Member of Parliament from the ruling Civil Contract faction, Lilit Minasyan, said on Friday that hybrid interference against Armenia manifests across media platforms in various countries, mainly Russian, Turkish, and Azerbaijani.

Speaking at a press briefing and responding to opposition claims that the authorities avoid specifically naming the source country of hybrid interference, Minasyan stressed the need to first clearly understand the nature of hybrid attacks.

“I urge our opposition members to first understand what a hybrid attack is, and only then make assertions,” she said.

According to the lawmaker, hybrid attacks involve external interference that can be carried out in various ways, including in the information space.

“From the perspective of external interference, different countries are involved, and we see its manifestations very clearly and explicitly in Russian, Turkish, and Azerbaijani media,” Minasyan said.

She stressed that such interference often takes the form of spreading fake news, including about the Prime Minister and the authorities.

“These publications appear on various anonymous websites or on modified versions of well-known sites in order to mislead citizens,” the lawmaker said.

According to Minasyan, the authorities are trying to respond quickly to such publications and refute false information before it spreads widely.

She also called on media outlets to follow official rebuttals and support efforts to combat disinformation.

“We are working proactively to refute such information, and I urge media outlets to follow these rebuttals and disseminate them,” she noted.

In January this year, Armenia’s Foreign Intelligence Service warned that the country faces mounting hybrid threats aimed at sabotage.

Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said earlier this week that the ongoing hybrid attacks targeting Armenia can be partly traced back to Russia.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas reaffirmed that the EU will send a Hybrid Rapid Response Team to Armenia to help counter threats ahead of the country’s June 7 elections.

Arayik Harutyunyan, Chief of Staff of the Prime Minister’s Office of Armenia and head of the steering committee responsible for organizing the 2027 La Francophonie Games, said on Friday that preparations are ongoing and highlighted the responsibility and honor of hosting the renowned event.

“Since joining the International Organization of La Francophonie [OIF], Armenia has consistently played an active role and remained committed to the core values of the Francophonie. In 2024, Armenia was selected to host the 10th International Francophonie Games in 2027. We have already begun preparations for hosting the Games. It is truly a great responsibility and a great honor. Through sport and culture, a unique platform is being created here for dialogue, mutual understanding, and solidarity,” Harutyunyan said at a press conference.

According to him, the Games to be held in Yerevan will have special symbolic significance, as they mark the 10th edition.

“It is also noteworthy that these Games will be held in a country where French is not an official language, which once again highlights the open and inclusive nature of the Francophonie,” he said.

Harutyunyan noted that the opening ceremony will take place at Republic Square in Yerevan, with the aim of making the Games unique—not limiting the ceremony to a stadium, but instead involving the entire city.

The Games, a combination of artistic and sporting events, will be held in Armenia from July 23 to August 1, 2027.

Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan, also speaking at the press briefing, said that hosting the La Francophonie Games is a highly significant event for the country.

“We are on the eve of a very important event that opens up opportunities both for positioning Armenia and for hosting a major sporting and cultural celebration in our country. The best athletes will be represented at the Francophonie Games, while an open competition will be announced for the cultural categories. Overall, we expect to host around 4,000 participants,” Andreasyan said. 

Preparations for the 2027 La Francophonie Games (Jeux de la Francophonie), to be hosted in Armenia, are in full swing, Vivien Lubczanski, Director of the International Committee of the La Francophonie Games, said at a press briefing in Yerevan.

The official logo of the Games was unveiled at the event.

“I welcome the Armenian authorities’ commitment to preparing for the 10th International Francophonie Sports and Cultural Games. The presentation of the official Games logo is an important milestone, marking a new phase in the preparations. At this time, many countries and governments have already confirmed their participation in the Games, which reflects the trust in Armenia’s ability to host this important sporting event. For the International Organization of La Francophonie, the Games hold special significance—they are more than just a sporting and cultural event,” Lubczanski said.

He added that preparations are continuing in an atmosphere of mutual trust, with no obstacles.

“I assure you that we stand alongside Armenia to support the successful hosting of these Games. The Francophonie Games provide a platform for solidarity among Francophone youth, and I expect that all participating countries will discover Armenia in this light,” he emphasized.

The Games, a combination of artistic and sporting events, will be held in Armenia from July 23 to August 1, 2027. The opening ceremony will take place in Yerevan’s central plaza.

The official logo, presented on March 27, represents a harmonious fusion of cultural and artistic elements, based on the traditional Armenian symbol of eternity as a sign of continuity and endurance, as well as the circular motion of the Kochari dance, which embodies unity and strength. These foundations are reinterpreted through the influence of contemporary art, transforming human movement into a universal rhythm. The logo expresses energy, connection, and play, reflecting the essence of the Games as a continuous celebration of culture, sport, and participation.

A flood has damaged cars along a street in the town of Kapan in Armenia’s Syunik Province, but no one was injured, according to authorities.

The Rescue Service reported that, due to heavy rainfall, water overflowing from a drain on Grigor Arzumanyan Street in Kapan flowed onto the street and into the Voghji River, causing damage to vehicles and harming farm animals.

Photos released by the Rescue Service showed damaged vehicles.

Multiple first responders are on the scene.

“Dear citizens, we urge you to follow only official information, not to panic, and, if necessary, to contact the Ministry of Emergency Situations’ Operational Management Center by dialing 112,” the Rescue Service said.

Earlier, meteorologists reported that heavy rainfall is forecast in Syunik, Vayots Dzor, Lori, and Tavush on March 27–28, which is expected to cause rising water levels in local rivers. No floods were reported in provinces other than Syunik.

Hungarian low-cost airline Wizz Air is increasing its fleet in Armenia from two to three aircraft and plans to launch new routes to Eindhoven, Netherlands and Brussels, Belgium.

Wizz Air’s Chief Commercial Officer, Ian Malin, announced the expansion during a press conference at Zvartnots International Airport in Yerevan.

“Our goal is to become the most reliable and low-cost airline in Europe, connecting Central and Eastern Europe with the South Caucasus. In Armenia, we are the leading airline in terms of seat capacity, and it is also important for us to have more aircraft. Today’s good news is that our fleet in Armenia will grow from two planes to three. With this, we are opening two new routes—Eindhoven and Brussels. Flights to Eindhoven will operate three times a week starting in October, and flights to Brussels, also three times a week, starting in February [2027],” Malin said.

He added that the company is also increasing flights on other routes: weekly flights to Budapest will rise from two to four, flights to Frankfurt from two to three, and Prague will see four weekly flights.

Armenia’s Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, Davit Khudatyan, met with Wizz Air’s Chief Commercial Officer, Ian Malin.

According to a press release from the ministry, during the meeting Khudatyan noted the successful cooperation with the airline and emphasized that Wizz Air is a reliable partner for the Armenian government. He expressed hope that the airline’s flight network will expand further in the future.

Ian Malin announced the launch of two new routes from Yerevan to Eindhoven and Brussels. The minister suggested opening additional routes to Kazakhstan and Georgia, and in the case of Georgia, exploring the possibility of flights from Gyumri’s Shirak Airport.

The parties also discussed the proposal to establish a pilot training center, which would be important not only for Wizz Air and Armenia but for the region’s aviation sector as a whole.

The meeting concluded with a mutual commitment to implement new initiatives in the aviation sector in the near future.

On March 27, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan had a phone call with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov.

The Ministers noted with satisfaction the positive developments in further normalisation process between Armenia and Azerbaijan, according to a readout. 

Ararat Mirzoyan and Jeyhun Bayramov also discussed regional issues and engagements within multilateral platforms.

The Government of Armenia plans to implement measures over the next five years to increase the annual number of tourists visiting the country to match its population. According to the latest census conducted in 2023, Armenia’s permanent population is 2,928,914.

Congratulating the Hungarian airline Wizz Air on increasing its flights from Armenia, Tourism Committee Chairperson Lusine Gevorgyan emphasized that the expansion of routes, the development of civil aviation in Armenia, and the growth of tourist numbers are part of the government’s five-year plan.

“We know that the availability of direct and affordable flights has a direct impact on tourist visits. Over the next five years, we will take measures to ensure that the annual number of tourists visiting our country reaches the country’s population. By the end of the next decade, we believe this number could reach five million per year. We are positioning Armenia as a sustainable and responsible tourist destination,” Lusine Gevorgyan stated.

The Ambassador of the Netherlands to Armenia, Marieke Monroy-Winter, described Wizz Air’s network expansion from Yerevan as a sign of growing interest between Armenia and Europe.

Speaking at a press conference hosted by the Hungarian low-cost airline Wizz Air, where the new routes to Eindhoven and Brussels were announced, the ambassador said, “The increasing number of routes to Europe is an excellent indicator of growing interest in Europe from Armenia and in Armenia from Europe, which I truly welcome.” According to the ambassador, Eindhoven is attractive not only for tourism but also for business, science, and student exchanges. It is known for offering an excellent ecosystem for all kinds of startups and researchers.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met with Alexander Tieman, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Mission Chief for Armenia.

Prime Minister Pashinyan emphasized the close cooperation between the Government of Armenia and the IMF, highlighting the joint programs implemented in Armenia that support the development of various sectors of the economy, his office said in a readout. 

In this regard, he expressed confidence that the funds provided under the new IMF program approved for Armenia will help advance the government’s reform agenda.

Alexander Tieman highlighted the effectiveness of the cooperation with Armenia and noted that the IMF is ready to continue working together to ensure the successful implementation of the joint agenda.

The parties discussed matters related to ongoing cooperation and future programs, including enhancing Armenia’s economic resilience, supporting growth, and other topics of mutual interest.