Month: April 2026

The current “blue passports” will be valid for RA citizens until their validity expires. Nelly Davtyan, head of the migration and citizenship service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, wrote about this on her Facebook page.

In particular, he noted: “At the same time, a citizen is free to apply for and receive a new biometric passport at any time. When receiving a new passport, the previous passports held by the citizen will be recognized as invalid, as the person will not be able to possess more than one passport at the same time.

A biometric passport will not mean that the document will simply have an electronic carrier (chip). RA has now started the process to sign the ICAO Special Toolkit (PKD) document, where digital passport security data is exchanged between countries. It is a “network of trust” that allows other countries to quickly check whether the document crossing the border is genuine, increases the security and speed of border control, and facilitates the international movement of citizens.

Let’s remind that yesterday Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Minister of Internal Affairs Arpine Sargsyan presented the design of the new sample biometric passport and mentioned that they will start to be used from the fall of this year.

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Deputy Minister of Justice Gevorg Kocharyan made an opening speech at the workshop on the introduction of effective management structures for confiscated assets in Armenia.

With the participation of interested state departments and representatives of civil society, the international commitments undertaken by the Republic of Armenia in the field of the management of confiscated assets and the actions to be taken in the direction of their implementation were discussed.

The preliminary concept of the system of management of confiscated assets in Armenia was submitted for discussion by the Ministry of Justice.

The workshop was organized with the support of the European Union’s “Support to Justice Sector Reforms in Armenia” program.

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RA Minister of Finance Vahe Hovhannisyan received the newly appointed permanent representative of the International Monetary Fund in Armenia Natalia Nowta. RA Ministry of Finance informs about it.

Minister Hovhannisyan congratulated Ms. Nowta on assuming the position, expressing confidence that further cooperation will be effective and mutually beneficial. He also expressed special thanks to IMF Permanent Representative Umang Rawat for his dedication and consistent partnership during his tenure.

During the meeting, the parties emphasized the successful completion of the first summary review within the framework of the “Stand-By Arrangement” implemented with the support of the IMF, as well as the agreement reached on economic policies. The progress of the implementation of the structural benchmarks provided by the program was also emphasized, and the further expansion of the IMF’s technical support was highlighted.

The parties reaffirmed their willingness to continue and deepen effective and constructive cooperation.

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The annual conference of clergy of the US Eastern Diocese has begun, uniting priests of the diocese in a spirit of unity, reflection and purpose.

Led by Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan, Presiding Officer of the Armenian Eastern Diocese of the USA, this conference provides an important opportunity to engage in thoughtful dialogue about the current life and direction of the Diocese.

“This year we are particularly happy to welcome two honored guests from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Fr. Zakaria the Most Reverend Baghumyan and Fr. Reverend Movses Sargsyan, who helped hold meaningful conversations about the challenges and opportunities facing the Armenian Church,” the message reads.

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The hydrometeorology and monitoring center has presented weather forecasts for the coming days. In the capital Yerevan, in the afternoon of April 29, short rains and thunderstorms are possible in some parts of the city. Weather without precipitation is expected on April 30, but between May 1 and 4, in the night and evening hours, brief rain and thunderstorms will be observed again.

Wind intensification with a speed of 16-19 m/s is also predicted during thunderstorms.

On the entire territory of the republic, during the daytime hours of April 29, 30, as well as from May 1 to 4, short-term rain and thunder are expected in some regions, and hail is also possible in some places. The wind will be south-westerly at a speed of 2-5 m/s, but during a thunderstorm, wind strength is expected, reaching 16-20 m/s.

As for the air temperature, it will decrease by 2-3 degrees in the afternoon of April 29. On the following days, on April 30 and May 1-3, the temperature will gradually rise by 4-5 degrees, and in Lori, Tavush and Syunik marzes, the warming will be sharper by 7-10 degrees.

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International lawyers representing the families of seven Armenian hostages imprisoned in Azerbaijan have submitted an official request to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Imprisonment, demanding their immediate and unconditional release. The application submitted on April 24, 2026, the day of remembrance of the victims of the Armenian Genocide, demands the annulment of the verdicts passed against those persons, claiming that they are the result of gross violations of international law and are arbitrary in nature.

The hostages, Davit Babayan, Madat Babayan, Levon Balayan, Vasili Beglaryan, Erik Ghazaryan, Davit Ishkhanyan, and Levon Mnatsakanyan, are Armenian citizens who were captured by Azerbaijani forces between September 19 and October 3, 2023, shortly after Azerbaijan’s military offensive against Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh). Among them are former political leaders of Artsakh, servicemen and one civilian.

Three of them, Davit Ishkhanyan (former Speaker of the National Assembly of Artsakh), Davit Babayan (former Minister of Foreign Affairs) and Levon Mnatsakanyan (former Minister of Defense and former Commander of the Defense Army), were sentenced to life imprisonment by the Baku military court on February 5, 2026. The other four received 15 to 19 years in prison. As of today, these persons have been in Baku prison for 934 to 948 days.

Although seven of the 19 hostages were selected for this round of the application, all Armenian captives meet the criteria for arbitrary detention and the Working Group’s conclusion will apply to all hostages.

The Working Group on Arbitrary Imprisonment is a body of independent legal experts mandated by the UN Human Rights Council to investigate cases of arbitrary deprivation of liberty around the world. The application was made because the prisoners’ families and legal teams have no realistic means of appealing their wrongful convictions inside Azerbaijan. The applicants argue that the deprivation of liberty of all seven persons is arbitrary based on the following criteria:

· Absence of a valid legal basis. The hostages were taken during an armed conflict that meets the definition of an international armed conflict under the Geneva Conventions. As combatants, they should have been recognized as prisoners of war and benefited from the protection and repatriation rights provided for in the Third Geneva Convention. Instead, Azerbaijan falsely prosecuted them for common crimes, including terrorism, illegal possession of weapons, and genocide. These charges cannot legally be brought against combatants who acted within the limits of the laws of war.

· Criminalization of political beliefs. Davit Babayan and Davit Ishkhanyan have peacefully defended the right to self-determination of the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh for decades. Just days before their arrest, the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, publicly called the leadership of Artsakh “criminals”. The applicants claim that their deprivation of liberty is aimed at silencing political dissent, which is a direct violation of the rights to freedom of expression, opinion and association guaranteed under international law.

· Fundamentally unfair trials. The hostages were tried collectively, along with eight other Armenian defendants, in closed-door military proceedings and without access to lawyers of their choice. Five of the seven refused to confirm their testimony during the investigation, raising serious concerns among outside observers about the possible use of coercion and torture. Furthermore, the verdicts have not yet been officially delivered to the convicted, effectively depriving them of the opportunity to appeal.

· Denial of humanitarian access. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which visited Armenian prisoners in Azerbaijan, was expelled from the country in September 2025. This removed the last independent control mechanism over prisoners.

· Illegal rental charges. Six of the seven captives named in the lawsuit were charged with mercenary charges. The applicants claim that this accusation is legally impossible to substantiate. both under international law and under the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan, a person cannot be considered a mercenary if he is a citizen or permanent resident of the conflicting party. All seven persons are representatives of the Armenian nation who lived in Nagorno Karabakh.

· Discrimination based on ethnicity and political views. The UN, the European Court of Human Rights and many international structures have documented the systemic nature of anti-Armenian discrimination in Azerbaijan, including in the justice system. The applicants argue that the prosecution of these individuals reflects that discriminatory pattern, and that they would not have been targeted or detained but for their Armenian identity and connection to Artsakh authorities.

The application was submitted to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Imprisonment pursuant to a number of UN Human Rights Council resolutions (1997/50, 2000/36, 2003/31, 6/4, 15/18, 20/16, 24/7, 33/30, 42/22 and 51/8).

These seven individuals are among the 19 Armenian prisoners currently being held in Azerbaijan following the 2020 and 2023 conflicts. Their plight has been repeatedly highlighted by the United Nations, the European Parliament, the European Court of Human Rights, Amnesty International and other major international organizations, all of which have called for their release and expressed deep concern about the detention conditions.

On March 3, 2025, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights announced that “all those who are arbitrarily deprived of their liberty in Azerbaijan, including ethnic Armenians, must be released immediately, and the rights to a fair trial must be fully respected.” The European Parliament has adopted six resolutions on this issue since 2021, the last one in March 2025. In addition, the International Court of Justice has published several decisions that require Azerbaijan to protect Armenian prisoners from harm and ensure their equality before the law. decisions that Azerbaijan did not fulfill.

The application requests the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Imprisonment:

1. Issue an official conclusion that depriving the hostages of their freedom will be recognized as arbitrary.

2. Call for their immediate release and demand compensation for the damage caused by their long and illegal deprivation of liberty.

3. Demand an opportunity for representatives of the Working Group to visit the Armenian hostages in Baku prison before their release.

The application, with the authorization of the prisoners’ families, was submitted jointly by the following persons:

· Siranush Sahakyan – Lawyer (Yerevan, Armenia)

· Artak Beglaryan – President of the Artsakh Union (Yerevan, Armenia)

· Aitor Martinez Jimenez – Lawyer (Madrid, Spain)

· Megan Chaureau-Lyon – Lawyer (Paris, France)

· Irene Massimino – Lawyer (Buenos Aires, Argentina)

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Artur Avanesyan, Kandaz, a member of the “Strong Armenia” party, announced a hunger strike in the “Vardashen” prison, News.am writes.

Let’s remind that a member of the “Strong Armenia” party, a well-known detective, Commander Artur Avanesyan, known as Kandaz, was arrested on April 27, within the framework of the criminal proceedings being investigated by the Anti-Corruption Committee. According to the announcement of the Anti-Corruption Committee, he is accused of promising election bribes. The court decided to detain Kandaz for two months.

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Shahin Mustafayev, the Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan who arrived in Armenia today, and the delegation led by him are in Aghveran. 24News writes about this, referring to its sources.

Earlier, the RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the information circulating in the mass media that the delegation headed by the Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan is in Armenia.

“A delegation of Azerbaijan headed by Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev has arrived in Armenia. An additional press release will be issued,” the MFA said.

Shahin Mustafaev is the chairman of the state commission for the delimitation of the state border between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

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We discussed the main provisions of the pre-election program “Offer Armenia” and the upcoming steps with the team members of the “Prosperous Armenia” party.

As we announced earlier, we are participating in the upcoming parliamentary elections with the “Offer to Armenia” program, which was formed on the basis of citizens’ suggestions with the participation of experienced professionals.

The program includes the main directions of the country’s development, from security and defense system to economic development and improvement of the social sphere.

Gagik Tsarukyan

[see video]

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Gagik Tsarukyan, the leader of the “Prosperous Armenia” party, made a comprehensive statement in which he presented the main provisions of the pre-election program and pointed out the main challenges facing the country.

According to him, a person is valued by the path he has taken and the work he has done, and it is thanks to his many years of activity that the party has been able to win the trust of the citizens. Tsarukyan emphasized that his team always fulfilled the promises made and consistently worked for the benefit of the state and society.

Responding to the criticism, the politician noted that he never had the opportunity to lead the country. “I’ll take your pain, when did I manage it? Tell me something, let me see. Who made it possible for me to manage with my team so that you can feel the difference every day?” The plan is there, the opportunity is there, the team is there, and the people are there. Today, if you undertake any business, you must calculate one hundred percent with the right people, the right specialist, what you will do, what you will get in return, so that everyone’s life will change immediately within three months,” he stated, adding that if the changes are organized correctly, the results can be significant. to be already in a short time.

Tsarukyan paid particular attention to the country’s economic potential, particularly to the tourism sector. According to his assessment, Armenia has significantly greater tourism potential than is actually used. He gave an example of the conversation he had with the representative of the Kempinski international hotel chain, who, after traveling around the country, noted that Armenia’s tourist opportunities exceed Georgia’s, but they are not properly used.

The politician called tourism a “golden vein” and emphasized that the development of this sector can bring tens of billions of dollars and trigger a chain reaction of economic growth (from the hotel business to the development of marzes).

According to Tsarukyan, the key direction of the program continues to be security. He emphasized that it should be built not on statements, but on the balance of forces, interests and obligations. The politician spoke in favor of “guaranteed peace”, the presence of reliable allies and a strong army, stressing that the country should exclude the recurrence of war.

Tsarukyan also criticized the current political agenda, within the framework of which, according to him, society is forced to make a choice between unilateral concessions and permanent confrontation. He called such an approach a “false choice” and proposed an alternative: a reasonable containment policy based on historical experience and national interests.

Speaking about the foreign policy, he emphasized the need for a balanced course, which should take into account the country’s own resources, as well as alliance and partnership relations. At the same time, according to him, relations with Azerbaijan should be built on the principles of peaceful settlement, but without unilateral concessions and external pressure.

Special attention was paid to the economy in the speech. Tsarukyan announced the need to create a competitive environment and implement large-scale investment projects. Among the priorities, he singled out the construction of a new nuclear power plant, noting that the delay of this project may lead to serious energy problems in the future.

A significant part of the program is devoted to agriculture. The politician spoke in favor of the restoration of the sectorial ministry, the creation of product storage and processing infrastructures, as well as subsidizing agricultural loans (up to the actual zero interest rate level).

Speaking about the development of the capital, Tsarukyan emphasized the need to turn Yerevan into a modern and technological city. Among the recommendations are the improvement of the environment, the development of public transport, the construction of parking lots and the introduction of waste recycling systems.

Particular attention was also paid to the development of marzes, in particular the city of Gyumri was discussed. According to the politician, the problems of the city are of national importance and require the coordinated support of the authorities.

In the social sphere, Tsarukyan mentioned a number of priorities, including the fight against drug addiction, the increase of pensions and the development of education. He emphasized that the state should ensure a decent standard of living, where people do not have to choose between food and medicine.

Summarizing, he noted that the team still has a lot to do, including regional visits and meetings with citizens. The politician considered the creation of a “strong, developing and safe Armenia” as his main goal.

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