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

Armenia moves ahead with municipal consolidation reforms

Emil Lazarian
Armenia11:35, 17 June 2026
Read the article in: Armenian:

Armenia is set to continue its territorial administration reform with a new round of municipal consolidation, under which the number of communities will be reduced from 70 to 64, aiming to strengthen local governance and manage resources more effectively.

Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Davit Khudatyan briefed lawmakers on proposed amendments to the Law on the Administrative-Territorial Division.

The minister said the bill proposes continuing the process of community consolidation in three provinces: Lori, Syunik, and Vayots Dzor.

“In Lori Province, it is proposed to form the consolidated community of Stepanavan, which will include the current communities of Stepanavan, Gyulagarak, and Lori Berd, with a total of 20 settlements included in their composition,” Khudatyan said.

In Syunik, it is proposed to form the consolidated community of Goris, consisting of the current Goris, Tegh, and Tatev communities. The newly formed community will include a total of 28 settlements.

In Vayots Dzor, it is planned to form the consolidated community of Yeghegnadzor, which will include the communities of Yeghegnadzor, Areni, and Yeghegis, with a total of 32 settlements.

For the mentioned communities, this is already the second phase of consolidation, as previously consolidated communities are being merged into even larger units.

The minister said that as a result of the previous seven phases of administrative-territorial reforms, the number of communities in Armenia has been reduced to 70, of which 63 are consolidated communities.

“The capital Yerevan, Gyumri, and five communities populated by national minorities have not been merged. As a result of the implementation of the 8th phase of community consolidation, the number of communities will become 64, of which 57 will be consolidated communities,” the minister noted.

The draft also clarifies the procedure for scheduling council elections in merging communities and the transfer of powers of local self-government bodies. According to this regulation, on the 5th day after the publication of election results, the powers of the current local self-government bodies will cease, and on the same day the new council will assume its powers.

Khudatyan highlighted that the community consolidation process is not merely a mechanical merger.

“It is first and foremost a consolidation of professional and financial potential, with the aim of addressing larger issues in larger community units,” said the Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure.

He said that evidence of the effectiveness of this approach includes tens of billions of drams worth of programs implemented through government–community co-financing, which have significantly changed the landscape of communities.

Khudatyan said the proposed round will not be the final stage in the process.

“After some time, we will again come forward with new community consolidations and present them to the parliament, with the expectation of your approval,” the minister said.

Read the article in: Armenian:

Published by Armenpress, original at 
—

What Does Pashinyan’s Parliamentary Victory Mean for Armenia’s Future?

Emil Lazarian

What Does Pashinyan’s Parliamentary Victory Mean for Armenia’s Future?

Pashinyan’s pro-European party has been re-elected with a decisive victory. But the pro-Russian opposition could still slow Armenia’s progress toward peace with Azerbaijan and rapprochement with Europe.

By Mikayel Zolyan
Published on Jun 16, 2026


The solid victory of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s Civil Contract party in Armenia’s recent parliamentary elections has left observers with many questions. How did Pashinyan manage to win again after Armenia’s crushing defeat in the war with Azerbaijan and the loss of Nagorno-Karabakh, which caused deep disappointment and polarization in Armenian society? And why did the Kremlin’s political machinations, which intimidate even advanced democracies, fail to work in a country with nascent institutions, where Moscow retains powerful levers of influence?

According to the election results, Pashinyan’s party won a convincing 49.7 percent of the vote, with its share reaching as high as 60 percent in rural areas. Strong Armenia, led by the pro-Russian oligarch Samvel Karapetyan (23.3 percent), and the Armenia Alliance led by former president Robert Kocharyan (9.9 percent) also cleared the 4 percent threshold for parliamentary representation. 

What’s striking about the results is that the pro-European party gained more votes in the provinces, while pro-Russian nationalists performed better in large cities. This paradox might have been due to Armenians with dual Russian citizenship visiting to vote for Karapetyan (voter turnout was a full 10 percent higher than usual), but there are other persuasive explanations.

One is that a pro-Pashinyan “silent majority” has formed in regions that benefited from infrastructure projects after the 2018 Velvet Revolution and border villages grateful for the winding down of the armed conflict with Azerbaijan. The silent majority was willing to do anything to prevent the pre-revolutionary “old guard” and their pro-Russian networks from returning to power. Joined by supporters of EU integration and those annoyed by Kremlin interference, they made waves in the parliamentary election.

In large cities, on the other hand, a vocal segment of the Armenian middle class and intelligentsia— who one might think would be EU integration’s biggest supporters—remain unable to forgive Pashinyan for the loss of Karabakh and for abandoning the pursuit of international recognition of the Armenian genocide.

Most likely, Moscow’s threats of a trade war and import bans on Armenian products were meant to scare the silent majority away from supporting Pashinyan. However, the measures appear to have backfired. Armenian society cannot forgive Russia—its official Collective Security Treaty Organization ally—for abandoning Armenia just when it most needed its assistance during the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War with Azerbaijan in 2020, which ended in Armenia’s defeat and the subsequent flight of ethnic Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh. Indeed, Russian officials’ justification for the import ban (“phytosanitary standards”) seemed so mocking that it spurred even some of Pashinyan’s critics to vote for him.

Nevertheless, pro-Russian parties hardly performed poorly. They owe their parliamentary gains to the segment of Armenian society that’s still willing to believe Moscow and blames Pashinyan for the loss of Karabakh.

Support from the West also helped counter Russian pressure. For all their disagreements, Washington and Brussels are on the same page with regard to Armenia. In a Truth Social post, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed support for Pashinyan and called for “Making Armenia Great Again.” A few days before the election, Secretary of State Marco Rubio flew to Yerevan and, without leaving the airport, signed several agreements with his Armenian counterpart regarding the implementation of the TRIPP transit route and rare earth metals.

The Europeans offered even greater support. The May summit of the European Political Community in Yerevan was unprecedented in terms of the number of high-ranking guests. Nor was it all for show. The EU allocated grants to Armenia for various EU integration programs, sent a “partnership mission” to counter hybrid threats, provided financial assistance, and temporarily opened its market to Armenian products barred from Russian markets.

The neutrality of Armenia’s neighbors also alleviated some of the pressure. Despite their ties to Moscow and strained relations with the West, Georgia and Iran reacted calmly to Pashinyan’s victory.

There were greater concerns over Azerbaijan and Turkey. Armenians’ distrust of these countries risks undermining Pashinyan’s biggest projects: the peace agenda and open borders. Many in Armenia do not believe long-term peace with Azerbaijan and Turkey is possible and view these neighbors as an existential threat—a sentiment that the pro-Russian opposition actively exploited. Armenia’s pre-election infospace was haunted by the claim that if Pashinyan won, 300,000 Azerbaijanis would move to Armenia—despite the 2025 Washington Agreement having settled the issue of returning Azerbaijanis.

Under such circumstances, any actions or even statements from Baku or Ankara that could be interpreted as confirming the fears of Armenian society could have brought Pashinyan’s approval ratings crashing down. This is precisely why Azerbaijan and Turkey’s “benevolent neutrality” proved so important.

True, at the beginning of the year, many in Yerevan expected more from both Baku and, especially, Ankara. Some hoped that the Armenian–Turkish border would be opened to third-country nationals before the elections, a move that has been discussed for several years. However, Ankara decided to follow Azerbaijan’s lead, and Baku preferred to wait until the election results were in.

At the very least, both countries refrained from aggressive rhetoric. Various cargoes continued to flow into Armenia via Azerbaijani territory, and Ankara allowed Armenia to use the Gyumri–Akhalqalaki–Kars railway, essentially linking the country to Europe by rail. The conflict persists, in some ways: The destruction of the Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God in Nagorno-Karabakh in late April is proof. However, the situation as a whole remains stable.

The road ahead remains rocky for Pashinyan. He secured the silent majority’s support but lost part of the middle class, while his political enemies are emboldened. The pro-Russian opposition, with its new seats in parliament, is bound to create problems for Pashinyan. His personal feud with Kocharyan and his equally toxic rivalry with Karapetyan will add fuel to the fire.

Pashinyan’s victory was decisive, but not a landslide. It’s enough to form a single-party government and pass laws independently, but not enough to secure a constitutional majority—which could cause problems in the peace process with Azerbaijan. Baku is currently insisting that before a peace treaty can be signed, Armenia must amend its constitution to remove indirect references to Nargorno-Karabakh: something that would require a referendum. It’s also possible that the parties will find other ways to make progress—like signing but not ratifying a treaty or opening Armenia’s borders without one.

The pro-Russian opposition won’t be able to halt the peace process, but it could slow down Armenia’s rapprochement with the EU. Its strong showing in the parliamentary election could also give Moscow the impression that Pashinyan is less secure than he seems, motivating it to ramp up hybrid pressure on Yerevan.

Still, Armenia’s rapprochement with the West will persist—as will the cycle of tension and normalization in its relations with Russia. Pashinyan has already announced an upcoming visit to Moscow, while Russia has banned even more Armenian imports. Yet increasing the pressure too far now that the election is over could backfire for Russia, jeopardizing its remaining assets in Armenia, from companies such as Gazprom Armenia and South Caucasus Railways to the military base at Gyumri.


About the Author

Mikayel Zolyan
p]:text-bodyDisplaySmall gmail-payload-richtext” st1yle=”box-sizing:border-box;border:0px solid rgb(229,231,235);font-family:”GT Sectra Book”,ui-serif,Georgia,Cambria,”Times New Roman”,Times,serif;margin-top:16px;margin-bottom:0px”>

Former member of Armenian Parliament



    —

    A number of violations have been reported in the process of acquiring the “Araratcement” sanatorium

    Emil Lazarian

    The Prosecutor’s Office also discovered a number of violations in the process of acquiring the “Golden Key” sanatorium owned by “Araratcement” company. RA General Prosecutor’s Office informs about it.


    In particular, by the decision of January 9, 2003, the Head of the Government allowed the RA Minister of State Property Management to sell the “Golden Key” sanatorium (sanitary) at 5 Shahumyan St., Ararat city, at a cost of 44 million 390 thousand drams, setting the minimum price at 6 million 500 thousand drams.


    “Araratcement” PB company was recognized as the winner of the announced competition. According to the contract signed on August 15, 2003, the company undertook to make an investment of 30 thousand US dollars within two years from the moment of signing the contract, as well as to create 30 jobs during the same period.


    The company subsequently submitted false documents purporting to have fulfilled the above obligations.


    After that, the head of the State Property Management Department under the Government of the Republic of Armenia did not check the fulfillment of the obligations stipulated in the contract, he considered them fulfilled, as a result of which the Republic of Armenia suffered a property damage of 44 million 390 thousand drams.


    On June 10, 2004, the competent official of the RA Cadastre Committee, based on non-relevant decisions, registered the ownership right of the “Araratcement” PB company over the sanatorium building and buildings with an area of ​​1,468.70 square meters, and the lease right over the land plot with an area of ​​3,165 ha encumbered by them.


    The prosecutor, in the framework of exercising his powers of protection of state interests, having discovered features of an apparent crime, submitted a report on the crime to the Anti-Corruption Committee on June 15, 2026.


    At the same time, based on the violations found in the process of expropriation, the Prosecutor’s Office submitted a claim to the Administrative Court to annul the state registration of property rights made in the name of “Araratcement” PB company to the “Golden Key” sanatorium in Ararat city.


    Let’s remind that the General Prosecutor’s Office also discovered a number of violations in the process of privatization of “Araratcement” company and acquisition of plots of land of “Araratcement” company.


    On May 5, 2026, the General Prosecutor’s Office addressed a letter to the Government of the Republic of Armenia, proposing to discuss the appropriateness of implementing proper administration in order to eliminate the existing violations in the company and their consequences, including, for example, appointing a temporary manager in the company.


    Investigations of the Prosecutor’s Office are in progress in order to find out the legality of acquisition of other properties owned by “Araratcement” PB company.

    —

    Trump considers the current leadership of Iran to be smart

    Emil Lazarian

     


    US President Donald Trump has stated that he considers the current leadership of Iran to be intelligent and emphasized that it is pleasant to do business with its representatives.


    “Now we are dealing with people whom I consider very reasonable and with whom it is pleasant to work. They are strong and intelligent people,” Trump said during a meeting with Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Their conversation with the press was broadcast on the White House website.


    According to the American leader, the current representatives of Tehran are less radical than their predecessors and strive to be useful to their country.

    —

    168: Is the return of Iran a global game? How will the US-Iran deal be affected?

    Emil Lazarian

    June: 16, 2026

    US President Donald Trump has announced that Washington and Tehran have reached a framework agreement that will stop hostilities in the Middle East, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and lift the US blockade of Iranian ports.

    “The agreement with the Islamic Republic of Iran is ready,” Trump wrote on his social network page, continuing in the next post that “this magnificent agreement will bring peace and security to the entire region.” Iran’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Kazem Gharibabdi confirmed the information about the agreement early in the morning, detailing that “an immediate and permanent cease-fire is declared on all fronts of the war, including Lebanon.” Iran’s Mehr agency has published the draft memorandum of understanding between Iran and the US, which consists of 14 points and refers to regional security, economic cooperation and the regulation of bilateral relations.

    According to the document, the parties plan to immediately and permanently stop hostilities on all fronts, including in Lebanon. At the same time, the US undertakes not to interfere in Iran’s internal affairs and to respect the sovereignty of the Islamic Republic. The memorandum envisages the complete lifting of the naval blockade against Iran within 30 days, as well as the withdrawal of American troops from the regions close to Iran’s borders. The document also provides for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the suspension of restrictions on the sale of Iranian oil. According to the draft, the US and its allies must present a program for the reconstruction of Iran’s infrastructure, in the amount of 300 billion dollars. In addition, a 60-day negotiation process is planned in order to reach a final agreement.

    Iran, for its part, undertakes not to produce nuclear weapons. At the same time, the USA should not impose new sanctions during the negotiations and should not expand its military presence in the region. The document also states that Iran’s frozen assets of 24 billion dollars should be unblocked, a mechanism for monitoring the implementation of the agreement should be created, and the final agreement should be approved by the appropriate resolution of the UN Security Council. It said final talks would not begin until a number of preconditions were met, including the unblocking of at least half of Iran’s frozen assets, the suspension of oil sanctions and the lifting of the maritime blockade.

    Read also

    • Pain-relieving, but non-curative help. What reality does the European future of Armenia face?
    • The data processing center being built in Hrazdan could weaken Armenia’s energy system and become a threat to Iran
    • We have to prepare for the worst… we really have a war ahead of us. Avetik Kerobyan

    A high-ranking US official has denied the claims of the Iranian side that Tehran will receive billions of dollars in frozen funds before the start of negotiations on the final agreement, calling the formulation a “distortion of reality”. Speaking to Axios, the official denied reports that Iran would get unconditional access to $12 billion in blocked assets before the 60-day negotiation phase begins.

    “This is completely untrue,” the official said.

    “This is a pay-for-performance deal, and no frozen funds will be unfrozen until the Iranians fulfill their commitments.”

    Iranian officials, for their part, have said that final negotiations will begin only after key commitments are met, including the release of some frozen assets and the lifting of the naval blockade.

    The document has not been officially published, but the leaks show that both conflicting parties present the same draft document in accordance with their own political interests and audience. The actual text of the document (14 points) probably exists, but Iran emphasizes what the US is “obliged to do”, and the US emphasizes that Iran will receive all of this “only after fulfilling its demands”. However, international leaders are already welcoming the achievement of a framework agreement between the United States and Iran. London, Paris, Berlin and Rome expressed their willingness to ease some sanctions against Tehran in a joint statement.

    Other countries and centers also made statements. Against this background, however, Israel declares that Israel will not withdraw from southern Lebanon. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz noted. “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and I have a clear policy that the Israel Defense Forces will remain in the security zones of Lebanon, Syria and Gaza indefinitely to protect the borders and Israeli communities from jihadist elements.”

    The framework agreement to be signed between Washington and Tehran, despite the different interpretations at the moment, claims to change the logic of global politics. According to Donald Trump, this “great historical deal” not only lays the foundation for the new security architecture of the Middle East, but can directly affect the neighboring regions, particularly the South Caucasus. The quick reaction of major Western capitals – London, Paris, Berlin and Rome – and the willingness to ease sanctions show that the European superpowers have huge economic needs. The return of Iranian oil to the world market and the planned unblocking of transportation routes can significantly reduce the prices of energy carriers, giving a big boost to the world economy. However, according to experts, the weakest link of this agreement remains Israel’s tough position.

    Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz’s statement that their troops will not leave southern Lebanon, Gaza, and Syria indicates that the Washington-Tehran agreement is still not strong, and a complete regional consensus has not been achieved. Israel views the diplomatic game between Washington and Tehran as an existential threat to its security, which means that even if the document is signed in Geneva on June 19, the risk of renewed military clashes will remain extremely high. The possible recovery of US-Iran relations and the gradual lifting of sanctions also radically change the geo-economic map of the South Caucasus.

    Coming out of isolation, Iran, with its huge economic potential, will naturally look for stable and safe transit routes to Europe through Armenia. In this context, Iran may also be interested in the TRIPP project.

    All of this is directly related to Armenia, because the de-encirclement agenda around Armenia is in the stage of active discussions and agreements, and at this very stage, the stabilization of the situation around Tehran significantly increases the latter’s weight in the South Caucasus as well.

    The implementation of the US-Iran framework agreement will be a cornerstone for strengthening Tehran’s position, returning it from international isolation to influential global political and economic platforms, which will be especially visible due to the suspension of oil sanctions in the energy market and the legal legitimization of regional hubs.

    This global geopolitical transformation will be directly projected on the South Caucasus, where Tehran, freed from Western pressure, will pursue a much more decisive policy, preventing the establishment of absolute hegemony of the Turkish-Azerbaijani tandem in the region. For Armenia, the possible rise of Iran can create various opportunities. It is able, most importantly, to balance the influence of Turkey and Azerbaijan in the region, which will allow Yerevan to conduct a more independent foreign policy. At the same time, this is not only an economic opportunity for Armenia, but also a geopolitical challenge, as Azerbaijan, Turkey and Israel will try to advance their own agendas with even greater intensity against this background. Armenia’s success in this possible configuration around Iran will depend on the extent to which Yerevan will be able to use Iran’s emerging potential.

    —

    RFE/RL – Prosecutors Move To Indict Kocharian

    Emil Lazarian
    • Naira Bulghadarian
    June 16, 2026

    Armenia – Former President Robert Kocharian campaigns in Yerevan’s Erebuni district, May 24, 2026.

    Following Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian’s repeated pledges to have the leaders of Armenia’s main opposition groups imprisoned, prosecutors have asked the Central Election Commission (CEC) for permission to bring more criminal charges against former President Robert Kocharian.

    The Office of the Prosecutor-General declined to reveal the charges on Tuesday. It said that as part of the same criminal case it also asked the CEC to allow the indictment and arrest of two other men who ran in the June 7 parliamentary elections on the ticket of Kocharian’s Hayastan alliance.

    The CEC permission is necessary because the three oppositionists technically remain election candidates. It was not immediately clear when the commission dominated by government loyalists will discuss the prosecutors’ petitions. It has already allowed law-enforcement authorities to prosecute several other opposition candidates.

    On Sunday, Armenia’s National Security Service (NSS) did not allow Kocharian to leave the country as he was about to board a flight to Russia. The NSS and the prosecutors have still not given a reason for the travel condemned by Kocharian’s office as illegal.

    Kocharian is already standing trial for his role in a 2008 post-election unrest in Yerevan. The judge presiding over the trial has not banned him from traveling abroad. Kocharian’s spokesman Bagrat Mikoyan, said that the 71-year-old ex-president does not yet know any details of more charges “fabricated” against him.

    The prosecutors are not seeking an arrest warrant for Kocharian yet. As he wrapped up his election campaign in Yerevan on June 5, Pashinian announced that Kocharian will be arrested again “right after the elections.”

    On the campaign trail, the Armenian premier has also vowed to jail Samvel Karapetian and Gagik Tsarukian, wealthy businessmen leading the two other major opposition groups that challenged the ruling Civil Contract party in the elections. Amid growing opposition allegations of electoral fraud, Pashinian also reaffirmed late last week his pledges to “dispossess” the three top opposition leaders.

    “Bread must taste like candy to them so that it doesn’t occur to them to hand out vote bribes anymore,” he said. “This is our political agenda, and in this sense our revolution cannot be a velvet one anymore.”

    Critics say such statements only prove that law-enforcement authorities are acting on Pashinian’s illegal orders. Scores of opposition members and supporters have been arrested during the parliamentary race.

    —

    Pashinyan: Armenian voters gave legitimacy to peace with Azerbaijan

    Emil Lazarian
    Politics15:35, 16 June 2026
    Read the article in: FrançaisՀայերենRussian

    Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has stated that the peace achieved with Azerbaijan in 2025 gained legitimacy in 2026 through the choice and vote of the Armenian people in the parliamentary elections, which gave his party a majority in the next parliament.

    Pashinyan made the remarks in parliament during a hearing on the 2025 budget execution report.

    According to Pashinyan, 2025 saw the establishment of foundations that allow Armenia to move toward a new agenda — the agenda of building a state of a new quality.

    “I consider it significant that in 2025 we established the foundations that allow us to say that we can transition to a new agenda that we have formulated, including during the 2026 parliamentary elections, as an agenda for building a state of a new quality,” Pashinyan said.

    The prime minister highlighted the fact that in 2025 Armenia and Azerbaijan announced the completion of negotiations and the finalization of the draft agreement on peace and the establishment of interstate relations.

    This, he said, made possible the establishment of peace on August 8, 2025, in Washington, with the participation and initiative of U.S. President Donald Trump.

    “We must ultimately acknowledge that 2025 was the year when we fully recorded that we have peace, we have established peace, and, essentially, we have the end of the conflict between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan,” the prime minister noted.

    According to Pashinyan, the results of the 2026 parliamentary elections showed that the Armenian people reaffirmed their support for the peace agenda.

    “We must record that in 2026 this fact received legitimacy and was reaffirmed through the choice and vote made by the people of the Republic of Armenia. Through the results of the 2026 elections, the people of the Republic of Armenia stood by peace,” Pashinyan said.

    The prime minister said that 2025 could be considered the best year of revolutionary governance, while in the following years the government should strive to record the best year of post-revolutionary governance every year.

    Pashinyan also addressed the parameters of the 2026 state budget, saying they provide grounds for optimism regarding the overperformance of revenue targets.

    “The parameters of the 2026 state budget give us optimism that in 2026 we will significantly exceed our planned revenues. This is primarily connected with the economic indicators we recorded in 2025,” the prime minister said.

    Read the article in: FrançaisՀայերենRussian

    Published by Armenpress, original at 
    —

    Central Bank governor outlines possible consequences of restrictions on Armeni

    Emil Lazarian
    Economy15:47, 16 June 2026
    Read the article in: Armenian:

    Restrictions on exports of Armenian-made goods to Russia could have a deflationary impact of up to 0.6% if new markets for these products cannot be found, according to Central Bank Governor Martin Galstyan.

    Speaking at a press conference on June 16, Galstyan noted that, for example, a significant share of flowers produced in Armenia had been exported to Russia before the restrictions were introduced.

    “The scenarios are numerous. If we are unable to change markets, then, according to our estimates, the deflationary impact could reach up to 0.6%. Our goods will remain in Armenia, supply will increase, and as a result, we expect that we may see some deflationary effects, for example, in vegetables, mineral water, certain alcoholic beverages, as well as some stone fruits. If it is possible to change markets, then this impact will be milder.”

    According to Galstyan, maintaining the current situation could lead to a change of up to 2% in Armenia’s GDP.

    Ahead of the parliamentary elections held on June 7, Russia imposed restrictions and bans on the import of numerous Armenian goods, which remain in effect today. The move prompted exporters to look for new markets, including in the EU. The EU has since announced support measures. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, following a phone call with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, announced immediate financial assistance of more than €50 million, along with other support measures to facilitate trade, including measures to expand export opportunities for Armenian goods.

    Russia has cited phytosanitary violations as the reason for the ban, which has been widely viewed by the EU as “economic coercion.”

    Read the article in: Armenian:

    Published by Armenpress, original at 
    —

    Lavrov and Fidan discuss Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process

    Emil Lazarian
    Türkiye18:55, 16 June 2026
    Read the article in: English

    Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan discussed the situation in the South Caucasus and the ongoing peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan during talks in Moscow. According to a statement by the Turkish foreign minister, the issue was among the key topics addressed during the meeting. “We discussed in detail the situation in the South Caucasus and the ongoing peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia. This is a very important aspect for peace in the region,” Fidan said at a joint press conference with Lavrov.

    Read the article in: English

    Published by Armenpress, original at 
    —

    Pashinyan’s wife to participate in Fourth Annual Global First Partners Academ

    Emil Lazarian
    Armenia15:37, 15 June 2026
    Read the article in: SpanishFrançaisՀայերենTürkçe

    Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s wife, Anna Hakobyan, will participate in the Fourth Annual Global First Partners Academy, taking place in New York City from June 26 to July 4, 2026.

    The prime minister’s decree authorizing the trip was published online on Monday.

    Read the article in: SpanishFrançaisՀայերենTürkçe

    Published by Armenpress, original at 
    —