Isabella Sargsyan

Curious logophile. Sports fan. Urban. Political. LSE alumna. Читатель - не писатель. Views are my own.

[Armenian Football @ArmenianFootbal]

FIFA confirmed Armenia and Georgia as hosts for the U-20 World Cup in 2029. 🇦🇲🇬🇪

[CIVILNET @CivilNetTV]

Stepanakert’s cathedral destruction points to broader targeting of Armenian heritage in Karabakh

[OC Media @OCMediaorg]

Satellite imagery analysis has suggested that Azerbaijan destroyed the Holy Mother of God Cathedral, the main Armenian church in Stepanakert. The church was the largest among Armenian churches in Nagorno-Karabakh.

🔗 Read more: https://t.co/aZDzTBHkVL

[CIVILNET @CivilNetTV]

More than two dozen genocide scholars from universities and research institutions in the United States and Europe issued a joint statement on Friday calling on the Armenian government to reinstate Edita Gzoyan, saying her removal threatens the international standing of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute and raises concerns about academic independence.

The statement followed remarks by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who said he had personally instructed Gzoyan to submit her resignation after her conduct during last month’s visit by U.S. Vice President JD Vance at the Tsitsernakaberd memorial complex.

“We, the undersigned, express deep concern over the recent and troubling developments at the Armenian Genocide Museum Institute in Yerevan,” the scholars said, adding that Gzoyan had resigned “reportedly under pressure from the government rather than by free choice.”

The signatories said Gzoyan had strengthened the institute’s global academic reputation through archival expansion, international conferences, and scholarly publications, and warned that political interference in its leadership would discourage cooperation with researchers abroad.

Pashinyan said that Gzoyan’s presentation to Vance of books related to Artsakh, and her references to anti-Armenian pogroms in Sumgait, Kirovabad, and Baku, contradicted Armenia’s foreign policy line.

“I was the one who asked the director of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute to submit a resignation letter; it was done on my instruction,” Pashinyan said at a government briefing. “I considered giving a book about Artsakh to Vance to be a provocative act that goes against the government’s policy.”

Museum staff have protested the move, and genocide historian Raymond Kevorkian, along with several other board members, resigned in protest.

The statement was signed by:

Prof. Bedross Der Matossian, professor of history and Hymen Rosenberg Professor in Judaic Studies at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln;
Prof. Elyse Semerdjian, chair in Armenian Genocide Studies at the Clark University;
Prof. Armen Marsoobian, professor of philosophy at Southern Connecticut State University;
Prof. Keith Watenpaugh, professor of human rights studies at University of California, Davis;
Prof. Melanie Schulze Tanielian, associate professor of history at University of Michigan;
Dr. Simon Maghakyan, faculty member at University of Oxford;
Dr. Boris Adjemian, director of Bibliothèque Nubar;
Mr. Marc Mamigonian, director of academic affairs at National Association for Armenian Studies and Research;
Prof. Vahé Tachjian, Armenian studies chair at Saint Joseph University of Beirut;
Prof. Houri Berberian, professor of history at University of California, Irvine;
Prof. Henry Theriault, vice-chair of National Association for Armenian Studies and Research;
Prof. Ronald Grigor Suny, professor emeritus at University of Michigan and University of Chicago;
Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian, Armenian studies coordinator at California State University, Fresno;
Prof. Lori Khatchadourian, associate professor at Cornell University;
Dr. Hilmar Kaiser of University of Bern;
Mr. Michael Bobelian, adjunct professor at Columbia University and Baruch College;
Prof. A. Dirk Moses, professor at City College of New York;
Prof. Hervè Georgelin of National and Kapodistrian University of Athens;
Mr. Gregory Aftandilian, senior professorial lecturer at American University;
Prof. Julien Zarifian of University of Poitiers;
Prof. Fatma Müge Göçek of University of Michigan;
Prof. David Gaunt of Södertörn University;
Prof. Tessa Hofmann, formerly of Free University of Berlin;
Dr. Talar Chahinian of University of California, Irvine;
Prof. Samuel Totten of University of Arkansas.
The scholars said Gzoyan should be reinstated immediately and warned that leadership decisions at the institute should be based on academic qualifications rather than political considerations.

[European Union Mission in Armenia @EUmARMENIA]

We are hiring local staff! Join our dynamic and international team! 🇪🇺🇦🇲 Open Vacancies for Local Staff | EEAS https://t.co/lPZxCm3JzE

[Isabella Sargsyan @bekaisa]

Thank you @Forum18 and Felix Corley for covering this very disturbing case in great detail. #Armenia #FoRB

[Forum 18 @Forum_18]

#HumanRights #FoRB #ReligiousFreedom

#Armenia: Prime Minister seeks to change leadership of legally autonomous Armenian Church
https://t.co/QDOntGuIRH

[Isabella Sargsyan @bekaisa]

@janfigel @media24_euro @armenia @acn_int @CSW @IrfRoundtable Dear Ambassador, I am former member of OSCE/ODIHR Panel of Experts on FoRB from Armenia, we met several times. Thank you very much for raising these issues! You might also find my article useful https://t.co/KJUez9pBBt

[Isabella Sargsyan @bekaisa]

In addition to stressing the need for adoption of comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation and the empowerment of national minorities, I emphasized the importance of respecting the rule of law in the country and international law, including the decisions of the #ECtHR.

[Commissioner for Human Rights @CommissionerHR]

#Armenia visit, day #1: had a constructive meeting with Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and insightful exchanges with NGOs on #WomensRights, anti-discrimination & displaced Karabakh Armenians. Concluded the day with a valuable discussion with Ombuds Manasyan.

[Isabella Sargsyan @bekaisa]

My piece for @BYULaw blog on law and religion studies where I argue that it is already evident that the government’s actions further deepened divisions within Armenian society, amplifying political and social polarization. https://t.co/KJUez9pBBt #FoRB #Armenia #ArmenainChurch

[Tigran Grigoryan @Tigartsakh]

This important piece by Isabella Sargsyan examines the core principles in the relationship between state and church, analyzing their implementation and the relevant legal precedents.

[Isabella Sargsyan @bekaisa]

My article about State-Chuch relations from FoRB perspective. Sounds a bit like abc of FoRB but it seems that in highly politicized environment and lack of basic knowledge such explainers are necessary https://t.co/xvEWwl3730

[Isabella Sargsyan @bekaisa]

Agree with Tigran

[Tigran Grigoryan @Tigartsakh]

We’ve had our differences with Joshua Kucera over the years, but this is overall a quite accurate account of the challenges and problems Karabakh refugees face in Armenia.
https://t.co/lTEGzMiVrR

[Petr Piruncik @petr_piruncik]

Together with 🇫🇷 Amb. @O_Decottignies, we hosted our traditional 🥐 breakfast for #HumanRightsDay with Armenian civil society. We discussed media & disinformation, the peace process, elections and women’s rights ♀️. Understanding Armenia’s current situation remains a key focus.

[Isabella Sargsyan @bekaisa]

Very proud to be part of this.

[France en Arménie 🇫🇷🇪🇺 @AmbaFR_Armenie]

Ֆրանսուա Միտերանի 1988թ.-ի Պրահայում նախաձեռնության հիշատակին Հայաստանում 🇫🇷-ի �� 🇨🇿-ի դեսպանությունները կազմակերպեցին աշխատանքային նախաճաշ 🇦🇲ական ասոցիացիաների հետ։
➡️Իրավունքի պետություն, ժողովրդավարություն, միավորման և խղճի ազատություն՝ այս թեմաների շուրջ ներգրավված 4 փորձագետ։

[Isabella Sargsyan @bekaisa]

This is an important document to protect minority rights in Armenia, after 10 years of discussion adopt a comprehensive anti-discrimination law and respect #FoRB!

[Vassilis Maragos @EUAmbArmenia]

👉https://t.co/5kdxd7dQTC

[Hov Nazaretyan @HovhanNaz]

Armenia is restoring the 13th century church of Srvegh in Tavush (near Ijevan), one of the country's handful brick monuments, with the help of Iranian master bricklayers

[Isabella Sargsyan @bekaisa]

I’m deeply saddened by this news. Kishan was a wonderful colleague and friend who visited Armenia to support our Foundation’s work on FoRB. My heartfelt sympathies to his family and friends. He will be greatly missed.

[OSCE/ODIHR @osce_odihr]

We mourn the passing of our colleague and friend Kishan Manocha.
ODIHR has grown through your knowledge and wisdom.
Rest in peace 🕯️

[Vassilis Maragos @EUAmbArmenia]

📣🇪🇺 Applications to become a Young European Ambassador are now open!
🌍The YEA network unites young leaders who build bridges, share ideas, and drive positive change across the region 🇦🇲.
🕒 Check the details and apply! The deadline is November 3.
👉https://t.co/HXeSj18mDy

[Isabella Sargsyan @bekaisa]

Thank you, Minister Valtonen for this opportunity!

[Elina Valtonen @elinavaltonen]

A strong, active civil society is the backbone of a democratic system. It was inspiring to meet passionate & dedicated representatives of civil society and think tanks in Yerevan. Glad to see that your work drives positive change. #OSCE2025FI @Finland_OSCE

[European Endowment for Democracy @EEDemocracy]

The 2026 parliamentary elections will be an important test of the Armenia's democracy.

In this moment of flux, independent media and civil society are playing a crucial role in safeguarding democratic values.

Read the latest EED Country Brief on Armenia: https://t.co/WwPgPAEzIF