As part of our mission to promote democratic values and legal integrity, the A.D. Sakharov Armenian Human Rights Protection Centre has submitted a formal expert opinion on the RA Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sport’s latest draft decree: the “Concept of Localization and Support for the Aesthetics of ‘Real Armenia’.”
While we support the development of national culture, our legal team has identified several “concerning” conceptual risks that could impact the historical and legal rights of the Armenian people.
The draft concept suggests a strict identification between the “State” (political borders) and the “Homeland” (historical and cultural identity).
- Our Position: While a State is a legal entity with boundaries, a “Homeland” is a broader cultural and historical heritage. Attempting to artificially limit the concept of “Homeland” only to current administrative borders risks alienating the cultural history of the Armenian diaspora and our historical legacy.
The Sakharov Centre believes that peace should be built on legal documents, not on the erasure of historical facts.
- The Risk: We noted that the concept’s approach could inadvertently support foreign narratives (such as the “Western Azerbaijan” myth) by weakening our own historical and cultural claims.
- Our Recommendation: We urge the government to ensure that any “Aesthetics of Real Armenia” does not come at the cost of denying our rich cultural past, which is a fundamental right of the people.
The Sakharov Centre has officially proposed that the RA Government reconsider the definitions of “Homeland” and “State” within the draft. Protecting the “Real Armenia” means protecting its history, its people, and its legal rights—not just its current borders.
Read our Full legal analysis in Armenian here: