It is shameful that Armenia’s Ambassador to the United States chose to appear at the Hudson Institute alongside Michael Doran, a figure who has spent years advancing narratives that align with Azerbaijan’s interests while undermining Armenia’s security and sovereignty.
Following Azerbaijan’s ethnic cleansing of more than 150,000 Armenians from Artsakh, Doran publicly dismissed accusations of ethnic cleansing, claimed there was “no evidence” Azerbaijan had forced Armenians from their homeland, and instead argued that Armenians had conducted ethnic cleansing during the First Karabakh War. He also praised Azerbaijan’s campaign, saying he had “profound respect” for what it was doing in Artsakh, describing it as “reclaiming their land” and “building a new nation,” while accusing Armenians of having “destroyed everything and built nothing.”
Throughout his commentary and policy advocacy, he has consistently promoted positions favorable to Baku and frequently criticized the Armenian Diaspora’s advocacy efforts.
Echoing those concerns, 301 correspondent Kegham Balian wrote on X that “the Hudson Institute, and Mike Doran in particular, are enemies of the Armenian nation and people.” Balian argued that Doran and the Hudson Institute have, through years of publications, interviews, and policy advocacy, consistently advanced positions aligned with Azerbaijan’s expansionist interests while undermining Armenia’s security and national interests. He further criticized Doran’s repeated support for the so-called “Zangezur Corridor,” saying such figures “should not be awarded with a platform to continue advancing their agenda at the expense of Armenia’s sovereignty.”
Against that backdrop, it is difficult to understand why Armenia’s Ambassador would choose to publicly engage with Doran at the Hudson Institute to discuss Armenia-U.S. relations and regional security. Elevating individuals who have consistently echoed Azerbaijani narratives and minimized the suffering of the people of Artsakh sends the wrong message at a time when Armenia should be firmly defending its sovereignty, historical truth, and national interests.
