Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Monday led the Civil Contract party’s campaign tour in the city of Gyumri.

Pashinyan and senior members of Civil Contract toured the city’s streets, spoke with residents, and presented the party’s election manifesto.

A rally will take place at 20:00 in Vardanants Square, with Pashinyan calling on residents from across Shirak Province to attend.

Parliamentary elections in Armenia will take place on June 7.

Nineteen political forces (17 parties and two blocs) are running for office.

Civil Contract’s election motto is “Uphold Peace!”

The ruling party’s electoral list comprises 283 candidates, with Pashinyan nominated as its prime ministerial candidate.

Strong Armenia alliance leader Samvel Karapetyan revealed on Monday that, in the event of winning the elections on June 7, his administration would enact a law banning Azerbaijani nationals from acquiring real estate in Armenia.

The legislation, he said, would be called the Safarov Prevention Act, in reference to Ramil Safarov, the convicted murderer of Armenian military officer Gurgen Margaryan. The latter was asleep in his dormitory room during a 2004 NATO training program in Hungary when Safarov broke into his room and killed him with an axe. Safarov was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison by a Hungarian court. However, in 2012, Hungary extradited him to Azerbaijan, where he was released upon arrival.

“We will adopt a law at the very first meeting of our Cabinet that prohibits Azerbaijanis from acquiring land and property or receiving them as donations within the territory of Armenia. We have named this law the ‘Safarov Prevention Act,’” Karapetyan, currently under house arrest amid an ongoing investigation into allegedly publicly calling for a coup, said during a meeting with representatives of the alliance.

The details of the initiative were presented by lawyer Aram Vardevanyan, who is second on the alliance’s electoral list, noting that the proposed legislative package concerns citizens of Azerbaijan and Azerbaijani legal entities.

“We propose that any individual or legal entity holding Azerbaijani citizenship, including as a beneficial owner, and operating in the Republic of Armenia, should not be able to acquire any real estate in our country,” he emphasized.

Although the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia stipulates that “foreign citizens and stateless persons do not enjoy the right of ownership of land, except in cases prescribed by law,” Vardevanyan believes that a prohibition on acquiring real estate should also be explicitly enshrined in legislation.

Earlier this year, Strong Armenia named business magnate Samvel Karapetyan as its prime ministerial candidate in the upcoming general election, despite an apparent constitutional barrier.

Constitutional requirements for a prime minister in Armenia include having resided in the country for at least the previous four years and holding exclusively Armenian citizenship during that period. Karapetyan is reported to hold dual citizenship and has been based mostly abroad.

The party announced that if it wins the election, it would initiate legislative amendments, change the relevant law regarding the requirements, and elect Samvel Karapetyan.

His nephew Narek is the alliance’s lead candidate on the electoral list.

Law enforcement agencies arrested five people on Monday amid an ongoing investigation into alleged vote-buying involving the Strong Armenia party.

The Anti-Corruption Committee announced that investigators carried out a search of the Strong Armenia offices in the Avan district of Yerevan as part of a criminal investigation.

Other details were not immediately available.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit Armenia on May 26, the Foreign Ministry announced on Monday.

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan will hold a meeting with Secretary Rubio. Mirzoyan and Rubio will then deliver statements to the media.

Bilateral documents are expected to be signed.

The Armenian foreign minister will then hold a press conference.

Armenia’s tourism season is showing extended growth and stronger year-round activity, according to Mekhak Apresyan, president of the Armenian Tourism Federation.

In comments to Armenpress, he said the traditional tourism season has expanded from March to mid-November, with rising visitor numbers and increasing arrivals during the New Year period. Apresyan also noted a year-on-year increase in inbound tourism.

Apresyan lauded the “promising” start of the tourism season.

While many years ago the tourism season in Armenia used to begin in April with Easter celebrations and end in October, it has now been significantly extended, he said.

“The tourism season now starts to become active from March through mid-November. In other words, our policy of extending the tourism season is producing results,” he said.

According to Mekhak Apresyan, the number of tourists spending New Year in Armenia is also increasing year by year.

He said that from mid-January to March, tourist flows usually become less active, and the task is to fill that period, with significant work also being carried out in that direction.

The president of the Armenian Tourism Federation noted that 386,741 tourists visited Armenia in the first quarter of last year, while in the same period this year the number increased by 66,397. 

“We had about 453,000 inbound tourist visits this year. Russia is in first place with about 39 percent, followed by Georgia, then Europe as a whole, and then Iran and the United States,” he said, adding that in recent years there has also been increased activity from Gulf countries, as citizens of those states often prefer to spend the winter in Armenia.

The situation in the Middle East has also had a negative impact, according to Apresyan. He said that there were no visits during the Nowruz celebrations this year, whereas usually many Iranians travel to Armenia during these holidays.

Speaking about outbound tourism, Apresyan noted that Armenians continue to prefer coastal destinations, while European countries also remain popular choices.

Addressing sector challenges, he said that one of Armenia’s main problems is that it is landlocked. However, he added that direct flights have partially helped address this accessibility issue in recent years.

He also pointed to difficulties at European embassies and visa centers in issuing visas to Armenian citizens.

“Tourism is, by its nature, a phenomenon that feeds other sectors of the economy and is also fed by them. Therefore, we must properly value the role and importance of tourism, as well as adequately present our historical and cultural heritage,” Apresyan added.

Armenia women’s national football team head coach Mariam Stepanyan has participated in the UEFA Coach Mentor Programme in Oslo, Norway.

The UEFA Coach Mentor Programme is a dedicated mentorship initiative that pairs experienced, elite-level coaches with promising up-and-coming coaches.

The Football Federation of Armenia said in a press release that participants study leadership, match management, career guidance, and other areas.

Poland women’s national football team head coach Nina Patalon served as Stepanyan’s mentor in the programme.

During her stay in Norway, Stepanyan attended the Women’s Champions League final between Barcelona and Lyon at the stadium.

FlyOne Armenia has launched flights from Yerevan to Batumi, Georgia’s second-largest city, the Armenian airport administration said in a press release.

The round-trip flights will operate three times a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, “Armenia International Airports” CJSC said.

Ameriabank press release 

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Ameriabank have signed a loan agreement of up to $100 million to expand access to finance for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Armenia, including women-led businesses, and to scale up green investments.

The financing will support MSMEs across the country, helping businesses invest in growth, improve competitiveness, and adopt more sustainable practices. This project represents ADB’s largest private sector transaction in Armenia to date.

“This project will expand access to finance for MSMEs — especially women-owned enterprises — while advancing green investments in Armenia,” said ADB Armenia Country Director Lyaziza Sabyrova. “By providing longer-term financing, we are supporting businesses to grow, create jobs, and contribute to a more inclusive and climate-resilient economy.”

The project includes a loan of up to $100 million, with up to 75% allocated for MSME lending and at least 25% for green finance, including renewable energy and energy efficiency. At least 10% of the financing will support women-owned MSMEs.

Hovhannes Toroyan, Chief Financial Officer at Ameriabank, commented: “We are delighted to strengthen our partnership with the ADB in supporting MSMEs across Armenia through greater access to affordable financing. As Armenia’s largest lender, with a strong focus on green and sustainable finance, we remain committed to driving inclusive growth and supporting the country’s long-term economic development.”

MSMEs are central to Armenia’s economy, accounting for nearly 70% of employment and over 65% of gross domestic product, yet the need for financing among them remains high.

ADB will also provide technical assistance of up to $125,000 to strengthen Ameriabank’s capacity, including support for financial integrity systems and the establishment of a sustainability competence center.

The project supports Armenia’s efforts to promote private sector development, expand access to finance, and advance climate-resilient growth.

Ameriabank CJSC

Ameriabank is a leading financial and technology company in Armenia, a major contributor to the Armenian economy. In line with its digital transformation strategy, the bank continually introduces and enhances innovative products, services and platforms designed to meet the evolving financial and non-financial needs of its customers. Ameriabank, as a dynamically growing fintech space, offers seamless solutions to improve the quality of life.

The Bank is supervised by the Central Bank of Armenia.

About ADB

ADB is a leading multilateral development bank supporting inclusive, resilient, and sustainable growth across Asia and the Pacific. Working with its members and partners to solve complex challenges together, ADB harnesses innovative financial tools and strategic partnerships to transform lives, build quality infrastructure, and safeguard our planet. Founded in 1966, ADB is owned by 69 members – 50 from the region.

The Yerevan Wine Days festival is marking its 10th anniversary this year, with organizers planning a wide range of special events for the milestone.

On June 5, 6, and 7, Saryan, Tumanyan, and Moskovyan streets in Yerevan will once again be filled with a variety of wines, competitions, live concerts, and diverse cultural programs.

EventToura co-founder Mary Badalyan said that the festival will kick off with a winemakers’ parade.

“On June 5 at 6:30 p.m., I invite everyone to Tumanyan Street in Yerevan, where 100 winemakers will enter the festival area in a grand parade,” she said at a press conference. “This is truly a moment of pride, as we have a large number of participating winemakers, and more than 1,000 varieties of wine will be presented at the festival.”

The 10th anniversary edition of the festival will not be limited to wine alone, with strong emphasis also placed on gastrotourism, national dress, and cultural traditions. The program will include workshops, master classes, and live concerts.

According to Nune Manukyan, co-founder of EventToura, the festival has become one of the key events in Armenia’s event tourism sector over the past decade, bringing together wine enthusiasts from around the world.

“Over the years, the geography of our participants has expanded significantly, with visitors coming from Scandinavian countries, England, and Australia, which is very encouraging for us,” she said. “Our goal was to make Armenia recognized as a cradle of wine, and ten years later we can confidently say that we have achieved that.”

The festival also carries significant economic importance. During the previous edition, 250 participating partners — not only winemakers — generated a turnover of $2.5 million over three days.

The head of the Yerevan City Hall Department of Culture and Tourism, Gosh Sargsyan, said that Yerevan Wine Days is an important part of the capital’s cultural identity, noting that the popular and much-anticipated festival brings significant activity to the city and attracts numerous tourists.

“The Yerevan Municipality provides financial support to the festival, and I am very pleased that over the years it has become such an important event and tourism product that we proudly present to our international partners,” he said.

He also noted that Yerevan will be particularly active in early June. Alongside Yerevan Wine Days, a ballet festival will also take place. On June 1, International Children’s Day, a large-scale program is planned, with events scheduled from 12:00 across Freedom Square, the area near Swan Lake, and along Northern Avenue.