Author: Ani Basmajian

Asbarez: Armenian Court Bans Screening of Film on 1990’s Independence Movement

Ani Basmajian
by Asbarez Staff

 

 March 31, 2026

 

in Armenia, Artsakh, Featured Story, Latest, News, Top Stories

A scene from the popular demonstration that led to Armenia’s Independence in 1991


A court in Yerevan has banned the screening and distribution of a film about the 1990’s Armenian Independence movement, which has references to the 1988 Karabakh Liberation Movement. The court sided with a lawsuit filed by Armenia’s Public Broadcaster.

The film, “Our Path to Independence” was directed by Tigran Paskevichyan and produced on commission by Public Television of Armenia—the very entity that brought the lawsuit. The court ruling prevents the film from being screened in the public.

The decision effectively prevents audiences from seeing the progression of the 1988 Karabakh movement and the declaration of independence in 1990, Paskevichyan told CivilNet.

The broadcaster argued in court that it owns the rights to the film because it financed the project.

“They say, we paid for it, so we bought it,” the director told Civilnet, adding that he would have accepted such a claim from a private company, but not from the public broadcaster.

The lawsuit was partly based on a screening held on May 2, 2025, at the headquarters of the opposition Armenian National Congress political party. Paskevichyan said he screened the film not only on that date but on multiple other occasions.

Before the legal dispute, the director had asked the broadcaster for permission to screen the film on other platforms but received no response. Despite the ruling, he said he plans to continue organizing screenings.

The chairman of the Public Broadcaster’s Council, Vasak Darbinyan, told CivilNet he was unaware of the case. Other council members could not be reached either.

This is not the first time Paskevichyan has faced obstacles in screening his work. His earlier film, Armenia’s Lost Spring, about the March 1, 2008 violence and the events that preceded it, also struggled to secure venues. He said similar restrictions existed under both former presidents Robert Kocharian and Serzh Sargsian, but described the current situation as unprecedented.

“Something has always been banned under every administration, but reaching the point where you are not even allowed to show your own film is the ultimate low,” he said.

Independence narrative under renewed scrutiny
The controversy comes amid broader political debates over Armenia’s independence narrative. The 1990 Declaration of Independence, which references the unification of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, has become a point of contention in both domestic and foreign policy discussions.

Azerbaijan has called the reference a challenge to its territorial integrity and has demanded constitutional changes as part of peace negotiations. Armenian authorities have launched a constitutional reform process, and a new draft is expected to remove references to the declaration.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said in parliament last week that the declaration had embedded a “logic of conflict” in Armenia’s statehood.

“If you build your independence on conflict with all your neighbors, you make it impossible to live in your environment without external help,” he said, adding that such a framework increases dependence on outside actors.

The controversy can also be tied to Pashinyan’s rejection of the concept “historical justice,” which he said continuously paints Armenians as victims and prevents complete acceptance of their status as Armenians.

His reference, made last week, was directed to forcibly displaced Artsakh Armenians, who, he claimed should “settle down” in Armenia and accept their fate, without seeking justice for their displacement, which has been deemed ethnic cleansing by Azerbaijan.

Pashinyan said that by claiming ethnic cleansing Armenia was opening the door to counter claims of the same crimes by others.

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Pashinyan attends plaque unveiling ceremony of Tchekidjian National Academic C

Ani Basmajian
Culture11:38, 30 March 2026

1 minute read

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan attended the inauguration ceremony of the Hovhannes Tchekidjian Armenian National Academic Choir on Monday.

Pashinyan, together with other officials, took part in the plaque unveiling ceremony.

In December 2025, the Armenian government approved renaming the Armenian National Academic Choir after its artistic director and principal conductor, the renowned composer Hovhannes Tchekidjian.

It is henceforth known as the Hovhannes Tchekidjian Armenian National Academic Choir.



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Remarkable flights of Turkish business jets to Yerevan. what is known about them?

Ani Basmajian

In recent days, two Turkish business jets have visited the capital of Armenia, and they are connected with Turkish special services and state bodies.


Sputnik Armenia, in particular, paid attention to the fact that on March 8, the Gulfstream G-IV(SP) business jet of the Turkish Sierra Aviation company made a flight on the Yerevan-Ankara route. Social media users involved in flight tracking and OSINT (intelligence based on open sources) have linked this plane to Turkish special services.



The geography of the flights also indicates that the plane was hardly used for normal commercial purposes. In particular, the aircraft regularly flies to the countries of the Middle East (Oman, UAE, Saudi Arabia) and Africa (Libya, Egypt, Sudan).


Moreover, it was once used for the flight of Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama.


Considering the interesting history of the flights, we inquired from the Foreign Ministry whether any Turkish delegation visited Yerevan. We were told that there were no guests from the Foreign Ministry.


Sputnik Armenia also sent a request to the RA Foreign Intelligence Service, asking: 1) Was it an intelligence visit by Turkish representatives, 2) if not, was the flight private?


They did not answer our questions clearly from the Armenian National Security Service, instead they referred in detail to the specifics of their activities.


In particular, they noted that “due to the problems faced by the service and the specifics of its activity, the service is guided by the strict observance of the principle of confidentiality defined by the law and has objectively adopted a policy of ensuring the lowest possible level of public discussion about the service’s activities.”


Such an approach, as noted in the special service, is intended to ensure not only the normal work of the National Intelligence Service within the framework of the implementation of foreign intelligence activities, but also to prevent possible security risks for the state and society as a result of the disclosure of information outside the limits of admissibility.


“Taking into account the above, we inform you that it is not considered appropriate to provide information implying a positive or negative answer to both the 1st and 2nd questions by the service,” said the answer.


It should be noted that we had already sent the request to the FSA when the second similar flight was noticed in the sky of Yerevan.
This time the Dassault Falcon 7X plane left Yerevan for Istanbul.



This aircraft belongs to the Zafer Air company, which also connects with “sensitive” flights in the Middle East and Africa.


It is noteworthy that the first aircraft, Gulfstream G-IV(SP), was previously also in the fleet of Zafer Air.


Thus, if we assume that a Turkish delegation arrived in Armenia, then by comparing the data, we can assume that the technical group arrived on the first flight, and the delegation of direct negotiators on the second.


Nevertheless, in the absence of official information, it is not possible to make definite statements about the purpose of the flight and the passengers.


Let’s remind that since March 11, Turkish Airlines has started to operate flights on the Istanbul-Yerevan-Istanbul route.

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Pasadena to Celebrate Armenian and Arab American Heritage Month With Citywide

Ani Basmajian
Colorado Boulevard
Mar 27 2026

This April, the City of Pasadena will honor Armenian and Arab American Heritage Month with a wide range of cultural programs and community events celebrating the lasting contributions of both communities in art, film, music, and business.

By News Desk

Throughout the month, residents are invited to explore the rich traditions, history, and creativity of Armenian and Arab cultures through documentaries, art exhibits, workshops, and live performances. The city aims to highlight the important role these communities play in shaping Pasadena’s diverse cultural landscape.

Armenian Heritage Month Highlights

A series of events will spotlight Armenian culture and history across Pasadena’s public libraries:

  • Colors & Patterns: Armenian-Inspired Canvas Painting will take place on Saturday, April 4 at the Santa Catalina Branch Library. Participants ages 13 and up can create artwork inspired by Armenian design using traditional color palettes.
  • On Friday, April 17, the San Rafael Branch Library will host a screening of The Color of Pomegranates (1969), a visually rich film celebrating Armenian identity and the life of poet Sayat-Nova. The event is open to adults.
  • Forget-Me-Not Cross Stitch: A Symbol of Remembrance will be held Saturday, April 18 at the Santa Catalina Branch Library. This workshop offers participants the chance to learn cross-stitch while reflecting on the symbolism tied to the Armenian Genocide.
  • The month concludes with An Afternoon of Armenian History & Heritage on Saturday, April 25 at Lamanda Park Branch Library. The program includes a documentary screening of My Mother’s Voice (2012), followed by a presentation and Q&A, as well as a travelogue showcasing Armenia’s landscapes and cultural heritage.

In addition, the Pasadena Public Library has curated a special reading list featuring Armenian authors and stories for those interested in further exploration.

Arab American Heritage Month Programming

Pasadena will also host events celebrating Arab American culture:

  • Celebration of Arabic Heritage will be held Saturday, April 18 at the Allendale Branch Library. The program features live performances of traditional Arabic music, including oud, percussion, vocals, and violin, offering attendees an immersive cultural experience.

A dedicated book list highlighting Arab authors and Arab American experiences will also be available through the Pasadena Public Library.

Business Spotlight Series

Throughout April, the city will run a social media campaign highlighting Armenian- and Arab-owned businesses in Pasadena. The series aims to recognize the entrepreneurial contributions of both communities and their role in strengthening the local economy.

City officials encourage residents to participate in these events and engage with the cultural programming offered across Pasadena, celebrating the heritage and achievements that continue to enrich the community.

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Armenpress: Magnitude 6.2 earthquake rocks Japan’s Honshu

Ani Basmajian
World21:07, 26 March 2026
Read the article in: ArmenianRussian:

An earthquake of magnitude ‌6.2 struck off the east coast of ⁠Japan’s largest island, Honshu, on Thursday, the German Research Centre for Geosciences ‌said.

The quake occurred at a depth of 10 km m(6.2 miles), the agency said.

Read the article in: ArmenianRussian:

Published by Armenpress, original at 
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Armenpress: Trump administration offers 15-point ceasefire plan to Iran – Asso

Ani Basmajian
Read the article in: FrançaisՀայերենRussian

The Trump administration offered a 15-point ceasefire plan to Iran, the Associated Press reported citing a person briefed on the contours of the proposal, even as the U.S. military prepared to send at least 1,000 more troops to supplement some 50,000 troops already in the Mideast.

The plan was submitted to Iran by intermediaries from Pakistan, who have offered to host renewed negotiations between Washington and Tehran, according to the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

The New York Times was the first to report that the plan had been delivered to Iranian officials.

The Pentagon is also in the process of deploying two Marine units that will add about 5,000 Marines and thousands of sailors to the region, according to AP.

The moves are being framed as Trump maneuvering to give himself “max flexibility” on what he will do next, AP reported citing its source.

Israeli officials, who have been advocating for President Donald Trump to continue the war against Iran, were surprised by the submission of a ceasefire plan, the person said.

Earlier in the day, Trump said the U.S. was in talks with Iran to end the war as diplomatic efforts picked up and Iran issued a newly defiant statement. Meanwhile, airstrikes battered the Islamic Republic while Iranian missiles and drones targeted Israel and sites across the region.

The U.S. and Israel launched what they described as a pre-emptive strike against Iran on February 28, claiming that Tehran was developing a nuclear weapon and posed a threat—an allegation Iran has denied. In response, Iran launched counterattacks, firing missiles and drones at Israel, as well as at U.S. assets and other targets across the Middle East.

Published by Armenpress, original at 
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Armenia, Greece to elevate ties to strategic level

Ani Basmajian
Politics15:11, 25 March 2026
Read the article in: العربيةEspañolفارسیFrançaisՀայերենქართულიRussianTürkçe中文

Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan sent a congratulatory letter to Prime Minister of Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis on the occasion of Greek Independence Day.

“I warmly congratulate and extend my sincere best wishes to you on the occasion of the national holiday, Independence Day, of the Hellenic Republic,” Pashinyan said in the letter published by his office.

“Armenia highly appreciates the friendly relations with Greece, which are based on mutual trust, common values, and strong civilizational ties between the peoples. I note with satisfaction that recently Armenia-Greece cooperation has been developing more actively and steadily. Constructive and trustful dialogue, high-level mutual visits, and regular contacts have given new impetus to our relations, expanding the agenda of cooperation in the political, economic, defense, scientific, educational, and cultural spheres. I am confident that through consistent joint work we will continue to deepen our partnership both in bilateral and multilateral formats, as well as within the framework of the Armenia-European Union partnership, for the benefit of our countries’ prosperity and the strengthening of regional peace and stability. I look forward to having the honor of hosting you in Yerevan within the framework of the European Political Community Summit. Your visit to Yerevan is also a good opportunity to announce the elevation of cooperation between our two states to a new, strategic level. I wish you every success, and peace, prosperity and sustainable progress to the friendly people of Greece,” he added. 

Read the article in: العربيةEspañolفارسیFrançaisՀայերենქართულიRussianTürkçe中文

Published by Armenpress, original at 
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Armenian Opposition Figures Criticize Government Over Church, Democracy and Se

Ani Basmajian
Caucasus Watch, Germany
Mar 25 2026
25 Mar 2026 | News, Politics, Armenia

In a tense political climate in Armenia, Narek Karapetyan accused Nikol Pashinyan of waging a campaign against the Church and consolidating power, highlighted the detention and ambitions of Samvel Karapetyan, while Robert Kocharyan denounced the erosion of democratic processes and government narratives surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh.

On March 24, in an interview with Mario Naval, Narek Karapetyan, a member of the Board of the Strong Armenia party, stated that the Armenian Church remains a core pillar of national identity and accused the country’s leadership of attempting to bring it under political control. He emphasized that since last year, the Prime Minister has, in his view, initiated a campaign against the Church and publicly targeted its head, despite the institution enjoying broad public support.

“At the same time, we haven’t heard a clear explanation as to why he’s doing this,” Karapetyan stated. He noted that Samvel Karapetyan publicly opposed these actions, calling them unacceptable and urging the Prime Minister to stop. According to him, this was followed by “three offensive posts” from the Prime Minister and the deployment of special forces to his uncle’s residence. Karapetyan emphasized that the businessman’s philanthropic reputation drew thousands of supporters to the scene, after which he was detained roughly ten hours later.

Karapetyan stated that Samvel Karapetyan spent six months in detention at the National Security Service under harsh conditions, without heating and without contact with his family. Following the arrest, protests were held in Yerevan with participants arriving from different regions. “We are confident that we are on the right path. We are confident that we are doing this for our values,” he emphasized, adding that the authorities allegedly seek to push Karapetyan out of politics in order to act freely in relation to the Church. “We must stop this process, as it will jeopardize our democracy,” he stated, warning of increasing political and economic control by the ruling authorities.

He further claimed that government influence extends into major sectors, pointing to appointments in key companies such as Haypost and Electric Networks of Armenia, where, according to him, leadership positions are held by members of the ruling party. Karapetyan stated that Samvel Karapetyan intends to run for Prime Minister, adding that public support is growing and that citizens seek new leadership focused on long-term peace, economic development, and broader international relations.

According to Karapetyan, the Prime Minister now faces a choice between tightening control or allowing a competitive electoral process. “He can either pursue a path of complete autocracy, or he can allow us to participate in the elections… and a change of power will occur,” he stated, expressing the view that both paths remain possible.

In the same interview, Karapetyan addressed historical issues, stating that the territory of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh had been transferred to Azerbaijan during the Soviet period under Joseph Stalin. He emphasized that following the events of September 2023, the Armenian population left the region. “This is classic ethnic cleansing. And this is happening in the 21st century,” he stated, adding that displaced residents face serious challenges rebuilding their lives.

Separately, Robert Kocharyan, the Second President of Armenia, criticized the current political climate, stating that the authorities are undermining the significance of elections. “Elections are meant to force discussions about serious issues… It seems the authorities are deliberately trying to completely devalue this process,” Kocharyan stated, arguing that meaningful debate has been replaced by what he described as a superficial and unserious environment.

He questioned the government’s ability to address key national issues, including the outcome in the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh, wartime losses, and broader security concerns. “Do you respect your people or not? Are you turning the elections into a circus?” he stated, adding that such developments reflect disregard toward the public and the state.

Kocharyan also sharply criticized the Prime Minister’s conduct in specific incidents, including an episode in the metro involving a displaced resident and another involving a motorcade accident. “He doesn’t even allow a doctor… to approach a pregnant woman,” he stated, using the example to question the leadership’s behavior.

Referring to the aftermath of the conflict, Kocharyan addressed statements made about residents leaving the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh. “He says, ‘You fled.’ He doesn’t say Azerbaijan carried out ethnic cleansing,” Kocharyan emphasized, adding that the shift in terminology—from “ethnic cleansing” to “forced displacement,” and later to references only to “Karabakh”—reflects a broader change in official discourse.


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All the calculations of the USA have failed, the war with Iran will affect the weight of the USA

Ani Basmajian

March: 24, 2026

Backing away from his ultimatum to destroy Iran’s energy infrastructure, US President Donald Trump announces that negotiations are underway with Iran, and negotiations are planned. Hours ago, US President Donald Trump announced that the United States had conducted active negotiations with Iran, and both sides had reached “important points of agreement”.

Trump announced that the negotiations held on Sunday will continue.

“We had very, very productive negotiations. We will see what they will lead to. I would say that we agreed on many important points, almost all of them. “We will probably hold negotiations over the phone today,” he said.

Trump added that the talks are being led by his special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Wittkoff, and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner. He did not name the person in Iran with whom the US negotiated, but said that a high-ranking, respected leader was involved. Trump stated that the United States did not receive any information from Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.

Read also

  • Trump announced a five-day moratorium on deploying marines, Iran does not believe in negotiations. Sergey Melkonyan
  • As Pashinyan handed over Artsakh to the enemy, he will do the same with Armenia. Vazgen Hovhannisyan
  • WHO ARE YOU, MERCIFUL DESTRUCTION… THEY DIDN’T SIT YOU HERE TO EAT SIBEK WITH A STICK, SHOOT CORN, SNAP YOUR FINGER.  I WILL NOT GET. Nina Karapetyans

He said that he does not know whether Khamenei is alive or not, and added that he does not want him to be killed.

The American leader claims that Iran has agreed not to create nuclear weapons and is ready for a peaceful settlement. “Now Iran has another chance to end its threats against America and its allies, and we hope they will take advantage of it,” he said, adding that if successful, “America and the whole world will become much safer.”

Trump also noted that the United States seeks the withdrawal of nuclear materials from Iran and considers that the negotiations are proceeding “almost perfectly”.

In his assessment, the implementation of the agreements “will essentially end this conflict”.

In addition, the US president considered possible serious political changes inside Iran. According to him, a “very serious change of regime” may take place in the country, the creation of a “joint leadership” with the participation of an unknown Iranian leader is also not excluded. At the same time, some officials in Tehran continue to deny the fact of the negotiations, which, according to Trump, may be due to the fact that the information “has not reached everyone”.

According to Axios data, Pakistan, Egypt and Turkey act as mediators. Direct and indirect contacts with Washington are denied in Tehran. According to Israeli sources, Iran’s contact with the American side is maintained by the Speaker of the Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. The Jerusalem Post, referring to its sources, reports that Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, is participating in the negotiations with the US from Iran’s side. Axios journalist Barak Ravid also writes about this, referring to the Israeli official.

He wrote in X that the special envoy of the US president, Steve Wittkoff, and the son-in-law of the American leader, Jared Kushner, communicated with Ghalibaf. Ghalibaf’s participation in the negotiations is also confirmed by the Israeli Ynet, at the same time noting that the process is mainly conducted through mediators, and it is not clear whether the speaker of the Iranian Parliament maintains direct contact with the Americans. Ghalibaf himself denies this.

He called the news about negotiations with the USA “fake news”, the purpose of which is to manipulate the financial and oil markets.

“The Iranian people demand full and severe punishment of the aggressors,” he wrote in X.

The spokesman of the Iranian Foreign Ministry denied that negotiations had taken place with the United States, just after the President of the United States, Donald Trump, announced that the parties had found “important points of agreement” in the last few days. The state news agency IRNA, citing the spokesman of the ministry, reports that in recent days, friendly countries have sent messages according to which the United States has asked to start negotiations to end the war, but Iran has not responded to that offer.

Parallel to all this, Tehran and Tel Aviv continue military strikes. On the 25th day of the war, Israel continued to attack the cities of Tehran, Tabriz, Spahan and Karzi, as well as the province of East Azerbaijan. There are victims, including children. Iran reported that Israel struck energy-related facilities in Isfahan and Khoramshahr regions. Iran, in its turn, hit both the capital Tel Aviv and the southern and central regions of Israel. According to Israeli media, there are injuries and destruction. Iran has also hit Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. According to Reuters, the operation of Amazon Web Services, a cloud services giant, was disrupted in Bahrain by a drone strike. The Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20 percent of the world’s consumed oil passes, is still closed.

Russian analyst Fyodor Lukyanov 168.amtold that the war of the USA and Israel against Iran has reached a milestone, when it is no longer clear to the initiators what should be done next, because this war is dragging on a lot.

According to him, Trump’s hope was the quick capitulation of Iran, which should have happened as a result of several strikes.

“That was the calculation and hope of the US, based on the belief that Iran does not have sufficient resources to resist, repulse, respond to its opponents, it does not have leverage. It was also a big miscalculation that by eliminating Iran’s leaders, Iran’s power pyramid would collapse. It turned out that this was a miscalculation. Iran’s real potential, levers, influence in the region were not fully appreciated, obviously Iran’s recent attacks on the energy infrastructure of the US allies in the region, together with the inflation of energy carriers and the closing of the Strait of Hormuz, became a serious problem for the US. However, Iran has often announced this,” Lukianov said.

He does not understand how such calculations could actually be the basis of such a serious decision, how Iran could be considered in the same way as, for example, Venezuela.

“In any case, a long war was not planned, so the delay of military operations violated all scenarios,” he said, continuing that Trump has found himself in a rather difficult situation and is trying to get out of it. found himself in a situation that he cannot control and which causes increasing problems for everyone else.

“Therefore, Trump is trying to present the negotiations as a victory, stating that they are going well when Iran denies them, the war continues, and the United States is trying to bring Iran to the negotiating table through mediation, trying to return the situation to a manageable field. In this whole situation, the world really felt the importance of the Strait of Hormuz in practice, this is the reason why Trump announces that he will also control the situation there, even though it is still closed by Iran. Obviously, although the situation is difficult for Iran as well, Iran will not negotiate easily,” Lukianov said.

In his opinion, how the American side will resolve the situation will determine the weight of the US on the world stage, as the real capabilities of the US are revealed.

“And it is decisive for all regions, including the South Caucasus, where the US has been strengthening recently,” he said.

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Armenian government criticized over treatment of displaced Artsakh people

Ani Basmajian
Panorama, Armenia
Mar 24 2026

Artsakh State Minister Nzhdeh Iskandaryan has strongly criticized the Armenian government, accusing it of abandoning displaced Artsakh Armenians and leaving them in dire social conditions.

In a social media post on Tuesday, Iskandaryan said a recent heated confrontation between Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and an Artsakh woman was not an isolated episode but a reflection of the ruling party’s broader attitude towards its people. He said the government’s conduct followed a familiar pattern: “First comes the insult, then denial and finally a reluctant apology.”

He argued that the deeper issue lies in state policy, which he claims has left Artsakh Armenians unprotected, struggling with poverty and often forced to consider emigration. He stated that Artsakh Armenians have been left alone to face their daily challenges.

“This is not about one incident. It’s part of a system which must change,” Iskandaryan added.

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