‘Parent hour’ and flexible schedules: Armenia changes labour code

JAM News
May 8 2026
  • Gayane Asryan
  • Yerevan

Armenia is changing labour rules and working hours. The proposed amendments will formally recognise remote work and introduce specific benefits for parents with children under the age of 12.

The changes introduce so-called “parent hours”, which will shorten the working day:

  • employees with one or two children will work 30 minutes less each day,
  • parents with three or more children will work one hour less.

The government has submitted the draft amendments for public and expert discussion. Initial reactions suggest that most people support the proposals.

Labour and Social Affairs Minister Arsen Torosyan said flexible working arrangements would let employers and employees agree flexible schedules in writing. They would also be able to decide themselves when a working day or shift begins and ends.

Torosyan said the “parent hour” would allow mothers and fathers to take children to school or kindergarten without asking employers for permission. Under the amendments, every employee would have that right. Take children to school or kindergarten. Now this will be the right of any employee.


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‘Remote work should be regulated by law’ — IT specialist

Harutyun Galoyan has worked remotely for six years. He cooperates with both international and local technology companies. He considers remote work important both for improving productivity and for managing his time more effectively.

“Over the years, proper time management has helped me save up to three hours a day. I used that time to improve my English, take professional online courses, read and exercise. Working remotely is simply wonderful. It does not mean I work less or do a worse job. On the contrary, it helps me become more efficient and improve both my professional and personal skills.”

According to Galoyan, remote work in Armenia is most common in the IT sector. Employers value the quality and results of work rather than physical presence in the office.

“I do not underestimate the importance of being physically present at work — professional contacts, solving problems together on site or simply human relationships. Perhaps specialists need that at the beginning of their careers. But once you establish yourself professionally, you begin to focus on efficiency. That becomes impossible if you spend more than two hours a day travelling to and from the office,” he said.

Galoyan considers not only commuting time but also office breaks a waste of time.

“Besides, I cannot concentrate even when a fly is buzzing in the room. Noise in the workplace is unavoidable.”

He began working from home in 2020, at the start of the coronavirus pandemic. That was when he realised remote work gave him extra time for personal and professional development.

“In the past, if I had free time at work and spent it doing something else, people criticised me. Now the situation is different. If I do not have anything urgent to do, I can listen to music or cook something in the kitchen. What matters to my employer is that I remain available at all times.”

He described his agreements with his employer as follows:

  • remain available during working hours,
  • take part in all online discussions,
  • come to the office when necessary, for example to sign documents, join team discussions or attend social events with colleagues.

While working remotely, Galoyan says he still enjoys the same rights as office employees, including paid leave, up to five working days off for personal reasons, overtime pay and bonuses.

“I can no longer work in an office. I tried several times, unsuccessfully. I realised I simply cannot give up this way of working. Legal regulation of remote work would create excellent opportunities for organisations that want to introduce it. It would also help them optimise costs,” he said..

‘The so-called ‘parent hour’ will be a lifesaver’ — mother of three young children

Ripsime Saryan works in the public sector and has three children. She and her husband live separately from their parents, so they cannot rely on relatives for childcare or help around the house.

Every morning, Ripsime has to take two of her children to kindergarten and her eldest daughter to school.

“This so-called ‘parent hour’ will be a real lifesaver for me. I wake up at six in the morning to manage everything. I prepare breakfast and a lunchbox for my school-aged daughter. Then I take my eldest child and my two younger children — aged two and five — to school. There, I usually ask one of the parents whose child also attends kindergarten to take my younger children there together with their own child. Otherwise, I will be late for work,” she said.

According to Ripsime, she constantly feels guilty and stressed because she cannot personally take her children to kindergarten.

At the same time, she says she cannot find a nanny willing to look after the children for just one hour in the morning.

“If the law changes, I will gain an hour that I desperately need. I will finally be able to organise my children’s morning routine properly. I would come to work half an hour later and leave half an hour earlier. I have always envied people who worked remotely. But I doubt the public sector will switch to that kind of schedule,” she said.

Although her workplace follows a strict schedule, arriving 10 minutes late has never created serious problems. Ripsime says she has also been able to attend school parent meetings, kindergarten celebrations and other events when necessary.

“But it is one thing when people tell you: ‘You are a mother of three children, we can make an exception for you, you can go to your child’s event.’ It is completely different when the law guarantees you that right. In that case, you no longer need to ask for permission every time or feel embarrassed for taking time off.”

Ripsime believes fathers should receive the same opportunity so they can fully participate in childcare as well.

“That would make families healthier and stronger. My husband leaves for work very early in the morning, even earlier than I do. If he also receives this right, the atmosphere at home would become completely different — much healthier.”

What’s behind Russia’s hostile response to Armenia’s deepening ties with EU?

JAM News
May 9 2026
  • JAMnews
  • Yerevan

Russia reacted harshly to the 8th European Political Community summit in Yerevan and the first-ever Armenia-EU summit, criticising Armenia’s increasingly pro-European foreign policy course.

The Russian Foreign Ministry argued that slogans such as “deepening partnership”, “supporting reforms” and “promoting democracy” conceal Brussels’ own geopolitical interests. According to Moscow, the real aim is to deprive Armenia of a reliable security system and economic stability.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the process would eventually lead to Armenia’s “irreversible involvement in the EU’s anti-Russian course”, which she argued would have negative political and economic consequences for the country.

European officials once again said that Yerevan could rely on them during the upcoming election campaign. It is the Eurobureaucrats who have relied on Armenia — but in the worst possible sense of the word. One should be careful,” Zakharova said.

Russian MP Konstantin Zatulin, deputy chairman of the State Duma committee on CIS affairs, criticised what he described as Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s “anti-Russian views”. He went so far as to suggest that if Pashinyan wins the parliamentary elections scheduled for June, Russia should refuse to officially recognise the results.

Political analyst Hovsep Khurshudyan believes Russia is preparing to organise post-election unrest in Armenia through its networks of influence and a “fifth column”.

He was referring primarily to what Armenian authorities and independent experts describe as the “three-headed party of war” — three pro-Russian political forces seeking parliamentary representation.

This refers to the Armenia alliance led by former president Robert Kocharyan, Strong Armenia led by Russian-Armenian businessman Samvel Karapetyan and Prosperous Armenia headed by businessman Gagik Tsarukyan. The term “three-headed party of war” reflects the fact that all three advocate revising the peace process with Azerbaijan — something critics say could inevitably lead to renewed conflict.

“If Russia’s local representatives are ready for self-sacrifice, ready to stand trial and face responsibility and punishment for violating Armenia’s laws and constitution, we will see how far they are willing to go. Of course, to organise such post-election processes they need a certain level of public support inside Armenia, which they do not have,” Khurshudyan told JAMnews.


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  • ‘Russia trying to send tens of thousands of voters to Armenia’s elections’: debate in Yerevan

Moscow dismisses Yerevan summits as ‘political show’”’

Russian officials described the summits in Yerevan as a “political show” featuring grand speeches, camera flashes, public walks and the “morning jogs of Western touring guests” through the Armenian capital — a reference to the jogging routine of French President Emmanuel Macron.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called it a “wrapper” that Brussels, Paris and other EU representatives were attempting to “sell” to Armenia during the election period.

The European Union’s formula is simple and banal. Strangely, nobody seems to understand it: squeeze everything possible out of Armenia in order to use it for their own interests, including Russophobic and anti-Russian purposes, while giving nothing in return except PR campaigns,” Zakharova said.

According to her, with the approval of the Armenian leadership, the country is increasingly being “drawn into alien standards and mechanisms”. She argued that this was not about European culture or civilisation, but about “aggressive Euro-Atlantic approaches”.

Anger over Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit

Maria Zakharova focused in particular on Zelensky’s remarks about possible drone strikes on Red Square. Speaking at the opening of the 8th European Political Community summit, the Ukrainian president said Moscow had decided to hold this year’s Victory Day parade without military hardware because Russia feared drone attacks.

Russian officials argued that Armenia had violated its allied obligations by taking steps against Russia. According to Zakharova, a country Moscow once regarded as a friend had provided a platform to the “leader of the neo-Nazi Kyiv regime”.

Zelensky took advantage of this incomprehensible hospitality from the Armenian hosts to try to pull himself out of political oblivion and once again voice his tired anti-Russian attacks,” she said.

Zakharova ultimately concluded that Zelensky’s visit demonstrated the kind of future the EU was preparing for Armenia.

Personally, I think it is wonderful that Zelenskyy visited Yerevan these days. Let Armenian citizens see who Brussels considers the symbol of its successful policy. Ordinary Armenians will not receive direct benefits from possible EU financial assistance. Even if such assistance appears in the form of loans, ordinary people in Armenia will never see that money. As a result of this reckless course, Armenian citizens will end up working to serve Brussels’ interests, repay loan interest and effectively pay this Euro-Atlantic tribute out of their own pockets.

Armenian ambassador summoned to Russia’s Foreign Ministry

The day before, Gurgen Arsenyan, Armenia’s ambassador to Russia, was summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry, where he met Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin.

The head of the diplomatic mission was informed of the categorical unacceptability of providing, during recent EU-sponsored events in Armenia, a ‘platform’ to the leader of the Kyiv neo-Nazi regime, V. Zelenskyy, for making terrorist threats against Russia. It was stressed that Moscow feels justified outrage in this regard and considers the absence of a proper negative assessment from official Yerevan of such outrageous behaviour by the aforementioned visitor inconsistent with the partnership nature of Russian-Armenian relations,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The Armenian ambassador promised to report the issues raised by the Russian side to Yerevan.

Zatulin says Pashinyan ‘unconditional enemy of Russia’

According to Konstantin Zatulin, deputy chairman of the Russian State Duma committee on CIS affairs, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is an “unconditional enemy of Russia” who concealed his true intentions for a long time.

We allowed ourselves to be lulled by hopes that everything would somehow work out and that he had nowhere else to go. But he used us. Before becoming prime minister, he never hid his views. He wrote that Armenia should get rid of everything from the past, get rid of Russia, leave the CSTO, leave the Eurasian Economic Union and remove our base from Gyumri. It was simply a failure of judgement on our part to think that once he came to power, he would suddenly switch completely to our side or forget his convictions,” Zatulin said in an interview with NSN.

According to Zatulin, Pashinyan “dropped the masks” in 2022 because Russia entered into confrontation with the West — “the place he aspires to”.

And he began implementing this course ever more aggressively, broadly and on a larger scale,” Zatulin argued.

He believes that Pashinyan’s team is dragging the peoples of Russia and Armenia into conflict through its actions, with the result that “relations will suffer not only at the political level”.

“It is strange when they describe Armenia’s current security system — meaning membership in the CSTO — as reliable. We have seen this ‘reliability’, and they also know that we long ago understood it is not reliable.

A reliable system is one that protects us when we are threatened or when war is waged against us on our borders — not when we are told: ‘We do not know where your borders are, so we cannot help you.’ How is that reliable?”

Khurshudyan was referring to Armenia’s appeals to Russia and its CSTO allies in 2021-2022, when Azerbaijani forces advanced into sovereign Armenian territory.

“Economic ties are unreliable as well, because Russia has always used them to pressure Armenia over one issue or another. Anything Russia dislikes — even if it has nothing to do with foreign policy — can lead to the disruption of these economic, supposedly reliable ties. This applies, for example, to the Lars crossing routes. And this is then presented under the guise of bans on certain imports over alleged sanitary or Eurasian Economic Union technical violations.

So if these ties are unreliable, why should we not search for genuinely reliable allies and partnerships in both the economic and security spheres?

It is obvious why they call for this. They want us to remain dependent on Russia, so it can continue to ‘sell off’ our interests cheaply to Turkey, Azerbaijan or anyone else. We must break out of this trap.

And now Armenia is on the right path. It is inevitable that there may be difficulties during this transition, including some artificially created by Russia. But we have to go through this process.

Russia has its own representative here. That is Russian businessman Samvel Karapetyan, whom Moscow is allegedly ready to install as a governor. Former president Robert Kocharyan is the backup option.

But Karapetyan, as a citizen of two other countries, cannot become either an MP or prime minister. So their backup option is more realistic. However, we will allow neither one nor the other. Otherwise, it would mean the end of Armenia’s sovereignty, independence and security.

Russia threatens everyone with everything. Threats have become the main method of Russian foreign policy. But the maximum it is capable of is creating economic difficulties. Those difficulties are manageable — especially if our European partners support us.

As for the scenario of the ‘Ukrainisation’ of Armenia, that would be even more difficult for Russia — opening a new front, particularly against a country with which it does not even share a border.

I think the Armenian authorities have calculated all of this. And the political support being provided by Europe and the United States clearly serves as a preventive factor against such a scenario.”

A Fresno woman recalls her father, an Armenian genocide survivor | Opinion

Fresno Bee, CA
May 9 2026
Pauline Sahakian

A Fresno woman recalls her father, an Armenian genocide survivor | Opinion

Paul Keurejian upon his arrival to the United States.

 (Pauline Sahakian)

Throughout my childhood, living in the Armenian community of Fresno, I grew up in the silent shadow of the 1915 genocide, the systematic destruction and annihilation of an estimated 1.5 million Armenian Christians living in the Ottoman Empire.

Somehow, my 27-year-old father, Paul, and his uncle, Hampartzoom, who was 25, escaped into the desert and were found by the American Red Cross. That humanitarian organization played a major role in saving refugees.

Though I knew of the Armenian genocide, it was never openly discussed in my home.

My father’s story

My father and my maternal grandparents were born in Kharpert, (also known as Harpoot), a city built on a rocky hilltop with a castle overlooking the plains below. Historically, it was part of the Ottoman Empire, positioned near the Euphrates and Murat rivers. Once heavily inhabited by Armenians, this ancient city dates back to 2000 BC and served as a center for Armenian culture in the region. Today, the area is considered a historic district in modern-day Turkey.

Some Armenian refugees from Kharpert escaped into the mountains, as my father and his uncle did. They found their way to Marseilles, and with the help of the Red Cross, boarded a ship to Ellis Island.

My father and Uncle Hampartzoom settled first in Detroit. My father learned English and worked as a grocery store butcher. After a few years, he and his uncle reconnected with relatives in Fresno. They decided to relocate here, forming a tribe of extended family for us Armenian-American kids.

By 1930, my father had found work as a butcher at Hanoian’s Market in Fresno’s “Armenian town” on Railroad Avenue. There, he met my mother, Melania, who shopped weekly with her parents. A match was made, and they married in 1940, moved to a farm in Kerman and had me and my two siblings.

The American Dream was a reality, and my father and his uncle were forever grateful for the opportunities their new life provided. For my father, that dream was marrying, buying a vineyard and raising a family.

Armenians in Fresno

Today, recent figures suggest that approximately 30,000 residents in Fresno are of Armenian descent — the second, third and even fourth generation of genocide survivors, making it one of the most significant Armenian communities in the United States.

Though my father never talked about the horrors he witnessed, other Armenians shared accounts of young men chased by Turks on horseback with sabers drawn and struck down as they fled. I also heard stories of pregnant women killed with soldiers’ swords and of Turkish soldiers herding women and children into an Armenian church — including my father’s mother — locking the doors and setting it on fire.

Armenian families were also forced to march into the desert, dying from starvation, some choosing suicide. The primary destination of these death marches was Deir ez-Zor, a city in the heart of the Syrian Desert. It served as the central hub for concentration and annihilation camps, and where deportees were left to die of starvation, dehydration and disease.

No discussion of the past

No one in my family talked about the past, about living in the “old country.” It was as if their lives began when they arrived in America and earned their citizenship, something my father was most proud of and which I became aware of when he helped me study for my eighth-grade Constitution test.

My father and uncle built a new community of near and distant relatives, though I’ll never know whether we were bound by blood or by the overwhelming grief born of the mass killings of 1915–1916 and the broader campaign of persecution and violence that continued through 1923.

Being the child of a survivor — of one who escaped but forever felt the loss of his mother, father, brothers and sisters — I carry his sadness with me to this day.

Now retired, Pauline Sahakian taught AP English at Clovis and Buchanan high schools as well as composition and teacher education at Fresno State. She was the founding director of the UC Merced Writing Project.

https://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/readers-opinion/article315631402.html

https://www.aol.com/news/fresno-woman-recalls-her-father-130000055.html 

Not a Word About Shushi: Nikol Pashinyan’s Message

News.am, Armenia
May 9 2026

Today marks the victory of the Soviet Union and Western allies in World War II, which is celebrated in our country as the Holiday of Victory and Peace. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan wrote about this on his Facebook page, noting that we are celebrating May 9, 2026, under the conditions of peace established between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

“In the Second World War, civilized humanity said no to fascism. The Armenian people made a visible contribution to this cause, with more than half a million representatives fighting against fascism in the Soviet as well as Western Allied armies and underground resistance groups. This struggle and contribution have been highly appreciated in a number of countries.

We meet on the 81st anniversary of the victory over fascism in difficult international conditions. We are obliged not to forget the disasters that fascism brought to humanity and to condemn this phenomenon in all its manifestations. Today, we bow our heads before all those martyrs who gave their lives to save humanity from fascism. Today, we also pay tribute to all the countries and people who fought against fascism.

Dear people, dear citizens of the Republic of Armenia, we celebrate May 9, 2026, under the conditions of peace established between Armenia and Azerbaijan. For two years now, we have had neither casualties nor wounded as a result of Armenia-Azerbaijan gunfire; our border settlements live in an environment free from shootings. This is the most important achievement that we have had for the first time since the independence of our country.

Today, our task is to take proper care of the achieved peace in order to make it stronger and more reliable every day. The established peace is a historical opportunity for our country to bring it to a previously unseen level of security, prosperity, and development.

Today, we are confidently walking that path, and a developed, free, safe, prosperous, and democratic Republic of Armenia is the greatest tribute to the memory of all the martyrs of our people of all times, and the service that we must provide to our citizens and generations. We will pay our tribute; we will provide our service.

Glory to the martyrs and long live the Republic of Armenia,” the message reads.

Is Armenia finally breaking with Russia? [COMMENTARY]

Polskie Radio, Poland
May 9 2026
 08.05.2026 23:30

Never before have so many senior Western politicians visited a Caucasus capital at the same time.

The first-ever EU-Armenia summit in Yerevan on May 4-5 coincided with the eighth summit of the European Political Community (EPC), meaning the gathering drew not only EU officials but also leaders from across Europe—unlike last year’s EU-Central Asia summit in Samarkand.

Also attending were NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya.

The show of presence angered Moscow.

When Nikol Pashinyan, already known for his pro-Western views, came to power in Armenia eight years ago in a peaceful revolution, some argued it had been tacitly agreed with Moscow. That narrative persists.

In its current form, it holds that Armenia’s apparent pivot to the West is, at best, an attempt to diversify Yerevan’s foreign policy, and at worst a smokescreen concealing the prime minister’s real aim: staying in power while preserving the status quo with Russia.

As evidence, critics note that Pashinyan has not—at least publicly—considered expelling the Russian military base in Gyumri in the north of the country.

But why would he, others counter, if doing so risked provoking even greater Kremlin anger without firm guarantees from other global players?

There is much to suggest that this narrative is encouraged by Moscow itself, surprised by the independence shown by its formal ally.

Armenia remains, de jure, a member of Russian-led post-Soviet structures, including the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), but in practice has stepped back from participation and funding.

The argument appears aimed at persuading Western partners that Pashinyan is not worth backing—that he remains, ultimately, “Moscow’s man”—and at discouraging pro-European Armenian voters from supporting his Civil Contract party.

Yet actions tell a different story.

Pashinyan has for years pursued a pro-European course with notable consistency. Its contours became clear after Armenia’s defeat in the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war, and especially after Azerbaijan’s escalation in September 2022, when attacks on Armenian territory drew no response from either Russia or the CSTO despite formal alliance commitments.

A series of milestones underscores this shift.

On April 5, 2024, a summit in Brussels between Armenia, the EU and the United States pledged support for reforms and economic development, including financial assistance.

On March 26, 2025, Armenia’s parliament passed a law launching the process of EU accession.

On December 10, 2025, a new EU-Armenia partnership agenda was adopted, following a strategic partnership agreement with the United States signed earlier that year.

For anyone still in doubt, recent summits should make clear that Armenia’s Western turn is serious.

Moscow’s reaction has been sharp. Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov accused Yerevan of trying to “sit on two chairs,” warning it was damaging bilateral relations.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Armenia’s course would “sooner or later lead to its irreversible involvement in Brussels’ anti-Russian line,” with political and economic consequences.

Armenia’s ambassador was also summoned to the Russian foreign ministry following remarks by Zelensky in Yerevan that were critical of Russia.

Whether Pashinyan’s pro-Western pivot succeeds will become clearer in the short term after parliamentary elections on June 7, when Armenians will either back his party or vote against it.

The strategic outcome, however, may take years—or even decades—to determine.

Wojciech Górecki

The author is an analyst at the Warsaw-based Centre for Eastern Studies (OSW).

What six months in Armenia revealed to this photography duo

National Geographic
May 9 2026

What six months in Armenia revealed to this photography duo

In this landlocked country in the South Caucasus, the culinary culture and winemaking traditions are rooted in the land and shaped by a millennia-old history.


Story and photographs by Bernd Jungbauer and Jessica Jungbauer
Published May 9, 2026

Armenia’s dining culture is shaped by its agricultural heritage of high-altitude farming.


Armenia’s proud national identity is vividly reflected in its cuisine. Lavash, a thin flatbread included on Unesco’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list, is traditionally made by women and baked in a clay oven.

Gata is another popular bread; it’s sold sweet and decorated outside medieval Geghard Monastery in Kotayk province.

Fresh herbs such as tarragon feature heavily in Armenian dishes, alongside apricots, pomegranates and walnuts.

The intense flavours of the seasonal produce are shaped by the country’s high-altitude landscape, which bursts into vibrant shades of green during summer.

Armenia became the first nation to adopt Christianity as its state religion in 301 CE, but cross-cultural influences are visible in landmarks such as the 18th-century Blue Mosque in Yerevan.

The country’s winemaking has ancient roots, too, dating back over 6,000 years, with the world’s oldest winery found in Areni province.

Armenia’s first artisan cheese producer, Mikayelyan Family Farm, wraps cow’s cheese in vine leaves, celebrating the country’s connection to viticulture.

Restaurants also blend tradition with innovation: fettuccine-like arishta noodles are still beaten by hand at Tsaghkunk Restaurant & Glkhatun.

Known for their generous hospitality, Armenians typically raise a toast to family, friends and good health when sharing a meal. And, while the country respects tradition — as symbolised by the Mother Armenia monument (right) overlooking Yerevan, which represents peace, unity and strength — this isn’t a place defined by its past.

A new generation of chefs, producers and winemakers is honouring Armenia’s heritage while bringing it into the future — from modern coffeeshops, like Afrolab in Yerevan, to cultural institutions such as the Wine History Museum of Armenia in Sasunik village.
See all the photos at https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/what-six-months-in-armenia-revealed-to-this-photography-duo


Verelq: PAP members paid tribute to the Great Patriotic War

On the instructions of the chairman of the “Prosperous Armenia” party, Gagik Tsarukyan, today in more than 100 settlements of the Republic of Armenia, the representatives of the party paid tribute to the memory of the heroes who died for the defense of the homeland in the Great Patriotic War and Artsakh.

Many events were organized in accordance with the Council of the Day, in which the veterans of the Great Patriotic War also took part. Wreaths were laid and flowers were bowed in the large and small communities of all marzes of the republic in memory of the fallen and victorious heroes.

The purpose of the initiative implemented on the instructions of Gagik Tsarukyan was to emphasize once again the importance of preserving historical memory, respect for heroes and patriotic upbringing of the young generation. Such events are not only a tribute to our heroes, but also an important message to future generations so that the value of peace and the price of victory are never forgotten.

Verelq: And who is Nicole, what merit does she have to evaluate the Artsakh movement?

And who is Nicole, what are her values, what is her merit before the state and the motherland, to evaluate the Artsakh movement, was it right, was it wrong, what is Artsakh… and so on… and so on.

Why do you get under his agenda, legitimize it, why do you make his agency theses an agenda for discussion?

There is nothing to add. he knows the media agenda very well, he sets the agenda for you, he follows the instructions of his superiors and he gets things done.

Every time, again and again.


Political scientist Alen Ghevondyan




Armenpress: Developed, secure, democratic Armenia is the greatest tribute to

Armenia10:35, 9 May 2026
Read the article in: العربيةFrançaisՀայերենRussian

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan released a statement on May 9, Victory and Peace Day, saying that Armenians made a significant contribution to the fight against fascism during World War II and stressing the importance of condemning fascism in all its manifestations.

In his message, Pashinyan stated that Armenia is celebrating May 9, 2026, under conditions of peace established between Armenia and Azerbaijan. He noted that for the past two years, there have been neither casualties nor injuries resulting from Armenia-Azerbaijan gunfire.

Below is the full statement published by the Prime Minister’s Office.

“Dear people, dear citizens of the Republic of Armenia,

Today marks the Day of Victory of the Soviet Union and the Western Allies in World War II, which is celebrated in our country as Victory and Peace Day.

In World War II, civilized humanity said no to fascism. The Armenian people made a significant contribution to this struggle, with more than half a million Armenians fighting against fascism in the Soviet and Western Allied armies, as well as in underground resistance groups. That struggle and contribution have been highly appreciated in many countries.

We are celebrating the 81st anniversary of the victory over fascism under difficult international conditions. We are obliged not to forget the disasters fascism brought upon humanity and to condemn this phenomenon in all its manifestations.

Today we bow our heads before all the martyrs who gave their lives to save humanity from fascism. We also pay tribute to all the countries and peoples who fought against fascism.

Dear people, dear citizens of the Republic of Armenia,

We celebrate May 9, 2026, under the conditions of peace established between Armenia and Azerbaijan. For two years now, there have been neither casualties nor injuries resulting from Armenia-Azerbaijan gunfire. Our border settlements live in an environment free from shootings. This is the most important achievement our country has recorded for the first time since independence.

Our task today is to properly safeguard the peace we have achieved and make it stronger and more reliable every day. The established peace is a historic opportunity for our country to reach an unprecedented level of security, prosperity and development.

Today we are confidently moving along that path, and a developed, free, secure, prosperous and democratic Republic of Armenia is the greatest tribute to the memory of all the martyrs of our people throughout history, as well as the service we must provide to our citizens and future generations.

We will pay that tribute, we will provide that service.

Glory to the martyrs, and long live the Republic of Armenia.”

Read the article in: العربيةFrançaisՀայերենRussian

Published by Armenpress, original at 

Armenian Parliament Speaker sends congratulatory message on Victory and Peace

Armenia11:31, 9 May 2026
Read the article in: ArmenianRussian:

Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia Alen Simonyan sent a congratulatory message on the occasion of Victory and Peace Day.

The message, published by the Parliament’s press service, reads:

“May 9 is a day of remembrance, respect, and peace. Today, we remember and pay tribute to those who have sacrificed their lives in the fight against fascism. The Armenian people also made a significant contribution and a dignified participation in that struggle: tens of thousands of Armenians fought on different fronts and as part of the Allied Forces for the peaceful future and freedom of humanity.

Today, in a complex and unstable geopolitical environment, it is more important than ever to preserve peace, strengthen statehood, and continue building a secure, democratic, and stable Armenia. Although the peace established between Armenia and Azerbaijan is now a reality, it also requires care and attention.

Congratulating on Victory and Peace Day, I wish the Republic of Armenia peace and prosperity, so that from now on we’ll speak about wars only in the context of the past and history.

Glory to martyrs!”

Read the article in: ArmenianRussian:

Published by Armenpress, original at