The Pan-Armenian Council for the Preservation of the Armenian Church informs that His Grace Archbishop Pargev Martirosyan has sent an official appeal to the President of the United States of America, members of the US Senate and Congress, the Pope, as well as the heads of Christian churches and influential international organizations, drawing their attention to the continuous destruction of the Armenian Christian spiritual and cultural heritage in the territories under the control of Azerbaijan.

In the application, Pargev Srbazan emphasizes that it is not only about the Armenian heritage, but about the protection of sanctuaries, church monuments, cemeteries, khachkars and historical memory representing pan-Christian and pan-human value. He presents the data recorded by international organizations and confirmed by academic monitoring on factual bases, emphasizing that the material evidences of the Armenian Christian presence in the region are subjected to systematic destruction.

The complete Armenian text of the application is presented below.

“I appeal to you with deep respect regarding a tragedy that affects not only the Armenian people, but also the entire Christian world. The destruction of the Armenian Christian cultural and spiritual heritage continues in the territories passed under the control of Azerbaijan, against churches, cemeteries, sanctuaries, monuments of church architecture and other sacred monuments testifying to the centuries-old presence of Christianity on that land.

The fact that two churches were destroyed one after the other in Stepanakert in recent days, the Saint Hakob church and the main shrine of the city, the Saint John’s Mother Cathedral, is particularly alarming. These new attacks prove that it is no longer about individual cases of vandalism, but about the consistent and purposeful elimination of the material evidence of the Armenian Christian spiritual and historical-cultural presence.

For us, this is not a matter of political rhetoric, nor a topic of historical controversy. This is a question of protecting sanctities, a question of protecting historical truth, a question of responsibility towards the memory of generations, and a question of preserving the spiritual heritage that belongs not only to one nation, but also to the entire Christian civilization.

On December 7, 2021, the UN International Court of Justice ordered Azerbaijan to take all necessary measures to prevent and punish acts of vandalism and desecration against Armenian cultural heritage, including churches, places of worship, monuments, cemeteries and artifacts. Such a decision of the highest court of the United Nations testifies to how serious and real the threat to the Armenian heritage was recognized even at that time.

On March 10, 2022, the European Parliament, in its official resolution, strongly condemned the policy of erasure and denial of Armenian cultural heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh and firmly demanded that UNESCO grant unhindered access to the monuments under the control of Azerbaijan. However, in its official statement of December 21, 2025, UNESCO recorded that only Azerbaijan’s response was still awaited in order to send a mission on the spot, despite multiple applications. This means that the independent international assessment of the state of sanctuaries and monuments has not been carried out in full.

Meanwhile, Caucasus Heritage Watch, an independent academic satellite monitoring program run by researchers at Cornell and Purdue universities, said in written testimony to the US Commission on International Religious Freedom that since 2021, Azerbaijan has destroyed 14 heritage sites, damaged another 14, and 30 sites are at imminent risk of damage or destruction. Among the already documented cases are the destruction of the famous Green Hour of the Church of Saint Hovhannes the Baptist in Shushi, which took place between December 28, 2023 and April 4, 2024, as well as the complete destruction of the Ghazanchetsots cemetery in Shushi, which was recorded by satellite photos in April 2024.

These facts cause deep pain especially because it is not just about old stones or architectural monuments. We are talking about places of prayer, sanctuaries sanctified by the faith of the people, living traces of Christian life preserved for centuries. When such sanctuaries are destroyed, not only the cultural landscape is destroyed, but also the spiritual memory, the historical legacy and the testimony of the Christian presence in the region are attacked.

It is also particularly worrying that this problem has already found an echo in the international Christian world. In 2026, the World Council of Churches published a special collection dedicated to the freedom of religion and the preservation of the Armenian religious, cultural and historical heritage of Artsakh. In that publication, it is clearly stated that it is a response to the forced displacement of the Armenian population after the events of 2023 and the most serious threats to the Armenian sanctities and cultural heritage of the region.

The 2026 report of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, USCIRF, also mentions that the issue of the destruction of Armenian religious heritage was raised in the US Congress, and American lawmakers drew special attention to the destruction of Armenian religious objects in the region. This means that the necessary factual basis for a serious international response already exists. However, a sufficiently clear, consistent and effective response is still lacking.

Therefore, with deep respect, I ask you to pay serious attention to the continuous destruction of the Armenian Christian heritage in the territories under the control of Azerbaijan.

Please raise your voice for the protection of those sanctities that belong not only to the Armenian people, but also to the entire Christian world and the common heritage of human civilization.

please you

a) give a clear and public moral and legal assessment of the ongoing destruction of Armenian churches, cemeteries, khachkars and other Christian monuments,

b) support the request of UNESCO and other competent international organizations for immediate and unhindered access to these sanctuaries and monuments,

c) contribute to the creation of a stable international mechanism for monitoring the state of Armenian religious and cultural heritage in the region,

d) use all your available political, diplomatic, public and ecclesiastical opportunities so that the issue of protection of this heritage is raised in a clear, consistent and effective manner,

(e) take all possible measures to protect those sanctuaries that can still be saved from final destruction.

Please do not leave unprotected those Christian sanctuaries, which today need not only words of sympathy, but also real attention, international protection and a firm moral position.

If the international community really recognizes the value of the Christian heritage, then today the moment has come to confirm it not only with statements, but also with deeds. If the destruction of sanctuaries anywhere else in the world causes universal indignation, then the destruction of Armenian churches and cemeteries should not remain without a clear response just because we are talking about a small nation and a politically complex region.

At such moments, the silence of the international community is perceived as particularly difficult. That is why today more than ever it is important that a clear, dignified and responsible voice is heard in defense of the destroyed sanctuaries and the violated historical memory.

With deep hope, I appeal to your conscience, your sense of responsibility and your loyalty to those Christian and universal values ​​that teach not to pass by someone else’s pain and not to remain indifferent to injustice.

With respect and trust,
Archbishop Pargev Martirosyan
Clergyman of the Armenian Apostolic Church,
Patriarchal Delegate,
Leader of the Diocese of Artsakh: 1989-2021.

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The international community must unite its efforts to prevent the recurrence of barbarism like the genocide of the Armenian people, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.

“Today we bow our heads to the memory of hundreds of thousands of victims of the Armenian Genocide, one of the most terrible tragedies of the 20th century. The brutal reprisal against defenseless, innocent people who were killed, injured, expelled from their native cities and towns shocked the entire civilized world, and its disastrous consequences convincingly showed what the incitement of religious enmity, nationalism and xenophobia leads to,” Putin’s greeting to the participants of the commemorative events dedicated to the 111th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, posted on the Kremlin website, says.

Putin noted that the persecutions and repressions of those years have become an unhealing wound for many generations of Armenians, but the survivors have brought together people who have shown strong traditions, wisdom and courage.

Russia’s position on this matter has always been unchanged and already in 1915. In May, it was reflected in the joint declaration of Russia, Great Britain and France, which condemns violence against the Armenian people as a crime against humanity and civilization, and later in the State Duma’s 1995 resolution. in a statement on April 14, the message said.

The President of Russia expressed confidence that from now on the sons and daughters of Armenia will protect the national identity, multi-thousand-year-old culture, language, freedom and spiritual values.
“I wish the friendly Armenian people well-being, prosperity and all the best,” said the message of the Russian leader.

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“Strong Armenia” party chairman Samvel Karapetyan’s message on the occasion of the 111th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, 04/24/2026.

“My dear Armenian people,

A strong Armenian nation that has gone through many tragedies, but is standing up again. Today, we are all united by one sorrow and one pain: the Armenian Genocide. We are the descendants of those Armenians who became victims of the heaviest crime against humanity, genocide.

We are witnessing a painful and unbelievable reality for Armenians. today’s leaders of Armenia are trying to justify the perpetrators of the Armenian Genocide, moreover, they are trying to put a sign of equality between the victim and the executioner. And they openly declare that the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide is no longer one of the priorities of our foreign policy.

But they forget or ignore an important fact. weak people like them come and go, but the historical memory of the Armenian people remains. It is permanent. That memory is in our genetic code.

At the same time, we are very clearly aware that we cannot change our geography, our neighbors. Regional stability and peace is a priority for us. The rapid development of Armenia’s economy has no other option. Therefore, having closed borders in the twenty-first century cannot but affect the normal development of the country. We are in favor of the establishment and stability of diplomatic relations with Turkey, based on the fundamental principles of international law and without compromising the historical truth and national dignity.

A nation that has no memory is like a tree without roots, which breaks and falls in a very short time. But we are not that nation, we are like the thousand-year-old oak whose roots are very deep in the soil. We are firmly attached to our land.

Dear compatriots,

History leaves us no choice but to be strong. We see that when we are weak and stubborn, the evils that befell us become more severe. We witnessed the loss of our second homeland, our wonderful Artsakh, under those weak and incompetent authorities.

We will not allow them to kill us anymore. A strong and prudent leader is the one who predicts the tragedy and prevents it, and not interprets what happened and tries to find excuses.

Today, we join hands with our compatriots in the Diaspora, our sisters and brothers, with Armenians all over the world and set before us one goal: to have a Strong Armenia.

We will not be weak anymore.”

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Today, on the occasion of the 111th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II, accompanied by the congregants of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, visited the Tsitsernakaberd memorial complex in the morning to commemorate the holy martyrs of the Armenian Genocide. His Holiness offered an intercession order for the holy martyrs of the Armenian Genocide near the eternal flame.

The public television company, which broadcasts live from the Tsitsernakaberd memorial complex, broadcast the intercessory order delivered by His Holiness the Patriarch live for a few seconds, without sound. The media working in the memorial complex were able to transmit the full speech of His Holiness only by live connection.

Why shouldn’t the Public Television Company, which is supported by the people’s taxes, broadcast live the prayer of the Most High?

Reverend Ter Psak Mkrtchyan, priest of the Holy Astvastatsin Church of Kanaker in other words, the people are taxpayers, and the Public Television survives at the expense of taxes։

“The people should raise their righteous voice, the part of the people who consider themselves members, children of the Armenian Apostolic Church, should raise their righteous voice and say that there are equal rights, and the words of His Holiness the Patriarch regarding the church should be raised, because it is the desire of the rights of our believers, believing children, to listen to the words of the pastor of their church. I think this is a fair demand, and no one can say whether it is illegal or illegitimate.” of 168.am Father Psak Mkrtchyan said in a conversation with

According to the priest, the Public Television Company’s way of working fits into the anti-church campaign, it was logical from their side.

“I am sure that His Highness’ speech was and will always be related to patriotism, patriotism, national protection, honoring of values, the issue of Artsakh, the forced displacement of our brothers and sisters, and cultural rioters. Naturally, the Public Television has nothing to do here, because it serves a different agenda. Naturally, he had to show everything briefly, go through the footage, and I am sure that here the speech of His Holiness was more important than the direct showing of the footage,” emphasized Reverend Psak Mkrtchyan.

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Today, the third President of RA Serzh Sargsyan, accompanied by his grandchildren, visited the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial, during which journalists had the opportunity to ask the Third President several questions.

Մասնավորապես՝ 168.am I asked Serzh Sargsyan how it is that the government of RA Day is not offended, that Azerbaijan destroys Armenian monuments in occupied Artsakh, but is offended when the Turkish flag is burned in Yerevan during a torchlight procession.

Responding, Serzh Sargsyan said:

“It’s their policy, it’s not new, wasn’t it a few days ago, when you asked if they would take any measures related to the destruction of churches in Stepanakert, I answered no, that is, they are obvious things.”

To the question: Does the government want to forget Artsakh and its cultural monuments with this step? Serzh Sargsyan answered that no one can forget.

“I mean it literally. The fact that they want to forget is their business, but it is impossible, I repeat again: no one can forget.

April 24 has always been a different day for me, not an ordinary day,” added the Third President.

The journalists quoted the statement of the second president of RA, Robert Kocharyan, that it was a mistake on his part to choose Serzh Sargsyan as his replacement, Serzh Sargsyan responded.

“If it was news to you, it was not news to me, I have heard those same words from different sources for almost 2 decades, and yesterday I heard them from the original source, it is not news to me.

From our side, I don’t see a conflict, antagonism, we are not in favor of it.”

Details in the video of 168.am

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RA Defense Minister Suren Papikyan was in Georgia these days.

During the visit, Papikyan met with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and Georgian Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense Irakli Chikovani. During these meetings, the progress of bilateral cooperation in the field of defense, the priorities of bilateral cooperation, the perspectives of their development, as well as a number of issues related to regional security were discussed.

It is no secret that Georgia is particularly important for Armenia in the context of arms supply as a transit country, and this topic could not be on the agenda for discussion, especially in the war situation around Iran, when objectively Armenia faces the problem of receiving arms through the territory of Iran.

Meanwhile, in February of this year, when RA Defense Minister Suren Papikyan visited Iran, serious political and military plans were drawn up, which we wrote

And in relation to Georgia, let’s remind that in January 2024 between Armenia and Georgia was signed strategic partnership agreement. The prime minister of Georgia at that time was Irakli Gharibashvili.

Georgian political scientist Zaal Kasrelishvili was in a hurry “declassify» The main goal of signing a declaration of confirmation of strategic partnership between Georgia and Armenia.

“During the Russo-Georgian war, we did not have such an agreement with Armenia, and at that time the Russian army was attacking the infrastructure of Georgia from the territory of Armenia. Now, after signing this agreement, Armenia is obliged to fulfill the requirement stipulated in it.” he emphasized.

As for what kind of problem Armenia is solving, or what commitment Georgia has taken, in fact, it is not known enough until now. Although, if the Armenian side does not have problems with the Georgian side regarding the supply of weapons, it is already good.

Here it is also necessary to remind Georgian politician Levan Pirveli. «Minval.az»in January 2024 interview in which he had opened The motivation behind Georgia’s decision to “provide” space for French weapons supplied to Armenia.

“Georgia agreed to this in order to get the status of an EU candidate country, because the EU and the collective West actually threatened to “make” a revolution in Georgia. And this would happen if Georgia did not receive the status of an EU candidate country. Therefore, in order to avoid these risks, Georgia had to agree to “military transit” for Armenia,” he elaborated. Of course, there were serious developments in terms of Georgia getting the status of an EU candidate country, but one thing is clear: any such decision pursues a specific interest, maybe now it has changed in the case of the Georgian side.

In any case, let us remind you that in November 2023 Foreign Minister of Georgia Ilya Darchiashvili had said that states have the right to acquire conventional weapons and ammunition, which are not prohibited by international treaties.

“Georgia’s position is to provide an opportunity for both countries to use our transit function on equal terms.” he stressed.

And Armenia, in fact, does not pose a threat in that regard.

On the other hand, let’s not forget that Georgia during the 44-day war was closed air and land routes for aircraft loaded with weapons from Russia to Armenia, which had confirmed also the former head of the General Staff Onik Gasparyan. Of course, Georgia presented its rationale for taking such a step, in detail we have touched on. 

Time will tell what more substantive results we will witness from RA Defense Minister Suren Papikyan’s visit to Georgia.

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Armenian Patriarch of Istanbul Archbishop Sahak Mashalyan sent a message on the occasion of the 111th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, where he stated that neither denial nor hostility can heal wounds.

“We remember A. The losses suffered by our people during the years of the World War, the displacement, exile and the immeasurable pain that has been passed on from generation to generation. But this commemoration is not only to be closed in the dark pages of the past. This commemoration is also a call to make sense of what we experienced and to move towards the future.

On these lands, where different peoples have lived side by side for centuries, the deposit of peaceful coexistence has received a heavy blow during those years. However, this same geography also reminds us of the inevitable truth – that peoples are not condemned to eternal opposition, but are called to coexistence, dialogue and mutual understanding. in the message Sahak Archbishop Mashalyan noted.

In 1915, 111 years ago, Turkey did not recognize and accept the Armenian Genocide committed by Ottoman Turkey in Western Armenia. At different times, he put forward different excuses for not dealing with the historical truth. The most common of these excuses is that Turkey proposes to leave it all to the “study of historians”.

Under what conditions can Turkey accept the Armenian Genocide, what is Turkey’s policy in this direction today?

Former director of the NAS Institute of Oriental Studies, academician, Turkologist Ruben Safrastyan from observation, Turkey as a state has never been close to recognizing the Armenian Genocide, and I think it won’t be close for a long time.

“There was a time when a group was created in Turkey: intellectuals, students, scientists, who spoke about the Armenian Genocide in a language that was different from the official language, because the official language generally denies the fact of the Armenian Genocide. They tried to find other ways to consider the issue of the Armenian Genocide, but it all lasted for several years. When the crackdown on dissidents increased in Turkey, some of the people involved in that group most likely left Turkey, and the others who remained, no longer express themselves on this topic.” 168.amRuben Safrastyan said in a conversation with

According to our interlocutor, at the moment, in Turkey, there is no other point of view regarding the fact of the Armenian Genocide publicly at the official level.

Regarding the process of normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations, Ruben Safrastyan said that Turkey’s rhetoric regarding this process has changed in some respects and has become more positive. On the other hand, it is visible that the problems are of technical nature, no real steps are being taken by Turkey.

“Under these circumstances, I rule out that Turkey can change its policy regarding the issue of the Armenian Genocide. If we imagine for a moment that in the future Armenian-Turkish relations will at least be settled diplomatically, and Turkey will establish diplomatic relations with Armenia, etc., I don’t think that even under those conditions, Turkey will change its policy towards the Armenian Genocide issue,” stressed Ruben Safrastyan.

To the question: what should be the policy pursued by Armenia in these conditions, the Turkologist answered: when they try to observe the policy of the Third Republic of Armenia towards Turkey from a historical point of view, they note that Armenia did not put forward any preconditions for regulating relations with Turkey, that is, Armenia never demanded that Turkey recognize the Armenian Genocide, and only after that establish diplomatic relations with Turkey.

“This has been the RA policy for decades, now it is difficult to say whether this is right or wrong, we can discuss this issue. I am sure that in the future, Armenia will not create any obstacles in the context of establishing relations with Turkey by bringing up the issue of the Armenian Genocide, that is, it will not demand that Turkey condemn the genocide, and then only Armenia establish relations.

I think this is first of all necessary for Turkey to recognize and condemn the Armenian Genocide, regardless of its relations with Armenia, so that it can develop more dynamically as a society. Look, Germany solved that problem and how it is developing, and it is developing not only economically, but also as a society,” said Ruben Safrastyan.

He hopes that a time will come in Turkey when the Turkish society will understand that by recognizing and condemning the Armenian Genocide, they are not equating it with the crime of the past, but are opening a way for the future.

“In the 20th century, there was a famous Turkish writer, Nazem Hikmet, who is considered one of the important figures of Turkish literature. He has a novel, “Romantic”, the hero of that novel expresses himself as follows: “the massacre of Armenians is a big black stain on our forehead, if we want to move forward, we have to clean that stain.” I think this should be considered a problem of the maturity of the Turkish society,” emphasized Ruben Safrastyan.

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On the occasion of the 111th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, a number of state and political leaders from different countries of the world delivered messages.

In their statements, they refer to the importance of historical justice, preservation of memory and prevention of such crimes, emphasizing that the condemnation of genocides should be a key part of international solidarity.

Tarelits is another occasion to remember the victims and rethink the responsibility facing humanity to not forget the lessons of the past and to prevent similar tragedies in the future. French President Emmanuel Macron made a post on X on the occasion of the 111th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

“Today, on April 24, the Republic commemorates the victims of the 1915 Armenian Genocide and bows to their memory,” it is stated in his post. The head of the Elysée Palace emphasized that this is an opportunity to remember, convey and emphasize the inseparable connection between France and Armenia, as well as the French and Armenians.

The President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, also sent a message, in which it is noted that the brutal massacre of innocent people shocked the entire civilized world, and its disastrous consequences clearly showed what the incitement of religious hatred, nationalism and xenophobia leads to.
“We are convinced that the policy of mass extermination and displacement of people on national soil has no justification and cannot have, and the international community must unite efforts so that such barbarism is never repeated anywhere,” Putin said.

Turkish President Recep Erdogan also sent an April 24th message, again announcing that the Armenians of the Ottoman Empire lost their lives in the difficult conditions of the First World War.
In his letter of condolence to the Armenian Patriarch of Turkey Sahak Mashalyan, Erdogan wrote that the collapse of the Ottoman Empire was accompanied by clashes, movements of terrorist groups, terrorism, and epidemics, during which, among other peoples, Armenians also suffered deeply.
Erdogan’s message was read during the liturgy in the Armenian church in Istanbul.
“Instead of conflict, we prefer agreement,” wrote the President of Turkey. According to him, on the basis of peace, well-being and brotherhood, they continue to act and fight together with all their compatriots and friends, regardless of their national and religious affiliations.

168.amin a conversation with Russian orientalist Viktor Nadein-Raevsky said that Turkey’s current political line is formed at the point of intersection of several axes at the same time, between preserving national identity, expanding regional influence and ensuring internal political stability.

According to him, in this context, the issues of historical memory, especially the topic of the Armenian Genocide, continue to be a part of state security and ideological integrity.

He believes that although Ankara sometimes raises the topic of historians, it considers the issue outside the scope of historiography, it is a political tool.

“Denial is one of the key components of this policy, it operates at different levels, from education to diplomacy. It allows maintaining public consensus, avoiding discussions that could revise history. At the same time, denial has a preventive nature. creates a dead end for a possible agenda of legal claims, reducing the likelihood of international pressure. This logic becomes more clear and explainable when it is considered against the background of “Turan’s” ideology.

Integration processes between Turkic-speaking countries in the economic, military and cultural spheres imply the construction and expansion of common historical and value bases. The policy of 1915 was transformed and has reached our days as the “Turan” program, on which Armenia is on the way. Therefore, the control of the historical narrative is becoming a part of not only domestic but also a broad regional strategy,” the analyst said.

He believes that this whole picture shows that Turkey’s non-recognition of the Armenian Genocide is not a random or situational choice. “It is a systemic approach that combines the protection of state identity, foreign political calculations and future-oriented integration programs. It is in these layers that the stable position of Ankara is formed, which, despite the wording changing over time, remains the same in its content,” said Viktor Nadein-Raevsky.

The Russian Turkologist believes that maintaining this tough and consistent position of Turkey is also contributed to a certain extent by the policy of the current authorities of Armenia, especially in those areas where the topics of historical memory, international recognition and claim-making are pushed to the background for the sake of stability or regional de-escalation. “Therefore today it was impossible to expect a different reaction from the Turkish side, this was logical and expected,” said Viktor Nadein-Raevsky.

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