Armenia’s Karapetyan says Saakashvili turned Batumi into ‘Azerbaijani–Turkish

Hovik Karapetian
OC Media
May 4 2026
by Yousef Bardouka

Russian–Armenian tycoon Samvel Karapetyan, the leader of the Strong Armenia Alliance of Parties, has claimed that the governments of Armenia and Azerbaijan were discussing settling ‘300,000 Azerbaijanis in Armenia’. He said that such a move would turn Armenia into a ‘Turkish–Azerbaijani enclave’, claiming former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili had turned the western Georgian city of Batumi into such an enclave.

The comments came in an interview with Armenian media outlet Aysor, in response to a question about whether ‘Azerbaijani businesspeople can be trusted and allowed to invest in Armenia’.

Earlier, the interviewer asked Karapetyan about statements in which Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that the resettlement of Azerbaijanis displaced from Armenia at the height of the conflict between the two countries and the return of Armenians to Nagorno-Karabakh were both off the table in the peace talks.

‘You can be sure that if [Azerbaijani President Ilham] Aliyev and Nikol Pashinyan manage to resettle 300,000 Azerbaijanis in Armenia, they will buy land, build factories, where Azerbaijanis will work. We have such an example in neighbouring Georgia. Due to Saakashvili’s mistakes, Batumi has become like a Turkish–Azerbaijani enclave’, claimed Karapetyan.

He claimed that his party would ‘stop all that’ and create 300,000 jobs for Armenians.

During the interview, Karapetyan additionally claimed that ‘all decisions about Armenia are made in Azerbaijan’ and that Pashinyan ‘did everything to antagonise relations with our main allies’ — an allusion to the continuously deteriorating ties between Armenia and Russia.

‘We should have very friendly relations with the US, with England, with France, with China, as well as with our friend, Russia. Only in this way can we secure serious guarantees from the superpowers’, Karapetyan said.

Asked about Azerbaijani Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev’s visit to Armenia on 29 May, Karapetyan accused Pashinyan of shying away from asking the Azerbaijani official ‘all questions related to Armenia’s interests’, such as the destruction of Armenian heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh and the fate of the 19 Armenians — including former Nagorno-Karabakh officials — in Azerbaijani prisons.

‘When the deputy boss comes, Nikol [Pashinyan] has no right to ask any questions, he is only in the role of the listener’, Karapetyan said.

According to recent public opinion surveys, Karapetyan and his Strong Armenia Alliance are poised to be Pashinyan and his ruling Civil Contract party’s biggest opponents in the June parliamentary elections.

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Armenia tests Moscow’s patience with Zelenskyy visit and EU leaders’ summit

Edgar Tavakalian
Yahoo! News
May 4 2026
Sasha Vakulina

A scene once unthinkable for Armenia: European leaders, the prime minister of Canada, NATO secretary general and Ukraine’s president in a country long regarded as Russia’s closest ally in the South Caucasus.

For Yerevan, hosting the European Political Community summit and the EU-Armenia meeting is a turning point.

“Let’s be honest, eight years ago, nobody would come here,” French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday.

“Eight years ago, this country was seen by a lot of countries around the table as a sort of de facto satellite of Russia.”

The French president further praised Armenian Premier Nikol Pashinyan for “organising the Velvet Revolution” and “de-risking this country from Russia.”

“And it was and it is still attacked on a daily basis because of that,” Macron said.

Putin’s ultimatum over closer ties with EU

Armenia’s relations with Russia have grown increasingly strained after Azerbaijan fully reclaimed the Karabakh region in 2023.

Decades of bloody conflict ended as the two former bitter rivals embarked on a historic peace process, launching an economic revival in the region amid new stability in the South Caucasus.

In 2024, Armenia suspended its membership in the Russia-led Yerevan Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) after Moscow failed to support Yerevan during the 2022 Karabakh escalation.

Then in 2025 Pashinyan even declared an intention to join the European Union in the future.

Moscow stated categorically that it will not tolerate Armenia’s closer ties with the EU, with Russian President Vladimir Putin issuing a warning to Pashinyan during a rare and tense meeting at the Kremlin in April, in a not-so-veiled threat over Russian gas supplies.

“We see that there is a discussion in Armenia about developing relations with the European Union,” Putin said at the meeting with Pashinyan, adding that Moscow treats it “absolutely calmly”.

“But it should be obvious and honestly stated upfront that membership in a customs union with both the EU and the Eurasian Economic Union is impossible,” Putin told Pashinyan on camera.

One month after the heated exchange at the Kremlin, Pashinyan made his choice clear.

Zelenskyy’s first visit to Armenia

There is one leader whose presence in Yerevan makes Moscow even more angry than the visits by the EU leaders or NATO secretary general – it is Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

For Zelenskyy, this represented his first visit to Armenia since he took office in 2019.

But the record is even more striking in a bigger picture – it is the first visit of the Ukrainian head of state to Armenia in 24 years.

At the meeting with Pashinyan, Zelenskyy said it was important that the two countries “are restoring active dialogue”.

Ukraine’s president also stated that the leaders discussed the “development of our economic partnership.”

“I proposed resuming the work of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation and holding its next meeting this year in Kyiv.”

But most importantly Zelenskyy and Pashinyan discussed the security aspect of the cooperation.

“We discussed the situation in the region, as well as security challenges and threats. I briefed the Prime Minister on the diplomatic efforts aimed at achieving a real peace,” Zelenskyy said.

Ten days ago in a statement next to Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev in Gabala, close to the border with Russia, Zelenskyy said he is ready to meet Vladimir Putin in Azerbaijan after the US-led diplomatic talks had stalled over the past weeks.

By raising the issue of the diplomatic peace process with Pashinyan, Zelenskyy appears to broaden the range of potential venues for a meeting with Putin — one that the Kremlin has repeatedly declined to entertain altogether.

And while Russian officials have been quiet and refrained from any comments on his visit to Armenia, the Kremlin-controlled outlets have been very vocal, calling it “humiliation” and even lashing out at the Kremlin officials.

Russian military bloggers criticised the defence ministry for not “capturing” Zelenskyy or not shooting down his plane.

“I don’t know how much lower Russia can fall on the foreign policy arena,” one of the most popular Telegram bloggers wrote, saying, “This is the most shameful page in history.”

Plenty of criticism was also lobbed at Armenia, with Russian journalists calling Zelenskyy’s visit “a gut punch from Russia’s strategic partner.”

Margarita Simonyan, the head of Russia’s biggest propaganda media network RT, said Zelenskyy’s visit to Yerevan is “such a ungrateful move on the part of Armenia — a country we have rescued so many times — that I am lost for words.”

Simonyan, who often voices the official Kremlin narrative, even suggested Moscow might respond with military intervention.

“It is high time we considered how to protect the Russian population and our interests in that country,” she said.

The wording has been used by Russia to justify its invasions and occupations of Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine.

Under its existing defence pact with Armenia, Russia maintains a base in the Armenian city of Gyumri with approximately 3,000 troops.

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As Armenia’s Elections Approach, The Moscow Summit Gains New Strategic Urgenc

Emma Nadirian
Eurasia Review
May 4 2026
 May 4, 2026  

By Nurlan Umudov

With Armenia’s high-stakes parliamentary elections in June fast approaching, the shadow of the April 1 summit between Vladimir Putin and Nikol Pashinyan looms larger than ever over the country’s political landscape.

On April 1, 2026, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan arrived in Moscow for a high-stakes working meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin (Kremlin.ru, April 1). The summit covered a broad spectrum of regional and bilateral issues, including Armenia’s dual engagement with the European Union (EU) and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), the perceived paralysis within the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), and the upcoming parliamentary elections in Armenia scheduled for June (OSCE/ODIHR, March 19). The public portion of the meeting revealed deep-seated contradictions that highlight Moscow’s increasing unease with Yerevan’s pro-Western drift.

The significance of this summit lies in the Kremlin’s overt pressure on Armenia to abandon its “multi-vector” foreign policy. For the first time, Putin explicitly signaled that Armenia’s deepening integration with Western institutions — including its potential aspiration for EU membership — is incompatible with Moscow’s regional interests. This ultimatum forces Yerevan to navigate a precarious balance between democratic consolidation and its inherited dependence on Russian security and economic structures (Euronews, April 3).

The Economic Lever: Energy and Trade as Coercion

During the discussions, President Putin utilized energy pricing as a primary instrument of strategic leverage. He pointedly noted that while Russia sells natural gas to Western nations at approximately $600 per 1,000 cubic meters, Armenia continues to receive a preferential rate of only $177.5 (Kremlin.ru, April 1). By highlighting this substantial discount, the Kremlin issued a thinly veiled warning: any further political divergence from Moscow could result in a catastrophic adjustment of energy prices, threatening Armenia’s fragile domestic economy.

Furthermore, Putin emphasized the scale of bilateral trade, noting that turnover reached 11 billion rubles ($6.4 billion) over the past year — surpassing Russia’s trade volume with neighboring Azerbaijan, which stood at 4.9 billion rubles (Kremlin.ru, April 1). This comparative data was not merely statistical but serves as a psychological maneuver. By framing Armenia as a “privileged” partner compared to Azerbaijan, Putin attempted to reinforce the notion that Yerevan’s economic survival is inextricably linked to Russian goodwill, thereby pressuring the Pashinyan administration to reciprocate with political loyalty.

The Karabakh Gambit: A Failed Tool of Influence

A pivotal moment of the summit occurred when President Putin attempted to reintroduce the “Karabakh problem” into the bilateral agenda, despite the issue being functionally resolved following Azerbaijan’s full restoration of sovereignty in 2023 (Genprosecutor.gov.az, November 8, 2020; Azerbaijan.az, September 20, 2023). This maneuver appears to be a calculated effort to re-establish Russia’s role as the indispensable mediator in the South Caucasus. However, Prime Minister Pashinyan explicitly countered this narrative, stating that the issue is closed and that the peace process is moving forward under a different framework (Azertag, December 22, 2025).

Notably, Pashinyan highlighted the significant role of the United States, specifically referencing the breakthrough meeting in Washington on August 8, 2025, and the subsequent support from President Donald Trump’s administration (APRI Armenia, August 14, 2025). By invoking the “Washington track,” Pashinyan signaled to the Kremlin that Armenia no longer views Moscow as the sole arbiter of regional peace (Kremlin.ru, April 1).

This Russian rhetorical intervention also triggered a sharp rebuke from Baku. The Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs characterized the use of the Karabakh region as an object of  “political speculation” as unacceptable (AzerNEWS, April 5). Baku’s official response reminded Moscow that Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity is based on international law and history, not the unilateral decisions of external powers (Caspian News, April 7). This rare alignment of rhetoric between Yerevan and Baku against Russian “mediation” suggests that Moscow’s traditional “divide and rule” levers are losing their efficacy in the face of emerging regional consensus (Caucasus Watch, April 7).

The CSTO Deadlock and Security Sovereignty

The impasse over the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) remains a fundamental friction point in the Russia-Armenia relationship. During the meeting, Putin urged Armenia to return to “active participation” within the bloc. Pashinyan, however, reiterated his administration’s stance: Armenia’s “freezing” of its membership is a direct consequence of the organization’s failure to fulfill its security obligations during critical border escalations (Euronews, April 3).

From a strategic perspective, Pashinyan’s refusal to reintegrate into the CSTO infrastructure is more than a diplomatic snub; it is a prerequisite for Armenia’s ongoing “security diversification” strategy. By maintaining this distance, Yerevan keeps the door open for deeper military-technical cooperation with Western and non-traditional partners, further eroding the Russian military monopoly in the region (APRI Armenia, August 14, 2025).

Democratic Divergence and the Battle for the June Elections

The Moscow summit laid bare a profound ideological chasm regarding governance and civil liberties. During the discussions, President Putin’s inquiries regarding “political prisoners” in Armenia were met with a blunt rebuttal from Pashinyan, who emphasized that, unlike the Russian Federation, Armenia operates under a rigorous democratic framework with no individuals detained for political reasons (Euronews, April 3). Pashinyan’s defense of Armenia’s digital sovereignty — specifically the unrestricted access to platforms like Telegram — served as a symbolic critique of Russia’s domestic crackdown on information, framing the bilateral tension as a conflict between two irreconcilable political systems (Euronews, April 3). 

The most acute point of friction, however, centers on the upcoming parliamentary elections in June. Moscow’s apparent attempt to influence the Armenian state apparatus by promoting individuals with Russian citizenship for high-ranking positions was met with categorical rejection (Medianews.az, April 5). Pashinyan reaffirmed the principle of sovereign governance, stating that only Armenian citizens, under the rule of law, are eligible for state office. This stance is a direct counter-maneuver against what Yerevan perceives as the Kremlin’s “asymmetric intervention” strategy — utilizing dual-citizen oligarchs and “revanchnist” blocs to infiltrate the Armenian political landscape.

Conclusion: Beyond a Routine Election

The implications of the Moscow summit suggest that the Kremlin has reached a point of strategic impatience with the Pashinyan administration’s democratic consolidation and pro-Western orientation. Putin’s rhetoric indicates that Russia is no longer merely a dissatisfied ally but is actively seeking a “tactical reset” in Yerevan through potential electoral interference. The focus on disenfranchised revanchnist forces – those banking on foreign support to reclaim power – represents the primary risk to the current peace process and regional security.

Ultimately, the June parliamentary elections will not be a routine domestic event but a geopolitical referendum. A victory for the incumbent government would solidify Armenia’s “security diversification” and its integration into the Euro-Atlantic architecture. Conversely, a successful Russian-backed intervention would likely result in the reversal of democratic gains, the suspension of the Washington-mediated peace track, and the re-establishment of a Russian-dependent “security monopoly” in the South Caucasus. As the election nears, the risk of external destabilization remains the most significant threat to the emerging regional order. Moscow’s pressure is not just about gas; it is about who will govern Armenia after June.

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Prime Minister Mark Carney Meets Armenian Leader Before Summit

Albert Nalbandian
May 4 2026
Eliano Reader

Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived in Yerevan on Sunday, May 3, 2026, for a high-level meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. The bilateral talks preceded the upcoming European Political Community summit, where leaders plan to address critical regional issues.

The discussions between the two heads of government focused on enhancing strategic cooperation across several key sectors. According to report from thestar.com, the agenda specifically highlighted improvements in political alignment, security frameworks, and regional infrastructure development.

The discussions between the two heads of government focused on enhancing strategic cooperation across several key sectors. According to report from thestar.com, the agenda specifically highlighted improvements in political alignment, security frameworks, and regional infrastructure development.

The gathering serves as a precursor to the broader European Political Community summit. This international forum serves as a platform for coordinated efforts among member states and invited partners to stabilize and secure the European continent through shared initiatives.

Canada holds a unique position in these proceedings as the first non-European nation to participate in the summit. The meetings were established as a biannual event following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia in 2022 to foster broader continental security.

The summit brings together a diverse group of stakeholders, including all European Union member states. Other participating nations include Iceland, Turkey, and Ukraine, reflecting the organization’s expansive reach across the geographic and political landscape of Europe.

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Turkish Press: Türkiye, Armenia sign deal to restore historic Ani Bridge amid

Christine Harutyunian
Anadolu Agency, Turkey
May 4 2026
Memorandum of understanding on bridge is example of ‘symbolic and concrete cooperation’ that can help build ‘lasting peace and an environment of trust,’ says Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz
Aysu Biçer
YEREVAN

Türkiye and Armenia on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to jointly restore the ancient Ani Bridge, in a move described as a step towards strengthening ties between the two countries.

The agreement was announced following a meeting between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz on the sidelines of the 8th European Political Community Summit in Yerevan, Armenia’s capital.

Under the deal, Türkiye’s special envoy for the normalization process with Armenia, Serdar Kilic and Yerevan’s envoy for the normalization of relations with Ankara, Ruben Rubinyan, signed the MoU on behalf of both sides.

The restoration project will focus on the historic Ani Bridge, which lies on the border between Armenia and Türkiye.

In a statement posted on Turkish social media platform NSosyal, Yilmaz said the two sides had “comprehensively evaluated” bilateral relations and discussed potential cooperation in areas, including transport, customs, energy, and digital infrastructure.

He said the agreement on the bridge is an example of “symbolic and concrete cooperation” that can help build “lasting peace and an environment of trust.”

Yilmaz added that Ankara will continue its efforts towards normalization with Yerevan, aimed at increasing economic cooperation and strengthening people-to-people contacts across the South Caucasus region.

Türkiye is being represented at its highest level since 2008 by Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz, reflecting growing momentum in Türkiye’s normalization process with Armenia.

Relations between the two are seeing one of their most active periods since the 1990s, thanks to the normalization steps taken in recent years.

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Poking the bear? Armenia welcomes European leaders in Russia’s backyard

Liana Toganian
France 24
May 4 2026

Just as Europe frets over fresh Trump tariffs, a U-S troop drawdown announced for Germany and the message it sends to a hostile Russia…how about not one, but two summits in former Soviet state Armenia. Before a first-ever gathering of EU leaders in Yerevan Tuesday, the European Politicial Community – a talk shop with regional players which also includes Ukraine and many NATO heavyweights like the UK, Norway and an outside guest who shares superpower proximity problems.

We’ll revisit Canadian prime minister Mark Carney’s clarion call for so-called middle powers that share common interests and values to band together. Show of strength or provocation sure to rile both Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump one month before Armenia’s incumbent prime minister Nikol Pashinyan goes before voters to sell his US-brokered peace deal with neighboring Azerbaijan in a general election. More broadly, do wars in Iran and Ukrairne make western-style liberal democracy an easier or harder sell?

Produced by François Picard, Rebecca Gnignati, Juliette Laffont, Ilayda Habip, Andrew Hilliar.

Our guests

  • Richard WERLYFrance/Europe correspondent for Blick
  • Richard GIRAGOSIANDirector, Regional Studies Center
  • Marie KRPATAResearch Fellow, Study Committee on Franco-German Relations, Ifri
  • Thorniké GORDADZEFormer Minister for European Integration of Georgia
  • https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/the-debate/20260504-poking-the-bear-armenia-welcomes-european-leaders-in-russia-s-backyard

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Armenia, UK sign strategic partnership deal

Emil Lazarian
Daily Times, Pakistan
May 4 2026

Armenia and the United Kingdom have signed a new strategic partnership agreement aimed at strengthening political, economic, and security cooperation between the two countries. The deal was signed during Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s meeting with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Yerevan.

The Joint Declaration on Strategic Partnership marks a new phase in bilateral relations, with both sides emphasizing shared democratic values and deeper collaboration. Officials said the agreement is intended to expand cooperation in areas such as trade, governance, education, and regional security.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan described the agreement as the beginning of a “new and promising chapter” in Armenia-UK relations. He highlighted that the partnership is built on mutual trust and a commitment to strengthening long-term ties between the two countries.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to Armenia took place ahead of the European Political Community (EPC) Summit. British officials said the agreement reflects London’s broader strategy to deepen engagement with partners in the region amid shifting global geopolitical dynamics.

The signing comes at a time of increased diplomatic activity involving European and regional powers. Analysts say the partnership could enhance Armenia’s international cooperation while expanding the UK’s influence in the South Caucasus region.

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Armenia advances stability and connectivity agenda: Pashinyan

Jagharian Tania
Read the article in: فارسی, Armenian, Georgian, Russian

Armenia continues to advance initiatives for regional stability and the expansion of ties, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan summarized the main directions of the discussions within the framework of the joint statement following the results of the 8th Summit of the European Political Community.

“I am pleased to announce that the 8th Summit of the European Political Community has successfully concluded today in Yerevan, bringing together leaders from across the continent and beyond,” said the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister thanked the European Union and partners for organizing the summit.

“I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the European Union for its close cooperation and partnership in co-organizing the summit, as well as to partners beyond the continent for expanding the geography of this format. I also acknowledge the remote participation of the President of Azerbaijan and the presence of the Vice President of Türkiye, in line with peace development and regional cooperation.”

According to him, the discussions confirmed the need for dialogue.

“Today’s discussions confirmed that with the growing challenges in the world, there is a need for sincere dialogue and practical decisions to expand peace and stability across regions. We focused on security and stability, connectivity, regional cooperation, economic resilience, energy, and the green transition.”

The Prime Minister stressed the importance of connectivity.

“No doubt connectivity is central to economic security, resilience, and long-term stability across the continent. Strengthening interconnections while advancing climate and energy goals was recognized as a shared and common priority. Discussions further underlined the importance of regional cooperation and the potential of open, integrated, and connected regions to contribute to wider intercontinental links.”

Regarding the South Caucasus, Pashinyan noted that they also addressed the importance of advancing peace and stability in the South Caucasus.

“Lasting peace, the normalization of relations, and the opening of borders would not only benefit the region, but also strengthen connectivity and cooperation across the wider European space and beyond,” Pashinyan said.

“We also discussed the need for democracies to effectively counter hybrid threats.”

“Armenia remains committed to promoting initiatives that enhance inclusive connectivity and foster stability in the wider region. The summit reaffirmed that the European Political Community is not only a format for dialogue, but also a platform for building trust and shaping a more coordinated and forward-looking European agenda.”

Pashinyan expressed confidence that the discussions held in Yerevan will have a lasting impact.

“I am confident that the discussions in Yerevan will go beyond the framework of this summit, shaping our future cooperation and common understanding on the continent,” the Prime Minister said.

At the end of his speech, he wished success to the Irish Prime Minister as the host of the next summit.

“I wish you all the best in maintaining this strong momentum and synergy,” he said.

The Prime Minister also thanked the media and the President of the European Council for their support in holding the summit.

Read the article in: فارسی, Armenian, Georgian, Russian

Published by Armenpress, original at 
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Yerevan EPC Summit to be remembered as a ‘summit of peace in the Caucasus’ –

Chmshkian Vicken
Read the article in: العربيةEspañolՀայերենRussian

President of the European Council António Costa believes that Europe’s way of doing things—diplomacy, multilateralism, and respect for international law—yields results and brings peace.

Making a concluding statement after the Summit, Costa noted that any discussion regarding peace and stability on the continent must include like-minded partners beyond Europe.

“This summit will forever be remembered as a summit of peace in the Caucasus—brought about by brave political choices and patient diplomatic efforts. This story of peace in Europe, in a world where escalation and war seem to dominate, is something to be celebrated,” he said.

Costa stressed that the European Union needs to work hand in hand with Armenia and the region for peace and stability.

“The fact that Armenia is hosting this summit, the fact that we are all here today—it is a powerful illustration of the country’s courageous geopolitical path, a path that Armenia and the European Union are walking together.”

According to him, the summit focused on the fight against foreign interference in democratic processes, as well as on the power of connectivity to create win-win economic partnerships.

The President of the European Council thanked Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan for his hospitality and expressed hope that the next EPC summit in Ireland will be as successful as the meeting in Yerevan.

Read the article in: العربيةEspañolՀայերենRussian

Published by Armenpress, original at 
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Irish PM praises Armenia’s high standards in hosting EPC summit

Parkev Tvankchian
Read the article in: ArmenianRussian:

Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin has praised Armenia for the high standards it set in organizing the European Political Community summit.

The Irish Prime Minister, whose country will host the next summit, made the remarks during a joint statement following the 8th European Political Community meeting and thanked Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan for the warm hospitality.

“We are enormously pleased to receive the baton from Armenia. You have been so warm in your hospitality and so efficient and professional in your organization of today’s meeting. You have set a very high bar for us as we advance our preparations, and we hope we can live up to the standards that you have set,” he said.

Read the article in: ArmenianRussian:

Published by Armenpress, original at 
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