Author: Arsine Chaltikian

Yerevan deputy mayor meets AUA officials

Arsine Chaltikian
Yerevan10:00, 20 May 2026
Read the article in: EspañolՀայերենRussian

Yerevan First Deputy Mayor Armen Pambukhchyan held a meeting with American University of Armenia (AUA) President Dr. Bruce Boghosian and Vice President Ashot Ghazaryan.

Pambukhchyan is currently serving as acting mayor, as Tigran Avinyan has taken a leave of absence to campaign for the Civil Contract party.

During the meeting, Pambukhchyan and AUA officials discussed the development plan for the AUA Triangle Park, as well as issues related to improvements to the area adjacent to the main building and traffic management, City Hall said in a press release. Plans for a new campus were also discussed, with American architects involved in its design.

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RFE/RL – Papers, Please: German Military Museum Bars Ukrainians, Russians, And

Arsine Chaltikian

Museum Bars Ukrainians, Russians, And Some Other Nationalities

May 16, 2026 13:28 CET

  • By Amos Chapple

A Soviet surface-to-air missile on display at the Bundeswehr Museum of German Defense Technology in Koblenz. Photo: Shutterstock


A popular military museum in western Germany is turning away nationals of 26 countries that Berlin has deemed pose “specific security risks.”

Entry restrictions at the Bundeswehr Museum of German Defense Technology in Koblenz have been in force for several weeks but news of the unusual rule emerged recently in Ukrainian media after a mother from that country was denied access.

“At the entrance we were shown a list of countries that are prohibited from entering,” the woman said in a social media post, adding, “We drove with our children for two hours [to get there].”

A notice on the website of the museum dated March 3 notes that visitors must present identification documents at the entrance. “Due to military security regulations,” the notice warns, “access to the collection is currently denied to nationals of countries listed in accordance with Section 13, Paragraph 1, Number 17 of the Security Clearance Act.”

A notice at the entrance to the Koblenz museum listing the nationalities banned from entry.

A staff member of the museum, who declined to be named, told RFE/RL that he was unable to comment fully on the selective ban but stressed “it’s not our rule.”

The facility belongs to the Bundeswehr — Germany’s armed forces — and, despite being open to the public, is designated a “defense technology study collection.” The museum worker said the entry restriction “is a topic which is also a problem for us,” adding, “We don’t know [how] to handle it.”

Kristian Klinck, a spokesman for the branch of the Bundeswehr that oversees the museum, told RFE/RL on May 13 that the Koblenz facility is primarily intended as a training facility to familiarize staff with foreign and domestic military hardware and is only open to the public in a “secondary capacity.”

Klinck added that, “as most of the weapons in the study have not been demilitarized, the study is located within a Military Security Area,” with subsequent security restrictions.

Military jets inside the Koblenz military showroom.

In response to a question about the nationalities banned from entering the museum, Klinck directed RFE/RL to Germany’s Interior Ministry, which maintains a list of countries deemed to pose a potential security risk for Berlin.

The latest version of the list, compiled in 2022, includes Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Iran, Pakistan, Moldova, Afghanistan, all Caucasus nations, and all five Central Asian countries. Berlin has not publicly revealed any specific reasoning for countries being included on the list.

A Soviet underwater pistol on display in the Koblenz military museum.

Recent Google reviews of the German museum indicate the access restrictions have caused heated scenes at the entrance.

One Ukrainian woman complained in March, saying, “I’m honestly shocked,” adding, “I never thought you could be denied entry to a museum based on your nationality.” The woman claimed she had been threatened with a gun during a dispute with a security guard.

The museum responded to the one-star review, saying, “No one from the security staff will threaten you with a weapon.”

The Koblenz military museum spans some 7,200 square meters and holds one of Europe’s largest collections of military hardware. Since 1982 more than 1 million people have visited the facility, according to its website.




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Pashinyan clashes with critic during campaign stop in Yerevan

Arsine Chaltikian
Panorama, Armenia
May 18 2026

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan erupted in anger during a campaign stop in Yerevan’s Arabkir district after a woman confronted him over his record in office and his handling of the 2020 war.

The citizen accused Pashinyan of betraying the country, saying he had eight years to bring positive change but instead presided over devastating losses. She blamed him for thousands of casualties during the war.

“I don’t want to talk to you. You are an enemy of the people. You’ve destroyed the country,” she added.

Pashinyan, visibly agitated, shouted back at the woman and turned his criticism toward former leaders Robert Kocharyan and Serzh Sargsyan. “Rob, Serzh and others, who speak with a Karabakh accent and wear masks, are the ones who fled. I’ll put Rob in his place, I’ll put Serzh in his place,” he said.

Pashinyan called his opponents “cowards”, urging them to “take off their masks”.

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Overchuk and Mustafayev discuss Russia-Azerbaijan economic ties

Arsine Chaltikian
Azerbaijan20:48, 15 May 2026
Read the article in: فارسی, Armenian, Russian:

Azerbaijani Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev met with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk during the Kazan International Economic Forum, Azerbaijan’s APA agency reported.

According to the report, the sides discussed economic relations between Russia and Azerbaijan, the results of the 24th session of the intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation held in Zangilan on April 16, as well as a number of bilateral issues of mutual interest.

Read the article in: فارسی, Armenian, Russian:

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Putin Says Armenia and Russia Can Achieve a ‘Civilized Divorce’

Arsine Chaltikian
Jamestown Foundation
May 12 2026

Putin Says Armenia and Russia Can Achieve a ‘Civilized Divorce’

Foreign Policy Publication  Eurasia Daily Monitor  Armenia

05.12.2026Paul Goble

Putin Says Armenia and Russia Can Achieve a ‘Civilized Divorce’

Executive Summary:

  • Russian President Vladimir Putin says Armenia and Russia can achieve “a civilized divorce,” even as he continues a war to prevent Ukraine from achieving the same thing. This statement will lead to the further disintegration of the post-Soviet space, regardless of his intentions.
  • The Kremlin leader’s comment comes after the rise of Armenian anger at Moscow for failing in its role as a security guarantor in its earlier struggle with Azerbaijan, as well as growing European support for Yerevan in its efforts to reduce Armenia’s dependence on Russia.
  • Moscow will try to torpedo any such Armenian and EU efforts. Putin’s statement, however, marks a significant shift in Russia’s position and may prompt other former Soviet republics to pursue greater independence by cooperating with Europe.

In one of the most remarkable shifts since the start of his expanded war against Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin now says Armenia and Russia can achieve “a civilized divorce” if Armenia conducts a referendum on shifting its focus from Russia to Europe. This step represents a further loss of Russian influence in the South Caucasus and one that could accelerate the further unraveling of the former Soviet space (Gazeta.ru, May 6; Kommersant, May 9; Ekho Rossii, May 10). Until recently, most Armenians and observers elsewhere assumed that Yerevan had little choice but to rely on Moscow for its defense and even survival (see EDM, April 22). The Kremlin’s failure to help Armenia in its conflict with Azerbaijan, either directly or indirectly via the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), together with the expanded efforts of the European Union to support moves toward a peace treaty between Yerevan and Baku, have shifted opinion in Armenia and the West (International Republican Institute (IRI), March 5; Novaya Gazeta Evropa, May 5).

This sea change is far from the end of this story. It came to a head last week, initially by the first-ever expanded EU summit in Armenia—attended by the leaders of more than 40 countries, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy—and then by Putin’s statement (Council of the European Union, May 4; Arbat Media, May 7; see EDM, May 11). Putin will likely attempt to torpedo any Armenia–EU moves, based on his past comments as the framework for future policy. Even so, there can be no doubt that his words do mark a significant and, what may be especially important, a forced change in Moscow’s position. No matter what Putin does next, his words will affect all countries in the post-Soviet space and make it far less likely that he will be able to reassemble the empire as he has often suggested he wants to restore. Consequently, many observers not only in Armenia but also in Azerbaijan and other former Soviet states are describing the summit and Putin’s words as a turning point in the evolution of the former Soviet space (Charter 97, May 6; Kasparov.ru, May 7; The Insider, May 9; Altyn-Orda, May 10).

When the Soviet Union disintegrated in 1991, and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) was created, two competing visions emerged concerning what the CIS represented. Most in the non-Russian countries felt that the CIS would provide a framework for “the civilized divorce” of their countries from Moscow (Window on Eurasia, November 2, 2025). Some in Moscow, and most prominently in recent years, Putin himself, viewed the CIS and its allied structures as the basis for reassembling the empire. Some of the former Soviet republics, most prominently Armenia and Belarus, long felt they had little choice but to remain within a Russian-led and Russian-dominated space. Belarus continues to take that position, although even Minsk has shown signs of interest in greater independence and expanded relations with the West in recent months (see EDM, December 4, 2025, April 16). Armenia, since the conflict with Azerbaijan ended in 2023, has dramatically shifted its position (see EDM, October 15, 2025, March 25, April 22). Before that time, many Armenians felt they had little choice but to rely on Russia for economic development and security. In the last several years, however, a majority of them, along with their current leader, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, have decided that their country’s future lies with Europe rather than Russia. They have taken steps in that direction, which the European Union’s and especially France’s support and actions have made easier (see EDM, November 6, 2023, March 11, 2024; IRI, March 5; The Insider, May 9). Moreover, Moscow’s responses to what Armenia and the European Union have been doing are proving counterproductive, further alienating Armenians and leaving Russia with fewer levers (Window on Eurasia, April 12).

Putin, until now, has opposed any idea of any “civilized divorce,” most prominently seen in his expanded war against Ukraine. Now, however, as that war grinds on into its fifth year and Moscow is trying to find an offramp, the Kremlin leader has taken a new tack, acknowledging that a civilized divorce is possible. He has suggested that if a referendum shows the people of Armenia desire this and that it is not just an anti-Russian move orchestrated by Europe and the West more generally, he is prepared to accept it. Given his track record, however, what Putin will do in reality is likely to differ from what he now says. He will certainly use what levers he can, both to ensure that any referendum in Armenia will fail, either by winning over the support of more Armenians to a pro-Russian position or by claiming that outside actors falsified the results. At the same time, he will work to persuade the Europeans to abandon their plans for Armenia, lest they suffer the consequences of continuing to pursue them (Council of the European Union, May 5). If Putin fails in either effort, he may find that the only country beyond Russia’s borders that shares his vision of the future will be Belarus, and even that is uncertain (Charter 97, May 6).

As important as the European summit in Yerevan and Putin’s words about a civilized divorce between Russia and Yerevan certainly are, they are likely to have a far greater effect elsewhere in the former Soviet space (Altyn-Orda, May 5). Some commentators are already speculating about the collapse of the CSTO and Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) that Moscow created to keep these countries institutionally tied to Russia (Charter 97, May 6, 7). Others are discussing how their own countries can take advantage of these developments in Armenia (The Times of Central Asia, May 8). Perhaps most immediately relevant, a few are now openly asking if Moscow is prepared to allow Armenia to go its own way after a referendum, why is it not willing to do the same for Ukraine? (Altyn-Orda, May 10).

Putin views Ukraine as being in a different category than Armenia. He even denies that Ukrainians are a separate nation with a right to their own state. He will not agree to a similar “civilized divorce” with Kyiv. By going to war, the Kremlin leader has shown he will not do that, but having now taken the position he has with respect to Armenia, he may find it even more difficult to garner support at home for what he continues to do in Ukraine. Russians may reasonably ask, if there is a way one former Soviet republic can achieve “a civilized divorce” with Moscow without violence, then why should the people of Russia pay such a high price to keep another in its sphere of influence? That is a question Putin cannot afford to have ever more Russians posing.


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Moscow Keeps Attacking Pashinian Over Zelenskyy Visit

Arsine Chaltikian
May 12, 2026


RUSSIA – Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin chairs a session of the Russian State Duma, Moscow, October 27, 2022.

The speaker of Russia’s lower house of parliament predicted a further deterioration of Russian-Armenian relations on Tuesday as he denounced Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian for hosting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Yerevan last week.

Zelenskyy visited the Armenian capital on May 4 to attend a European Political Community summit along with dozens of European Union leaders. In his speech at the summit, he implicitly threated to disrupt Russia’s May 9 Victory Day parade in Moscow with drone strikes.

The Kremlin and the Russian Foreign Ministry decried Zelenskyy’s “terrorist” threats and Pashinian’s failure to respond to them. The Armenian premier rejected the criticism on Monday.

“It is absolutely obvious that this action on the part of Nikol Vovaevich cannot be called a friendly step towards our country, Russian citizens and the Armenian people,” State Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said in a social media post, questioning Pashinian’s “morality and decency.”

“Today, a question became obvious to everyone: how will [Russian-Armenian] relations develop after Pashinian’s actions?” Volodin went on. “Will our states be closer or farther apart? Will there be less tension in the relations or more? The second [scenario] is most likely … That’s how it all started in Ukraine.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin likewise noted at the weekend that Russia’s conflict with Ukraine broke out after Kyiv’s decision to strive for membership of the EU. Putin said Yerevan should choose “as soon as possible” between seeking to join the EU or remaining part of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), a Russian-led trade bloc.

Pashinian effectively dismissed that demand as well. Citing the ongoing parliamentary election campaign in Armenia, he also announced that he will not an EEU summit in Kazakhstan slated for May 28-29.

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Not a Word About Shushi: Nikol Pashinyan’s Message

Arsine Chaltikian
News.am, Armenia
May 9 2026

Today marks the victory of the Soviet Union and Western allies in World War II, which is celebrated in our country as the Holiday of Victory and Peace. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan wrote about this on his Facebook page, noting that we are celebrating May 9, 2026, under the conditions of peace established between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

“In the Second World War, civilized humanity said no to fascism. The Armenian people made a visible contribution to this cause, with more than half a million representatives fighting against fascism in the Soviet as well as Western Allied armies and underground resistance groups. This struggle and contribution have been highly appreciated in a number of countries.

We meet on the 81st anniversary of the victory over fascism in difficult international conditions. We are obliged not to forget the disasters that fascism brought to humanity and to condemn this phenomenon in all its manifestations. Today, we bow our heads before all those martyrs who gave their lives to save humanity from fascism. Today, we also pay tribute to all the countries and people who fought against fascism.

Dear people, dear citizens of the Republic of Armenia, we celebrate May 9, 2026, under the conditions of peace established between Armenia and Azerbaijan. For two years now, we have had neither casualties nor wounded as a result of Armenia-Azerbaijan gunfire; our border settlements live in an environment free from shootings. This is the most important achievement that we have had for the first time since the independence of our country.

Today, our task is to take proper care of the achieved peace in order to make it stronger and more reliable every day. The established peace is a historical opportunity for our country to bring it to a previously unseen level of security, prosperity, and development.

Today, we are confidently walking that path, and a developed, free, safe, prosperous, and democratic Republic of Armenia is the greatest tribute to the memory of all the martyrs of our people of all times, and the service that we must provide to our citizens and generations. We will pay our tribute; we will provide our service.

Glory to the martyrs and long live the Republic of Armenia,” the message reads.

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Electoral campaign should focus on ideas and programs, not insults or division

Arsine Chaltikian
Politics17:33, 8 May 2026
Read the article in: ArmenianRussian:

President of Armenia Vahagn Khachaturyan said the electoral campaign should be built around ideas, programs, principles and ways of developing Armenia, rather than insults, intolerance or division within society.

Speaking at the launch of the pre-election campaign, Khachaturyan said elections are not only a constitutional mechanism for forming government, but also one of the key indicators of political culture, mutual respect and public responsibility toward the state.

“The campaign should not be built around insults, intolerance or dividing society, but around ideas, programs, principles and ways of developing the country,” the president said.

Khachaturyan noted that elections held in Armenia since 2018 have strengthened public trust in electoral processes and established “a new political reality” based on free _expression_ of will, transparency and the legitimacy of election results.

According to the president, the electoral period should become a platform for healthy and dignified competition of political ideas and visions for the future.

He called on political forces, candidates and their supporters to demonstrate political ethics, civic responsibility and respect during the campaign.

“Political competition can be fierce, but it should never cross the bounds of civility, because the strength of democracy lies not only in free speech, but also in the ability to exercise that freedom with dignity.”

Khachaturyan also stressed that state bodies, local self-government authorities, law enforcement agencies and supervisory institutions involved in the electoral process must act strictly in accordance with the Constitution and the law, ensuring equal conditions and public trust.

The president expressed confidence that political maturity, mutual respect and civic responsibility would help ensure elections that strengthen democratic institutions, state stability and national solidarity in Armenia.

“I wish this electoral process to become an example of dignified political competition, public trust and the reaffirmation of democratic values, for the sake of a strong, law-based and future-oriented Republic of Armenia.”

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Verelq: Let’s make the last call of this year a sign of our national revival

Arsine Chaltikian

On the first day of the pre-election campaign, the chairman of the “Prosperous Armenia” party, Gagik Tsarukyan, had a meeting with his teammates, activists, and youth groups.

The main messages of Gagik Tsarukyan were: A difficult month awaits us, a month of intense work. We have a good team, we have a very good program. We have to go to villages, cities, yards, houses with an open front. With an open front, because we have always been honest with the people, we have fulfilled all our promises.

Gagik Tsarukyan defined the main pre-election principles for his team.

1. We enter the campaign with a clear decision: we will not insult anyone, we will not throw mud at anyone. First of all, respect for competitors means respect for our people. Our people want to hear solutions to their problems, not insults or insults.

2. We are talking to the people about our “Offer to Armenia” program. We listen to people’s suggestions. This is a popular program and all important, valuable suggestions of people should be discussed and included in the program.

3. If they criticize us, we should listen patiently, if the criticism is fair, accept it, if it is unfair, respond competently and respectfully.

Gagik Tsarukyan also had a clear target message today.

“There was a time when May was the month of our victories and pride. It was taken away from us. But there is a day in the month of May that is our day of hope and light. It is the day of the last school bell.

We must make the bell at the end of this year the first bell of our national revival.”


More details in the video

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Turkish Press: Armenia-Türkiye thaw: A ‘strategic moment’ for South Caucasus

Arsine Chaltikian
Anadolu Agency, Turkey
May 8 2026
Fresh diplomatic engagement fuels hope for stability across South Caucasus
Aysu Bicer
08 May 2026•


LONDON

A flurry of diplomatic activity in Yerevan has signaled a “new chapter” for the South Caucasus, as Armenian officials and EU mediators push for the full normalization of relations with Türkiye and a permanent peace with Azerbaijan.

Calling the current atmosphere a “strategic moment in time,” Magdalena Grono, the EU special representative for the South Caucasus, said the region is beginning to achieve a level of stability that is “extremely welcome.”

“The two leaderships in Baku and Yerevan have been very brave in opening a possibly new chapter,” Grono told Anadolu in an exclusive interview.

She said reopening the Armenia-Türkiye border would enable Armenia to “integrate in deeper trade” while advancing “transit and connectivity agendas.”

“Everybody is welcoming the opportunities that this brings, and we are, of course, from the EU side, very much hoping for progress in both the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process, institutionalization, but also in the normalization, full normalization, between Armenia and Türkiye,” she underlined.

Normalization between Ankara and Yerevan is deeply intertwined to the broader “South Caucasus Peace” framework.

Türkiye has consistently maintained a policy of coordination with Azerbaijan regarding its steps with Armenia.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said Monday that he hopes to visit Azerbaijan in 2028 for the next European Political Community (EPC) summit.

“I hope that I will have the opportunity to visit Azerbaijan in 2028 for the EPC summit,” Pashinyan said at the EPC summit held in Yerevan.

He noted that Armenia and Azerbaijan had mutually supported each other’s candidacies to host future EPC summits.

Pashinyan also stressed that it marked the first time an Azerbaijani president participated in an event hosted in Armenia, albeit via videoconference.

Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan said dialogue between Ankara and Yerevan has seen a “rapid increase” over the past two years, highlighting the “historic” visit by Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz to Armenia.

Speaking to Anadolu, Kostanyan said “multi-dimensional talks” involving several ministries are underway on issues including cultural heritage and transport infrastructure.

‘No obstacles’ to normalization

Sargis Khandanyan, chair of Armenia’s Standing Committee on Foreign Relations, emphasized that the government’s “regionalization” of foreign policy will remain a priority regardless of upcoming elections in Armenia.

“I think there are not going to be major shifts after the elections… we are going to continue the balance and balancing for the policy,” Khandanyan told Anadolu.

The upcoming June 7 parliamentary elections are viewed as a critical referendum on Armenian Pashinyan’s “Crossroads of Peace” policy aimed at strengthening Armenia’s connectivity with neighboring Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, and Türkiye, while fostering regional cooperation and mutual understanding among nations.

Pashinyan argues that Armenia’s long-term security and sovereignty depend on shifting from a “security through military alliance” model to one based on “security through regional integration,” asserting that opening the borders is the only way to prevent further isolation.

On Monday, Türkiye’s Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz said that the normalization and peace process achieved between Türkiye and Armenia in the South Caucasus is “extremely valuable” and “will serve as an example and inspiration for others all around the world.

According to Yilmaz, “progress is being made day by day in Azerbaijan-Armenia relations, with mutual positive steps being taken,” while parallel efforts between Türkiye and Armenia are “creating a new atmosphere in the South Caucasus.”

“This is one of the most strategic regions in the world. It has historically been a transit region. We believe that as peace and normalization are achieved in the South Caucasus, first and foremost, everyone living in this region will benefit. Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Türkiye — all countries will benefit,” he said.

According to Khandanyan, “there is no single political reason from our perspective that blocks this process.”

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