Armenia will pay “political and economic” consequences for siding with the European Union against Russia, Moscow said on Thursday in its first reaction to European summits held in Yerevan earlier this week.
The Russian Foreign Ministry was particularly outraged by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s participation in one of those summits and his implicit threats to disrupt the upcoming Victory Day parade in Moscow with long-range drone strikes.
“Russian society, with deep indignation and bewilderment, not only saw but, above all, remembered the fact that Armenia, which we are accustomed to considering a friendly, fraternal country, served as a platform. For whom? For a terrorist,” the ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, told a weekly briefing.
“And no one in Armenia’s current leadership rebuked Zelenskyy,” Zakharova said.
Zelenskyy met with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian on the sidelines of Monday’s European Political Community (EPC) summit attended by dozens of EU leaders. He said afterwards that Kyiv and Yerevan are “resuming an active dialogue between our countries.”
The EPC gathering was followed by a separate EU-Armenia summit between Pashinian and the EU’s two top officials, Antonio Costa and Ursula von der Leyen. The latter declared that the EU’s ties with the South Caucasus nation traditionally allied to Russia are now “closer than ever.”
“After reading the final declaration of the so-called Armenia-EU summit, it becomes clear that the republic, with the approval of its leadership, is being increasingly drawn into alien, aggressively Euro-Atlantic standards and mechanisms,” charged Zakharova. “This course of action by the Armenian authorities will sooner or later lead to Yerevan’s irreversible involvement in Brussels’ anti-Russian line, with all the ensuing political and economic consequences for Armenia.”
“Armenia is included in the plans for the militarization of Europe,” the Russian official said without elaborating.
Zakharova went on to claim that Pashinian thus reneged on his pledge to “take no steps against Russia” given to Russian President Vladimir Putin during their April 1 talks in Moscow.
The talks were marked by Putin’s public warnings to Yerevan. Armenia would pay a massive economic price for its government’s continued drift to the EU, Putin implied, noting its heavy dependence on Russia for trade and energy.
Pashinian sought to downplay Russian-Armenian tensions in the following weeks. But one of his top political allies, parliament speaker Alen Simonian, accused Moscow on May 2 of trying to topple Pashinian’s government through Armenian opposition groups running in the June 7 parliamentary elections. Zakharova dismissed the accusations, saying that Simonian made very different statements when he visited Moscow in February.
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Ruben Vardanyan Steps Up Criticism Of Armenian Government
Ruben Vardanyan, a prominent businessman remaining in Azerbaijani captivity along with at least 18 other Armenians, has stepped up his accusations that Armenia’s government is indifferent to the fate of the prisoners.
“The government of Armenia has failed to establish any sustainable and coherent mechanism for communication with them — neither through third-party countries, including the embassies of states with a presence in Baku, nor through international organizations,” Vardanyan said in his latest statement conveyed to his family by phone.
“Why? Why can Armenian officials travel to Azerbaijan on trade, economic, and other matters, but cannot organize a visit concerning the lives, health, and legal situation of Armenian captives? Is the fate of these people not more important than trade negotiations?” he asked.
Vardanyan said that many of the prisoners “have no adequate clothing and no way to receive what they genuinely need.”
“Instead, whatever assistance does reach them is organized informally, without transparency, and without regard for the actual needs of the detainees … When people who have no teeth are sent dried fruit, that is not help. That is humiliation,” he said.
“Have you no shame?” he went on, appealing to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian. “Is there no shame in receiving a peace prize [in the United Arab Emirates,] speaking of peace, and accepting applause while citizens of Armenia remain in Baku’s prisons without proper protection, systemic support, assistance or oversight from their own state?”
Vardanyan, who held the second-highest post in Nagorno-Karabakh’s leadership from November 2022 to February 2023, similarly criticized Pashinian’s government in his previous statement from an Azerbaijani jail circulated by his family on April 21. He also called on Armenia’s human rights ombudswoman, Anahit Manasian, to try to visit the Armenian prisoners together with their relatives.
Manasian responded by saying that she has no mandate to inspect prison conditions in Azerbaijan or any other foreign nation. She reiterated her position in the Armenian parliament on Thursday.
“If the protection of Armenian citizens held in Azerbaijani prisons does not fall within the mandate of Armenia’s human rights defender, then whose mandate is it?” countered Vardanyan.
Vardanyan was arrested at an Azerbaijani checkpoint in the Lachin corridor in September 2023 as he fled the region along with its practically entire ethnic Armenian population. Seven other former Karabakh Armenian leaders were also arrested during the exodus that followed an Azerbaijani military offensive.
Five of them were sentenced to life imprisonment while the two others as well as Vardanyan received 20-year jail sentences in February at the end of yearlong trials denounced by Amnesty International as a “travesty.” They all denied a long list of accusations brought against them.
Pashinian and other Armenian officials insist that Yerevan has been doing its best to try to secure the release of the prisoners. Their critics dismiss these assurances. They accused the Armenian premier of actually helping Baku legitimize Vardanyan’s imprisonment with his scathing comments about the 57-year-old billionaire and philanthropist made in August 2024.
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RFE/RL – Karapetian Critical Of Pashinian’s ‘Anti-Russian Policy’
- Shoghik Galstian
- Naira Bulghadarian
Samvel Karapetian, a Russian-Armenian billionaire leading the main opposition contender in next month’s Armenian parliamentary elections, on Thursday described Russia as a “strategic ally” and criticized Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian’s pro-Western foreign policy.
Karapetian said that while he stands for a good rapport with the European Union he believes that membership in the EU sought by Pashinian is a “false prospect” because “nobody is waiting for Armenia” in the 27-nation bloc.
“I am worried that our people will not benefit from that [policy,]” he told a news conference. “Having surrendered everything, Pashinian has only one thing left to sell to the Europeans: anti-Russian policy. The Europeans would love to buy it from him.”
Pashinian met with the EU’s two top officials in Yerevan on Tuesday for what was officially billed as the first-ever EU-Armenia summit. European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pledged to continue deepening ties with Armenia but stopped short of promising its eventual accession to the EU. Nor did they announce more economic aid to Yerevan.
The summit took place the day after a separate meeting in Yerevan of dozens of leaders of EU member and partner states making up the wider European Political Community. The forums are seen by local analysts as a pre-election show of support for Pashinian and his Civil Contract party.
A leading member of the ruling party, parliament speaker Alen Simonian, accused Russia on May 2 of plotting to “seize power” in Armenia through pro-Russian opposition groups, presumably including Karapetian’s Strong Armenia party. Karapetian has mostly lived and worked in Russia since the early 1990s.
The 60-year-old tycoon dismissed Pashinian allies’ claims that he is bent on increasing Armenia’s political and economic dependence on Russia. He argued that the Armenian economy is already heavily dependent on the Russian market and Russian natural gas supplied at a significant discount.
“I can’t increase that dependence any further, even if I wanted to,” he said. “But I do realize that Russia has been and will be our strategic ally, our main economic ally because we have no alternative today.”
Karapetian, who also has a third, Cypriot citizenship, expressed confidence about his Strong Armenia bloc’s victory in the June 7 elections.
“I base [the optimism] not only on opinion polls but also Pashinian’s extremely low rating,” he said.
Meanwhile, Pashinian again claimed that Strong Armenia and two other major opposition groups led by another wealthy businessman, Gagik Tsarukian, and former President Robert Kocharian may not win any parliament seats at all.
“Those parties must first think about entering the parliament,” he said. “It’s just ridiculous when they say they are going to win … Their sources of information and inspiration are not in Armenia.”
Some senior ruling party figures stated earlier this year that the Armenian authorities “will not allow” the three opposition forces to win a collective majority in the new National Assembly. The statements added to media speculation that at least some of them could be barred from the June 7 elections. Karapetian declined to say how his opposition movement would respond to such a ban.
Although all three opposition heavyweights have been registered by the Central Election Commission, Armenian law allows the body headed by a Pashinian ally to ask courts to disqualify contenders accused by it of systematic vote buying or campaign financing irregularities. In recent weeks, dozens of Strong Armenia members and supporters have been detained on charges of bribing voters strongly denied by Karapetian’s bloc.
The Anti-Corruption Committee (ACC) reported several more such arrests shortly after Karapetian’s news conference. It said that on behalf of another Russian-Armenian businessman residents of the southeastern Armenian town of Sisian have been promised money, jobs and other material benefits in return for voting for Strong Armenia. The law-enforcement agency did not identify the detainees or even reveal their number.
“As a frontrunner, we don’t need to hand out vote bribes,” Karapetian said, adding that the arrests highlight the authorities’ “fears” of election defeat.
Karapetian went on trial last month on different charges brought against him following his controversial arrest in June 2025. The Russian-Armenian tycoon remains under house arrest and will therefore not be able to physically attend election campaign rallies. But he is allowed to receive aides, loyalists and journalists and make public statements from his Yerevan mansion.
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A winter’s tale in the middle of spring. May snow fell in Armenia
While spring is waking up in the valley regions of the republic, the highland settlements are wearing white clothes again.
Deputy director of the “Hydrometeorology and Monitoring Center” Gagik Surenyan shared on his social networks the snow-covered and charming landscapes of Nahapetavan village of Shirak marz and Aparan city of Aragatsotn marz.
In those shots, nature seems frozen in its fragile beauty, reminding how unpredictable and wonderful the Armenian winter can be.
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Most of all, people want a peaceful, united and confident future. Gagik Tsarukyan
Meetings with our people in Hnaberd, Rya Taza and Aragats rural communities of Aragatsotn marz were full of warmth and sincere conversations.
I keep saying that the peasants are the strength of our country. people work with great dedication and deserve their work to be appreciated and their families to live in stable and dignified conditions.
In the Rya Taza community, we particularly emphasized the age-old friendship and strong brotherly bond of the Armenian and Yezidi peoples. In difficult and difficult days, the Yezidi people have always been by our side, sharing our pain and difficulties, and this mutual trust continues to be one of the important foundations of our unity today.
At the end of the day, in the Aragats community, we were once again convinced that people want a peaceful, united and confident future most of all. That is the way we should move forward together.
Gagik Tsarukyan
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Suren Papikyan participated in the opening of the “Defence24 Days” conference in Warsaw
On May 6, Defense Minister Suren Papikyan took part in the official opening ceremony of the “Defence24 Days” conference dedicated to defense and security issues in Warsaw.
RA Ministry of Defense
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Pashinyan got acquainted with the newly opened public inclusive playground
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, accompanied by Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan, visited the park named after Misak Manushyan, where a new public playground with the title “Armenian inventors – science from the inside out” was opened. The Prime Minister got acquainted with the created conditions.
It is intended for children aged 3-12. The playground combines play and education, giving children the opportunity to explore the world of science in an interactive and imaginative environment. Playgrounds form not only a game environment, but also knowledge, contributing to the physical, social and intellectual development of children. “Armenian Inventors: Science Inside Out” playground meets international standards, providing a safe, inclusive and multi-functional play experience.
The new playground is the third in Yerevan, which was created by the initiative of the “Keron” development fund and within the framework of the project of public playgrounds implemented jointly with the Kentron administrative district. The previous two playgrounds, “Karmrakhit. the secrets of the hidden river” (section 6 of the Ring Park, next to Grigor Lusavorich Church) and “Vishapagorg. the memory of the tree of life” (Khachkareri Purak, next to the Republic Square) have already formed new standards in the development of public playgrounds, combining the urban environment, cultural heritage and the development of children’s creative minds.
Next, Prime Minister Pashinyan visited the art gallery of the RA People’s Artist Valmar, got acquainted with the artist’s latest works, and then Tigran Avinyan presented to the head of the country the improvement works carried out on Amiryan Street in Yerevan.
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New regulations on foreign intelligence legislation
The executive proposed changes and additions to the Laws “On Foreign Intelligence Activities and Foreign Intelligence Service”, “On Operative-Intelligence Activities” and a number of related laws.
Kristinne Grigoryan, the head of the RA Foreign Intelligence Service, informed that after the adoption of the law regulating the sphere by the National Assembly, it needs improvement and legal clarification.
It is proposed to regulate the relations of appointment or transfer of a service employee to a higher, equal or lower position.
RA legislation provides for paternity leave. It is recommended to provide such a regulation in the legal relations of the service.
It is proposed to provide a legal basis for defining the order of weapons and special means, in which cases and in what order the officer will have the opportunity or right to use the weapon and special means.
A requirement will be established, according to which only RA citizens can be appointed to the position of head of service and deputy. As of now, there is a legal possibility to appoint dual citizens as well.
The service implements the “Telephone Communication Control” event. It is proposed to allow by law the possibility of the service to perform operational-investigative measures of control of digital, including telephone communication independently and with its own operational-technical infrastructure.
The following regulations refer to the personnel reserve, the possibility of minimum service period and compensation in the case of trainings, professional education courses, planning class ranks, social guarantees of employees, etc.
Andranik Kocharyan presented the positive conclusion of the National Defense and Security Affairs Standing Committee. According to the chairman of the commission, the law adopted in 2022 gave our country the opportunity to have a new security structure.
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Ushakov criticizes Armenia’s foreign policy course
PanARMENIAN.Net – Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said Armenia’s authorities continue pursuing a policy of “sitting on two chairs” while commenting on recent events held in Yerevan, including the summit of the European Political Community.
Ushakov also referred to recent talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, writes Interfax.
“During those negotiations, clarity was achieved on all issues. Unfortunately, attempts to ‘sit on two chairs’ continue in Yerevan. I do not know how long it is possible to remain in such a position,” Ushakov told reporters.
He made the remarks in response to a question about how Moscow viewed the recent events in Yerevan, including the signing of a strategic partnership declaration between Armenia and the United Kingdom, and whether the Kremlin sees this as a step toward weakening cooperation with Russia.
“But all of this, of course, harms the development of our bilateral relations, which are so beneficial both for Russia and Armenia. I would even say they are more beneficial for our Armenian partners than for us,” Ushakov said.
At the same time, he noted that economic cooperation between the two countries remains positive.
“Nevertheless, this is connected with the successful development of relations between our countries, particularly Armenia’s cooperation within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union,” he added.
On May 4, Yerevan hosted the eighth summit of the European Political Community, followed by the first Armenia-European Union summit. Around 50 high-level delegations attended the event, including European Council President Antonio Costa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and French President Emmanuel Macron. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also visited Armenia for the first time.
Source: PanArmenian.Net
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The example of Belarusian governance is unacceptable for my country and for me. Allen S
I do not comment. Belarus is Belarus, Armenia is Armenia. I am in charge of my country. NA Speaker Alen Simonyan said this in a conversation with journalists, referring to the note of protest handed to the Chargé d’affaires of Armenia yesterday by the Belarusian Foreign Ministry.
Responding to the question whether his statements, since they were the basis of the note, do not further worsen the relations between Armenia and Belarus, Simonyan, in fact, accused Minsk.
“The disrespectful attitude towards Armenia, towards the CSTO partner, towards the statehood of Armenia worsens the relations, preparing a 44-day war with Azerbaijan worsens the relations. The political course is a matter of choice for each state. Human rights and freedoms are the most important values for Armenia. We chose the path of democratization of Armenia, they chose a slightly different path, not like ours.”
Continuing, he emphasized that Armenia will not be a peripheral region, will not be in political dependence and Armenia will raise the level of its sovereignty.
“Belarus’ example of governance is unacceptable for my country and for me,” stated Alen Simonyan. Then he got nervous, retorted to the journalists: “What did you paste from Belarus?”, then added that he had read the news about the protest note in the press and had no other information.
VERELQ wrote that on May 5, Artur Sargsyan, the charge d’affaires of Armenian affairs in Belarus, was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus, and a note of protest was handed to him regarding “unfriendly steps”. The reason for dissatisfaction of the Belarusian side was the recent statements of the Speaker of the National Assembly Alen Simonyan, where he stated that Armenia should not be “governed like Belarus”.
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