Author: Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS

A unique platform through sport and culture: Armenian official on 2027 La Fran

Emil Lazarian
Sports14:31, 27 March 2026
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Arayik Harutyunyan, Chief of Staff of the Prime Minister’s Office of Armenia and head of the steering committee responsible for organizing the 2027 La Francophonie Games, said on Friday that preparations are ongoing and highlighted the responsibility and honor of hosting the renowned event.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Flood in Armenia’s southeast damages cars, no injuries reported

Emil Lazarian
Armenia15:24, 27 March 2026
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A flood has damaged cars along a street in the town of Kapan in Armenia’s Syunik Province, but no one was injured, according to authorities.

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

Photos released by the Rescue Service showed damaged vehicles.

Multiple first responders are on the scene.

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

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

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Armenian, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministers hold phone call

Emil Lazarian
Politics16:27, 27 March 2026
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On March 27, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan had a phone call with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov.

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

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

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Central Bank of Armenia: exchange rates and prices of precious metals – 27-03-

Emil Lazarian
Economy16:57, 27 March 2026
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YEREVAN, 27 MARCH, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 27 March, USD exchange rate down by 0.18 drams to 377.18 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 2.02 drams to 434.13 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.0483 drams to 4.6285 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 2.28 drams to 501.65 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price down by 1337 drams to 54042 drams. Silver price down by 71.73 drams to 816 drams.

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Defense Minister Papikyan meets French Prime Minister

Emil Lazarian
Military19:32, 27 March 2026
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The Minister of Defense of the Republic of Armenia Suren Papikyan met with French Prime Minister Sébastien Le Corneille in Paris.

Suren Papikyan conveyed the warm greetings of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to the French Prime Minister, the defense ministry said in a press release.

Minister Suren Papikyan presented to Prime Minister Sébastien Le Corneille the successful progress of previously reached agreements and thanked the French government for keeping cooperation in the spotlight.

Issues related to the development and deepening of Armenia-France cooperation in the defence sector were discussed.

The parties, particularly, emphasized the importance of the continuous strengthening of the bilateral strategic partnership and emphasized the need to expand cooperation in the defence sector.

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Armenpress: Regular Kapan–Yerevan–Kapan flights to resume

Emil Lazarian
Armenia22:05, 27 March 2026
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Regular flights on the Kapan–Yerevan–Kapan route will resume on March 31, Syunik Governor Robert Ghukasyan said in a Facebook post.

Regular flights on the Yerevan–Kapan–Yerevan route were initially launched on August 21, 2023. The service was temporarily suspended on September 24, 2025, due to scheduled maintenance of the L-410 aircraft operated by the “NovAir” airline.

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Verelq: Pashinyan repeats Aliyev’s thoughts

Emil Lazarian

“The elites of Armenia and Karabakh have kept the people of Karabakh hostage.”


Yesterday, RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan expressed such a view during the NA-government question-and-answer session.


This is reminiscent of the statement of the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, which he made on July 21, 2023, during his speech during the Shushi Global Media Forum, when he noted:


“Currently, the issue of reintegration depends on when the Armenian residents of Karabakh will be able to get rid of the junta that took them hostage and exploited them as slaves.”


Pashinyan does not even try to change the form, but repeats Aliyev’s thoughts with the same tone. Are there still people for whom it is not clear that the current administration of RA began to be managed directly from Azerbaijan?


Edmon Marukyan, leader of “Lusavore Armenia” party



https://verelq.am/hy/node/171329?fbclid=IwY2xjawQ0RIFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEemBrYiZ2_ULTvvuv0bAWPRWm8SV2YFZ9Ptmi5g-Ylpn1jaItN6zqHxqNZNZM_aem_wsBWg-TpvFxP3oJ_00_uXw

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It is a lie to claim that there will be a war if the power is not reproduced

Emil Lazarian

It is a lie to claim that if the power is not reproduced, there will be a war only because of that fact.


The war is not determined by the election or non-election of one person. A combination of a number of factors is necessary for the war, such as regional processes (the war between Iran and the USA and its prolongation, the strengthening of the Turkish factor, the continuous decrease of Russia’s influence), the futility of the self-defense organization of the existing government in Armenia, as well as other circumstances.


In fact, too much depends on the US/Israel-Iran war in terms of Azerbaijan’s appetite, which has nothing to do with the reproduction of Armenian power.


There will be no war if there is a strong military, balanced diplomacy and predictable politics, which means that the non-reproduction of power is more favorable in this respect.


As for the war, dozens of factors, a number of preconditions, preparations, active diplomatic activity and a favorable international situation and environment are necessary before starting it.


The non-reproduction of Pashinyan will not have an effect on any of those factors by itself. Therefore, such formulation is just manipulation.


International scholar Suren Sargsyan




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Pashinyan is trying to assume the role of direct governance of Azerbaijan

Emil Lazarian

Turning to the question of the displacement of the population of Artsakh in 2023, Nikol Pashinyan stated: “With his leadership, Levon Ter-Petrosyan dragged Armenia and the Armenian people into this adventure.” This is stated in the announcement of ANC.


“It is clear from this that Pashinyan has absolutely no knowledge of the ancient, medieval, or modern history of Armenia.


The Karabakh movement began with the official decision of the Nagorno-Karabakh Regional Council on February 20, to which the Armenian people responded with mass demonstrations. Initially, they were led by Zori Balayan and Igor Muradyan, around whom Vano Siradeghyan, Ashot Manucharyan, Hambardzum Galstyan, Alexan Hakobyan, Vazgen Manukyan, Samvel Gevorgyan and Samson Ghazaryan were gradually included as members of the first “Karabakh Committee”. And Rafael Ghazaryan, Levon Ter-Petrosyan, Babken Ararktsyan and Davit Vardanyan were included in the committee in 1988. at the end of May. So much for historical truth.


And now let’s turn to the motives of Pashinyan’s statement. This comes from the lips of a man, during whose 8-year rule we had ten conflicts with Azerbaijan, including three armed conflicts, during which Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh suffered catastrophic losses and defeats.


1. 2020 The disastrous 44-day war, which took place after he rejected the pro-Armenian plan for the settlement of the Artsakh conflict, guaranteed by Russia, the US and France,


2. 2022 the September war, as a result of which we lost the sovereign territories of Armenia in Vardenis, Jermuk and Syunik, which was a consequence of the Pashinyan policy of rejecting the plan proposed by the announcement of November 9, 2020,


3. 2023 the war that took place as a result of Pashinyan’s recognition of Nagorno Karabakh as the territory of Azerbaijan and ended with the genocide committed against the people of Artsakh – deportation.


The loss of Artsakh and the catastrophic weakening of Armenian statehood are the main results of Nikol Pashinyan’s rule. Pashinyan understands very well the crime he has committed against the Armenian people and makes pitiful efforts to avoid responsibility before the Armenian people and history.


In fact, the movement of 1988 was aimed at protecting the lives and basic human rights of the people of Nagorno Karabakh, and from the beginning it had a non-violent, constitutional and legal character. When Azerbaijan responded with military aggression, self-defense was organized in Nagorno-Karabakh, thanks to which the safety and freedom of the population of Nagorno-Karabakh was ensured.


The Nagorno-Karabakh problem could be solved peacefully if the compromise settlement plan proposed by the international community was adopted. The biggest “adventure”, the misfortune, was not doing it. Nikol Pashinyan is the main actor of that misfortune that dealt catastrophic blows to the Armenian people and their statehood. Today, in order to avoid responsibility and maintain power, he is trying to assume the disgusting role of a party leader who ensures the direct administration of Azerbaijan in Armenia. The “peace” brought by Pashinyan is the dependence on Aliyev and Erdogan. Nothing else.


The Armenian National Congress is in favor of the process of normalization and reconciliation of relations with Azerbaijan and Turkey, and unlike Nikol Pashinyan, it has always taken this position, but categorically rejects any attempt to limit Armenia’s sovereignty and interfere in our internal affairs.


Pashinyan is today the main threat to Armenian statehood and sovereignty, whom the Armenian people will have a historic opportunity to remove in the National Assembly elections on June 7,” the statement said.

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Rainwater flooded the street in Kapan

Emil Lazarian

Rainwater flooded the street in Kapan. A video was published on the Facebook page of Syunik region.


Earlier we informed that as a result of heavy rains, rockfalls and other obstacles appeared on the roads of Syunik region. Syunik Marz Governor Robert Ghukasyan urged to stay away from riverside areas.


To remind, yesterday, the Hydrometeorology and Monitoring Center informed that due to the entry of an active cyclone from the south, on March 27-28 precipitation is expected in most regions from time to time, wet snow in the mountain zones, rain in the form of rain in the foothills and valley zones, accompanied by low horizontal visibility and strengthening of the wind at a speed of 14-17 m/s in some regions.


Rainfall will be intense on March 27 in Syunik and in separate parts of Vayots Dzor, on March 27-28 in Lori and Tavush.


Due to the expected precipitation, on March 27-28, an increase in water output is expected in the rivers of the republic, significantly in the basins of the Voghji, Gorisget, Meghriget, Arpa, Debed and Aghstev rivers.

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