Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA)

ANCA Endorses Abigail Spanberger for Governor of Virginia! Throughout her three terms in Congress representing VA-07, Rep. Spanberger demonstrated principled leadership on Armenian American priorities: -- Consistent "A" ratings from ANCA -- Championed sanctions against Azerbaijan's ethnic cleansing of Artsakh -- Fought to end U.S. military aid to Azerbaijan -- Co-sponsored the Armenian Genocide Education Act -- Demanded release of Armenian POWs "Her moral clarity, legislative leadership, and willingness to speak truth to power on behalf of the Armenian people have earned her the trust and respect of our community." - Bedros Bandazian, ANCA Richmond Read more: https://lnkd.in/eX7f8D_7

Thank you to the Armenian American professionals and community allies who joined us last night for ANCA's "Harvest and Horizons" networking event at Mission Dupont! We had a wonderful evening connecting Armenian professionals and supporters from across the DMV—sharing stories, career insights, and plenty of laughs. A special shoutout to our 2025 Capital Gateway Fellows who continue to bring incredible energy to Friday HyeLights! This event is part of ANCA's Friday HyeLights series, held monthly to strengthen professional networks and support Armenian youth through programs like the ANCA's Hovig Apo Saghdejian Capital Gateway Program (CGP), which helps Armenian American students and recent graduates launch careers in public service, politics, and media. SAVE THE DATE: Our next Friday HyeLights networking event is on November 21st at Salazar (1819 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20009)—we hope to see you there! To learn more about our programs or participate in future Armenian networking events in Washington, DC, visit anca.org/youth or email networking@anca.org. #ancapn #Armenianyouth #youthempowerment #armenianprofessionals #ArmenianNetworking #DCArmenian

We're building momentum, but we need your help in making sure that Artsakh and the Armenian hostages held in Baku aren't forgotten. To lend your voice in support, visit ANCA.org/prisoners

The ANCA is excited to invite Armenian American professionals, friends, and supporters to next Friday's "Harvest & Horizons" Networking Event at Mission Dupont! Date: Friday, October 24th When: 6:00 - 9:00 pm Location: Mission Dupont - 1606 20th St NW Washington, DC 20009 More info: networking@anca.org Strengthen your network and immerse yourself in the DMV-Armenian community. Enjoy an evening of good food, drinks, and company, and connect with a number of professionals from numerous industries. Whether you're an established professional or just starting your career, this event provides a unique opportunity to expand your network, share experiences, and learn from one another. Invite your colleagues, friends, and fellow Armenian-Americans to catch up and make many new connections. This event is also an excellent opportunity to meet our Fall 2025 Capital Gateway Program fellows, who have moved to D.C. from various parts of the country in order to build a meaningful career in the nation's capital. ANCA Friday HyeLights networking events are generally held on the third Friday of each month at different locations, each offering new opportunities and themes. It builds on our current youth programs and professional development opportunities, including the ANCA Hovig Apo Saghdejian Capital Gateway Program (CGP), which has helped hundreds of qualified Armenian American recent graduates and professionals to secure positions in Congressional offices, federal agencies, think tanks, and other political and policy-making arenas throughout Washington, D.C. #ArmenianProfessionals #dcarmenians #ANCAFridayHyeLights #ANCA #NetworkingEvent

Words cannot express my love and respect for Unger Garo - a father to us all. - Aram Suren Hamparian, 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