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1. The Right of return for People of Artsakh and the Swiss Peace Initiative
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The Armenians of Artsakh are an indigenous people who have lived in Nagorno-Karabakh for centuries. In 2023, over 120,000 Armenians were forcibly displaced and expelled from Artsakh following Azerbaijan’s military offensive in what international bodies have described as ethnic cleansing.
The right of return is the legal right of displaced people to return to their homes in safety and dignity. It is enshrined in international law and upheld by rulings from the International Court of Justice. Also, dozens of Armenians, including former Artsakh leaders and civilians, are illegally detained in Baku. They face humiliating show trials, in violation of international law. There can be no justice without their release.
The Swiss Peace Initiative for Nagorno-Karabakh is a cross-party committee of the Swiss Federal Council which aims to facilitate an open dialogue between Azerbaijan and Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh and to negotiate the safe return of the population.
What can you do?
Share this message on social media and contact your MP to demand that the UK government pressures Azerbaijan to ensure the safe return of the Armenians forcibly displaced from Artsakh and the release of all Armenian prisoners.
Photos: Davit Ghahramanyan |
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US: Over 200 Congressional staffers and advocates packed a Capitol Hill briefing organised by the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) on July 8 to support the Swiss Peace Initiative and the safe return of Artsakh Armenians to their homeland.
Foloowing this a congressional initiative, led by Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), and David Valadao (R-CA), was launched urging the State Department to:
– Ensure the collective and protected return of Artsakh’s forcibly displaced Armenian population to their indigenous homeland;
– Secure Azerbaijan’s immediate release of Armenian hostages and political prisoners held by Azerbaijan;
– Stop Azerbaijan’s systematic destruction of Christian Armenian cultural and religious heritage, including centuries-old churches and monasteries.
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Belgium: On 18 July 2025– The Chamber of Representatives, the lower house of the bicameral Federal Parliament of Belgium unanimously adopted a resolution on Nagorno-Karabakh entitled “Motion for a resolution on the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh and the necessity of peace in the South Caucasus.”. This resolution was initially adopted by the Committee on External Affairs of the Federal Parliament of Belgium following an unanimous vote on July 2nd.
The resolution urges the Belgian Government to support international investigations into war crimes, advocate for targeted EU sanctions against those responsible for human rights abuses, and demand Azerbaijan to:
– Adhere to international law and ICJ orders.
– Guarantee safe return for ethnic Armenians to Nagorno-Karabakh.
– Cease inflammatory rhetoric and protect Armenian cultural heritage.
– Release all Armenian hostages.
– Withdraw all troops from Armenian territory.
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| France: On July 24th, a new resolution submitted to the French National Assembly by MPs Laurent Wauquiez and Mme Alexandra Martin supports Armenia’s ongoing peace efforts with Azerbaijan and calls for the release of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) leaders currently detained in Azerbaijan. The resolution, introduced on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, also proposes the establishment of a strategic partnership between France and Armenia. |
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| Massive wildfires are sweeping through the eastern regions of occupied Artsakh, endangering centuries of Armenian history, culture, and nature. The fires have spread across Akna and Martakert, igniting hidden landmines left from past conflicts and threatening lives, wildlife, and ancient sites.
Among the most at-risk are the Tigranakert Historical and Cultural Reserve and the Amaras Monastery, both sacred to Armenian identity. Nearly 100 cultural monuments are now in danger, according to Artsakh’s Ministry of Culture. |
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2. UK Parliamentarians raising the issues of Armenia and Artsakh
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| On July 21, Lord Alton of Liverpool submitted a written question in the House of Lords asking what steps the UK Government is taking to protect Armenian and Arab Orthodox Christian communities in Syria. He also inquired about talks with Syrian interim authorities regarding the protection of Christian minorities and what guarantees, if any, were received.
https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2025-07-21/hl9663 |
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3. Motion to recognise Armenian Genocide introduced to Irish Parliament
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| A cross-party motion to recognise the Armenian Genocide has been introduced in the Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the bicameral Irish Parliament. Supported by People Before Profit, Solidarity, Sinn Féin, the Social Democrats and the Labour Party, the motion highlights that the Turkish government’s persistent refusal to recognise the 1915 genocide not only prevents it from reconciling with its own past but also hinders its path toward true democratisation.
In its call to action, the motion urges the Irish Government to fully participate in the 110th commemoration to honor the 1.5 million victims. It also calls upon other governments worldwide to recognise the Armenian Genocide. Lastly, the motion advocates for the Armenian Genocide to be taught in schools in its true historical context and proposes the establishment of an international Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day. |
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4. ANC-UK attends the annual Cyprus Parliamentary Meeting
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| Andre Vartanian representing ANC-UK was honoured to be invited to the National Federation of Cypriots in the UK annual Cyprus Parliamentary Meeting on 8th July, held in collaboration with the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Cyprus at Portcullis House.
A full house of attendees enjoyed speeches from Cyprus’ Minister for European Affairs Marilena Raouna, FCDO Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Catherine West, Shadow Europe Minister Wendy Morton, Christine Jardine MP, Stephen Gethins MP, Sir Roger Gale, Bambos Charalambous MP and the President of the Federation, Christos Karaolis, all of whom underlined the need for resolution of the half-century of Turkish occupation of 37% of Cyprus.
ANC-UK took the opportunity to speak to our Cypriot colleagues about mutually-held challenges, objectives and strategies, and opportunities for more and deeper collaboration.
Well done to the National Federation of Cypriots in the UK for organising a thoroughly successful event! |
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5. News articles and recent developments
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| A group of Turkish deputies of the İYİ Party proposed renaming the Alican border checkpoint on the Turkey–Armenia frontier after Talaat Pasha, the chief architect of the Armenian Genocide.
As Ottoman Interior Minister, Talaat Pasha planned and oversaw the deportation and murder of 1.5 million Armenians in 1915. |
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| “In 2023, over 120,000 ethnic Armenians were displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh—a region their ancestors had inhabited for millennia. This was a calculated elimination of a population and the destruction of a self-governing entity—the Republic of Artsakh—through blockade, military assault, and coerced depopulation. Yet the world barely flinched”.
“The displaced Armenians did not simply flee a war zone. They endured a ten-month blockade that strangled daily life, followed by a rapid military offensive and the arrest of remaining local leaders—now held unlawfully in Baku. No independent investigation has taken place. No international enforcement mechanism has been applied. No safe pathway has been secured for return”.
“A just and durable peace in the South Caucasus will require the return of displaced people, the release of political prisoners, and a reaffirmation that the rules of international conduct apply to all states equally”.
Article by Vartan Oskanian in Modern Diplomacy. |
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| In the nearly 22 months since Azerbaijan expelled 120,000 ethnic Armenians from their homeland in Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan has exhibited “flagrant disregard” for international law and the Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Christian Solidarity International (CSI) told the UN Human Rights Council.
At the Council session in Geneva on July 3, UN main representative Abi McDougal delivered the statement for CSI during an Interactive Dialogue with Dr. Ashwini K.P., the UN Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance.
Two months after the expulsion, in November 2023, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered the Republic of Azerbaijan to “ensure that persons who have left Nagorno-Karabakh after 19 September 2023 and who wish to return to Nagorno-Karabakh are able to do so in a safe, unimpeded and expeditious manner.” In addition, the ICJ ordered Azerbaijan to “protect and preserve registration, identity and private property documents and records” of the Armenians who fled Nagorno-Karabakh.
“Not only has the government of Azerbaijan failed to uphold this order, it is actively destroying Armenian-owned homes, property, and entire villages, making it impossible in many cases for this order to be carried out,” said McDougal. |
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| Seven journalists who exposed large-scale corruption related to construction projects in Nagorno-Karabakh have been sentenced in Azerbaijan to 7–9 years in prison. Moreover, the journalists were convicted on fabricated charges, and according to the defense team, witnesses in the case retracted or denied their previous statements under pressure. The imprisoned journalists have repeatedly raised alarm about inhumane treatment in Azerbaijani prisons.
Despite international reactions and calls, the Azerbaijani authorities continue to disregard their international obligations and fundamental human rights. While international organizations only express concern, Baku becomes increasingly brazen in its actions, tightening control over free speech, civil society, and journalists. |
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| Seven journalists who exposed large-scale corruption related to construction projects in Nagorno-Karabakh have been sentenced in Azerbaijan to 7–9 years in prison. Moreover, the journalists were convicted on fabricated charges, and according to the defense team, witnesses in the case retracted or denied their previous statements under pressure. The imprisoned journalists have repeatedly raised alarm about inhumane treatment in Azerbaijani prisons.
Despite international reactions and calls, the Azerbaijani authorities continue to disregard their international obligations and fundamental human rights. While international organizations only express concern, Baku becomes increasingly brazen in its actions, tightening control over free speech, civil society, and journalists. |
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| Attorney and representative of Armenian prisoners of war before the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), Siranush Sahakyan, has provided clarifications on July 11 regarding the egregious violations of Ruben Vardanyan’s rights taking place before the courts in Baku.
Sahakyan stated that both the investigative authorities and the court have disregarded all motions filed by the defendant, conducting a one-sided, predetermined investigation. Moreover, the judges denied Ruben full access to the case materials, while simultaneously incorporating falsified records into the case file. Jurisdictional safeguards were also violated: the case was referred to a military tribunal despite the fact that Ruben is a civilian.
“As a result, the proceedings have created a fundamentally unfair scenario in which the defendant is stripped of any meaningful opportunity to contest the charges or assert his innocence. In such conditions, the very notion of a fair trial is reduced to a façade, entirely devoid of substance”, said Sahakyan. |
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| “Armenia is the oldest Christian culture in the world, yet Armenians, who once lived in peace alongside other religious and ethnic groups, are increasingly forced to flee to the West, or penned up inside a small and increasingly menaced state whose territorial integrity is threatened by larger, richer and better armed neighbors. Whilst Palestine and Israel attract near-fanatical support from different sections of Western opinion, few are even aware of Armenia’s situation in the English-speaking world. Only France, with a large Armenian population and an independent foreign policy, is regularly willing to speak out”. Article by Sebastian Milbank in The Critic Mag. |
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| We congratulate Ms Alexandra Cole on her appointment as His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Armenia, starting in September 2025.
We also wish Ambassador John Gallagher every success and the very best in his next diplomatic post. |
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| Congratulations to Lord McInnes, a good friend of the Armenians, on his appointment as CEO of the Conservative Campaign Headquarters (CCHQ). Wishing him every success in this new role. |
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6. British company begins copper mining in occupied Artsakh
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| British company Anglo Asian Mining has begun copper production at the occupied Kashen mine (renamed Demirli by Azerbaijan after the ethnic cleansing of the Armenian native population) in Martakert, Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), reported 301. Under a deal with Azerbaijan, Anglo Asian profits from multiple sites across occupied territories, including Karvachar and Hadrut.
“The current operations in Kashen cannot be viewed separately from the events of December 2022, when Azerbaijani ‘environmentalists’ attempted to enter the Kashen mine in occupied Martakert over ‘environmental concerns’ of mining practices at Kashen and Drmbon. Their denied entry ultimately resulted in them blocking the Berdzor (Lachin) Corridor on December 12, 2022 under the same pretext, giving start to the 9-month blockade of Artsakh”, said 301.
“British trade officials met with company representatives in 2020 and later in 2023, and are providing soft backing for investment in these occupied lands. The UK government has not issued any formal objection, and shareholders and regulators have largely been silent”. |
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7. ANC-UK letter to the FCDO regarding Arms Embargo on Armenia and Azerbaijan
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| ANC-UK wrote to the FCDO demanding clarifiaction about the Written Ministerial Statement on Arms Embargo (Azerbaijan and Armenia).
In July, we wrote to the to the Minister of State for Europe, North America and the UK Overseas Territories, Stephen Doughty MP, regarding our concerns about the recent update to the UK arms embargo on Armenia and Azerbaijan. |
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| On July 27, Armenians celebrate Vardavar, one of the country’s most ancient and enduring traditions that continues to unite generations.
Rooted in the Feast of the Transfiguration of Christ, Vardavar blends a Christian celebration with even older Armenian customs and is one of the five feasts of the Armenian Apostolic Church. The tradition of splashing water on one another, regardless of age, has been preserved as a symbol of renewal, purification and salvation. |
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Make your donation
Please give today to help our campaigns
To continue our ever growing work in advocacy we urgently need funds to have paid staff. All our efforts are done on voluntary basis. Please donate so we can carry on working for the Armenian Cause and raise the concerns of the British Armenian community.
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You can now donate monthly!
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Why Donate?
The Armenian National Committee of the United Kingdom (ANC-UK) is the largest and most influential British-Armenian political grassroots organisation.
Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout Britain and affiliated organisations around the world, ANC-UK actively advances the concerns of the British-Armenian community on a broad range of issues.
The work achieved by ANC-UK is currently on a volunteer basis. However, we are hopeful that in the coming years through the financial support of our community, the ANC-UK chapter will have the necessary funds to open a full-time office employing an Executive Director and a part-time Administrative Assistant.
Setting up an ANC-UK office will allow for our organisation’s goals to be achieved as they have been throughout the diaspora in the United States of America, Canada, Australia and Europe.
As a grassroots organisation, we rely upon you, our community and friends for financial assistance to advance our cause. Your donations support our goal of having a full-time office, to advocate on issues important to all British-Armenians and the Armenian cause.
Thank you for your consideration of our request for your support.
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