On September 15-20, Artsakh Human Rights Defender Gegham Stepanyan was on a working visit to the United States of America. The visit was organized at the invitation of Save Armenia and Save Persecuted Christians organizations.
Within the framework of his visit, Gegham Stepanyan addressed the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission of the U.S. Congress, emphasizing the urgent need for:
International support for the forcibly displaced people of Artsakh:
Providing essential resources to help them rebuild their lives and recover from the trauma of displacement.
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Immediate release of Armenian prisoners of war and hostages: Ensuring their safe return and holding Azerbaijan accountable for these illegal detentions.
International pressure to preserve religious and cultural heritage in Artsakh: Protecting these invaluable assets from destruction and ensuring their restoration.
Establishment of an international platform to discuss the right to a safe and dignified return of the people of Artsakh: Facilitating dialogue and action towards a just and sustainable solution.
The human rights defender had a meeting with the representatives of the International Religious Freedoms Department of the US State Department, during which he particularly emphasized the importance of taking punitive actions against Azerbaijan to prevent the destruction of the spiritual and cultural heritage in Artsakh.
Gegham Stepanyan also delivered speeches at the “Setting the Record Straight: The Ethnic & Religious Cleansing of Artsakh” event organized by Save Armenia, and the “Accountability 2024” event organized by the ARF Armenian National Committee of America.
The delegation to the USA included Father Hovhannes, relatives of victims of Azerbaijani crimes, and representatives of the CFTJ organization.
