US Peace Corps volunteers to also serve in Syunik region

Ani Tigranian
U. S.19:25, 21 May 2026
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With a solemn oath to faithfully support Armenia and properly carry out their duties, 30 American volunteers joined the ranks of the US Peace Corps on May 21 in Yerevan, pledging their service. In response to a question, the US Chargé d’Affaires in Armenia, David Allen, said the volunteers will also be deployed to the Syunik region after a break of around six years.

The oath-taking ceremony for the 31st group of Peace Corps volunteers began with the national anthems of Armenia and the United States, performed live by the new volunteers themselves.

Addressing the audience with a welcoming speech, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Armenia Zhanna Andreasyan noted that this is one of the cooperation programmes whose results are clearly visible and tangible in various settlements across the country.

“The Peace Corps is a programme whose name corresponds to its content. It is people-to-people connections and such cooperation that strengthen an atmosphere of peace. I consider the cooperation between the United States and the Republic of Armenia symbolic, because it was the Washington declarations signed on August 8 last year that opened a new era of peace for our region. In this sense, I believe the programme fully reflects both the essence of our relations and the objectives on our agenda,” the minister said.

Andreasyan also noted that it is truly remarkable to see how volunteers become fully integrated into community life, to the extent that they even begin speaking in the local dialect of the communities where they are stationed.

“I would like to warmly welcome and wish success to our new volunteers, who are joining more than 1,200 Peace Corps volunteers who have already served in Armenia. Welcome to Armenia. We are happy to receive you and ready to walk this path together with you,” the minister added.

William O’Rourke, Director of the Peace Corps office in Armenia, said this year is particularly significant for the organisation, as it marks not only the 250th anniversary of US independence, but also the 65th anniversary of the Peace Corps. He expressed gratitude to all partners for their support.

“We are confident that by working together we can contribute to the development of young people. As the 31st group, you will make a significant contribution to the field of peace and friendship between Armenia and the United States, which already has decades of history. We believe in your potential and are confident you will carry out your service with honour,” he said.

O’Rourke noted that in Armenia, the Peace Corps works on programmes teaching English as a second language and initiatives aimed at promoting youth potential.

The US Chargé d’Affaires in Armenia, David Allen, noting that this is the second year he has participated in the event, admitted that he is often moved by the video showing volunteers’ activities and by watching Armenian dances performed by them. He also thanked the volunteers and all supporters of the programme.

According to Allen, working in Armenia attracts volunteers not so much for financial reasons as for the establishment of warm human relations.

“Trying to calculate the hourly wage equivalent of the money paid to volunteers coming to Armenia, I realised I should stop that calculation, otherwise I would have to file a report in the Peace Corps on human rights violations,” he joked, adding that each volunteer brings a piece of the US to Armenia and takes a piece of Armenia back to the United States.

The diplomat noted that the volunteers are specialised in various fields, including education, youth initiatives, community development, and public health. Almost all of them speak Armenian quite well, sing and dance. They will soon be deployed to different communities, becoming part of them.

“This year is also special for the Peace Corps because our volunteers are returning to the Syunik region. In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we withdrew volunteers from Syunik and other parts of Armenia. In 2023, the Peace Corps returned to Armenia, but we did not redeploy volunteers to Syunik due to security risks linked to military operations. The deployment of Peace Corps volunteers to Syunik reflects our confidence in the peace process and the progress achieved over the past year,” the US Chargé d’Affaires in Armenia stressed.

He also noted that there are many former Peace Corps volunteers within the US diplomatic service. It was mentioned that some staff members of the US Embassy in Armenia previously served as volunteers in Moldova, Kazakhstan, and Georgia.

After completing an 11-week intensive training programme in Armenian language, culture, and professional skills, the volunteers are ready to be deployed to various communities. Over the next two years, they will live with Armenian families and, through classroom support, community programmes, and youth engagement activities, will contribute to the development of English language teaching and support young people in acquiring the skills needed to become confident and active members of their communities.

The event concluded with the presentation of certificates to the volunteers and the oath-taking ceremony. With the inclusion of the new group, the number of Peace Corps representatives serving across various settlements in Armenia will reach around 70.

The programme related to the Peace Corps has been implemented in Armenia since 1992 at the invitation of the Government of Armenia. Over the past 34 years, around 1,200 Peace Corps volunteers have served in Armenia.

The Peace Corps was founded in 1961 at the initiative of US President John F. Kennedy. To date, more than 240,000 American volunteers have served in 142 countries.

Published by Armenpress, original at 
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Armenpress: US envoy says Peace Corps return to Syunik reflects confidence in

Emil Lazarian
Politics22:22, 21 May 2026
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The deployment of  US Peace Corps volunteers to Syunik region is not directly linked to the TRIPP initiative, but reflects Washington’s growing confidence in the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process, the United States chargé d’affaires in Yerevan, David Allen, has said.

Responding to questions about whether the decision to station volunteers in Syunik was connected to planned activities under the TRIPP project, Allen said the link was indirect rather than operational.

“It’s not directly linked. It’s somewhat linked in the sense that it was the Washington summit and the framework agreement on TRIPP between President Aliyev and Prime Minister Pashinyan that really put the peace process on a good track and that created the situation where we feel like we can send Peace Corps volunteers back to Syunik and back to areas that are around the border,” Allen said.

Asked whether there had been any recent developments related to the TRIPP initiative, Allen noted that negotiations concerning agreements tied to the project had taken place last week between the Armenian government and the American side.

“At this moment, there is no new announcement to make regarding that, but the work and progress in that direction are continuing,” he added.

The return of Peace Corps volunteers to Syunik after a six-year pause was announced during the swearing-in ceremony for 30 new volunteers held in Yerevan on 31 May.

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Published by Armenpress, original at 
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Verelq: Nikol Pashinyan is afraid of a sharp increase in the ratings of the opposition

Nahapetian Zhanna

“Hraparak” newspaper writes:


Nikol PashinyanAccording to our CP sources, the reason for the unbalanced behavior of the last few days is the increase in positive public attitude towards the opposition, especially the increase in the “Strong Armenia” rating of businessman Samvel Karapetyan.


This is the reason for the blackmail that is being carried out against Samvel and Narek Karapetyans, including in the form of materials published on the Russian-language website, which were denied by Karapetyans. It is about that Narek Karapetyan Was he a citizen of the Russian Federation? Samvel Karapetyan– an employee of the Russian special services.


Nikol Pashinyan during the two weeks of the campaign, they say that he feels that the ground is slipping away from under his feet, the thought of leaving his rivals out of the election campaign does not give him peace, and with such publications and fabricated accusations of election bribery, they are trying to form grounds for suspending the registration of “Strong Armenia”.


However, not everyone in the ruling team has lost their sober thinking and they think so Samvel Karapetyan leaving them out of the game will not be forgiven, and in that case the people will really take to the streets, and there will be unwanted developments, and the West will turn its back on them.

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Artur Osipyan was detained for 2 months

Jalatian Sonya

Artur Osipyan was detained for 2 months. Lawyer Roman Yeritsyan informed about this.


VERELQ reminds that on May 18, during the CP campaign in Yerevan, Artur Osipyan, the chairman of the Artsakh Revolutionary Party, approached Nikol Pashinyan and asked him questions about Artsakh.


On the same day, Osipyan was arrested on suspicion of hooliganism.

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Iran, not Washington, is no longer drawing the map of regional corridors

Jalatian Sonya

The Iranian mass media spread the statement of Velayati, adviser to the spiritual leader of Iran, former foreign minister of that country, regarding “Trump’s path”.


The latter mentioned this verbatim:


“On the other hand, the change in calculations in the Caucasus and the fading of the imposed phrase “Trump’s (Zangezur) Corridor” showed that now the map of regional corridors is drawn not by Washington’s threats, but by the field realities formed by Tehran.”


If I am not mistaken, this is the first statement of such a high-ranking Iranian official regarding the “Trump path” after the significant changes that took place in the ruling elite of Iran during the 40-day war.


It should be noted that Velayati also stood out in the past with a very tough stance on this matter.


Iranologist Vardan Voskanyan




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The authorities blame the survivors for not being killed

Maral Chavushian

Nikol Pashinyan opened a vicious, ugly and immoral series with the words “why didn’t you die?”, “why did you die?”, and his teammates repeat this inhumane and cruel thesis.


This is unforgivable, this is anti-human, this is not permissible. The representatives of the public, regardless of their political preferences, should give a clear response and demand to stop the further development of this anti-human and dangerous speech.


This is toxic for the state. How could someone with the surname “Yan” say such a thing to another person with the surname “Yan”? Did you graduate from Aliyev’s school of Armenian hatred? I don’t understand. On the one hand, he wants many Armenians to die, and on the other hand, you want to see how I see it…


Azerbaijanologist Tatev Hayrapetyan




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Change of power requires actions, not empty words

Baghdasarian Karlen

The phrase “everyone is the same” is only about one thing: “let Nikol Pashinyan stay”. Dear holders of the position of “everyone is the same”, it is naturally your right, but exercise that right more honestly and declare that you prefer the continuation of Nikol Pashinyan’s rule, and just honestly go and assume your share of responsibility for that rule with your vote.


I repeat, it is a standard situation in Armenia, it is not a matter of choosing between effective and ineffective forces, between good and bad promises. In Armenia, it is a matter of interrupting the policy of demoralizing and devaluing the national and state profile, turning Armenia into a subservient entity to Azerbaijan.


Do you think that whatever force will win? Prove it with action. In other words, vote for the force with the greatest chance of winning, let that force form the government, and if it continues the same policy, if nothing changes, then you will tell everyone: “Did you see what we said?” And then your argument “everyone is the same” will become stronger, more convincing, simply objective.


After all, in the opposite case, if Pashinyan’s government remains, what is still continues. And if, according to your approach, the replacement will continue the same, therefore, by changing, you not only lose nothing, but also gain a weighty opportunity to objectively argue your position.


Therefore, act rationally from the point of view of the logic of your own position and to prove that “everyone is the same”, go and vote for the force or any of the forces with a high chance of winning. Vote and then “prove” that “everyone is the same”.


I repeat, I think, I am convinced that you have minimal rationality to imagine that there is no other option in the current situation: either the same government remains, or that government is changed through the forces with the leading opportunities of the opposition. Any other third option is just “theoretical romance”.


I think in the case of following politics more or less, it is obvious that the competition is between systems, institutions, networks. Like it or not, that’s how it is everywhere. Therefore, it is a “fight against windmills” to think that it is enough to speak intelligently, it is enough to tell people wise things, and that is a guarantee of victory in political competition.


Ultimately, it is also disrespectful to the voter. A voter is rational in all respects. He evaluates the systemic, network, institutional potential. He can like someone too much, listen to him and consider him the smartest, but in order to entrust that person with the steering wheel of management, he will consider the systemic-institutional potential and trajectory behind that person.


The opposite happens exclusively in revolutionary situations. Meanwhile, systems, networks, and institutions are needed to mature a revolutionary situation.


Any group, any force, that aspires to really win the public’s vote of confidence as a government, must either be able to mature a revolutionary situation in any way, or must appear for election with a system, with some systemic, institutional trajectory.


Accordingly, the formation of a political alternative requires the formation of a step-by-step system. If this is not the case, then either there is complete political naivety and, therefore, a problem of political equivalence, or there is an obvious ingenuity in the political process to solve small problems under big and lofty goals.


Analyst Hakob Badalyan




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The government weakens competitors by outright taking their businesses

Chmshkian Vicken

In order to weaken the political rivals, the leader of the ruling power goes the way of property redistribution or, to put it more simply, of taking away business.


HETC, “Araratcement” and so on. And this is still only the visible part of the topic, because few people will know what happened to the shares of various companies in recent years under conditions of threats and blackmail.


Of course, the Western sponsors of CP will not “notice” this, even if in their countries the principle of protection of property rights is something almost equal to sanctity.


But this will certainly be noticed by domestic and foreign investors who do not spend money like that, especially when it comes to large investments.


Tigran Abrahamyan, secretary of “I have an honor” faction



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On May 25-28, traffic restrictions are planned in a number of streets

Bedik Zaminian

In order to ensure the safety of the participants of the events dedicated to the Republic Day, traffic restrictions are planned on a number of streets from May 25 to 28.


This is reported by the police of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

on May 25


from 1:00 a.m. to 03:00 a.m., the section of Arzni airport – Nor Geghi settlement – Yerevan highway – Yeghvardi highway – Yerevan Halabyan street – Tsitsernakaberd highway will be closed.
Atenki Street – Mashtots Avenue – Amiryan Street intersection will be closed from 1:00 to 07:00. Athens Street will be closed until May 28, the end of the event.


from 1:30 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. traffic will be restricted in Republic Square and the streets leading to the square,
from 3:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m.: Amiryan Street – Tigran Metsi Avenue – Agatanghegosi Street – Grigor Lusavorcchi Street – Argishti Street – Atenki Street will be closed.
from 2:00 to 3:00, the section from Shahumyan Square to Khorenatsi Street – Agatanghegosi Street will be closed.


on May 26


from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., traffic will be restricted in the section Athens Street – Mashtots Avenue – Amiryan Street, and also the section Tigran Metsi Avenue – Mher Mkrtchyani Street – Khorenatsi Street – Italini Street – the area of ​​the former “Capital” regiment will be closed.
from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. the intersection of Kristapori Street – Tigran Mets Avenue will be closed, from Atenki Street: Tigran Mets Avenue – Agatanghegosi Street – Grigor Lusavoruchi Street – Argishti Street – Atenki Street,

on May 28


All the mentioned road sections will be closed from 07:00 to 15:00, and the Republic Square-Tigran Mets avenue – Kristapor intersection will be closed until May 29 at 1:00.

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