Human Rights Lawyer Robert Amsterdam to Arrive in Yerevan Tomorrow Despite Threats of Expulsion

London, August 10, 2025 — Despite explicit threats by Armenian authorities to deny him entry and forcibly expel him, prominent international human rights lawyer Robert Amsterdam will arrive in Yerevan, Armenia, on August 11, 2025, to meet with clients whose fundamental rights are under direct attack. His decision to proceed to Yerevan, despite the risk of detention or removal, underscores the urgency of the crisis and his unwavering commitment to defend the rule of law against a government that appears intent on eroding it.

Amsterdam represents the Armenian Apostolic Church. In recent months, senior Church leaders have been subjected to public vilification, legal harassment and blatant state interference in ecclesiastical affairs. A prominent businessman and supporter of the Church, Samvel Karapetyan, has also been targeted by the Pashinyan government in what leading observers describe as a politically motivated and unlawful campaign. As a vocal supporter of the Church, he has been arrested, had his assets seized and faces politically driven criminal charges. Together, these measures reveal a calculated strategy to weaken the Church’s influence, silence dissenting voices and intimidate those who dare to oppose the government’s agenda.

Amsterdam, a dual US-Canadian citizen, is a seasoned advocate with four decades of experience defending political and religious freedoms in some of the world’s most challenging environments. He is widely recognised for his defence of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in its struggle against persecution and has represented heads of state, opposition leaders and imprisoned democracy activists in high-profile cases across multiple continents. Among his most notable representations was that of Russian political prisoner Mikhail Khodorkovsky, during which Russian authorities attempted to arrest Amsterdam in the midst of the proceedings. His firm, Amsterdam & Partners LLP, headquartered in London and Washington, DC, has received international recognition, including the Global Pro Bono Dispute Award from The American Lawyer, for its commitment to defending fundamental rights in politically charged cases.

The Pashinyan government’s actions against Amsterdam’s clients in Armenia constitute a direct and escalating assault on freedom of religion and expression. Security forces have targeted the Church’s most senior clergy, including an attempted arrest of Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and the politically motivated detention of Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan. These acts, paired with inflammatory rhetoric from government officials, are designed to strip the Church of its independence and moral authority. Karapetyan’s arrest and prosecution, in turn, send a chilling message to all who might defend religious liberty or criticise the government: speak out, and you will be punished. Such tactics violate Armenia’s own constitutional guarantees and its binding obligations under international law.

If Armenia denies entry to Amsterdam upon his arrival in Yerevan, it will commit a grave and additional breach of its obligations under international human rights law. Article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Armenia is a party, guarantees the right to a fair trial, including the right to be represented by counsel of one’s own choosing. Article 18 of the ICCPR further protects the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion—rights that are directly implicated when legal representation is sought in cases involving alleged religious persecution. The UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers, endorsed by the General Assembly, affirm that governments must ensure lawyers can travel, consult with, and represent their clients without intimidation, hindrance, or improper interference. Denying Amsterdam entry would therefore not only obstruct the defence of his clients and exacerbate violations of their religious freedom, but would also demonstrate Armenia’s wilful disregard for its binding treaty obligations and universally recognised standards governing the independence of the legal profession.

We call on the government of Armenia to immediately allow Robert Amsterdam to enter and to guarantee his full and unfettered access to his clients. Anything less will deepen Armenia’s slide into authoritarianism and compound the serious rights violations already underway. The international community—especially states committed to the defence of human rights and religious liberty—must apply sustained political pressure to ensure Armenia complies with its obligations. The right to legal representation and the freedom to practice one’s religion are cornerstones of any genuine democracy; Amsterdam’s impending arrival will be a decisive test of whether Armenia upholds these principles or abandons them altogether.

For more information about Robert Amsterdam and his firm, please visit www.amsterdamandpartners.com. Media inquiries may be directed to contact@amsterdamandpartners.com.