Arab Organization for Human Rights Files Complaint Against Former ANIF Director

The Arab Organization for Human Rights (AOHR), based in the United Kingdom, has filed a complaint with the Armenian Prosecutor General against David Papazian, a citizen of Armenia. This was reported by middleesteye.net.

The human rights organization has called on Prosecutor General Anna Vardapetyan to launch an immediate investigation into Papazian, who, according to available information, is the chair of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).

The journalist from Middle East Eye noted that they had seen several letters in which AOHR stated that there were "credible evidence and documents" indicating that David Papazian "may have been involved in or facilitated actions in Gaza equivalent to war crimes and crimes against humanity." The media outlet reminds that the GHF, which is funded by the U.S. and Israel, has been widely criticized for employing militarized mechanisms for food distribution in the Gaza Strip, which is under Israeli siege. Organizations such as Doctors Without Borders have accused GHF of institutionalizing "hunger and inhumanity."

It was also reported that at least 1,800 Palestinians have been killed and more than 13,500 injured while receiving food at GHF supply points, waiting for aid, or visiting GHF centers. However, middleeasteye.net notes that GHF has repeatedly denied that anyone has been killed at its sites, asserting that the UN’s quantitative data regarding the deceased individuals seeking assistance is "false and misleading."

"These casualties raise serious concerns about the scope of GHF's operations and the possibility that its leadership may be complicit in actions that amount to crimes under international law," states the letter addressed to the Armenian Prosecutor General.

The letter also mentions that GHF is registered both in Delaware, USA, and in Geneva, Switzerland. Citing CBS News, it recalls that according to the founding documents of the Swiss GHF, its leaders include David Papazian from Armenia, who resides in the UK, Loik Samuel Marcel Henderson from Arlington, Virginia, USA, and David Kohler from Switzerland.

AOHR pointed out that Papazian is the chairperson of the Swiss GHF board, as well as a founding board member of the organization registered in the USA. According to the British human rights organization, such a dual structure is part of an "administrative disguise and fraudulent scheme" aimed at concealing the decision-making process and sources of funding.

Middle East Eye reminds that the 43-year-old David Papazian was the director of the Armenian National Interests Fund (ANIFF) from 2019 to 2024 and executed several major transactions, including with the Emirati energy giant Masdar (referring to the Masdar Armenia 1 LLC created by them to build the Aig 1 photovoltaic plant in the Ararat region).

The media notes that despite AOHR's complaint to the Armenian Prosecutor General, no illegal activity related to this Armenian-Arab transaction is mentioned. Nonetheless, Papazian's international business connections, particularly in the UAE, reflect his influence over GHF’s leadership, as well as the relationships he presumably established in Abu Dhabi, which has become an important ally of Israel in recent years.

Middle East Eye also reminds that ANIF has opened a branch office in Abu Dhabi (with branches also in Moscow and Paris). On another note, Papazian was president of the board of directors of the Armenian-Arab airline Fly Arna. The media points out that Papazian was dismissed from his position as ANIF director in January 2024, citing mismanagement of the fund, and then quotes Prime Minister Pashinyan’s assessments of ANIF’s operations in January 2025 as a "failure" and a "disgrace."

The AOHR insists that Papazian has played a "crucial role in the development, approval, and oversight of the operational assistance model within GHF, which has led to massive harm among the civilian population." The organization also emphasizes that GHF was established "to serve the strategic objectives of the Israeli government in warfare," replacing UN humanitarian agencies and disrupting their activities. "From the early stages of the war in Gaza, the occupying force (Israel) has begun to demonize humanitarian aid efforts... It has become clear that the primary aim was to disrupt humanitarian independent actions," states AOHR.