Open Letter RE: Issues Concerning Democratic Governance, Religious Liberty, and Electoral Conditions in Armenia Dear President Metsola, I am writing on behalf of Mr. Samvel Karapetyan, the leader of the Strong Armenia Party, which has formally announced its decision to participate in the upcoming parliamentary elections in the Republic of Armenia. Recent statements by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan regarding the Armenian Apostolic Church do not reflect the views or feelings of the vast majority of the Armenian people. Armenia is widely recognized as the world’s first Christian nation, and the Armenian people have, for centuries, held a strong attachment to their Church, culture, and historical identity. The Armenian Apostolic Church remains one of the most respected and unifying institutions in Armenian society. Against this background, the Prime Minister’s recent campaign against the Church is without precedent in modern Armenian history and raises serious concerns under Armenian constitutional law, European human rights standards, and broader principles of international law. The government’s interference in the internal affairs of the Church, the detention of clergy, the promotion of schismatic initiatives, and the broader erosion of judicial independence have been extensively documented in a recent report prepared by a group of eminent international human rights lawyers. These developments should be a matter of grave concern to the European Parliament. They represent not merely a political dispute, but a challenge to religious freedom, the rule of law, and the democratic values to which Armenia has repeatedly committed itself in its relationship with Europe. We are particularly troubled by a series of public statements made by Prime Minister Pashinyan on his official Facebook account directed at the Catholicos and the Armenian Church. These statements contain language that many Armenians regard as deeply insulting and offensive to a religious institution that forms a core element of national identity. It is striking that the same individual who made these statements appeared before the European Parliament only days ago and was received with applause. One would reasonably expect that, before extending such recognition or offering a platform within the Parliament, careful consideration would be given to the speaker’s public conduct and record. The concerns do not end there. At a time when Armenian nationals continue to be held in unlawful detention in Baku following the events surrounding the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh, the Armenian public has seen little meaningful effort by the current government to secure their release. This situation has only deepened public anxiety regarding the direction of the country’s leadership and its commitment to protecting the fundamental interests of its citizens. It should be noted that Mr. Samvel Karapetyan, the leader of the Strong Armenia Party, has been detained since 18 June 2025. Mr. Karapetyan is currently under house arrest, having previously been held in particularly harsh detention conditions for approximately 200 days. The Central Electoral Commission has published the timeline for actions and obligations of political parties in advance of the elections scheduled for 7 June 2026. However, as the Court has extended Mr. Karapetyan’s house arrest for an additional month, it appears that Mr. Karapetyan’s ability to meaningfully contest the 7 June elections will be drastically reduced. Such procedural actions are not only indicative of political persecution, but may also be regarded as direct interference in the electoral process. As the leader of a political party, Mr. Karapetyan is effectively deprived of the ability to participate in important political activities, including consultations and internal primaries necessary for the preparation of electoral lists, which must be presented to the Central Electoral Commission by 23 April 2026. In light of these developments, we respectfully urge the European Parliament to consider establishing an independent fact-finding mission to examine the present state of democratic governance, judicial independence, and religious freedom in Armenia. Such a mission would serve an important role in helping to prevent further weakening of fundamental liberties during the sensitive pre-election period. The Armenian people have long looked to Europe as a partner in the protection of democratic values, human dignity, and freedom of conscience. It is precisely for this reason that we believe the European Parliament’s attention and engagement at this moment are both necessary and appropriate. We would welcome the opportunity to provide the Parliament and its relevant committees with the documentation referenced above. Sincerely, Robert Amsterdam
