‘Armenian Students for Artsakh’: ARF Bureau Announces 2025 Research Competition

‘The ARF’s Bureau Office of Youth Affairs, announced the second edition of the research competition program, entitled “Armenian Students for Artsakh,” aiming to unite Armenian students around the topic of the right of return of Artsakh Armenians. We are initiating this competition considering the significance of the right of return of Artsakh Armenians and recognizing the need to harness the professional potential of Armenian students for this cause.

The main goal of the program is to unite Armenian students’ potential in politics, economics, sociology, law, culture, and investigative journalism and make it available for effective use by influential institutions and bodies engaged in pro-Armenian activities concerning the right of return of Artsakh Armenians. This initiative is promoted by the committee established by Artsakh’s National Assembly to oversee the protection of the rights of the people of Artsakh, led by Vartan Oskanian, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia.

Therefore, we call on students aged 20-35 from Armenia, Artsakh, and the Diaspora to participate in this program.

The participants will be supervised by well-known experts serving as mentors.

Applications and accompanying purpose statements must be submitted online by April 20.

The deadline for submitting research studies is July 31.

Subjects and Mentors:

International Law and Experience:

1. The legal and political basis of the right of return of forcibly displaced persons within the framework of International Law: The role of international courts, such as the European Court of Human Rights, the International Court of Justice, and others in the legal confirmation of this right and the role of international institutions in its implementation.
   Dr. Philippe (Raffi) Kalfayan, PhD in International Law, Legal Counsel, Associate-Researcher and Lecturer at University of Paris Pantheon Assas – France
2. Comparative analysis of precedents for the Implementation of the Right of Return of forcibly displaced persons and lessons to be learned: The specificities of the issue of the Artsakh Armenians (if any).
   Karnig Kerkonian, International Lawyer, Expert in International law – USA
3. The Rights of the Artsakh Armenians as an Indigenous people under International Law:                                                                                             The role of the right of return in ensuring the survival and development of the Artsakh Armenians as an indigenous people.
   Dr. Kevork Hagopjian, Esq., Ph.D. in International Law, Member of the Armenian Legal Center’s Board of Directors – USA

Return Conditions:

4. Analytical discussion about the return conditions of Artsakh Armenians and their expectations based on statistical data obtained through questionnaires and face-to-face meetings.
   Ashot Ghulyan, historian, and former President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Artsakh – Armenia
5. Security preconditions for implementing the Right of Return of Artsakh Armenians: Options for ensuring security, applicability, and acceptability by Artsakh.
   Giro Manoyan, ARF Bureau Member and Head of the Hay Dat Political Affairs Office – Armenia
6. The issue regarding the status of Artsakh Armenians upon their return to Artsakh: Possible governance options for Artsakh.
   Artak Beglaryan, Former Human Rights Defender of the Artsakh Republic – Armenia
7. The importance of the collective return of forcibly displaced Artsakh Armenians and the dangers of partial or individual return.
   Harut Sassounian, Editor-in-Chief of the California Courier – USA
8. The necessity for uninterrupted land communication with the Republic of Armenia to implement the Right of Return of Artsakh Armenians: Proposal of new concepts for regional road communication.
   Yeghia Tashjian, Instructor at the Research Center of the American University of Beirut – Lebanon

Relationship of Actors:

9. The importance of the position of the Artsakh Repblic’s governance system on the Right of Return: Evaluation of actions taken and proposals for the Republic of Armenia to support return policies.
   Armen Sargsyan, Historian, Member of the National Assembly of the Republic of Artsakh – Armenia
10. The position of the Republic of Armenia on the Right of Return of Artsakh Armenians: An analysis of supportive and opposing statements and a proposal for an official return policy.
    Shahan Kandaharian, Editor-in-Chief of the Beirut-based Azdag daily – Lebanon
11. The position, interests, and probable role of International, regional, and individual forces and states on the Return of the Artsakh Armenians.
    Gevorg Ghukasyan, ARF Central Office Program Coordinator for the Armenian Cause – Armenia
12. The role of International Organizations, including the UN, OSCE, and EU, in resolving the Right of Return for the Armenians of Artsakh and their potential role in Artsakh.
    Mario Nalbandian, Member of the Central Council of the Armenian Cause and President of the European Office of the Armenian Cause – Argentina
13. The role of International Humanitarian and Human Rights Organizations in supporting the Armenians of Artsakh, both as displaced persons and upon their future return.
    Garine Hovsepian, Dean of the Faculty of Law of the French University in Armenia – Armenia
14. Practical possibilities and mechanisms for creating negotiation platforms on the Right of Return of the Armenians of Artsakh.
    Kaspar Karampetian, President of the ARF Armenian Cause European Office – Belgium

Preserving the Armenian Identity of Artsakh:

15. The importance of preserving the historical and cultural heritage of Artsakh within the framework of the Right of Return and practical methods for its preservation.
    The primate of the Artsakh diocese Bishop Vrtanes Abrahamyan – Armenia
16. The necessity of preserving the properties of the Armenians of Artsakh in the context of the Right of Return and practical means for achieving this.
    Gegham Stepanyan, Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Artsakh – Armenia

Azerbaijan’s Position and Steps:

17. Azerbaijan’s position on the Right of Return in general and the Right of Return of the people of Artsakh in particular.
    Abraham Gasparyan, Founding Director of the Genesis Armenia Center – Armenia

Studies will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Relevance
• Methodological significance
• Scope of research
• Substantive validity
• Compliance with technical requirements

Participation in the competition is also encouraged in groups, with students forming teams of up to three members.

The submitted projects will be reviewed by a jury composed of consultants.

All students participating in the competition will receive symbolic gifts. The authors of the best studies, as selected by the jury, will receive the following scholarships:

• First Prize: $1,000
• Second Prize: $750
• Third Prize: $500

At the end of the competition, an online conference will be held, where the best studies will be presented to the public. All research papers will also be published in Armenian and Diaspora media.

The competition results will be announced on September 2 of this year.