As U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance arrived in Armenia and met with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, demonstrators gathered outside the presidential residence in Yerevan demanding the release of Armenian detainees held in Azerbaijan. Many of the protesters were displaced Armenians from Artsakh, who said they were appealing to international actors due to a lack of confidence in Armenia’s authorities.

Vance, the highest-ranking U.S. official from the Trump administration to visit Armenia so far, is holding meetings with senior Armenian officials before traveling to Baku for further talks. The protests continued during his visit, with participants vowing to maintain pressure until all Armenian detainees are freed.

At the same time, more than 20 Armenian human rights organizations sent an open letter urging Vance to use his visit to help secure the release of Armenians imprisoned in Azerbaijan.

In parallel, the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) has launched a nationwide advocacy campaign calling on the Vice President to meet with Armenian hostages held in Baku, demand their immediate and unconditional release, and engage with recently released detainees, their families, and members of the displaced Artsakh population while publicly supporting their right to safely return to their homeland.