Armenia’s Investigative Committee announced Wednesday that it had opened a criminal case involving Narek Karapetyan, the top candidate on the “Strong Armenia” alliance’s electoral list, over allegations that he concealed his foreign citizenship status while registering for parliamentary elections.

Narek Karapetyan is the nephew of “Strong Armenia” alliance leader Samvel Karapetyan.

Requirements for running for parliament in Armenia include having resided in the country for at least the previous four years and holding exclusively Armenian citizenship throughout that period.

According to the Investigative Committee, Narek Karapetyan concealed his citizenship status while submitting documents to the authorities.

“According to a report of an apparent crime received by the Yerevan City Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee of Armenia from the Police of Armenia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs, parliamentary candidate Narek Karapetyan — who was nominated as the lead candidate of the ‘Strong Armenia’ alliance for the June 7, 2026 National Assembly elections — despite having been warned about the legal liability for providing false information, deliberately concealed information about possessing or having possessed foreign citizenship. Specifically, he submitted a false application to the Migration and Citizenship Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs stating that he was not a citizen of another state, thereby concealing information about foreign citizenship that would prevent him from obtaining the status of a public official,” the statement issued by the Investigative Committee said.

It added that criminal proceedings had been initiated under Part 1 of Article 449 of Armenia’s Criminal Code, which concerns concealing information that obstructs obtaining or retaining the status of a public official.

On May 19, reports circulated online claiming that, according to data from Russia’s Unified State Register of Legal Entities, Narek Karapetyan had been listed as a Russian citizen as of 2020.

A document allegedly confirming this was also published.

However, Karapetyan denied the claim during a press briefing, insisting that he holds only Armenian citizenship and has never held foreign citizenship.

By law, even if a candidate held foreign citizenship outside the four-year requirement period, they are still required to disclose it.

Yerevan First Deputy Mayor Armen Pambukhchyan held a meeting with American University of Armenia (AUA) President Dr. Bruce Boghosian and Vice President Ashot Ghazaryan.

Pambukhchyan is currently serving as acting mayor, as Tigran Avinyan has taken a leave of absence to campaign for the Civil Contract party.

During the meeting, Pambukhchyan and AUA officials discussed the development plan for the AUA Triangle Park, as well as issues related to improvements to the area adjacent to the main building and traffic management, City Hall said in a press release. Plans for a new campus were also discussed, with American architects involved in its design.

Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Armen Ghazaryan chaired a meeting with officials to discuss the introduction of an e-gate system at border checkpoints.

Migration and Citizenship Service Director Nelly Davtyan, Chairman of the Information Systems Regulations Commission Nerses Yeritsyan, and other government officials attended the meeting, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Officials discussed the introduction of an e-gate system at border checkpoints, focusing on its technical and operational components.

The system is expected to automate border control procedures, reduce passenger processing times, and enhance identification mechanisms through biometric verification. The meeting also addressed technical maintenance, software support, data processing, and risk management systems, as well as the importance of interagency cooperation and the application of international best practices.

The officials agreed to continue work on the system’s implementation. The new system is planned to be introduced in parallel with the rollout of biometric passports.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan reiterated that the Armenian government will “not take any abrupt actions” in its relationship with Russia.

Speaking at a campaign event for the ruling Civil Contract party in the village of Shnogh in Lori Province, Pashinyan said he has friendly relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and that they have held over 200 phone calls since he took office in 2018.

Speaking about ties with Moscow, Pashinyan highlighted close political contacts and frequent high-level communication with Russian leadership. At the same time, he emphasized that although Armenia respects Russia as a major power and values continued dialogue, it cannot place another country’s interests above its own.

“We will not take any abrupt actions in relations with Russia. I have friendly relations with the President of the Russian Federation, in the literal sense of the word. I doubt that since 2018 the President of the Russian Federation has had more contacts with any other leader. During this period, we have had more than 200 phone conversations. We also have very warm, friendly relations with the Russian prime minister. And in general, our attitude towards Russia is very warm. The issue lies elsewhere. Our opposition says: equal-to-equal relations with Russia… dear people, well, let’s not overdo it. Humor is humor, but even humor has its limits… Russia is a superpower, and Russia should be treated with respect and reverence, as superpowers are treated. And I treat it that way—not only Russia, but also the President of Russia and the prime minister of Russia. But I tell them one thing: I say that we have never done anything to harm Russia’s interests, and we will not do so in the future,” Pashinyan said.

He emphasized that the Armenian authorities treat Russia’s interests with the utmost respect.

“But excuse me, we cannot treat Russia’s interests as higher than the interests of the Republic of Armenia. This is a legitimate position, and we are guided by Armenia’s interests, and we will not enter into contradiction, confrontation, or even verbal disputes and debates with our Russian partners. High-level dialogue will continue,” Pashinyan concluded.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has announced plans to nationalize the Ararat Cement Plant, which is owned by businessman and leader of the Prosperous Armenia Party, Gagik Tsarukyan.

Speaking during an election campaign event in the Lori region, Pashinyan said the facility would be transferred to state ownership in the near future following alleged illegal schemes uncovered by authorities, and that a temporary administrator would be appointed to manage the plant.

“The backbone of Prosperous Armenia party leader Tsarukyan’s business — the Ararat Cement Plant — will be state-owned and will belong to the Republic of Armenia. Because the Guloyan–Tsarukyan scheme has been exposed,” Pashinyan said, referring to an alleged scheme involving Tsarukyan’s son-in-law and former governor of Kotayk, Karapet Guloyan.

“The Government of the Republic of Armenia has already received a letter from the Prosecutor’s Office stating that this property is subject to nationalization. In the near future, very quickly, just as we appointed an administrator at Electric Networks of Armenia, we will also appoint an administrator at the Ararat Cement Plant. I congratulate all employees of the Ararat Cement Plant on their liberation. From this moment on, they no longer need to follow any instructions from Tsarukyan or Guloyan, because their employer is now the Republic of Armenia. The Ararat Cement Plant will very soon be de jure returned to the Armenian people,” Pashinyan said.

The factory, stylized as AraratCement, is located in the town of Ararat in the eponymous province. It was reportedly acquired by Tsarukyan’s Multi Group in the early 2000s.

Armenia’s Prosecutor General’s Office said it reviewed the privatization of the factory carried out under a 2002 government decision, and following findings suggesting possible criminal elements, it submitted a crime report to the Anti-Corruption Committee on May 5, 2026, which led to the opening of a criminal case on May 7, 2026 on charges related to abuse of official powers and large-scale money laundering.

In parallel with the investigation, the Prosecutor’s Office continued to exercise its mandate to protect state interests, including sending a letter to the Government of Armenia on May 5, 2026, proposing that appropriate administrative measures be considered to address violations and their consequences at the company, including the possible appointment of an interim administrator.

The original version of this article has been updated to include a statement from the Prosecutor General’s Office.