Mitsubishi Electric systems to be integrated into Azatutyun Complex

Economy16:20, 1 June 2026
Read the article in: Armenian:

Azatutyun Multifunctional Complex press release 

On May 27, Azatutyun Multifunctional Complex and Consel, the official representative of Mitsubishi Electric in Armenia, signed a memorandum of cooperation under which Mitsubishi Electric engineering systems will be integrated into the complex.

The Azatutyun premium multifunctional complex continues to expand its international partnerships as part of its strategy to create a high-standard residential environment in Yerevan.

Mitsubishi Electric is one of the global leaders in climate-control systems and is internationally recognized as a symbol of engineering excellence, innovation, and reliability. The brand’s solutions are implemented in premium residential and multifunctional developments across the world, where comfort, sustainability, and long-term efficiency are considered essential standards.

Guided by these same principles, Azatutyun selected Mitsubishi Electric as its engineering systems partner. Consel, the official representative of the brand in Armenia, is one of the country’s most experienced engineering companies, with nearly 25 years of expertise in the design, supply, and implementation of advanced engineering solutions, ensuring reliable and internationally compliant operation standards.

The memorandum marking the partnership was signed by David Atanessian, Founder and CEO of Azatutyun Multifunctional Complex, and Arman Papazyan, Founder and CEO of Consel.

“When creating the Azatutyun complex, we had a very clear objective: to establish a new benchmark for quality, architecture, and contemporary urban living in Armenia. From the very beginning, it was important for us that this would not become just another development project, but rather a project distinguished by both its quality and philosophy. That is why we approached the selection of every partner with great responsibility. Today, we are pleased to officially welcome Mitsubishi Electric and its official Armenian representative, Consel, among our partners,” noted David Atanessian.

According to Arman Papazyan, this partnership once again reflects the shared vision of Azatutyun and Consel to unite international expertise, contemporary architecture, and advanced technologies within one integrated environment.

“We are proud to take part in the realization of this important project. The choice of Mitsubishi Electric for the Azatutyun complex fully aligns with the project’s overall concept of creating a modern, intelligent, and long-term value-driven environment. At the same time, Consel’s years of experience and engineering capabilities allow these technological solutions to be implemented with precision, a systematic approach, and in accordance with international engineering standards,” stated Arman Papazyan during the event.

The event brought together representatives of the diplomatic corps, partners, investors, and leading industry professionals to mark a collaboration aimed at setting a new benchmark for premium residential development and engineering solutions in Armenia.

During the evening, guests were introduced to the Azatutyun premium multifunctional complex, including its residential, commercial, and leisure spaces, contemporary architectural solutions, and high-standard infrastructure. The project is being developed on Azatutyun Avenue, one of Yerevan’s most important urban arteries, where the city begins and continues.

The evening featured live performances by Midnight Avenue Jazz Band and a signature cocktail created especially for the occasion, creating a warm and distinctive atmosphere for guests.

Read the article in: Armenian:

Published by Armenpress, original at 

168: Hiding behind the law, they waste money mercilessly in the Yerevan Municipality

June: 1, 2026

To justify the relentless waste of state funds, Nikol Pashinyan often repeats the idea that the authorities spend state money as effectively as citizens spend their family budgets.

Of course, it is not appropriate to make such a comparison, because the citizen spends his own money, and the government spends the citizen’s money, but even if it is so, no citizen can afford to waste money from his own pocket as they waste it in the Yerevan Municipality.

In this case, we are talking about “Yerevan bus” company operating under Yerevan Municipality. In the event that the price of 1 liter of diesel fuel in the market is 510, the maximum is 520 AMD, “Yerevan Bus” CJSC buys the same diesel fuel for 545 AMD. At the same time, with a “binder”, which is usually much cheaper than the retail price.

He buys at that price, because that money is not his money, and he can afford such an extravagance. Then they complain that the citizens do not pay the fare.

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  • “He is a scared person, what do you want? I have known for a long time what kind of “mutilovshik” Nikol Pashinyan is. Arsen Ghukasyan

Will they pay you to give the wind mercilessly like this?

A few days ago, Mesrop Manukyan, a member of the “Mother Armenia” faction of the Yerevan Council of Elders, referred to the process of purchasing diesel fuel carried out by “Yerevan Bus” CJSC. It was recorded that on May 6, the company purchased around 500,000 liters of diesel fuel from one person for 545 drams per liter. In the case that in the same period, the retail price of diesel fuel at filling stations was about AMD 510-520.

According to Mesrop Manukyan, as a result of this transaction, the company subordinate to the municipality purchased the fuel at a significantly higher price than the market price, as a result of which the Yerevan community suffered a loss of around 60 million drams.

“Yerevan Bus” hastened to respond to this discovery, directly confirming what the council member said.

“In order to purchase diesel fuel for the needs of the Yerevan Bus company, 3 open, competitive and transparent purchase procedures were organized in advance with the codes EA-EACHAPPSD-26/11, EA-HBMAPPSD-26/17 and EA-EACHAPPSD-26/20. In other words, the company initially chose not an urgent or limited, but a competitive format, giving market participants the opportunity to submit price offers.

The procedures, however, did not take place, because only the company “CPES ENERGY GROUP” participated in them, whose price proposals exceeded the estimated value of AMD 500 for 1 liter, making AMD 550 for 1 liter. In addition, the same company, being the current supplier of diesel fuel, on March 24, 2026, officially refused the offer to supply an additional amount of diesel fuel at the price specified in the contract, citing global inflation, “Yerevan Bus” announced.

After the announced tenders are not held, “Yerevan Bus” organizes a one-person purchase based on urgency. Calling for 7 potential participants. Within the specified period, two companies submitted bids: SIPIES GENERAL with a price offer of AMD 550 per liter and Premium Oil with AMD 545 per liter.

“Since “Premium Oil” offered the lowest price compared to the offers submitted by the law and in the invitation, on that basis the “Yerevan Bus” company chose it, which was derived from the principles of competition, transparency and equal treatment of participants in the procurement process.” the fact that at that moment the prices of diesel fuel in the market are much lower than the presented offers was.

And despite that, they signed a contract to buy hundreds and thousands of liters of diesel fuel, “hiding behind the shortcomings of the law.”

They make excuses that they were guided by the requirements of the “Procurement” law. Let’s assume that it is so, but where is common sense?

If they had offered 600 or 700 drams instead of 545, would they have signed a contract and justified themselves by saying that they did so within the framework of the law?

It should be noted that just 1 day after announcing the decision to sign the contract, one of the companies that participated in the tender turned to “Yerevan Bus” and offered to supply diesel fuel for 500 drams per liter. It was 45 drams lower than the price of the signed contract.

As a result of this transaction, how much damage did the city budget of Yerevan suffer, the calculations may be different. But it is clear that price changes in the fuel market do not happen in 1 day. However, “Yerevan Bus” did not pay attention to these changes, did not study the market or studied but ignored them. Why, that is probably the task of other bodies to find out.

While such vicious manners prevail in the Yerevan Municipality, the 9% mayor of Yerevan, Tigran Avinyan, has devoted himself to CP propaganda these days with all his might, he is measuring the streets of the capital city and making “bland” statements, instead of doing his job.

They spend the citizens’ money with such “efficiency”, and then raise the price of fares, point the finger at the citizens, and accuse them of not being able to buy new buses. Due to insufficient funds, they raised the fares on time. They raised it so that they could afford such extravagances.

You know that the same product is 510-520 drams in the market, and everyone can buy it for that amount, but you go and buy it for 545 drams.

What is the logic of this? Even if we consider that the law allows it, that there is no corruption here, this is an obvious waste of state funds, for which they will have to answer one day.

HAKOB KOCHARYAN




Pashinyan has declared war on the economy and citizens of Armenia

June: 1, 2026

Nikol Pashinyan stops at nothing to please his foreign patrons. He is ready to do harm to Armenia and the Armenian people until the end. Under the guise of sovereignty, he destroys the economy of the country, not caring about the consequences.

It has created such challenges that threaten to blow up the economy and put the people in front of another tough test.

The cold winters that Nikol Pashinyan’s foreign sponsors promised to Armenia and the Armenian people are gradually beginning to emerge. The revision of the terms of Russian gas supply, which is no longer mere talk, threatens to paralyze not only Armenia’s energy system, but also the entire economy. Nikol Pashinyan’s remarks that cut off the gas, we will have ours, is another mockery of the people. Armenia does not have its own gas and cannot have it.

It is ridiculous to hope that one day a gas pipeline will be built “Trump’s way” and Armenia will take its share of it. The people and the economy cannot wait for years until such a gas pipeline passes through Armenia. It is still a question: will it pass or not? No one’s eyes froze to provide Armenia with “own gas”.

Read also

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  • “He is a scared person, what do you want? I have known for a long time what kind of “mutilovshik” Nikol Pashinyan is. Arsen Ghukasyan
  • “Let Nikol not dare to sell Artsakh to us, and that too with fake banknotes.” Silk Hakobyan

Even if it is possible to buy replacement expensive gas, the economy will not withstand its burden. Even more so when it loses the main sales market, having no alternative. We see how, step by step, Armenia’s economy is being left out of one of its main sales markets.

The problem is not only mere restrictions. During these restrictions, Armenian products are replaced by products from other countries, and in the future, even if the restrictions are lifted, it will be much more difficult to return to the previous positions.

As is known, the florists were kicked out from May 22. The possibility of exporting Armenian flowers to its main market was closed. In the absence of an alternative, flower growers throw away the fruits of their labor, standing on the verge of bankruptcy.

As a result of losing the market, bankruptcy threatens not only florists, but also greenhouse owners in general, most of whom are under loans and have problems repaying loans. Even if they somehow manage to sell their products in the domestic market, it will no longer bring the benefits that they could expect in the case of exports.

Agricultural producers and farms in general are under attack, many of whom hope mainly for the foreign market. 90-95 percent of agricultural products exported from Armenia have gone to a place that is now being closed for it.

The Russian Consumer Rights Protection Service has restricted the entry of Armenian agricultural products to the Russian market since May 30. Restrictions at this stage refer to fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, greens and strawberries delivered from Armenia. The restriction will continue until an appropriate algorithm is developed to ensure the security of the delivered products. It is not known when it will be developed.

Restrictions are related to phytosanitary issues. In addition, the Russian consumer rights protection service has doubts that not all products of Armenian origin and delivered from Armenia are actually Armenian.

Accusations are being made against the Ministry of Economy. They believe that after the dissolution of the Ministry of Agriculture and the transfer of its functions to that Ministry, the latter cannot cope with the powers assigned to it. We are talking about a ministry whose head these days, instead of assisting producers and exporters, dealing with the solution of the problems that have arisen, and finding alternatives, measures the streets and engages in CP propaganda. It’s okay that people face the risk of losing their entire year’s worth of work and expected income.

For several days now, hundreds of Armenian trucks loaded with goods have been standing in Upper Lars and cannot cross the border. A part has already been returned. People are in a desperate situation, and there is no one from the ruling elite to take an interest in the problems of these people. All are engaged in political propaganda.

The sad thing is that greenhouse owners, farmers, producers, exporters, thousands of families who are involved in all of this and get their income from it suffer from all of this. They suffer, but the officials don’t need it. One more thing they are saying and exacerbating the situation. All the same, they will not be the victims. They advance their interests at the expense of the people, and it doesn’t matter how the people will get out of it tomorrow.

They speak on behalf of the people, but there is no one who takes the people into account.

They speak on behalf of the business, but there is no one to ask the business what the business wants. They decide, they do it themselves and make everyone face the facts.

The sale of the third large batch of “Jermuk” is already being blocked. When the sale of around 400,000 and then 1 million bottles of “Jermuk” was suspended in April, they said it was a trifle, the company exports millions of bottles. Then it was the turn of millions of bottles. First, the sale of 37 million, and now 64.5 million, was blocked.

These are serious volumes for any company, and not only that company, the citizens employed in it, but also the country’s economy suffer from it. It suffers because some people have mixed economic and political interests. They prefer their own political interests to the interests of the economy and citizens. They put the country into a dangerous game, knowing full well that they can never come out of it as a winner. They declared war on their own economy and people.

The only hope is that all this will end soon. Alternatively, backand:They will be harsh on the economy, business, and citizens. We will not survive the promised few cold winters.

HAKOB KOCHARYAN




CC: Andin: Armenian Journey Chronicles


The results published in EuroNews do not correspond to reality. “Bre!

June: 1, 2026

We inform you that this year on May 31 EuroNewsThe results of the social survey published by and published in some Armenian mass media, in which reference is made to the company “Brevis”, do not reflect the published results of the survey conducted by us.

The official publication of the survey conducted on May 5-11 by the order of the International Republican Institute (IRI) as of 22.05.2026. only this is available by reference:

We also announce that the company “Brevis” is responsible only for the implementation of field work, the questions related to the research methodology and analysis are within the competence of the client.

“Let Nicole not dare to sell Artsakh to us, and that is false

June: 1, 2026

During the entire pre-election campaign, Nikol Pashinyan, speaking about the forcibly displaced Artsakh Armenians from Artsakh, declared that: “There are forces in Armenia that do not want the Artsakh Armenians to settle in Armenia.”

He repeated this same idea today during the campaign in Malatia-Sebastia, saying that millions of projects are being implemented in Armenia for Artsakh Armenians.

Metaxe Hakobyan, deputy of Artsakh NA “Justice” faction in other words, apart from CP, there is no political force in Armenia that is against Artsakh Armenians staying in Artsakh.

“It is obvious that this force is the political force led by Nikol Pashinyan, that is, CP, because the millions of programs they invented and presented to the public are actually a bubble. Any material support for Artsakh Armenians, if of course he considers that Artsakh Armenians should live in Armenia for the sake of support, then there is no such thing. Today, people are facing an unsolvable housing problem, they also have no job. Now they are in a worse situation than when they were displaced, because in the beginning people supported their existence with the money they saved.” of 168.am Metakse Hakobyan said in a conversation with

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  • Should Russians be more Armenian than Armenians? who ask why the Russians didn’t keep Artsakh, I ask why Armenia didn’t keep Artsakh

According to him, the Armenians of Artsakh have many questions to the RA government about where the money that was allegedly given to the Armenians of Artsakh was wasted.

“Let Nikol not dare to sell Artsakh to us, and that too with fake banknotes, his statements are about this. All the conspiracies that are organized are organized by Nikol Pashinyan and his team, there is no conspiracy by any other force. All national forces and organizations have the same message that Artsakh Armenians should live in RA and should live with dignity until they return to Artsakh, their homeland,” added Metaxe Hakobyan.

As for Nikol Pashinyan’s statements that he has closed the issue of the return of Artsakh Armenians once and for all, and there is an agreement with Azerbaijan in that regard, “on closing the issue of refugees”, our interlocutor noted that under any circumstances and with any outcome of the elections, no one should think that the issue of the return of Artsakh Armenians is closed or that the issue of Artsakh does not exist.

“If the issue of Artsakh was closed, Nikol Pashinyan, the dictator of Azerbaijan, would not talk about it incessantly, they know about it very well. We are not the only ones talking about the Artsakh issue not being closed. Prominent figures and organizations of the international community are gradually making more statements about it. As for the “return to both sides”, Nikol Pashinyan put this talk on the agenda, because Azerbaijan knows well that the issue of the return of Artsakh Armenians to Artsakh has nothing to do with the issue of Azerbaijanis who moved to Azerbaijan during the Soviet years. So, let our people understand well what disasters will await our country in the event of their reproduction”, emphasized Metakse Hakobyan.

Moscow telephone etiquette. Why is Putin calling Pashinyan for a Russian post?

June: 1, 2026

The sharp escalation in Armenian-Russian relations and the sharp rhetoric of high-ranking officials of the Russian Federation took a new turn in the protocol in recent days. The phone call of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin to Nikol Pashinyan on the occasion of his birthday takes place against the background of unprecedented freezing of bilateral relations and direct economic sanctions applied by Moscow.

The phone call was on the occasion of Pashinyan’s birthday, according to reports, the Russian President congratulated Pashinyan on his birthday and sent his best wishes. “The Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia thanked the President of the Russian Federation for his balanced positions, friendly tone, and support on a number of issues that give rise to mutual understanding. The interlocutors have agreed to continue the discussions on the next convenient occasion in the format of a meeting,” said the message of the RA government.

It is noteworthy that the phone call takes place against the background of rather alarming developments in Armenian-Russian relations, to put it mildly, when Russian officials warn the RA authorities about the incompatibility of EU integration and EAEU membership. They also do it with rather harsh words, calling Nikol Pashinyan a “scoundrel”, which Dmitry Medvedev did the other day. In parallel, the Russian side imposes sanctions on Armenian products, prohibiting some of them from entering the Russian market, in some cases, finding problems in the products, etc.

A few days ago, at the end of the EAEU session held in Astana, it became known that all EAEU leaders addressed the situation around Armenia in a statement, considering Armenia’s European integration aspirations as risky for EAEU countries. It said: “Taking into account the steps taken by Armenia to join the European Union, including the law “On the initiation of the process of accession of the Republic of Armenia to the European Union” adopted by the RA National Assembly in 2025 and signed by the President of the Republic, as well as the reaffirmation of Armenia’s European aspirations by the EU in the joint declaration adopted as a result of the first Armenia-European Union summit held on May 5, 2026, as well as the economic security of the member states of the Eurasian Economic Union (hereinafter referred to as the Union) the risks that arise in connection with the preparation of the Republic of Armenia to join the European Union, it was decided that the representatives of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia in the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council will report on the possible consequences of suspending the operation of the Eurasian Economic Union Treaty on the Republic of Armenia at the regular session of the Eurasian Economic Union to be held in December 2026.” The presidents of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan also highlighted the issue of holding a nationwide referendum in Armenia as soon as possible on joining the European Union or remaining a member of the Eurasian Economic Union.

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  • We do not say, Aliyev, Nikol’s educated and constructive partner, says that 300,000 Azerbaijanis will come. Suren Surenyants
  • I ran away from Armenia, but I returned, realizing that I have work to do here. Lilit Altunyan

The contradiction between Russia’s pressure and the call to Pashinyan has given rise to discussions in political and expert circles, but it seems to fit into the logic of combining asymmetric pressures and high-level diplomatic etiquette used in foreign policy.

The political context of the situation is more than alarming. In this multi-layered pressure system, Vladimir Putin’s call is a tool to keep the last line of communication open and the situation under control. Analysts familiar with the foreign policy style of the current Russian leader often claim that in the Kremlin’s foreign policy it is customary to separate technical and economic sanctions and tough rhetoric at the executive level from the personal diplomacy of the head of state.

Moscow used similar tactics in 2016 during the extreme crisis of relations with Turkey (the call to Erdogan after the coup attempt) and in 2020 during the “oil and gas war” and political public disputes with Belarus (Lukashenko’s birthday greetings). These precedents show that the President of the Russian Federation maintains a formal link in order to control the degree of escalation of the crisis and to maintain the last line.

With all this, this telephone conversation does not at all mean a strategic retreat by Moscow or a resolution of the crisis. Russia has entered the stage of pragmatic rigidity, and the dynamics of Armenian-Russian relations in the near future will depend not on ceremonial gestures, but on the effectiveness of Yerevan’s political and economic maneuvers before the meeting of the EAEU Supreme Council expected in December. However, the RA authorities highly appreciate this call, consider it effective and warm, thinking that all issues will be resolved.

It is also interesting that, parallel to the call of the Russian President, today the Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev, who recently called Pashinyan a “scoundrel”, publicly drew a parallel between Nikol Pashinyan and Lev Trotsky, and then expressed the opinion that Armenia wants to enjoy all the advantages of EAEU, skillfully using Russia and other countries of the Union. Medvedev also recalled that Trotsky’s attempt to follow the same pattern led to the signing of the Brest-Litovsk Peace Treaty, but with much stricter terms. In conclusion, Medvedev emphasized that Lev Trotsky’s own winding path had a tragic end.

Medvedev believes that such tactics can be dangerous for the Armenian leader himself. In the context of Putin’s call, Medvedev’s statement is another direct geopolitical warning from Russia. while the Russian President keeps the window of personal communication within the framework of diplomatic etiquette, the Vice President of the Security Council hints that the delay in decisions, like Trotsky’s example, can lead to many other consequences for Armenia.

Have the additions for the Su-30s promised by Suren Papikyan arrived?

June: 1, 2026

During the press conference of RA Defense Minister Suren Papikyan on January 13 of this year 168.amthe asked a question: will it be possible to use the Su-30SMs in their full capacity one day, to which he said:

“We have enough certain weapons for the Su-30SMs, but additions are also expected. The Su-30SMs are pretty good fighters, I appreciate their role very much. And I think that they can play a big role both in air defense and territorial integrity of our country.”

At the same time, Suren Papikyan offered to refrain from information on whether the number of fighter jets can be increased, as it was agreed at the time that the armed forces should have 8-12 units of Su-30, but only 4 were acquired.

It should be noted that the Su-30s are to be purchased the idea Former Minister of Defense of the Republic of Armenia Davit Tonoyan and former Chief of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia Artak Davtyan were initially not greeted by the Chairman of the Standing Committee on Defense and Security of the National Assembly Andranik Kocharyan, and immediately after the end of the 44-day period, he raised questions related to its application to the war.

Read also

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  • Looking at the vehicle at the parade, I cannot tell the technical characteristics of the weapon. Artak Davtyan
  • How was the army on the ruins? I do not agree with that assessment. David Tonoyan

But even in this case, how? 168.am wrote, Andranik Kocharyan has decided Attach to the 44-day report his several-page letter-analysis related to the Su-30s, which he presented to Pashinyan, and which was also mentioned in the investigative commission during Pashinyan’s interrogation.

Anyway, during the military parade-debrief held on May 28 in Republic Square had made flights Su-30s, which were also followed by international experts and made certain records.

In particular, both Military Watch Magazine (MWM) and OSINT analysts (intelligence based on open sources) Iranian “Yasin” planing aerial bombs were noticed under the wings of the Su-30s in the arsenal of the RA Armed Forces.

   

By: open data, The Yasin high-precision bomb with a planning and correction module weighs 300 kilograms, the mass of the warhead is 225 kilograms, and it belongs to the MK-82 class.

The aerial bomb is designed for hitting stationary targets using GPS satellite navigation and inertial navigation systems.

According to available information, the range of the bomb under standard conditions is 50-60 kilometers, and in case of release or throwing from the optimal height, it can reach up to 120 kilometers.

Of course, experts also noticed Iranian-made “Majid AD-08” air defense systems at the May 28 military parade. Naturally, such information cannot be officially confirmed or denied for objective reasons, and we can only rely on professional opinions and some episodes.

In February, with the caption “Military-political and military footnotes of Suren Papikyan’s visit to Iran”. article: we published, where we did not exclude such possibilities, taking into account some episodes in the context of the visit.

Returning to Andranik Kocharyan’s point of view regarding the purchase of Su-30s, let us add that on April 15, 2025, in the National Assembly, NA Speaker Alen Simonyan, referring to what they did and did not do in the army and criticisms of the opposition, in particular, had announced. 

“… Or, you say you brought Sue, so maybe we just sat down, opened the menu and looked at what to take?” Your military gave advice, the military gives advice, they say: we need this or that.”

In other words, one of the key figures of the government who did political PR with Su-erov for their acquisition “sin” had tried to cast on the military and consider them not their own when they were working in their government at the time.

And now, when the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Armenia, representing the ruling power, highly appreciates the role of these fighter jets and has even thought about the “additions” intended for them, to whom is the current leadership of the country, including Alen Simonyan, grateful for the military parade? To the soldiers who worked during the previous years, or to Nikol Pashinyan, who is far from military affairs? I also wonder if the opposition forces that have criticized the Su for its lack of missiles, if they are convinced that the existing “add-ons” will allow it to be used to its full potential, will change their opinion regarding these fighters.

Armenian Opposition Leaders Blame Pashinian For Russian Import Bans

June 01, 2026


Armenia – Former President Robert Kocharian speaks during an election campaign rally in Yerevan, May 31, 2026.

Opposition leaders running in Armenia’s June 7 parliamentary elections have blamed Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian for Russia’s widening bans on the import of Armenian goods and warned of their devastating impact on the domestic economy.

“If this government miraculously stays in power, Armenia’s economy will be plunged into a deep crisis,” former President Robert Kocharian said during an election campaign rally in central Yerevan on Sunday. “And what for? For the sake of one person who wants to cling to power.”

“I honestly don’t know why they are artificially turning us into an enemy of Russia,” he told thousands of supporters of his Hayastan alliance. “They are taking us down the destructive path of Ukraine. We don’t need that, my dear people. What we need is allied relations with Russia and very good relations with both Europe and the United States.”

Gagik Tsarukian, the leader of the opposition Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK), likewise expressed concern over the economic impact of the Russian bans as he campaigned in the northern Lori province at the weekend.

“Why are we feuding with Russia?” Tsarukian said. “Do we have better options? People go there for work, people export goods, and every month $160 million in remittances comes from Russia.”

Armenia – Prosperous Armenia Party leader Gagik Tsarukian campaigns in Syunik province, May 19, 2026.

“You’ve heard the Russian president’s speech,” he added, alluding to Vladimir Putin’s latest warning that the Armenian government must choose between striving to join the European Union and remaining part of a Russian-led trade bloc that gives Armenia tariff-free access to Russia’s market and a significant discount on the price of Russian natural gas.

Levon Zurabian, the top election candidate of former President Levon Ter-Petrosian’s Armenian National Congress (HAK) party, spoke on Monday of an “impending energy and economic collapse” in the country. He claimed that Pashinian has “dragged us into a proxy war between the West and Russia and Iran.”

Russia is Armenia’s leading commercial partner, having accounted for 36 percent of its foreign trade last year. Armenian farmers, agribusiness firms and alcohol producers are particularly dependent on the Russian market. Nevertheless, Pashinian insisted last Thursday that the Russian sanctions do not pose “any threat to Armenia’s developing economy.”

Pashinian’s three main election challengers — Hayastan, the BHK and Russian-Armenian billionaire Samvel Karapetian’s Strong Armenia bloc — have pledged to repair Russian-Armenian relations if they win the elections. The Armenian premier has repeatedly branded them Russian “agents” and “spies” on the campaign trail.

Pashinyan considered the EU referendum premature and talked about the new relationship with Russia

Photo: RBK

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced the inexpediency of holding a referendum on EU membership, stressing the importance of continuing work within EAEU and maintaining a smooth foreign policy balance.


According to the chief executive, until the country makes a formal bid or is very close to candidate status, such a vote is only theoretical, so the government will continue to work quietly within the Union, where there is still untapped potential.


In his video message, the head of the government compared the model of balance in international relations with cosmic gravity, stressing that drastic steps and the disproportion of scales can lead to catastrophic consequences. According to him, the formation and restoration of the new balance should take place as smoothly as possible, so that the process remains exclusively manageable and keeps the state free from shocks.


Referring to the interaction with Moscow, Pashinyan described the current transformation phase of bilateral relations positively, calling them open and sincere, without any dark corners.


In the context of economic security, he explained that independence implies the diversification of dependencies, when dependence on a few sources is replaced by connections with many partners, which reduces possible risks and allows bargaining on more favorable terms.


According to this logic, in recent years, Armenia has established diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, as well as actively working towards the normalization of relations with Turkey and Azerbaijan, which is not a whim, but a necessity for the vital activity of the state.


Discussions about Yerevan’s geopolitical vector intensified after the leaders of the four countries of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU): Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan made a joint statement based on the results of the Astana summit.


In the document, they called on Armenia to hold a nationwide referendum as soon as possible to make a final choice between joining the European Union or remaining within the EAEU. This admonition followed the adoption of the bill on European integration by the RA government at the beginning of 2025, which, according to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, did not imply direct membership and required a mandatory referendum in the future.


Against the background of these developments, the economic relations between Yerevan and Moscow have sharply worsened. The Russian side officially warned the leadership of Armenia about the possibility of suspending or canceling cooperation agreements in the field of natural gas and oil products supply, if Yerevan continues the process of joining the European Union.


In addition, Moscow has already restricted the import of a number of key products of Armenian production, including agricultural products, flowers and alcohol, which has caused significant economic pressure for the republic at the stage of choosing a strategic foreign policy course.