Breaking
UK Sanctions Azerbaijan State-Owned Tanker for Shipping Russian Oil
By Rasmus Canbäck
The sanctions on Azerbaijani companies and individuals come as the country is deepening energy ties with the European Union.
CFTJ’s 4th Annual International Conference to Address the Crime of Aggression
The 4th Annual International Conference hosted by the Center for Truth and Justice (CFTJ) will gather leading voices in international law and diplomacy to examine the crime of aggression amid shifting global dynamics. The event will occur at Matenadaran, Yerevan’s iconic repository of ancient manuscripts and online.
Confirmed speakers include:
- Dr. Silvia Fernández de Gurmendi, former President of the International Criminal Court and key architect of its foundational framework.
- Hon. Beti Hohler, Judge of the ICC, known for her work in internationalized criminal justice.
- H.E. Christian Wenaweser, Liechtenstein’s Permanent Representative to the UN and the visionary behind the Veto Initiative.
CFTJ is a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) organization documenting war crimes and atrocity crimes committed against ethnic Armenians since 2020.
Armenia Rises to 34th in 2025 Press Freedom Index, Leading the Region
Armenia has climbed to 34th place in Reporters Without Borders’ 2025 Press Freedom Index, up from 43rd last year, maintaining its position as the regional leader in press freedom. With a score of 73.96, Armenia outperformed neighbours Georgia (114th), Azerbaijan (167th), and Turkey (159th). Norway, Estonia, and the Netherlands top the global rankings.
Azerbaijan’s Ethnic Cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh and Genocidal Policy
Weeks on Hunger Strike for One Call: The Fate of Armenian Detainees in Azerbaijani Prisons
Vicken Euljekjian, an Armenian civilian illegally detained in Azerbaijan since 2020, has staged a hunger strike in prison in Baku, after being denied the right to call his wife. It is the second time he has resorted to a hunger strike over the conditions of his imprisonment. Christian Solidarity International (CSI) is campaigning for the release of Euljekjian and the other 22 Armenian Christians known to be held in Azerbaijan.
The Buenos Aires chapter of the Society for Orphaned Armenian Relief (SOAR) submitted an urgent appeal it had sent to the ICRC regarding access and communication rights for prisoners in Azerbaijan.
“Vicken Euljeckjian… has been waging a silent but deeply painful protest through a hunger strike that has now lasted over 15 days. His demand is heartbreakingly simple: a phone call to his wife, Linda. One call — a basic human connection — is all he seeks,” the SOAR letter stated.
The letter concluded, “We respectfully and urgently call on the ICRC to use all diplomatic and humanitarian means at its disposal to restore access to detainees in Azerbaijan.”
In early March, Azerbaijan banned the ICRC from operating in Azerbaijan, meaning it could no longer visit prisoners.
No Choice but to Flee: New Report Finds Azerbaijan Committed Crimes Against Humanity Against Armenians of Nagorno- Karabakh
Rerooted, a grassroots archive and justice initiative, has published “No Choice but to Flee”, a legal analysis concluding that Azerbaijan’s actions leading to the 2023 mass exodus of Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh constitute crimes against humanity of deportation and persecution. The report, prepared in collaboration with legal experts and students from Leiden, Harvard, Columbia, and Oxford, draws on hundreds of testimonies and international criminal law to support its findings.
Driven by Fear from Nagorno-Karabakh
“We Recognized Him by His Tattoo”: The Story of 88-Year-Old Artyusha Mikaelyan Killed While Fleeing Azerbaijani Attack
This is the story of 88-year-old Artyusha Mikaelyan, who was killed while escaping the Azerbaijani military attack on Nagorno-Karabakh in September 2023. Ten days later, his body was found and identified only by a tattoo.
“Who did my husband do any harm that they killed him and left him in the middle of the forest?” — asks his wife, 86-year-old Yelena Mikaelyan.
Photo of the Week
On Europe Day, 9 May, Freedom Square in Yerevan turned into a hub of unity, culture, and celebration of 33 years of EU-Armenia partnership.
Photo Courtesy of EU Neighbours East.
Security
UK Sanctions Directors of Oil Trading Group Over Russian Ties
Britain announced a package of sanctions aimed at Russia, including placing asset freezes on several directors of oil trading company Coral Energy Group, which is now known as 2Rivers Group.
Armenia, UN Rights Chief Discuss Peace with Azerbaijan, POWs
Pashinyan Meets EU Delegation, Highlights Armenia’s Path Toward EU Integration
European Commission Vice-President Kaja Kallas: EU Engagement Crucial for Armenia-Azerbaijan Normalization
Aurora’s 2025 Humanitarian Summit and Forum Mobilize Global Leaders in Los Angeles to Confront Crises and Advance Human Dignity
Held as part of Aurora’s 10th anniversary, the 2025 Humanitarian Summit and Human Rights and Humanitarian Forum convened global changemakers at UCLA on May 6–7. Organized by the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative and UCLA Law’s Promise Institute, the event gathered participants from over 30 countries to address today’s polycrisis and reaffirm a united commitment to bold, integrated humanitarian action. Aurora, founded to honor survivors of the Armenian Genocide, has supported over 3.5 million people worldwide and continues to empower humanitarians across the globe.
Economy
Ambassador Kvien Hails Successful Start to SelectUSA with Largest-Ever Armenian Business Delegation
U.S. Ambassador Kristina Kvien celebrated a successful first day at SelectUSA, highlighting the largest-ever Armenian business delegation. The conference offers Armenian companies valuable opportunities to connect with U.S. partners and explore investment prospects.
Amulsar Relaunch to Boost Economy, With U.S. Investment Seen as Key Driver
Armenian Finance Minister said the relaunch of the Amulsar gold mine—backed by U.S. investment—could contribute up to 0.5% to Armenia’s GDP growth this year. “The launch of Amulsar can have positive impact,” he noted, emphasizing confidence in achieving the government’s 2025 economic growth targets.
French Business Delegation Explores Investment Opportunities in Armenia
On May 2, Armenia’s Minister of Economy Gevorg Papoyan welcomed over a dozen businesspeople from Lyon, France, to discuss potential investments and partnerships.
U.S. News Channel Newsmax to Air in Armenia
Armenia to Host 15th Council of Europe Cultural Routes Forum and Governing Board Meeting
Armenia has been unanimously selected to host the 15th annual Advisory Forum of the Council of Europe’s Cultural Routes and the Governing Board’s informal meeting.
Armenian Deputy PM and EU Ambassador Future Economic Cooperation
Rule of Law
European Association of Judges Holds Annual Conference in Yerevan
The European Association of Judges has opened its annual conference in Yerevan, bringing together over 70 delegates from 35 countries.
Opinion
Artsakh Now is the Better Name for Nagorno- Karabakh
By Hans Gutbrod
After Azerbaijan’s seizure of Nagorno-Karabakh in September of 2023, it is time to change how we refer to this area. “Artsakh”, its Armenian designation, is now a far more appropriate name. As expected, the dictatorship in Baku is seeking to eliminate the Armenian presence from an area in which the culture and its precursors have flourished over millennia. Adopting the Armenian name is just one small step to counteract that attempt at eradication.
‘Peace’ Under Pressure: Christian Armenia Faces a Strategic Trap
Critics warn that far from ending war, the Armenia- Azerbaijan deal entrenches instability and undermines Armenian sovereignty.
Hijacking History: Baku’s “Western Azerbaijan” Campaign
By Armine Tigranyan
Under the term “Western Azerbaijan,” Azerbaijan refers to the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia and its entire historical and cultural heritage. While this term occasionally appeared in pseudo-academic Azerbaijani historiography in the 20th century—often without clear geographic boundaries —by 2007, these boundaries were explicitly delineated in official publications.
Antonia Arslan: From The Lark Farm to Nakhichevan, from Kharpert to Stepanakert
By Narine Vlasyan
They say the Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul—Bolis to Armenians—connects West and East, Europe and Asia. But for Antonia Arslan, the true bridge between the Orient and Europe is not a structure, but a people: the Armenians.