The Helsinki Citizens' Assembly–Vanadzor (HCAV) (Armenian: Հելսինկյան Քաղաքացիական Ասամբլեա – Վանաձոր, romanized: Helsinkyan K’aghak’ats’iakan Asamblea – Vanadzor) is the Armenian branch of the Helsinki Citizens' Assembly. It is headquartered in Vanadzor and maintains a satellite office in Armenia's capital, Yerevan.[3]
HCAV supports citizens through providing legal aid and court representation, maintains an emergency hotline, monitors elections, and raises awareness through campaigns, seminars, and public presentations.[9] HCAV provides legal aid to approximately 400 citizens annually and has assisted citizens to submit cases to the European Court of Human Rights.[10][3] HCAV conducts reporting on various issues and often provides recommendations to the government of Armenia and the Human Rights Defender of Armenia.[7][11][12]
Prior to Armenia joining the Eurasian Economic Union, HCAV summitted a motion to the Court of Appeal demanding to recognize the actions aimed at joining the customs union by former president of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan as illegal.[13] HCAV opposed the decision of Serzh Sargsyan to approve Armenia's accession to the Russian-led customs union.[14]
On 14 September 2022, following the Armenia–Azerbaijan border crisis, Artur Sakunts stated, "Many pro-Western Armenians have called for the country to leave the CSTO. If Armenia does not show determination now and does not get out of the deadlock of the CSTO-Eurasian Union-trilateral statement of November 9, 2020 and does not take a step toward becoming part of the United States-France-European Union civilized system, then [Russian President Vladimir] Putin, [Turkish President Recep Tayyip] Erdogan and [Azerbaijan President Ilham] Aliyev will devour Armenia."[15] Also in September 2022, HCAV presented a document of recommendations to Nancy Pelosi during her visit to Yerevan. One of the recommendations was to provide major non-NATO ally status to Armenia.[16]
