Author: Garnik Tadevosian

Verelq: Weather without precipitation is expected. the air temperature will not change significantly

Garnik Tadevosian Leave a comment

Լուսանկարը՝ Travelask.ru

Weather without precipitation is expected in Yerevan on the afternoon of March 18, 19, 22. This was reported by “Hydrometeorology and Monitoring Center” SNOC.


Rain is expected from time to time on March 20. On March 21, 22, in the afternoon, on the 23rd, a short rain is expected, a thunderstorm is also possible.


Weather without precipitation is expected in the territory of the republic on the afternoon of March 18, 19, and night of the 22nd.


Rainfall is expected from time to time in most regions on March 20, in the afternoon of March 21, 22, and in some regions on March 23. in mountain zones in the form of wet snow, in foothills and valley zones in the form of rain. Thunderstorms are possible in some places. Wind: northwest: 2-5 m/s.


The air temperature will not change significantly.

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‘Armenia’ Alliance Names Robert Kocharian as its Candidate for Prime Minister

Garnik Tadevosian
by Asbarez Staff

 

 March 17, 2026

 

in Armenia, Featured Story, Latest, News, Top Stories

Former president Robert Kocharian enters the Karen Demirchyan Sports Complex in Yerevan on Mar. 16


The “Armenia” Alliance announced that former president Robert Kocharian will serve as the bloc’s candidate for the upcoming parliamentary election.

The announcement was made at a campaign kick-off event on Sunday at the Karen Demirchyan Sports Complex in Yerevan, with members of the alliance, supporters and guests in attendance.

The announcement of Kocharian’s candidacy by Armenia Alliance lawmaker Anna Grigoryan was followed by remarks by the candidate who declared: “We are determined. Our goal is victory.”

“The evil embodied by this government will be defeated. I entered the struggle against them from the very first days they came to power, and I will not rest until they are removed. This is also what distinguishes me from the other candidates for prime minister. But this is not enough. Those responsible for the deaths of our thousands of heroes must be held accountable—those who surrendered Artsakh and who today force the people to forget their heroic history,” Kocharian said.

The slogan of the campaign, “Together We Can,” became the rallying cry of the event.

Also addressing the event was Armenian Revolutionary Federation Supreme Council of Armenia chair Ishkhan Saghatelyan, who announced that the alliance has been shored up by the participation of the Aratch (Forward) Party, which recently joined the bloc.

Saghatelyan explained numerous other civic organizations and group have also joined the alliance. The ARF leader paused his speech for a video presentation highlighting the Armenian alliance’s accomplishments.

Other speaking at the event included, Sevak Khachatryan, the leader of the Arach Party; Chritine Vardanyan, a member of the ARF Supreme Council of Armenia and a lawmakers; and Arthur Khachatryan, another ARF member and a lawmaker representing the Armenia alliance.

In her remarks Vardanyan spoke about the alliance’s programs related to youth, noting that making higher education free in Armenia is among the alliance’s priorities.

Khachatryan, an economist by profession, outlined the bloc’s economic policy priorities and sharply criticized the government’s economic performance. He argued that official statistics fail to reflect the reality faced by ordinary citizens.

Arthur Khachatryan

He said that living conditions can be better understood “by looking at people’s refrigerators and wallets,” pointing to rising debt levels among the population. According to Khachatryan, around 300,000 people in Armenia hold problematic consumer loans, while approximately 150,000 citizens lack even 250,000 drams ($68,000) to meet basic financial obligations.

He also questioned the government’s claims about average wages, noting that a significant portion of workers earn below the reported figures once taxes are taken into account.

Khachatryan further criticized the country’s growing public debt, stating that Armenia’s state debt has reached approximately 5.3 trillion drams ($14 billion) and continues to increase rapidly. He argued that a substantial portion of the state budget is now directed toward debt servicing, placing a heavy burden on taxpayers.

He also pointed to structural weaknesses in the economy, noting that Armenia’s largest sector remains wholesale and retail trade and vehicle repair, rather than high-tech or industrial production, despite government promises of promoting a knowledge-based economy.

Khachatryan outlined three core pillars of the Armenia Alliance’s economic strategy:

  • Creating a favorable environment for economic and business development;
  • Providing targeted support for domestic producers; and
  • Ensuring fair distribution of national wealth

He also presented a 12-point economic plan:

  • Transforming Armenia into a high-tech industrial country, with industry accounting for at least 25% of GDP
  • Integrating Armenian businesses into global value chains
  • Expanding state support for technology startups and research projects, particularly in the defense sector
  • Encouraging banks and pension funds to finance the real economy and establishing investment funds for major infrastructure projects
  • Prioritizing Armenian-made products in public procurement and expanding export markets
  • Protecting strategic sectors such as agriculture and textiles from unfair foreign competition
  • Supporting small and medium-sized enterprises through tax incentives, automated reporting systems, and a two-year tax holiday for startups
  • Promoting balanced regional development beyond Yerevan
  • Strengthening agriculture, targeting at least 15% of GDP, while improving rural living standards and food security
  • Introducing a progressive income tax system and reducing unemployment by creating 30,000 to 45,000 jobs annually
  • Raising the minimum wage to align with the cost of living
  • Increasing the base pension by 50% and indexing it annually to inflation

Khachatryan said the measures outlined represent foundational principles rather than a complete program, adding that a more detailed economic platform will be presented in the coming weeks.

He expressed confidence that the proposed policies would drive economic growth and improve living standards across Armenia.

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The country’s political life should not turn into a platform for geopolitical confrontation.

Garnik Tadevosian

Gagik Tsarukyan, leader of “Prosperous Armenia” party, made a statement.


Today I would like to present some key principles of our pre-election program, as well as our vision for the future of Armenia, as an invitation to an open and meaningful dialogue with our international partners and the diplomatic corps accredited in Armenia.

1. The upcoming political processes and elections are not a geopolitical choice between power centers. This is a competition of ideas, programs and approaches to the development of the state, which should take place within the framework of constitutional and democratic procedures. The political life of the country should not turn into a platform for geopolitical confrontation.

2. All internal changes must be implemented through constitutional procedures. We are convinced that strengthening the legitimacy and predictability of political processes is the basis of the state’s stability and public trust.

3. In the near future, we will present our concept of foreign policy, which will clearly show how Armenia will restore balance, reliability and stability in relations with partners.

4. Our foreign policy strategy is based on the principle of restoring strategic and predictable balance. Armenia will build partnership relations with all major international actors: Russia, the United States, the EU, China, India, as well as neighboring states. For us, this is a systemic strategy to strengthen credibility and predictability in international relations.

5. Armenia should become a country open to investments, infrastructure projects and new opportunities. We see a special potential in the development of regional transport hubs and communication channels, which can strengthen Armenia’s role as a link connecting economic areas. At the same time, it is necessary to develop the technological economy, to support innovations, the development of digital infrastructures and new sectors. Investments, infrastructure projects and technological development not only provide economic growth, but are also the basis of long-term stability and regional influence.

6. Continuous and constructive dialogue with international partners makes it possible to combine foreign policy, economic strategy and institutional development into one complete, interconnected vision.

7. The issue of security and peace has deep historical foundations for the Armenian people. Our primary goal is to establish a guaranteed and just peace.

8. Armenians in different countries of the world have always made an important contribution to the development of their countries of residence. Today, we propose an approach that considers the potential of the Diaspora not only as a resource, but as a factor in expanding Armenia’s strategic depth. We are planning the involvement of the Diaspora in economic, technological, scientific and cultural projects, which will strengthen Armenia’s stability and role in the international arena. Our task is to create a modern network system of cooperation of Armenians living all over the world. We are convinced that Armenia can become a natural bridge between different countries and regions, using the global presence of the Armenian people as a tool of strategic depth.

Today, my team includes specialists who have experience in state management and international cooperation, professionals who can make balanced decisions for the development of the country and the protection of the interests of the people.

Our goal is to build a stable, safe and developing Armenia. A state that strengthens its institutions, whose foreign policy restores strategic balance and fully reveals the potential of its people.

We see Armenia as a country that connects regions and creates opportunities for cooperation.

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Bishops summoned to investigative committee in Armenia

Garnik Tadevosian

· MARCH 16, 2026

Armenia Signals Commitment to Brussels Accession

Garnik Tadevosian
The European Conservative
Mar 13 2026
PM Pashinyan has officially requested accelerated EU integration, linking Armenia’s future prosperity to the continued stability of neighboring Georgia.

In a landmark address to the European Parliament, Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan underscored the strategic necessity of his nation’s European Union accession path, which he described as increasingly “tangible.”

While navigating a complex regional landscape, Pashinyan voiced significant concern regarding the strained relations between Brussels and Georgia, asserting that stability in Tbilisi is

important for Armenia, just as important as for Georgia.

Pashinyan firmly dismissed allegations that his advocacy for his neighbor was a result of pressure from the Georgian leadership, framing it instead as a shared interest in regional security.

Regarding the current conflict devastating Iran, Pashinyan maintained a position of cautious neutrality, characterizing Iran as a “thousand-year-old neighbour”—while balancing ties with his Western partners.

Admitting Armenia’s limited influence, he expressed hope for the “wisdom of our partner leaders” to find diplomatic resolutions. Despite the internal tensions, Pashinyan pointed to the success of the August 2025 Washington Summit and the development of the “Trump Route” (TRIPP) as proof that “complete peace” with Azerbaijan is achievable.

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Protesters accuse Armenian government of concessions to Azerbaijan

Garnik Tadevosian
Panorama, Armenia
Mar 12 2026

Opposition figures and war veterans on Thursday accused the Armenian government of gradually conceding territory and sovereignty to Azerbaijan under the banner of pursuing peace as they protested outside the government headquarters in Yerevan.

Shahen Harutyunyan, the leader of the Shant Alliance Nationalist Party, said the authorities had been making concessions in the name of peace for a long time.

“For a long time, the current authorities have been making concessions affecting our state borders and sovereignty under the pretext of peace,” Harutyunyan told protesters. He added that Armenia must learn lessons from its history and adopt the right political course.

Avetis Avetisyan, a war veteran, stressed that every part of Armenia had been defended through sacrifice.

“There is not a single square meter in Armenia for which blood has not been shed or a life has not been sacrificed,” Avetisyan said.

He argued that the government was gradually surrendering parts of the country under the slogan of peace and warned that such concessions could lead to a larger conflict in the future.

“If we do not stop this now, the 44-day war of 2020 will seem easier than what awaits us,” he said.

Avetisyan also said that peace terms were being dictated by Azerbaijan and expressed concern that the current negotiation process could weaken Armenia’s position.

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A fight in Yerevan in front of the Medical University

Garnik Tadevosian

On March 6, an argument took place in Yerevan. Information has been received that at the intersection of Abovyan and Koryun streets, in front of the Mkhitar Heratsi Medical University, several citizens are pulling each other and shouting curses.


As photojournalist Gagik Shamshyan reports, police officers arrested 48-year-old Zohrab Sh., 69-year-old Rubik Sh., 39-year-old Gevorg Sh., 37-year-old Nver Sh. 17-year-old A. T., 23-year-old Aghasi A., a resident of Armavir region, and 28-year-old Hovik S., a resident of Ararat region.


According to Shamshyan, it was found out at the Marash Police Department that Nver Sh., Zohrab Sh., Rubik Sh., and Gevorg Sh. argued with A. with T., Agassi A. and Hovik S., during which they hit each other.

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Pashinyan, EPP President Weber discuss Armenia–EU relations and regional issu

Garnik Tadevosian

Politics20:40, 11 March 2026

1 minute read

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met with President of the European People’s Party (EPP) Manfred Weber in Strasbourg, the prime minister said in a video posted on his Facebook page.

Weber said it was a great honor for the EPP to welcome Pashinyan and noted that the party appreciates his contribution to the development of Armenia–EU relations. He added that the EPP is ready to discuss issues related to Armenia and the region with the Armenian authorities, noting that Armenia is considered part of Europe.

Pashinyan, in turn, emphasized the role of the EPP mission, saying that the parties are essentially doing the same work.“Armenia needs this,” Pashinyan said.



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CP members who consider journalists “killers” want to silence them by law

Garnik Tadevosian

March: 11, 2026

Arman Tatoyan writes: “The CP members, who consider journalists to be “killers”, want to silence their unfavorable coverage by law.

Can you imagine if they say you don’t have the right to cover other approaches based on facts besides the official news on security topics?

The basis for this approach was my findings that the Azerbaijani side made military advances and fortifications in our territory in Vardenis and Jermuk.

A free press, critical journalism, and accountable government strengthen the state, not weaken it. Democracy and security are not opposites, but complement each other. Not either, but both, and. and security and democracy.

And when the government starts to fear journalists and tries to silence them by law, it means that it is actually afraid of its own people.

This is what Nikol Pashinyan is trying to do. to bring Azerbaijani order and engage only in false propaganda.

In a democratic state, independent mass media are the fourth branch of government, which ensure public control over the government. Where they try to silence journalists, democracy ends.

Journalists in Armenia will not remain silent, no matter how much the government tries to intimidate them with new unconstitutional laws.

I will always be by their side, regardless of my position.”

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Iran’s Ayatollah Marashi Najafi Library to study Armenian manuscripts

Garnik Tadevosian

 16:55,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 30, ARMENPRESS. The Ayatollah Marashi Najafi Library in Iran’s Qom will start studying Armenian manuscripts as part of cooperation with Yerevan’s Matenadaran.

A Matenadaran delegation recently visited the Ayatollah Marashi Najafi Library, the world's third largest Islamic library, and was received by the library’s director Mahmoud Marashi Najafi, the son of its founder Ayatollah Marashi Najafi.

During the meeting the sides emphasized “the importance and willingness for cooperation, which will begin with the studies of Armenian manuscripts kept at the center,” the Matenadaran Institute of Ancient Manuscripts said in a statement.