Photo: ocdn.eu
Yerevan /Mediamax/. The Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the launch of the Armenian-language service VT Hayastan News on the Telewizja Polska (TVP) television channel to “counter disinformation.”
“Telewizja Polska (TVP) has launched VT Hayastan News, a news service for audiences in Armenia and the Armenian community abroad. It aims to present political, social, and economic events from the European perspective as well as strengthen Armenia’s cooperation with the European Union, particularly with Poland.
The project’s mission is also to increase the public’s resilience to manipulation and information interference, and to counter disinformation targeting Armenia and its partners.
It has been set up as part of TVP’s International Media Centre financed from public funds at the disposal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This is the next stage in the development of a multilingual news service intended for audiences in the Eastern Partnership countries,” the news release issued by Poland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reads.
It also notes that the VT Hayastan News team is composed of Armenian journalists including Razmik Martirosyan, Harutyun Voskanyan, and Nune Gevorgian.
Poland launches Armenian-language news service to “counter disinformation”
Heading west
Armenia’s economy is thriving as it loosens ties with Russia and looks towards Brussels. That may be no coincidence.
It was, even by the standards of what passes as Kremlin diplomacy, an extraordinary piece of theatre. On April 1, Vladimir Putin sat across from Nikol Pashinyan, Armenia’s prime minister, and told him bluntly that membership in both the EU and the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) was impossible. He dangled the price of Russian gas (177.50 US dollars per thousand cubic metres, against more than 600 US dollars in Europe) as a reminder of what Yerevan stood to lose. Pashinyan did not flinch. When the time comes to choose, he replied, the citizens of Armenia will make that decision.
The exchange would have been unthinkable a few years ago. Armenia was, for three decades after independence, firmly within Moscow’s orbit: a member of the EAEU and the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO), host to a Russian military base, dependent on Russian gas and arms. What changed everything was Azerbaijan’s reconquest of the Karabakh region in 2023. Russia, Armenia’s nominal security guarantor, did nothing. Pashinyan has not forgiven this, and nor have ordinary Armenians. The country suspended its CSTO membership in 2024. Its parliament passed an EU accession law in March 2025. And this March Pashinyan stood before the European Parliament in Strasbourg and declared that Armenia’s path led to Brussels.
The economy, meanwhile, is giving him cover. The World Bank’s latest economic update, published in March, paints a picture of robust health. Economic activity grew by 7.6 per cent year on year in January, powered by an 18.7 per cent surge in construction and a 25.2 per cent jump in mining. Retail expanded by 7.9 per cent. Tourist arrivals were up 28.6 per cent. The financial system looks solid: the capital adequacy ratio stands at 20.3 per cent and non-performing loans at just 1.3 per cent. A budget surplus equivalent to 0.9 per cent of projected annual GDP was recorded. Gross reserves reached 5.5 billion dollars at the end of February, enough to cover 4.1 months of imports.
Dig beneath the headline figure and the story gets more interesting. Exports and imports both fell sharply in January (by 13.5 and 11.2 per cent respectively), largely because the re-export boom in precious stones and appliances that accompanied Russia’s war in Ukraine is winding down. Strip those categories out and exports actually rose by eight per cent. Armenia’s economy, in other words, is weaning itself off the sanctions-arbitrage windfall that briefly inflated its trade figures in 2022 and 2023. Mining exports (up 43 per cent) and a fast-growing technology sector are picking up the slack. Tech now accounts for roughly seven per cent of GDP, and the number of active high-tech companies surged from around 8,000 in 2024 to more than 10,700 in 2025. A 500 million US dollars partnership between Firebird, an American AI cloud start-up, NVIDIA and the Armenian government to build an AI computing facility may sound fanciful for a country of three million. But Armenia has deep roots in mathematics and semiconductor design stretching back to the Soviet era.
Manageable risks
Remittances tell a more complicated tale. Net non-commercial money transfers grew by 43.7 per cent in January, with Russia accounting for 52 per cent of inflows and the United States 38 per cent. Armenia remains tethered to Russian money, even as it drifts politically westward. Inflation, too, needs watching: it rose to 4.3 per cent in February, driven mostly by food prices (up 6.5 per cent). The central bank’s policy rate sits at 6.5 per cent, but food-price pressure in a country where groceries make up around 40 per cent of the consumption basket is not something any government can ignore before an election.
And an election is coming. Armenians go to the polls in June for parliamentary elections that will amount to a referendum on Pashinyan’s westward turn. Putin made his interest in the outcome plain at the Kremlin, expressing hope that ‘pro-Russian forces’ would be allowed to compete freely and noting that some of their representatives were in custody. He was referring to Samvel Karapetyan, a Russian-Armenian billionaire arrested last year after calling for the government’s ouster. Pashinyan’s reply was characteristically pointed: Armenian law bars dual citizens from standing for office. Moscow’s preferred candidates are welcome to run, provided they choose Armenia over Russia first.
The EU, for its part, is rolling out the welcome mat. A 270 million euros Resilience and Growth Plan for 2024 to 2027 is already in place. A new Strategic Agenda was adopted in December 2025. In May, Yerevan will host both the eighth European Political Community summit and the first ever EU-Armenia summit. Visa liberalisation talks are under way. And the EU monitoring mission deployed along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border since 2023, modest in size but potent in symbolism, is a quiet reminder that Europe has skin in the game.
None of this makes the path smooth. Armenia is landlocked, shares no border with the EU, and gets its gas from Russia at a fraction of European prices. Georgia, its only plausible land corridor to Europe, has its own fraught relationship with Brussels. The World Bank projects growth will moderate to around 4.6 per cent in 2026 as the post-invasion sugar rush fades. And Russian interference in the June elections is likely.
Pashinyan appears to have decided that these are manageable risks. His message to Putin was polite but unmistakable: Armenia is a democracy where social networks face no restrictions, where there are no political prisoners, and where citizens (not foreign presidents) determine the country’s direction. The formal EU membership application has not yet been submitted. The trajectory, though, is plain enough. Armenia’s future, its prime minister reckons, lies in Brussels, not in a customs union designed in Moscow. The numbers, so far, suggest he might be right.
—
NAASR to Host Talk on Israeli-Turkish Relations and Armenian Genocide Denial
|
Press Release National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR) 395 Concord Ave. Belmont, MA 02478 Tel.: 617-489-1610 Email:
naasr TO Host talk on Israeli-Turkish Relations and denial of the Armenian genocide
The National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR) will host a lecture by Dr. Eldad Ben Aharon titled “Israeli-Turkish Relations at the End of the Cold War: The Geopolitics of Denying the Armenian
The event is free and open to the public and can also be attended online via Zoom (registration link: or YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/c/ArmenianStudies). Following the program there will be a reception and a book signing to which all attendees In the shadows of Cold War politics, Israel quietly aligned itself with Turkey’s denial of the Armenian Genocide. Why, and at what Eldad Ben Aharon’s Ben Aharon uncovers how divisions within Israel’s diplomatic corps reflected broader dilemmas over supporting Turkey’s denial of the Dr. Eldad Ben Aharon is a Senior Researcher at the Peace Research Institute Frankfurt and was previously an Irish Research Council For more information about this program, contact NAASR at — We will ensure the demand of the egg market on the Easter holiday. The price of eggs increased in FebruaryMarch: 31, 2026 One of the 5 feasts of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church, the Feast of the Miraculous Resurrection of Jesus Christ, is celebrated this year on April 5. In Armenia, usually before Easter, there is inflation in the egg market, will there be inflation this year as well, what is the general situation in the egg market? Sergey Stepanyan, chairman of the Union of Poultry Breeders of Armenia In other words, compared to the same period of the previous year, this year there is a very small shortage of local producers, but they fully meet the demand of the day. “In the summer, in the months of July-June, there were serious losses, that is, there was overproduction, and the price of eggs dropped to 25 drams, that is, half of the cost price. Those producers that were not large, the small ones left the market, they could not buy daily feed. Naturally, they came out and the number of people was reduced. In the past period, we were able to restore the head count, our colleagues in a number of republics were wondering how we managed. We are confident that we will meet the demand of the market. If you have paid attention, eggs are the only food that had a price increase only in February, and that was forced, because feed, electricity and gas went up in price at once. This affected the cost of eggs, which led to an increase in the price.” 168.amSergey Stepanyan said in a conversation with According to him, the State Competition Commission and the Ministry are aware of all this. The increase in the price of eggs was generally 8-10 drams. Today, eggs are accepted in all large chains for AMD 70, and sometimes for AMD 68. “There are organizations that buy eggs from factories as intermediaries and sell them to stores at a higher price, i.e. 85-90 drams, the price of eggs in fruit and vegetable stalls has reached 95 drams. In other words, we are governed by the price of networks, today’s situation is calm, all organizations have managed to reach their previous year’s security index. At the beginning of April, we will see that there is full supply, and the demand is not so high,” Sergey Stepanyan added. According to our interlocutor, sometimes people enter large stores, buy 2-3 puffed eggs, then take them away and sell them at a higher price in a fruit and vegetable store. 1 puffed egg is enough for the biggest family, so there is no need to buy more than 2 puffed eggs. “We take out 4300-4350 boxes of eggs for consumption every day. I also want to emphasize that today the price of all food products has been doubled, the price of eggs has increased by only 10 drams, so that the costs can be covered. They tried to bring eggs from outside, but it didn’t work. Nevertheless, we should avoid overproduction, producing, spoiling and wasting is a terrible thing,” emphasized Sergey Stepanyan. It should be noted that in the evening before the Holy Resurrection, the Holy Liturgy of the Candlemas is served in the churches, with which the Easter celebrations begin. In the morning in the churches, a liturgy, a ceremony of Atonement is performed, and then a festive Liturgy is served. On the Feast of the Holy Resurrection, the believers greet each other with the message “Christ is risen from the dead” and the answer is “Blessed is the Resurrection of Christ”. — Discussions ongoing on Armenia’s new constitution, says lawmakerPolitics13:23, 27 March 2026
Read the article in: FrançaisՀայերենRussian
The draft of the proposed new constitution is still under discussion, and there is no final text yet, according to Member of Parliament Artur Hovhannisyan, Secretary of the ruling Civil Contract faction. Hovhannisyan was asked at a press briefing whether the draft has been discussed within the parliamentary majority and whether a preamble has been developed. “The text of the new Constitution is still under discussion. Yes, it is also being discussed with the parliamentary faction. One meeting has already taken place,” he said. According to the lawmaker, there are currently working documents that are not yet for public release. “When we reach the stage where discussions are complete and a text is ready for publication, that publication will take place,” Hovhannisyan noted. He added that after the text is published, discussions will continue publicly, involving experts, politicians, and civil society. Referring to various reports that have appeared in the media, Hovhannisyan urged citizens not to be influenced by them and to follow only official announcements. “What exists now are working documents. I ask our citizens not to be swayed by various publications, but to follow official communications,” he emphasized. Minister of Justice Srbuhi Galyan said last week that the initial March timeframe for releasing the text of the proposed new constitution will be revised amid ongoing discussions. She also said that the proposed text, developed to replace the current Constitution via referendum, is ready and will be discussed at the ruling Civil Contract party’s board meeting, as well as by its parliamentary faction. Speaking to reporters last week, Galyan was asked whether the reference to the Declaration of Independence in the current Constitution’s preamble has been removed in the new text—a move endorsed by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who cited its “conflict logic.” Galyan said the new text does not include a preamble, and discussions are ongoing. Published by Armenpress, original at Part of gas pipeline supplying Armenia with Russian gas via Georgia to be reloJAM News
Mar 27 2026
— Armenian Defense Minister pays official visit to FranceMilitary18:25, 26 March 2026
Read the article in: العربيةEspañolFrançaisՀայերbedrom
Armenian Defense Minister Suren Papikyan is on an official visit to France, the ministry said in a statement. Read the article in: العربيةEspañolFrançaisՀայերbedrom
Published by Armenpress, original at After growth, decline. Armenia’s exports and imports have decreased18.03.2026
Լուսանկարը՝ arka.am
Armenia’s exports and imports fell by 13.5% (y/y) and 11.2% (y/y) in January, respectively, after strong growth in the last two months of 2025. This is mentioned in the “Armenia Monthly Economic Update – March 2026” report of the World Bank. “Exports decreased as a result of a 45.1% decrease in precious and semi-precious stones, as well as a 69.1% decrease in household appliances, which was due to a decrease in re-exports. The export volumes of other product groups, such as semi-finished products (16% drop) and animal products (23.8% drop) were also reduced. The main positive contribution was provided by mineral products, the export of which increased by 43%,” the research notes. WB analysts point out that imports decreased by 11.2%, again due to a 63.3% drop in precious and semi-precious stones, a 42.7% drop in home appliances, and a 25.7% reduction in vehicle imports. The report notes that in January, excluding trade in precious metals and stones and household appliances, exports increased by 8% (y/y), while imports remained at the same level. According to the RA Statistical Committee, in January 2026, Armenia’s foreign trade turnover amounted to 1.28 billion dollars, decreasing by 12% compared to January 2025, while exports amounted to 463.9 million dollars and imports to 811.8 million dollars. — Well, imagine how pathetic and bilious they are, that even I said, “HraMarch: 17, 2026 Armine Ohanyan, editor-in-chief of “Hraparak” daily, writes on his Facebook page. “Political forces are already in full-time campaigning. One of them visits marzes with a team, reminding grandparents that he made them happy with 10,000 drams, others hold congresses and presentations, announce the format of participation in the elections. But nothing is perfect in nature and life, including these pre-campaign actions. For example, I am saddened by the lack of imagination, creativity – no original steps or words. Everything is predictable and familiar. Even speeches can be told in advance who will talk about what and how. Meanwhile, many remarkable propaganda tricks and technologies are used in different countries of the world. The most important thing is that they are able to include new layers of the public, make spectacular propaganda, and activate the classes that don’t hope for elections. Hopefully the sequel will be more creative than the start. Today, the presentation of the “Armenia” alliance was, of course, impressive in terms of the energy and crowd of the hall. But it is not good that the leader of the alliance cannot read Armenian texts fluently with an Armenian accent. And the applause after every sentence was very unpleasant. After all, there are still people who remember the congresses of the SMC and that scene caused déjà vu. Every nuance reminiscent of a cult of personality, at least for me, only causes rejection and alarm. P.S. In any case, judging by the Facebook and fake responses of the KP, the government received another dose of fear and terror. This is also the reason why criminal justice methods have gained momentum. Well, imagine how pathetic and bilious they are, that even I, the editor of “Hraparak”, was called to the Investigative Committee for questioning… I will go, I will come, I will tell you.” — Pashinyan confirmed our information. Is it a verbal agreement with Aliyev?March: 16, 2026 On February 4, with the article “Will Pashinyan show the new weapons to keep the power?” in the article we wrote that at some point, Nikol Pashinyan may not consider the reaction of individual groups to be sufficient after getting acquainted with the new weapons, and organize a public demonstration in the period close to the elections. After all, one must somehow try to prove that the external debt has grown justifiably. We had clearly stated reliable information by writing. “By the way, just these days 168.am received information, according to which it is not excluded that on May 28, Nikol Pashinyan will organize a military parade of the newly purchased weapons. Information about a possible location has also been provided, but due to security reasons, we will not speak. Regarding this topic, we tried to get an explanation from the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia, but it was not possible to contact the officials, so we sent a written request, we will present it as soon as we receive the answer. And our question to the Ministry of Defense was clear: Is a demonstration-military parade of the newly purchased weapons planned for May 28, that is, in Sardarapat? On February 10 we have published The response letter of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia, which states: «As of now, there are no discussions on holding an arms show-military parade in Sardarapat.” In our second article on this topic, we drew attention to the fact that the Ministry of Defense in its response mentioned only the possible location of the military parade, Sardarapat, and not the date, May 28. Accordingly, we assumed that a few days before the National Assembly elections, in any case, there would be a public display of newly purchased weapons in some format, especially since the Ministry of Defense stated that “there is no such discussion at the moment.” In other words, the possibility of this has not been ruled out. And here is Nikol Pashinyan in Kapan on March 15 confirmed 168.amin early February, as well as our observations in this regard, saying in a conversation with citizens. “There is a lot of talk about weapons, we also say why the state debt has increased. I made a statement 2-3 months ago that I will take and show those citizens who want to see what we have achieved. I have already invited several groups, we have gone, but the number of people is so large that we came to the conclusion that we should show it to everyone, we should show it publicly. And we are thinking of making a public demonstration in the near future so that our citizens can see what we are talking about. We will present a report to the people, probably in May, to show what we have done and what we have achieved. Moreover, we will show only the weapons acquired during our government and after 2022.” Let’s remind that earlier Nikol Pashinyan is against to express in response to the display of modern weaponry purchased in the military exhibition version, including the proposals of ordinary citizens. “There are opinions that it should be done, there are opinions that it is not necessary, for various reasons. Yes, after the military parade in Azerbaijan, the topic became active in Armenia as well. If we organized a military parade in November or December, it would be impressive, but we are preparing for the peace agenda.” in November 2025 had announced he And in order, according to him, to “not spread wrong information”, at that moment they decided to organize a closed demonstration for individual groups. But as we mentioned in one of our articles, if Pashinyan understands that a public demonstration or a military parade will help to keep the power, as a result of some “negotiations” with the Azerbaijani side, Pashinyan may go for it as well. It turned out that we were not mistaken. Considering the need for a public display of the weapons purchased in Kapan during the last 2-3 years, Pashinyan also said. “However, we do this by emphasizing peace and in the context of peace. there is peace, there is no tension with our neighbors, we hope that our neighbors will not perceive this as a show of aggression.” In other words, months ago, in the logic of the peace agenda, it was not advisable to show weapons, now it is possible in the context of peace. And why, we have already mentioned. By the way, published in February of this year, “From Pinaka to Gripen. Armenia opens its cards, Azerbaijan buys 6.5 billion worth of fighter jets” according to our article we wrote in the article: when during the visit of General Anil Chauhan, Chief of the Defense Staff of the Indian Armed Forces to Armenia, the samples of Armenian and Indian weapons were made public, Azerbaijan accepted it quite mildly, even though Azerbaijan once is a danger seen even at the level of the armed forces of the special forces of the Republic of Armenia. Can we say that Pashinyan is trying to get a verbal agreement from Aliyev in such matters, otherwise how can we understand the change in approaches to the appropriateness of a public display of weapons over the months? As for the increase in the state external debt based on the purchase of weapons, there are also interesting episodes related to it. we have reminded. — |