A representative of billionaire and opposition leader Samvel Karapetian said on Friday that he will reject a government offer to give up ownership of Armenia national electric utility at a symbolic price.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian called for the nationalization of the Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA) operator last June just hours after Karapetian was arrested on charges stemming from his strong criticism of Pashinian’s crackdown on the Armenian Apostolic Church.
Karapetian was also charged with tax evasion, fraud and money laundering following his subsequent decision to set up his own political group. It is now expected to be the main opposition contender in Armenia’s June 7 parliamentary elections. The tycoon, who was moved to house arrest in late December, rejects all the accusations as politically motivated.
The government forcibly took over ENA’s management in July, accusing its parent company owned by Karapetian’s Moscow-based business conglomerate, Tashir Group, of mismanaging the power distribution network. Tashir rejected the accusations, appealing to the Arbitration Institute of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce (SCC).
Armenia’s Public Services Regulatory Commission (PSRC) formally revoked Tashir’s operating license on November 17. The decision meant that ENA can be nationalized if the two sides fail to agree within the next three months on its sale to another investor.
In a formal proposal submitted to Tashir on February 17, the government valued the utility employing thousands of people at just 23.3 billion drams ($62 million). According to a copy of the proposal obtained by RFE/RL’s Armenian Service last week, payment of that sum is conditional on Karapetian and his family returning about 23.2 billion drams in dividends from ENA profits paid to them over the past decade. The proposed deal would leave the tycoon with a net gain of 142 million drams ($380,000).
“Of course, we will not accept the proposal,” said Davit Ghazinian, who managed ENA until its seizure by the government. “What rational or sensible person would accept that proposal? On the contrary, the person making that proposal should be sent to an appropriate [psychiatric] specialist.”
Under Armenian law, Tashir has three months to formally reply to the government proposal. Citing this provision, Armenia’s Administrative Court banned the government recently from nationalizing ENA before May 25.
The government will have to compensate Tashir even in the likely event of the nationalization which Karapetian’s group will almost certainly challenge in court. Tashir is already seeking $500 million in damages for what it calls an illegal “expropriation” of Karapetian’s biggest asset in Armenia.
The Stockholm arbitration body ordered the Armenian authorities last summer to refrain from seizing ENA, changing ENA’s top management or revoking Tashir’s operating license pending a verdict in the case. The authorities ignored the order.
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Kocharian Blasts Pashinian’s ‘New Adventure’
- Robert Zargarian
Former President Robert Kocharian accused Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian of drawing Armenia into a new geopolitical “adventure” fraught with severe consequences for the country as he kicked off his Hayastan alliance’s election campaign on Friday.
Echoing criticism voiced by Russian officials, Kocharian deplored “provocative statements” made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other foreign leaders during two European summits hosted by Pashinian’s government earlier this week.
“They are trying to drag us into a new adventure again,” he told a campaign rally held in the town of Vagharshapat. “Are they doing this to please [French President Emmanuel] Macron, or are there deeper reasons?”
“There are two reasons,” he went on. “First, they [the Armenian authorities] have nothing to say because they have not fulfilled any of their promises and have come up with that threat of war with which they need to convince our people to get reelected. And second, they are dragging us into a new adventure … so that the Europeans turn a blind eye to everything that is happening in Armenia today.”
Armenian opposition leaders have for years accused the West of turning a blind eye to what they see as Pashinian’s crackdowns on dissent for geopolitical reasons. They view this week’s European Political Community and EU-Armenia summits in Yerevan as a show of support for Pashinian ahead of the June 7 general elections.
Macron openly endorsed Pashinian during his trip to Armenia. He repeatedly praised the Armenian premier’s efforts to reorient the South Caucasus nation, traditionally allied to Russia, towards the West.
The Russian Foreign Ministry on Thursday accused the Armenian government of siding with the European Union against Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin warned last month of a heavy cost of that policy, pointing to Armenia’s dependence on Russia for trade and energy.
Kocharian’s Hayastan bloc is widely regarded as one of the three leading opposition groups challenging Pashinian’s Civil Contract party. Pashinian has repeatedly branded them as a “three-headed party of war” keen to reignite Armenia’s conflict with Azerbaijan. Opposition leaders say he is resorting to scaremongering in a desperate bid to avoid losing power.
“We strive for peace, but peace must be guaranteed. This is not peace,” Kocharian, dismissing Pashinian’s regular assertions that the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict has already been resolved.
A lasting peace can only be based on a “a strong army, a strong leader and ally,” added the 71-year-old ex-president who had ruled Armenia from 1998-2008.
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RFE/RL – Armenian Opposition Youths ‘Bullied’ Ahead Of Elections
- Narine Ghalechian
An opposition party led by Armenia’s former human rights ombudsman Arman Tatoyan has accused authorities in the Armavir province of harassing local young activists involved in its parliamentary election campaign.
Tatoyan told the Aravot newspaper earlier this week that the activists and their parents received threats after attending a recent meeting with him in the provincial capital of the same name. He claimed that local authorities controlled by the ruling Civil Contract party identified them after studying pictures of the meeting posted on social media.
“They went to people’s homes to intimidate them,” said Tatoyan. “Some were threatened with dismissal, others with a cut in their pay and so on. These are concrete examples that show that there is a government in the country that is afraid of the people.”
Tatoyan echoed claims made last month by Levon Chukalian, another senior member of his Wings Of Unity party, a major opposition contender in the June 7 parliamentary elections.
“Their photos were sent to their colleges, their parents’ places of work, and there were attempts to intimidate them through their relatives,” Chukalian said at a news conference. “One of the young people said that he will not be able to participate in future [Wings of Unity] events.”
One of the opposition youths spoke with RFE/RL’s Armenian Service on the condition of anonymity. She said that following the meeting with Tatoyan an unknown man phoned her father, a civil servant, and threatened to have the latter fired.
“Through educational institutions and parents, they have warned not just me but also all other [Wings of Unity] volunteers,” she said.
“We keep volunteering and supporting [the party] very actively. We just don’t do that publicly and avoid cameras,” added the young woman.
Vahram Khachatrian, the Armavir governor leading the provincial branch of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian’s Civil Contract party, flatly denied the allegations.
“If they know the names, know who they are, let them say it, I will make sure that such things don’t happen,” he told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service. “But I’m sure they didn’t happen. In my opinion it’s a lie.”
Armenia’s Investigative Committee said, meanwhile, that it cannot investigate the allegations in the absence of a formal complaint from Tatoyan’s party or its individual activists.
This and another law-enforcement agency, the Anti-Corruption Committee, have arrested in recent months scores of opposition members and supporters on charges of vote-buying and other election-related offenses. No members of Pashinian’s party are known to have been prosecuted in the run-up to next month’s elections.
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One of the most fundamental conflicts in the pursuit of peace is the power of the military, which
May 8, 2026
We must strive for peace, but one of the most fundamental factors in striving for peace is the power of the army, the military power, which I consider not a factor of war, but a factor of peace.
It was written by Levon Ter-Petrosyan, the first president of RA.
Let’s remind that today in Armenia is celebrated the Day of Earth Guard. In these days of 1992, the Shushi liberation operation took place.
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Thank God, we have an independent state, the choice should come from us, not others
May 8, 2026
The authorities want to turn the parliamentary elections into a choice between foreign powers. At the start of the pre-election campaign in Goshavank, Arman Tatoyan, the prime ministerial candidate of the Wings of Unity party, former RA human rights defender, announced this.
According to him, no matter how much they try to convince the people that a choice should be made between the West and Russia, it is still the case that Armenia’s interests should be chosen.
“All their theses are that Armenia has no other choice. the people should look at which foreign power supports which party, and we say that the important thing is not what others want, but what we want,” he said.
Tatoyan emphasized that Nikol Pashinyan, who promotes the thesis of a choice between the West and Russia, actually enjoys the support of Azerbaijan. He added that Pashinyan did his best to turn the summit of the European Political Community into a tool of his propaganda.
“However, Armenia did not get anything from that summit, neither in visa liberalization, nor in the security system, nor in matters of investment and trade. The problem is that the Armenian authorities simply do not promote national interests,” Tatoyan said.
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“Through the former president of Artsakh, Pashinyan conveyed that the Armenians of Artsakh should separate
May 8, 2026
Various representatives of the government, including Nikol Pashinyan, continue to announce from the high podium of the National Assembly that “Artsakh is not Armenian”, “they will not continue the Karabakh movement”, etc.
Yesterday, NA Vice President Ruben Rubinyan announced from the NA podium that “Artsakh is not Armenian after September 19, 2023, when Artsakh Armenians left Artsakh.” He is referring to when the Armenians of Artsakh were forcibly displaced from their homeland under the threat of Azeri genocidal actions. In this context, however, Ruben Rubinyan did not talk about the fact that before 2023, on October 6, 2022, Nikol Pashinyan recognized Artsakh as part of Azerbaijan in Prague.
Metaxe Hakobyan, deputy of Artsakh NA “Justice” faction According to him, Ruben Rubinyan is lying precisely because he contradicts the statements of his political leader and members of his political team.
“Alen Simonyan and Nikol Pashinyan made other statements, probably Ruben Rubinyan has lost his memory, he does not remember his leader’s statement regarding Artsakh itself, when he said that there is no option, Artsakh Armenians should accept Azerbaijani citizenship.
From the beginning, they were forming their agenda at least on the basis of the statement made in Prague on October 6, 2022. Through the former president of Artsakh, Nikol Pashinyan conveyed to us that the Armenians of Artsakh have no choice but to accept Azerbaijani citizenship.” of 168.am Metakse Hakobyan said in a conversation with
According to him, taking into account all the listed circumstances, at this pre-election stage the government is trying to remove the responsibility from itself and put all the responsibility on the government of Artsakh and the Armenians of Artsakh in general, as well as on the PB.
“I repeat, Ruben Rubinyan is lying, because from the beginning they adopted that “course” that the Armenians of Artsakh should integrate with Azerbaijan and get Azerbaijani citizenship, the rest is to forget, not to talk about their crimes. They know very well that their leader committed the greatest crime of the century on October 6, 2022, denying the Armenianness of Artsakh. At least let them keep quiet until they face the responsibility before the law, the criminal group will have to answer before the law. Yes, they handed over Artsakh,” added Metaxe Hakobyan.
According to his observation, no government is eternal, including Nikol Pashinyan’s government, national governments have always been eternal, but treacherous governments have not.
“The longer the reign of the treacherous government, the greater the punishment, because they continue to commit crimes as long as they are able to avoid punishment, because they are in power today and have paralyzed the entire law enforcement system.
But at some point, they will cease to be in power and will definitely be responsible before the law for all crimes,” emphasized Metaxe Hakobyan.
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“Heydar Aliyev once announced: “Forget Artsakh, Shushi is no longer ours.
May 8, 2026
On May 8, 1992, the city of Shushi of the Republic of Artsakh was liberated after a long period of Azerbaijani occupation.
Although years later it was again under the occupation of Azerbaijan Mayor of Shushi Artsvik Sargsyan it is certain that one day the Armenian city will be liberated again.
He considers what happened 34 years ago to be one of the brilliant pages in the history of Artsakh’s liberation struggle and the history of the Armenian people in general.
“Without the liberation of Shushi, it was not possible to keep Artsakh, and everyone understood this at that time. At that time, Azerbaijanis were bombarding the capital Stepanakert, including Askeran, Karin Tak, from Shushi. In addition, Shushi had to be liberated in order to open the way with Armenia so that the connection would always be there.
Shushi is another symbol in the lives of all of us, it is not for nothing that it is said that whoever controls Shushi, he will also cut off the whole of Artsakh. Shushi is the heart of Artsakh, and it is not for nothing that Artsakh’s victories began with the liberation of Shushi.” 168.amArtsvik Minasyan said in a conversation with
The mayor of Shushi remembers: the preparations for the liberation of Shushi and the whole process seemed to turn into a holiday, because everyone thought that they were going not to war, but to victory.
“The interesting thing is that everyone wanted to participate in the liberation, everyone had their money, everyone had the same goal: the liberation of Shushi. There was the realization that everything depends on the liberation of Shushi. If it was not liberated, then Artsakh would be lost, that’s why everyone went together and registered a victory,” added Artsvik Sargsyan.
Continuing, our interlocutor reminded that the foundation for the liberation of Shushi was laid on January 26, 1992 with the heroic battle of Karin Tak, in which he personally participated. The battle lasted 12 hours, the enemy gave 201 victims and fled in panic, leaving half of the bodies in the valley.
“It was with this battle that Azerbaijan understood that the back of its army was broken, their regular army was depressed. If Shushi and Karin Tak were not released, they would enter Hadrut and other places. Since then, Azerbaijan has named Karin Tak “Bloody Gorge”.
For 30 years, Azerbaijan said that it will capture Shush again, if the Armenian side organizes everything correctly, if they don’t say: forget Artsakh, Artsakh does not exist, then we will be able to liberate both Shush and all of Artsakh again.
Heydar Aliyev used to announce in their Mejlis that “forget it, Artsakh is no longer ours, Shushi is not ours”, but the people organized against his will. We have Artsakh, we have Shushi, cemeteries, sanctuaries, for the sake of all this, even after years, we must achieve what we want, because that land will not forgive us.
I congratulate all the participants in the liberation of Shushi, who feel our Trinity and keep it in their hearts. I bow to the graves of all the victims and to all those who liberated Shush and live next to us today,” stressed Artsvik Sargsyan.
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Income of more than 45 million drams, 5 real estates and debts worth around 12 million drams
May 8, 2026
Minister of Justice Srbuhi Galyan received 45 million 202,134 drams in 2025. According to the declaration she submitted to the Corruption Prevention Commission the other day, her salary from the Prosecutor’s Office and other payments equivalent to it amounted to 26 million 690,752 AMD, the interest and other compensation received for loans or bank deposits – 104 thousand 140 AMD, the loans (loans) received – 12 million AMD, the income received from her ex-husband under the entry “other income” – 1 million 200,000 AMD, Income tax refund from SRC: 4,446,370 drams, salary received from Yerevan State University and equal payments: 760,872 drams.
At the beginning and end of the year, Srbuhi Galyan owned 5 real estates. 2 plots of land, 2 apartments and 1 individual residential house, in the case of three of which he is the sole owner, in the case of the other two – jointly.
By the way, last year the official had noted About 4 real estates, 1 apartment less.
In December 2025, the official purchased Unibank JSC bonds, the currency of which amounted to 11 million 998,005 drams at the end of the year.
Bank balances increased slightly during the year. the total volume at the end of the year slightly exceeded 3 million drams. Cash resources have also increased. at the beginning of the year they amounted to 2 million 700,000 drams and 5000 dollars, and at the end of the year – 2 million 900,000 drams and 5300 dollars.
The balance of the principal amount of received loans and borrowings as of December 31 of the reporting year was 31,279,125 drams in one case, the purpose of the loan was the apartment, in the other case it was 5,950,214 drams.
During the year, the official allocated 5,336,474 drams to the repayment of the loan.
According to the declaration, he made a one-time expenditure of AMD 11,998,005 without disclosing the content of the expenditure. Let’s note, however, that this is probably the purchase of bonds, because the amount of money is the same.
In 2024, Minister Galyan received an income of 33.8 million drams. He submitted to the Corruption Prevention Commission of the declaration according to this, most of this amount is his salary from the Prosecutor’s Office: 25 million drams, he also received a salary from the Ministry (he took office on November 5, 2024), another 3.1 million drams, from the Academy of Justice – 1 million drams, from Yerevan State University – 390,000 drams, and about 2.5 million drams he received from the SRC – mortgage income tax refund, 716,000 drams of other income from “Akba Bank”, 1 million drams from her ex-husband, Petros Mkryan.
Let’s remind: after holding various positions in the Legal Support Department of the Special Investigation Service, Nikol Pashinyan appointed 27-year-old Srbuhi Galyan as the Deputy Minister of Justice in July 2019, and then the Deputy Prosecutor General coordinating the field of functions aimed at the confiscation of property of illegal origin. Pashinyan’s team, KP, nominated Srbuhi Galyan for the position of Minister of Justice.
Let’s add that Srbuhi Galyan was also among the recipients of large bonuses, according to the well-known list.
“I received an additional payment of around 6-7 million after taxes. This is an additional payment that will be visible to the public as a one-time amount provided to the minister, in my case, I consider this as a payment for the whole year,” he said.
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“Dabro” was given by Pashinyan, but Suren Papikyan will give the answer
May 8, 2026
In recent days, the topic of discussion on the Internet has become the adventures of bloggers close to Nikol Pashinyan in one of the military units of the RA Defense Ministry, where filming was done, and those videos were published.
If we consider that them accompanied Nikol Pashinyan’s assistant Gagik Isakhanyan (who, by the way, once, as the brother of the victim, participated to the protests in front of the Ministry of Defense), then we can say that the visit of the tiktokers to the armed forces unit had a pre-election-propaganda nature, with the permission of Nikol Pashinyan himself.
So, once again we are dealing with a deliberate act of discrediting the armed forces and disrespecting the uniform, without mentioning the possible problems with the law.
By the way, from the published videos, it can be assumed that the events took place in the military unit under the 3rd Army Corps of the RA Armed Forces.
Temur Shahnazaryan, Deputy Chief of Staff of the General Staff of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the RA Armed Forces, and Simon Nazaryan, the current commander of the 3rd Army Corps, can very well say: could something like this have happened during the time of the former commanders of the 3rd Corps, Grigory Khachaturov, Onik Gasparyan, and other commanders, and Grigory Khachaturov also served under Pashinyan’s government. Moreover, in the very regiment where he had a leadership position, could what is happening today happen?
And this is when the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia has not organized a visit of journalists to military units for a long time, when from time to time prohibitions have been imposed on the visits of opposition MPs.
And RA Defense Minister Suren Papikyan is either in fact at peace with such facts as the discrediting of the army, or, not being at peace and having sufficient leverage in office, he is politically constrained, perhaps unable, to face Pashinyan’s anti-army moves. Meanwhile, everything must have a limit, especially when it comes to the army and security, even if Nikol Pashinyan does not have “red lines” or, at least, “genetic” hatred towards the armed forces, in case of having complexes.
We wrote that for several years Pashinyan does not visit military units and combat bases on the eve of the New Year to congratulate soldiers and officers on their holidays.
On the other hand, the above is not at all surprising after Nikol Pashinyan, based on propaganda purposes, organized various civil groups accompanied fortified areas, displaying samples of weaponry acquired in recent years.
And on May 28 in Republic Square the upcoming arms show it will be exclusively a political report, and the Ministry of Defense, its leadership, the army will not be the hero of that day, but exclusively the person of Nikol Pashinyan.
When random people enter the army, the RA Defense Minister Suren Papikyan is the first to be targeted, because a natural question arises: does he have his permission? How is it that such people can visit military units at any time, and the doors are closed in front of oppositionists from time to time, and journalists are not allowed to go?
If there is no permission from the Minister of Defense, this already indicates another dangerous phenomenon, when difficult situations are created for one’s own and party minister, de facto limits his powers and rights, and in this case, it is not surprising when some MP from the CP can say that if they want to get acquainted with the weapons samples, they can contact him, he will organize…
And the bloggers close to Pashinyan were also in Kirantsi, filmed and showed in detail what was created in the fortified areas. conditions (probably on the example of the Ministry of Defense), as well as a school located meters away from the enemy the shelter
We remind you that “On State Secret” the law clearly defines that they are classified as state secrets “Information on the operational equipment (furnishing) of the territory of the Republic of Armenia, the preparation and conduct of operations, the deployment of troops (including conscription), their combat ability, the forms and methods of carrying out combat duty, the arrangement of the management system, the sequence of activities, the system’s availability, integrity, and comprehensive provision”.
The same law states that they are considered state secrets “location, purpose, degree of protection and preparedness, their design and construction of specially protected and special access and exit facilities” as well as “about civil defense forces and means, protection of administrative buildings and degree of security of the population” information.
This is exactly what we meant by noting that there are also problems related to the law, which the RA Ministry of Defense remembers only when responding to written media inquiries.
Nikol Pashinyan’s family also starts to remember the laws when any topic is related to their rights.
And Suren Papikyan, perhaps, has a lot to think about, as well as to realize that even though he is a party minister, he is first of all the head of the state security institute, the armed forces, and he should act based on those interests… after all, this is also a question of his own reputation.
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124th Diocesan Assembly Envisions a Church “Renewed in Hope”
Diocese of the Armenian
Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New
York, NY 10016
Contact: Chris Zakian
Tel: (212) 686-0710
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.armenianchurch.us
May 8, 2026
___________________
ATTENTION EDITOR: Two photos attached, with captions below. Additional photos may be downloaded here:
HEADLINE:
124th Diocesan Assembly Envisions
a Church “Renewed in Hope”
The 124th Assembly of the Eastern
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America convened on Thursday, April 30, and continued
through adjournment on Saturday, May 2, 2026. It was the fourth Diocesan Assembly
to be presided over by Diocesan Primate Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan.
As such, it was the occasion
for the Eastern Diocese’s quadrennial election for the office of Primate, which
saw Bishop Mesrop re-elected to serve a second four-year term.
St. John the Baptist Armenian
Church of Milwaukee, WI, hosted the 124th Diocesan Assembly, with business and social
functions taking place at the city’s historic Pfister Hotel.
The inaugural session was called
to order on April 30. Delegates and guests were welcomed by host parish pastor Fr.
Guregh Hambardzumyan, parish council chair Lyle Dadian, and parish Assembly Executive
Committee members Harold Aghjian, Maritza Armagan, and Gary Seabrook.
A formal message from His Holiness
Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, was read to the
delegates, after which Bishop Mesrop set a warm-hearted tone for the meeting with
his welcoming words.
In all, 150 parish representatives—clergy,
parish council chairs, and Diocesan delegates—along with a substantial number of
observers, gathered in person for the proceedings. Among the guests were two visitors
from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin: V. Rev. Fr. Zakaria Baghumyan and V. Rev.
Fr. Movses Sargsyan.
* “Renewed in Hope”
On the heels of his re-election to a second term as Diocesan
Primate, Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan offered gracious words of thanks before launching
into his yearly address to the delegates. Noting America’s upcoming 250th anniversary,
he paid tribute to the country that has welcomed Armenians and embraced their contributions
to society.
In a retrospective on the past four years, the Primate recalled
his travels throughout the Eastern Diocese, visiting every parish and meeting the
faithful in their home communities.
“Everywhere
I have gone,” he said, “I have seen the same truth: Our church is alive.
Yes, we face challenges. We live in a changing world. Our communities are diverse,
geographically dispersed, and shaped by different experiences. But beneath all of
that, there is a deep and abiding faith. There is resilience. There is love for
the church. And there is a desire—not simply to preserve what we have received—but
to grow, to renew, and to move forward.”
Bishop Mesrop fondly recalled some milestones of his visits:
ordaining more than 200 young altar servers; consecrating two new churches, and
a new priest for the Diocese; spending time at the Diocesan camps and youth gatherings.
He mentioned the resources created by the Diocesan Ministries departments that aim
to deepen worship experience, engage youth and young adults, and extend Christian
witness into the surrounding society.
And he spoke of the simple
habits of generosity and welcoming outreach that assure members and visitors alike
that the Armenian Church is their home.
A short video outlining these
accomplishments reflected the theme of the 124th Diocesan Assembly: “Renewed in
Hope.”
“These accomplishments tell
a story,” he said: “not only a story of what we have done, but of what God has done
for us.”
This theme animated the latter
part of the Primate’s address, in which he looked ahead to his concerns for the
coming term. Among these are increasing overall church attendance; more fully engaging
the younger generation; helping local parishes relieve financial burdens and identify
up-and-coming leaders; pursuing additional opportunities for women to serve their
churches; and making worship more accessible.
To close his address, the Primate
returned to the theme of Hope. “Christian Hope,” he said, “is never wishful thinking.
It is confidence grounded in the living presence of Christ. It is the assurance
that the Lord who guided His church yesterday, who sustained her through persecution
and uncertainty, is the same Lord who walks with her today—and will never abandon
her in the future.”
“Let us carry that Hope into
every parish, every ministry, every home, every heart,” he concluded. “Renewed in
Hope, let us go forward together.”
* Elections, Reports, and Proposals
Under the guidance of Diocesan
Assembly chair Herman Purutyan (of St. James Church, Watertown, MA), business moved
forward at a steady pace. Serving alongside him were vice chair Zaven Kalayjian
(St. Mary Church, Washington, DC) and secretary Laurie Bejoian (Holy Translators
Church, Framingham, MA).
On behalf of the Nominating
Committee, Gregory Saraydarian (Holy Martyrs Church, Bayside, NY) took to the podium
to explain the secure method of voting that would be employed throughout the proceedings.
All voting was conducted using a secure online balloting platform. (See below for
the table of election results.)
In a departure from the usual practice,
the report of the Diocesan Council and the Diocese’s Ministries Department was
conducted in a panel format, in which Diocesan Council vice chair Lisa Esayian
(St. James Church, Evanston, IL) directed interview questions to a panel
comprised of Primate Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan, Diocesan Council chair Richard
Papalian (St. Gregory the Enlightener Church, White Plains, NY), and interim
Director of Ministries Fr. Hratch Sargsyan (St. Gregory of Narek Church,
Cleveland, OH).
Each speaker fielded questions on the current
operating strengths of the Diocese, strategies for accomplishing programs with
limited resources and personnel, and challenges that are being addressed. Topics
under discussion included the ongoing St. Vartan Cathedral Renovation Project, and
its connection to every parish; administrative reforms at the Diocesan Center that
have improved its operational and financial functioning; the wide array of ministry
programs that connect with youth and adults through new publications and interactive
online sessions; and directions for the future of the Eastern Diocese.
A short video gave delegates
an overview of the efforts and offerings of the Diocesan Ministries department,
which would also be the subject of “break-out” sessions later in the assembly.
Enhancing the presentation
was an impressive Annual Report with detailed information, that had been printed
for the delegates in advance of being distributed to the public.
Various Diocesan organizations
also reported to the assembly. Presenters included Sarah Andonian of the Women’s Guild
Central Council; Fr. Hovhan Khoja-Eynatyan of the Sacred Music Council; Bree Carriglio
and Sarah Stites of the Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR) and its crowd-sourcing platform
“Ayo”; Marie Vanerian of the
Armenian Church Endowment Fund (ACEF); and Fr. Mardiros Chevian of St. Nersess Seminary.
Delegates also heard from Archbishop
Vicken Aykazian, the Diocesan Legate and Ecumenical Director, who spoke forcefully
about his efforts to advance the causes of the Armenians of Artsakh and Jerusalem
among the world ecumenical community.
Speaking on behalf of the Diocesan Board of Trustees,
Sandra Shahinian and Melanie Dadourian outlined three priorities of the board,
involving oversight of the cathedral and Diocesan Complex projects;
understanding the valuation of parish properties; and assessment, utilization,
and insurance for artwork in the collection of the Diocese.
Informative reports from the
Diocesan Ministries departments were delivered during “breakout sessions,” in which
groups of delegates rotated among different rooms to engage in small-group presentations
and discussions, featuring staff from the Youth and Young Adult Ministry department
and Armenian Church Youth Organization of America (ACYOA); the Diocesan summer camps;
the VEMKAR digital ministry platform; Armenian Language Ministry; and Children and
Family Ministry.
The St. Vartan Cathedral Renovation Project
and its Fundraising Committee received a prominent place in the assembly sessions.
Haig Buchakjian (St. Leon Church, Fair Lawn, NJ) reported on the successfully completed
exterior phase of the project, and looked ahead to the interior renovation slated
to begin later this year.
He was joined by Richard Papalian in a detailed
discussion of plans for the development of the Diocesan administration building,
which outlined the overall vision guiding the plans, identified the highly experienced
team of advisors, and addressed steps going forward. Both speakers underscored that
this year’s presentation was built on two prior years of coming before the
Diocesan Assembly delegates to explain and keep the assembled body fully
informed. The presentation outlined the next step of going forward, which will
involve issuing a public “request for proposal” to a vetted and curated list of
developers in the coming months.
In a presentation on the efforts of the Cathedral
Renovation Fundraising Committee, Melanie Dadourian and Laurie Onanian announced
that the campaign’s fundraising has surpassed $28 million (of a projected $36 million
budget). They urged the attending parish leaders to use the tools developed by the
campaign—including a new printed brochure, social media, parish social events, and
the project website—in their home settings.
(Learn about and support the St. Vartan Cathedral
Renovation campaign on its website: StVartan.org.)
Five proposals were considered during the
assembly. The first, presented by the Diocesan Council, sought to conform the
language of the Diocesan Bylaws to the “stewardship” funding system adopted by
many parishes during the course of a five-year pilot program. It passed in its
initial vote, and will be brought to a vote again next year, in accordance with
the Bylaws amendment procedure.
The second proposal, to allow remote
participation in parish assemblies under certain circumstances, was the subject
of extensive discussion, with the result of the Assembly passing a motion
asking the Diocesan Council to collaborate with the motion’s sponsoring parish
to conduct a multi-year pilot program.
Two related proposals, to add a precise
definition of “quorum,” for purposes of Diocesan Assemblies, in the Diocesan
Bylaws, were tabled.
A fifth proposal, amending the Diocesan
Bylaws by enlarging the definition of “official notification” for parish
assemblies to include electronic notification, was passed by the delegates, and
will be brought to a vote again next year.
* Final Blessings
Saturday’s assembly
session began with a requiem service for departed delegates, clergy, and Diocesan
leaders of the past year, followed by a reflection on the assembly theme by Fr.
Aren Jebejian (St. John Church, Southfield, MI).
Fr. Avedis Kalayjian (St. Mesrob
Church, Racine, WI) presented highlights of the Clergy Conference, which had met
in the days prior to the main gathering. The delegates also heard highlights of
the Parish Council Chairs Meeting, which had immediately preceded the inaugural
session. Arlen Haruthunian (St. Sarkis Church, Dallas, TX) delivered the report
on behalf of the assembled parish council chairs of the Eastern Diocese.
The final session also saw
the passage of a revised budget of $5.7 million for 2026, and a balanced budget
of $5.5 million for 2027—both introduced and explained in a detailed visual presentation
by Diocesan Council treasurer Alex Topakbashian. He noted the steady recent increase
in income from annual fundraising and rental of the Diocesan facilities, and introduced
a new online “Diocesan Leadership Hub” that will link parishes for the sharing of
resources and communication.
The 124th Diocesan Assembly
adjourned ahead of schedule, but not before Bishop Mesrop approached the podium
a final time to lead the participants in prayer, and to thank the host parish, delegates,
staff, and all the Diocesan leaders for their ongoing activity in the church. “I
look forward,” he said, “to seeing you in your respective parishes, to walking this
journey together, and to seeing you at next year’s assembly.”
The 124th Diocesan Assembly
was also the occasion for the Annual Awards Banquet, the Diocesan Clergy Conference,
and the 37th Women’s Guild Assembly. Look for
expansive treatment of these gatherings in the near future.
The 125th Diocesan Assembly,
meeting in May of 2027, will convene in Providence, RI, hosted by Sts. Sahag and
Mesrob Church, in a format that will condense the assembly sessions to two days.
Click the following links
to:
· VIEW
PHOTOS of
the Assembly sessions, by photographers Mano Baghjajian and Donald Rask.
· WATCH
A SHORT VIDEO on
the Assembly and its related events.
***
Election Results of the 124th Diocesan Assembly
124th Assembly Officers
Herman
Purutyan (Watertown, MA)—Chair
Zaven
Kalayjian (Washington, DC)—Vice Chair
Laurie
Bejoian (Framingham, MA)—Secretary
Diocesan Board of Trustees (10-year term)
Haig Buchakjian
(Fair Lawn, NJ)
Nominating Committee (1-year term)
Michelle Babikian (Chicago, IL)—Chair
Lori Dorian
(Cambridge, MA)
Fr. Vart
Gyozalyan (Haverhill, MA)
Fr. Vasken
Kouzouian (Cambridge, MA)
Steve Migridichian (Worcester, MA)
Alternate:
Fr. Voskan
Hovhannisyan (Livingston, NJ)
Proposals Committee (1-year term)
Fr. Armash
Bagdasarian (Wynnewood, PA)—Chair
Fr. Tadeos
Barseghyan (Worcester, MA)
Antranig
Garibian (Cheltenham, PA)
Dn. Ara Jeknavorian (Chelmsford, MA)
Fr. Avedis
Kalayjian (Racine, WI)
Alternate: Greg Saraydarian (Bayside,
NY)
Auditing Committee (3-year term)
Mark Kashgegian
(Framingham, MA)
* * *
PHOTO CAPTION 1:
The 124th Assembly of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian
Church of America convened April 30 to May 2, 2026, in Milwaukee, WI, hosted by
the city’s St. John the Baptist Armenian Church. It was the fourth Assembly to
be presided over by Diocesan Primate Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan—and the occasion
for the Diocese’s quadrennial election for the office of Primate, which saw
Bishop Mesrop re-elected to serve a second four-year term.
PHOTO CAPTION 2:
In a
departure from the usual Diocesan Assembly practice, the report of the Diocesan
Council was conducted in a panel format, in which Diocesan Council vice chair
Lisa Esayian directed interview questions to a
panel comprised of Primate Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan, Diocesan Council chair
Richard Papalian and
interim Director of Ministries Fr. Hratch Sargsyan (shown here seated left to right).
# # #
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