RCDS Head Tigran Grigoryan Testifies at U.S. Helsinki Commission Congressional Hearing on Armenia

12.09.2024

On September 10, Tigran Grigoryan, head of the Regional Center for Democracy and Security (RCDS), delivered a testimony at the U.S. Helsinki Commission's Congressional hearing on Armenia. His address emphasized the urgent need for international support to strengthen Armenia’s democracy and security in the face of ongoing challenges.

Grigoryan highlighted three critical issues facing Armenia:

1. External Security Threats: Grigoryan underscored the existential threat posed by Azerbaijan’s military aggression and Russia’s hybrid warfare, which continue to destabilize the region and challenge Armenia’s sovereignty.

2. Institutional Weaknesses: He stressed the importance of building strong, independent institutions to safeguard Armenia’s democracy and prevent political backsliding, especially in the wake of recent democratic gains since the 2018 revolution.

3. The Refugee Crisis: The displacement of over 100,000 Armenians due to ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh was a central point in his testimony, calling for urgent international assistance to address the long-term integration of refugees.

Grigoryan called for increased U.S. military aid to Armenia, targeted sanctions on Azerbaijani officials involved in wartime atrocities, and stronger support for Armenia’s efforts to diversify its economy and energy sector. He also emphasized the need for robust U.S. engagement in countering Russian disinformation campaigns.

His testimony reinforced the importance of Armenia’s democratic journey, urging the U.S. to deepen its commitment to supporting a democratic ally in a volatile region.

You can watch the testimony here.