it into a main lever of influence. Under these conditions, the talk of “peace” remains vulnerable because it is not reinforced by mutual political behavior.


The message of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan is clear: the conflict continues, just in a new format. Until a balance is formed in Armenian-Azerbaijani relations, statements about “peace” will remain mostly at the rhetorical level.


Political scientist Suren Surenyants




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