May 6, 2026
As part of his official visit to Poland, RA Defense Minister Suren Papikyan in Warsaw on May 5 has met also with Slovakia’s Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense Robert Kaliniak, who also participated in the “Defence24 Days” conference.
During the meeting, issues related to cooperation between Armenia and Slovakia in the field of defense were discussed, and prospects of cooperation were discussed.
Both sides emphasized the directions of military education, exchange of professional experience, exercises and military-technical cooperation, and an agreement was reached on giving the cooperation a practical course in the near future.
It should be noted that in 2024, the Deputy Minister of Defense Karen Brutyan met with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense of Slovakia Robert Kaliniak within the framework of the IDEB-2024 defense exhibition in Bratislava, issues related to the military-technical and military-technological cooperation between Armenia and Slovakia were discussed, and a number of agreements were reached.
As for what kind of military-technical cooperation we are talking about, of what quality, moreover, how and to what extent will Armenia succeed in achieving the practical course of military-technical agreements with Slovakia, time will tell. After all, we are dealing with a country and an official who have had strategic relations with Azerbaijan for a long time.
In 2025 we we reported that Aliyev intends to purchase automatic artillery systems from Slovakia, and not only that. Already this year we wrote that Slovakia and Azerbaijan have signed a big deal. We are talking about a framework contract worth 210 million euros, with which SAM-120 automatic mortars will be supplied. Slovak Defense Minister Robert Kaliniak said the first batch of supplies, which includes 96 mortars, had been agreed.
In addition, Azerbaijan and Slovakia have agreed to cooperate in the field of self-propelled artillery installations, ammunition production. technologies from Slovakia, and financial means from Azerbaijan. In other words, as Aliyev noted, “we are talking about the formation of synergy, when by combining Slovakian technologies and Azerbaijan’s financial capabilities, it is possible to create a new product that will be of interest to the world markets as well.”
It should be noted that, according to various reports, Czech-made Dana self-propelled howitzers and RM-70 rocket launcher systems arrived from Slovakia, Israel, and then Azerbaijan and were used in the 44-day war. Moreover, the Armenian side warned Slovakia and the Czech Republic about this at different levels even before the 2020 war. we wrote
Therefore, in this case, the presence of Slovakia’s Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense Robert Kaliniak at the Baku military parade dedicated to the 5th year of the Azerbaijani victory in the 44-day war becomes legal. Among the honored guests present at the military parade in the published photos to appear was also the former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Slovakia, Miroslav Lajčak, who also plays a major role in arming Azerbaijan.
And Robert Kaliniak was the Minister of Internal Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister of Slovakia in 2006-2010 and 2012-2018, and since 2023 he is the Minister of Defense and Deputy Prime Minister of Slovakia.
Let’s remind that in 2025 “Hetk” had written that Slovakian Defense Minister Robert Kaliňák twice stated in interviews with the local TA3 TV station that Armenia had “occupied the territory of Azerbaijan”.
After these statements, the Prime Minister of Slovakia, Robert Fitzo, arrived in Armenia on an official visit. It is not known whether Nikol Pashinyan expressed his displeasure with him in the meeting with him. Instead, it is known that after Kalinyak’s accusation of “occupying Azerbaijan’s territories” was addressed to Armenia, Pashinyan’s government did not follow up the clarification, explanation, nor was a note of protest sent to Slovakia for at least two months.
And now it would be naive to expect that after more than a year, this issue will be discussed with RA Defense Minister Suren Papikyan, and time will tell how successful Slovakia-Armenia military-technical cooperation will be.
It should be noted that Azerbaijan is a military-technical “model” of cooperation with Slovakia cooperation also started with the Czech Republic.
Let us add that Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni left for Baku from Yerevan on May 5, and the defense and security sphere was also on the agenda of negotiations with Aliyev. And during a joint press conference with Aliyev, he considered defense and security as one of the most important areas of cooperation with Baku, especially in the areas of aerospace industry, maritime security, critical infrastructure protection and advanced technologies, where Italy has achievements.
“We propose a model where cooperation between industrial systems leads to knowledge sharing, joint developments,” Meloni emphasized.
Aliyev also considered the military-technical cooperation with Italy as promising.
«We have specific ideas on implementing joint projects, organizing joint production, combining Italian technologies and Azerbaijani financial resources.” he noted.
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They are terrified: 5,000 soldiers are coming out, but they tell us to leave 4,000.
May 6, 2026
“The European Union’s interest in Armenia is related to the Russian military base. the goal is to completely remove Armenia, in their opinion, from Russian influence,” about the latest EU-Armenian developments and the declaration signed as a result of them 168․amresponded to the questions like this international affairs expert Armen Manvelyan.
According to him, it is for this purpose that the EU signs various documents, which in fact have no economic and political perspective.
“They only provide an opportunity for Armenia’s dependence on Turkey to increase. if you study these documents deeply, you will see that.
According to those plans, Armenia will import electricity from Turkey, because the access to Russian gas should be closed, the nuclear power plant should be closed, with some unclear perspective. According to that plan, the security forces should also be removed, perhaps they want to bring observers again, who will look in I don’t know which direction with binoculars. In reality, none of these programs have any prospects,” he added.
To the observation that the RA authorities claim that these processes are for diversification and that we should not be limited to dependence on the Russian Federation, since they did not help us at the time of need, Armen Manvelyan responded that the “we were not helped” philosophy is particularly incomprehensible in today’s world.
“Now, they are tired of the “Russian big brother”, so to speak, and they are leaving, they are looking for new owners, supposedly in the European Union, while that road goes through Turkey. With this option, they will make Armenia a province of Turkey, hoping that it will somehow ensure our security. Meanwhile, this will lead to the complete destruction of our security system, because the position – why didn’t the Russians support us – is not the position of a political widow, a politician. It is the political behavior of a petulant child.
These people are not able to understand that the world is changing, it is no longer possible to be on 2 chairs, we should no longer expect that some superpower can protect our interests. more literate work is needed, which these people lack. This is not diversification. they don’t do that work themselves,” he added.
According to him, it could be called diversification if the European Union had some presence in the region. “For example, military presence. The European Union is not even able to support itself militarily, it is not able to ensure its security. Trump literally announced a few days ago that he will withdraw 5,000 troops from the European Union, which caused a great stir. They are in terror, 5,000 soldiers are leaving, but they come to us and say: let the 4,000 Russian troops leave Armenia.
The European Union is not the political force, it is not the structure that can diversify. it cannot provide us with vital opportunities to provide us with cheap gas, or gas at all. We do not have a border with the European Union, or will our products have a place in its market? for example, 80 percent of Armenia’s products go to Russia with the light hand of the current authorities (before they came to power, it was 40 percent).
All answers are “no”. The EU cannot provide military security, energy security, or economic security.
If tomorrow Russia makes the price of gas $200, is there an alternative? What is their hope that Azerbaijan will give them gas? The same Azerbaijan gives gas to Turkey for approximately 300 dollars.
The expert stressed that the real diversification is when the government does not declare war against its own nation, does not divide its own people, does not target the church, but on the contrary, it spreads solidarity, unites, becomes stronger and is able to talk and dialogue with all sides.
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This is a reason for war… The Caucasus is being raised against Russia. Vardan Hakobyan
May 6, 2026
The liberal-globalists who rule the European Union are trying to make Armenia and the South Caucasus a platform to attack Russia, and raising the Caucasus against Russia is a reason for war, “casus belli”. 168 TVof Revue expressed this belief in an interview with the program Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Minister of the RA, diplomat Vardan Hakobyanthetalking about the European summits held in Yerevan and the announcements made during these events.
“Macron declares that the South Caucasus should not be a place of competition between empires, but with his own declaration he turns it into a battlefield.
If we move on to geopolitical and political issues, we see that with these statements and these steps, Armenia becomes a certain platform… We have often said here that, well, Armenia is not Ukraine with a population of 50 million, not even Azerbaijan, which has a population of approximately 10 million.
But Armenia should play a supporting role rather than an infantry one, and basically it should be a platform for preparing the entire new anti-Russian attack. In all cases, this is what this person says, and by saying it, he hits the interests of all states. Someone can say that the Europeans have their interests too. Yes, for their own interests, they make Armenia a field of confrontation between the power centers of many states. They pursue their own interests.
Even today, the pursuit of that interest becomes the center of contradictions and contradictions, because it can pass military phaseas it happened in Ukraine, that is, if you raise the South Caucasus against Russia, and then also the North Caucasus, and then you go to Central Asia, this cause of war է՝ «casus belli“, and the Russians might not be patient this time for 8 years,” thinks Vardan Hakobyan.
Speaking on the occasion of French President Emmanuel Macron’s controversial statements in Yerevan, both about Armenian-French and Armenia-European Union or Armenia-Europe ties, the diplomat emphasizes that first of all, the geopolitical and civilizational sides of the issue should be separated. Vardan Hakobyan is disgusted by the similar expressions of Macron and other liberal-globalists, that until 2018, Armenia was “Russia’s satellite”, and from the “stinking half-truths” expressed by him and emphasizes that historically, for more than 2000 years, Armenia has been connected with European countries, European civilization and culture. According to the diplomat, no one wants to deny this and exclude the Armenian nation from ties with Europe, but the European Union with its current policy and the so-called Eurobureaucracy that manages it is a different story.
“It is true, we were also connected with Iran, but with the Iran of that time, but the predominant one in our history, our self-awareness, national mentality is the European one, and not only, let’s say, European influences, but there was also a time when we influenced Europe, more specifically, after Cilicia, the influence of our culture was very significant. I am saying all this only because these EU supporters want to present as if we or the opposition, as well as individual people, are against the connections with the Europeans or deny those connections.
There is no such thing. Now let’s come from here, that connection that we had, let’s say, from Ancient Rome, Ancient Greece. The traces of Hellenistic culture are still there, aren’t they? Not to mention the most powerful connection with Byzantium. Both Armenia, and Europe at that time, and Russia entered that Byzantine cultural field, until the Ottomans came, captured Constantinople, destroyed the Byzantine Empire, and the history of Europe moved to the West… The same Marx, Engels said that when the Ottomans conquered all of Byzantium, entered Europe, etc., they have this expression:
«After the fall of Constantinople (1453), the Ottomans pushed back the history of Europe by 200 years.“. Indeed, the Europeans were in a very difficult position and development was disrupted. “And the history of Armenians,” they say, “stopped.” That’s their word… If we imagine the map in our mind, the field of development of our history is inseparable from the European field. I am talking about the time when Polis was not occupied yet. Then the Ottoman Empire was created and the Ottoman Empire stopped our history until 1918, or you could say until 1828., when Eastern Armenia at least joined the Christian state, and we were freed from many persecutions,” this is how Vardan Hakobyan analyzes the history.
The diplomat emphasizes that the whole issue is that now we are not talking about that Europe, but about the European Union as a bureaucratic organization, where the leaders, in fact, are not elected by the European peoples.
“These neo-globalists took the leadership positions of the European Union. Do you imagine that a certain von der Leyen or Kaya Kalas would give instructions to Mitterrand or Margaret Thatcher or the leaders of Italy,” the political analyst notes.
According to the diplomat, the goal of the EU bureaucracy is not to make these states and peoples, including Armenia, a member of the European Union, but to use them as they use the Ukrainians.
«Did Ukraine join the European Union?, – Vardan Hakobyan asks a rhetorical question and continues, – Now we can, don’t we, have the right to assume that they want to do the same thing with the Caucasian states and peoples? In other words, if their “idea fix”, the goal of the Nulands and European liberal-globalists is not to keep Europe strong and develop, but the exact opposite.”
Speaking about the Artsakh issue and Russia’s policy, the diplomat recalled his personal contacts with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and the impression he received.
«Yes, Lavrov is an Armenian, but the man is a Russian politician. Moreover, it fell because during my personal contacts, I saw that he and some of his deputies, for example, Karasin, how hard they take our problems, how much they think about it, how many proposals they make, but there are people who believe that “genocide did not take place”, “it is necessary to count who killed whom”… I myself attended the Russian-Georgian negotiations many times.
The Russians were saying it all the way. “We recognize the territorial integrity of Georgia, but understand: it is not necessary to do this, it is not necessary to do it that way, be patient.” But at the behest of the West, Saakashvili, who is the disgrace of the Georgian people, organized a very theatrical attack on South Ossetia.… The same was said to Armenians. “Come on, let’s see how these developments will go, because the Karabakh issue is in the process of being resolved, one way or another. don’t make statements: Karabakh is ours, and that’s it…”
Let’s remind that on May 4, during the interactive panel discussion of the European Political Community (ECC) summit, French President Emmanuel Macron said:
“Let’s be honest, 8 years ago no one would have come here, and the fact that we have so many first visits to your country is a really good indicator, because 8 years ago, this country was considered by many countries at the table as a de facto satellite of Russia, and Nikol organized the Velvet Revolution, and the country benefited from it.”
And while speaking at the “Yerevan Dialogue” conference held the next day, Macron called on Azerbaijan and Turkey to open their borders with Armenia.
Full interview in the video.
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Save “Erablur” from desecration. the only tip for June 7
May7, 2026
The summit of the European Community, which was more like a political version of “Eurovision”, finally recorded that the CP government fulfilled the slogan “Shutdown for salvation” promised five years ago.
In the parliamentary elections of 2021, on that principle, the CP promised to realize the right of self-determination of Artsakh. Two days ago, however, in Yerevan, the principle of “Shutdown for the sake of salvation” was applied to the government of Nikol Pashinyan and CP. They finally and completely separated themselves from everything Armenian for the sake of saving their power. In the capital of the Republic of Armenia, accompanied by the hanging ears of those occupying the nominal power of the Republic of Armenia and in the conditions of calf delight, Ilham Aliyev announced remotely that Azerbaijan has eliminated “separatism” in Artsakh and is now “carrying out justice for war criminals” towards”.
Not only did the listeners in the capital of the Republic of Armenia not oppose this statement in any way, but the chief among the listeners thanked him like a slave number one.
That thanks was the thanks of the Republic of Armenia for those gathered in that hall and all the followers from the world, because no matter how occupied and authoritarian the government is, the speech of its representative for others is the speech of the whole society and the state.
Thanking Aliyev for “liberating Artsakh from the separatists” and for judging Artsakh’s military-political leadership as “war criminals”, Nikol Pashinyan treated the Armenian public like his most ardent manclave, a paragon of one of our Diaspora Armenian compatriots.
He spat in the face of the Armenian society tortured by police gangs in the same way that the other one spat in the face of a person held hostage by his own bodyguards.
From that statement, after thanking Aliyev on behalf of the Armenian people for humiliating the Armenian people, those same Armenian people have one, only one chance to apply the same “Disconnect for Salvation” principle to their own lives and the remnants of their own state.
The June 7 election is no longer an election to form a government. It is an election about determining the nationality of the government. In any case, the preservation of the power of the CP in any format will mean that starting from June 8, an authority subordinate to Azerbaijan will be officially established in Armenia.
Next, it will not be limited only to gratitude for the humiliations of Azerbaijan, but also here in Armenia, it will judge the participants of all the past wars.
At the moment, it sounds diabolical, but one day that government will also defile “Yerablur”, where the heroes of the Armenian people rest, who, however, turned into “separatists” and “war criminals” after the thanks two days ago.
Allowing the reproduction of the CP’s power means giving a green light to the desecration of “Yerablur”.
All oppositionists have exactly one month to convey this reality to the public. Otherwise, in the foreseeable future, most of the Armenian people will have to personally apply the principle of “Disconnect for the sake of salvation” by separating from their own country in order to save their lives.
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Yerevan shifts from Kremlin ties: implications for Belarusians
Armenia hosted Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya at the European Political Community summit, but this does not necessarily mean that the country’s relations with the Belarusian democratic forces will change fundamentally. Just as Armenia’s move toward the European Union will not necessarily be successful. Belsat discussed with experts how Yerevan is attempting to move away from the Kremlin and toward Europe and whether democratic Belarusians will benefit from this.
Armenia has had tense relations with the Minsk authorities for several years, and on May 4, the leader of the Belarusian democratic forces, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, visited Yerevan. There is even discussion about whether Armenia will become safe for Belarusians persecuted for their politics.
The only ally of Russia and Belarus that supported the democratic forces
Ryhor Nizhnikau, a senior research fellow at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs, emphasizes that Armenia is currently the only ally of Russia and Belarus under official treaties, particularly the CSTO, which is developing relations and providing diplomatic support to Belarusian democratic forces.
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If this government remains in power (parliamentary elections are in June in Armenia – Ed.) – we don’t know for sure yet, but the chances are quite high – we will continue to see this trend. That is, Armenia will become an increasingly safe country for both Belarusians and Russians. There will be increasing opportunities for those already in Armenia and for those who want to escape these concentration camps (from Russia and Belarus – Ed.),” says Ryhor Nizhnikau.
At the same time, pro-democratic Belarusians should not have high expectations even if the current government remains in power, the source notes.
Historian and political commentator Alexander Friedman shares this view. He believes that rapid, qualitative changes in Armenia’s relations with the Belarusian democratic forces are unlikely, and that Armenia did not initiate Tsikhanouskaya’s visit to Yerevan. Most likely, the Europeans who organized the summit asked the Armenian leadership whether they were prepared to see Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya there, the expert believes.
“The Armenian side has demonstrated its readiness. Especially since they are exploiting the Belarusian factor in today’s election campaign. As for the [pro-democracy] Belarusians in Armenia, the current situation is favorable. Obviously, the Armenian side isn’t particularly interested in cooperating with the Belarusian authorities. How sustainable is this? I’m honestly not sure. There are positive trends, and, of course, Tsikhanouskaya’s participation in this summit and meetings with the Armenian side are a success. But it’s too early to draw any conclusions from this,” says Alexander Friedman.
Europe and Armenia have mutual interests
The intensification of relations between the democratic forces of Belarus and Armenia has become possible due to Armenia’s orientation toward the European Union and its distancing from Russia. Ryhor Nizhnikau notes that the June elections will show how stable this reorientation is.
“I think this process is quite stable in Armenian society. Today, with the exception of Belarus, all countries in the borderlands of Europe and Russia continue or have adopted this policy of balancing. They see a conflict between Europe and Russia and are taking advantage of it [to distance themselves from Russia],” says Nizhnikau.
“It’s quite interesting how, even as a Russian ally, involved in all Russian integration processes, Armenia is showing the way to distance itself from this alliance.”
Alexander Fridman adds that there is interest in Armenia from the European side:
“Strategically, it’s an important country. Moreover, it’s a country located in Russia’s sphere of influence. Trying to pull it out is a very interesting opportunity for Europe. Especially since there have been certain shifts on the Armenian side.”
Moreover, from the EU’s perspective, Armenia cannot be considered a problematic country, Friedman believes:
“It already has a certain democratic tradition and structures, and imperfect but largely democratic elections are held there. There is freedom of the press. It is a country that already has a certain foundation for integration into European structures and the EU.” There is a desire to move in this direction.”
Breaking away from Russia will not be possible without obstacles
However, it is unknown how Armenian society will react and whether it will continue to support the EU in a situation where Russia exerts economic, propaganda, and military pressure due to the country’s attempts to distance itself.
“Therefore, Armenia still needs to decide what to do next with its participation in various integration associations under Russia’s auspices. What will happen to the Russian military personnel stationed in Armenia? All these are still open questions. There are no obvious answers,” emphasizes Alexander Fridman.
Ryhor Nizhnikau adds that it’s impossible to say that Armenia will ultimately necessarily join the European Union:
“Much depends on whether Ukraine, which is currently struggling to permanently leave the so-called ‘Russian world,’ where it has been for almost four centuries, will be able to do so. If it succeeds, it will be the main driver of the disintegration of Russian imperial space. This will push Belarus, the countries of the Caucasus, and so on.”
For now, Armenia is forced to gradually retreat from Russia and wait for a window of opportunity. This is precisely what the Armenian leadership and society are currently preparing for, believes Ryhor Nizhnikau.
“The European Union is very actively developing relations with both Armenia and the countries of Central Asia.” Armenia has become the EU’s main ally in the Caucasus. This would have been unimaginable just five years ago. Whether the EU will be able to resolve the dilemma of what to do with Armenia if it wants to join the EU and is ready is a big question,” concludes Ryhor Nizhnikau.
Arsen Rudenka / kz belsat.eu
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Guys, there can’t be a closed door for you in Armenia. Gagik Tsaruky
May 7, 2026
Gagik Tsarukyan writes on his Facebook page. “Today I appeal to our boys who participated in the 44-day war and the defense of the motherland.
As you know, after the weather improved, the pilgrimage to the construction site of the statue of Christ resumed, and already thousands of citizens have lined up to take part. Tens of thousands of our compatriots want to participate in the construction of this historical structure.
The number of those who want is much larger than we can provide even in the case of raising groups on a daily basis. This is the reality. We spare no effort to regulate the flow of people and escort them to the construction site. Everyone wants to put a prayer on the lips of this truly historic structure.
However, there are people whose desire for me is above and more important than anything else. Our boys who took part in the defense of the motherland approach us a lot, expressing their desire to take part in the construction.
I instructed to give priority to our boys’ groups. I am sure that the other people on the waiting list, from Armenia and the Diaspora, will approach with understanding. There is very little we can do to repay these boys’ feats and express our gratitude to them. Let this be a symbolic step.
Guys, there can be no closed doors, queues, delays, inconveniences for you in Armenia. All those who wish to climb the statue construction site, please contact the information office or my assistant, your battle buddy Eric and your groups will climb Mount Hatis in order of priority. I will welcome you with great love, I will accompany you.”
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Turkish Press: Turkey-Armenia border nearly ready to open, officials say
An Armenian lawmaker has said that significant progress has been made in the normalization process between Turkey and Armenia, including the opening of the border between the two countries.
“I think both sides are ready for full normalization, meaning the opening of the border for all citizens and everyone, because of the very well-progressing political engagement and dialogue between Armenia and Turkey,” Sargis Khandanyan, who also chairs of the Armenian Standing Committee on External Relations, told Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency (AA) during the Yerevan Dialogue 2026 Forum.
Khandanyan highlighted key steps taken in recent years, including the start of direct flights and the recent signing of a protocol to restore the historic Ani Bridge.
“We expect the Turkish government to establish diplomatic relations with Armenia and open the Armenian border,” he said. “Stability, peace, and regional cooperation are what we are looking for. And when I say ‘we,’ I also mean the people of Armenia.”
The lawmaker added that he does not expect major changes regarding the normalization of relations with Turkey following the elections in Armenia, which will take place next month.
Progress in normalization
Serdar Kılıç, Turkey’s special envoy for the normalization process, also attended the forum and indicated that the sides have reached the point of opening the borders.
“The border is almost at the point of being ready to open,” Kılıç said. “However, there are some bureaucratic and technical tasks that need to be completed. You cannot simply say ‘I opened the border tomorrow morning’ and let people through.
“Fiber optic cables need to be laid. Security and customs officials all need to be deployed. You don’t open it just to say it’s open without these measures. That would be like holding a meeting just for the sake of meeting.”
Kılıç noted that high-level contacts are increasing, mentioning several visits to Turkey by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and a recent trip to Ankara by National Assembly President Alen Simonyan.
The envoy also pointed to the recent visit of Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz to Armenia for bilateral meetings as a significant milestone.
“Even that is very interesting in terms of showing the point Turkey-Armenia relations have reached,” Kılıç said. “A Vice President came to Yerevan for a meeting held in Armenia and was welcomed very well. It was an important visit and a turning point. I hope that Turkey-Armenia relations continue to develop from now on.”
Kılıç expressed hope that relations conducted on the basis of mutual understanding would accelerate the process toward full normalization. (TY/VK)
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Ruben Vardanyan to Armenia’s Ombudsperson and PM: “Have you no shame?”
Yerevan /Mediamax/. Former Artsakh State Minister Ruben Vardanyan, who is being held in jail in Baku, made a statement during a telephone conversation with his family, which we present below.
“I have reviewed the response of the Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Armenia, Ms. Anahit Manasyan, to my appeal. I will not publicly assess her position. That is a matter between her and her conscience. I will say simply: I am genuinely sorry. God will be your judge.
However, this response raises very specific questions – not only for the institution of the Human Rights Defender, but for the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia.
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?
Who has been appointed within the government to be responsible for this matter? When were they appointed? Why do neither the families of the detainees nor society at large know anything about this?
There are people who have been in Baku’s prisons for six years. During this time, 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.
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?
Why has a basic mechanism for delivering essential items to the detainees still not been put in place?
A number of people have received no parcels for over a year. Many have no adequate clothing and no way to receive what they genuinely need, given their age, health conditions, and the circumstances of their detention.
Instead, whatever assistance does reach them is organized informally, without transparency, and without regard for the actual needs of the detainees. People receive not what they need, but what someone decided to send. This is not assistance. These are handouts.
Among those detained are people over the age of 70, people with serious health conditions. When people who have no teeth are sent dried fruit, that is not help. That is humiliation.
Is the Prime Minister aware of this?
Who is personally responsible for organizing this process? What is the established procedure? Why is it not being followed?
Have you no shame?
Is there no shame in receiving a peace prize, speaking of peace, and accepting applause – while citizens of Armenia remain in Baku’s prisons without proper protection, without systemic support, without assistance or oversight from their own state?
Name the responsible official. Publish the procedure. Explain what has been done over the past six years.
Or honestly admit that no such official exists – and that the captives have no reason to expect help from their own state.”
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Russia scolds ally Armenia for hosting Zelensky
Moscow (AFP) – Russia said Thursday that it was “incomprehensible” its ally Armenia hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for a European summit earlier this week, and cautioned the country against deeper European integration.
Ties between Armenia and its former imperial ruler Moscow have frayed in recent years.
The former Soviet republic froze its membership in the Russian-led CSTO military alliance in 2024 over Russia’s failure to defend it against Azerbaijan, and has expressed an interest in joining the European Union, angering the Kremlin.
“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, had served as a platform. For whom? For a terrorist,” Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at a weekly briefing.
Since launching its full-scale military offensive in February 2022, Russian officials have regularly hurled insults at Zelensky and routinely call Kyiv a “terrorist state” — outbursts rejected and dismissed in Kyiv as baseless wartime propaganda.
“No one in Armenia’s current leadership snubbed Zelensky. So whose side are you on, historically?” she asked.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told reporters Thursday: “Back in 2022-2023 I already stated that, on the issue of Ukraine, we are not an ally of Russia.”
Zakharova also criticised a joint declaration that Armenia and the European Union adopted at their summit on Tuesday.
The document recognises Yerevan’s aspiration to join the bloc, as well as deepens cooperation between the two sides in economic and security matters.
“Such a course on the part of 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,” Zakharova said.
The nation of three million people bordering Iran and Turkey passed a law last year formally declaring its intention to apply for EU membership.
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Pashinyan in April that Yerevan could not be a member of both the European Union and the Russian-led customs bloc.
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Cristiano Ronaldo regularly visits an Armenian restaurant in Riyadh — we find
He only has one rule.
Meghna Sharan
One of his favorite spots in Riyadh is Lavash, a three-story Armenian restaurant featuring a main hall, a VIP room, and a terrace.
He also enjoys a variety of Armenian appetizers and fresh salads.
For special celebrations, he typically rents a private room, but on regular days, he prefers dining in the main hall with other guests.
Lavash has clearly become a culinary home away from home for the Portuguese superstar.
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