The conference examined two central questions: how to defuse the confrontation between state authorities and the Church, and what role the European Union can play as Armenia signals increasingly clear European aspirations. Professor Encel and international affairs specialist Manel Msalmi jointly moderated the event. The debate was moderated by Manel Msalmi, human rights advisor at the Milton Friedman Institute.

While a few participants urged a more nuanced view of the government’s strategy in light of Armenia’s fragile security and geopolitical constraints, the predominant tone of the meeting was clearly critical of Pashinyan’s current course—particularly his policy toward the Church and his broader record on human rights and the rule of law.

🎯 Central Intervention: Human Rights Violations Alleged

🗣️ Diaspora Voices: Strong Criticism from French-Armenian Leaders

Leading figures of the French-Armenian community lined up to voice their disapproval of the Armenian government’s current direction.

📢 Key Testimonies

Murad Papazian, co-president of CCAF—the main umbrella body for Armenians in France—backed Amsterdam’s concerns and described his own expulsion from Armenia, which he attributed to his political disagreement with Pashinyan’s policies.

Ara Toranian, CCAF vice-president, echoed these criticisms, expressing deep anxiety over what he described as an increasingly repressive political climate in Yerevan and raising the issue of political prisoners.

French lawyer Charles Consigny, a member of the Paris Bar known for his outspoken media presence, also added his voice to the chorus of critics. Detailing his work defending prominent figures, including Armenian-Russian businessman Samvel Karapetyan, Consigny denounced what he called political manipulation within the Armenian judicial system. He used the Karapetyan case, among others, to argue that the government’s approach to justice is being distorted by political calculations.

⚖️ Contrasting Perspectives: Geopolitical Context

Renowned international lawyer Gérard Devedjian sought to temper the discussion by injecting a broader geopolitical and historical perspective. While acknowledging the gravity of the internal tensions and the sensitivity of the Church issue, he reminded the audience that Armenia is still struggling to consolidate independence after seventy years of communist rule and faces acute external pressures.

His was one of the relatively few interventions that did not align squarely with the majority’s outright criticism of the Prime Minister.

🕊️ Historical Memory and Identity

The longest historical arc of the debate was provided by U.S.-based Armenian activist Simone Rizkallah, who revisited the trauma of the 1915 genocide. She recalled the assistance Armenians received from “people of good will” and called for recognition of the historical mission of the Armenian people.

While her primary focus was on memory and reconciliation rather than current politics, her intervention implicitly underscored the central role of the Armenian Apostolic Church in the survival and continuity of Armenian identity—a point that resonated with those critical of Pashinyan’s confrontational stance toward the Church.

🇫🇷 French Political Voice: Call for Peaceful Resolution

Former French Minister of Education Jean-Michel Blanquer’s remarks, received with particular respect, also reflected unease with the current trajectory in Armenia. Reaffirming what he described as the enduring commitment of the French people to Armenia, rooted in the memory of the 1915 genocide, Blanquer called for Armenia’s internal conflicts—including the standoff with the Church—to be resolved peacefully, within a democratic and constitutional framework.

His appeal for de-escalation and institutional respect was widely interpreted as a cautionary message to the current authorities in Yerevan.

📸 Conference Photo Gallery

Highlights from the Paris conference featuring international speakers, diaspora leaders, and legal experts addressing Armenia’s crisis. Click any image to view in full size.

🎤 Panel Discussion

👥 Conference Attendees

🗣️ Keynote Address

💬 Q&A Session

🏛️ Conference Highlights

🤝 Networking Break

✨ Closing Remarks

✅ Points of Consensus

The conference highlighted the delicate balance Armenia must strike between honouring its fifteen-century-old spiritual heritage and navigating the complexities of contemporary democratic governance in a challenging geopolitical environment.