Asbarez: Keeping the Painting on the Easel

Reflections on Life, Career, and the Art of Continually Becoming

BY HRATCH TCHILINGIRIAN

Life is not a finished painting hung upon the wall to be admired as a static artifact of who we are. It is not something we frame and declare, “Here it is; this is my life.” To view life this way is to deny its very essence. Life is fluid, dynamic, and ever-changing—a living work of art that evolves with every passing moment. This is also true for professional life.

Imagine instead that your life is a painting that remains on the easel, perpetually unfinished. Each day, you approach it with fresh eyes, a brush in hand, ready to add new strokes of color, refine its details, or sometimes paint over entire sections to create something entirely new. This metaphor has helped me see life as a process—a canvas upon which we continuously create and recreate ourselves.
Embracing Imperfection

Experience in life—and in art—teaches us that perfection is not the goal. A masterpiece is rarely the result of flawless execution. Instead, it is born from the artist’s willingness to experiment, to make mistakes, and to embrace the unexpected. The same is true of living a fulfilling life. Each misstep, each moment of uncertainty, is not a failure but a brushstroke—a necessary part of the larger composition.

When we view life as an ongoing painting, we learn to accept imperfection as part of the journey. We begin to understand that what may seem like an error today can become the foundation for transformation tomorrow. The layers of paint—some vibrant, others muted; some chaotic, others deliberate—tell the story of who we are and who we are becoming.

The Courage to Revisit the Canvas
To keep our life’s painting on the easel requires courage. It means revisiting the canvas often, even when we are unsure of what to add or afraid of what we might see. I have often returned to my own canvas after feeling stuck or disappointed, unsure whether to add a new color or scrape away what no longer felt true.

One must be willing to ask oneself: What needs to change? What can I improve? What do I want this painting to say about me?

As we grow and evolve, regardless of age, new experiences, relationships, and insights become the colors on our palette. Sometimes life offers bright and joyful hues—moments of love, success, and celebration that brighten the canvas. At other times, it brings darker shades—grief, loss, and struggle that add depth and contrast to the painting. Both are essential. Without darkness, light has no context; without contrast, the painting lacks dimension.

An Endless Work in Progress
I value the moments when I stand before my “unfinished painting”—to look, think, reflect, and discover a new color. The beauty of life is that it is never truly finished. We continue adding to the canvas until the very end. The desire to leave behind a legacy of color and texture for others to admire and draw inspiration from can become one of life’s pleasant motivations.

Perhaps the greatest gift of all is the knowledge that our painting, though uniquely ours, is part of a larger gallery—a shared human experience that connects us to one another.

So, I have learned to be comfortable keeping my life’s painting on the easel and returning to it often. Approach your own painting in progress with fresh inspiration from daily living, courage, and an open heart. Remember that the most extraordinary works of art are not those that are perfect, but those that are alive with the spirit of their creator.

Hratch Tchilingirian is a sociologist, author and innovation executive based in  London and Los Angeles.




We are going to give money to those who, maybe, will fight against us tomorrow.

June: 4, 2026

What are we going to give money to those who, perhaps, will fight against us tomorrow? Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk announced this to Interfax.

Overchuk noted that Russia will not provide assistance to Yerevan within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union, as well as within the framework of bilateral agreements, if that country decides to continue rapprochement with the European Union. Further decisions will depend, among other things, on the results of the upcoming elections in Armenia.

“It is necessary to see who will win and then only take measures and decide. Because if the pro-Western forces win, it means that Armenia is moving towards the European Union. And then it will be necessary to take appropriate measures,” he said.

“We cannot provide financial support to a country that sees its future in the European Union, which is preparing for war against Russia. Why should we provide support to such a country? What are we going to give money to those who, perhaps, will go to war against us tomorrow?’ Overchuk emphasized.

The Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation reminded that the Russian Federation still maintains its commitments to Armenia within the EAEU framework, but they can be revised if the country decides to move towards the European Union.

“However, we always stand by the right, by the law. We have obligations within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union. You see, the leaders formulated their statement very carefully. There they talk about studying the possibility of suspending Armenia’s membership in EAEU.

We do not want Armenia to leave the EAEU. But we say: if you are leading your people to the European Union, which today is hostile to Russia, is hostile to Belarus, which is preparing to go to war with us, then why should we support you in the face of the absence of customs duties, in the face of open markets, low energy prices, free movement of labor, lack of license fees, medical insurance?

Will Armenia choose a European future on 7 June?

LSE European Politics, UK
June 3 2026

Will Armenia choose a European future on 7 June?

Taras Kuzio

Armenia will hold parliamentary elections on 7 June. Taras Kuzio writes the vote will determine whether the country can finalise a historic peace process with Azerbaijan and successfully reorient itself away from Russia towards Europe.

Speaking to the European Parliament in March, Armenia’s Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinyan, said the Armenian elections to be held on 7 June “must make peace irreversible, and then peace will make democracy irreversible”.

Peace in the South Caucasus has been a long time coming. As the Soviet Union was disintegrating, Armenian nationalists with the support of the Soviet and (after 1991) Russian army and security services defeated Azerbaijan and occupied a fifth of its territory situated around the former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast.

This occupation was frozen until 2016 (briefly) and 2020, when Azerbaijan defeated Armenia in a war lasting 44 days. Over the next three years, Russian “peacekeepers” proved to be a failure for both sides and were sidelined when Azerbaijan retook the last remaining occupied territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.

The end of the conflict and the withdrawal of Russia’s “peacekeepers” opened the door to peace talks. US President Donald Trump came late to the process but typically claimed credit for initiating it, with Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signing a joint declaration in Washington D.C. in August 2025.

Against this backdrop, the election on 7 June will be a vital moment in determining the outcome of the peace process and could also set the stage for a potential path to future European integration for Armenia.

Pashinyan’s gamble

Türkiye, which closed its border with Armenia in the early 1990s, has supported the peace process. Azerbaijan’s President, Ilham Aliyev, has also said his country “has no intention of destroying Armenia or depriving it of its independence”.

In contrast, Russia and its allies in Armenia – the old guard that was in power prior to the 2018 Velvet Revolution and the Armenian Apostolic Church – are against the peace process. They argue Yerevan should not relinquish control over so-called “historic lands”. In his speech to the European Parliament, Pashinyan made reference to this by citing “certain clergy and political opposition forces” seeking to undermine peace efforts.

Pashinyan is sticking his neck out in the current election campaign by confronting these forces. In a video in May, Pashinyan asked with reference to Nagorno-Karabakh, “How was that land ours? How was it ours? Please explain how it was ours?”, adding that it had been a “fatal mistake” to occupy Karabakh and large swathes of Azerbaijani territory. Whether this approach succeeds or not will determine the country’s future trajectory.

Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan

Since the disintegration of the USSR, the Kremlin has always adopted a Janus-faced approach to its neighbours. On the one hand, Russia officially upholds the territorial integrity of states. But on the other, the Kremlin has preferred to keep conflicts frozen, as in Georgia and Moldova, to divide and rule those affected. In the case of Ukraine, Russia has annexed territory.

Russia welcomed the unrecognised separatist leaders of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, two occupied regions of Georgia, to the recent 9 May Victory Day events in Moscow. But most former states have drifted away from Russia, underlined by the fact that only three former Soviet states – Belarus, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan – attended the Victory Day events.

Azerbaijan’s relations with Russia have been cool since Russia shot down Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8243 in December 2024. The incident was followed by months of disinformation and obfuscation, laying the blame on Ukraine, the British and the West more generally, and calling it an anti-Russian provocation. After nearly a year, the Kremlin finally agreed to pay compensation to the families of the passengers.

Meanwhile Vladimir Putin has always been suspicious of Pashinyan because he came to power in what the Kremlin believes was a western-orchestrated democratic revolution in 2018. The appointment of Russian-Armenian oligarch Ruben Vardanyan as State Minister of the Republic of Artsakh (Karabakh) in 2022 gave Russia a potential challenger to Pashinyan.

However, Vardanyan was detained in 2023 by Azerbaijan while trying to cross into Armenia and later sentenced to 20 years in prison. It is noticeable that Pashinyan has not demanded the release of Vardanyan, presumably because it is convenient for him as it removes him from the domestic political process.

Armenia and European integration

If Vardanyan’s arrest was the first defeat for the Kremlin’s strategy in the South Caucasus, the second has been Pashinyan’s re-orientation of Armenia away from Russia’s sphere of influence to Europe.

Over a decade ago, the Kremlin successfully pressured Armenia’s pro-Russian leaders to reject an EU Association Agreement and instead join the Eurasian Economic Union. Now, there is a real prospect of Armenia exiting the Eurasian Economic Union and moving closer to the EU. This has been made more likely by Ukraine’s success on the battlefield, as well as Russia’s deteriorating economic situation and declining enthusiasm among Russian citizens for continuing the war.

After Pashinyan snubbed the opportunity to attend the 9 May Victory Day events, Putin stated that Armenia should hold a referendum to settle the question of its membership of the Eurasian Economic Union and its aspirations to join the EU. At the same time, Putin noted that the conflict with Ukraine began “with Ukraine’s attempt to join the EU”.

Pashinyan replied to Putin that Yerevan is “not currently planning to put this to a referendum”, which “will only take place when there is an objective necessity”. Armenia is a long way from EU membership and therefore there is currently no need for a referendum.

Nevertheless, the historic European Political Community (EPC) conference and EU-Armenia summit held in Yerevan in May reflected Pashinyan’s support for turning Armenia away from Russia towards Europe. This will ultimately hinge on the success of the peace process with Azerbaijan.

From Russia’s perspective, much will depend on the war in Ukraine. Unlike Georgia and Ukraine, Armenia is not seeking to join NATO, which would be more of a red flag for Russia. Meanwhile, Azerbaijan has not expressed interest in joining the EU, NATO or the Eurasian Economic Union. Instead, Azerbaijan is an active member of the Organisation of Turkic States and the Non-Aligned Movement.

France, with the second largest Armenian diaspora after the US, has the greatest stake in Armenia’s European re-orientation. During the EPC summit, French President Emmanuel Macron strongly supported Armenia’s European choice.

The stakes are therefore high for the 7 June elections, with Armenian voters being given the option of moving to Europe with Pashinyan or returning to Russia’s embrace with the old corrupt leaders ousted by the Velvet Revolution. The results will no doubt be watched keenly in both Moscow and Brussels.


Note: This article gives the views of the author, not the position of LSE European Politics or the London School of Economics.


Pashinyan Receives Western Endorsements Ahead of Parliamentary Elections

Jamestown Foundation
June 3 2026

Pashinyan Receives Western Endorsements Ahead of Parliamentary Elections

06.03.2026

Vasif Huseynov

Pashinyan Receives Western Endorsements Ahead of Parliamentary Elections

Executive Summary:

  • U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Yerevan on May 26, where he signed a strategic partnership charter, a transit corridor framework, and a critical minerals accord. Two days later, U.S. President Donald Trump publicly endorsed Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan ahead of the June 7 parliamentary elections.
  • Rubio’s visit and Washington’s endorsement followed the first EU–Armenia summit on May 4–5. Moscow responded with a range of threats, warnings of a “Ukrainian scenario,” and an information campaign ranked second only to Russia’s 2025 operation in Moldova.
  • The convergence of external interventions has transformed a domestic vote into a contest over Armenia’s geopolitical orientation, closely echoing the dynamics observed during Moldova’s recent elections.

On May 26, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio made a brief stopover at Yerevan’s Zvartnots International Airport to meet with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan (U.S. Department of State, May 26). The visit lasted barely an hour, but it produced three signed documents and an unambiguous political signal. Rubio and Mirzoyan concluded a Charter on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, a framework agreement on the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), and a memorandum on securing the supply of critical minerals and rare earths (U.S. Department of State; Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, May 26). Standing alongside his Armenian counterpart, Rubio commended the government in Yerevan for “blazing a trail toward a brighter and more independent future” (Armenpress.am, May 26). The timing of the visit, less than two weeks before Armenia’s parliamentary elections, lent these agreements a pronounced electoral subtext.

The agreements carry weight beyond their symbolism. TRIPP, the roughly 43-kilometer (27-mile) road-and-rail corridor intended to connect mainland Azerbaijan with its Nakhchivan exclave via Armenia’s Syunik province, constitutes the centerpiece of the peace framework that U.S. President Donald Trump brokered between Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Washington in August 2025 (see EDM, August 12, 2025). The Charter on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership subsumes four memoranda previously concluded between Trump and Pashinyan on energy security, artificial intelligence and semiconductor innovation, a peace capacity-building partnership, and TRIPP. It explicitly affirms Washington’s support of both Armenia and Azerbaijan proceeding to sign and ratify the initialed peace agreement, with border delimitation based on the 1991 Alma-Ata Declaration (Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, May 26). The accompanying critical minerals memorandum advances Washington’s priority of diversifying rare-earth supply chains away from the People’s Republic of China (PRC).

Washington’s support to Pashinyan escalated further two days later. In a Truth Social post on May 28, Trump declared his “complete and total endorsement” of Pashinyan for re-election, praising him as a friend and leader who shares his vision of peace and prosperity for the South Caucasus, crediting Rubio’s visit with advancing important agreements, and anticipating that the two countries would soon break ground on TRIPP (Armenpress.am, May 28). He claimed that the TRIPP will grant U.S. energy companies access from Central Asia to the United States (Euronews, May 28).

These gestures form part of a wider pattern of Western support for Pashinyan’s government in the run-up to the vote. On May 5, Yerevan hosted the first-ever EU–Armenia summit, at which European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa signed a connectivity partnership, reaffirmed 2.5 billion euro ($2.7 billion) in investment under the Global Gateway strategy, and pledged to assist Yerevan in countering Russian disinformation ahead of the June elections (Prime Minister of Armenia, May 5; see EDM, May 11). French President Emmanuel Macron, attending the European Political Community summit, signed a bilateral strategic partnership and endorsed Pashinyan, framing his support as a “decision to defend Europe” and drawing an explicit parallel to his 2024 backing of Moldovan President Maia Sandu (Armenpress, May 4). Pashinyan’s Civil Contract party, having frozen Armenia’s membership in the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), has placed European integration at the center of its campaign (see EDM, August 5, 2024).

Moscow’s response has combined direct coercion with influence operations. One day before Rubio’s arrival, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned that Armenia could forfeit an “attractive and preferential price” for natural gas should it turn away from Moscow (Armenpress.am, May 25). Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, now deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council, accused Pashinyan of steering the country down “the path of Bandera Ukraine,” and Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova had earlier offered to dispatch a Russian rapid-response electoral support contingent to Armenia and reminded Yerevan of its obligations as a member of the Commonwealth of Independent States (Sputnik Armenia, March 4; 1newz.az, May 25). These interventions rest on substantial leverage, as Russia retains considerable influence over the Armenian economy through energy, trade, and ties to the Eurasian Economic Union.

Rubio’s visit sharpened the domestic fault line over the peace process with Azerbaijan. Former Armenian President and Hayastan bloc premier candidate Robert Kocharyan, heading the principal Russia-aligned opposition alliance, declared that the visit had “only one goal—to cause pain to Russia,” dismissed it as contrary to Armenian national interests, and characterized it as an instrument of Pashinyan’s election campaign (News.am, May 25). Kocharyan described the existing Armenia–Azerbaijan accord not as a genuine peace treaty but as a preliminary initialed document lacking the necessary guarantor architecture, and insisted that any durable settlement must be underwritten by the United States, the PRC, and Russia jointly, backed by a UN Security Council statement with defined consequences for violations (News.am, May 25).

The informational component of the Russian effort has been equally extensive. Researchers attribute a large-scale campaign, part of the artificial intelligence-driven “Matryoshka” operation, to pro-Kremlin groups including Storm-1516 and the Foundation to Battle Injustice, networks previously active in the United States, Germany, France, and Moldova (European Union External Action, March 2026). Analysts counted 343 fabricated videos by early May, ranking the operation second only to the campaign conducted during Moldova’s 2025 elections (Euronews, May 20). The narratives combine allegations that Pashinyan is surrendering national interests to Azerbaijan and Türkiye with personal fabrications, among them claims that the prime minister purchased a multimillion-euro residence in France.

For all external mobilization, the most probable outcome remains continuity. Polling depicts an unpopular prime minister who nonetheless leads most projections, largely because the opposition remains fragmented and lacks a credible unifying alternative (Eurasianet, May 26). The peace agreement with Azerbaijan, which anchors Pashinyan’s Western orientation, divides Armenian society almost evenly. Overt Russian economic pressure, moreover, risks proving counterproductive, reinforcing the prime minister’s argument that Armenia must diversify away from its dependence on Moscow.

While the June 7 vote is formally a domestic contest, the intensity of foreign involvement has rendered it, in effect, a referendum on Armenia’s geopolitical orientation. The outcome of the elections will also have major implications for the future of the Armenia–Azerbaijan peace process. A renewed mandate for Pashinyan would likely preserve the current momentum toward signing and ratifying the peace agreement and implementing connectivity projects such as TRIPP. A stronger Russia-aligned opposition could complicate or delay the process by insisting on additional security guarantees and broader external involvement. In this sense, the parliamentary elections have evolved beyond a domestic political struggle into a decisive moment not only for Armenia’s foreign policy orientation, but also for the prospects of long-term stability and normalization in the South Caucasus.


The US CIA is playing games in Armenia right now… I called Spitakto

June: 4, 2026

The Americans and in particular the US Central Intelligence Agency (or agency), the CIA, are playing games in Armenia and the South Caucasus right now. He made such a remarkable statement an eminent American internationalist, Columbia University professor, international policy analyst Jeffrey Sachswith political scientist Glenn Diesen, professor at the University of Southeast Norway in the interview speaking on the subject of NATO expansion to Eastern Europe and the South Caucasus region.

During the interview, Geoffrey Sachs told about his second open letter to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, reminding that Germany bears a special responsibility for conflict resolution and security in Europe. Saks noted that now the situation is worse regarding the settlement of the conflict in Ukraine.

“To put it plainly, now the situation is worse than it was half a year ago. I wrote this letter because the situation is really worrying, not that I have any great hopes that they will listen to my words, but because all this is of serious concern, and to emphasize the main point of the letter, I am not talking about simply that diplomacy is the right way, I am talking about the fact that Germany bears a special responsibility, and before anyone jumps to conclusions, let me make it clear that I mean responsibility: since 1990. I am talking about specific events that are happening in Ukraine now,” the professor explained.

Jeffrey Sachs said that at the time of writing his first open letter, the situation around Ukraine was again very worrying, as belligerent rhetoric between the European Union countries and Russia was growing, causing the risk of a new escalation.

Read also

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  • The pre-election “gifts” of the West and TRIPP. Why are these the most geopolitical elections in Armenia?
  • Ankara’s silent carte blanche. Why does Erdogan support Pashinyan before the elections?

The renowned scientist emphasizes that Germany has a special responsibility for security in Europe, as the most powerful state in Europe and the country with the largest population. According to Sachs, after the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union, Germany has taken on serious historical commitments related to the problems the world is facing today.

He also referred to the events taking place in the Baltic airspace, the increase in tension between the Baltic states and Russia, in particular, the statements of the Baltic states about the possibility of striking Kaliningrad or becoming a springboard for drone attacks against Russia, noting that such behavior is simply unacceptable in the nuclear age. In this context, Jeffrey Sachs emphasizes the issue of finding an acceptable negotiator with Russia.

“This is incredibly irresponsible behavior. This completely ignores your life, mine and the lives of people all over the world. I place the main responsibility on Europe, which has shown no interest and no ability to conduct diplomacy, except to complain to Russia and the United States why we are not there, as if a union of 450 million people cannot come together and find someone who can negotiate with Russia,” said Jeffrey Sachs.

Returning to the issue of Germany’s responsibility, the professor noted that Germany fundamentally violated the terms of its reunification. He reminded that the Soviet Union, which occupied Germany together with the allied states as a result of the Second World War, approved the reunification of Germany on the condition that Germany and the entire West in general would not take advantage of that reunification in order to expand NATO to the East.

“Germany has gained an advantage over Russia since 1990, when reunification took place based on the principle of neutrality and NATO’s promise not to expand, but then again and again Germany broke not only that promise, but also many other commitments, so as Chancellor of Germany, Merz has an obligation to understand this and act before Europe is drawn into another war,” Sachs said.

Regarding NATO’s expansion to the East, Professor Jeffrey Sachs goes back to the years of the presidency of former US President George W. Bush, noting that back in 2008, at the Bucharest summit, the North Atlantic Alliance promised to expand at the expense of Ukraine and Georgia, and at that summit, George W. Bush actively promoted the idea, led by his team of neoconservatives led by Vice President Dick Cheney. by influence.

“Chancellor Merkel wrote about it in detail and noted that she understood very well that NATO’s promise to set deadlines for expansion into Ukraine is practically equivalent to declaring war on Russia. That’s how it will be accepted in Moscow, and he refused to support the idea on the first day of the summit, but then the Americans convinced him anyway, and on the second day, the intention to expand NATO was clearly announced. It is necessary to realize all the mistakes made and find a formula to end this war, which should be based on Ukraine’s neutrality. The West must understand this, otherwise there will be war in Europe… Germany and the United States lied [to Russia], and in my opinion, this is the main reason why tensions have increased for more than 30 years,” the professor said.

Jeffrey Sachs’s reference to the South Caucasus region and the mention of Armenia in the context of the topic of NATO expansion is even more remarkable. Jeffrey Sachs mentioned the events preceding the Russian-Ukrainian war in 2021. in December, when the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, according to his comments, made the last attempt to prevent a new escalation around Ukraine.

According to Jeffrey Sachs, in the draft of the agreement proposed by Putin, it was unequivocally fundamental and correct that the United States declared at that time that NATO would no longer expand to Ukraine, and even more so to the South Caucasus region, which, according to the professor, is still in the field of interests of the American Central Intelligence Agency (in Armenia it is better known as the CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) or in Russian as “ЦРУ” in its abbreviation) and the United States.

“The United States should have announced at that time that NATO will no longer expand to Ukraine, especially to the South Caucasus region, which, by the way, remains in the field of interests of the CIA and the United States. Right now, as we speak, they are playing their games in Armenia, they are playing games in the South Caucasus, but let me not digress, – Saks noted and continued, – I called the White House and spoke with Jake Sullivan, the president’s national security advisor. It was perhaps the most surreal conversation imaginable. We talked for a whole hour, in detail, in fact. I said: “Jake, agree to the deal, say that NATO will not expand.” And he answered: “Jeff, NATO is not going to expand into Ukraine.”

Jeffrey Sachs said that according to the adviser of the previous US president Joe Biden, the position of the United States was that NATO is not going to expand to Ukraine, but they cannot say this publicly. Sullivan also assured that there will be no war, however, as later events showed, the predictions of the national security advisor of the US President turned out to be wrong.

Jeffrey Sachs also added that he has always respected former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, but to put it mildly, he finds it strange that Merkel’s statement when she said that she hoped that this war would not continue for another 10 years, instead of saying: “My God, this war can go on for another 10 weeks. It’s terrible.’

“Has the European psychology become so distorted that war has become something ordinary?” What kind of thinking is this? Instead of saying: “My God, this war can go on for another 10 weeks. It’s terrible, we have to do something,” he says. “I hope that this war will not continue for another 10 years.” I hope I misunderstood his quote, I was trying to understand the exact meaning of it, but whatever it was, it was a very pathetic statement,” said Jeffrey Sachs.

The world-renowned professor, who was also a special adviser to the UN Secretary General, talked about his contacts with European leaders, noting that he is personally familiar with many of them.

Jeffrey Sachs unwittingly asks how it is possible in this world of advanced communications that diplomacy fails and the West faces the danger of a confrontation with Russia, the largest nuclear power. “What I know for sure is that our governments are already sitting in bunkers, they are not talking to the public, they are not participating in the discussion of the issues we are talking about now. They just don’t answer. Of course, Chancellor Mertz will not answer my letter, that’s clear, but in general, they are closed and act without any sense of responsibility. It is hard to believe, we have all the external signs of democracy, there is an illusion of accountability, but I know the real state of affairs. If I call a high-ranking official of the European Commission, no one answers. They know who I am. I personally know many of those people.

It is noteworthy that these cursory revelations of Professor Jeffrey Sachs about the activity of American special services in Armenia and US interests are made just a few days before the National Assembly elections to be held in Armenia. Let’s add to the interview English original and: Russian translation were published on Sunday, May 31.

Let us remind you that Geoffrey Sachs addressed to the Chancellor of Germany the first open letter published in 2025 in December, noting that the fundamental principle of European security is bilateral security guarantees.




Go to the election, this is a fatal question, the living space of our country is in your hands

June: 4, 2026

These defeated authorities were supposed to be removed in 2021, and it was amazing that they were able to be re-elected then. Our people always put the desired before the possible and the real, and they naively believe what they say. There is also the issue of administrative resources, besides, the people easily perceive populism and lies. He used to make big and false promises. It has been a non-stop lie for eight years. Constantly living in that lie, the Armenian man is ruined. In addition to all the plagues that befall us, the essence of an Armenian person is corrupted, and being cooked in lies and falsehood, something inside him changes for the worse. 168TVof « expressed such an opinion during the program writer Gurgen Khanjyan.

“This is a fatal, ontological condition. If we don’t wake up now, then it’s over. This is a calculation of simple logic. But they have other tools: they threaten that there will be a war if they are not there. But if they stay, the country will weaken, Azerbaijanis will come to live here. Let it not be 300 thousand, even 3000 or 300, but they will create a community here. This man speaks of peace, Azerbaijan shakes its fist at the return of “Western Azerbaijan”. No one from here opposes, at least they say something that it is not like that. They are so scared and humiliated,” said the writer.

“These are cowardly people. It is always like this: the coward is protected by the police inside and easily reconciles to pretend to show something outside. When he met Aliyev for the first time, he was so scared and nervous that it was already clear who we were dealing with. How can a symbol of defeat, a capitulating government bring victory, or in general, do anything good? Therefore, the capitulation continued with small and big steps, and if these remain, it will continue and become stronger, because they have a problem to protect themselves,” Khanjyan said.

Read also

  • Samvel Karapetyan is a serious crisis manager, a serious negotiator. Do Simonyan
  • Both the 44-day war and the Russian-Ukrainian war show that it is not individual missiles, ATS or air defense systems that win or lose, but states. Vitaly Mangasaryan
  • The plan of Pashinyan and Aliyev will disappear. Narek Karapetyan tore up the concept of “Western Azerbaijan”.

According to the intellectual, they already have a defense complex, they know deep down what they have done. “Their sin is historical, because they betrayed not only this region, they also betrayed the heroes who fought in Artsakh before that. If it goes like this, it will reach Hayk Nahapet. All achievements have been watered down, this small land is left. Already on the street they are shouting after them with their typical names. It seems they don’t care about it. This is a different type, these are Armenian haters, maybe they are also misanthropes, they have those globalist fans among them. Now it is a crime not to go to the elections, because if they stay, the next five years will completely destroy this country.”

“Whatever they deceive, Europe, etc., everything is a lie, there is nothing real. In this election, the palette is diverse, and everyone has the opportunity to choose what they want. Get up, go, sitting at home, what will happen? What does it mean, I am not involved in politics? Your living space is being taken away from you, what kind of politics are we talking about?” said Gurgen Khanjyan.

Details in the video




168: Սամվել Կարապետյանը լրջագույն ճգնաժամային կառավարիչ է, լրջագույն բանակցող

Հունիս 4, 2026

168TVի «Զառան հարց ունի» of the program guestn: Ara Simonyan is a former member of the National Assembly.

The supporter of the “Strong Armenia” party is sure that at this stage Armenia needs a strong leader in the person of Samvel Karapetyan.

During the interview, Ara Simonyan voiced several theses with one punch line

Read also

  • The pre-election “gifts” of the West and TRIPP. Why are these the most geopolitical elections in Armenia?
  • Go to the election, this is a fatal issue, the living space of our country is going out of my hands. Gurgen Khanjyan
  • The US CIA is playing games in Armenia right now… I called the White House. Jeffrey Sachs
  • Yesterday it became very obvious that this is not some election marathon or election process, but already a popular movement, the beginning of which was given months ago, but yesterday it became much clearer. And that crazy energy that we all felt in the Republic Square was evidence of that, and it can never be stopped, it is impossible to stop the movement whose time has come, and the time has come, actually, already, finally.
  • The formula for defeating Nikol Pashinyan is simply not to notice him. This is not a running competition or who will run faster, but to say what you have to say to the people, to the people, to the public, and let people choose the edges of comparison, for example, Samvel Karapetyan on this side, that on the other side, even edges to compare.
  • The fact that Samvel Karapetyan is a great philanthropist is constantly emphasized. It goes without saying that he is perhaps one of the greatest benefactors of the Armenian nation, but he is also a serious crisis manager. This is what needs to be emphasized. He is a business manager, that is, a serious negotiator who managed to build that entire business empire.
  • Do you know that there is such a human psychological phenomenon that, as a rule, they blame the other person for what they have done? accuse the adversaries of what we ourselves are guilty of. To make amends, working with Russia and being a friend of Russia is not a sin at all that we justify it now, but what does “agent of Russia” mean? the person has worked in Russia, it is natural that there are many great opportunities, connections, which does not at all mean the qualification that is being given to him now.
  • Churchill has a good saying, he says: it is very difficult to ride on a raging tiger, but it is much more difficult to get off that tiger. Now the moment of that descent has come, the time to answer is approaching, it is terrible for them.
  • There are lies, big lies and statistics. you can communicate with people to get a better picture.

  • The most important thing for victory is the spirit, unity, why not also the power of arms? one simply admires the behavior of today’s Iran and the people of Iran, how they were able to withstand that aggression.

Details in the video




RFE/RL – Another Armenian Archbishop Moved To House Arrest

հունիս 04, 2026


Armenia – Archbishop Bagrat Galstanian goes on trial in Yerevan, August 19, 2025.

An outspoken Armenian archbishop who led in 2024 massive anti-government protests in Yerevan was moved to house arrest on Thursday almost one year after being jailed on coup charges rejected by him as politically motivated.

Archbishop Bagrat Galstanian was taken into custody along with his 15 supporters in June 2025 amid Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian’s controversial efforts to oust the top clergy of the Armenian Apostolic Church. They as well as two other individuals were charged with plotting “terrorist acts” in a bid to seize power.

Shortly after the arrests, Prosecutor-General Anna Vardapetian claimed that Galstanian and his supporters wanted to assassinate Pashinian and other senior officials. None of the suspects faced corresponding murder charges, however. Virtually all of them were set free or moved to house arrest after the start of their trial in August.

The judge presiding over the trial has repeatedly refused to release Galstanian from prison pending a verdict in the case. Armenia’s Court of Appeals moved him to house arrest, acting on an appeal filed by his lawyers. Galstanian was not satisfied with the decision, insisting that he must be set free and acquitted altogether.

As Pashinian stepped up pressure on Catholicos Garegin II, two other archbishops and one bishop were also arrested later in 2025 on different charges strongly denied by them. They all were placed under house arrest early this year. Around the same time, a law-enforcement agency indicted six other bishops and Garegin himself but refrained from arresting them. The supreme head of the Armenian Apostolic Church made clear on Tuesday that he will not resign even if he is arrested after Armenia’s June 7 parliamentary elections.

Galstanian headed the church diocese in Armenia’s northern Tavush province until leading in May and June 2024 anti-government protests sparked by Pashinian’s controversial territorial concessions to Azerbaijan. After failing to scuttle the land transfer, he rallied tens of thousands of people in Yerevan to demand Pashinian’s resignation.

Pashinyan’s Peaceful Pivot: Armenia’s Crossroads of Change

DevDiscourse
June 4 2026

Armenians gear up for crucial elections as Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan aims to pivot away from Russia and foster peace with Azerbaijan. While his reforms have gained traction, challenges remain, including strained Russia relations and allegations of authoritarianism. The election is a critical test for Armenia’s future direction.

Key Takeaways

AI Summary

  • Armenia is at a critical juncture as it approaches parliamentary elections under Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s leadership.
  • Pashinyan seeks to reduce Russian influence and promote peace with Azerbaijan, aiming to transform Armenia into a regional ‘crossroads of peace’.
  • Despite diversifying alliances, Armenia faces economic challenges and ongoing dependency on Russian exports, which creates tension.
  • The election results will significantly impact Armenia’s future direction regarding regional harmony and Pashinyan’s peacemaking efforts.

As Armenia approaches critical parliamentary elections, the nation stands at a pivotal juncture under Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s leadership. Pashinyan, advocating for diminished Russian influence, aims to forge peace with Azerbaijan, turning Armenia into a regional ‘crossroads of peace’ by reopening borders with its neighbors.

The ongoing shift has been met with economic challenges and diplomatic pressures. Although Armenia has diversified its alliances, dependency on Russian exports remains a point of tension. Recent Russian export restrictions test the nation’s vulnerability, while the West’s interest in Armenia’s sovereignty grows.

Pashinyan’s civilian support is rooted in economic growth and infrastructure improvements. However, skepticism persists over his peacemaking efforts, with critics accusing him of over-conceding to Azerbaijan. The election outcome will be a defining factor in Armenia’s path towards or away from lasting regional harmony.

(With inputs from agencies.)

The government will allocate 2 billion drams to entrepreneurs to export to other markets

Photo: sputnik

The government of Armenia has approved a large-scale support program for the agricultural sector, which will compensate the exporters of greenhouse fruits and vegetables and flowers with around 2 billion drams in order to find new markets for consumption against the background of Russia’s restrictions.


According to the project approved at the executive meeting, during the month of June 2026, clearly defined subsidies will be provided to businessmen for goods exported from the republic. The state is obliged to pay 770 drams for each kilogram of strawberries, 275 drams for tomatoes, 400 drams for pepper, and 37 drams for each exported flower.


This decision was made as a result of discussions with exporters, during which business representatives said that they urgently need financial support to be competitive in new countries.


The need for urgent redirection of trade flows is due to the high dependence of the sector on the Russian market and the trade restrictions imposed on Armenia by the Russian control authorities in recent days. In 2025, the total volume of export of fresh fruits and vegetables and flowers from Armenia was about 73 billion drams, and more than 93 percent of these flows fell to the Russian Federation.


According to forecasts, the supported volumes in June will amount to about 4250 tons of fruits and vegetables and 10 million flowers. In order to benefit from state compensation, business owners must submit an appropriate application to the Ministry of Economy, attaching the transit declaration and invoice.


A temporary ban on the import of stone fruits and grapes from Armenia will come into effect in Russia on June 2, “Rosselkhoznadzor” reported. Cherries, cherries, apricots, plums, peaches, nectarines and fresh grapes are under restrictions, allegedly due to “frequent supply violations”. This is not the first restrictive measure imposed in Russia against Armenian exports in recent weeks. Earlier, “Rosselkhoznadzor” banned the import of fish and fish products from Armenia, making an exception only for two enterprises that passed the Russian inspection. In addition, Russia has limited the import of Armenian flowers, mineral water, cognac, wine, vegetables and strawberries.


Earlier, the Russian leadership openly indicated the need to make a choice between Brussels and the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), stressing that rapprochement with European structures will inevitably create systemic complications for the republic in the Eurasian area.


The situation was significantly aggravated at the EAEU summit held in Astana at the end of May, where the partners of the union – Russia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan – issued a joint statement calling on Yerevan to hold a nationwide referendum in the shortest possible time to determine the foreign policy vector.


Moreover, the members of the union initiated the preparation of a special report on the consequences of the possible suspension of Armenia’s membership, which is planned to be presented at the December session of the Higher Eurasian Economic Council. Despite growing diplomatic pressure, Nikol Pashinyan reaffirmed Yerevan’s intention to continue planned and calm interaction within the framework of the EAEU until a geopolitical choice between the two economic blocs becomes completely inevitable.