Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša has congratulated Nikol Pashinyan on his reappointment as Prime Minister of Armenia.

According to the Prime Minister’s Office of Armenia, the congratulatory message reads:

“Your Excellency,

On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia and on my own behalf, please accept my sincere congratulations on your reappointment as Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia. I wish you every success in carrying out your important responsibilities.

The election results clearly reflect the commitment of the Armenian people to their country’s European path. Slovenia remains a steadfast supporter of a close partnership between the European Union and Armenia. Your significant efforts and dedication to promoting lasting peace and stability in the region are also highly commendable.

I am confident that many opportunities will emerge to further strengthen our relations. I look forward to deepening our political dialogue and expanding bilateral cooperation for the benefit of our two nations.

Please accept, Your Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.”

Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission Bakytzhan Sagintayev has congratulated Nikol Pashinyan on his reappointment as Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia.

The Eurasian Economic Commission said in a statement:

“The high level of confidence placed in you reflects support for your continued efforts to ensure the country’s stable development and improve the well-being of its citizens,” the congratulatory message reads.

The Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission expressed confidence that the continued constructive cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Armenia and the Eurasian Economic Commission would contribute to the effective implementation of mutually beneficial cooperation.

Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China Zhao Leji has congratulated Ruben Rubinyan on his election as Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia.

“Your Excellency, I was delighted to learn of your election as Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia. On this occasion, I wish to extend my sincere congratulations,” Zhao Leji, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China, said in a letter published by the Armenian Parliament’s press service.

“Over the 34 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, bilateral ties between China and Armenia have maintained steady and sustained development, while cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative has yielded significant results.

I stand ready to work together with you to strengthen cooperation between the National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China and the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, and to make new contributions to further deepening the strategic partnership between our two countries.

I wish you good health and every success in all your endeavors,” he added. 

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Tuesday introduced newly appointed Minister of High-Tech Industry Davit Tadevosyan to the ministry’s staff.

Pashinyan thanked outgoing Minister Mkhitar Hayrapetyan for his work, noting that Armenia’s technology sector has been growing.

“But I should also say that the developments of the past year are particularly significant for Armenia, because we now have increasingly comprehensive opportunities to engage with cutting-edge technologies and artificial intelligence. Of course, a great deal of work has been done, and Armenia now has infrastructure in place that just a few years ago might have seemed difficult to achieve,” the Prime Minister said.

He highlighted the supercomputing center of Yerevan State University, the Eleveight AI data center, and the AI factory that will soon be launched by Firebird.

Keeping pace with technological advancements is one of the Government’s most important priorities, the Prime Minister said.

“But in this regard, we must also remain attentive to and engaged with the global debates taking place around technology, with the understanding that we must do everything possible to ensure that the introduction of technologies does not reduce people’s opportunities to work and earn a living, but, on the contrary, makes these opportunities as accessible and effective as possible,” the Prime Minister said, adding that the Government has a very extensive agenda in the field of technology.

“Of course, there are very serious and long-term challenges here that require management, planning, and decision-making. However, this is part of the upcoming work agenda, which we will address in the context of discussions and the adoption of the draft Government program,” Nikol Pashinyan said.

Mkhitar Hayrapetyan thanked the Prime Minister for entrusting him with the position of Minister of High-Tech Industry, adding that he viewed it as a unique opportunity to serve the country.

The former minister expressed confidence that Davit Tadevosyan would succeed in the role, given his knowledge and experience, and pledged his support.

In turn, newly appointed Minister Davit Tadevosyan thanked the Prime Minister for his trust. “I assume this position with a clear understanding that everything has a beginning and an end. I will make every effort to ensure that I hand over this position to the next minister with pride and with the full sense that I have completed the work to the best of my ability,” the minister said.

A magnitude 3.0 earthquake struck southern Armenia around midday on Tuesday, authorities reported.

According to the Seismic Protection Regional Service, the earthquake occurred at 11:54 about 23 kilometers southwest of the town of Sisian, near the border with Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan, at a depth of 10 kilometers.

The tremor was felt in the towns of Sisian and Dastakert in Syunik Province, as well as in several nearby villages.

No damage was reported.

Defense Minister Suren Papikyan held a meeting on Tuesday with senior military officials to discuss the progress of field testing and the introduction of new military uniforms.

Papikyan shared a video of the meeting on social media.

Lt. Gen. Edward Asryan, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces and First Deputy Defense Minister, also attended the meeting.

The new uniforms were unveiled during the May 28 military parade in Yerevan.

Russia’s Permanent Representative to the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), Viktor Vasilyev, commented on the possibility of Armenia being stripped of its voting rights within the organization.

RIA Novosti quoted Vasilyev as saying that depriving Armenia of its voting rights in the CSTO would require consensus among the organization’s members.

“The next meeting of the Collective Security Treaty Organization will be held in Moscow on November 11. It is likely that the heads of the member states will discuss this issue (the issue of depriving Armenia of its voting rights in the CSTO). A decision on this matter, if needed, will be adopted by consensus,” he said.

The Russian Permanent Representative to the CSTO added that Article 25 of the CSTO Charter addresses the ability of member states to nominate candidates for quota-based positions, as well as the suspension of voting rights in the organization’s bodies in cases where a member state fails to fulfill its financial obligations to the organization for two years.

“In fact, such a situation has existed for more than two years, because Armenia does not nominate its citizens for quota-based positions and has also recalled its representatives from the CSTO Joint Staff,” Vasilyev said.

Armenia has frozen its participation in CSTO activities since 2024, citing the bloc’s failure to fulfill its security obligations.

No proposal to establish a migrant detention center in Armenia for illegal migrants from European Union member states has been presented to Yerevan, and no such issue has been discussed with the Armenian side, Armenian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ani Badalyan said in response to a Euronews article.

“We have not received such a proposal, and no such issue has been discussed with us,” Badalyan told Armenpress.

Euronews earlier reported that Italy is bringing to the EU a plan to set up new return centers, based on the Albania model, in safe third countries. The proposal, revealed by leading Italian media outlets and confirmed by government officials, will be presented by Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi at the extraordinary Council of European Union interior ministers convened for Tuesday, according to the report.

According to Euronews, Italy is proposing the creation of expulsion hubs of foreign nationals arriving on EU turf unlawfully to safe third countries while their asylum and immigration files are examined.

Among the potential host countries are several African states, with Uganda cited as one of the most concrete options. The question of the resources needed to fund the project, however, remains open. The new hubs, under the Italian proposal, would be financed through the bloc.

An initial list includes also some countries located outside the traditional migration routes. Potential candidates include Ghana, Senegal, Tunisia, Libya, Mauritania, Egypt, Uganda, Ethiopia, Uzbekistan, Armenia and Montenegro, according to Euronews.

In the second quarter of 2026, 12-month inflation continued to run above target, reaching 5.1% in June, while 12-month core inflation stood at 4.9%, Deputy Governor of the Central Bank Hovhannes Khachatryan said at a press briefing.

“Amid geopolitical uncertainty, high energy prices, and a slowdown in the global economy, inflationary risks remain elevated,” Khachatryan said, adding that the likelihood of major central banks maintaining high interest rates for an extended period or raising them further has increased.

“In Q2 2026, economic activity in Armenia remained strong, supported largely by growth in construction and services. At the same time, difficulties in certain export markets have increased the risks of lower incomes in the Armenian economy and excess supply in some goods markets, which could have disinflationary effects,” he said.

Earlier today, the Central Bank announced that it would keep the policy rate unchanged at 6.50%.

Khachatryan added that the Central Bank’s Board will continue to monitor economic development scenarios and stands ready to take appropriate measures to ensure the 3% inflation target is achieved over the medium term and to maintain price stability.

A senior Central Bank official has said that the instability surrounding Iran has affected and continues to affect Armenia’s economy, particularly in terms of logistics chains and energy prices.

“On the other hand, we have observed a redirection of tourist flows from a number of Middle Eastern countries, including the United Arab Emirates, toward our region. Since May, we have recorded a sharp increase in tourist arrivals,” Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Armenia Hovhannes Khachatryan said at a press briefing.

Addressing trade with Russia, Khachatryan noted that the impact of export restrictions has not yet fully materialized, as they have been in effect for only two months.

Ahead of the June 7 elections in Armenia, Russia began imposing restrictions on imports of numerous Armenian goods, prompting producers to seek new export markets. 

According to him, the restrictions have already been reflected in current indicators; however, Armenia’s economy maintained high growth rates in June and July.

“This is because other sectors, particularly construction and services, continue to be the main drivers of economic growth and are developing at a rapid pace. We are constantly monitoring various scenarios, assessing both inflation developments and potential changes in economic activity,” he said.