Event to Feature Talk with Author Nancy Kricorian

WATERTOWN, Mass. — The Armenian Museum of America announced an evening of conversation with bestselling novelist Chris Bohjalian and acclaimed author Nancy Kricorian in celebration of the launch of Bohjalian’s highly anticipated new novel, “The Amateur.”

The event will take place on Tuesday, August 11, at 7 pm at the Armenian Museum of America in Watertown. Bohjalian and Kricorian will engage in a thought-provoking discussion exploring literature, history, storytelling, and the creative process.

Recently named a New York Times Book Review “Novel Everyone Will Be Talking About in 2026” and an Oprah Daily Best Book of Summer 2026, “The Amateur” has already garnered widespread critical acclaim.

Set in 1978, “The Amateur” follows Mira, a teenage golf prodigy whose life is irrevocably altered after a tragic accident on a golf course. What begins as a devastating moment unfolds into a compelling story of heartbreak, resilience, class divisions, hidden secrets, and the far-reaching consequences of a single event. Combining literary suspense, coming-of-age storytelling, and courtroom drama, “The Amateur” has been hailed as one of the most anticipated novels of the year.

Publishers Weekly, in a starred review, called the novel “a masterpiece,” while Kirkus Reviews praised it as “irresistible” and “a perfect novel.” Library Journal described it as “an engrossing read that will offer much discussion for book clubs,” and bestselling author Clare Leslie Hall called it “a joyous novel with an unforgettable narrator who will break your heart.”

Chris Bohjalian is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 25 books, including “The Flight Attendant,” “The Sandcastle Girls,” “Hour of the Witch,” and “The Lioness.” His novels have been translated into more than 30 languages and have earned numerous literary awards and distinctions. Known for his meticulous research and compelling storytelling, Bohjalian frequently explores themes of history, identity, justice, and human resilience.

Joining him in conversation will be Nancy Kricorian, an acclaimed novelist, essayist, and educator whose work examines the Armenian Diaspora, memory, displacement, and intergenerational storytelling. She is the author of” Zabelle,” “Dreams of Bread and Fire,” “All the Light There Was,” and “The Burning Heart of the World.” A respected voice in Armenian-American literature, Kricorian has taught at institutions including Columbia University and has been recognized for her significant contributions to contemporary Armenian literature and culture.

“This special evening brings together two extraordinary literary voices whose work explores themes of identity, history, memory, and the human experience,” said Executive Director Jason Sohigian. “We are delighted to welcome Chris Bohjalian back to the Museum for the Boston area launch of his 26th novel!”

This is a ticketed event and space is limited. Tickets are $35 for current museum members and $50 for non-members, and both tiers include a signed hardcover copy of “The Amateur.” For tickets and additional information, contact the Museum at (617) 926-2562 x102 or visit the Museum website.

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Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) speaks at the press conference marking the 1,000th day of Azerbaijani detention of Armenian hostages

Congressman Sherman, ANCA Lead Capitol Hill Press Conference Marking 1,000th Day in Captivity

WASHINGTON – Members of Congress joined the Armenian National Committee of America in marking the 1,000th day of Azerbaijani detention of Armenian prisoners of war, Artsakh leaders, and civilian hostages on Tuesday, demanding their immediate and unconditional release as the U.S. House prepares to vote on a series of measures holding Azerbaijan accountable for its ongoing violations of Armenian sovereignty, international law, and human rights.

Congressional Armenian Caucus Vice-Chair Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA), Representatives Judy Chu (D-CA), Laura Friedman (D-CA), and Jim Costa (D-CA) spoke at a Capitol Hill press conference organized by Rep. Sherman and the ANCA, while Members across both chambers took to social media to mark the milestone and demand action. ANCA Leo Sarkisian and Maral Melkonian Avetisyan Summer interns joined the press conference and advocated across Senate and House offices, wearing shirts bearing the names and faces of Artsakh leaders held hostage by Azerbaijan and urging support for pro-Armenian amendments and legislation.

At least nineteen Armenian prisoners of war and civilian hostages remain in Azerbaijani custody — among them eight Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) leaders: Ruben Vardanyan, State Minister (2022–2023); Arayik Harutyunyan, President (2020–2023); Bako Sahakyan, President (2007–2020); Arkadi Ghukasyan, President (1997–2007); Davit Ishkhanyan, Speaker of the National Assembly; David Babayan, Advisor to the President and Foreign Minister; Levon Mnatsakanyan, Commander, Artsakh Defense Army; and Davit Manukyan, First Deputy Commander of the Artsakh Defense Army.

Sherman, Chu, Friedman, Costa Demand Release of Armenian Hostages at Capitol Hill Press Conference
Rep. Sherman opened the press conference citing Azerbaijan’s 2023 ethnic cleansing of over 100,000 indigenous Armenians from Artsakh and the ongoing abuse of those detained in its aftermath. “For over a thousand days, those Armenian POWs — POWs held after the war is over — and political prisoners have endured abuse and torture in Azerbaijani captivity,” Sherman said. He detailed the sham trials that produced sentences ranging from fifteen years to life, noting that five Artsakh leaders — including President Arayik Harutyunyan, Foreign Minister David Babayan, and Commander Levon Mnatsakanyan — were tried almost entirely behind closed doors, with sixteen defendants collectively charged with 2,500 crimes and no independent observers permitted. Ruben Vardanyan was separately sentenced to up to twenty years, on top of more than a year already spent in solitary confinement. Amnesty International, Sherman noted, called the proceedings against Vardanyan “nothing short of a travesty.”

Sherman tied the hostage crisis directly to the Sherman Amendment, which he advanced through the House Foreign Affairs Committee with the support of Chairman Brian Mast (R-FL). “There can be no lasting peace until each and every Armenian POW and political prisoner is freed from Azerbaijani prisons and freed to return home to their families,” he said. Sherman also pointed to Azerbaijan’s response to the European Parliament’s April resolution condemning the detentions — not releasing a single prisoner, but severing ties with the Parliament altogether and rejecting even the term “prisoner of war.” “That tells you everything you need to know about how seriously Baku takes its obligations under international law,” he said.

Rep. Chu recalled her visit to Artsakh before Azerbaijan’s forced depopulation campaign and her subsequent ban from entering Azerbaijan. “If standing up for human rights means I’m no longer welcome in Azerbaijan, then that only strengthens my determination to keep fighting for justice for the Armenian people,” she said. Chu called for the return of Artsakh Armenians to their homeland, the protection of cultural and religious heritage, and the release of all political prisoners.

Rep. Friedman condemned Azerbaijan’s sham trials and the destruction of Armenian cultural and religious heritage in Artsakh. “Peace cannot come without accountability, lasting security for Armenia, and a respect for Armenia’s sovereignty and for the rights of indigenous people in Artsakh,” she said. Friedman cited her letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging the safe return of forcibly displaced Armenians, her advocacy for U.S. sanctions against Azerbaijan, and her co-sponsorship of the Armenian Genocide Education Act.

Rep. Costa called for Azerbaijan’s immediate withdrawal from sovereign Armenian territory and the unconditional release of all detainees. “These people are not bargaining chips,” Costa said. “They are fathers, they are mothers, they are sons and daughters. And the families have waited long enough — over 1,000 days. It’s time to bring them home.” Costa also referenced his exchange with Secretary of State Rubio during Foreign Relations Committee testimony, pressing Rubio to use every available tool to secure the prisoners’ release.

ANCA: So-Called “Peace” Deal Consolidates Azerbaijan’s Genocidal Gains, Rewards Aggression with U.S. Tax Dollars

At the press conference, ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian challenged the recently announced Armenia-Azerbaijan peace framework, calling it a consolidation of Azerbaijan’s genocidal gains rather than a true foundation for lasting peace.

“On this day, as we mark 1,000 days of Azerbaijani hostage diplomacy, we reaffirm our call for peace. A real peace. A just peace. A peace worthy of the name,” Hamparian said. “Today — here in Washington — the so-called ‘peace’ deal announced last year is being sold as progress. In reality, it’s the consolidation of Azerbaijan’s ethnic cleansing of Artsakh. The legitimization of the last war. A prelude to the next war.”

Hamparian warned that rewarding Azerbaijani aggression with American tax dollars would backfire. “Mark my words: if we reward Azerbaijan with American treasure, we will reap a bitter harvest of renewed Azerbaijani aggression — violence funded by the U.S. taxpayer at the expense of American interests and yet more Armenian land and lives. All the costs borne by Armenians. All the benefits flowing to Baku. Every new Armenian concession met with yet more Azerbaijani demands.”

Hamparian called on Congress to secure four concrete outcomes: the release of Armenian hostages illegally held for 1,000 days; the withdrawal of Azerbaijani forces from occupied Armenian territory; the return of Armenians to Artsakh in safety under an international mandate; and the protection of Christian holy sites being bulldozed across Artsakh. He also called for full enforcement of Section 907 sanctions against Azerbaijan, calling it “the statutory protection of American taxpayers against complicity in Christian persecution.”

“Baku will say that these represent obstacles to peace,” Hamparian said. “The fact of the matter is that they represent the very building blocks of peace — of real peace, of a durable peace, a peace based on justice, human rights, and religious freedom. A peace worthy of its name.”

Senators and Representatives Mark 1,000-Day Milestone, Call on Azerbaijan to Free Armenian Hostages
Members across both chambers marked the 1,000-day milestone with statements and social media posts demanding Azerbaijan’s release of Armenian hostages.

Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) called the ongoing detention a grave violation of human rights and international law. “We must use every diplomatic tool to hold Azerbaijan and the Aliyev regime accountable,” Schiff said. “All Armenian POWs must be immediately and safely returned home.”

Rep. Young Kim (R-CA) urged Azerbaijan to act. “Today marks 1,000 days that Armenian POWs and civilian hostages have remained in Azerbaijani custody, suffering prolonged imprisonment, reports of torture, and blatant human rights abuses,” Kim said. “They should be reunited with their loved ones. I urge Azerbaijan to release them now.”

Rep. Vince Fong (R-CA) pointed to his co-sponsorship of the ARMENIA Security Partnership Act as a concrete accountability measure. “Azerbaijan must comply with its international obligations and release all detainees without delay,” Fong said.

Rep. Laura Friedman (D-CA) vowed to keep fighting. “Azerbaijan has tried to hide their unlawful actions, but I refuse to ignore their crimes,” Friedman said. “For as long as it takes, I’ll keep fighting for these hostages to be released and for a path towards lasting security for Armenia.”

The Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission called on the Trump Administration to press for the prisoners’ unconditional release. “No prisoner of war or civilian hostage should endure 1,000 days of unlawful detention,” the Commission stated. “The Administration should press for their unconditional release.”

Following the press conference, Rep. Sherman posted, “Today, I was joined by fellow Members of Congress, @ANCA_DC, and Armenian American community leaders to highlight my bipartisan amendment demanding the immediate and unconditional release of #Armenian prisoners of war held by Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan must release Armenian POWs now, and Congress must be clear in demanding they do so.”

House Prepares to Vote on Sherman Amendment, Consider Eight Pro-Armenian Amendments to FY2027 National Security Bills
The House Foreign Affairs Committee is expected to hold a recorded roll call vote next week on the Sherman Amendment to the House Foreign Service Act (H.R. 9086), which — with the support of Committee Chairman Brian Mast (R-FL) — declares it the sense of Congress that Azerbaijan should immediately and unconditionally release all Armenian prisoners of war and political prisoners.

Eight pro-Armenian amendments to the FY2027 National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 8800) and the National Security and Foreign Operations Appropriations Act (H.R. 8595) — introduced by Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Caucus Vice-Chair Sherman, and Representatives Gabe Amo (D-RI) and Jim Costa (D-CA) — are advancing through the House Rules Committee process.

The measures call for the release of Armenian hostages and prisoners of war illegally held by Azerbaijan, the withdrawal of Azerbaijani forces from sovereign Armenian territory, the protection of Artsakh’s cultural and religious heritage, and the safe return of forcibly displaced Armenian refugees to their Artsakh homes.

The ANCA is urging Members of Congress to cosponsor all eight amendments ahead of Rules Committee consideration by visiting the ANCA website.

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Fr. Serop Azerian Urges Texas 28th Congressional District Congregations to Reclaim Their Congressional Seat from Azerbaijani Influence

LOS ANGELES — Father Serop Azerian, a priest of the Armenian Apostolic Church, has penned an open letter to faith leaders across Texas’ 28th Congressional District, calling out Rep. Henry Cuellar for accepting Azerbaijani bribes to steer U.S. policy against Armenian Christians – and urging Christian congregations across South Texas to hold their representative accountable.

In the letter, Fr. Azerian draws on the history of the Armenian Apostolic Church – the world’s first Christian nation, founded in 301 AD – and the devastating ethnic cleansing of over 150,000 Armenian Christians from their ancestral homeland of Artsakh between 2020 and 2023. He writes that ancient churches once filled with prayers now “stand empty, desecrated or destroyed,” and that no Armenians remain in Artsakh today.

Fr. Azerian directly charges Rep. Cuellar with failing persecuted Armenians at a critical moment – and worse, actively working against them. Referencing the Department of Justice’s 54-page indictment against Cuellar, the priest describes the alleged Azerbaijani bribes as Scripture’s “thirty pieces of silver,” noting that Cuellar – now pardoned – has “never repented for his sins against Christians” and “never apologized for the grievous wound he helped inflict upon not just Armenian Christians, but upon the entire Body of Christ.”

“Every grave of the persecuted asks the living a silent question: Will you remember their pain, or allow it to happen again?” the letter reads.

Fr. Azerian closes with a call to action, urging clergy to lift up the suffering of Armenian Christians in their prayers and worship, educate their congregations, and remind their elected officials of their moral obligations.

The letter was amplified by the Armenian National Committee of America’s National Headquarters and the Western Region office, which noted that Fr. Azerian urges TX-28 Christian congregations to “rightfully reclaim ownership of this seat from the Azerbaijani government.”

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Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) addresses the April 15 Capitol Hill Armenian Genocide Commemoration, calling out the current administration’s retreat from Armenian Genocide recognition and demanding accountability for Armenian hostages still held by Azerbaijan

WASHINGTON— U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) is urging the Department of State to highlight Azerbaijan’s human rights abuses in its Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2025 and push for an end to Azerbaijan’s continued human rights violations.
 
Tuesday, June 23, marked 1,000 days since Armenian prisoners of war and civilian hostages were unlawfully detained by Azerbaijan following the ethnic cleansing of Nagorno-Karabakh in 2023. 
 
“In those 1,000 days, Azerbaijan has subjected Armenian detainees to torture and abuse in custody and held them in conditions that State has previously suggested violate the Geneva Conventions. In February 2026, Azerbaijan sentenced POWs to between 15 years and life in prison on politically motivated grounds following sham trials. Azerbaijan has engaged in a consistent pattern of gross human rights violations during and since the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War, including the deliberate targeting of civilian populations and the summary execution of prisoners of war,” Schiff said in a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio.  
 
The letter points to credible reports that Azerbaijan has engaged in a pattern of human rights violations: illegally detaining and sentencing Artsakh Armenians, accelerating attacks on domestic political opponents and journalists, restricting freedom of _expression_ and media freedom, and displacing thousands of Armenians from their homes.  
 
“Previous State Department reports and credible contemporary press and advocacy organization reporting indicates that Azerbaijan’s behavior is worsening. Civil institutions are under attack. Ethnic cleansing against Armenian populations has been followed by destruction of Armenian property, cultural heritage and religious sites, including reports of the destruction of two Armenian Christian holy sites, all of which attempt to preclude the possibility of the forcibly displaced Armenians returning to their homes as guaranteed under international law. Further, Azerbaijan escalated its transnational repression this year, including on the streets of Washington, D.C., where President Aliyev’s security forces attacked peaceful protestors,” Schiff added.  
 
“It is clear that President Aliyev feels emboldened by his visit to the White House last year to sign the Joint Declaration committing to achieve peace, a document that neglects humanitarian issues and entirely fails to address Azerbaijan’s human rights abuses. Ensuring that the State Department Country Reports on Human Rights Practices accurately reflect internationally recognized individual, civil, and political rights is both a duty and a diplomatic tool to encourage accountability and change. It is critical that the State Department continue its record of calling out these abuses and to press Aliyev to change course,” the Senator concluded. 
 
Senator Schiff has been a strong champion for the Armenian community, leading Congress to formally recognize the Armenian Genocide in 2019. Schiff has also submitted provisions over the years to be included in the National Defense Authorization Act to bring home the Armenian prisoners of war following Azerbaijan’s ethnic cleansing of Artsakh in 2023.

“He will continue pushing for the release of the prisoners of war whom Azerbaijan continues to hold,” Schiff’s office said in a statement.
 
The full text of the letter can be found here and below. 
 
Dear Secretary Rubio,  
 
As the State Department prepares its Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2025, I ask that you closely consider and include Azerbaijan’s well-documented and continuing human rights abuses. I also urge the Department to prioritize efforts to identify, call out, and press Azerbaijan to end these abusive practices. 
 
Today marks the 1,000th day that Azerbaijan has unlawfully held Artsakh Armenians as prisoners of war following the ethnic cleansing of Nagorno-Karabakh in 2023. In those 1,000 days, Azerbaijan has subjected Armenian detainees to torture and abuse in custody and held them in conditions that State has previously suggested violate the Geneva Conventions. In February 2026, Azerbaijan sentenced POWs to between 15 years and life in prison on politically motivated grounds following sham trials. Azerbaijan has engaged in a consistent pattern of gross human rights violations during and since the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War, including the deliberate targeting of civilian populations and the summary execution of prisoners of war. 
 
State was direct and clear in its Country Report on Azerbaijan last year, writing:  
 
Significant human rights issues included credible reports of: arbitrary or unlawful killings; torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment; arbitrary arrest and detention; transnational repression against individuals in another country; serious restrictions on freedom of _expression_ and media freedom, including violence or threats of violence against journalists, unjustified arrests or prosecutions of journalists, censorship, and serious restrictions on internet freedom; prohibiting independent trade unions or significant or systematic restrictions on workers’ freedom of association; and the significant presence of any of the worst forms of child labor. 

Your Department also noted that Azerbaijan “did not take credible steps or action to identify and punish officials who committed human rights abuses. There was no reported progress on government investigations of alleged abuses committed by armed forces or individuals during hostilities in 2020.” This lack of meaningful change has persisted through the past year. 
 
Azerbaijan is not just violating the rights of Armenians; it has accelerated its attacks on domestic political opponents and journalists. Earlier this month, Azerbaijan sought sentences of up to 16 years against journalists and extended the detention without trial of Ali Karimli, the leader of the opposition party. In 2023, Dr. Gubad Ibadoghlu, an academic, was arbitrarily detained and still faces house arrest and medical challenges as a result of his detention. Since his arrest, the number of people arbitrarily detained has ballooned to the hundreds. This latest crackdown follows numerous other examples of the arrests, sham trials, and imprisonment of peaceful activists, journalists, and opposition figures in a yearslong escalation of authoritarian practices. 
 
Previous State Department reports and credible contemporary press and advocacy organization reporting indicates that Azerbaijan’s behavior is worsening. Civil institutions are under attack. Ethnic cleansing against Armenian populations has been followed by destruction of Armenian property, cultural heritage and religious sites, including reports of the destruction of two Armenian Christian holy sites, all of which attempt to preclude the possibility of the forcibly displaced Armenians returning to their homes as guaranteed under international law. Further, Azerbaijan escalated its transnational repression this year, including on the streets of Washington, D.C., where President Aliyev’s security forces attacked peaceful protestors. 
 
It is clear that President Aliyev feels emboldened by his visit to the White House last year to sign the Joint Declaration committing to achieve peace, a document that neglects humanitarian issues and entirely fails to address Azerbaijan’s human rights abuses. Ensuring that the State Department Country Reports on Human Rights Practices accurately reflect internationally recognized individual, civil, and political rights is both a duty and a diplomatic tool to encourage accountability and change. It is critical that the State Department continue its record of calling out these abuses and to press Aliyev to change course.

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