25/06/2026 | 16:56:17 This report is based on a fundamentally important recognition: states may misuse legitimate legal mechanisms not to pursue justice, but to target political opponents. This is the very foundation of the concept of transnational repression. In this regard, I would like to raise two additional aspects of this problem. The first concerns the misuse of international legal co-operation mechanisms for political purposes. If we acknowledge this risk in relation to individuals located outside a state... 24/06/2026 | 17:27:33 Mister Chairman, The situation in Georgia deserves our close attention and serious consideration. We cannot remain indifferent when concerns are raised about democratic standards, political pluralism, the rule of law or the functioning of democratic institutions in any member state. It is both the right and the responsibility of this Assembly to react. We must also be clear that any disproportionate or unlawful use of force against demonstrators is unacceptable in any democratic society. All... 24/06/2026 | 16:58:51 Dear Colleagues, Critical voices are also being silenced in Azerbaijan through the prohibition of international humanitarian and human rights organisations. Particularly alarming is the situation concerning the Armenian prisoners in Baku and the reports of the destruction of Armenian cultural and religious heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh. When independent international monitoring is absent, not only the rights of specific individuals are put at risk, but also the preservation of historical... 24/06/2026 | 11:59:22 Madam President, Artificial intelligence does not create a crisis of democracy. It merely amplifies problems that already exist within our democracies. Therefore, the key question is not only how to regulate technology, but also how to preserve human responsibility and political accountability in the age of algorithms. People do not lose trust in democracy because algorithms exist. They lose trust when institutions no longer inspire confidence, when politicians stop offering a credible vision... 22/06/2026 | 12:12:47 Thank you. Madam President, Dear colleagues, I have the honour to present the assessment of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe delegation of the early parliamentary elections held in Bulgaria on 19 April 2026. These elections were the 8th early parliamentary elections since April 2021. They took place after the Assembly had closed the post-monitoring dialogue with Bulgaria in October 2025. We therefore particularly welcomed the invitation by the interim government to observe... 23/04/2026 | 12:19:08 Madam President, In January, this hemicycle heard some calls for strong measures against Iran. This logic was implemented regardless of our common political will. The conflict is not over, but all of us are already dealing with its contradictory results. The use of force has not resolved the problem. It has made it broader, deeper and more dangerous, and Iran has emerged as a "steel porcupine", a state that makes the cost of confrontation prohibitively high. Instability in the Middle East is... 21/04/2026 | 18:03:36 Madam Chair, This debate is not abstract, specifically for my country. For more than a year, representatives of the Armenian Apostolic Church have been subjected to politically motivated criminal proceedings, often justified by the claims that the Church has no right to engage in public or political discourse. Religious leaders are under pressure for speaking on behalf of their faithful, including on issues about Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh that have been subjected to ethnic cleansing, and... 21/04/2026 | 16:45:25 Dear colleagues, This document is largely driven by the growing radicalisation of political discourse in Europe. However, for a number of states, including my own, this issue has a broader dimension. It is directly linked to the functioning of democratic institutions and the relationship between the ruling majority and the rest of society. Violence is unacceptable in any form. However, ignoring its root causes makes efforts to combat it ineffective. When public rhetoric of ruling parties and... 21/04/2026 | 16:19:38 Mister Deputy Prime Minister, Azerbaijan has bent the activities of important international humanitarian organisations, in particular the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), making objective information about Armenian prisoners in Baku extremely limited. Azerbaijan is also disregarding decisions of international courts, including those of the European Court of Human Rights on this matter. Despite the fact that the Azerbaijani delegation is not present in this hemicycle, the... 29/01/2026 | 12:03:52 Thank you. Dear colleagues, The Middle East has, for Armenia, not only a geopolitical, but also a profound civilisational dimension. Armenia is connected to this region not only by geography, but also by the fates of hundreds of thousands of Armenians. Armenian communities are an organic part of the historical fabric of the Middle East. They have become key elements of the modern identity of the region and bridges between civilisations, religions, and cultures. They demonstrate that religious...