The European office of the Armenian Cause of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation has welcomed a resolution adopted by the European Parliament, calling on Armenia’s authorities to ensure full protection of opposition rights, judicial independence, and freedom of speech, while also stressing the need for justice for Artsakh Armenians and Armenian detainees.
The resolution, adopted on April 30 and titled “On supporting democratic resilience in Armenia,” comes as the country prepares for key parliamentary elections scheduled for June 7, 2026. According to the statement, the European Parliament has sent a clear signal that the elections must be free, fair, and competitive.
The ARF Armenian National Committee of Europe particularly emphasized the importance of ensuring full respect for opposition rights and equal conditions for all political forces. It also highlighted the call for effective safeguards against external interference and hybrid threats targeting Armenia’s democratic institutions, as reported by “Pastinfo.”
The document also includes key provisions related to justice and security, seen as essential for achieving sustainable peace in the region:
· Justice and accountability for Armenian detainees: The European Parliament condemned Azerbaijan’s unlawful detention of Armenian prisoners of war and hostages, calling for their immediate and unconditional release. It also stressed that lasting peace must be based on respect for Armenia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
· Rights of Artsakh Armenians: The European Parliament reaffirmed support for the rights of Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh, including protection of identity and property. It called for ensuring their safe, unimpeded, and dignified return under international guarantees, and demanded accountability for the destruction of Armenian cultural and religious heritage, proposing an international assessment mission.
President of the European office, Kaspar Karampetian, also welcomed the emphasis on safeguarding electoral integrity, stating: “I welcome the European Parliament’s position reaffirming its commitment to protecting the rights of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh, including their right to return under international security guarantees. In light of the tragic reports of the recent destruction of two Armenian churches in Stepanakert by Azerbaijan, it is imperative that the European Commission act on the mandate consistently provided by the European Parliament to hold Azerbaijan accountable for its crimes, based on the principles of justice and democratic values underpinning this resolution.”
Armenia’s ambassador to Belgium and representative to the EU, Tigran Balayan, also thanked the European Parliament for adopting the resolution, according to “Factor.am .”
“We thank Members of the European Parliament for adopting this resolution ahead of the European Political Community and Armenia–EU summits in Yerevan. This is a strong signal of support from the European Parliament for Armenia’s democratic resilience and for deepening our shared partnership,” Balayan said.
The resolution also condemned the detention of Armenian prisoners in Azerbaijan and called for their immediate release. It further stressed the importance of normalizing Armenia–Turkey relations, particularly in terms of opening borders and ensuring regional stability.
Additionally, the European Parliament called for expanding EU financial and technical assistance to Armenia, especially in the areas of energy, digital, and economic resilience. The document positively assessed the activities of the EU monitoring mission and the expansion of cooperation with civil society.
