Category: 2022

ANCA Rising Leaders 2022 – Session 2 participants at the Capitol for Lucine Kouchakdjian Capitol Hill Day

WASHINGTON, DC – A stellar group of Armenian American youth leaders from across the US took their pro-Artsakh/Armenia advocacy to the next level during the Armenian National Committee of America’s “Rising Leaders: Career Development and Civic Education” program, a unique three-day immersion seminar that encourages students to explore careers in policy, politics and media while advancing Armenian American community priorities.

“Our 2022 ANCA Rising Leaders brought their A-game to Washington, DC – inspiring everyone they engaged during three days of career exploration and ANCA advocacy,” said ANCA Programs director Alex Manoukian. “All our ANCA youth empowerment programs are laser-focused on providing the best opportunities for Armenian American students to excel professionally while expanding the Armenian American civic voice in all levels of government, policy, and media. We are thankful to our program partners, our captivating speakers, our generous donors, and, of course, our incredible participants for making ANCA Rising Leaders 2022 such a success.”

During two separate three-day sessions, coinciding with Spring Break timelines at major universities, participants sat down with Congressional leaders, international development specialists, government, media and communication experts to learn more about the myriad of career opportunities in the nation’s capital and to connect with the growing Armenian American professional network in the nation’s capital

Once again, the ANCA teamed up with the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) Eastern and Western U.S. and the Georgetown University Armenian Students Association (Georgetown ASA) in hosting these unique student-focused events, generously supported by Dean Shahinian and the family of the late ANCA activist Lucine Kouchakdjian. Throughout the weekend, the ANCA and AYF discussed the broad range of youth empowerment programs both organizations host – in Washington, DC and communities across the US, as well as in Armenia and Artsakh – offering a variety of internship and volunteer options for students to explore while in college and beyond.

Planning for the Future:  Career Opportunities in the Nation’s Capital

The first day of the Rising Leaders program focused on career development with a full day of interactive presentations by the ANCA Hovig Apo Saghdejian Capital Gateway Program Advisory Committee (CGPAC) focusing on job search fundamentals, from resume preparation and networking 101 to an overview of the Washington, DC internship and job market. CGPAC chair Maria Martirosyan and board members Tadeh Issakhanian, Areni Margossian, Arsen Markarov and Lucine Mikhanjian – all alumni of the Capital Gateway Program who have excelled in their chosen careers – offered one-on-one mentoring to the Rising Leaders and insights on best practices of embarking on their post-university job search.

ANCA National Board Member Ani Tchaghlasian discusses the important role that every Armenian American can play – whatever their career choices – in defending Artsakh, supporting Armenia, and securing justice for the Armenian Genocide.

ANCA National Board member Ani Tchaghlasian offered keynote remarks during the first session, explaining how she has balanced her career in finance with Armenian American advocacy priorities and the important role that every Armenian American can play – whatever their career choices – in defending Artsakh, supporting Armenia and securing justice for the Armenian Genocide. “Our ANCA Rising Leaders are inspiring – each bringing their particular career interests and unique take on Armenian American advocacy priorities to Washington, DC to learn from industry experts and hone their advocacy skills in service to our community and cause,” said Tchaghlasian. “The ANCA looks forward to working with each and every one of these leaders throughout their university years and beyond to help take youth involvement in US policymaking to the next level.”

ANCA Rising Leaders 2022 – Session 2 participants with ANCA National Board Member Zanku Armenian, Hovig Apo Saghdejian Capital Gateway Program Advisory Committee Chair Maria Martirosyan and members Tadeh Issakhanian and Arsen Markarov, and the ANCA’s Nerses Semerjian and Elizabeth Chouldjian.

During the second session, ANCA National Board member Zanku Armenian offered the career exploration keynote and presented a deep dive into effective public policy and communication strategies and how to leverage a keen understanding of social media and traditional media in advancing Armenian American priorities. “Communicating the realities of the 2020 Artsakh War and Azerbaijan’s ongoing attacks on the Armenian homeland to the administration and Congress – and in US media – is paramount in our ongoing efforts to hold Aliyev and Erdogan accountable for their genocidal actions, to get lifesaving US assistance to the people of Artsakh, and to zero-out military aid to Azerbaijan,” explained Armenian. “The ANCA Rising Leaders and the Lucine Kouchakdjian Capitol Hill Day play a critical role in offering hands-on advocacy and media training to Armenian American youth ready to take their pro-Artsakh advocacy to the next level.”

Insights into government relations, international development and media careers in Washington, DC were offered by Karoun Tcholakian from the Department of Health and Human Services Department of Global Affairs; Sam Tatevosyan, director of Government Relations at McDonald’s Corporation; Mannik Sakayan, an independent consultant on policy and advocacy with decades of Capitol Hill experience; Greg Aftandilian, a professor and foreign policy expert whose career has spanned the State Department and Congress; Nina Etyemezian, an international development executive with decades of experience at USAID and other global initiatives; Taleen Mekhdjavakian, senior director of Government Affairs at Fresenius Medical Care; Mher Setian, president and CEO of SOSi International; Bob Sogegian, CEO at Exovera; Aaron Sherinian, global communications and public relations expert with a career spanning US Foreign Service to the UN Agency, and a score of philanthropic organizations; and Charlie Mahtesian, senior politics editor at Politico.

Greg Aftandilian, a foreign policy expert whose career has spanned the State Department and Congress, with participants of ANCA Rising Leaders – Session 2.

Armenian Cause 101: Pro-Artsakh/Armenia Advocacy and the Lucine Kouchakdjian Capitol Hill Day

Effective advocacy for pro-Artsakh and Armenia priorities took center stage during keynote remarks by ANCA chairman Raffi Hamparian and ANCA Government Affairs director Tereza Yerimyan, who outlined the ANCA’s focused campaign to stop all US military aid to Azerbaijan, hold Turkey and Azerbaijan accountable for war crimes during the 2020 Artsakh War and thereafter, and securing $50 million in US assistance to Artsakh to help the over 100,000 ethnically cleansed indigenous Armenian population of Artsakh return to their ancestral homes. Participants learned first-hand about Artsakh foreign policy and domestic challenges from Robert Avetisyan, Artsakh Ambassador to the United States.

ANCA Rising Leaders 2022 – Session 1 participants with ANCA Chairman Raffi Hamparian and ANCA Government Affairs Director Tereza Yerimyan and ANCA Programs Director Alex Manoukian

These discussions culminated in the Lucine Kouchakdjian Capitol Hill Day, a full day of Capitol Hill discussions with members of Congress including Representatives Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Linda Sanchez (D-CA), as well as Congressional staff on strengthening US-Armenia ties, supporting Artsakh freedom and securing justice for the Armenian Genocide. Lucine Kouchakdjian’s son Ara offered poignant remarks to Rising Leaders participants about his mother’s lifelong passion for advocating for the Armenian homeland and commitment to expanding the Armenian American community’s voice in the nation’s capital.

In Their Own Words: ANCA Rising Leaders speak out on inspiring program

The 2022 ANCA Rising Leaders included the following participants from across the US and Canada: Claudia Aklian, Anjelique Alexander, Aram Apanian, Alexander Badoyan, Nyrah Balabanian, Nareg Balian, Lori Baronian, Mari Bijimenian, Beiyna Chaparian, Brandon Fregenti, Taguhi Gurunyan, Leana Hacopian, Areni Hamparian, Zabelle Hamparian, Galy Jackmakjian, Nareg Kassardjian, Abraham Kiwanian, Narod  Kiwanian, Garine Koushagjian, Jibid Melkonian, Danielle Mikaelian, Vaughn Nahapetian, Aram Parnagian, Hovsep Seferian, Lar Tabakian, Alexis Tolmajian, Meghry Tutunjian and James Zobian.

In individual video spotlights shared throughout the weekend, participants recounted their efforts to advance the Armenian Cause through activism in their local ANC, AYF, campus Armenian Students Association (ASA), Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Association dance groups, Homenetmen, Armenian Church Youth Organization of America (ACYOA) and other youth groups.

The full set of videos can be found on the ANCA’s YouTube channel.

Aram Parnagian, a University at Buffalo graduate, “The ANCA Rising Leaders Program inspires youth to be politically active and professionally successful through an Armenian lens.” Alexis Tolmajian from the University of California, Los Angeles concurred, noting, “The ANCA is an asset in pushing forth the Armenian Cause in America.”

The powerful women of ANCA Rising Leaders 2022 – Session 2 on the steps of the Capitol.

Clark University student Beiyna Chaparian explained, “I am very passionate about being involved in my community. I have been a member of the AYF from a very young age and am always ready to take on important projects within the community. I am grateful to have this opportunity to learn how to advocate for my people and I will always strive to further the Armenian Cause in whatever I do.”

“It should be the goal of every Armenian to thrive in their field and give back to the motherland,” said Robinson Secondary student Hovsep Seferyan, who had previously participated in the ANCA Haroutioun and Elizabeth Kasparian Summer Academy. “The ANCA gives us the tools to do just that.”

Alexander Badoyan from Armenian Mesrobian School explained, “Since I was in the ninth grade, I’ve known I wanted to be involved in government and help out the Armenian community. Joining the Rising Leaders program not only showed me that I could do both, but helped me find career pathways as well. I’m thankful for the opportunity to be able to talk to important Armenian leaders in Washington, DC alongside the ANCA.”

The young men of ANCA Rising Leaders 2022 – Session 2 take a quick break from lobbying on the steps of the US Capitol.

A Word of Thanks: Dean Shahinian and Kouchakdjian Family continue commitment to youth education and empowerment

Longtime ANCA supporter Dean Shahinian is again the major sponsor of this unique youth development program along with the family and friends of Lucine Kouchakdjian.

Shahinian served in the federal government in various capacities for over 30 years, including 16 years at the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, where he worked with committee chairs on numerous bills and laws, including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the Dodd-Frank Act. In the Armenian community, he has served on the boards of St. Nersess Seminary and the Armenian Students Association. He has also served multiple terms on the Diocesan Council of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America.

For dozens of years, living in the Washington, DC area – in addition to her cultural, education, and charitable work with a broad range of community organizations – the late Lucine Zadoian Kouchakdjian organized highly effective ANCA campaigns to foster a forward-leaning spirit of civic responsibility among Armenian Americans across the nation’s capital. The Rising Leaders Capitol Hill day was named in memory of her lifetime of service to the Armenian Cause following her passing last year.

demonstration, March 26, 2022 (Photo: Siranuysh Sargsyan)

International Women’s Day was far from a holiday for the women of Artsakh. Motivated by the gas supply crisis in the region that left 120,000 people without heat or hot water and the recent deadly Azeri aggression near the village of Parukh, members of the “” initiative led a peaceful demonstration in Renaissance Square on Saturday to raise awareness.

“Our main goal is to appeal to the members of the UN Security Council and the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs demanding not to ignore the anti-Armenian policy and steps of the Azerbaijan-Turkey alliance against Artsakh and Armenia, to draw the attention of political circles and public opinion to this new anti-Armenian policy through various protests,” explained organizer Alyona Sargsyan. “We also called the attention of the peacekeeping troops of the Russian Federation stationed in Artsakh to ensure the return of the enemy forces to their starting points and the maintenance of peace.”

demonstration, March 26, 2022 (Photo: Siranuysh Sargsyan)

Rosa Sayadyan, a mother of three young children, who also actively participates in these demonstrations, expressed her just indignation and called on the international community in her message: “Today, we, the people of Artsakh, are here because the existence of our homeland, the existence of each of us is in danger! The Armenians of Artsakh are facing yet another genocide by Azerbaijan,” she stressed. “We are here for the sake of our future, for the sake of our rights to live peacefully in our homeland. Aliyev’s greed knows no bounds. He wants more Armenian territories and more and more Armenians killed. He is not going to stop until he reaches his goal – the extermination of Armenians of Artsakh and Artsakh without Armenians. In the last 30 years, we have had three bloody wars in which thousands have been killed and displaced from their homes. We are calling today on the international community, the UN, the OSCE Minsk Group! It is in your power to stop the genocide of the Armenians of Artsakh! We are grateful for your deep concerns, but they are not enough. It is in your power to recognize the rights of the people of Artsakh, to recognize Artsakh and urge Azerbaijan to stop the extermination of Armenians. This is not a territorial issue. This is about the lives of 120,000 Armenians who live in Artsakh, and our lives are endangered by the Azerbaijani policy. This is about the rights of people for self-determination. This is the struggle of the people of Artsakh for their fundamental rights and peace, for a safe and dignified future. Once again, we call on all of civilized humanity to recognize the Artsakh Republic and save the Armenians of Artsakh from ethnic cleansing and genocide!”

Narine Karapetyan, like many others throughout the republic, endured harsh conditions during the gas crisis. “We’ve united here to raise our voice and let the world know about the humanitarian crisis and the immediate threat of extermination of the indigenous Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) by Azerbaijan’s Armenophobic regime,” she told the Weekly. “The fascist nature of its acts is apparent with the only difference being that the fascists of the past were exterminating Jewish people in gas chambers while these fascists cut off gas supply to freeze us out. They try to silence us by isolating us from the rest of the world and go unpunished.”

Narine Karapetyan at demonstration, March 26, 2022 (Photo: Siranuysh Sargsyan)

Having declared martial law in Artsakh, President Arayik Harutyunyan signed a decree over the weekend calling for some temporary restrictions, including the right to assemble.

The protesters have not clarified their future plans after this announcement, assuring, however, that they will not remain silent.

On March 27, a number of Azeri media outlets reported that the Azerbaijani “Azerigaz” company had allegedly eliminated the consequences of the accident on the Artsakh gas distribution line, and that gas supplies would be restored in Artsakh from March 29.

“Artsakhgaz” CJSC issued a response that “Azerigaz” is not involved in supplying Artsakh with natural gas, which is delivered from Armenia by “Gazprom Armenia.” “The statement once again proves that after the March 8 explosion of the gas pipeline in the Shushi section and the obstruction of its repair activities for days, the Azerbaijani side deliberately installed a valve on the gas pipeline, taking advantage of the unfavorable weather conditions to cause additional humanitarian problems for the people of Artsakh,” the statement reads. 

As of March 28, the gas supply was restored in Artsakh. 

In the meantime, despite all these difficulties, the women of Artsakh remain determined. As protester Gayane Arstamyan stated, “For every person, the homeland is where they live. I live here, in the land where my grandparents and my great-grandparents lived. I am sure that my grandchildren and great-grandchildren will live here too.”

demonstration, March 26, 2022 (Photo: Siranuysh Sargsyan)

Russian peacekeeping contingent in village of Parukh, March 28, 2022 (Photo: Telegram/RUS_Peacekeeper)

The Russian peacekeeping force in Artsakh says that it has taken control of Parukh after an attack by Azerbaijan last week, while Armenian authorities say that Azeri troops maintain strategic positions near the village.

Conflicting reports have emerged over who maintains control of Parukh since Azerbaijani forces crossed the line of contact into territory under the jurisdiction of the Russian peacekeeping contingent in Artsakh on March 24. Azeri forces advanced on the region of Askeran and seized the village. Three members of the Artsakh Defense Army—David Mirzoyan, Ishkhan Ohanyan and Ararat Tevosyan—were killed and at least 15 Armenian soldiers were wounded in intense fighting that continued for the next two days. 

On March 27, the Ministry of Defense (MoD) of Russia reported that the Azerbaijani soldiers had retreated from Parukh following negotiations. The MoD recorded two violations of the ceasefire agreement by Azerbaijan’s military, as a result of which two people were wounded from either side. 

The previous day, the MoD of Russia had issued a rare reprimand of Azerbaijan, accusing the Azerbaijani military of “violating the provisions of the tripartite statement.” The MoD of Russia said that Azeri forces had “entered the zone of responsibility of the Russian peacekeeping contingent” in Artsakh and “set up an observation post.” The MoD also said that the Azerbaijani military had used a Turkish-produced Bayraktar TB-2 drone to deliver four strikes on the Artsakh Defense Army. The statement refers to the village as Furukh, a Russianized version of the Armenian spelling. 

The Artsakh Defense Army reported that no ceasefire violations had been registered as of March 27. It said that Parukh had been placed under the control of the Russian peacekeeping troops. However, while the Defense Army maintained control of the “main part of the Karaglukh height,” a strategic peak near Parukh, Azerbaijani troops kept fortified positions on one of its slopes. 

“Works with the command staff of the Russian peacekeeping contingent to make the Azerbaijani units return to their starting positions are ongoing,” the Defense Army said.

On March 30, Artsakh State Minister Artak Beglaryan tweeted that “Parukh village and a part of the Karaglukh mountain of Artsakh/Nagorno-Karabakh remain occupied.” 

The nearly 400 residents of Parukh and the nearby village Khramort have not been able to return to their homes since they were evacuated at the start of the attacks. Some have been staying with their relatives, while others have been provided with temporary accommodation in Stepanakert by the government of Artsakh. 

Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry dismissed the statement from the Russian MoD that its troops had retreated from Parukh. The MoD of Azerbaijan did not deny that Azerbaijani troops had entered Askeran, stating instead that there have been “no changes in the positions of the Azerbaijan Army in the Farrukh village and on the surrounding high grounds, which are part of the sovereign territory of Azerbaijan.” 

The MoD of Azerbaijan had previously blamed the Armenian side for violating the ceasefire agreement, stating that the “withdrawal of the remnants of the Armenian army and illegal Armenian armed detachments from the territory of Azerbaijan in accordance with article 4 of the [joint] statement has not yet been completed.” 

The ceasefire agreement states that Russian peacekeepers would be deployed “in parallel with the withdrawal of the Armenian armed forces.” The agreement does not explicitly refer to the Artsakh Defense Army. 

The MoD further said that there is “no village called ‘Furukh,’” writing in all caps that the correct name of the village is “FARRUKH.” 

On March 25, the Artsakh Security Council issued an open letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin stating that the current number of Russian peacekeeping forces is “insufficient for the full implementation of the peacekeeping mission in Artsakh, taking into account the nature of the growing and expanding military aspirations of Azerbaijan.” The letter asks Putin to “increase the quantity of military personnel and military equipment” deployed in Artsakh while “returning the Azerbaijani armed forces to their original positions.” 

Under the trilateral ceasefire agreement ending the 2020 Artsakh War, 1,960 Russian troops were deployed to Artsakh along the line of contact and the Lachin corridor connecting Artsakh and Armenia. 

Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan also held a phone call with Putin that day. Pashinyan “raised the need to investigate the actions of Russian peacekeepers” and “stressed the need for returning the Azerbaijani armed forces to their initial positions with the efforts of the Russian peacekeepers.” 

Artsakh President Arayik Harutyunyan declared a state of martial law on March 26. The decree instituted a temporary restriction on the right to freedom of assembly, strikes, demonstrations and “propaganda” activities “spearheaded against the defense capacity and security of the Artsakh Republic.” 

The Armenian Security Council issued a statement on March 28 offering to “immediately start negotiations on a comprehensive peace treaty” with Azerbaijan. According to the Security Council, Azerbaijan is “paving the way for new provocations and attacks” on Artsakh by inventing “imaginary justifications,” including accusing Armenia of obstructing negotiations on a peace treaty. 

“The Security Council, drawing the attention of the international community on the chances for armed clashes in Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) and on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, considers it necessary to launch international containment mechanisms to prevent further military escalation and ethnic cleansing in the region,” the statement reads. 

The other co-chair countries of the OSCE Minsk Group, which consists of Russia, France and the United States, have also commented on the attacks by Azerbaijan’s military. The French Foreign Ministry released a statement on March 25 stating that France “deplores the incidents which occurred in Nagorno-Karabakh, particularly the armed incidents and troop movements in the Parukh and Khramort regions.” Deputy spokesperson for the US State Department Jalina Porter said that the United States is “deeply concerned about Azerbaijan troop movements,” which it called “irresponsible and unnecessarily provocative.” “The United States, as a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, remains deeply committed to working with the sides to achieve a long-term political settlement of the conflict,” Porter said during a press briefing. 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) of Armenia welcomed the “clear assessment of the latest escalation” in Artsakh from the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair countries as a “consequence of the movement of Azerbaijani troops.” However the MoFA said that while the Russian MoD had reported that Azerbaijan had withdrawn its troops from Parukh, the “incursion of Azerbaijani units into Nagorno-Karabakh in the area of responsibility of the Russian Federation’s peacekeeping contingent is ongoing.” 

“We expect that the peacekeeping contingent of the Russian Federation in Nagorno Karabakh will take concrete measures to stem the incursion of Azerbaijani units into the area of peacekeepers’ responsibility and to withdraw the Azerbaijani armed forces. We consider it important to conduct a proper investigation into the actions of the peacekeeping contingent during this entire period of the incursion of Azerbaijani units, and answer a number of questions,” the March 28 statement from the Armenian Foreign Ministry reads. 

Meanwhile, on March 28, the natural gas supply to Artsakh was restored. The gas supply was disrupted for the second time in two weeks on March 21, after the section of the natural gas pipeline that traverses Azerbaijani-controlled territory was damaged on March 8. Artsakh authorities blame the halt on gas supply, which deprived residents of Artsakh of heating amid freezing temperatures, on interference by the Azerbaijani military.