May 9, 2026
If people consider that Artsakh was not theirs, perhaps there is some truth in it. The former president of Artsakh, Samvel Shahramanian, made this statement in the “Yerablur” military pantheon.
Nikol Pashinyan, the prime ministerial candidate of the “Civil Agreement” party, announced yesterday in Syunik, speaking about Artsakh. “Those territories were never ours.”
“Yes, we also consider that this behavior shown by the current government, of course, Artsakh was not theirs. Nikol Pashinyan declares that they are a very effective government, because they brought Armenia out of the clutches it was in as a result of the Artsakh movement.
In order to be effective, the government must have a plan, implementers of that plan, perhaps this is what Pashinyan means when he declares, “We are an effective government,” because they implement such a plan without deviation,” said Shahramanian.
The former Minister of Artsakh emphasized that they also want peace with their neighbors, but it is a different question, what quality and at what price will this peace be achieved. According to Shahramanyan, peace can be in a degraded status, which is also a matter of choice. He believes that this election will be decided in about 1 month in the parliamentary elections.
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US and Iran closing in on one-page memo to end war, Axios reports
The White House believes it is getting close to an agreement with Iran on a one-page memorandum of understanding to end the war and set a framework for more detailed nuclear negotiations, Axios reported, citing two U.S. officials and two other sources briefed on the issue.
The U.S. expects Iranian responses on several key points in the next 48 hours, according to the report.
The report said that nothing has been agreed yet but added this was the closest the parties had been to an agreement since the war began.
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Technical assessment underway in efforts to relaunch Armenia–Türkiye railway,
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on Thursday that ongoing efforts to relaunch the railway between Armenia and Türkiye are continuing, but noted that it is too early to provide any timeline.
Based on the agreements reached within the Armenia–Türkiye Normalization Process, a meeting of the Joint Working Group on the rehabilitation and operationalization of the Gyumri–Kars railway was held on 28 April 2026.
The meeting took place in the Turkish city of Kars.
Pashinyan was asked at a press briefing to comment on the meeting.
“We are working in that direction, and at this point I cannot say anything about the timelines, because there are many technical assessment tasks. Even now, during the work, we are identifying technical issues that we were unaware of a month ago, two months ago, and so on, because for about 40 years we have not properly maintained this infrastructure. We need to assess the needs and get to work,” the Prime Minister said.
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Pashinyan reiterates Armenia is not Russia’s ally on Ukraine issue
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan reiterated on Thursday that Armenia is not an ally of Russia on the issue of Ukraine.
Speaking at a press briefing after the Cabinet meeting, Pashinyan was asked to comment on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to Yerevan for the EPC Summit on May 4 and the criticism surrounding it.
“As for the visit of the President of Ukraine, I have previously made statements on this topic. We have sent humanitarian aid to Ukraine, and I have said that on the issue of Ukraine we are not allies with Russia,” Pashinyan said.
The Prime Minister stressed that the Alma-Ata Declaration is of fundamental importance for Armenia, and that Yerevan is also building the peace process with Azerbaijan on that basis.
The Alma-Ata Declaration is a key political document signed in 1991 at the time of the dissolution of the Soviet Union. It confirmed the independence of former Soviet republics and stipulated that administrative borders from the Soviet era would become international borders.
“You know how important and fundamental the Alma-Ata Declaration is for us, and we rely on that declaration and build peace with Azerbaijan on that basis. This is our principled position,” the Prime Minister noted.
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FM, President of Belgian Chamber of Representatives discuss prospects of Armen
Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan met with the President of the Chamber of Representatives of Belgium, Peter De Roover, on the margins of the Yerevan Dialogue 2026.
According to a readout from the Foreign Ministry, the sides discussed issues related to the development of the Armenia–Belgium bilateral partnership, in which the established ties between the parliaments of the two countries and their progressive agenda play a special role.
They also expressed satisfaction with the achievements recorded in Armenia–European Union relations and discussed Armenia’s prospects for European integration.
Views were exchanged on regional issues, and FM Mirzoyan presented steps aimed at the continued institutionalization of peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Humanitarian issues were also addressed.
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Azerbaijan stands behind all the processes against Tsarukyan
As it was reported earlier, the Pashinyan authorities in Armenia have started to activate the process against the president of the National Olympic Committee of Armenia (NAOC) Gagik Tsarukyan.
Of course, all this can be explained by the election campaign (remember, the parliamentary elections will take place on June 7, 2026), in which Tsarukyan is confidently gaining momentum. However, as it turns out, everything is much more “interesting” than we could imagine. Fascinating reefs come to the surface of the water, and such a phenomenon is possible only in Pashinyan’s Armenia.
And so, rumors are circulating in the Armenian sports and non-sports circles that Azerbaijan is directly behind all the processes against Tsarukyan, which has been acting for a long time through the obedient and servile Pashinyan’s regime.
It’s no secret that Armenian athletes are significantly superior to Azerbaijanis in some key sports, and the latter, to put it bluntly, have decided to block the path of Armenian athletes to medals, which is absolutely impossible under the current patriotic leadership of the National Olympic Committee.
At the same time, according to eyewitnesses, several months ago, after the victory of an Armenian athlete in a major sports event abroad, the leadership of the Azerbaijani delegation, in a fit of anger, directly threatened the Armenian side, declaring that this victory will not come cheap to us, and that radical changes will soon take place in the Olympic Committee of Armenia.
And that is exactly what they are trying to do with the NAOC. The head of the structure is the leader of the party represented in the RA National Assembly elections and is confidently making progress. So what, is this all just a coincidence?
Telegram channel “Parallel Z”
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Armenia And The Disappearing Mountain
Something seems to be missing from Armenias new biometric passport. Thats according to many in the country, whohave flaggedan unusual image in the document.
Among pages showcasing Armenias heritage and culture is a picture of Khor Virap. The 17th century monastery is famous largely for its spectacular backdrop of Mount Ararat. In the passport, however, the monastery is depicted from an angle showing only nondescript mountains on the horizon. Critics havecalledthe unusual image a ploy to avoid including Ararat in the official document.
Pages 24-25 of the new Armenian passport
Mount Ararat is situated inside Turkey and officially known by its Turkish name Mount Agri, but the landmark rises prominently above Yerevan on clear days.
The 5,100 meter mountain was a part of ancient kingdoms of Armenia, but ethnic Armenians were driven from settlements around Ararat amid the Ottoman state-led killings, which have been recognized as genocide by dozens of countries including the United States. When borders in the region were redrawn following World War I, Ararat’s twin peaks were included within the eastern edge of modern Turkey.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian recently hinted at the controversy over the passport depiction of Khor Virap,sayingduring a live stream with Interior Minister Arpine Sargsian that, weve chosen such a perspective to suit our policies and what we have discussed for a long time.
Given it is the passport of the Republic of Armenia,” Pashinian added, the passport reflects the territory of the Republic of Armenia.
Mount Ararat (left) seen behind Yerevan’s Mother Armenia monument
The absence of the mountain in the passports, which are set to be rolled out in the fall of 2026, follows a government decision late last year to remove snow-capped icons of Mount Ararat from passport stamps. That decision led to an uproar in the country, includinga lawsuitfiled against the government.
Opposition politician Hayk Mamijanian condemned the removal of the mountain from passport stamps at the time,telling reportersit never ceases to amaze how zealously Pashinian is ready to please Turkey or Azerbaijan.”
Since Azerbaijans military recapture of the Nagorno-Karabakh region in 2023, Armenia has sought to normalize relations with neighboring Azerbaijan and Turkey, both historic foes of Armenia.
Armenia and Azerbaijan initialled apeace agreementin 2025 that includes a clause indefinitely forbidding either country from making territorial claims on the other. Turkey, a close ally of Baku, haslong objectedto Armenias use of Ararat as a national symbol, including in thecoat of armsof the Soviet Republic of Armenia.
A 2022 passport stamp for Armenia featuring the twin peaks of Mount Ararat
Joshua Kucera, a senior analyst for International Crisis Group, says the Khor Virap image appears to be, part of the larger real Armenia narrative that [Pashinian] is promoting, trying to refocus Armenians’ attentions to the issues within their own borders rather than historical Armenia outside its borders.
The Caucasus expert says that reframing effort also includes the recaptured Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan.
Some fear a more consequential target for the Pashinian government could be the current Armenian coat of arms, which features Ararat as its centerpiece, topped with Noahs Ark. The mythical vessel is believed by some Christians to have settled atop Mount Ararat following the biblical flood. In 2023, Pashinian criticized the emblem for representing “a dichotomy between historical Armenia and real Armenia.
A depiction of the Coat of Arms of Armenia featuring Noahs Ark resting atop Mount Ararat
Edmon Marukian, a politician and former ally of the Armenian prime minister, called the 2025 erasure of Mount Ararat from passport stamps a potential precursor to Armenias coat of arms being remade. Removing [Ararat] would require changing the constitution and the law, the politician noted, adding, are we, as citizens, ready to tolerate this?
In April, RFE/RL’s Armenian Service asked Pashinian about the potential for Ararat to be removed from the coat of arms. The prime minister responded only that “I am not raising such a question.”
Armenia And The Disappearing Mountain
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EU and Armenia forge connectivity partnership to boost economic and security c
On May 5, the European Union and Armenia convened their inaugural summit in Yerevan, focusing on enhanced cooperation across various sectors, including connectivity, security and defence, economic development, and people-to-people interactions. The summit provided an opportunity to assess the status of EU-Armenia relations while addressing broader regional and global challenges, particularly regarding the peace agenda and the normalisation of relations in the South Caucasus.
“This first EU-Armenia Summit elevates our partnership to a new level and sets a clear direction and agenda for the coming years. At the heart of this work is our joint commitment to peace and stability in the region. Going forward, we will also deepen political dialogue, strengthen economic ties, and work towards a more secure, prosperous, and stable future. Our cooperation is grounded in common values, a shared vision for the South Caucasus, and full respect for sovereign choices,” stated European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
During this significant meeting, President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President António Costa, and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan oversaw the signing of the EU-Armenia Connectivity Partnership. This partnership represents a pivotal step forward in strengthening transportation, energy, and digital connections. It is fully aligned with the EU’s Cross-Regional Connectivity Agenda and Armenia’s Crossroad of Peace initiative, aimed at boosting trade, creating job opportunities, reinforcing resilience, and supporting regional stability.
The partnership will be formalised through the establishment of a High-Level Dialogue on Connectivity and a High-Level Transport Dialogue, both initiated at the summit. To further stimulate economic growth in Armenia, a Call for Expressions of Interest has been launched, inviting companies from the EU, the European Economic Area, and Armenia to submit proposals for strategic investment initiatives in the country.
The signing of the first Letters of Intent with selected private-sector partners in key areas such as digital infrastructure, semiconductor proficiency, innovation ecosystems, and private investment mobilisation is expected to yield tangible benefits for Armenia. Moreover, the first progress report on the implementation of the visa liberalisation action plan was presented, acknowledging significant progress and offering recommendations for subsequent steps.
Additionally, the summit witnessed the initialling of a working arrangement between the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) and the Armenian Ministry of Internal Affairs. This agreement aims to enhance cooperation on border and migration management, supporting Armenia’s efforts to implement the visa liberalisation action plan effectively.
On the security and defence front, leaders welcomed the establishment of an EU Partnership Mission in Armenia. In response to Armenia’s request, the EU is committed to strengthening the country’s resilience. Furthermore, the Armenian Armed Forces received initial deliveries of EU assistance under the European Peace Facility, totalling €30 million.
The EU-Armenia partnership, based on the CEPA and a 2025 Strategic Agenda, includes a €270 million Resilience and Growth Plan. This plan aims to boost socio-economic resilience through investment in connectivity, strengthen EU ties, and promote an inclusive society, while enhancing political dialogue and economic integration.
https://www.europeaninterest.eu/eu-and-armenia-forge-connectivity-partnership-to-boost-economic-and-security-cooperation/
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Prime Minister of Georgia arrives in Armenia
Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Kobakhidze has arrived in Armenia to participate in the 8th European Political Community (EPC) Summit.
He was welcomed at Zvartnots Airport by the Speaker of Parliament, Alen Simonyan.
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Yerevan welcomes European Political Community summit participants. Photos, vid
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