Author: Emil Lazarian

The cause of a mass gastrointestinal illness reported last week in a small Armenian town has been linked to contaminated drinking water and the detection of multiple pathogens, including rotavirus, adenovirus, and pathogenic Escherichia coli (E. coli) strains, according to healthcare authorities.

Last week, at least 300 people, all with similar gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and fever, sought medical treatment in Byureghavan, a town of roughly 10,000 residents some 16 km northeast of Yerevan. Authorities launched an investigation but indicated that the cause was likely a tap water issue.

The suspicion was confirmed on April 28.

Armenia’s National Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported on April 28 that testing of drinking water in Byureghavan has revealed deviations, including the presence of coliform bacteria.

Biological sample analyses have also detected rotavirus, adenovirus, as well as pathogenic strains of Escherichia coli (E. coli), including enterohemorrhagic (EHEC) and enteropathogenic (EPEC) types.

Authorities said appropriate measures have been taken and that relevant bodies have been notified.

“The situation is currently under control; no active spread of the outbreak has been recorded, and epidemiological data indicate that the process is subsiding. The condition of patients who sought medical care, both outpatient and inpatient, is satisfactory, and no new cases have been registered,” the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention said in a statement.

Armenian food safety authorities have reacted to reports regarding the temporary suspension of Jermuk mineral water sales in Russia, saying they have not received any official notification from their Russian counterparts.

The Food Safety Inspection Agency of Armenia, responding to media reports that Russia has suspended the sale of an imported batch of the Armenian bottled water pending inspections, said in a statement that it is taking measures to clarify the situation.

“The Food Safety Inspection Agency of Armenia has not yet received any official information—such as a written notice—regarding the matter in question from the relevant Russian authorities, including either Rospotrebnadzor or Rosselkhoznadzor (the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance of the Russian Federation).

Measures are being taken to clarify the situation and take appropriate action.

Russian authorities have suspended the sale of a batch of Armenian “Jermuk” carbonated mineral water in the country while inspections are carried out. According to the Russian RBC media outlet, around 338,000 bottles are affected.

The decision was made following a warning from Russia’s consumer safety watchdog (Rospotrebnadzor), which cited the need to prevent possible risks to consumer health and safety. The agency pointed to alleged “violations of mandatory requirements” as the reason for the suspension.

The ban applies to products manufactured between February 17, 2026, and March 2026.

There was no public comment from Jermuk Group immediately available.

Authorities have denied as “fabricated” a report by a local media outlet claiming that Armenia intends to hand over a village in the country’s north to Georgia during the delimitation process.

The delimitation process of the Armenia–Georgia international border has not been formally concluded, although Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has previously said the process would soon be finalized.

The report claimed that the village of Jiliza in Armenia’s Lori Province would be handed over to Georgia during the process.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s spokesperson, Nazeli Baghdasaryan, denied the claim as fake news.

“Some media outlets have circulated ‘information’ claiming that, within the framework of the delimitation process, an agreement has allegedly been reached under which Armenia would transfer the village of Jiliza in the Alaverdi Municipality.

Any statement, idea, or ‘information’ about the intention, plan, or agreement to transfer any part of the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia to another country cannot correspond to reality by its very nature.

Therefore, as before, we deny, are denying, and will continue to deny any such publications, both now and in the future, due to their fabricated nature,” Baghdasaryan said on social media. 

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on Tuesday that science is a key part of Armenia’s development strategy and should be closely integrated with education and the economy. He said that the scientific community should have greater participation and presence in policy-making processes.

Speaking at the “Armenian Science in the Global Research Landscape: Competitiveness, Scientific Excellence, and the Realization of Scientific Output in the Economy” roundtable organized by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), he emphasized that science is not something his administration merely “supports,” but an essential part of state policy and national progress, especially for economic growth.

Pashinyan thanked the NAS for organizing the discussion and emphasized the importance of such meetings in shaping the government’s future policies aimed at developing the science sector.

“I believe that having discussions around programs and implementing them is a necessary but not sufficient condition, because there must be a periodic exchange of ideas about the current state and developments in the field. This also contributes to refining those ideas,” Pashinyan was quoted as saying in a press release issued by the Prime Minister’s Office.

The Prime Minister noted that compared to 2017, by 2025 science funding has increased by about 2.8 times, or 185 percent, while salaries in the science sector have seen a significant rise, up to 300 percent.

“The first thing is that our thinking and linguistic worldview must change. In this regard, I must also admit that it strikes my ear when it is said that the government supports science. This creates a kind of distance between the government and science. We do not support science; the development of science is our policy. In other words, we do not see the state, the government, and science as something existing at a distance that we need to support. The development of science is our policy, and this has a very concrete and tangible reason: we cannot imagine the development of the state without the development of science. And on the other hand, we cannot imagine the development of science without the development of education. But I also want to say that when we talk about the development of the state, we primarily mean the development of the economy,” the Prime Minister emphasized, adding that science and the scientific community should have greater participation and presence in policy-making processes.

He further emphasized that science is part of the economy, because managing science, properly allocating resources to it, and perceiving it as an economic sector is a very important tool that helps solve numerous problems. Pashinyan highlighted the development of science as crucial in the context of not only preserving but also further developing national identity and better “understanding ourselves.”

According to the Prime Minister, one of the major challenges is connecting all localized sectors and understanding that “we are dealing with a cycle, because in the Republic of Armenia there is no such thing as a separate district, a separate village, or even a separate sector.”

“We do not see science as a separate sector, let alone separate fields within science. It is very important that we unite our sectors and our country around one goal. And that goal is the Republic of Armenia, the development of our state. But the state, as I have said before, is both a goal and a means. It is a goal by its very existence, and it is a means because it is the only tool that can ensure the best conditions for preserving and developing our identity, security, freedom, prosperity, and happiness,” he said.

In conclusion, Pashinyan stated: “Of course, the citizens of the Republic of Armenia must love their state, and this is a very important and fundamental factor, but at the same time, the Republic of Armenia must love its citizens, including those engaged in scientific activities across all professions. And the policies we pursue are an _expression_ of that love—the Republic of Armenia’s _expression_ of love toward all people engaged in science.”

The U.S. Embassy in Armenia has lauded the “historic progress” after Armenia and Türkiye held talks in Kars on the rehabilitation of the Gyumri-Kars railway.

“Historic progress toward a peaceful and prosperous South Caucasus. Armenian and Turkish officials met today in Kars, Türkiye to establish a joint working group for rehabilitating the Kars-Gyumri Railroad. Restoring this critical link between Armenia and Türkiye is an important step in unlocking regional connectivity and solidifying regional stability. The August 8 Washington Summit hosted by President Trump set the stage for such momentous developments. U.S. Embassy Yerevan welcomes these concrete steps toward reopening economic and people-to-people links between Armenia and Türkiye after decades of closure,” the U.S. Embassy in Armenia said in a press release.

Arayik Harutyunyan, the Chief of Staff of the Prime Minister’s Office, has met with Anthony Banbury, President and Chief Executive Officer of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES).

The meeting focused on ongoing cooperation between Armenia and IFES since 2018, with both sides highlighting joint programmes aimed at strengthening democratic governance and improving the integrity of electoral processes.

During the talks, Harutyunyan reaffirmed that ensuring free, fair and transparent elections remains a key priority for the government. In this context, he noted that the 2026 parliamentary elections are seen as an important opportunity to further strengthen democratic institutions and enhance public trust.

The two sides also discussed upcoming electoral processes, including local government elections, and emphasised the importance of continued long-term and structured cooperation in the electoral field.