Washington, D.C. — The ANCA Eastern Region mobilized 60 advocates from more than 20 local ANCs for ANCA Eastern Region’s Advocacy Days, held Sept. 14 to 15, coordinating nearly 100 meetings with congressional offices to promote pro-Armenian legislation and discuss the Armenian American community’s priorities. The Eastern Region’s delegation joined a national delegation of over 100 advocates from more than 30 states, reaching all 435 U.S. House and 100 U.S. Senate offices through more than 150 Congressional meetings.
From congressional meetings through the closing Capitol Hill program, this year’s Advocacy Days drew participation from advocates representing Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Southern Illinois/Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.
A multigenerational delegation
The two-day program saw the return of alumni from past ANCA programs, including the Kasparian Summer Academy, Rising Leaders Program, the Leo Sarkisian and Maral Melkonian Avetisyan Fellowships, and the Hovig Apo Saghdejian Capital Gateway Program, alongside a multigeneration array of first-time and seasoned advocates from across the Eastern Region, from young Armenian American university students to local ANC and community leaders. Advocacy Days serves to integrate ANCA alumni and first-time participants directly into the ongoing work of their local ANCs and strengthen year-round relationships between Eastern Region communities and their members of Congress.
“As an Armenian American in Florida,” said participant Anie Kasbarian, “meeting face-to-face with my member of Congress was a powerful reminder that our community’s voice carries weight here. These conversations build the relationships that make sure our priorities are followed up on and not just heard once and forgotten.”
Also joining the Eastern Region for select congressional meetings was Siranush Sahakyan, executive director of the Armenian Legal Center for Justice and Human Rights, and president of the International and Comparative Law Center. Sahakyan, who represents the Armenian POWs in international court proceedings, brought her expertise directly into congressional offices.
Getting advocates Hill-ready
Advocates took to Capitol Hill well-prepared, having participated in both virtual and in-person preparation sessions ahead of their congressional meetings. Weeks ahead of the program, a virtual prep session walked participants through the ANCA’s legislative priorities, congressional meeting etiquette and key logistics, giving advocates time to familiarize themselves with the issues and materials and ask questions before heading to D.C. On Monday, Sept. 14, advocates gathered in person for an additional round of briefings and training, reviewing meeting schedules, advocacy materials and talking points ahead of Tuesday’s meetings. Advocates got to hear directly from the ANCA’s national and regional teams, and had time to meet with their state-level delegations and fellow participants before Tuesday. The ANCA Eastern Region organized advocates into coordinated meeting teams, with local team leads and staff serving as resources throughout the day. The structure allowed advocates to draw on one another’s experience, divide up talking points and approach each meeting as a team. For first-time participants especially, it meant arriving on Capitol Hill with the preparation, resources and support to confidently take part from their very first meeting.
“There’s something inspiring about being here in D.C. with dozens of other Armenians all coming together to achieve the same goal,” said Aram Bavoukian of the ANCA Eastern Region, “When you, as a constituent, sit down with your Representative or Senators, the ball is in your court. You get to give them your experiences, stories of your local Armenian community, the facts on the issues, and you lay down a clear ask in the name of accountability and justice. Armenian advocacy doesn’t get much more direct than this, and I take advantage of this opportunity every chance I get.”
Policy and legislative priorities
Across both chambers, a top priority of advocates was urging both Senators and Representatives to sign onto a separate bicameral, bipartisan letter led by Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI), Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ), addressed to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, calling on the Administration to withhold U.S. military assistance to Azerbaijan until Armenian hostages are released, Armenian Christian heritage sites are protected and Azerbaijani forces retreat from within Armenia’s borders.
Similarly, advocates urged members of Congress to cosign the ARMENIA Security Partnership Act (H.R. 6840). Introduced by Reps. Bilirakis (R-FL) and Pallone (D-NJ), the act would withhold the president’s authority to waive Section 907 until certain requirements are met to ensure Armenia’s safety and security: the complete withdrawal of Azerbaijani forces from internationally recognized Armenian territory; the unconditional release of Armenian POWs from Azerbaijan’s military prisons; Azerbaijan’s recognition of the right of return for displaced Artsakh Armenians back to their ancestral homeland; and a cease of all hostilities against Armenians by Azerbaijan. If these conditions are not met, the President cannot utilize the waiver authority, thereby enforcing the restriction of U.S. military aid to Azerbaijan.
Perhaps the most pressing issue participants raised was Armenian POWs and hostages illegally detained in Baku for over 1,000 days. “These are real people, not statistics,” said advocate Kohar Baronian. “They’ve been separated from their families for over a thousand days, and every day that passes without action is a day too long. We’re asking our Members of Congress to help bring them home.” In their meetings, advocates urged members of Congress to cosponsor the Azerbaijan Sanctions Review Act (H.R. 5369), a bipartisan bill calling for Global Magnitsky sanctions against Azerbaijani officials responsible for human rights violations, including the illegal detention of Armenian prisoners of war and political hostages.
Advocates also pressed House offices to cosponsor the Armenian Genocide Education Act (H.R. 2585), part of ANCA’s September 2026 House legislative agenda, which would allocate federal funds to support public education on the Armenian Genocide.
Reflecting on the importance of the day’s work, participant Alex Vartanian shared, “Our people faced genocide 100 years ago, and we’ve watched Artsakh’s Armenians endure genocidal ethnic cleansing in our own lifetime. That’s why it is so important for us as diasporan Armenians to show up and demand that Congress hold Azerbaijan accountable.”
Accountability | 2026
The day concluded with a reception on the Hill, titled “Accountability | 2026 — Artsakh: Justice. Freedom. Right of Return.” Our community was joined by local and regional ANC leaders, clergy, and a dozen members of Congress, ranging from Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL) to committed allies like Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), who voiced their support for the release of Armenian hostages and called for the right of return for the 150,000 citizens of Artsakh who were exiled from their ancestral homeland. Among the present congressional leaders was Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA), representing America’s oldest Armenian community of Watertown, Massachusetts, who called on the US and the international community to hold Azerbaijan accountable for its crimes against humanity in Artsakh.
ANCA Eastern Region Chair Ara Chalian left the crowd with some words of encouragement, stressing the importance of continuing to advance the Armenian Cause: “Your communities have survived and thrived and educated, motivated and activated for generations. You are not the beginning, you are not the end, you will continue.”
Take action at home
The Peters-Bilirakis-Pallone letter campaign continues beyond this week’s meetings. Armenian Americans can contact their U.S. Senators and Representatives and urge them to sign the letter at anca.org/enforce907.
The ANCA continues to be one of the strongest voices in Washington and in communities across the nation, advocating for the rights and security of Armenians. The Eastern Region extends our heartfelt gratitude to our determined advocates for the important work and conversations put into strengthening the Armenian Cause this week. From the smallest town to the busiest city, the work we do would not be possible without the dedication of our greater community.
Read what some of our advocates had to say about their experience
“Events like this matter because they let the Armenian diaspora put direct pressure on the administration, push for accountability and justice for Armenians displaced from Artsakh, and the release of POWs still held by Azerbaijan. Moving forward, I hope to keep showing up to these spaces, advocate, and use my voice for the Armenians who no longer have that opportunity.” — Ani Abrahamian, ANC of Indiana
“To my fellow citizens with Armenian heritage, I say that this advocacy work is necessary and it can only be effective with direct participation and you must become more proactive in petitioning our government to support human rights and to impose sanctions on Azerbaijan until they stop violating the human rights of Artsakhites and stop destroying Christian churches, monasteries and historical heritage sites.” — James Keshishian, ANC of Maine
“Advocacy is an inseparable part of our democracy and as Americans, we play an important role in calling on our elected representatives to take action … A crime was committed against humanity, and Armenian Americans will continue to raise awareness at the highest levels of our government until justice is restored and real and lasting peace is achieved.” — Mannik Sakayan, ANC of Virginia
“Advocacy Days was such an incredible reminder, not just of the power we hold as voting constituents, but of how committed our Armenian American diaspora is to fight for justice… when we show up, speak up and remain persistent, our advocacy can translate into meaningful action.” — Chantelle Nasri, ANC of New York
“Meeting with my representatives and their staffers on Capitol Hill is such a unique and rewarding experience, connecting with people from the same places as me, and as part of the ANCA … I hope to continue coming to D.C. and ensuring that the thousands of Armenians that have worked tirelessly to build America, like the three generations of my family that have worked at the Granite City steel mill, are honored by making sure our history and people are represented and aided by our government.” — Ellie Krikorian, ANC of Missouri
“My great-grandfather escaped the Armenian Genocide and eventually settled in Ohio. Although I am a few generations removed, having this opportunity to honor my family’s history by advocating on Capitol Hill against the modern-day mistreatment of Armenians was deeply meaningful to me.” — Heather Arslanian, ANC of Ohio
