April 12, 2026
Another Armenian-Azerbaijani round table discussion of the “Bridge of Peace” initiative has started in Gabala. Areg Kochinyan, the president of the “Armenian Council” informs and adds that the current state of the peace process, the actions carried out by the participants of the “Peace Bridge” initiative in their countries and their results, as well as the situation in the region are at the core of the discussion.
Former NA deputy Naira Karapetyan 168․amtalked about this initiative and its context.
“The rhetoric of the leadership of the neighboring state does not even speak of the tendencies of peace establishment, and the gradual dictatorial steps that we see from Aliyev’s side testify to the exact opposite, that instead of peace, we are waiting for enslavement under the threat of using force, the realization of their goals, etc.
Returning to the so-called political society. the organizations that are included in the so-called “Bridge of Peace” platform are strictly one-sided and serve the line of the authorities of the day. They are people who have repeatedly proven that they have nothing to do with any correct assessment or any quick response to what is happening to our society,” the politician elaborated.
Naira Karapetyan confirmed her observations about the last episode by reminding that, for example, in the case of 18-year-old Davit Minasyan in Saint Anna Church, when “the schoolchild was directly provoked during prayer”, the voice of the representatives of that “civil society” was not heard.
“This program is just another show-packing with international orders and funding, and secondly, the West still wants to show that it has a big role, has a big investment here, and everything goes to peace.
I would like to emphasize here that no one should have the impression that there are people who do not want peace. Peace is everyone’s desire, and peace is what we have been striving for for many years. That peace must be dignified, peace must be clear, and peace must be at least guaranteed. What is happening today is far from the so-called peace.
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Armenian Brandy Exporter Faces Russian Ban
- Narine Ghalechian
Following President Vladimir Putin’s stern warnings to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian, Russian authorities have moved to revoke the import license of a major Armenian brandy producer heavily dependent on Russia’s market.
The state alcohol and tobacco regulator, Rosalkogoltabakkontrol, accused the Proshian Brandy Factory (PBF) of fraud earlier this week. In particular, it said, an “unplanned inspection” of brandy imported by the PBF to Russia found that it was not distilled from grapes. The agency said it has therefore asked a Russian economic court to annul the company’s license.
The company based in Proshian, a village just west of Yerevan, downplayed the measure on Wednesday, claiming that it only applies to its official distributor in Russia.
“The factory operates in a normal mode, carries out production operations without interruption and continues to export its products to international markets, including the [Eurasian Economic Union] countries,” the PBF said in a statement to RFE/RL’s Armenian Service.
For his part, Pashinian seemed to deny political motives behind the legal proceedings against the PBF when he spoke to journalists on Thursday.
Rosalkogoltabakkontrol reported the proceedings just days after Putin’s talks with Pashinian in Moscow during which he publicly warned that Yerevan’s moves to eventually join the European Union are “not compatible” with Armenia’s continued membership in the EEU, which gives Armenian exporters tariff-free access to the Russian market. Putin also said that Pashinian’s administration should not bar pro-Russian opposition groups or politicians from running in Armenia’s upcoming parliamentary elections.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk threatened the next day far-reaching retaliatory measures against what he described as the Armenian government’s efforts to push Russia’s state-owned railway monopoly and other major companies out of Armenia. And in what looked like another related development, the head of Russia’s state agricultural watchdog reported a major tightening of its controls on multimillion-dollar imports of food and flowers from Armenia.
Russia is the principal market for agricultural products as well as alcoholic beverages exported by Armenia. According to most recent available data, Armenian brandy exports reached $311 million in 2024. Russia absorbed 83 percent of them.
Armenia’s overall exports to Russia totaled almost $3 billion last year. By comparison, Armenian firms exported $667 million worth of goods to European Union member states.
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It is planned to adopt a new law on investments
The aim of the project is to establish simple, transparent and predictable legal bases adapted to the modern requirements of investment relations to ensure the protection of investors’ rights, the freedom and promotion of investments, both for local and foreign investors. This was stated by RA Deputy Minister of Economy Lilya Sirakanyan, presenting the draft law “On Investments” for consideration in the first reading at the regular session of the NA Standing Committee on Economic Affairs on April 8.
It was noted that with the adoption of the project, a clear and predictable investment legal environment will be formed, which will enable Armenia to increase its international investment rating and competitiveness, investment attractiveness and promote stable and inclusive economic growth.
According to the information of the Deputy Minister, the “Foreign Investments” law, which was adopted in 1994, is currently in force, but it does not provide a complete regulation of the investment process that meets modern requirements. According to the reporter, the regulations defined by the draft will be extended not only to foreign, but also to local investors and investments.
The law will regulate the legal bases of investments in the Republic of Armenia, the freedoms and guarantees applied to investors and their investments, the rights of investors and the structures for the protection of those rights, the responsibilities of investors, the legal bases of investment incentives – privileges, the principles and administration of provision. The institutional framework of the investment policy will also be regulated.
Babken Tunyan, deputy chairman of the commission, informed that the draft law was discussed for a long time, a working discussion took place with the participation of interested businessmen.
It was noted that after the adoption of the project, the current law “On Foreign Investments” will be declared invalid.
The project was approved by the commission. It is planned to be included in the draft agenda of the upcoming regular sessions of the National Assembly.
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Verelq: Today is Good Friday
Today is Good Friday, which marks the sixth day of creation, when God created Adam from dust in His own image and likeness, and then created Eve from his side and placed them in Paradise. On Friday, Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, stripped themselves of glory, and the Lord punished man with a curse and expelled him from paradise. In the sixth period, God S. In the immaculate womb of a virgin, he became a perfect Man, in soul, mind and body, to perform the tasks of administration.
On Good Friday, the Lord was arrested by the betrayal of Judas, beaten and mocked, and then, taking upon Himself the curse and condemnation of Adam, dying on the cross, He opened His side, and washed away the sins of man with the water from His side, and with His blood, He redeemed us from the service of evil (Matt. 26:47-27:56). And as his wife, Eve, was created from Adam’s side, so His bride, the Church, was created from the Lord’s side. Although today is joy for the souls, because by Christ’s sufferings our souls were freed from hell, but physically there is mourning and sadness.
Good Friday is the commemoration day of Jesus Christ’s suffering, crucifixion, death and burial. On that day, the Order of the Crucifixion takes place. After the evening service, during the pre-holiday ceremony, the burial ceremony is performed, when the symbolic tomb of Jesus Christ, made of flowers and tree branches, is circled around the church in front of the faithful people.
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Two drown in Yerevan reservoir, authorities say
Two young men allegedly drowned early Saturday in one of Yerevan’s reservoirs after one attempted to rescue the other, authorities said.
Armenia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs said its 112 Operational Management Center received an emergency call at 5:49 a.m. reporting that an individual had allegedly fallen into a reservoir and his friend had jumped in to help.
Emergency response teams were dispatched to the scene, including units from the Rescue Service, a firefighting crew from the Yerevan department, a specialized water rescue team and police.
Officials said a diver later located and recovered the bodies of the two victims from the water.
Other details were not immediately available.
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Buona Pasqua da Padus-Araxes
— Russia: No decision will undermine Armenia’s interests in Eurasian Economic UPolitics11:36, 2 April 2026
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Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk emphasized the fundamental principle of consensus in decision-making within the Eurasian Economic Union and said that, therefore, no decision contradicting the interests of member state Armenia can be made. “In our common economic integration union, decision-making operates on the principle of consensus. Armenia’s voice is equal to that of Russia and the other member states, regardless of the size of its economy or territory. Within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union, no decision will be made if it does not align with Armenia’s interests,” Overchuk told the TASS news agency. He also stressed that Russia does not obstruct Armenia from seeking new partners and expanding its external markets, including in the United States and the European Union. “We ourselves propose to continue working and developing together, and for this, it is necessary for our businesses to be able to operate there, just as Armenian businesses should be able to operate here. We have also been told that the presence of Russian businesses is an obstacle to Armenia realizing its competitive advantages. At the same time, Russia has opened its market to Armenian goods, services, capital, and labor. The figures show the closeness of our countries and peoples,” the Deputy Prime Minister said. Overchuk added that the foundation of building international relations is based on the principles of reciprocity and equality. Read the article in: EspañolFarsiHayerenРусскийTürkçe中文
Published by Armenpress, original at The April war was the last one, when everyone was in their place: the Diaspora, the stateApril 2, 2026 Mikael Minasyan writes: “Ten years ago today, the April war began, the last victory of the Republic of Armenia on the battlefield. The last successful consolidation of victory on the diplomatic front. In 2016, an attempt was made to impose a scenario on Armenia, which was rejected first by the efforts of the Armenian army and then by the work of the state. Armenia won outside the borders, but started to lose inside the country due to the spread of the aggressive “nemesis”, “handover the land to the land” thesis and defeatist propaganda. But that is another story. The April War was the last victory that had heroes who had names, whose heroism had a place, a published number and a valor of valor. This was the last time when everyone and everything were in their place: the Diaspora and its structures, the state and its institutions, decision-makers and allies. Kudos to the heroes who knew what they were fighting and dying for.” — The judge was not even aware that Davit was beaten. didn’t see the video but will stop byApril 2, 2026 I dread to think about it, I can’t imagine what will happen to David after two months of detention. This was stated by one of the participants of the “Free David” protest in front of the UN office. “Our request is that they change the restraining order, let them conduct another impartial trial, let them investigate and see that there was no such crime there. Changing the restraining order of Davit a day ago is in their interest as well as ours. Davit really has health problems. Today, the HRD spoke, spoke, but there was nothing final to say, doesn’t he see the situation of that child, doesn’t he want to mediate, how can such a child be taken with criminals and kept in a penitentiary and in a cell, even if the murderers are under house arrest, isn’t there a competent body or official to speak about this,” he said. Referring to the video of the incident and the beating of the security guard, the supporter emphasizes that the most unfair thing was that the judge was not aware of the video when imposing the arrest. He adds that they thought that after seeing and being informed, something would change, but in fact, everything was decided from the beginning. Speaking about children’s involvement in the protests, the supporter notes that children are not the only ones who come there, their sense of justice in the country has been broken. “We even had an expectation that after the request of one of the journalists to the Prime Minister, the Prime Minister would guarantee and mediate, but in fact our “scoop was made of paper”, he said. — Armenpress: Lithuanian Seimas delegation visits Tsitsernakaberd MemorialArmenia22:16, 30 March 2026
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A delegation led by Remigijus Motuzas, Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, visited the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex, the Armenian Parliament’s press service said in a statement. The members of the delegation laid flowers at the Eternal Flame in memory of the innocent martyrs of the Armenian Genocide. Read the article in: العربيةFrançaisՀայերենRussian
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