Economy Minister Gevorg Papoyan “does not see any problem” with “Jermuk”.
“It’s normal, have we resolved such issues? I don’t see a political context, all issues will be resolved. I don’t see any problem with “Jermuk”, there is no quality issue”, the minister said in a conversation with journalists today.
Let’s remind that Russia blocked the sale of more than 1 million bottles of “Jermuk” mineral water.
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Wildberries marketplace has stopped sales of Armenian trading companies. This was stated by individual entrepreneur Shushan Mkrtchyan in a conversation with Sputnik Armenia.
Earlier, Mkrtchyan wrote about the problem on social networks, noting that the sales from Armenia were stopped without any reason, in a few hours. Due to the problem, many sellers found themselves in an uncertain situation.
“Wildberries marketplace started closing the products of Armenian sellers little by little since yesterday morning. Sellers started writing about this in the Telegram group, where there are 2500 entrepreneurs. Yesterday evening, the products of all Armenian sole traders and LLC owners were closed in Wildberries,” said Mkrtchyan in a conversation with Sputnik Armenia.
He emphasized that it turns out that an important export marketplace for Armenian business was closed, and sales volumes will be greatly reduced.
“Especially for small businesses, the marketplace was not only a way to sell, but also an effective tool to generate cash flows and increase brand awareness in EAEU countries. In this situation, it is more important than ever that the state stands by small businesses. After all, it is small businesses that shape the big businesses of the future,” Mkrtchyan said.
According to him, they hope that the problem will be clarified at the state level.
It should be noted that neither Wildberries nor the relevant authorities of RA have yet given any official comment and have not confirmed the existence of the problem.
Let’s remind: Armenian trading companies increased their sales volume by 122% in Wildberries marketplace in 2025.
The number of sellers from Armenia in the Wildberries marketplace increased by 106% during the year.
HG. The material was already ready when Shushan Mkrtchyan announced on the social network that OZON has also stopped the sales of Armenian commercial companies.
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As part of a series of events marking the 50th anniversary of the St. Mary’s Church in Glendale, a Golden Jubilee concert was held on April 19 at the church, presided over Western Prelate Archbishop Kegham Khacherian.
The concert was sponsored by Western Prelacy benefactor Meher Der Ohanessian and his children, in memory of their beloved wife and mother, the late Satik Der Ohanessian. The concert was organized by the church leadership under the direction of St. Mary’s Church Dean Very Reverend Zareh Sarkissian.
In attendance were former Western Prelates Archbishops Moushegh Mardirossian and Torkom Donoyan; members of the clergy, Consul General of the Republic of Armenia Anna Avetisyan; Western Prelacy Executive Council Chairman Vahe Hovaguimian and his wife Hasmig; members of the Executive Council; the sponsoring benefactor Mr. Mher Der Ohanessian and his family; representatives of community organizations; benefactors of the Western Prelacy; and a large audience of performing arts enthusiasts.
True to its name, the Golden Jubilee concert stood out for its elegance and musical diversity, under the artistic direction of Honored Artist of Armenia, tenor Berdj Kirazian. The evening featured a talented ensemble of professional singers and musicians who presented solo, duet, and choral performances of Armenian and international classical pieces, accompanied by pianists Armine Derderian and Hripsime Rshdouni.
The nearly two-hour program unfolded as a rich and artistic musical experience, opening with a moving choral prayer that included Magar Yegmalian’s “Amen, Holy Father” and Berberian’s “Christ is Among Us.” The program continued with folk and national songs by Gomidas, Parsegh Ganachian’s “Lullaby,” and selections from renowned international composers. The final segment of the concert returned to Armenian composers, Tigran Harutyunyan, Khachatour Avetisyan, Armen Tigranian, Gomidas, Ganachian, Aram Khachatourian, and Arsen Petrosyan, concluding with Hovhannisyan’s “Yerevan–Erebuni.”
A special highlight of the evening was the appearance of Armenia’s distinguished pianist and educator Svetlana Navasardyan, whose performances of Armenian works were met with warm and enthusiastic applause. The audience also enjoyed performances by young student singers who took the stage individually to present Armenian and international selections.
From the opening prayer to the final national choral piece, the concert held the full attention of nearly 1,000 attendees, who experienced both spiritual and artistic fulfillment and showed their appreciation for a thoughtfully and beautifully organized celebration of the 50th anniversary of St. Mary’s Armenian Apostolic Church.
In his closing remarks, the Prelate praised the meticulous planning, presentation, and overall quality of the performances.
Archbishop Khacherian also praised the director of the concert and all participants, including the students, professional singers, and pianists, with special recognition given to Navasardyan.
The Prelate reserved his highest praise for the faithful congregation of St. Mary’s Armenian Apostolic Church, noting that their faith, devotion, and presence continue to sustain and strengthen the church.
The Prelate concluded by encouraging the largest church of the Western Prelacy to continue its 50-year journey in the same spirit, expressing his hope that, through unity, faith, and collective effort, the leadership and faithful of the Armenian community will continue to build upon and enrich the Western Prelacy’s proud legacy in the years ahead.
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May 1, 2026
On May 1, the International Day of Labor and Workers, “Wings of Unity” presents the part of the pre-election campaign brochure aimed at protecting the working person and building a job-creating economy.
JUSTICE IS COMING TO PROTECT WORKING PEOPLE AND BUILD A STRONG ECONOMY
We will raise the minimum wage and pensions to ensure a decent life.
In case of job loss, we will provide temporary income compensation for a period of up to 6 months.
We will create training centers, providing access to more than 10,000 citizens in high-income sectors.
We will provide uncultivated land and abandoned buildings to those submitting development plans.
We will turn Armenia into a manufacturing and technological country with industrial zones, where there will be an almost zero tax system and simple administration.
We will introduce a new tax system. before its launch, we will restore the tax regime in effect until January 1, 2025.
We will eliminate sales tax and VAT, introducing a simple 5% tax instead.
We will eliminate the unfair approach of equal taxation. little income will be taxed less, more income – more.
Citizens will be able to buy business shares, the stock market will be accessible to everyone.
We will invest digital dram, ensuring transparency and control of state finances.
We will create centers for procurement of agricultural products and agroconsultation.
The payment for irrigation water, except for production and business purposes, should be AMD 500 for half a hectare, AMD 1000 for 1 hectare, and so on.
We will provide access to foreign markets, branding of agricultural products and logistic support.
We will develop insurance, including compensating livestock loss and crop destruction.
We will provide free apartments in marzes to families with many children, starting with the fourth child.
Income tax for a large family will be calculated from the total income, reducing the amount of tax for each child.
We will restore the “Rural Teacher” program, providing up to 0% credit, start-up financing, and in the case of long-term employment, land or financial support, as well as deferment from military service.
We will encourage the teacher’s professional development. no teacher who does not pass the voluntary certification will lose his job.
Quality, continuous training and re-specialization programs will be introduced for doctors working in state health institutions.
A new salary system for medical workers and educators will be introduced. place of work (especially in marzes), riskiness, workload, etc. will be taken into account.
Medical workers and teachers will no longer be involved in administrative work. the doctor should treat, the teacher should teach.
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May 1, 2026
Russian political scientist Sergey Markedonov referred to the 8th and 1st Armenia-European Union summits of the European Political Community Platform to be held in Yerevan on May 4-5, and against that background, Vladimir Zelensky’s expected visit to Yerevan.
Markedonov wrote on his Telegram page “Vladimir Zelensky’s visit to Yerevan. a diplomatic impulse or just a procedural element of the summit?” writes that at first glance, the significance of Zelensky’s personal presence at those events should not be overestimated. with or without his participation, the ideological direction of the Yerevan forums is obvious.
The analyst reminds that last year, while summarizing the results of the EEC Summit in Copenhagen, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen stated: “It is clear to everyone that Russia is a threat not only to Ukraine, but also to the whole of Europe.”
Of course, according to him, the leaders of EU countries do not represent the whole world, but it is important for Russia to understand and convey the general atmosphere of this political “networking”.
“Nevertheless, if Zelensky really visits Armenia, the importance of that visit should not be underestimated. Firstly, after the collapse of the USSR, high-level Armenian-Ukrainian contacts were quite limited. Leonid Kuchma, the second president of Ukraine, visited Yerevan in May 1996 and October 2022. Viktor Yanukovych was also in Armenia, but as the head of the government, participating in the events dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the Spitak earthquake. The third president of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, visited Kiev three times (once to participate in the inauguration of Yanukovych, then on an official visit, and once again for the purpose of negotiations and watching the final match of Euro-2012). Basically, this is the whole picture. In the post-Soviet period, Ukraine became a strategic partner of Azerbaijan. Let’s add to that his marked departure from Moscow (recall that Kuchma’s book “Ukraine is not Russia” was published ten years before the “second Maidan”). However, today, Armenia, which after 1991, unlike Azerbaijan, chose the path of a strategic ally with Russia, is on the path of revising its foreign policy approaches. Markedonov notes, adding that complementary policies and diversification have always been among Yerevan’s priorities.
Markedonov reminds that the idea of complementarity was put into circulation during the presidency of Robert Kocharyan, and the “CEPA” agreement was signed by Serzh Sargsyan. However, according to Markedonov, there is a fundamental difference. at that time, other directions simply complemented the main Russian vector, not overshadowing it.
“Even in their worst dreams, Kocharyan or Sargsyan would not have thought of the formula ‘CSTO is a threat to Armenia’.” writes Markedonov.
Today, in his opinion, the RA authorities have other priorities.
“And although EU membership is not a real prospect for Yerevan (unlike Tbilisi, Armenia does not even have the status of a candidate country), the authorities are trying to get closer to Brussels, sometimes even ignoring the obvious economic advantages arising from the EAEU and cooperation with Russia.” In this context, Zelensky’s visit to Yerevan may become an important (and for some, risky) symbol of the new stage of Armenia’s foreign policy diversification. It can outline the future path of the country, in case of electoral success of the “Civil Pact”. It is not excluded that the situation reminds the lines of the famous song of the late 1980s: “you left your home shore, but you never reached the other”. After all, Ukraine did not become a full “European coast” in 2013-2026.․ In Brussels, it is seen more as a European border (frontier). However, unlike Armenia, Ukraine is at least geographically located in Europe. At the same time, by confronting Russia, Kiev is also trying to become active in the regions that are of particular importance for Moscow, in the Middle East and the South Caucasus.” writes Sergey Markedonov.
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Russia’s leading online retailers appear to have stopped sales of Armenian-made products, stoking speculation about Moscow’s retaliation against the Armenian government’s pro-Western foreign policy.
Some Armenian entrepreneurs using the Wilberries and Ozon online marketplaces were the first to report the disruption on Friday morning. Both Russian firms implicitly confirmed it later in the day, citing new customs rules and procedures introduced in Russia late last month. They also said they continue selling goods already imported from Armenia and stored in their Russian warehouses.
“In order to comply with the new requirements, additional documents necessary within the updated procedures have been requested from sellers,” Wilberries said in a statement.
The company said its representatives in Armenian have met with over 50 local exporters to discuss “possible solutions” to the problem.
Armenia last year exported almost $3 billion worth of goods to Russia, its leading trading partner. It is not known what percentage of them was sold through Wildberries and Ozon.
Earlier this week, Russian authorities suspended on sanitary grounds sales of Armenia’s most famous brand of mineral water. Officials in Moscow said more than 1.3 million bottles of the water produced by Armenia’s Jermuk Group will be taken off the Russian market pending an ongoing inspection of its quality.
Jermuk Group has still not commented on the ban that came about one month after Russian President Vladimir Putin’s stern warnings to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian issued during their most recent meeting at the Kremlin. Putin indicated, in particular, that Armenia will lose its tariff-free access to the Russian market and a significant discount on the price of Russian natural gas if Pashinian’s government keeps seeking membership of the European Union.
Pashinian downplayed the ban on Jermuk on Thursday, saying that “such issues arise and are resolved from time to time.” His economy minister, Gevorg Papoyan, likewise insisted on Friday that it is not politically motivated.
“I have no doubts that the Jermuk problem will be solved and we will continue exporting millions of bottles of Jermuk,” he told reporters.
Papoyan seemed more concerned when he commented on the actions of the Russian e-commerce leaders a few hours later. He blamed two unnamed Armenian opposition groups for the suspension of the online sales of Armenian goods in Russia.
“You have achieved this after spending months writing reports against Armenia to officials of other countries; we will solve the issue soon,” Papoyan wrote on Facebook. “Those who write false denunciations about Armenia and Armenian producers in foreign countries have no place in the political life of Armenia.”
The minister offered no proof of his allegation or elaborate on it otherwise.
Putin also warned Pashinian on April 1 against disqualifying pro-Russian opposition groups or politicians from running in Armenia’s upcoming parliamentary elections. The Armenian authorities raised opposition fears of such bans late last year after implicitly alleging Russian “hybrid” threats to the integrity of the electoral process and asking the EU to send a special mission to Yerevan for the June 7 vote.
A similar EU mission was deployed in Moldova ahead of parliamentary elections held there last September. Two Moldovan opposition parties deemed pro-Russian were disqualified from the vote won by the former Soviet republic’s pro-Western leadership.
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The Armenian government offered billionaire and opposition leader Samvel Karapetian to give up ownership of the national electric utility practically for free before pressing ahead with its controversial nationalization, according to a document obtained by RFE/RL’s Armenian Service.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian called for the nationalization of the Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA) operator last June just hours after Karapetian was arrested on charges stemming from his strong criticism of Pashinian’s crackdown on the Armenian Apostolic Church.
Karapetian was also charged with tax evasion, fraud and money laundering following his subsequent decision to set up his own political group. It is now expected to be the main opposition contender in Armenia’s June 7 parliamentary elections. The tycoon, who was moved to house arrest in late December, rejects all the accusations as politically motivated.
The government forcibly took over ENA’s management in July, accusing its parent company owned by Karapetian’s Moscow-based business conglomerate, Tashir Group, of mismanaging the power distribution network. Tashir rejected the accusations before appealing to the Arbitration Institute of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce (SCC).
Armenia’s Public Services Regulatory Commission (PSRC), a body headed by a political ally of Pashinian, formally revoked Tashir’s operating license on November 17. The decision meant that ENA can be nationalized if the two sides fail to agree within the next three months on its sale to another investor.
The government has still not disclosed the price of ENA set by it in a formal proposal submitted to Tashir on February 17. A copy of the proposal obtained by RFE/RL’s Armenian Service shows that it valued the utility employing thousands of people at just 23.3 billion drams ($62 million). What is more, payment of that sum was conditional on Karapetian and his family returning about 23.2 billion drams in dividends from ENA profits paid to them over the past decade.
The proposed deal would leave the tycoon with a net gain of 142 million drams ($380,000). The Forbes magazine estimates his fortune at over $4 billion.
“I don’t know how on earth the company was valued at 23 billion drams,” said Davit Ghazinian, ENA’s former chief executive close to Karapetian. “I presume that was done by a local appraisal company under government pressure.”
Tashir has used its ENA shares as collateral to receive at least $125 million in loans from international development banks. This suggests that those banks had a much higher estimate of the utility’s market value than the Armenian has now.
Under Armenian law, Tashir has three months to formally reply to the government proposal. Citing this provision, Armenia’s Administrative Court banned the government recently from nationalizing ENA before May 25.
Pashinian’s government will have to compensate Tashir even in the likely event of the nationalization which Karapetian’s group will almost certainly challenge in court. Tashir is already seeking $500 million in damages for what it calls an illegal “expropriation” of Karapetian’s biggest asset in Armenia.
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New Delhi, May 1 (IANS) Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Upendra Dwivedi held a meeting with Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Armenia, Lieutenant General Edvard Asryan in New Delhi on Friday, with talks focused on the current geostrategic situation, strengthening defence cooperation, expanding military engagement and advancing collaboration between two nations in areas of mutual interest.
“Lieutenant General Edvard Asryan, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia, called on General Upendra Dwivedi, COAS. The interaction focused on the current geostrategic situation, strengthening India-Armenia Defence Cooperation, expanding military engagement and advancing collaboration in areas of mutual interest,” Indian Army’s Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADGPI) stated on X.
Currently on an official visit to India, Lieutenant General Asryan had called on Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh in the capital earlier, discussing issues related to defence cooperation.
“During his official visit to India, First Deputy Minister of Defence of the Republic of Armenia, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Edvard Asryan met with the Defence Secretary of India Rajesh Kumar Singh,” Armenia’s Ministry of Defence posted on X.
“Issues related to Armenia-India cooperation in the defence sector were discussed,” it added.
On Tuesday, Lieutenant General Asryan held a meeting with Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal, A P Singh, with discussions focused on enhancing operational cooperation, interoperability and strengthening bilateral air power ties.
“Lt Gen Edvard Asryan, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Armenia on an official visit to India, called on Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, Chief of the Air Staff, Indian Air Force. Discussions focused on enhancing operational cooperation, interoperability and strengthening bilateral air power ties,” Indian Air Force – Media Co-ordination Centre posted on X.
According to the statement released by Armenia’s Ministry of Defence, the two officials discussed issues related to bilateral cooperation in the defence sector.
Lieutenant General Edvard Asryan also met Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan and discussed ways to have joint ventures in the development of military hardware.
“General Anil Chauhan CDS held discussions with Lt General Edvard Asryan, Chief of the General Staff of Armenia, during his official visit to India. The General officer was received by the CDS and was accorded a Guard of Honour,” Headquarters of Integrated Defence Staff posted on X.
“The engagement reflected the steady advancement of India-Armenia Defence Relations. Both sides also explored avenues for joint ventures in the development of military hardware, reaffirming their shared commitment to a robust, future-oriented and mutually beneficial strategic partnership,” it added.
–IANS
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How Fowler’s Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day event came together
by: Jason Takhtadjian
What started as a private community effort grew into something much larger. On April 26, the power of the community came together to recognize Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day.
The goal was to make sure the story that has long been part of Fowler was finally told. Educational displays, cultural artifacts, and historical exhibits were all aimed at sharing Armenian heritage with the community.
“Regular citizens of Fowler joining together with the Armenian community to make something really very beautiful,” Chairman of the Fowler Recreation Committee and member of the Armenian Genocide Commemorative Committee, Talene Kasparian-Cleveland, said.
Organizers said the event also became a revelation, even for members of the Armenian community who said they learned new details about their own history.
“I had no idea that between 1918 and 1920, the population of Fowler was 1,500 and there were 1,000 Armenians here,” Kasparian-Cleveland said.
That history stems from early Armenian immigrants who arrived in the US through cities like New York and Chicago before moving to the Central Valley to build new lives through agriculture.
“I felt the need immediately for people to be educated,” First Lady of Fowler Stephanie Mejia said.
The idea didn’t come from City Hall.
“A non-Armenian was very interested in putting together an Armenian genocide recognition event,” Kasparian-Cleveland said.
Groups of private citizens, along with the Mayor and First Lady, said simple conversations turned into action.
“We went out to dinner… and Steph has the idea of what if we brought the remembrance or did an event for the genocide remembrance in Fowler,” Fowler Mayor Juan Mejia said.
From libraries to local church members and volunteers, the entire event came together in just about seven weeks. Now, plans are underway for a permanent genocide monument.
“We are working to try and secure the location. We do have an artist that we have been working with, Michael Aram,” Kasparian-Cleveland said.
Because the goal isn’t just remembrance, but to ensure Armenian history and culture remain part of Fowler’s future.
“In fact, there are many who have denied that it ever happened, which is obviously untrue. Fowler wasn’t about to be part of that message,” Stephanie Mejia said.
If you want to help bring an Armenian Genocide Monument to Fowler, click here, and here.
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