International lawyer Robert Amsterdam recently addressed an open letter to Roberta Metsola, the President of the European Parliament, on behalf of Armenian businessman, philanthropist Samvel Karapetyan. The letter raises serious concerns about democratic governance, religious freedom, and judicial independence in Armenia, specifically regarding the upcoming 2026 parliamentary elections.

NEWS.am submitted three written questions to the European Union Delegation to Armenia regarding the letter. The responses are presented below:

Is the EU Delegation to Armenia aware of the content and the specific concerns raised in Mr. Amsterdam’s letter?

The EU Delegation is aware about the letter.

Has the President of the European Parliament formally received this letter, and if so, is there an official response or position from her office or the Parliament?

The European Parliament has received the letter.

Is the EU Delegation monitoring the situation regarding the judicial proceedings against Mr. Samvel Karapetyan in light of the European human rights standards mentioned in the letter?

The EU Delegation is closely monitoring developments in Armenia, including judicial proceedings against Samvel Karapetyan. However, it is for the Armenian authorities to investigate and for the domestic court system to process such cases. Based on the fundamental principles underpinning the EU-Armenia partnership, we expect the Armenian justice and law enforcement institutions, when carrying out these investigations, to act with independence, integrity and accountability, and to uphold democratic principles and fundamental rights, including due process. We can assure you that respect of these principles is a core element in the EU’s regular dialogue with the Armenian authorities.