Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA)

ANCA has endorsed Indiana State Representative Craig Haggard in his campaign for Indiana’s 4th Congressional District. Rep. Haggard has pledged to advocate for the immediate release of Armenian prisoners of war, defend Christian Armenian heritage, and pursue accountability for Azerbaijan’s genocidal ethnic cleansing of Artsakh. He is committed to strengthening U.S.-Armenia relations and supporting the right of return for displaced Artsakh Armenians. “Rep. Haggard will join the growing number of Republican lawmakers in Washington calling for a just and lasting peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan—one rooted in accountability that guarantees the right of return for the 120,000 displaced Armenian civilians of Artsakh and ensures the immediate release of all Armenian prisoners of war and civilian captives held by the Azerbaijani government,” said ANCA activist Dave Krikorian. “As a Member of Congress, I will seek to strengthen the relationship between the United States and Armenia, the oldest Christian nation in the world,” said Indiana State Representative Craig Haggard. “I stand with President Trump in asking the government of Azerbaijan to immediately release all Armenian prisoners of war.” Read the full release: https://lnkd.in/etkXt_ga #ANCAEndorsements #ANCAVotes #Election2026 #YourVoteMatters

Last night I was honored to join the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) in Congress for commemoration of the 2-year anniversary of the ethnic cleansing of Artsakh. In September 2023, the Azeri military, armed with Israeli drones integrating AI technology, assaulted the independent Republic of Artsakh, killing hundreds and driving 150,000 people from their ancestral homeland. The United States was silent. It was striking last night to hear several Members of Congress - several among them who have been silent on Gaza - speak with passion and commitment against ethnic cleansing, against genocide, for the right of return of Armenian refugees, for the "absolute right of self determination and self governance," and of their commitment to pursuing accountability for the war crimes that Azeri forces committed in that conflict. That they did so is a tribute to the tireless work of ANCA (work with which I was very familiar when I worked at the State Department, where ANCA's reputation as a competent advocacy organization is well-recognized) and the broader Armenian-American community - and a reminder as well that political change requires political work; it does not freely flow from a moral compass whose clarity would dictate that opposition to one genocide is an opposition to all genocide, but rather must be built, nourished, and sustained. Yesterday, on the same day the Armenian community commemorated the tragedies of Artsakh, the United Nations Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory released a formal assessment that Israel's actions against Gaza meet the legal definition of genocide. And today, the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee is likely to vote to prohibit U.S. funding - not for the arms being used to commit that genocide, mind you, but rather for the Commission of Inquiry that has named it. There is a common thread here, of course. The failure of the international rules based order for Artsakh presaged its failure on Gaza, just as its failure on Gaza will presage even further collapse of that order, and more disasters to follow. When the history of these times is written, the names of Artsakh and Gaza will be two chapters in the same book, and the only thing yet unwritten is whether they will be chapters that find their mutual redemption in justice and accountability, or chapters that preface a far darker story in our global history - and our nation's pathway - than we can yet imagine. Members of Congress who have recognized war crimes in Gaza should do the same when it comes to Artsakh - and vice versa. And we must all - all Americans - recognize that our national silence, or worse, our national complicity - is not just about the fate of foreign peoples in distant conflicts, but is about the world we are building, and the world we will leave not only to Armenian children and Palestinian children, but to America's children, too.

ANCA Rejects Bill Locking In Azerbaijan’s Genocidal Gains & Normalizing Ethnic Cleansing ➖➖➖ On October 2, the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) issued a statement announcing its opposition to the passage of H.R.5632 – “a misguided measure that locks in Azerbaijan’s genocidal actions, by normalizing its ethnic cleansing of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), while leaving out legitimate claims for redress concerning Artsakh refugees, Armenian hostages, Christian holy sites, and Azerbaijan’s military occupation.” The ANCA’s full statement opposing H.R.5632 runs as follows: “The ANCA opposes passage of H.R.5632 – a misguided measure that locks in Azerbaijan’s genocidal actions, by normalizing its ethnic cleansing of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), while leaving out legitimate claims for redress concerning Artsakh refugees, Armenian hostages, Christian holy sites, and Azerbaijan’s military occupation. Despite sustained bipartisan calls from the Congressional Armenian Caucus, relentless advocacy by the Armenian American community and our coalition allies, and a constructive State Department letter (September 25, 2025) setting forth U.S. policy on these points, H.R.5632 manifestly fails to address: 1. Azerbaijan’s illegal detention and abuse of Armenian hostages, civilian prisoners, and POWs; 2. The right of Artsakh refugees to return in a collective, internationally protected manner to their homes; 3. Azerbaijan’s destruction of Christian heritage sites and civilian property; and 4. Azerbaijan’s ongoing military occupation of sovereign Armenian territory. By narrowly defining aggression as only renewed acts of aggression, the bill implicitly endorses Azerbaijan’s past aggression, effectively normalizing its genocide of Artsakh and continued occupation of Armenian territory. The bill also recklessly deems sanctionable ‘any person’ who ‘thwarts or undermines’ the peace process – without defining these terms. This vague provision risks stifling legitimate democratic discourse, including among Armenia’s population and its civic, political, and spiritual institutions – among them leading figures in the Armenian Apostolic Church. Our Congress should be advancing a real peace – an enduring peace – based on justice, not legitimizing Azerbaijan’s genocidal gains – rubber-stamping dangerous concessions forced upon Armenians by Azerbaijan at the point of a gun.” The ANCA’s statement underscores its continued advocacy for Artsakh’s rights and justice in the face of Azerbaijan’s ongoing aggression.

PROGRESS! Thank you to Rep. Frank Pallone and the 86 US Representatives who joined with him, on a bipartisan basis, in calling on President Trump to work for the 1) return of Artsakh refugees, 2) release of Armenian hostages, and 3) restoration of Christian churches. This hard-fought progress is the result of tens of thousands of ANCA activists - Armenian and allied Americans from across all 50 states - relentlessly pressing, rigorously advocating for action on these three priorities - against both the inexcusable indifference of Yerevan and the intense opposition of Baku. Because of our collective efforts - the United States is today officially on the side of returning Armenian refugees to Artsakh, forcing Azerbaijan’s release of Armenian hostages, and protecting Armenian Christian holy sites. Our task now, in concert with our Congressional allies, is to turn these words into concrete action, these principles into actual US policy. View and repost Rep. Pallone's tweet: https://lnkd.in/ea5yPitv

Armenian American advocates from the Golden State - including alumni of the ANCA’s youth leadership programs — traveled from Los Angeles to Washington, DC this September for ANCA Advocacy Days 2025. Build on their leadership by urging your U.S. Senators and Representative to: Senate: Co-sign the Markey-Whitehouse letter to secure the release of Armenian prisoners anca.org/prisoners House: Cosponsor the Azerbaijan Sanctions Act of 2025 (H.R.5369) anca.org/sanctions #ANCAdvocacy #Accountability2025 #ANCASummer #ANCAyouth

Armenian American advocates from North Carolina — Vincent Hovsepian, Victoria Danielyan, and Arthur Aghayants — returned to Capitol Hill as alumni of ANCA’s Kasparian Summer Academy and Leo Sarkisian Internship programs. As part of the ANCA Advocacy Days 2025, they met with Congressional offices to advance urgent community priorities, including the release of Armenian hostages, enforcement of Section 907, and justice for the people of Artsakh. Build on their leadership by urging your U.S. Senators and Representative to: Senate: Co-sign the Markey-Whitehouse letter to secure the release of Armenian prisoners anca.org/prisoners House: Cosponsor the Azerbaijan Sanctions Act of 2025 (H.R.5369) anca.org/sanctions #ANCAdvocacy #Accountability2025 #ANCASummer #ANCAyouth

From Providence to the U.S. Capitol! ANC Rhode Island advocates brought the voice of our community to the halls of Congress during ANCA Advocacy Days — calling for U.S. leadership to hold Azerbaijan accountable, release Armenian hostages, and defend Armenia's sovereignty. Build on their leadership by urging your U.S. Senators and Representative to: Senate: Co-sign the Markey-Whitehouse letter to secure the release of Armenian prisoners anca.org/prisoners House: Cosponsor the Azerbaijan Sanctions Act of 2025 (H.R.5369) anca.org/sanctions #ANCAdvocacy #Accountability2025

Thank you to all who joined the ANCA team on Friday night for dinner at the Soorp Khatch Armenian Church Food Festival. As always, great food and wonderful conversations were had by all while supporting our DC-MD-VA community. And a great opportunity for our Fall 2025 Hovig Apo Saghdejian Capital Gateway cohort to meet the DC area Armenian professionals. Good news! The Armenian Food Festival continues all weekend! Enjoy the food, catch up with friends, and stock up on the desserts and great gifts from Armenia. WHAT: Soorp Khatch Armenian Church Armenian Food Festival WHERE: Soorp Khatch Armenian Church – 4906 Flint Drive, Bethesda MD 20816 WHEN: Saturday, September 20th until 9:00 pm EST; Sunday, September 21st 12:30 to 4pm Encourage friends and family to join you! https://lnkd.in/eB7w83BX Up Next! Up for a drink after work? The ANCA is excited to invite Armenian American professionals, friends, and supporters to our "September Soirée" Networking Event! Date: Friday, September 26th When: 6:00 - 9:00 pm Where: Mission Dupont (upstairs loft) | 1606 20th St NW, Washington, DC 20009 More info: networking@anca.org #ANCAFridayHyeLights #ANCA #NetworkingEvent #ancapn #ArmenianProfessionals

#BREAKING: House Foreign Affairs Committee Calls for Release of Armenian Prisoners, Return of Artsakh’s Armenians - -Representatives Amo, Sherman, and Titus Lead Efforts to Demand Accountability for Azerbaijan and Turkey’s Regional Aggression WASHINGTON, DC – The House Foreign Affairs Committee today adopted ANCA-backed amendments to the Fiscal Year 2026 State Department Authorization Bill (H.R.5300), directing the State Department to secure the release of Armenian prisoners of war, safeguard Armenian religious and cultural heritage, and support the right of return for the forcibly displaced Armenians of Artsakh. In a further step forward for accountability, the Committee also passed an amendment calling for a comprehensive report on Turkey’s regional destabilization. “Despite all the stakeholders trying to erase Artsakh, forsake hostages, and abandon our holy sites, the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee – on a bipartisan basis – took a strong stand today for the return of Armenians to Artsakh, the release of Armenian hostages, and the protection of our Christian holy sites,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “We will continue to fight efforts to normalize genocide – to legitimize ethnic cleansing – because doing so only invites more genocide, further ethnic cleansing.” Read the full story: https://lnkd.in/edU6QsxZ #ANCAdvocacy

WATCH: During today's House Foreign Affairs Committee session, Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL) speaks out on the ANCA-supported Rep. Dina Titus Amendment on Turkey’s S-400 Missile Deployment. The amendment requires a detailed U.S. report on: -- Turkey’s deployment of Russian S-400 missile systems -- The effectiveness of U.S. sanctions imposed under CAATSA -- Implications for NATO interoperability and U.S. national security In Rep. Schneider’s words: "It is imperative that we understand the implications of Turkey’s decision... and the impact of U.S. sanctions levied as a result." #ANCAdvocacy