Assembly Hosts Inspiring Advocacy Summit Headlined By Joe Manganiello On Capitol Hill

Assembly advocates on Capitol Hill

Washington, D.C. - Hundreds of Armenian Americans advocated on Capitol Hill for the release of Armenian hostages during the Armenian Assembly of America's (Assembly) Spring 2025 Advocacy Summit, held on Monday, March 31, 2025, through Wednesday, April 2, 2025.

The Summit was headlined by Emmy Award winning actor and director Joe Manganiello who shared the story of his great-grandmother during the Armenian Genocide when she lost her entire family, yet persevered with courage and strength after the birth of her daughter and their journey to America, movingly sharing details of the traumas they endured and the cross-generational transfer of all that pain and suffering.

(l-r) Rep. Thomas Kean, Jr (R-NJ); and Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) with Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny, Assembly Congressional Relations Director Mariam Khaloyan, Joe Manganiello, and Caitlin O'Connor; and California advocates with Rep. Laura Friedman (D-CA)

Manganiello encouraged participants to continue to honor their heritage and use their voices to support the Armenian people. Advocates connected with more than 400 offices on Capitol Hill, raising the urgent issues of Armenia’s security, the release of Armenian prisoners held hostages in Baku, the preservation of the Armenian heritage in Artsakh, and the rights of Artsakh Armenian to return to their homes.

A Young Professionals Networking event kicked off the Summit on Monday evening, March 31 at the University Club, followed by Advocacy Briefings on Tuesday, April 1, wherein Joe Manganiello said: "If we don't speak up and use our words to do the right thing, then no one will..."I'm here as someone who is asking this government and this Congress to do the right thing and stand up for the Armenians, so please use your voice to do good and let's rally for the hostages to be released."

(l-r) Joe Manganiello with Massachusetts Assembly advocates alongside Senator Ed Markey (D-MA); California advocates with Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA); Massachusetts Assembly advocates with Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA); Rhode Island Assembly advocates with Rep. Gabe Amo (D-RI); Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-TX); and Rep. George Latimer (D-NY)

David Vardanyan, son of Armenian political prisoner Ruben Vardanyan, addressed the audience virtually and urged Summit participants to advocate in the nation's capital for the Armenian prisoners of war, political prisoners, and civilian captives who remain unjustly held in Baku.

"A lot can be done from Washington and this is the main potential solution we have for our prisoners," said Vardanyan. "Show the world that we as Armenians are a global nation and have a significant influence in key capitals of the world."

(l-r) Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) with Maryland Assembly advocates; Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-AL); Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA) with California Assembly advocates; and Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) with Assembly Rhode Island advocates

Emphasizing that Azerbaijan has engaged in "flagrant ethnic cleansing of a Christian minority," and that the Aliyev regime has "specifically and solely targeted a Christian minority," he noted that not enough pressure has been exerted on Azerbaijan. 

Reflecting on the last time he spoke to his father via voice note on September 25, 2023, he said his family found out through social media his father was illegally detained and taken by military helicopter to Baku where he's remained ever since.

(l-r) Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) with Rhode Island Assembly advocates; Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr (D-NJ) alongside Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny, Joe Manganiello and Caitlin O'Connor; Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ); Rep. George Whitesides (D-CA); Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA); and California Assembly advocates with Rep. Young Kim (R-CA)

"It's been the most challenging time for our family, but many of you know he's one of at least 23 illegally held Armenians in Baku who have yet to be released, despite the pledge by the Azeri government to do so under the trilateral agreement signed on November 9, 2020," said Vardanyan. "Many families have remained silent fearing they'll make it worse for their husbands, brothers, fathers being held in Baku considering the well documented track record of Azeri torture and xenophobia towards Armenians and their own citizens."

Vardanyan said his father is being tried in a military tribunal despite "never having a military position in his life." He called it a "farce of a political process" and the strategy his family has adopted, despite the risks, is to speak up and "get attention to the injustices being done."

The Assembly drew additional awareness to the plight of the Armenian hostages in Baku with full-page ads in Politico and The Hill, which are distributed to every office on Capitol Hill.

Advocate meetings throughout the day with close to 400 Congressional offices visited including Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA), Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA); Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Sen. Markey (D-MA), Rep. Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX), and Rep. Sean Casten (D-IL)

The Advocacy Briefing focused on the geopolitics of the South Caucasus and violations of international law as they related to the Armenian hostages held in Baku. A panel featuring human rights expert Sheila Paylan, international lawyer and Adjunct Professor Elizabeth Samson, and Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and Director of Policy Analysis at Middle East Forum, Dr. Michael Rubin was moderated by the Assembly's Director of Research and Analysis Robert Avetisyan.

When asked about the Armenia and Azerbaijan peace treaty, Dr. Rubin expressed concerns regarding the history of peace processes, noting that if "one side is not sincere, there is always the possibility they are more interested in the benefits of participating rather than having any intention to make decision for peace."

Elected officials, advocates, Advocacy scholars, young professionals, and guests at the Young Professionals Networking event at the University Club and Summit Welcome Reception at The Jefferson Hotel during the Assembly' Spring 2025 Advocacy Summit

Paylan also raised concerns about the peace treaty citing a "crisis in trust of international law" and the potential of "dropping the order we have against Azerbaijan to enable the safe return of Karabakh refugees."

"To give that up would be egregious for a peace process," said Paylan, who served as a legal advisor to the United Nations Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights and has advised judges and senior officials of UN-backed international criminal tribunals. "The reason they're asking us to drop the cases is because we are winning, and the cases are very strong."

She did not support the idea of withdrawing the EU monitoring mission from Armenia, calling it “one of our biggest guarantees of safety."

(l-r) Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny, Assembly Co-Chair Talin Yacoubian, Joe Manganiello, and Assembly Co-Chair Oscar Tatosian presenting Joe Manganiello with a gift book of Armenia

Samson, an Adjunct Professor at City University of New York, has written on international law, security, and democratization, with particular reference to Ruben Vardanyan's hunger strike to "put a spotlight on the issues" of the sham trials.

Samson described several "practical mechanisms" that can be "employed to force Azerbaijan's hand to come to the table." Samson noted that "The ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross) is closing in Azerbaijan," and asked if the Red Cross will "advocate for its own mandate?" She added: "Spotlights are important because they force organizations and people in positions of power to do something and take action."

Highlights from the Assembly's Briefings, including remarks by Joe Manganiello; address by David Vardanyan, son of political prisoner Ruben Vardanyan; Dr. Michael Rubin, Elizabeth Samson, and Sheila Paylan; Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny, Assembly Congressional Relations Director Mariam Khaloyan, and Assembly Western Region Director David Ojakian; and former Assembly Co-Chair Anthony Barsamian

An advocacy panel featuring Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny, Assembly Congressional Relations Director Mariam Khaloyan, and Assembly Western Region Director David Ojakian, served as a training session for participants to communicate clearly during their meetings on Capitol Hill, and to emphasize the release of the Armenian hostages, enforcing Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act, and to thank Members for being a part of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, or encouraging them to join. 

Assembly Co-Chair Talin Yacoubian testified before the House Appropriations Committee

A Welcome Reception took place on Tuesday evening, April 1, at the Jefferson Hotel, and throughout the day on April 2, advocates met with their elected officials. Also on April 2, Assembly Co-Chair Talin Yacoubian testified before the House Appropriations Committee, outlining key funding and policy issues. The Assembly was one of only 20 organizations to testify in person and the only Armenian group to do so.

(l-r) Senators Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) at the Commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide on Capitol Hill; Rep. Herb Conaway (D-NJ); Sen. Andy Kim (D-NJ); Rep. Gabe Amo (D-RI) and Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr (D-NJ); Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA); Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA); Joe Manganiello, Caitlin O'Connor, Assembly Co-Chair Talin Yacoubian and Rep. George Latimer (D-NY); Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA); and Rep. Laura Friedman (D-CA)

Following the Summit, Joe Manganiello delivered the keynote address at the Armenian Genocide Commemoration on Capitol Hill, with Members of Congress sharing their remarks on the 110th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, and their efforts to support the Armenian people amidst its current challenges.

(l-r) Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny, Assembly Co-Chair Oscar Tatosian, Joe Manganiello, Senator Van Hollen (D-MD), Assembly Co-Chair Talin Yacoubian, and Assembly Board Member Annie Simonian Totah

The Armenian Assembly of America expresses its gratitude to

Joe Manganiello and offers its thanks and appreciation to our

2025 Advocacy Summit Sponsors and Donors:

Advocacy Summit Sponsors

Ara and Leslie Bagdasarian

Alexander and Sima Bakalian

Anthony and Nancy Barsamian

David and Margart Mgrublian

Carolyn Mugar

David and Dr. Myrna Onanian

Annie Simonian Totah

Dean Shahinian

Kevork and Elizabeth Zoryan

Advocacy Summit Donors

Bryan Ardouny

Vick Bazarbashian

Marie Bogdanoff

Jacob Bournazian

Dr. Michael and Wendy Churukian

Christopher Collette

Edward Constantian

Aram Daronasty

Gregory Doty

Selomun Gebreegziabher

Hratch Karakachian

Rep. Katherine Kazarian

Harry Kezelian

Mariam Khaloyan

Tigran Khrimian

Garabed and Elizabeth Klachian

Mhare Mouradian

Ronald Nazeley

Gregory Nemet, Jr. - Kareen Wine

Lusine Pilosyan

Serge Elie Seropian

Filimon Sium

Diana Topjian

Greg Vartan

Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a strictly non-partisan, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.

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