Armenia will soon restart importing liquefied gas from Iran, which could contribute to a decrease in prices, according to Economy Minister Gevorg Papoyan.

Speaking to reporters during a Civil Contract party campaign event in the town of Aparan, Papoyan said the volume of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) entering Armenia at the beginning of May was low, which caused problems on the market.

“Our minimum plan was to ensure the availability of liquefied gas in Armenia, and today that has already been secured. Liquefied gas is available everywhere in Armenia,” he said.

The minister noted that the price of gas, which had previously exceeded 300 drams per cubic meter, has already declined.

“I just checked, and in Aparan the price is now 240 drams. Is that the price it should be? I think not,” Papoyan said.

According to him, the process of price reduction is progressing slowly, but the entry of Iranian liquefied gas into the market could have an impact on prices.

“The attaché of the Ministry of Economy in Iran informed me yesterday that the issue related to the export of liquefied gas from Iran has been resolved. This means that Iranian liquefied gas will also begin entering Armenia in the coming days,” the minister said.

Papoyan also said that liquefied gas supplies from Russia are currently being carried out without disruptions, although price increases in Russia have also affected the Armenian market.

“There has been a certain increase in prices in the Russian Federation, which has had its impact here as well,” he said.

However, Papoyan warned that prices are unlikely to return to previous levels in the short term.

“At this stage, I consider a short-term return to the old prices somewhat less realistic,” he stressed.

According to him, the government continues to work to increase liquefied gas imports to Armenia from both Iran and Russia, which is expected to contribute to a further decline in prices.

The price of liquefied gas in Armenia was around 170–180 drams per cubic meter more than a month ago. However, from mid-April, prices began to rise, reaching 280–300 drams per cubic meter. Armenia imports liquefied gas from Russia and Iran. Iran had suspended liquefied gas exports amid the U.S.-Israeli attacks. Problems also emerged with imports from Russia at the Upper Lars checkpoint, resulting in a liquefied gas shortage on the Armenian market.

IDBank press release

In Armenia, a wave of mass messages is being recorded that exploit trust in the national postal operator HayPost. Attackers use the expectation of the package as a fake reason to steal banking data or install spyware on users’ smartphones.

How the scam works: from SMS to full control of the device

The scheme begins with receiving an SMS, an e-mail or a massage in a messenger. The text always imitates an official notification: it reports a “mistake in the address” or the need to pay a small additional fee (usually 2000-3000 AMD) for customs clearance or storage.

In order to “solve the problem” the victim is asked to follow a link. From here the scenario splits into two dangerous paths:

·         Stealing bank credentials. The link leads to a phishing website that looks identical to the HayPost interface. When attempting to “pay the additional fee,” the user enters full card credentials, including the three-digit code on the back of the card and the SMS verification code, effectively giving scammers access to their account.

·         Installation of spyware. The user is offered to download an “official app” for tracking (often in .apk format for Android). In reality, it is a spyware, that gains an access to banking apps, intercepts passwords and allows scammers to remotely control the device.

Important detail: the message nearly almost lacks specifics. Such notifications usually don’t explain which particular package is being referred to: there is no specific tracking number, no exact sender information, and no other important details. The scam relies on inattention, haste and curiosity: ’’what if this is my package – I’d better fix it quickly.”

Postal phishing is a global trend and its popularity among the scammers rises especially during holiday seasons and online sales. In Armenia, this scheme is considered critically dangerous: the Central bank and HayPost annually issue official warnings about fake domains.

Legal trap

What makes this “postal” scheme especially deceptive is that the user voluntarily enters their data on a fake website. As the transaction is confirmed with a one-time password, the bank treats it as legitimate. In case of spyware installation, the situation becomes more complicated: voluntarily installing software from unverified sources removes financial institutions’ responsibility for subsequent transactions.

IDBank recommends:

Digital hygiene is the only reliable way to protect your money. Follow these rules:

·         Check the domain. Official massages from HayPost come only from the haypost.am domain.  Any variations such as haypost.cc, haypost.click or hay-post.info – are a 100% sign of fraud.

·         Do not follow links in messages. If you are really expecting a package, check its status on the official website by entering the tracking number manually or via the official mobile app, downloaded from the App Store or Google Play.

·         No “additional fees” on third-party websites. Real postal services do not request small transfers via messengers for “address correction.”

·         Use official support. If you have any doubts, contact with HayPost using the official number: 010 514514.

If you have already followed the link and entered your data or installed an app, immediately contact your bank using official channels and follow the support team’s instructions.

Remember: your financial security starts with your vigilance. Do not let fake notifications become a real threat to your budget.

IDBANK IS SUPERVISED BY THE CBA

Armenia, a country with rich winemaking traditions, is set to host leading industry experts and wine producers. The Concours Mondial de Bruxelles international wine tasting competition will take place in Armenia from May 19 to 23.

Founded in 1994, the competition annually brings together leading specialists to evaluate various types of wines from countries around the world. It was originally held in Brussels, but since 2006 a decision was made to rotate the event among different countries, giving local producers an opportunity to discover and showcase their potential. The competition has previously been held in Portugal, Italy, Spain, Mexico and other countries. Armenia is now the next host country. This will be the first time the competition is organised in Armenia and, more broadly, in the South Caucasus region.

Zaruhi Muradyan, Executive Director of the Vine and Wine Foundation of Armenia, said a large number of guests are expected and an extensive programme has been prepared.

“Around 400 wine experts from 65 countries will participate in the competition, including 120 wine buyers. We are also expecting 200 journalists, bloggers and sommeliers. This is a good opportunity for us to present Armenia as a winemaking country, as well as to showcase our rich history. The event will last five days, and we have tried to design a programme that will allow our guests, beyond the competition itself, to visit Armenia’s wine-producing regions, historical and cultural sites, and take part in various events,” Muradyan said.

The competition programme will include tastings of white, red and sparkling wines. In total, 8,000 wines will be presented for evaluation by experts, who will identify the best entries through blind tastings. Armenia usually participates in the competition with more than 50 varieties; this year, that number has increased to 120.

Quentin Havaux, Director of the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles wine tasting competition, noted that the event is not only a good opportunity to present a country’s winemaking story, showcase its potential and gain recognition, but also an effective platform for expanding professional partnerships.

“There will be numerous opportunities within the framework of the competition to establish contacts and build partnerships. First of all, guests will visit wineries. The guest list includes not only experts, but also wine buyers themselves. In addition, a special meeting will be organised with the participation of wine buyers and producers. As you know, we have also invited many bloggers and journalists who will speak about Armenian wines, which in turn will help raise the visibility of local products,” Havaux said.

He noted that Armenian wines are unique and remarkable for their quality. Havaux stressed that some wines produced in Armenia are made from distinctive grape varieties that cannot be replicated elsewhere.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Armenia, which oversees the national police force, has denied claims made by the leader of the “Prosperous Armenia” party, Gagik Tsarukyan, regarding the alleged dismissal of dozens of patrol officers in Kotayk Province.

Business magnate Gagik Tsarukyan resides in the city of Abovyan, the largest city in Kotayk Province, just outside Yerevan.

During an election campaign event held in the town of Dilijan, Tavush Province, Tsarukyan—who is running for parliament—claimed that 52 patrol officers had been fired in Kotayk, allegedly because their relatives supported him politically.

In response, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Narek Sargsyan, rejected the claim, describing it as disinformation.

“The statement is disinformation and does not correspond to reality,” Sargsyan told Armenpress.

The risk of hantavirus spread in Armenia is currently assessed as low, the country’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention said in a statement. Health authorities continue to monitor the international situation, it added.

No cases of hantavirus have been reported in Armenia so far.

The World Health Organization is currently not advising any travel or trade restrictions regarding the hantavirus situation.

Hantavirus mainly spreads via inhalation of contaminated particles from the urine, feces, or saliva of infected rodents. Only one strain, Andes — the one involved in the outbreak that began on a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean — can spread between people. However, it does so only in very specific, close-contact situations. Hantavirus can be very dangerous for those who become infected but does not pose the same broad outbreak risk as SARS or COVID-19.

The last passengers and some crew members have now left a Dutch cruise ship at the centre of the hantavirus outbreak after disembarking at Granadilla port in south-east Tenerife. Dozens of passengers from around the world have been making their way home.

Three people — a Dutch couple and a German woman — have died after travelling on the ship, with two of them confirmed to have had the virus.

As of May 12, there have been 11 cases in total — 9 confirmed and 2 suspected. 

According to health officials, hantavirus is not spread through everyday social contact. In the rare instances where a person has contracted hantavirus from another person (rather than from a rodent), it has involved close and prolonged contact with an infected individual.

The World Health Organization and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) assess the risk to the general population as very low.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan presented his Civil Contract party’s manifesto on education programs, military reforms, and the delimitation process with Azerbaijan to voters on Wednesday at a campaign event for the June 7 election in Aragatsotn Province.

He announced that the government’s flagship project to build and renovate 300 schools and 500 kindergartens across the country will soon be completed.

“By the end of this year, we will complete the 300 schools and 500 kindergartens program, and immediately launch the construction of the next 300 schools,” he said.

Pashinyan said the government also plans to build an additional 100 kindergartens in communities where there is a need.

The Prime Minister also highlighted the voluntary teacher certification program, saying it has enabled teachers’ salaries to double.

He added that in the next stage of the program, teachers who have already been certified will be able to retake the certification process, with the potential to raise their base salaries to as much as 300,000 drams, including bonuses.

The Prime Minister also spoke about ongoing reforms in the military.

“Today, we have privates in our military receiving a salary of 700,000 drams,” Pashinyan said.

He said that under the Homeland Defender volunteer service program, thousands of young people serve as contract soldiers and earn up to 600,000 drams while continuing to live with their families.

Pashinyan said that through this process, Armenia has entered a concrete path toward building a professional army.

He called on citizens to attend the military parade scheduled for May 28 at Republic Square in Yerevan to see the weapons acquired in recent years and the changes that have taken place in the armed forces.

At the same time, the Prime Minister stressed that the reforms are aimed at peace, not war.

“We are not preparing for war through army reforms; we are preparing for peace,” he said.

According to Pashinyan, a strong and capable army is necessary so that Armenia is not seen as an attractive target for aggression.

“We must ensure that our country is never, ever, ever attractive for aggression; on the contrary, it must be clear that no aggression can be carried out against our country,” he said.

The Prime Minister also spoke about the delimitation process with Azerbaijan, stating that the issue of occupied territories should be resolved through border delimitation.

Pashinyan said that the regulation on the joint activities of the Armenia–Azerbaijan border delimitation commissions, which has already been ratified in both countries, has legally binding force and is based on the principles of the Alma-Ata Declaration.

“De jure, these issues have already been resolved,” Pashinyan said.

Representatives of the Interparliamentary Assembly of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Elena Yeremenko and Roman Amburtsev, as well as Armenia’s representative to the CIS, Hayk Chilingaryan, met with Chairman of the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) Vahagn Hovakimyan in Yerevan.

According to a press release from the CEC, Chairman Hovakimyan presented the legislative regulations.

“The Interparliamentary Assembly of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) will conduct an observation mission during the 2026 parliamentary elections in the Republic of Armenia. The delegates and the Chairman of the Central Electoral Commission discussed the rights and responsibilities of organizations carrying out observation missions,” the statement said.

The parliamentary elections in Armenia will take place on June 7.

The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 13 May, USD exchange rate up by 0.01 drams to 368.63 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 0.98 drams to 431.78 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.0339 drams to 5.0126 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 0.91 drams to 497.91 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price down by 600 drams to 55447 drams. Silver price up by 38.43 drams to 991.28 drams.

A Longevity Forum is taking place Wednesday on the final day of the European high-level meeting HEALTHXCHANGE 2026, dedicated to the future of sustainable health tourism. The event opened at the Ensana Aquahouse Hotel & SPA resort complex in Sts Constantine and Helena Resort.

The meeting is organized by the European Spas Association (ESPA), the Bulgarian Union of Balneology and SPA Tourism (BUBSPA), and HTI Conference & Expo – an international platform and event organization focused on the development of health, spa, wellness, and medical tourism. Hosts of the event are the Bulgarian Ministry of Tourism and the Varna Municipality, while the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) is the main media partner.

Among the participants in the longevity discussion is Dr. Petra Bailey, Vice President of Ensana Health Spa, a Forbes-recognized leader, award-winning executive, and international speaker.

The keynote speaker is Dr. Angela Mladenov, an international physician and longevity expert, who will discuss global longevity trends.

Also participating will be Nikolina Angelkova, former Bulgarian Minister of Tourism (2014-2017), investment adviser, and lawyer. She will speak about opportunities for integrating the concept of longevity into the strategies of tourism management organizations and brands.

The discussion will also feature Vessela Toncheva-Schenk, a certified longevity fitness coach working between Bulgaria and Germany, as well as Mourad Benahmed, Michelin-starred chef at Ensana Sairme Resort in Georgia, who will present Ensana’s philosophy of healthy, functional, and flavorful cuisine.

Participants in the European meeting will also visit the Roman Baths of Varna and the Regional Historical Museum Varna. 

(This information is published according to an agreement between Armenpress and BTA). 

Armenian Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Zhanna Andreasyan and the head of the European Union Delegation to Armenia, Ambassador Vassilis Maragos, visited the Aruch St. Grigor Church in Aragatsotn Province together with schoolchildren participating in the “Young European Heritage Makers” creative competition.

Deputy Education Minister Alfred Kocharyan also took part in the visit.

According to a statement released by the ministry, the guests toured the Aruch St. Grigor Church and the surrounding area and were introduced to the history of the monument.

During the event, Education Minister Zhanna Andreasyan and EU Ambassador Vassilis Maragos presented certificates to the nine winning teams of the “Young European Heritage Makers” competition held within the framework of the European Heritage Days programme.

The minister congratulated the students and thanked them for participating and for showing interest in historical monuments. She expressed hope that the event would inspire the students to discover Armenia and learn more about the country’s cultural heritage and historical monuments.

Zhanna Andreasyan noted that a festival of spiritual music dedicated to Christmas is held every year at the Aruch St. Grigor Church in Aragatsotn Province.

“I hope you will also take part in the upcoming concert, because when spiritual music is performed inside the church, its grandeur and magnificence are revealed in an entirely new way,” Zhanna Andreasyan told the students.

The minister, the EU ambassador and the schoolchildren then took part in a hike to the Aruch medieval fortress.

The “Luserun” (“Generation of Light”) team representing the town of Abovyan, which won the national stage of the “Young European Heritage Makers” competition, also secured victory in the pan-European stage. The winning team had travelled to Strasbourg and recently returned from the trip.

“Luserun” presented an interactive educational quiz game dedicated to the Garni Temple.

Within the framework of the ARC-HE-TOUR-DEV programme, and with the support of the Italian Embassy in Armenia, a restoration and museum development project for the Aruch medieval fortress has been designed while preserving methodological rigor and the historical integrity of the monument.

The project envisages visitor routes, recreation areas, entrance sections and interpretation tools aimed at ensuring a coherent and accessible presentation of the monument complex.