Breaking
On July 7, the Center for Truth and Justice (CFTJ) participated in an exclusive side event at the UN Headquarters in New York during the Special Session of the ICC Assembly of States Parties.
The event brought together leading international organizations, state representatives, and civil society actors to advocate for harmonizing the Court’s jurisdiction over all four core crimes under the Rome Statute.
Judge Gassia Apkarian, senior legal advisor to CFTJ, highlighted the situation of Armenian victims, emphasizing that the atrocities they have faced, including torture, extrajudicial killings, and other grave crimes committed by the Azerbaijani regime, qualify as the crime of aggression. She stressed the importance of closing jurisdictional gaps to ensure equal access to justice, referencing the body of evidence CFTJ has been collecting since the 2020 war.
Armenia, Azerbaijan Leaders to Meet Thursday in Abu Dhabi on Peace Plan
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev will meet in the United Arab Emirates on Thursday, their governments said, to work to finalise a peace agreement after nearly four decades of conflict.
Global ARM Advisory Board Member Nerses Kopalyan Testifies at Congressional Hearing
On Thursday, June 26, Global ARM Advisory Board Member Nerses Kopalyan testified before the U.S. Senate at a Helsinki Commission hearing titled “The Cost of a Bad Deal in Ukraine.” The session examined the regional and global consequences of a potential Russian victory in Ukraine, with testimonies focused on Moldova, Armenia, Georgia, and Belarus.
“Their [Russia’s] objective is to stop Armenia’s western pivot, a pivot that is supported by the Armenian society, as well as important Armenian American community members, and groups such as the immense work being done by Global ARM. In this context, should the bad peace in Ukraine prevail, Russia’s endeavors in the South Caucasus will succeed. And this will produce irreversible harm to American strategic interests,” stated Kopalyan.
“Armenia Has Undertaken a Historic Westward Pivot”: Dr. Nerses Kopalyan Urges Bold U.S. Action at Helsinki Commission Briefing
At a June 25 U.S. Helsinki Commission briefing, Global ARM Advisory Board Members Dr. Nerses Kopalyan and Garo Paylan testified on the urgent need for sustained U.S. engagement in facilitating a just and lasting peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
“Armenia has undertaken a historic Westward pivot,” Kopalyan stated, emphasizing the urgency for the U.S. to respond with meaningful policy shifts.
He proposed three key actions that the U.S. must take to send a strong signal to Baku, deter further aggression and support sustainable peace:
- Strengthen bilateral defence ties with Armenia to deepen security cooperation.
- Facilitate large-scale U.S. investment in Armenia’s strategic sectors, including IT, AI, rare earth minerals, and infrastructure.
- Impose targeted sanctions on Azerbaijan, focusing on its political elite, military, and state-owned economic assets.
Azerbaijan’s Ethnic Cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh and Genocidal Policy
HART Urges UK to Hold Azerbaijan Accountable, Support Displaced Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh, and Protect Civilians in Armenia Under Threat
On the Armenian side, residents voice fears about the possibility of another war. “We have a feeling,” says Narine, an 88-year-old farmer near Tegh, “that, one day, we might not reap what we sow.” An attack by Azerbaijan is a matter of “when not if”.
Narine’s fear is justified: she has lived through two wars, witnessed the 2020–2023 exodus from nearby Nagorno-Karabakh, and seen neighbors lose access to farmland now under Azerbaijani control or fire.
The Humanitarian Aid Relief Trust (HART):
- Urges the UK to abandon its outdated neutral stance and recognize the power imbalance between Armenia and Azerbaijan, where one side (Azerbaijan) has vastly superior resources and demonstrates a pattern of aggression.
- Stresses that UK policy must acknowledge the dramatic shift since 2020, when Azerbaijan—with Turkish support—reignited conflict and displaced tens of thousands of Armenians.
- Urges the UK to recognize that the Armenian population in Armenia itself is under threat, given President Aliyev’s open irredentist ambitions to seize further Armenian territory, including Syunik, Lake Sevan, and even Yerevan.
- Calls on the UK to proactively contribute to peace through a three-pillared approach, including advocacy against aggression, meaningful dialogue, and strategic use of leverage, as the UK is the largest foreign investor in Azerbaijan
Armenian MP Vladimir Vardanyan Condemns POW Abuse at PACE Summer Session
Speaking at the PACE Summer Session, Armenian MP Vladimir Vardanyan denounced the growing mistreatment of prisoners of war (POWs), warning that equating their status with criminals and subjecting them to intimidation and torture violates the Geneva Conventions and international humanitarian law. He urged the immediate repatriation of all POWs, especially the wounded and mentally ill, and reminded that war crimes have no statute of limitations.
HART Backs Swiss Peace Initiative, Urges Inclusive Dialogue on Nagorno-Karabakh
HART has issued a statement supporting the Swiss Peace Initiative for Nagorno-Karabakh, calling for meaningful dialogue between Azerbaijan and the displaced Armenian population. Backed by prominent UK figures, HART emphasizes the need to include marginalized voices to achieve lasting reconciliation and address root causes of conflict.
From Promise to Peace: Swiss MP Erich Vontobel Champions Nagorno-Karabakh Return Initiative
Swiss National Councillor Erich Vontobel has transformed a personal promise made to Armenian refugees into the Swiss Peace Initiative for Nagorno- Karabakh, a parliamentary-backed effort calling for dialogue, return, and justice. Inspired by his 2024 visit to Armenia, Vontobel’s successful motion aims to convene an international peace forum under Swiss mediation, ensuring the safe return of over 120,000 displaced Armenians following Azerbaijan’s 2023 invasion.
Photos of the Week
Ambassador Kvien and Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan raise a toast during the U.S. Independence Day celebration in Yerevan, held under a Route 66 theme and featuring music, food, and patriotic performances. The celebration opened with a powerful rendition of the U.S. and Armenian national anthems.
Photo Courtesy of the U.S. Embassy in Armenia.
Yana Simonyan, the first female Armenian cadet accepted to West Point, celebrates her acceptance to the U.S. Military Academy, Class of 2029.
Photo Courtesy of the U.S. Embassy in Armenia.
American diplomats visited the Kapan American Corner, engaging with local students and staff at this vibrant hub for U.S.-Armenia cultural exchange in Syunik.
Photo Courtesy of the U.S. Embassy in Armenia.
U.S. Embassy’s Public Affairs Officer Torrey Goad visited the American University of Armenia (AUA) to meet with the inaugural cohort of the AUA Master’s Program in Multiplatform Journalism.
Photo Courtesy of the U.S. Embassy in Armenia.
Ambassador Kvien honors Colonel Steele at his retirement ceremony after 25 years of distinguished service, including two years as the U.S. Defense Attaché to Armenia.
Photo Courtesy of the U.S. Embassy in Armenia.
Driven by Fear from Nagorno-Karabakh
The Exiled Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh Deserve to Return
By Vartan Oskanian
In 2023, over 120,000 ethnic Armenians were displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh—a region their ancestors had inhabited for millennia.
The recent war between Iran and Israel reminded the world that the Middle East and its peripheries remain perilously unstable. But the United States should not focus on this one conflict alone—and nowhere is neglect more visible and potentially costly than in the South Caucasus, the area that borders Iran to the north.
Security
EU and Armenian Leaders Discuss Next Steps for EU-Armenia Partnership and Reform Agenda
On 4 July, EU experts and Armenian officials gathered to assess the implementation of the EU-Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which aims to promote democratic reforms, economic development, and closer EU integration. The discussion focused on aligning CEPA with Armenia’s Resilience and Growth Plan to deliver tangible improvements for citizens.
EU’s Kaja Kallas Visits Armenia, Launches First Security & Defence Talks
Vice-President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas visited Armenia on June 29–30 for the first-ever EU-Armenia security and defence consultation with Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan. They discussed regional security, EU defence initiatives, and signed a key agreement allowing Armenia to contribute to EU missions worldwide.
EU Pledges Continued Support for Armenia, Highlights Deepening Ties
Armenia Caught Between Giants: The 12-Day War and the Policy of Strategic Ambiguity
By Nerses Kopalyan
Armenia faces immense risk from instability to its south, but has no ability to influence outcomes. Yerevan will adopt strategic ambiguity—avoiding alignment, entanglement, or value-based positioning. The goal: mitigate losses, maintain vital ties with both the U.S. and Iran, and preserve national security.
Armenia Condemns OIC for Undermining Its Territorial Integrity Over Azerbaijan Peace Demands
Zoryan Institute Slams Turkish Proposal to Name Armenia Border After Genocide Architect
The Zoryan Institute strongly condemned a proposal by Turkish MP Müsavat Dervişoğlu to name the closed Alican border checkpoint after Talaat Pasha, the chief architect of the Armenian Genocide. Calling the move “deeply insensitive,” the institute urged Turkish leaders to choose a name symbolizing reconciliation, such as Hrant Dink, instead of honoring a figure tied to mass atrocities and historical trauma.
Economy
American Tech Giant Plug & Play to Open Yerevan Office, Power Armenian Startups
American venture capital firm and global accelerator Plug & Play will establish a permanent presence in Yerevan as part of a $4 million initiative to strengthen Armenia’s startup ecosystem through 2028. The move builds on an earlier program that supported 20 Armenian startups and reflects growing U.S.-Armenia tech collaboration.
U.S.-Armenian Joint Venture Proposed to Oversee Regional Transit Route Amid Armenia- Azerbaijan Talks
Political analyst Tigran Grigoryan reveals that Washington, through an Armenian-American private company, is proposing to manage the critical regional transit route connecting Azerbaijan to Nakhchivan via Armenia. While Armenia tentatively supports the plan to prevent Iranian backlash, concerns remain over sovereignty and control, with Azerbaijan yet to accept the proposal.
Education
U.S. and Armenia Launch New Academic Partnership to Boost STEM and Entrepreneurship
Ambassador Kvien helped launch a U.S. government- funded partnership between Florida State University and the Armenian State University of Economics, strengthening academic ties and advancing STEM and entrepreneurship in Armenia.
U.S. Embassy Empowers English Educators Across Armenia
Through the “Language Horizons” initiative by the U.S. Embassy and COAF, 16 teachers from 5 regions completed the CTEFL program at AUA, returning home ready to elevate English education in their communities.
Armenian Judges Explore U.S. Legal System Through Open World Exchange Program
Opinion
Balancing Act: Azerbaijan’s Energy Links to Russia and the Sanctions Regime
By Gubad Ibadoghlu
The limited effectiveness of the price cap mechanism has been underscored by the persistent operation of shadow tankers involved in circumventing Western sanctions. According to the CREA, approximately 558 such vessels continued to transport sanctioned Russian crude oil and petroleum products on the gray market in the third year following the invasion of Ukraine. These shadow fleets operate below the price cap thresholds established by the G7, directly violating the sanctions regime. As a result, over 750 vessels have been subject to sanctions—340 by the EU, 230 by the United States, and 180 by the United Kingdom.
Most Pro-Democracy Operations Were Shut Down in Conflict-Affected Areas Due to the Trump Cuts – Here’s Why That Was a Grave Mistake
By Andranik Shirinyan
This shift is a global emergency, as support for democracy remains not only an essential moral imperative but also a strategic priority for those who seek a more stable and prosperous world. To understand why, let us look at the aggression carried out in recent years by authoritarian Azerbaijan against democratic Armenia in the South Caucasus. That aggression had been going on intermittently for several years. Its climax came in September 2023 with an Azerbaijani attack on the disputed enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as the ethnic cleansing of its 140,000 ethnic Armenians.
How Sports Can be Used to Mask Injustices
By Stephan Pechdimaldji
China has leveraged international sporting events like the Olympics to whitewash its abysmal human rights record for years and will more than likely use the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics to gloss over its atrocities happening in Xinjiang. Azerbaijan is the latest country to turn to this type of playbook. That is why sports and politics are not mutually exclusive. Governing bodies like the UEFA have a responsibility to ensure that human rights and the rule of law are conditions for hosting games and events.
Repression Intensifies in Azerbaijan: Scholars and Journalists are Filling Baku Jails
By Vicken Cheterian
Why this extremely harsh repression of a doctoral student? The reason is that Bahruz Samadov single-handedly succeeded where the entire Azerbaijani opposition failed: to develop an alternative discourse to that of state-sponsored nationalism, that the way to freedom and prosperity for the Azerbaijani people was not through wars and ethnic cleansing, but through talking, meeting, exchanging and working with his Armenian counterparts.
India-Pakistan Escalation, Nuclear Deterrence and Armenia’s Defense Outlook
By Davit Petrosyan
The conflict further consolidated the nexus between the “Three Brothers” alliance of Turkey, Azerbaijan and Pakistan, prompting Armenia to consider potential trilateral and quadrilateral formats to balance this growing axis. Finally, the conflict highlighted the effectiveness of Indian weapons, some of which have already entered Armenia’s arsenal.