On April 21, Armenian Speaker of Parliament Alen Simonyan participated in the UNDP Board Meeting of MAP 2.0 “Fostering Responsiveness, Effectiveness, Transparency and Inclusiveness of Armenian Parliament” project, the press service of the Parliament said in a readout.

Simonyan made opening remarks, underscoring the great role of the UNDP in the development of the institutional capacities of the National Assembly.

The progress of jointly implemented programmes was discussed, as well as priorities for future steps were set. At the end of the meeting, the Speaker of Parliament signed the Decree on creating “Equal Treatment and Equal Opportunities Council.”

A website that had previously published fake news has once again targeted Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and his family in what Yerevan described as yet another disinformation campaign.

The website known as VT Foreign Policy published a false report accusing Mariam Pashinyan, the eldest daughter of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, of running an illegal scheme through her Atlix service business and embezzling over 80 million USD from the state budget. The article was subsequently posted on X by an account named RussiaNews.

Nazeli Baghdasaryan, the spokesperson for the Prime Minister, denied the report.

“The article is a lie and has nothing to do with reality. This is yet another disinformation campaign against the country’s prime minister and members of his family,” Baghdasaryan said in a statement.

The article also linked the alleged scheme to Armenian businessman Samvel Alexanyan, falsely describing him as a member of the ruling Civil Contract party—which he has never been—and accusing him of using Atlix for gunrunning to “Kurdish groups” abroad.

False information was also published about Pashinyan’s ex-wife, Anna Hakobyan, as well as her brother and lawmaker Hrachya Hakobyan, accusing them of involvement in corruption scandals.

President of Armenia Vahagn Khachaturyan has arrived in Astana, Kazakhstan, to participate in the Regional Ecological Summit 2026, his office said. 

The Regional Ecological Summit 2026 (RES 2026), initiated by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, will take place on April 22–24, 2026, in Astana under the theme Shared Vision for a Resilient Future. 

The United Nations is a strategic partner of the summit, which will bring together governments, international organizations, and other stakeholders to advance environmental sustainability in Central Asia. Eighteen UN agencies will co-organize 27 sessions and five workshops focused on key thematic areas related to climate action, environmental resilience, and sustainable development, according to organizers. 

The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 21 April, USD exchange rate down by 0.26 drams to 372.59 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 0.68 drams to 438.2 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.0064 drams to 4.9652 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 0.57 drams to 503.41 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price down by 723 drams to 57662 drams. 

The Minister of Defense of the Republic of Armenia, Suren Papikyan, left for Georgia on an official visit on April 21, the minister said in a social media post.

“I arrived in Georgia on an official visit,” Papikyan wrote, sharing photos from the welcoming ceremony.

The Central Electoral Commission of the Republic of Armenia on Tuesday hosted a delegation led by Scott Mastic, Vice President of the International Republican Institute.

The CEC said it had earlier decided to invite a foreign non-governmental organization to conduct an observation mission for the June 7, 2026 parliamentary elections.

CEC Chairman Vahagn Hovakimyan welcomed the delegation and answered their questions regarding the legislation.

Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Robert Abisoghomonyan had a meeting with Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, the Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the foreign ministry said in a readout.

The interlocutors commended the robust cooperation established between Armenia and ESCAP. Views were exchanged on the further deepening of the partnership, including in the fields of transport and digital connectivity. In this vein, the Deputy Foreign Minister emphasized the vital importance of knowledge-sharing, expertise exchange and capacity building.

The Deputy Foreign Minister drew the attention of the Executive Secretary of ESCAP to the priorities of Armenia regarding the promotion of regional connectivity as a cornerstone for ensuring peace and stability, fostering economic growth, strengthening resilience and advancing social development. Within the framework of leveraging the untapped transit and logistical potential of the South Caucasus, Robert Abisoghomonyan highlighted the importance of implementing the “TRIPP” project.

During the meeting, views were exchanged on the prospects for cooperation and joint initiatives between Armenia and ESCAP in the lead-up to and within the margins of the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17).

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan received Kevin Hamilton, the NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia, the foreign ministry said in a readout.

The sides discussed the active dynamics of political dialogue between NATO and Armenia, including projects aimed at expanding the partnership. An important component of this cooperation is support for reforms and democratic development in Armenia.

Mirzoyan presented the latest regional developments, as well as steps being taken to normalize relations with neighboring countries and further institutionalize peace.

Touching upon regional connectivity, the interlocutors emphasized that, in the current context, the South Caucasus could serve as a connecting bridge, as reflected in Armenia’s “Crossroads of Peace” initiative.

They also exchanged views on issues related to international security and cooperation on multilateral platforms.

Armenia has welcomed the decision of the EU Foreign Affairs Council to deploy a new EU civilian mission to the Republic of Armenia, aimed at supporting the strengthening of Armenia’s democratic resilience, addressing hybrid threats, including efforts to counter disinformation, cyberattacks, and illicit financial flows, the  Armenian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. 

“The mission will be deployed for an initial period of two years and through its activities will contribute to the development of institutional capacities in the aforementioned areas, as well as to enhancing the resilience of Armenian society in the face of current challenges.”

”The decision on the deployment of the civilian mission, adopted upon the request of the Republic of Armenia, ahead of the first Armenia-EU Summit scheduled for May 5, is one of the joint initiatives stemming from the strategic agenda of Armenia-EU partnership,” it reads.

A discussion on hybrid threats facing Armenia ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections was held at the European Parliament.

According to an Armenpress correspondent in Brussels, the event, titled “Hybrid Threats and Disinformation: The Role of Civil Society in the Armenian Elections,” brought together European officials and representatives of Armenian civil society. Participants noted that Armenia remains an important, yet still vulnerable, example of democratic development in the region.

Miriam Lexmann, European Parliament’s Standing Rapporteur on Armenia, MEP Miriam Lexmann, said EU-Armenia relations are currently closer and that Armenia stands out as a positive example in the region. At the same time, she warned of Russian interference and various threats to democracy.

Participants noted that Russian influence is manifested through disinformation, emotional manipulation, anti-peace narratives, and efforts to undermine trust in electoral processes.

According to Daniel Ioannisyan, head of the “Union of Informed Citizens” organization, sufficient mechanisms are in place in Armenia to safeguard elections, but pro-Russian groups are attempting to create a perception among the public that the elections will be rigged.

Lawyer Lusine Hakobyan emphasized that Armenian civil society operates in a highly polarized environment, where some actors defend democratic processes, while others promote pro-Russian narratives.

At the end of the discussion, participants stressed that the 2026 elections will be crucial for Armenia’s democratic future and that greater support from the European Union could play an important role in strengthening the country’s resilience and democratic institutions.