The founder of the DOK party, Vardan Ghukasyan, published a statement-open letter on the Telegram channel, which we present below:
To the President of the United States
To the Officials of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
To the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
And to all relevant supervising authorities
Dear Officials,
This letter serves as yet another testament to the bitter reality that, in the Republic of Armenia, human life and dignity hold little to no value—especially in cases involving individuals engaged in the political process. Political assassinations and persecutions are carried out without hesitation, under directives issued at the highest levels of the current ruling authorities.
On February 5, 2025, in the community of Parakar, opposition candidate Volodya Grigoryan achieved a convincing and legitimate victory in the mayoral elections. However, the ruling authorities refused to recognize the will of the people. As a result, on September 23, 2025, Mr. Grigoryan and one of his associates were brutally murdered by contract killers in the yard of his own home. A third individual sustained life-threatening injuries and was taken to the hospital in critical condition.
This horrific crime is not an isolated incident but a calculated political message to all opposition forces in the lead-up to the 2026 parliamentary elections. The objective is clear: to instill fear among critics, obstruct their political participation, and secure the ruling party’s (Civil Contract) disproportionate victory. Armenia is currently experiencing an unprecedented phase of political vendetta, one that threatens not only opposition figures but also the very foundations of democracy and the rule of law.
On the same day, another suspicious death occurred in Saint Petersburg, Russia, where former Artsakh official Boris Avakian was found dead in the restroom of the Armenian Consulate. Russian authorities labeled the incident a “suicide.” However, it is known that he had locked himself inside for nearly 50 minutes, raising serious questions as to how consular staff failed to notice or prevent the entry of sharp objects allegedly used in the act. Just weeks earlier, Mr. Avakian had been briefly detained by Russian police during a document check. Over the past month, Russian special police units had repeatedly detained him under the pretext of document verification, as Armenia had placed him on a wanted list with an extradition request. His sudden “suicide” casts grave doubt on the official narrative and suggests that Armenia’s authorities are extending their reach beyond national borders.
These two deaths—occurring on the very same day—are difficult to regard as mere coincidence. Rather, they reflect the systematic actions of Armenia’s current leadership to silence opponents and critics, both inside the country and abroad.
Within this dangerous context lies the case of Vardan Ghukasyan, a well-known political blogger and civic activist. He has been held for over seven months in Henderson, Nevada, awaiting a decision on Armenia’s request for his extradition. The Armenian authorities have leveled fabricated charges against him as part of their broad political crackdown aimed at punishing dissent and suppressing critical voices.
Given the real and imminent threat to Mr. Ghukasyan’s life, we respectfully and urgently appeal to U.S. immigration authorities, ICE officials, and the presiding federal judge to grant him political asylum and to deny Armenia’s request for extradition or deportation to any other country.
This is not merely a legal matter—it is a matter of life and death, and a test of the United States’ commitment to protecting individuals facing political persecution.
See also:
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