This is a direct threat. Iveta Tonoyan, part of Pashinyan’s next manipulation

Nahapetian Zhanna

In response to another manipulation of Nikol Pashinyan.

Yesterday, PAP chairman Gagik Tsarukyan announced during a meeting with voters that a large number of patrolmen were fired in the Kotayk marz, because their family members are supporters of PAP. Minutes later, the Ministry of Internal Affairs hastened to deny this information, but today it became clear that this haste was unnecessary, because just minutes ago, Nikol Pashinyan actually confirmed G. Tsarukyan’s information, moreover, he added that if they haven’t been fired yet, they should definitely be fired, because even he doesn’t have that many people with positions in his circle.

First of all, this assessment-instruction, which is in clear contradiction with the law, is a direct threat to all opposition forces and figures. Absurdity must also have a measure and a limit. In other words, what happens if you have a friend, acquaintance, neighbor who works in law enforcement or in the state system, then you cannot sympathize or support any political force, because they will be fired by Nikol Pashinyan’s direct order. In fact, it is so. And secondly, when Nikol Pashinyan says that even he does not have patrols as familiar as Tsarukyan mentioned, because there are no people from his circle in that system, let me refresh his memory.

Yes, maybe there are no patrollers around you, instead, your classmate Vahe Ghazaryan was the Minister of Internal Affairs until recently, your friend Hayk Ghalumyan is currently the governor of Tavush, Hrachya Hakobyan is already receiving a deputy’s mandate for the second time for a brilliant game in the TV series, the former journalist of the People’s Republic of Azerbaijan Vahagn Hovakimyan is now the chairman of the CEC, your nephew Sipan Pashinyan is a member of the National Assembly. Hakob Simidyan, who sheltered you while you were under investigation, was the RA Minister of Environment. I can continue this series for a long time.

By the way, there are several other positions in which Nikol Pashinyan personally appointed himself and continues to work in those positions today.

Nikol Pashinyan – RA Prosecutor General
Nikol Pashinyan – Chief of Police of RA
Nikol Pashinyan – Head of the RA National Security Service
Nikol Pashinyan – a judge of various instances who reads verdicts to someone every day of the campaign.


Iveta Tonoyan




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Armenia will simplify the visa regime for COP17

Mary Lazarian
Photo: afm.am

The RA government plans to temporarily ease the migration restrictions that have been in place for many years in order to facilitate the entry of delegates to the upcoming COP17 international conference into the country.


Within the framework of preparations for the large-scale event, representatives of certain states will have the opportunity to issue visas in a much faster and modern procedure.


According to the project jointly developed by the Ministries of Environment and Foreign Affairs, as well as the National Security Service, the E-VISA electronic system will be available for individual groups of international guests.


Since 2008, citizens of these countries could get an Armenian visa exclusively through diplomatic missions and consulates, only in case of a mandatory invitation.


It is expected that this innovation will significantly optimize organizational processes and ensure a smooth and comfortable arrival of foreign participants to Armenia.

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Verelq: In the end, is Nikol guilty or responsible? The National Assembly reminded again which one

Frangulian Shushan

After the 44-day war, Nikol Pashinyan uttered a sentence that later became the psychological diagnosis of the entire capitulating regime: “I am responsible, but not guilty.” Those words were not accidental. They were the words of a man who was aware of the scale of the disaster, but at the same time understood that the entire political, judicial and propaganda machine created in Armenia will protect him, justify him, wash away the blood, erase the traces of guilt. And so it happened.


Today, there is no real investigation in the Republic of Armenia regarding the 44-day war. There is only a self-defense mechanism of the government, where the prosecutor’s office, investigative bodies, government media, and the investigative commission of the National Assembly act with the same logic to save Nikol Pashinyan from the judgment of history and the people. That is why all the blame for the war is consistently shifted to the army. Generals, officers, volunteers, even the victims are guilty. Everyone, except for those who for years turned the country into a political circus, the army into a PR tool, and diplomacy into cafe demagogy.


When you listen to the sessions of the investigative commission led by Andranik Kocharyan, you involuntarily remember the demonstration trials held in Baku against the military-political leadership of Artsakh. It has already been decided in advance who is guilty, who should be seen as a “criminal” in the eyes of the public, who should be saved. One important aspect is missing in the activity of that commission: the truth. There is only a political order. And it is no coincidence that against this background, Seyran Ohanyan’s last speech in the government hall sounded like a heavy psychological blow to the entire CP propaganda machine.


Seyran Ohanyan, being a man of war and army, understands very well something that a significant part of the society still does not dare to accept. In the 44-day war, the Armenian army was not defeated as the authorities try to present. The army was left alone. For a month, the Artsakh Defense Army literally held the front with its own body, while the political power was living in information chaos, inactivity and unclear decisions. The war defeated the regime, which for years was busy not with building a state, but with the obsession of maintaining power.


Pay attention to what Seyran Ohanyan was saying. He was talking about the failure of military and political decisions, he was talking about the failure of mobilization, he was talking about the diplomatic disaster, he was talking about the state system which during the war could not even understand where the enemy’s main blow would come from. These were not random observations. They were assessments of a person who saw from the inside. And that’s why the government is afraid of such speeches, because they destroy the propaganda myth that “everything is the army’s fault”.


It is also interesting that Seyran Ohanyan raised a question in an open text: why is there not at least one criminal case against those diplomats, those state officials, those political officials who failed the negotiation process? Where are they? Why are they judging only the military? Why are those who were in the trenches responsible for the war, and those who handed over the state in the cabinets are still in power today?


The problem here is not only political. This is a matter of psychological decay of the society. For years, Armenian society has been taught that defeat should be accepted as an “era of peace”, humiliation as realism, national tragedy as an opportunity for development. A loser’s mentality has been implanted in people’s brains. And when Artsvik Minasyan announced from the podium of the National Assembly that the current government has long since turned into a servant of the Turkish-Azerbaijani agenda, he was actually describing the moral and psychological atmosphere that has formed in Armenia after 2018.


Perhaps the most important part of Artsvik Minasyan’s speech was the one where he recalled the chain of lies of the government. At first, people were convinced that Artsakh would never be surrendered. Then they started to explain that Artsakh was a “burden”. At first they said that the people will not be subjected to police violence. Later, the same police were smashing people’s heads in the streets of Yerevan. At first they talked about democracy, then they turned the entire state system into a tool of political reprisal.


A sick reality has formed in Armenia, where the government is ready to sacrifice everything in order to maintain its own existence: army, statehood, history, even national memory. That is why today the government propagandists talk much more easily about the need to avoid the topic of “Western Azerbaijan” than about the occupation of Artsakh. That is why the issue of Armenians kept in Azerbaijani prisons has become an inconvenience for the government, not a national tragedy.


When Artsvik Minasyan said that the current government turned citizens into subjects, it was not an exaggeration. The government in Armenia has been building a system of fear, despair and moral capitulation for a long time. Every day people are told that they are weak, defenseless, and cannot change anything. And managing such a society is very easy.


The greatest tragedy of Armenia today is not only territorial loss. The biggest tragedy is that the state is run by people who have turned defeat into a political technology. And as long as the entire law enforcement system serves to save one state criminal, as long as the investigative commissions act at the behest of the government, as long as the real responsible for the war are hidden behind the state chairs, the society will not receive either truth, justice, or healing.


As Raffi would say: “A tree worm will live for a thousand years if it does not belong to it.” Our thief is from our house, our worm is from our effort.” And today those words sound more relevant than ever. Because not “Sushi was grumpy”, but a son named Nikol Pashinyan conveyed that grumpiness to the entire Armenian reality.


Armenian Public Tribunal

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Turkey and Armenia advance toward direct trade as border preparations continue

Maral Chavushian
EU Alive
May 14 2026

An adjustment simplifies customs procedures without yet establishing a fully open land border

EUalive with Bosphorus NewsMay 14, 202604:26

In a notable step forward in bilateral relations, Turkey and Armenia have taken a concrete measure to enable direct trade, even as work to reopen their shared border remains ongoing.

On Wednesday, Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesperson Öncü Keçeli announced that bureaucratic preparations for direct trade were completed two days ago. He clarified that this does not mean the physical border has reopened – technical work on border infrastructure is still in progress.

What the change means in practice

Under the new arrangement, goods traveling between the two countries via third countries can now be documented with Turkey or Armenia listed as the actual country of origin or final destination. Previously, such shipments required indirect routing and reclassification, adding complexity and cost.

This adjustment simplifies customs procedures without yet establishing a fully open land border. It reduces administrative hurdles and political ambiguity for businesses on both sides.

Reactions from Armenia

Armenian officials welcomed the development as part of the broader normalization process. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ani Badalyan described it as a positive outcome of ongoing efforts, highlighting its potential to boost trade, economic ties, connectivity, peace, and prosperity. She suggested it could pave the way for full border opening and the establishment of diplomatic relations.

Armenia’s Economy Ministry promptly informed local businesses of the change, noting that it should lower costs, shorten delivery times, and open new market opportunities for Armenian and Turkish companies.

Ruben Rubinyan, Armenia’s special representative for normalization with Turkey, emphasized that direct trade is now possible “in customs terms.” He confirmed that preparations for the land border – including the Gyumri-Kars railway – continue as part of the wider process.

Broader context

The move represents a pragmatic, technical advance in a normalization track that has progressed cautiously through incremental steps rather than dramatic breakthroughs. It fits into Turkey’s wider vision of enhancing economic connectivity and stability in the South Caucasus, while Armenia views it as a logical stage toward deeper relations.

Businesses now have a narrower but more practical channel for trade. If this arrangement proves effective, focus will likely shift to the next milestones: physical border opening, railway reactivation, and eventual diplomatic ties.

This development comes amid ongoing regional dynamics in the South Caucasus, where Turkey-Armenia talks intersect with broader connectivity and security priorities.

Turkey and Armenia have no formal diplomatic relations, and their shared land border has remained closed since 1993. The closure followed the First Nagorno-Karabakh War, when Turkey sided with Azerbaijan and imposed an economic blockade on Armenia.

The EU warmly welcomed the announcement by Turkey on initiation of bilateral trade with Armenia.

“This is a remarkable development in their normalisation process, also illustrated by the recent meeting of the bilateral working group to advance the restoration of rail connections between the two countries on 28 April 2026, which we welcomed”, the statement reads. It further says that this “significant step” has the potential to boost trade and economic opportunities between both countries, with a positive impact for the entire South Caucasus as well as the EU.

The original article by Bosphorus News can be found here.

Caption: AI-generated illustrative image.


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Wings of Unity campaign disrupted by alleged relative of Armenian ruling party

Boris Nahapetian
Panorama, Armenia
May 14 2026

Armenia’s opposition Wings of Unity party  said its campaign event in Yerevan’s Erebuni district was disrupted by a man who aggressively defended Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and the ruling Civil Contract party.

Party member Davit Ananyan wrote on social media on Thursday that the group had been distributing leaflets and speaking with residents when an older man “literally attacked us, frantically defending Nikol Pashinyan and his government.” Ananyan said attempts to engage in constructive dialogue failed as the man shouted over them.

According to Ananyan, the individual was later identified by locals as the uncle of Civil Contract lawmaker Hayk Konjoryan. “If that is true, it explains a lot,” Ananyan wrote, suggesting the man’s behavior reflected personal ties and vested interests rather than ideological conviction.

Ananyan described the incident as emblematic of what he called “the tragedy of Nikol-worship”, arguing that loyalty to the government has shifted from principle to the defense of personal benefit.

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Georgia’s drift from the West opens a strategic window for Armenia on Europe-

Baghdasarian Karlen
BNE Intellinews
May 14 2026

By IntelliNews May 13, 2026

As geopolitical instability redraws Eurasian trade routes, the Centre for Eastern Studies (OSW) says the South Caucasus is emerging as an increasingly important transit bridge between Europe and Asia. Yet while Georgia currently dominates this east-west corridor, mounting political tensions with Western partners may create an opening for Armenia to position itself as an alternative route.

A new report by Warsaw-based think-tank OSW argues that the region’s strategic value has risen sharply “amid the war in Ukraine and instability in the Middle East,” with the so-called Middle Corridor becoming an increasingly attractive alternative to routes passing through Russia or Iran.

At the heart of that route lies Georgia, which OSW describes as “the central hub of the Middle Corridor, owing to regional political conditions and existing infrastructure.” But the report warns that this dominant position may no longer be assured.

“The main challenge may lie not in the operational viability of the trade routes running through Georgia, but in Tbilisi’s political unpredictability,” OSW said. It added that the country’s “growing authoritarianism and the resulting deterioration in its relations with the EU” could erode confidence among both investors and regional partners.

That assessment comes as Georgia’s relations with the West have become increasingly strained over the past two years, following domestic political controversies that have triggered criticism from Brussels and Washington. The governing Georgian Dream has faced accusations from opponents and Western officials of democratic backsliding, particularly over legislation targeting foreign-funded civil society groups and a broader crackdown on dissent.

According to OSW, those developments are beginning to carry economic implications beyond domestic politics.

“These factors undermine the long-standing assumption that Georgia remains a stable political partner in the region,” the report said, adding that they are “also weakening the trust of Turkey and Azerbaijan in Georgia as a transit partner.”

Georgia currently forms a vital link in the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), also known as the Middle Corridor, which connects China and Central Asia to Europe through the Azerbaijan–Georgia–Turkey axis. The corridor gained strategic importance after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, as businesses and governments sought alternatives to the traditional northern route through Russian territory.

Georgia’s role has been reinforced by infrastructure upgrades, including the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, whose upgraded Georgian section was completed in 2024. OSW noted that the line’s annual capacity increased from 1mn tonnes to 5mn tonnes, while container traffic rose dramatically in early 2025.

But Georgia’s infrastructure development has relied heavily on European financing, and that may become a vulnerability if political ties worsen further.

“The EU’s position may also prove significant, as it has been an important source of funding for the development of Georgia’s transport infrastructure,” OSW said, citing major support from the European Investment Bank. “Georgia’s continued drift away from the West could make it more difficult to secure funding for new infrastructure projects.”

That creates an opportunity for Armenia, which has until now remained outside the main transit route because of its closed borders with Azerbaijan and Turkey and comparatively weak infrastructure.

OSW said Armenia’s role has grown since the 2020 Second Nagorno-Karabakh War, after which Yerevan began moving away from “its previous model of economic cooperation with Russia in favour of normalising relations with neighbouring countries and diversifying its economic ties.”

This strategic reorientation has underpinned Armenian efforts to market itself as a future transport hub. Central to that is Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s Crossroads of Peace initiative, which aims to reopen transport links with Azerbaijan and Turkey and transform Armenia into a connector between regional markets.

OSW said the project could “reshape the regional transport landscape, particularly in the road transport sector, potentially reducing Georgia’s importance while increasing the capacity of the TITR.” The report also references the so-called TRIPP initiative, a proposed transport corridor in southern Armenia that would connect mainland Azerbaijan with its Nakhchivan exclave.

As Georgia’s political trajectory raises concerns in European capitals, Yerevan has strengthened ties with the EU and presented itself as a more cooperative partner.

The EU has already pledged €270mn under its Resilience and Growth Plan for Armenia for 2024-2027, while broader support under the Global Gateway framework could reach approximately €2.5bn, including transport and connectivity projects.

“This means that, should the political situation in the region improve, Armenia could gain access to substantial funding for the development of transport routes,” OSW said.

Still, the think-tank cautions that Armenia’s ambitions remain contingent on unresolved political risks. The proposed transport projects remain “dependent on the opening of the country’s borders with Azerbaijan and Turkey,” and so far “neither the TRIPP nor the CoP has progressed beyond the conceptual phase.”

Domestic politics could also complicate the picture. Armenia’s parliamentary elections, expected in June, may prove decisive.

“Should Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan lose the upcoming vote, projects such as the CoP and the TRIPP could lose momentum or even be abandoned, particularly if relations with Azerbaijan deteriorate,” the report said.

For now, Georgia remains the undisputed artery of the Middle Corridor. But the OSW analysis suggests that politics, rather than geography, may ultimately determine the South Caucasus’ transport map.

“In the short term, the current configuration of transport routes in the South Caucasus is unlikely to change significantly,” the report said. “In the longer term, however, should Armenia make further progress in normalising its relations with Azerbaijan and Turkey and succeed in opening its borders, the country’s infrastructure could begin to gain importance as a complement to the existing network.”


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‘You visited the first Christian nation, yet ignored the Catholicos of All Arm

Emil Lazarian
Panorama, Armenia
May 14 2026

The prestigious French periodical Le Journal du Dimanche has published an open letter from the former Ambassador of Armenia to the Holy See, Mikayel Minasyan, addressed to French President Emmanuel Macron. Notably, the letter has also been officially delivered to the Élysée Palace.

Tert.am presents the Armenian translation of the message addressed to President Macron, in which Minasyan details the issues facing the Armenians of Artsakh, as well as the persecutions and repressions carried out against the Armenian Apostolic Church.

Addressing the President of France, Mikayel Minasyan wrote:

“Days ago, you were hosted in my homeland, Armenia, where you were welcomed with the warmth characteristic of the Armenian people. The friendship between France and Armenia has centuries of history and deep roots in shared values; however, allow me to state a simple truth: just as Armenia is not Nikol Pashinyan, France is not you.

Your visit was not a mission to support an allied people, but rather overt and harsh political propaganda in favor of Nikol Pashinyan, just one month before the elections. Your obsession with flattering the incumbent authorities was so overwhelming that you even resorted to falsehoods, claiming that no such visits to Armenia had occurred prior to 2018. Meanwhile, all three of your predecessors paid official visits to our country, earning the utmost respect of the people and an equally warm reception.

During this visit, you chose to see only the ‘Nikol-aligned’ side of Armenia. You avoided hearing the voices of those Armenians who do not forgive and do not forget how, on October 6, 2022, in Prague—under your direct auspices—Nikol Pashinyan recognized Artsakh as part of Azerbaijan. Many of the authors of that black page of history have already left the political stage, as you and your protégé will one day. However, what remains are the 120,000 Armenians of Artsakh and their descendants, who, as a result of your ‘peace agenda,’ suffered under blockade for eight months, faced starvation, and in September 2023, were forcibly displaced from their millennial homeland following ethnic cleansing and military aggression—all amid the silence and inaction of you, your protégé, and your colleagues.

Today, you make loud statements about Pashinyan’s ‘courage.’ If surrendering one’s own homeland and people to the enemy is courage to you, then to us, it is national treason. But you did not meet those Armenians.

You did not see the Artsakh Armenians being manhandled and subjected to brutal force on the streets of Yerevan because police cordons kept them far from your sight. You visited the Genocide Memorial, yet you never learned that the director of the Genocide Museum—a distinguished scholar—was recently dismissed by Nikol simply for daring to present a book about Artsakh to the Vice President of the United States.

You visited the first country to adopt Christianity, yet you ignored the Catholicos of All Armenians, who has long been subjected to open persecution for refusing to renounce Artsakh and for defending Armenian spiritual heritage. The persecution unleashed against the Armenian Apostolic Church is not limited to the campaign against the Supreme Patriarch. Today in Armenia, four bishops and high-ranking clergy of the Church remain in custody, held solely on fabricated and politically motivated charges. Furthermore, the movements of the Catholicos of All Armenians are effectively restricted within the country, and members of his family have become political hostages, ending up behind bars.

You visited Gyumri, but you were not told that the leader of that diocese, Archbishop Mikayel, spent about a year in prison for his commitment to free speech and the truth, and is currently under house arrest. During your visit, the faithful of Gyumri, who attempted to raise their voices to you, were barred by brutal police force from even approaching your motorcade.

Armenia today is submerged in total repression. The existence of political prisoners, the violent silencing of free speech, and the collapse of democratic institutions are documented even in the reports of reputable international organizations. Pashinyan does not shy away from persecuting prominent figures of the Diaspora—some of whom, incidentally, were part of your own delegation. You cannot be unaware of all this.

The Armenians you failed to meet are certain: history will yet deliver its harsh verdict on the ‘courage’ you so diligently praise.

They are also glad that, just as Armenia is not Nikol Pashinyan, France is not you.”

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Pashinyan explained Armenia’s position on imposing sanctions against Russia

Babken Chilingarian
Oreanda
May 14 2026
OREANDA-NEWS  Armenia will not impose sanctions against Russia. This statement was made by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, answering questions from journalists, according to the Armenian Press.

“We have stated that we will not enter the sanctions regime, but we will not take steps to avoid falling under it ourselves,” the politician explained.

Earlier, Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu noted that if Armenia joins the European Union (EU), Yerevan will be forced to impose sanctions against Russia and will lose many privileges after leaving the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).

In April, the head of the European Commission (EC), Ursula von der Leyen, said that the EU welcomes Armenia’s measures to combat circumvention of anti-Russian sanctions.

https://www.oreanda-news.com/en/v_mire/pashinyan-explained-armenia-s-position-on-imposing-sanctions-against-russia/article1591692/

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Armenia has received a proposal from Russia to build a modular nuclear power p

Vanyan Gary
Oreanda
May 14 2026
OREANDA-NEWS  Armenia has received proposals for the construction of a modular nuclear power plant from a number of countries, including Russia, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told reporters.

“We have received offers from Russia, Korea, and France. Our calculation is that at our rate of solar energy, we do not need a nuclear power plant with a capacity of 600-1000 MW. A modular nuclear power plant is suitable for us. There is such a station in Russia, a floating station,” he said.

According to him, Armenia is discussing this issue with Russia, the United States, France, Korea, and China: “We will look at technologies, prices, and choose the best offer. This is not a political choice, but an economic issue.”

The current Armenian nuclear power plant is one of the main sources of electricity in the country. The plant has a single unit with a first-generation VVER-440 reactor, which is supplied by TVEL (part of Rosatom).

At the end of December, Rosatom handed over to Armenia a package of detailed proposals for the construction of a new nuclear power plant in the republic.

Earlier, Pashinyan stated that the life of the Armenian NPP could be extended until 2046, and the construction of a new power unit is currently being discussed with Russia, the United States, France, South Korea and China.

On February 9, US Vice President Jay Dee Vance said at a briefing in Yerevan that the United States would invest $9 billion in Armenia’s nuclear energy sector.

https://www.oreanda-news.com/en/tek/armenia-has-received-a-proposal-from-russia-to-build-a-modular-nuclear-power-/article1591700/

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Armenia as Something to Eat? PM Pashinyan Refuses to Cut Map-Like Cake

Emil Lazarian
PRAVDA, Russia
May 14 2026
 14.05.2026 16:10
World

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan refused to cut a cake shaped like the map of Armenia during a campaign trip to the community of Gyulagarak, drawing attention on social media and in local media coverage.

Residents prepared the cake to welcome the prime minister during his pre-election visit. The dessert featured the outline of Armenia colored in orange and blue, matching the colors used in the government’s election campaign branding.

Pashinyan Declines Symbolic Gesture

Video published by Radar Armenia showed Pashinyan thanking supporters but declining to cut the cake.

“No, no, thank you very much. I understand what you meant, of course, but we will not cut this cake. And I ask you very much — cakes, and generally anything edible, should not be made in the shape of Armenia,” Pashinyan said.

The moment quickly spread across Armenian social media platforms, where users debated the symbolism behind the prime minister’s reaction.

Campaign Focus on Armenia’s Recognized Borders

The incident comes as Armenia’s internationally recognized borders have become one of the central themes of Pashinyan’s political messaging ahead of upcoming elections.

Earlier, the Armenian leader described the 1988 movement seeking the unification of Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia as a “fatal mistake,” signaling a major shift from previous nationalist narratives that dominated Armenian politics for decades.

Pashinyan has increasingly emphasized the importance of preserving Armenia’s sovereignty within its internationally recognized borders while pursuing normalization efforts with neighboring countries.

Position on Russia Sanctions

During separate remarks to journalists, Pashinyan also reiterated that Armenia does not plan to join sanctions against Russia.

“We have stated that we will not enter the sanctions regime, but we also will not take steps that would cause us to fall under sanctions ourselves,” he explained.

Armenia maintains close economic ties with Russia while simultaneously seeking deeper cooperation with Western countries and regional partners, forcing Yerevan to balance competing geopolitical pressures.

Analysts note that Armenia’s leadership continues to pursue a cautious foreign policy strategy aimed at avoiding direct confrontation with either Moscow or the West.

Author`s name Anton Kulikov

Editor Dmitry Sudakov

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