Inter Milan midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan is reportedly personally negotiating a contract extension with the Nerazzurri, according to Italian media.

The reports come after Sky Sport reported that the former captain and all-time top goalscorer of the Armenian national football team has reportedly agreed to remain at Inter Milan for one more season, with the deal including a pay cut. According to Sky Sport, Inter Milan head coach Cristian Chivu convinced Mkhitaryan to stay. 

The new report says Mkhitaryan is personally engaged in talks over the new contract, without intermediaries. 

The Prosperous Armenia Party has announced that it will request the Central Electoral Commission to conduct a recount of the parliamentary election votes.

Iveta Tonoyan, the party’s spokesperson, said in a statement on social media that their party’s vote counts were allegedly decreasing with each real-time update issued by the electoral commission during the preliminary vote count.

She alleged that electoral violations have taken place on a “massive scale.”

“At this moment, the campaign headquarters of the Prosperous Armenia Party announces that it will request a recount, use all legal tools, and pursue the uncovering of electoral violations. The polling stations requiring a recount are currently being finalized, and the grounds for appealing certain decisions and actions are being discussed. Moreover, this does not preclude the possibility of disputing the election results, given the massive scale of violations witnessed throughout the entire electoral process,” Tonoyan said.

Chairman of the Central Electoral Commission, Vahagn Hovakimyan, earlier announced the updated preliminary results of the vote count in the June 7 parliamentary elections held in Armenia.

The results from all 2,005 polling stations have been tallied, with a turnout of 1,477,736 (nearly 59 percent).

The votes received by the four leading political forces are as follows:

Civil Contract Party – 727,160 votes, or 49.825%

Strong Armenia Alliance – 340,088 votes, or 23.281%

Armenia Alliance – 145,113 votes, or 9.934%

Prosperous Armenia Party – 58,378 votes, or 3.996%

Earlier results released by the electoral commission showed Gagik Tsarukyan’s Prosperous Armenia having garnered exactly 4%, the minimum threshold required to enter parliament. However, the updated data now shows Prosperous Armenia falling below the threshold. Hovakimyan emphasized that these figures are preliminary and that a phase of verification and recounting is still ahead.

Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan has described the recent meeting between Armenian and Turkish businessmen as an important step toward economic cooperation that could also contribute to political processes.

“On June 2, a very important meeting took place in Kars between Armenian and Turkish businesspeople,” he told members of parliament at a joint committee hearing on the Pashinyan administration’s 2025 budget performance report.

He said the meeting was organized by the foreign ministries of Armenia and Türkiye, as well as the chambers of commerce of both countries.

The minister noted that the meeting significantly differed from previous business contacts.

“This meeting was significantly different from any previous business interactions, because it had a very full agenda and also generated great interest among business circles in three eastern and northeastern provinces of Türkiye,” Mirzoyan said.

In his assessment, this is a good start for deepening Armenia–Türkiye economic cooperation.

Mirzoyan also said he expects a second such meeting to be held in Armenia in the near future.

“I expect that within a reasonable timeframe, we will have a second meeting on the territory of the Republic of Armenia,” the minister said.

“I am aware that concrete talks have already started between business circles and individual companies, and I am confident that we will see the continuation of these talks, their materialization, and tangible results,” Mirzoyan added.

The Foreign Minister expressed confidence that the process will continue and lead not only to economic but also to positive political outcomes.

“A process has started which, I dare to express confidence, will not stop in general and will bring not only good economic results, but will also bring positive political outcomes in its wake,” Mirzoyan said.

Democratic elections are now established in Armenia as an institution, and the era of rigged elections and authoritarian rule is long over, Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, a senior member of the Civil Contract party, has said.

“There have been free, fair, and transparent elections, elections that meet the highest international standards, as confirmed by the preliminary reactions of various observer organizations and relevant bodies, as well as the leaders of individual countries,” Mirzoyan told reporters on Monday after the preliminary vote count showed that Civil Contract will retain a majority in parliament with 727,160 votes, or 49.825%.

According to the Foreign Minister, the election results further affirm the consolidation of democratic processes in Armenia.

“I also want to say that the chapter of democratic elections is now firmly established in Armenia, meaning that the era of rigged elections, pseudo-democracy, or authoritarianism in the Republic of Armenia is closed,” Mirzoyan added.

He also expressed gratitude to citizens for their trust in the Civil Contract party.

“I also want to thank the citizens of the Republic of Armenia for entrusting the governance of the country to the Civil Contract party for the third consecutive time,” the minister said.

“For the third consecutive time, the Civil Contract party has the opportunity and will form a government by itself, and, as in the past, it will continue to serve the interests of the Republic of Armenia, the interests of its citizens, and fulfill its promises,” he said.

The minister emphasized that the vote of confidence carries obligations for the government.

“We are grateful for this vote and for the responsibility it entails, and we will continue to serve the Republic of Armenia,” Mirzoyan concluded.

Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said on Monday that the opening of the EU market for Armenian agricultural goods reflects EU support for Armenia and is the result of a political decision.

“Yes, of course this is a political decision,” Mirzoyan told lawmakers at a parliamentary committee hearing when asked whether the move was a political decision.

Mirzoyan said there is a clear willingness on the part of the European Union and its member states to support Armenia’s economic and democratic resilience.

“We see readiness at the highest level from our European Union partners to support the Republic of Armenia’s economic and political resilience, to ensure economic diversity and diversification, which we constantly talk about,” the minister said.

Concrete results are already visible, he added, with some Armenian agricultural products beginning to enter the European market.

“We had political agreements, we had political assurances. We had deliveries and sales of certain types of agricultural products on the European market. For example, flowers are the best example—in Latvia and elsewhere as well,” he noted.

The minister particularly highlighted the Netherlands’ announcement regarding its readiness to open its market to Armenian flowers.

“The Netherlands, which has a strong tradition in floriculture, announced yesterday that it is ready to open its market to flowers grown in Armenia. This is a very significant step,” Mirzoyan said.

According to the Foreign Minister, a political agreement already exists between Armenia and the European Union, and the sides are now moving to the stage of working out technical details.

“There is a general political understanding, a general political agreement between Armenia and the European Union. We are entering the phase of technical formulations—what specific products the European Union is ready to [open up],” he noted.

Mirzoyan expressed confidence that these agreements will soon be translated into practical results for various goods.

“The political agreement and the path are there,” the minister emphasized.

Russia banned a wide range of Armenian imports in recent weeks, prompting Armenian producers to look for new markets. Amid the growing Russian restrictions, the EU announced support programs and opened its market.

Last year, the Republic of Armenia allocated 1.975 billion drams for membership fees to international organizations.

Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan briefed lawmakers on the matter during a joint committee hearing on the government’s 2025 budget report.

He noted that Armenia pays membership fees to 113 international organizations, programs, and conventions.

“In 2025, in fact, payments were made to 101 organizations. In 2025, we did not pay a membership fee to the CSTO for our participation—simply because we did not participate in the activities of that organization,” Mirzoyan said. Armenia has frozen its membership in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) since 2024 due to the bloc’s failure to fulfill its obligations.

Speaking about international cooperation platforms, the Foreign Minister specifically highlighted Armenia’s accession last year to the 1899 and 1907 Hague Conventions for the Pacific Settlement of International Disputes, making Armenia the 125th contracting party to the Permanent Court of Arbitration. During the reporting period, Armenia was also, for the first time in its history, elected as a member of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee for the 2025–2029 term.

Additionally, at the 11th Conference of the Parties to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, Armenia was chosen as the next host country of the conference.

Among other new international cooperation developments last year, Mirzoyan highlighted Armenia’s participation in the establishment of the Board of Peace, an initiative launched by U.S. President Donald Trump.

“These are also indicators of our activity in multilateral international relations, of our interests, and of the growing interest in us,” the Foreign Minister said.

The International Republican Institute’s (IRI) international election observation mission reported on Monday that it observed voting and counting processes that were generally calm and orderly, conducted in accordance with established procedures, and supported by a significant presence of party and citizen observers, contributing to civic oversight of the voting process.

IRI presented its findings and recommendations after observing the Armenian parliamentary elections. 

At the invitation of the Government of the Republic of Armenia and the Central Election Commission (CEC), IRI deployed a 23-person international delegation representing seven countries (United States, Moldova, Serbia, Ukraine, Poland, Sweden) to observe the electoral process. The mission was led by Mr. Peter Roskam, Board Chair of the National Endowment for Democracy; Mr. Peter Egardt, Chairman of the Jarl Hjalmarson Foundation; and Mr. Olin Wethington, Board Member of the International Republican Institute, in collaboration with Mr. Scott Mastic, IRI Vice President of Programs, and Mr. Stephen Nix, IRI Senior Director for Europe and Eurasia.

Mastic told reporters on Monday that they observed the electoral process in eight provinces and 17 communities, with observers visiting 107 polling stations on election day.

“We once again reaffirm IRI’s strong commitment. The presence of our delegation also reflects this commitment, as well as the aspiration for elections in Armenia to be conducted in accordance with the country’s legal framework,” Mastic said.

Peter Roskam, Board Chair of the National Endowment for Democracy and former U.S. House of Representatives member, congratulated the people of Armenia, noting that nearly one and a half million citizens participated in the June 7 parliamentary elections, demonstrating their commitment to democratic participation and their will to shape the country’s future through voting.

“Our mission did not observe systemic violations. In our assessment, the voting and vote counting were overall conducted in a credible manner. The process took place in a disciplined and peaceful atmosphere, following established procedures. Representatives of political parties, local observers, and international observers like us were widely present throughout the process. The elections were held in an environment with rising polarization, concerns about security challenges, and debates regarding Armenia’s geopolitical orientation,” Roskam said.

He noted that the mission issued 11 recommendations regarding the organization and conduct of elections, political financing, cybersecurity, and the media sector.

According to him, authorities should strengthen accountability and reinforce cooperation between customs services, financial regulatory bodies, anti-corruption agencies, law enforcement, and electoral bodies to prevent potential funding related to external actors.

“The CEC must carry out its supervisory functions more consistently in examining and resolving election-related disputes. State bodies, electoral institutions, technical experts, civil society, and international partners should continue strengthening cybersecurity resilience through constant monitoring, testing, public communication, and incident response mechanisms,” he said.

Roskam also stated that the CEC, the Anti-Corruption Committee, and other competent authorities should investigate allegations of pressure, intimidation, misuse of administrative resources, and selective law enforcement swiftly, consistently, and impartially.

“It should be noted that deeper integration of Armenia into Western democratic institutions will contribute to aligning electoral processes with international standards,” he said.

In conclusion, Roskam stated that, according to the observation mission, the elections were fair.

Stephen Nix, IRI Senior Director for Europe and Eurasia, noted that signs of external interference were evident during this electoral cycle.

“Despite this, Armenia was able to exercise its democratic rights and demonstrated that the country’s democratic trajectory is oriented toward the European direction,” he emphasized.

Nix noted that during the electoral cycle, parties and alliances conducted their campaigns freely, although personal attacks in political rhetoric exacerbated the lack of trust among political actors.

He also praised the work of the Central Electoral Commission, territorial, and precinct election commissions, highlighting their professional conduct and role in ensuring the legality of the elections.

In summary, Nix said that these were IRI’s preliminary assessments. He added that the organization’s long-term observers and the Yerevan office staff will continue to monitor possible court proceedings and protests, with a more comprehensive final report to follow.

Russia has commented on the parliamentary elections held in Armenia after PM Nikol Pashinyan’s Civil Contract party emerged as the winner with a majority of votes. 

TASS cited Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov as saying that Moscow is currently waiting for the final election results but is also taking note of all reports emerging around the elections.

“We are also taking note of reports regarding numerous violations that occurred during these elections,” Peskov said, according to TASS, despite international observers reporting fair and calm conduct. 

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova also reacted to the results.

Citing data from the Central Electoral Commission of Armenia, Zakharova said the Civil Contract party has not obtained a “monopoly on power.”

Zakharova further suggested that the ruling party’s approval rating in Armenia has somewhat declined compared to the previous election cycle. “It is evident in Armenian society that there is strong demand for the continued development of Armenian-Russian relations and for Armenia’s further participation in Eurasian integration structures, which bring tangible benefits to the Armenian people,” she said.

The Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson described the multiple arrests of alleged vote-buying suspects in Armenia as “repression” of the opposition by the authorities.

At the same time, Zakharova stated, “Russia has always been and will remain interested in a strong and truly sovereign Armenia. The Armenian people are our brotherly people, and we wish them peace and prosperity.”

Commenting on Moscow’s approach toward Armenia, she added that Russia intends to shape its policy based on the actual steps taken by the Armenian leadership.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has expressed hope that Armenia and Azerbaijan will swiftly sign the initialed peace deal.

“We support the normalization process between Azerbaijan and Armenia,” the APA news agency quoted Fidan as saying at a press conference following his trilateral meeting with counterparts from Azerbaijan and Georgia in Istanbul.

Ankara hopes that “Azerbaijan and Armenia will sign a peace agreement without delay,” APA cited Fidan as saying.

According to the minister, “Azerbaijan’s legitimate concerns must be addressed.”

The foreign minister said that Türkiye will do everything possible to establish peace in the South Caucasus and that the will demonstrated by the parties has opened a concrete window of opportunity for the region.

Fidan noted that Türkiye continues its dialogue with Armenia in coordination with Azerbaijan.

He pointed out that significant progress has been achieved over the past four years within the framework of the Armenia–Türkiye normalization process.

Armenia and Azerbaijan initialed a peace treaty on August 8, 2025, during a U.S.-brokered peace summit in Washington, D.C.

YEREVAN, 8 JUNE, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 8 June, USD exchange rate down by 0.01 drams to 368.53 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 4.25 drams to 424.73 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.0169 drams to 5.0215 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 4.91 drams to 491.66 drams.

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

Gold price down by 1563 drams to 51721 drams. Silver price down by 9.8 drams to 860.85 drams.