Save Armenia Calls for Truth, Sovereignty, and Human Rights in Pursuit of Lasting Peace
Washington, DC – June 24, 2026 – Save Armenia today reaffirmed the principles necessary for a
just and durable peace in the South Caucasus. As policymakers and observers evaluate
competing narratives regarding the region, we believe peace must be rooted in truth, human
dignity, religious freedom, respect for sovereignty, and the equal rights of all peoples. We are
concerned that efforts to advance the “Western Azerbaijan” narrative in Washington use
humanitarian language in ways that could undermine Armenia’s internationally recognized
sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Any serious discussion of displacement, return, or self-determination must be grounded in truth
and international law. That means giving equal weight to Armenia’s sovereignty, the
displacement of Armenians from Artsakh, the continued detention of Armenian prisoners, the
protection of Armenian Christian heritage, and the rejection of narratives that fuel
Armenophobia or territorial claims against a sovereign nation.
Armenia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected. Azerbaijani forces continue to
maintain positions inside internationally recognized Armenian territory following incursions that
began in 2021. Lasting peace will remain out of reach while Armenia’s sovereign borders are
still in dispute.
The forced displacement of Armenians from Artsakh cannot be overlooked. Following
Azerbaijan’s September 2023 military offensive and the preceding blockade of Nagorno-
Karabakh, more than 100,000 Armenians were displaced from their ancestral homeland.
Independent reporting found that the offensive resulted in at least 229 deaths, including civilians
and children, and effectively emptied the region of its indigenous Armenian population.
Approximately 30,000 Armenians had already been displaced following the 2020 war.
“What is happening here is not a simple disagreement over terminology. It is an effort to
repackage territorial claims in humanitarian language, and that should concern anyone serious
about peace and international law,” said Dr. Paul Murray, CEO of Save Armenia.
Armenian detainees remain imprisoned in Azerbaijan, including former officials from Nagorno-
Karabakh. Their release remains an essential component of any durable peace.
Armenian Christian heritage remains under threat. Independent monitoring organizations,
including Caucasus Heritage Watch and ACLED, have documented the destruction, alteration,
desecration, and erasure of Armenian churches, monasteries, cemeteries, monuments, and other
cultural and religious sites in territories that came under Azerbaijani control. These sites
represent centuries of Christian history and are an irreplaceable part of the region’s cultural and
religious heritage. The preservation of religious freedom and cultural heritage is essential to any
credible and lasting peace.
The international community must reject narratives that fuel Armenophobia, historical
revisionism, or territorial claims against a sovereign nation. Peace is strengthened through
reconciliation, accountability, and mutual recognition. It is weakened by rhetoric that deepens
division and undermines stability.
“A lasting settlement cannot be built on denial, selective memory, or the erasure of Armenians
from their own historic homeland. If the international community wants a credible peace, it has
to confront the facts as they are, not as some would prefer to present them,” Murray said.
Save Armenia affirms the dignity and rights of all people. Historical grievances should never be
used to justify new pressures on Armenia or distract from the urgent challenges that remain
unresolved today.
We call upon policymakers, faith leaders, and the international community to support a peace
that respects Armenia’s sovereignty, secures the release of detainees, protects Christian heritage,
rejects hate-driven narratives, and upholds the equal dignity of all people.
Peace requires more than signatures. It requires truth, accountability, and the courage to confront
facts.
About Save Armenia
Save Armenia mobilizes and unites American Christians to defend and support Armenia, the first
Christian nation, amid ongoing existential threats. We build and sustain a broad-based coalition
prepared to advocate, influence policy, and respond when needed to safeguard Armenia’s
security, sovereignty, and survival.
Media Contact
Eleanor Forshaw
Deputy Director
Save Armenia
eforshaw@savearmenia.us
