Minister of Health Anahit Avanesyan has reiterated that the Pashinyan administration maintains constant focus on issues pertaining to the remaining Armenian captives and other detainees held in Azerbaijan.

Avanesyan was asked at a press conference whether she had any information regarding the health condition of the detainees.

“Coordination efforts by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia regarding all issues related to both the health condition and other matters concerning Armenians held in Baku are continuously ongoing. I assure you that these issues remain in the spotlight through both international law and all possible humanitarian channels, under the coordination of our foreign policy department. These efforts do not pause or slow down for a single moment but are constantly in the focus of our government’s attention,” Avanesyan said.

The 19 remaining Armenian captives and detainees in Azerbaijan include former political and military leaders of Nagorno-Karabakh, such as former presidents Arayik Harutyunyan, Bako Sahakyan, and Arkady Ghukasyan; former Foreign Minister Davit Babayan; former Defense Minister Levon Mnatsakanyan; and former State Minister Ruben Vardanyan.

The Armenian government has repeatedly stated that it continues efforts to secure the release of the captives and other detainees.

Earlier in February, an Azerbaijani military court sentenced several former top political and military leaders of Nagorno-Karabakh to life imprisonment on war-crime-related charges, which are widely seen as fabricated and part of a sham trial. Vardanyan was sentenced to 20 years. He denounced the trial as a “farce” and denied all charges.

The Juventus Academy Armenia will open its two bases in Yerevan in August this year, while the third base will be located in Nor Hachn, a town some 20 km north of the Armenian capital.

“Starting in September, construction work on the third Juventus training base will begin in the town of Nor Hachn. In August of this year, the opening ceremony of the two Yerevan training bases and a UEFA Category 2 stadium will take place. The academy is designed for 1,500 students,” Juventus Academy Armenia Director Albert Abrahamyan said at a press conference.

The Juventus Academy in Armenia will consist of three training bases, two of which will be located in Yerevan’s Avan administrative district and in the area adjacent to Hrazdan Stadium, while the third will be in the Nor Hachn community of Kotayk Province. The academy will feature infrastructure meeting high international standards, including open and indoor pitches of various sizes.

The academy will operate on both paid and free bases, depending on the children’s progress and performance. Each year, the academy’s best students will travel to Turin, Italy, to the main Juventus Academy, where they will participate in training sessions and friendly matches.

Armenia saw fewer crimes and a higher clearance rate in 2025, according to official data presented by Prosecutor General Anna Vardapetyan.

Prosecutor General Vardapetyan presented the figures at a parliamentary committee hearing on her annual report.

Citing data from the Crime Statistics and Analysis Center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, she said that 40,722 crimes were recorded in Armenia in 2025, compared to 42,057 cases in 2024.

She noted that the number of crimes decreased by 1,335, or 3.2%, over the year. Of the recorded crimes, 18,857 were committed in Yerevan (19,877 in 2024).

The Prosecutor General also said that the crime clearance rate increased.

“In 2025, the clearance rate stood at 29.7%, compared to 22.8% in 2024,” Vardapetyan said at a session of the Parliamentary Committee on State and Legal Affairs, emphasizing that the increase amounted to 6.9 percentage points.

According to her, the overwhelming majority of crimes continue to be minor and medium-severity offenses.

“Of the 40,722 recorded crimes, the absolute majority—82.6%—are minor (20,041 cases, or 49.2%) and medium-severity (13,585 cases, or 33.4%) crimes,” Vardapetyan said.

The Prosecutor General also added that, compared to 2024, the share of serious and most serious offences has decreased from 18.3% to 17.4%, a decline of 0.9 percentage points.

Several individuals have been arrested at the Yerevan office of the “Strong Armenia” party in the Avan administrative district amid an ongoing criminal investigation into alleged vote-buying and violations of restrictions on pre-election charitable activities, the Anti-Corruption Committee of Armenia confirmed.

“We confirm that a group of individuals has been arrested within the framework of a criminal proceeding initiated on the grounds of vote-buying and violation of restrictions on charitable activities. Additional information will be provided later if necessary,” the committee said.

Other details were not immediately available.

The “Strong Armenia” party is led by business tycoon Samvel Karapetyan and intends to run in the June 7 parliamentary elections.

President of the Football Federation of Armenia (FFA) Armen Melikbekyan and his Georgian counterpart Levan Kobiashvili met with Gianni Infantino, President of FIFA.

According to the FFA readout, the presidents of the Football Federations of Armenia and Georgia noted that hosting the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2029 is “both a great honor and a significant responsibility.”

The heads of the two countries’ football governing bodies expressed their deep gratitude to the FIFA football family for the high level of trust shown toward Armenia and Georgia. During the meeting, the parties reaffirmed their full readiness to unite all their resources and efforts to organize a top-level football tournament. Armen Melikbekyan and Levan Kobiashvili emphasized that both countries are determined to turn the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2029 into a true football celebration, distinguished by high-quality organization and a unique atmosphere of hospitality.

FIFA confirmed on Wednesday that Armenia and Georgia will host the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2029.

The two countries submitted a joint bid in 2024 to co-host the tournament.

Cyprus fully supports the further deepening of cooperation between the European Union and Armenia, Deputy Minister for European Affairs of Cyprus Marilena Raouna has said.

“[The cooperation is] based on our shared values and the vision for a stable, democratic and prosperous Armenia and a stable South Caucasus,” Cyprus Mail quoted Raouna as saying at the European Parliament’s plenary session on the strengthening of Armenia’s democratic resilience.

Raouna underlined that democratic resilience was a “core commitment” of the EU — both in regard to its member states and its neighbours.

She emphasised that relations between the EU and Armenia have made “significant progress” in the last two years since the European Council’s call to strengthen relations “in all dimensions”, laying the foundation for new cooperation.

“Next week the first EU-Armenia summit will be held in Yerevan [the capital of Armenia],” Raouna said.

She said that the summit sent a “strong message” on the importance of Armenia as a regional partner of the EU, with President of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides scheduled to meet Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to reaffirm the EU’s commitment to bilateral cooperation.

Raouna went on to highlight the importance of the EU-Armenia strategic agenda, which she described as a “clear roadmap for cooperation”, as well as investments of approximately €270 million made via the resilience and development plan, which contributed to strengthening Armenia’s resilience in view of external pressures.

“[This] is not only about financial support but also about investing in the future of Armenia,” she said.

Warning of the undermining of trust in democratic institutions via disinformation campaigns, Raouna said that Armenia’s upcoming parliamentary elections on June 7 have the potential to be a “defining moment” for Armenia.

“In an increasingly complex geopolitical environment, strengthening partnerships with countries that share the same values remains a key priority,” Raouna said.

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan met with his French counterpart Jean-Noël Barrot in Paris.

According to a readout from the Armenian Foreign Ministry, the two foreign ministers “expressed satisfaction and highlighted the selection and official opening of the new premises of Armenia’s diplomatic mission in Paris, which is one of the best examples of further deepening the partnership between the two countries.”

They also discussed steps aimed at developing the strategic partnership between Armenia and France, emphasizing the importance of French President Emmanuel Macron’s upcoming visit to Yerevan. The ministers also addressed upcoming cooperation programs in key sectors.

The meeting further covered issues related to the expansion of the Armenia–EU partnership and cooperation aimed at strengthening democratic resilience.

The foreign ministers also exchanged views on regional and international developments.

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and his French counterpart Jean-Noël Barrot inaugurated the new building of Armenia’s embassy in Paris.

During the ceremony, FM Mirzoyan raised the Armenian flag, the national anthems of both countries were performed by the French Republican Guard Orchestra, and the embassy was officially inaugurated following a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

“This day is significant not only for strengthening Armenia’s diplomatic presence, but also in terms of the increasingly strong friendship between Armenia and France—a friendship with a rich history, anchored in our shared values of freedom, democracy, and solidarity, the best _expression_ of which is your large and distinguished presence here today.

I would like to express my gratitude to the authorities of France for their continued support, as well as to you personally, Mr. Minister, dear friend, for attending this very important event for Armenia.

This ceremonial opening takes place just days before the planned state visit to Armenia by French President Emmanuel Macron—a visit that I am confident will become one of the key milestones in the history of our bilateral relations. Indeed, since the restoration of Armenia’s independence, relations between Armenia and France have developed consistently, and today the two countries have succeeded in establishing strategic-level relations based on close political dialogue, regular high-level contacts, active parliamentary and decentralized cooperation, and multi-sectoral partnership, visible both bilaterally and at European and international levels. This is truly a strategic partnership, which will soon be formalized in a document to be signed by French President Emmanuel Macron and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan,” FM Mirzoyan was quoted as saying in a press release issued by the Armenian Foreign Ministry.

French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot emphasized that President Macron’s upcoming visit to Armenia will signify a major strengthening of ties.

“Mr. Minister, as you noted, in a few days President Macron will pay a state visit to Armenia, which will signify a major strengthening of ties between our two countries. At that time, Yerevan will become the beating heart of Europe: it will host the Summit of the European Political Community and the first Armenia–EU Summit.

This event demonstrates that our two countries have chosen to move forward together with determination and confidence. Armenia’s bold commitment to establishing peace with Azerbaijan has opened a new horizon for peace, security, and prosperity in the South Caucasus.”