Breaking
The deadly Azerbaijani attack that claimed the lives of four Armenian soldiers took place in Nerkin Hand, the Syunik Province of Southern Armenia. Southern Armenia is under constant threat of more Azerbaijani aggression and deeper occupation of Armenia.
Statement of the MFA of Armenia
Statement by the US Ambassador to Armenia
U.S. State Department Comments
Statement by the Council of Europe (CoE) Secretary General
Azerbaijan Accused of Continuing Cultural Genocide in Nagorno-Karabakh: Vandalism Reported
U.S. Congress
Rep. Jim Costa Calls on State Department to Provide Assistance to Armenians Ethnically Cleansed from Nagorno- Karabakh
Costa Also Referenced Azerbaijan’s Recent Killing of Four Armenian Servicemen.
U.S. Senate Passes Supplemental Security Package Armenia Expected to Receive Assistance
On February 13, the Senate passed a revised $95 billion national security supplemental appropriations package. This version still includes $1.58 billion for the Assistance for Europe, Eurasia, and Central Asia (AEECA) account and $375 million for International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement (INCLE), some of which is expected to be allocated for Armenia. In addition, U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan mentioned that additional humanitarian aid for Nagorno-Karabakh refugees would be available in the supplemental security package.
This package faces an uphill battle in the Republican-led House and it is unclear if there is a path to pass it.
Congressman Frank Pallone Demands Accountability: Aliyev Must Face Consequences for Artsakh Assault
“Aliyev broke international law when he ordered his deadly assault of Artsakh last year. He still has not faced any meaningful consequences for his genocidal campaign that has displaced 120,000 Armenians from their historic homeland even though it was clear an attack was imminent,” wrote Pallone in his X account.
Senator Gary Peters Urges Administration: Halt Aid to Azerbaijan, Impose Sanctions for Nagorno-Karabakh Attack
“I’m calling on the Administration to end aid to the Azerbaijani government and sanction those responsible for the attack on Nagorno-Karabakh. It’s time for accountability,” wrote Peters in his X account.
Congressman Mike Lawler Pushes Armenian Protection Act to Curb Biden Administration’s Support for Azerbaijan
“The Armenian Protection Act will put a stop to the Biden Administration’s funding of Azerbaijan’s authoritarian regime and desire for regional dominance,” Lawler wrote in his X account.
World Leaders, NGOs Condemn Azerbaijan’s Ethnic Cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh
Canadian Senator Leo Housakos Raises Concerns: Arms Sales to Turkey and Ethnic Cleansing of Armenians in Nagorno- Karabakh Ignored by NATO Countries
In his questioning of the Canadian government’s decision to resume arms exports to Turkey, Senator Leo Housakos emphasized the contradiction between Canada’s stance as defenders of human rights and its provision of weapons allegedly used in the ethnic cleansing of Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh by Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan Named Among Worst Persecutors of Churches in 2023
President Erdogan of Turkey has supported the Azerbaijani effort to ethnically cleanse the Armenian Christian community in Nagorno- Karabakh.
European Centre for Law and Justice Condemns Azerbaijan’s Ethnic Cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh, Calls for Suspension from Council of Europe
- The European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ)
welcomes the suspension of Azerbaijan from the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). - Emphasizes the imperative to scrutinize the functionality of democratic institutions within Azerbaijan.
- Strongly condemns Azerbaijan’s perpetration of ethnic cleansing in Nagorno- Karabakh.
- Reaffirms its call to the Assembly to pursue the suspension or potential expulsion of Azerbaijan from the Council of Europe (CoE), drawing parallels with Russia’s exclusion in March 2022 due to its aggression in Ukraine.
Christian Solidarity International: Armenians Live under the Constant Threat of Attack
“Five months ago, the world abandoned the Armenian Christians of Nagorno-Karabakh, to ethnic cleansing at the hands of Azerbaijan’s dictatorship. Today, the “peace process” between Armenia and Azerbaijan has stalled. Armenians live under the constant threat of attack,” states a statement by the Christian Solidarity International (CSI).
Armenia Condemns UN’s Failure to Prevent Ethnic Cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh, Urges Action and Accountability
Armenia’s Permanent Representative, to the United Nations (UN), strongly criticized the UN for its failure to address the grave violations in Nagorno-Karabakh. He emphasized that this inaction not only violates the UN’s core principles but also contradicts the global commitment to protecting populations from atrocities like genocide and ethnic cleansing.
Driven by Fear from Nagorno-Karabakh
Voices from Azerbaijan’s 2023 Genocide
Zarine, an ethnic Armenian resident of Karabakh, is in a state of traumatic shock after Azerbaijan killed her two children in an indiscriminate shelling of their village. At the time, Zarine had been in the city, searching for food to feed her hungry kids, amidst Azerbaijan’s genocidal siege.
EU Increases Humanitarian Aid to Displaced Karabakh Armenians with €5.5 million
He Moved from Lebanon to Armenia for a Better Life. Now he’s in his Fourth year of Azerbaijan Detention
Since his capture in 2020 as a civilian by Azerbaijani forces in Nagorno-Karabakh, Vicken Euljeckjian was prohibited from speaking Arabic, the native language of his wife Linda. This restriction left the couple unable to communicate effectively during phone calls, as Linda doesn’t speak Armenian.
After the recent Armenia-Azerbaijan prisoner exchange, 32 prisoners were set for repatriation. Vicken Euljeckjian’s name was on the list published by Azerbaijani media, but he was not released.
“My father has no hope that he will get out of there. Sometimes he urges us to forget about him and live our own lives,” Vicken’s son says. “But we love him, we are waiting for him and we pray every single day for his and others’ return.”
Freedom House Offers $10,000 USD Funding to Armenian Civil Society Organizations Supporting Nagorno-Karabakh Ethnic Armenians
Testimonies from Nagorno-Karabakh that the World Ignored
The Mayilyan family, elderly survivors of Azerbaijan’s 2023
genocide, faced tragedy in December 2022. Azerbaijan’s
blockade prevented urgent medical care for their son, who died at
home in Nagorno-Karabakh. The father, aged 70, lamented that if
the road had been open or supplies had reached Stepanakert, his son’s life might have been saved.
Photos of the week
The daughter of Vicken Euljeckjian, a civilian detained in Azerbaijan after being captured in Nagorno-Karabakh in 2020, writes a letter to her father.
Photo courtesy of João Sousa.
Christian Armenians celebrate Trndez, a feast of purification, in front of St. Anna Church in Yerevan, Armenia.
Photo courtesy of Karen Minasyan.
Security
Amidst Azerbaijan’s Renewed Attack on Nerkin Hand, Revisiting Testimonies from Azerbaijan’s 2022 Assault
“The situation is dire; Azerbaijan’s occupation of our territories has left us vulnerable. We’re unable to access our cemetery, and they’ve even cut off our drinking water supply. They’ve taken everything from us—our arable lands, and pastures. If they attack at night, no one will be able to escape,” expressed a resident.
France, Germany, and Poland Call for Fair and Sustainable Peace in South Caucasus
France, Germany, and Poland, in a joint statement following the ‘Weimar Triangle’ meeting, urged for a fair and lasting peace in the South Caucasus. They endorsed EU and U.S. mediation efforts to foster dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan, reaffirming support for the region’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
EU Ambassador to Armenia: Syunik has Acquired very Specific Importance
The Resilient Syunik Team Europe Initiative, launched on January 18, 2023, represents a unique collaboration between the European Union (EU), the European Investment Bank, and EU member states. According to EU Ambassador to Armenia, this innovative initiative aims to contribute
to the sustainable socioeconomic development of the Syunik region while addressing security concerns heightened by the 2020 war and subsequent refugee crisis.
Borrell: EU Reaffirms Commitment to Expand Security Cooperation with Armenia
Baku Slams EU Monitoring Mission In Armenia
The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry summoned the European Union’s (EU) ambassador in Baku to denounce a monitoring mission in Armenia.
Why Armenia and Azerbaijan Still Can’t Reach a Peace Deal
By Alex Little
While it is important that both sides remain engaged in negotiations, a sustainable peace settlement between Armenia and Azerbaijan remains elusive. The question in Washington remains: Can the United States do anything to help the situation?
Armenian Foreign Minister Meets with Chair of European Parliament’s Subcommittee on Security and Defense
“Supporting the Armenian people entails honoring their history, aiding them in their current challenges, and steadfastly believing in their future sovereignty and freedom,” wrote Nathalie Loiseau in her X account.
Armenian Foreign Minister Meets NATO Representative, Discusses Regional Stability and Partnership Enhancement
OSCE Raises Concerns over Fairness of Azerbaijan Election
“While preparations for the election were efficient and professional, it lacked genuine pluralism and critical voices were continuously stifled,” the OSCE emphasized.
Video Footage Reveals Alleged Ballot Tampering by Polling Officials During Azerbaijan Elections
Armenian Defense Minister Discussed Regional Security Issues with a Member of the British House of Commons
Armenia’s PM: ‘We are not Russia’s Ally’ in War Against Ukraine
Economy
Highly-Anticipated TUMO Center To Open In Los Angeles In Late 2024, First In The U.S.
The TUMO Center for Creative Technologies opens its first U.S. headquarters in North Hollywood, providing free design and technology education to local teens.
US Ambassador: Innovation has Always been the Main Driving force of Armenia’s Economic Development
Ambassador Quinn discussed Armenian-American cooperation in high-tech trade, cyber security, and digital infrastructure with newly appointed Minister of High-Tech Industry of Armenia.
Opinion
Russia is Making Mistakes beyond Ukraine. Why Won’t the US take Advantage of Them?
By Michael Rubin
Armenians relied on Russia for protection against Turkey. The alliance
between the two countries was of both heart and mind, yet within just
two years, Putin’s arrogance and incompetence have flipped Armenia. Armenians resent how Putin greenlighted Azerbaijan’s 2020 aggression and ethnic cleansing of Nagorno-Karabakh to avenge Armenia’s turn toward democracy.
Snap Elections and “Snapping” Victory – Azerbaijan’s Most Embarrassing Election to Date
By Arzu Geybullayeva
Despite there being ample evidence that President Ilham Aliyev would have won in a snap presidential election on February 7, throughout the day, journalists and independent observers reported the same old election violations and fraud tactics that were in place.
Azerbaijan’s Attacks on Armenian Heritage Aim to Erase an Entire Culture
By Fernando Camacho Padilla
On 25 December 2023, the Azerbaijan parliament passed a declaration claiming that, in what is currently Armenia, there was previously an Azerbaijani community that was displaced by conflict. Further aggression by Azerbaijan against Armenia can therefore not be ruled out, despite steps towards a possible truce in recent months.
Jerusalem: Jewish Settler Movement Makes Bid for Large Slice of Armenian Quarter
By Svante Lundgren
If the Armenians lose this battle and the settler movement is able
to gain control of such a key site, it will harm a vulnerable small
minority. And the settler campaign to colonise East Jerusalem under Jewish control will have achieved yet another victory.
‘Azerbaijan is Following an Increasingly Dark Path’
By Bahruz Samadov
A lot of violations were recorded: ‘carousels’ where the same people vote at different polling stations, as well as aggression towards independent observers. No one doubted that Aliyev would win even without such fraud, but it was necessary to show a record turnout.
Turkey Threatens to Invade Greece and Armenia
By Michael Rubin
Hulusi Akar, a former defense minister who today chairs the parliament’s National Defense Commission,threatened Armenia during a January 29, 2024 visit to Azerbaijan, suggesting Turkey could repeat its and Azerbaijan’s ethnic cleansing of Nagorno-Karabakh’s indigenous Armenian population against Armenia proper. With Turkish backing, Azerbaijan continues to occupy several dozen square kilometers of Armenian territory.
Can the West Be a Reliable Partner of Armenia?
By Gaïdz Minassian
If Western nations, especially the United States, can prioritize Armenia’s security in their dealings with Turkey and Azerbaijan, there is room for cautious advancement.
