Speech by ARF Bureau Member and MP of the “Armenia” Parliamentary Faction, Lilit Galstyan, at the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Winter Session

Distinguished colleagues,

I would like to draw your attention to two deeply concerning issues of vital importance to Armenia.

First, in Baku, Armenian prisoners of war and the former political leadership of Nagorno-Karabakh were recently sentenced to life imprisonment.

These were trials that bore no resemblance to even the minimum standards of international law.

The OSCE, which was the only body mandated to mediate the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, not only failed to prevent this course of events but effectively remained indifferent to these trials. This has nothing to do with peace; rather, it reflects a complete absence of political will and responsibility. Such inaction undermines trust in international institutions and weakens respect for the rule of law in the region.

Allow me now to address the decline of democracy within Armenia. We are approaching the 2026 elections under conditions that no longer meet the minimum standards of free and fair democratic competition.

In Armenia, power has been turned into a tool of political pressure. The independence of the judiciary has effectively collapsed, and politically motivated verdicts are eroding public trust.

Opposition leaders, members of parliament, civil society activists — including high-ranking clergy — are being arrested and detained on fabricated charges. These individuals fully meet the criteria for political prisoners as defined by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

These are visible and documented realities, also recorded by international organizations, which have noted a decline in electoral democracy in Armenia and no meaningful improvement since 2016.

Particularly alarming are the attacks against the Armenian Apostolic Church. The Prime Minister has personally demanded the resignation of the Catholicos of All Armenians, undermining the constitutional separation of church and state. Criminal proceedings have been initiated against the Catholicos of All Armenians, and a travel ban has been imposed on him — a gross violation of freedom of conscience and religion in the Republic of Armenia. It is necessary for the international community to take note of these developments and to stand in defense of religious freedom and democratic principles in Armenia.

As a representative of Armenia’s parliamentary opposition, I believe in political competition and a democratic future.

However, democracy cannot survive under conditions of repression. Therefore, I call upon the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly to closely monitor developments, report on them truthfully, and defend the fundamental values of freedom, pluralism, and the rule of law.

The people of Armenia deserve elections in which the future of the country is determined solely by their vote. Your principled engagement is vital to safeguarding that future.