SYDNEY: Five years following the brutal 44-day war launched by Azerbaijan against Artsakh and subsequent ethnic cleansing of its indigenous Armenian population, the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU) has announced the expansion of the Australian Friends of Artsakh (FOA) network to 127 members—underscoring that Artsakh is not forgotten.
Twenty-four prominent Australians joined the growing coalition over the past ten months, standing in solidarity with the people of Artsakh and their right to self-determination. This milestone comes as the global Armenian nation and the Armenian-Australian community marks the anniversary of Azerbaijan’s attack on 19 September 2023, which led to the forced displacement of over 100,000 Armenians from their homeland.
This latest wave of support follows advocacy efforts right across the country, led by ANC-AU Political Affairs Director Sebastian Majarian, who has spearheaded delegations to the Federal Parliament, the Parliaments of New South Wales and South Australia, and held direct engagements with local government officials and community leaders.
Prominent new members include: Mr David Smith MP, the Government Whip in the Federal House of Representatives; Rev Dr Rod Benson, General Secretary of the New South Wales Ecumenical Council and; Cr Zoe Baker, Mayor of North Sydney Council.
Other new additions to the Network include:
- Mr. Matthew Cross MP - Member for Davidson (NSW)
- Ms. Kobi Shetty MP - Member for Balmain (NSW)
- Mr. Mark Hodges MP - Member for Castle Hill (NSW)
- Mrs. Tanya Thompson MP - Member for Myall Lakes (NSW)
- The Hon. Jeremy Buckingham MLC - Member of the NSW Legislative Council
- The Hon. Stephen Lawrence MLC - Member of the NSW Legislative Council
- The Hon. Susan Carter MLC - Member of the NSW Legislative Council
- The Hon. John Ruddick MLC - Member of the NSW Legislative Council
- The Hon. Aileen MacDonald OAM MLC - Member of the NSW Legislative Council
- The Hon. Jacqui Munro MLC - Member of the NSW Legislative Council
- Mr. Lyle Shelton - Family First National Director
- The Hon. Jing Lee MLC - Member of the South Australian Legislative Council
- The Hon. Connie Bonaros MLC - Member of the South Australian Legislative Council
- Ms. Olivia Savvas MP - Member for Newland (South Australia)
- The Hon. Kim Wells - Member for Rowville (Victoria)
- Cr. Shannon Welch - North Sydney Council
- Cr. Robert Gilitian - Northern Beaches Council
- Cr. Cameron Last - City of Ryde Council
- Cr. Kristina Dodds - Willoughby City Council
- Cr. Michelle Chuang - Willoughby City Council
- Cr. Sarah Royds - Willoughby City Council
ANC-AU Political Affairs Director, Sebastian Majarian, expressed his appreciation for the growing support of this initiative and said: “This announcement comes on a painful anniversary—five years since the Artsakh war and two years since Artsakh was ethnically cleansed of its indigenous Armenian population. Their towns were silenced, their churches desecrated, and their homeland emptied. But today, we send a clear message: Artsakh has not been forgotten.”
“Every new name added to the Friends of Artsakh network is more than a gesture—it’s a voice refusing to let Azerbaijan’s crimes be buried. The 127 Friends of Artsakh have chosen to stand with the people who have lost everything, simply for being Armenian. Their solidarity shows that moral courage still exists in public life. That the values of justice, memory, and human dignity still matter.”
The Australian Friends of Artsakh Network was first Launched in August 2019, following a delegation from the Republic of Artsakh led by then-Foreign Minister, His Excellency Masis Mayilian and the Hon. Davit Ishkhanyan MP.
