AYF West

Over 750 days — For over 750 days, leaders of the Republic of Artsakh have been held hostage in Baku, as political prisoners. A clear attempt by both the Armenian and Azerbaijani governments to stifle Armenian voices, so that the pan-Turkic agenda can be advanced. Artsakh is alive, and will remain alive. From the Western United States to our Homeland, our voices will continue to be heard — until our political prisoners are freed, until our people return to Artsakh, to Nakhichevan, to Javakhk, to Western Armenia.

Azeris decorate their houses with flowers planted by Armenians. #IndigenousPeoplesDay

34 years ago, on this day, our Homeland reclaimed its independence. Only a few years later, our armed forces liberated Artsakh — bringing us closer to our goal of a free, independent, and united Armenia. Today, our Homeland faces both internal and external threats to its very existence. There is no independence without Artsakh. There is no independence without Western Armenia. Միայն զէնքով կայ Հայոց փրկութիւն:

Three years ago, Azerbaijan launched one of its multiple attacks against Artsakh, facilitated by Nikol Pashinyan. The trilateral agreement signed in November of 2020 paved the way for the subsequent attacks and colonization of Artsakh, culminating in the displacement of every Armenian from those same indigenous lands in 2023. Today, Pashinyan reflects the same genocidal and denialist behavior as Erdogan and Aliyev. Under his command, Mount Ararat — the symbol of Armenia — will be stripped from the Armenian stamp. The moment we part with our goal of repatriation to Western Armenia, to our Mount Ararat, is the moment we accept defeat. Mount Ararat is not merely a symbol of the Armenian nation’s past, but also of its present and future. We are our mountains. We will return.

It’s symbolic that Yerevan is so polluted that Ararat is barely visible through the smog anymore, isn’t it?

“At least Nikol isn’t corrupt like the previous leaders.” But corruption is keeping Artsakh and its leaders in chains while 120,000 indigenous Armenians search for homes. Corruption is shaking hands with the same countries that arm our enemy. Corruption is shaking hands with the enemy and cowarding behind excuses of “having no choice.” Corruption is denying 1.5 million Armenian Genocide martyrs and erasing our history. Corruption is trying to tear down Armenia’s Christian roots—the same roots that carried our nation through the first genocide—in hopes we’ll assimilate while attacks continue today. Nikol’s attempts to dismantle Armenia province by province, betray our martyrs, and erase our identity are not only corruption. They are Genocide.

We’ve seen peace deals before. We’ve seen corridors before. We’ve seen the US negotiate other countries geopolitics for them before. We know what happens next.

Who’s peace?

Pashinyan’s congratulatory statements to Azerbaijan has done nothing to deter Aliyev from continued land-grabs against Armenia, nor has it prevented the kidnapping of Armenian civilians like Karen Jhangriyan and Andrey Gyagunts from Syunik. While Pashinyan tweets, Armenian prisoners continue to toil in Baku prisons

New Azeri airports — at the cost of Artsakh’s freedom. Azerbaijan’s new airports are built on stolen land, soaked in the blood of our martyrs. Infrastructure funded by oppression will never clear the skies of injustice.

We gather to awaken. To unite not only in cause, but in spirit — forging a path toward a free, independent, and united Homeland. Unity begins with us, in every Armenian Center, every march, every voice raised in unison. Freedom builds through the fire of global resistance. Independence lives in the strength of our shared struggle. The Armenian Genocide scattered our bodies, but not our soul. The Armenian Spirit moves across oceans, defies borders, and reminds the world: we were never truly divided.

Turkish Denialist rhetoric is contageous, even the Armenian Government is not safe from its influence.

The Armenian Genocide did not end in 1915—it evolved. What began as a campaign to eliminate Armenians from Western Armenia has only become more strategic and far-reaching. Today, the threat Turkey once saw in a thriving Armenian population has extended to the global diaspora, to Artsakh in the East, and to our growing influence across the world. The agenda is no longer hidden. Armenians are seen as an obstacle to the Pan-Turkic vision—and that’s exactly why we must persist.

If Aliyev did not capture our Armenian POWs and political prisoners in Baku, Nikol would have in Yerevan

ON THIS DAY – Mgrditch Khrimian, commonly known as Khrimian Hayrig, was born in Van. A champion of Armenian Christendom, Armenian language, and the Armenian National Movement, there are few people in modern Armenian history as influential as Khrimian Hayrig. His genius and determination elevated the likes of Gomidas, Karekin Srvandztiants, and Raffi to their legendary status as pioneers of Armenian culture. His indomitable will and his passionate Iron Ladle speeches helped impart courage and the will to resist Ottoman tyranny to his people, and the birth of the Fedayi movement. Truly, Khrimian Hayrig’s contributions to Armenia cannot be encapsulated by mere words, he is among the greats of the Armenian nation with the likes of St. Mesrob, St, Gregory the Illuminator, and Haig Nahabed himself. Khrimian Hayrig is the father of the modern Armenian nation, and the AYF will always aspire to carry on his monumental legacy.

9 years ago, Azerbaijan launched a renewed wave of terror against the Republic of Artsakh. All along the line of contact, Azeri tanks, drones, and helicopters shelled Artsakh for four days, leading to the deaths of innocent civilians and destruction of their homes. Still, the heroes of the Artsakh Defense Army defended their homeland with their unified strength. The Four-Day War highlighted Artsakh’s continued readiness to face Azerbaijani threats and fight for a free and independent Artsakh, a readiness not shared by the Armenian Government today.

Azerbaijan locks our people behind bars in an attempt to hide the truth — which is why we must be twice as loud about it.

Ruben Vardanyan puts his faith in God and the Armenian people. Nikol puts his faith in Aliyev.