Belarus Summons Armenian Chargé Over “Unfriendly” Remarks

Hovik Karapetian
The European Conservative
May 6 2026

Belarus Summons Armenian Chargé Over “Unfriendly” Remarks

The dispute between the two countries escalated after Armenian diplomat Alen Simonyan said, “Armenia should not become a [province] and be governed the way Belarus is.”

TEC News
— May 6, 2026

Belarus has summoned Armenia’s Chargé d’Affaires Artur Sargsyan over what it called “unfriendly actions” by Yerevan, marking another escalation in already strained relations between the two Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) member states.

The Belarusian Foreign Ministry did not specify the exact measures it was referring to, but the move followed criticism from Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ruslan Varankov regarding remarks made by Armenian Parliament Speaker Alen Simonyan. Simonyan had said, “Armenia should not become a [province] and be governed the way Belarus is,” a statement interpreted in Minsk as a political provocation.

In response, Varankov said, “the statements by the speaker of the Armenian Parliament are nothing more than electioneering populism and a desperate attempt to distract voters from the country’s dire domestic problems.” He added, “with poverty topping 40%, unemployment soaring, and entire regions stagnating, it is easiest to designate an external adversary and resort to offensive labels. This cynical approach is regrettable.”

He also stressed that “Belarusians and Armenians are bound by strong historical ties,” and expressed hope that Armenia’s leadership would “return to constructive dialogue.”

Simonyan rejected the criticism, saying, “I believe it is the disrespectful attitude toward Armenia, a partner in the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO), and toward Armenian statehood that damages relations.” He also added, “for Armenia, human rights and freedoms are among the highest values, and I think every state chooses its own model. We have chosen the path of democratisation.”

Earlier this week, over 30 European leaders gathered for the European Political Community (EPC) summit in Yerevan, signaling a major geopolitical shift in the South Caucasus.


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Opinion: ‘Strategic partnership with France marks new chapter in Armenia’s his

Karapet Navasardian
JAM News
May 6 2026
  • JAMnews
  • Yerevan

Armenia and France have signed a declaration on strategic partnership. The two countries signed the document on 5 May during French President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to Yerevan.

By signing the document, the two countries said they aimed to contribute to regional and international security, stability and peace by strengthening bilateral ties.

The declaration also says Armenia and France plan to deepen co-operation in several areas, including security and defence.

At the signing ceremony, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan recalled the number of joint programmes Armenia and France had already launched before signing the declaration. He said:

“We can only imagine the achievements and successes that await us after establishing a strategic partnership.”

French President Emmanuel Macron highlighted defence co-operation in particular. He said the document would strengthen the partnership in the defence sector.

“In recent years, we have worked to modernise the armed forces and strengthen Armenia’s sovereignty. This has become an important part of our bilateral relations,” Macron said.

Political analyst Ruben Mehrabyan told JAMnews that the strategic partnership declaration and other agreements signed during Macron’s visit would help Armenia strengthen its military capabilities, improve security and boost development, including in the technology sector.

“This is a very powerful incentive for Armenia to move forward. Recent developments should not only be viewed in the context of Armenia-France relations, but also within the broader framework of Armenia-EU partnership,” he said.

Below are the main provisions of the strategic partnership declaration with France, other bilateral agreements signed during the visit, Macron’s views on Armenia’s European integration and commentary from a political analyst.

  • ‘Building the Future’: Yerevan hosts 8th European Political Community summit
  • ‘Main obstacle to Armenia’s EU integration is frozen EU-Georgia dialogue’ – Pashinyan
  • ‘Deepening ties with US and EU does not mean expelling Russia’ — Armenian foreign minister
  • First Armenia–EU summit in Yerevan adopts 44-point joint declaration

French President Emmanuel Macron also took part in two other major events held in Yerevan this week: the 8th summit of the European Political Community and the 3rd international forum “Yerevan Dialogue”.

On 4 May, Armenia’s presidential residence hosted a dinner in Macron’s honour. Armenia awarded the French president the Order of Glory for his contribution to strengthening friendly ties between the two countries and expanding bilateral co-operation.

Under a decree signed by Macron, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and President Vahagn Khachaturyan received the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour. Napoleon Bonaparte established the award in 1802, and France considers it the country’s highest state distinction.

Main provisions of the declaration

Under the declaration on strategic partnership, Armenia and France plan to significantly expand and deepen relations in the following areas:

  • political dialogue, bilateral and multilateral co-operation,
  • security and defence,
  • economic co-operation and connectivity,
  • global issues,
  • education, science, culture, sport and youth,
  • decentralised co-operation and civil society.

The declaration also says the two countries commit to:

  • developing co-operation in the defence industry,
  • strengthening co-operation in defence research and innovation,
  • deepening co-operation within international organisations on regional and international security issues, as well as other areas of mutual interest,
  • co-operating in international peacekeeping missions,
  • continuing dialogue between their military chiefs of staff.

In the field of security, the declaration also includes co-operation in:

  • artificial intelligence,
  • cyber security,
  • countering disinformation and information manipulation.

Cyber security, semiconductors and helicopter supplies

The two sides also signed several other major agreements covering a wide range of areas, from education and culture to high-tech industries and banking.

In Armenia, the agreements signed with the ministries of high-tech industry and defence drew particular attention.

They included:

  • a document on co-operation in artificial intelligence, cyber security and semiconductors,
  • a memorandum on co-operation in research, development and innovation in military technologies and defence systems,
  • an agreement on the supply of transport helicopters.

Meanwhile, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan highlighted a memorandum of understanding on the construction of the Bargushat Tunnel in Armenia.

“This marks a new stage not only for the North-South highway project, but also for raising construction standards in Armenia’s road sector,” he said.

French President Emmanuel Macron said the agreements would create new opportunities in the years ahead.

‘Only a European future can guarantee peace for Armenia’ — Macron

Journalists asked French President Emmanuel Macron whether he saw Armenia as part of the “strong Europe” he often speaks about. Macron said he did.

He said Europe was not only a political project, but also a matter of geography and history, adding that Armenia had deep European roots.

Speaking about Armenia’s prospects for European integration, Macron said:

“That depends on Armenia’s own choice. At the same time, this is a long and difficult process. I believe we should not wait. Given the current situation in the world, we must act now. This is exactly how we have acted in recent years. We have helped build a broader Europe, and Armenia has moved forward alongside us. Only a European future can guarantee peace for Armenia.”

Commentary

According to political analyst Ruben Mehrabyan, the establishment of a strategic partnership with France marks a historic moment for Armenia and Armenian-French relations.

“This is a new chapter in our history. It opens broad opportunities for Armenia not only in bilateral relations with France, but also within the Armenia-European Union partnership and the wider Armenia-Europe framework,” he said.

Mehrabyan believes Europe is currently undergoing a transformation. In his view, the European Union is evolving from an economic and political alliance into a military-political actor.

The analyst also argued that France had taken on the role of a “driving force” behind Armenia’s European integration.

“Paris is playing this role in every sphere: ideological, political, economic and military. This is extremely important for Armenia’s foreign policy. At the same time, it provides a serious incentive for domestic reforms. We must understand that European integration is simply impossible without reforms,” he explained.

Mehrabyan attached particular importance to the events held in Yerevan earlier this week, including the 8th summit of the European Political Community and the first Armenia-EU summit. He believes Europe used the events to express “solidarity and support” for Armenia’s pro-European reforms and political direction.

“At the same time, Europe expressed solidarity with Armenia’s resistance to all those who want to undermine our statehood and conquer Armenia once again,” the analyst added.

He said it was clear to him that Russia viewed Armenia as a temporarily lost territory and saw the elections due in June as an opportunity to regain influence.

“In the course of this resistance, Armenia needed support and received it. These major European events should be seen as a message in defence of Armenian democracy and statehood,” he said.

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Armenia thumbs nose at Kremlin as it receives strong EU endorsement

Chatinian Lara
Eurasianet
May 6 2026

Russia is mad, but can’t do much about it.

May 6, 2026

If a picture could serve as a declaration of independence, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s meet-and-greet photo with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, taken during the just-concluded European Political Community summit, could serve as the prototype.

For much of the post-Soviet era, Armenia was effectively a Russian protectorate. The tight bonds between the two states began fraying after Russia failed to honor its treaty obligations to come to Armenia’s defense during the Second Karabakh War, which ended in 2023 in a disastrous defeat for Yerevan.

Pashinyan’s hearty handshake with Zelenskyy, coupled with the fact that they spoke in English, effectively signaled Yerevan’s intent on making a complete break with the Kremlin and fully embracing a future with the European Union.

“Eight years ago, this country [Armenia] was seen by a lot of countries around the table as a sort of de facto satellite of Russia,” the EU-funded Euronews outlet quoted French President Emmanuel Macron as saying during the summit. He went on to praise Pashinyan for “de-risking this country [Armenia] from Russia.”

Zelenskyy, the Kremlin’s bête noire, tweaked Russia by stating Armenia and Ukraine will strengthen economic relations. “I proposed resuming the work of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation and holding its next meeting this year in Kyiv,” the Ukrainian president wrote on social media.

Russian leaders have reacted predictably.  A prominent Russian senator, Konstantin Kosachev, assailed what he described in a Telegram post as Armenia’s “betrayal.” He went on to accuse the West of playing a long game, stretching back over a decade and pre-dating Pashinyan’s rise to power, working assiduously to de-couple Armenia from Russia.

“Instructions … are now being executed in full force—cynically, duplicitously, and without a shred of shame. There is not even a whiff of sovereignty in the air,” Kosachev wrote. “This serves as a crucial lesson for Russia—a lesson born of bitter errors. We will learn from it. It is never too late to do so, no matter how bitter the pill may taste right now, in the wake of this betrayal.”

Shortly after the start of the Yerevan summit and the Pashinyan-Zelenskyy meeting, major Russian online retailers, including Ozon, announced they would stop offering Armenian-sourced products on their platforms.

Meanwhile, Russian mass media declared the Yerevan gathering, which brought together almost 50 leaders from across Europe, along with top members of the European Union leadership, as an “anti-Russian summit.” One Russian outlet noted the fact that the summit was held in Yerevan this year “demonstrate[s] attempts by Europe and the United States to expand their influence in the Caucasus region.”

An EU-Armenia summit, convened May 4 amid the larger pan-European gathering, gave a ringing endorsement to Pashinyan’s efforts to steer the country in a westward direction.

“This first EU-Armenia Summit elevates our partnership to a new level and sets a clear direction and agenda for the coming years,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement. “Going forward, we will also deepen political dialogue, strengthen economic ties, and work towards a more secure, prosperous, and stable future. Our cooperation is grounded in common values, a shared vision for the South Caucasus, and full respect for sovereign choices.”

The EU announced the establishment of a Partnership Mission in Armenia to enhance the country’s security and “resilience.” The two sides also created an EU-Armenia Connectivity Partnership, which the EU statement lauded as “a major step forward in strengthening transport, energy, and digital links.”

The timing of the EU’s fresh support for the Armenian government’s political and economic course is crucial for Pashinyan, given that he is locked in a tough reelection battle against an array of Russian-backed opposition forces. He is counting on EU backing to boost his electoral fortunes. The country will hold parliamentary elections on June 7. Opposition leaders are on record as vehemently opposing Pashinyan’s pro-EU course.

In addition to backing Armenia’s efforts to diminish Russian influence, an EU statement “reiterated its principled position on Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, and reaffirmed its support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders.”


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Why Jewish and Armenian Networks Should Work Together

Kalashian Nyrie
Times of Israel
May 6 2026

International relations are no longer shaped solely by states. Over the past three decades, power has diffused into transnational networks — diasporas, lobbying ecosystems, financial flows, and digital communities that operate across borders with speed and flexibility that governments cannot match. These networks influence legislation, shape media narratives, mobilize capital, and increasingly determine access — often with fewer constraints than formal diplomacy.

Consider the mechanics. In the United States, pro-Israel advocacy networks have helped secure consistent military aid packages exceeding $3.8 billion annually, while maintaining bipartisan political backing for Israel across decades of shifting administrations. At the same time, global Jewish philanthropic networks distribute billions of dollars annually through foundations that fund education, security, and cultural initiatives worldwide. These are not abstract “soft power” tools but structured systems of influence operating continuously across political, economic, and cultural domains.

Armenian networks, while smaller, demonstrate a similar model. Armenian diaspora organizations — particularly in the United States, France, and Russia — have coordinated long-term campaigns that culminated in over 30 countries formally recognizing the Armenian Genocide, including the United States in 2021. In France alone, Armenian advocacy has repeatedly translated into legislative action, public commemorations, and sustained political visibility. These outcomes were not achieved through state leverage, but through persistence of networked influence.

Beyond lobbying, transnational networks operate through economic channels. Armenian business diasporas maintain investment flows into sectors ranging from construction to IT, particularly in Eastern Europe and the Middle East. Jewish networks, for their part, are deeply embedded in global finance, technology, and venture capital ecosystems linking innovation hubs from Tel Aviv to Silicon Valley. These economic linkages create parallel channels of influence that often bypass formal diplomatic constraints.

The scale of these systems is significant. The Jewish diaspora numbers approximately 8–9 million people outside Israel, while the Armenian diaspora is estimated at more than 7 million. Together, these communities represent a combined global network of over 15 million people, embedded across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and beyond.

And yet, despite these structural similarities, cooperation between Jewish and Armenian transnational networks remains minimal. This is a strategic blind spot.

For decades, relations have been framed through a state-centric lens shaped by Israel’s security cooperation with Azerbaijan, energy considerations, and its complex relationship with Turkey. But this perspective overlooks where influence is increasingly generated: below the level of formal diplomacy.

Nowhere is this more evident than in the Turkish factor — not only as a historical issue, but as an active geopolitical variable.

For Armenians, the legacy of the Armenian Genocide — in which up to 1.5 million Armenians perished — remains a central pillar of global identity and political mobilization. Ankara’s continued refusal to fully recognize the events, coupled with its global lobbying efforts to prevent recognition, has turned historical memory into a persistent arena of geopolitical contestation.

For Jews, sensitivity to denialism is deeply rooted in the experience of the Holocaust. But the Turkish dimension today extends beyond memory. Over the past decade, relations between Turkey and Israel have shifted from strategic alignment to recurring confrontation.

Under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Ankara has increasingly adopted an assertive regional posture, combining geopolitical expansion with ideological positioning. Diplomatic crises — from the Gaza flotilla raid to repeated ambassador withdrawals and sustained anti-Israel rhetoric — have transformed bilateral relations into a volatile and often adversarial dynamic. Turkish leadership has at times blurred the line between criticism of Israeli policy and broader anti-Jewish narratives, contributing to a more hostile information environment.

Simultaneously, Turkey has expanded its influence across the South Caucasus, the Eastern Mediterranean, and parts of the Middle East. Its close military partnership with Azerbaijan — including direct support during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflicts — has introduced new complexities into Israel’s regional positioning.

This creates an unexpected convergence. For Armenians, Turkey represents unresolved historical trauma combined with ongoing geopolitical pressure. For Jews and Israel, it is an increasingly unpredictable regional actor whose rhetoric and positioning can directly affect diplomatic space and community security. Both communities are therefore navigating not only the legacy of Turkey’s past, but the implications of its present.

That shared experience matters.

According to the Anti-Defamation League’s report, antisemitic attitudes exceed 50 percent in several regions, particularly across the Middle East and North Africa. In Europe, antisemitic incidents have risen steadily over the past decade. Yet in many of these same regions, Armenian communities occupy a different position.

In countries such as Lebanon and Iran, Armenian communities operate as historically rooted and politically neutral minorities, maintaining broad social integration and relatively flexible external connections. Jewish communities, including in Iran, also retain formal recognition — with synagogues, schools, and even a reserved parliamentary seat.

Yet their position is more constrained. Political _expression_ is tightly limited, particularly on issues related to Israel, and community leadership operates within clearly defined boundaries set by the state. This creates a crucial distinction: while Jewish communities maintain continuity, their ability to function as outward-facing transnational networks is often restricted. Armenian networks, by contrast, tend to retain greater flexibility in external engagement, particularly in regions where political sensitivities limit direct Jewish presence.

This asymmetry creates potential complementarity. Armenian networks cannot and should not act as intermediaries for Jewish interests. But they can facilitate indirect channels of engagement, cultural exchange, and perception-building in regions where direct Jewish outreach is limited. In a network-driven world, influence often depends less on formal alliances than on access and trust.

The complementarity runs both ways. Jewish transnational networks remain among the most advanced globally. Their experience in advocacy, coalition-building, and strategic communication has produced measurable outcomes — from sustained international support for Israel to the institutionalization of Holocaust education worldwide. Armenian networks, while effective, remain less systematized.

A structured exchange — sharing advocacy techniques, digital mobilization strategies, and institutional best practices — could strengthen Armenian capacity while expanding Jewish reach into regions where access is otherwise limited.

Crucially, this potential rests on a foundation of relatively positive mutual perception. Armenians, unlike many groups in regions where antisemitism is prevalent, generally view Jews without entrenched hostility. In an era where perception defines the boundaries of engagement, this fact matters.

The case for Jewish-Armenian cooperation is rooted in structural reality. Both are small nations with global footprints. Both rely on diasporas that exceed their populations at home. Both operate in a world where influence is increasingly exercised through networks rather than states. And both face a geopolitical environment in which traditional alliances are less predictable and often insufficient.

Israel has mastered statecraft under difficult conditions. But in a system where transnational networks shape policy, narratives, and access, statecraft alone is no longer enough. The next phase of strategy must look beyond formal alliances — toward partnerships between networks.

Jewish and Armenian diasporas have developed in parallel for centuries, often confronting similar challenges, yet rarely aligning their strengths. That may be one of the most underexplored strategic opportunities of our time. If Jews and Israel continue to think only in terms of states, it risks overlooking the structures that increasingly define global power. And among those structures, the potential alignment between Jewish and Armenian transnational networks is strategically consequential.

About the Author
Leo Gartenstein is a political researcher specializing in migration and diaspora studies based in Hannover, Germany. He is focusing on issues related to transnational communities, migration dynamics, and diaspora engagement in global politics.

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Booking 17 rooms in a hotel, enjoying Armenian food & more: how Cristiano Rona

Nahapetian Zhanna
Tribuna
May 6 2026
Booking 17 rooms in a hotel, enjoying Armenian food & more: how Cristiano Ronaldo lives and where he eats in Saudi Arabia
The Portuguese is enjoying life away from home.

George Woodward
Yesterday, 6 May 2026

Cristiano Ronaldo has changed football in Saudi Arabia, so let’s see which hotel the Portuguese lived in immediately after his move, which house he bought and where he likes to have a modest meal.

Two floors and 400 square metres. This is how Ronaldo lived in his first month after joining Al Nassr
Immediately after his transfer to Al Nassr in 2023, Ronaldo settled in the luxury Four Seasons hotel in the Kingdom Centre. The ceilings there are very high — the lobby alone is 10 storeys tall. Cristiano rented two floors (the 49th and 50th). One was for his family and the other for his staff.

All in all, it was 400 square metres and 17 rooms in total. Inside there were several bedrooms, dining rooms, storage rooms, huge walk-in wardrobes, contemporary artworks and, from the windows, a panoramic view of the city.

Ronaldo used a private lift, made use of the gym, pool, spa and played tennis. His access everywhere was unlimited and completely free. Per month, such a luxury stay would have cost around $300,000, but no one took any money from Ronaldo. He did not pay anything in the hotel restaurants either, even though his personal chef was also living with him.

In the same Kingdom Centre there is a large shopping mall and a lift that takes you up to the observation deck. It is quite unusual because of its shape and the bridge connecting the two ends.

A $15-million house in a unique district and a comfortable life in a once closed country
The official address of Ronaldo’s house in Saudi Arabia is, naturally, kept strictly secret. It is, however, known for certain that his home is in the elite Al Muhammadiyah district. It is filled with sand-coloured houses with very modern architecture, floor-to-ceiling windows, open terraces and marble fences.

There are many convenient, large areas for walking, as well as expensive restaurants and shops of well-known brands. There is also everything you need for sport — football pitches and tennis courts.

Cristiano bought his house for $15 million, and it is just a 15-minute drive from Al Nassr’s stadium. Ronaldo himself probably does not even notice that he is living in a fairly closed eastern country. But now there is literally everything here for a comfortable life.

There are few districts like this for now, but the country is developing very actively in this direction. The westernisation and relative liberalisation of Saudi Arabia is the work of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. In 2016 he presented ‘Vision 2030’, the key programme for the development of Saudi Arabia.

Having looked at neighbouring UAE and Qatar, the prince also set about modernising his country. The main goal is to reduce the economy’s dependence on oil by developing other sectors. Entertainment is one of the priority areas.

Until 2018, even cinemas and concerts were banned in Saudi Arabia. Now all of this exists, albeit not yet in large numbers. The emerging leisure industry still does not fully satisfy demand, and locals fly to Dubai or Bahrain for the weekend. But there is one type of entertainment in which the Saudis have already overtaken their neighbours — football. With an ambassador like Cristiano, that is no surprise. Crowds of tourists come to the country purely because of Ronaldo.

Cristiano celebrated his birthday in an Armenian restaurant. And he did not even book the whole place out
‘Lavash’ is a three-storey Armenian restaurant. It has a main hall, a VIP area and a terrace. Interestingly, it was Ronaldo’s fiancee Georgina Rodriguez who first celebrated her birthday there, and a few days later Cristiano himself did the same. Waiter Vergina worked at both parties and shared a few details.

The first time, Ronaldo and his wife sat upstairs, a little secluded from everyone. The second time they settled right in the middle of the ground-floor hall. Ordinary guests were sitting right next to them, and the restaurant was completely packed.

In other words, Ronaldo, despite having the biggest salary in football history, still spends his money rationally. Why book out an entire huge restaurant if you have not invited that many people and one area is enough? No trace of star behaviour or arrogance. Just a normal person.

Cristiano made the impression of being very pleasant and kind. He constantly thanked the staff, and it was clear that he liked everything very much. The whole group celebrating with him agreed it was an excellent choice of venue. Everyone was happy and, of course, they left a generous tip.

Cristiano ordered the restaurant’s signature dish — khobob. There were also lots of Armenian starters and salads. The Portuguese star also enjoyed the desserts, which were served at the end of the evening, including the cake with candles. Although it always seemed that Ronaldo does not eat sweets at all, in reality that is not quite true. Of course, he did not eat the whole cake, but he did allow himself a small portion. A little is allowed, especially on your birthday.

When Cristiano celebrated his big day there, a crowd gathered outside the restaurant doors. They were waiting for Ronaldo to come out to them. He does not really like taking photos and usually forbids it at such moments, but he did make an exception for the restaurant staff.

https://tribuna.com/en/blogs/booking-17-rooms-in-a-hotel-enjoying-armenian-food-more-how/

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Sports: Ismailia, Day 5: Golds for Venezuela and Armenia – and 17-year-old wi

Kalantarian Kevo
International Weightlifting Federation
May 6 2026

Ismailia, Day 5: Golds for Venezuela and Armenia – and 17-year-old wins medal after 16kg weight gain

Angel Rodriguez was an impressive winner for Venezuela and Anna Amroyan from Armenia was in tears after a dramatic victory with the last lift of the day at the IWF World Junior Championships in Ismailia, Egypt. It was the first day without a winner from Asia.

The top three in the women’s 77kg had all won medals at the senior European Championships in Georgia 12 days ago, where Amroyan set a junior continental record in clean and jerk after bombing out in snatch. The leading two in Georgia, Janette Ylisoini from Finland and 17-year-old Varvara Kuzminova from Russia, finished second and third here.

This time Amroyan made all six attempts to finish 106-134-240. She won with her final lift, then fell flat on her back in tears. There were more tears on the podium as her anthem was played.

Ylisoini made only one snatch but it was enough for gold. She missed her final clean and jerk and finished 108-131-239. Kuzminova made 107-130-237 and with the Georgian snatch silver medallist Nana Khorava next on 108-126-234, the top four were all European.

Seine Stowers, the Samoan who was within 3kg of the junior world record when she won the Oceania title on 254kg last month, had the highest entry total but did not make it to Egypt.

Ylisoini was competing internationally for the 22nd time in less than five years. She likes to keep busy but said, “I had only five days at home after Georgia before I flew to Egypt. I need a break so I will take some rest now and my next competition will be the World Championships in China (in October and November).”

Rodriguez, narrowly beaten last year, made five good lifts for 168-197-365 at 88kg.

Asian athletes still had cause to celebrate when Kazakhstan’s two men in the session both won medals. One of them, 17-year-old Alikhan Askerbay, increased his body weight by 23.43 per cent in 190 days – and said he will put on more weight yet.

At last year ‘s World Juniors Rodriguez weighed in light in the 89kg category and gave a 4kg body weight advantage to the Georgian winner Goga Jajvani. He was beaten by one kilogram.

Venezuela had high hopes of Rodriguez, who prepared well and weighed in within a few grams of the limit this time. He dominated from the start and led by 7kg at halfway. After missing his final attempt on 200kg he was 9kg clear of Yerasyl Saulebekov, who needed to equal the world record in clean and jerk to overtake him. He could not do it.

“I tried very hard and did what I could but I’m not satisfied with silver,” Saulebekov said. “I was here for gold.”

Askerbay weighed 70.73kg and lifted in the 71kg category at the Asian Youth Games in  October 2025, his last international competition before today. In Ismailia 190 days later he was 87.3kg, up by 16.57kg.

“I ate a lot of horse meat, I ate a lot of everything,” he said of his remarkable weight gain. “I’m going to get even heavier because the plan is for me to go up and Yerasyl to go down to 85.”

Askerbay, who holds all three youth world records at 71kg, took silver in snatch, bronze in clean and jerk and finished third on total. He made all six lifts for 161-194-355.

Saulebekov, a Youth world champion at 67kg and 73kg, improved his best total by 12kg on 157-199-356. Fourth-placed Moustafa Bakry from Egypt won snatch bronze on 158kg.

By Brian Oliver

https://iwf.sport/2026/05/06/ismailia-day-5-golds-for-venezuela-and-armenia-and-17-year-old-wins-medal-after-16kg-weight-gain/

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Armenian parliamentary speaker accuses Belarus of unfriendly steps, diplomatic

Liana Toganian
Mezha
May 6 2026

Tensions escalated after the Armenian parliamentary speaker accused Belarus of hostile steps, signaling a growing diplomatic rift with regional implications.

As the media notes, Azatutyun.

Relations between Armenia and Belarus are deteriorating not because of statements by officials, but due to concrete unfriendly steps, according to a statement published on May 6 by the head of Armenia’s National Assembly, Alen Simonyan.

“A disrespectful attitude toward Armenia, a partner in the Collective Security Treaty Organization, toward Armenian statehood is worsening relations. The preparation for the 44-day war together with Azerbaijan is worsening relations”

– Armenian Service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

“Political course is a matter of each state’s choice. For the Republic of Armenia, human rights and freedoms are the most important values. And I believe that every state chooses its own path. We chose the path of democratizing Armenia; they are something else”

– Alen Simonyan

Context of events and reactions from the sides

On May 5, Belarus’s Foreign Ministry summoned the temporary chargé d’affaires of Armenia, Artur Sargsyan, and handed him a protest note.

“A firm protest was expressed to the Armenian diplomat and the corresponding note was handed over in connection with the latest unfriendly actions by the Armenian side”

– Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

“We will not allow Armenia to become a province. We will not be governed the way Belarus is governed”

– Alen Simonyan

On May 4, Belarusian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ruslan Voronkov called these words “pre-election populism and a desperate attempt to distract their own voters from serious internal problems”.

“pre-election populism and a desperate attempt to distract their own voters from serious internal problems”

– Ruslan Voronkov

“Armenia will not be a province. Armenia will not be politically dependent”

– Alen Simonyan

“Armenia will raise the level of its political sovereignty in all spheres, and the example of governance by Belarus is unacceptable for my country and for me. Armenia is a free country with free media, human rights and the rule of law”

– Alen Simonyan

Analyst Valer Karbalyevich of the Belarusian Service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty believes that the reason for the Belarusian authorities’ irritation is that Yerevan has freedom of choice and the possibility of political maneuvering between Russia and Europe, something Minsk, which is completely dependent on Moscow, cannot allow itself. According to Karbalyevich, the demarche of the Belarusian MFA also reflects the Russian position. This is not the first time when the Belarusian authorities say something that is easier to say to Moscow.

In the context of public statements between Yerevan and Minsk, tensions are rising – regional politics are taking on a more complex character: one side seeks greater sovereign governance, the other – dependence on external factors and internal realities.

Overall, this story highlights a sharp debate between Armenia’s pursuit of democracy and Belarus’s stable political course, while also reflecting the broader geopolitical dynamics of the region and Russia’s influence on regional decisions.

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Rescheduled Armenian Festival Set for May 30 in Victory Park

Chalian Meline
Local News Pasadena
May 6 2026

Organizers hope for a sunny day.

by Karine Armen


The Second Annual Pasadena Armenian Festival will be held Saturday, May 30, from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Victory Park, 2575 Paloma Street. The Master of Ceremonies is Natalie Tavidian. This is a rescheduled even from November, 2025, when the festival was rained-out.

Festival parking is available at Victory Park, the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU), 2495 E Mountain St, and Norma Coombs School, 2600 Paloma Street.

The festival program includes performances by students from several Armenian schools in Pasadena, famous Armenian singers, ensembles, and dance academy students. There will be art displays and handicrafts by non-profit organizations and private vendors. 

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Costa: Armenia plays key role in EU relations with South Caucasus

Mary Lazarian
Politics11:20, 5 May 2026
Read the article in: Русский Türkçe中文:

President of the European Council António Costa lauded the first Armenia–EU Summit as a historic event.

Speaking at the inaugural Armenia–EU Summit in Yerevan, Costa said that both the EPC Summit held on May 4 and the first bilateral summit have historic significance.

“Yesterday, we had a very historic moment with the first meeting of the EPC in the region. 

But today, we have a new very important historic moment, the first ever summit between the European Union and Armenia. This sends a clear signal of how the EU wishes to engage with Armenia. 

Now Armenia is living a new momentum of peace, of consolidation of your democratic regime, and this of course is the good environment to develop our bilateral relationship. The strategic agenda for the European Union-Armenia partnership was adopted last December, and since then we have been strengthening our relationship.

We are also working very closely on security and defence, from the European Peace Facility to joint efforts against the hybrid threat. As you know, the European Union partnership mission that was decided last April, that aims to strengthen Armenia’s democratic resilience, is a tangible sign of our shared commitment to addressing common challenges. And of course, for us it’s very important to protect the freedom of Armenian people to choose their own destiny.

And you can count on us to work together and to develop together our common destiny. Armenia is a key pillar in our relationship with the South Caucasus, but also to interconnect Europe through the South Caucasus to Caspian Sea, Central Asia. This is the history of our regions, and this will be also the future of our regions. And that’s why the European Commission and President von der Leyen for sure will focus on the concrete deliverables of this summit and how we can build on, in our strategic partnership, our common future in peace and for the prosperity of Armenian people and Europe,” he said. 

Published by Armenpress, original at 
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PM describes Armenia–EU Summit as historic milestone in strengthening ties

Torgomian Varazdat
Politics11:28, 5 May 2026
Read the article in: FrenchՀայերենქართულიRusskiyTürkçe

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said the inaugural Armenia–EU Summit in Yerevan elevates the bilateral relationship to a new qualitative level.

Speaking at the summit on Tuesday in Yerevan, Pashinyan described it as a historic event.

“When we mutually refer to today’s summit as the first bilateral summit, it means that the holding of a second, third, and subsequent summits is also implied. I believe the issue is not only the name itself, but also that our relations have already developed such a substantial agenda that, in a predictable way, it will be necessary in the near future to discuss it at the level of summits, while of course assuming that quite detailed and extensive work must be carried out in between, which has already been done so far,” the Prime Minister said at the meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President António Costa, and top diplomat Kaja Kallas, among others.

Pashinyan noted with satisfaction that the discussions held in a narrow-format meeting within the framework of the summit showed that there are common positions and a shared understanding on many items on the agenda.

“This means that there is an appropriate atmosphere for us to focus on the implementation and realization of the agenda. I would also like to thank the European Union for the support provided to us during this period, particularly in the areas of democratic and institutional reforms. I have often had the opportunity to say that democracy for us is not a coincidence of circumstances, but a strategy consciously adopted as a decision by the people of the Republic of Armenia,” Pashinyan emphasized.

The Prime Minister added that all reforms that could be implemented relying solely on political will have already been carried out, and further progress will require greater institutional, legislative, and expert input.

“In this regard, our cooperation with the EU is very important, and I can already thank our partners for supporting us in this area, starting with ensuring the independence of the judiciary, and extending to various issues, including countering hybrid challenges, which is, of course, part of our agenda,” the Prime Minister added, expressing hope that the EU will support efforts to address issues such as disinformation and the spread of hate speech through the exchange of experience or by providing access to already established tools.

Read the article in: FrenchՀայերենქართულიRusskiyTürkçe

Published by Armenpress, original at 
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