The Armenian Red Cross Faces a Serious Crisis: Eghiazaryan Sends Open Letter

The former Secretary General of the Armenian Red Cross Society, Anna Eghiazaryan, along with her supporters, has addressed an open letter to the Armenian government, as well as the director of the NSS and the Attorney General of Armenia.

On February 15, an extraordinary general meeting of the Red Cross was held, during which Anna Eghiazaryan was elected as the president of the organization following an initiative by one-third of its members. Subsequently, the organization issued a statement claiming that Eghiazaryan, who was previously the Secretary General, was dismissed during a presidential board meeting on February 8, and that the information regarding her election was not true, stating she is engaging in self-activity. The organization asserts that the current president is Mkhitar Mnatsakanyan, and the position of Secretary General is now held by Arthur Aristakesyan.

Since then, the organization has been unable to determine who the new president is.

“In recent weeks, the Armenian Red Cross Society (ARCS) has found itself in a serious management crisis. Mkhitar Mnatsakanyan, unable to accept that he can no longer be elected as president per the ARCS charter, and that the Red Cross cannot become the property of his family, was illegally appointed as acting president during a board meeting, which he had no right to do,” states the letter.

Currently, in the state registry of legal entities by the Ministry of Justice, the Secretary General of the organization is registered as Arthur Aristakesyan.

The letter also emphasizes that it is considered impossible to work with Aristakesyan by the leaders of 8 out of 9 sections of the ARCS, the majority of the central office staff, as well as the presidents and members of the board from 9 out of 12 regional and territorial branches, relevant community branch members, and volunteers. The regions of Shirak and Gegharkunik have not joined the open letter.

“At this moment, due to the individuals who have unlawfully declared themselves leaders and occupied the central office of the ARCS, the organization’s reputation has been seriously damaged. International partners are halting collaboration, and the continuity of all humanitarian programs is at risk. The disruption of the national organization’s normal operations is also a significant blow to our state’s reputation. We urge you to take effective steps to restore the normal functioning of the ARCS and establish legality. A recognized national organization is being destroyed before your eyes, while decisions made by the state registry agency are not in accordance with Armenian law but rather at the whims of certain forces,” the open letter states.

In addition to Anna Eghiazaryan, the letter was joined by the heads of various departments, including Lusine Kocharyan (Disaster Management), Katerine Vardanyan (Youth, Volunteering, and Membership), Nune Grigoryan (Public Relations and Communications), Hayarpi Karapetyan (Search and Rescue), Zara Khudoyan (First Aid), Nazeli Kirakosyan (Organizational Development), and Lusine Kh of the Health and Social Department.

It should be noted that Levon Baghdasaryan, the lawyer of the Armenian Red Cross Society's presidency, stated during a press conference on February 19 that they have submitted over 10 reports of crimes, including the theft of over 60 million drams from the ARCS, illegal use of property, and the theft of documents related to the office.

Baghdasaryan expressed dissatisfaction that the Armenian Attorney General's office has not yet taken any action regarding their reports, but following a report filed by former Secretary General Anna Eghiazaryan, she has been recognized as a victim. Eghiazaryan reported that she was unlawfully dismissed while she was on vacation.