Author: Kalantarian Kevo

Verelq: Another theater of the couple

Kalantarian Kevo
Լուսանկարը՝ hraparak.am

“Hraparak” daily writes:


The most discussed episode of Sunday’s motorcade and concert Anna Hakobyan was the revelation. He announced in February that their civil marriage was over, he was leaving the government mansion, and told a heartbreaking story about his bitter life.


And on Sunday, people saw her silhouette in her husband’s morning dress, in the government office, and then she participated in the event in Gyumri. Holding Pashinyan’s hand, he walked in the city, ignoring journalists’ questions. And, contrary to the promise that he would give up “Akhranniks”, he was walking around accompanied by PPS employees. They left the question “reunited” unanswered.


We were informed that even Pashinyan’s teammates did not dare to clarify this. We were told that they found out 1 week ago that Anna had returned to the government mansion. And in what capacity, they don’t know. They are also puzzled by this theater of the couple.


After the show split, various hypotheses were discussed. The most common is that Pashinyan is trying to get rid of Anna Hakobyan’s negative rating. Now they think that the reason is that the “My step” foundation headed by the lady continues to engage in charitable activities unhindered during the pre-election period.


Gohar Ghumashyan, a breadwinner, was arrested for a telephone conversation, while Anna Hakobyan generously gave charity and was not punished.

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Pashinyan says Armenia–Russia ties are in ‘constructive transformation’

Kalantarian Kevo
Politics11:43, 20 April 2026
Read the article in: العربيةEspañolPersian is a Turkish language

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan reiterated that Armenia’s relationship with Russia is in a phase of “constructive transformation.”

“Armenia will develop mutually beneficial and constructive relations with Russia,” he said on social media while presenting the Civil Contract party’s election program for 2026.

“I repeat once again: it is difficult to overestimate the importance of our relations with Russia. I also want to clarify what I mean by ‘constructive transformation.’ Essentially, Armenia’s relations with Russia were entirely shaped in the context of the Karabakh movement. Now that we are no longer continuing the Karabakh movement, that peace has been established, and the conflict is over, the relationship must naturally be adjusted and developed in line with this new logic.

Let me give a simple example: in the past, under conditions of conflict, we never had railway communication with Russia; now we do. Will this have an impact on our relations? Absolutely. Will that impact be constructive? Absolutely. It is in this logic that we will continue our path, and we will not allow any attempts to create problems in Armenia–Russia relations. Indeed, some forces in Armenia are trying to provoke and incite crises in our relations. We will not allow that. We will direct all our efforts toward the further development of constructive relations with Russia.

The nuance is that this must take place within the framework of the formula of a balanced and balancing foreign policy,” the Prime Minister said.

Published by Armenpress, original at 
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International Conference: The Implementation of the Armenian Genocide in the D

Kalantarian Kevo

· APRIL 20, 2026


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RFE/RL – Pashinian Raises More Questions About His ‘Divorce’

Kalantarian Kevo
  • Susan Badalian
April 20, 2026
Armenia – Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and Anna Hakobian walk in Gyumri, April 19, 2026.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian has exposed the presence of his former de facto wife in his official residence and made a joint public appearance with her less than two months after the announcement of their divorce dismissed by critics as a pre-election ploy.

Anna Hakobian supposedly moved out of the residence on February 27 right after unexpectedly announcing the break-up of their longtime marriage that had never been registered with a relevant state body or the Armenian Apostolic Church. Neither she nor Pashinian gave a clear reason for it.

Hakobian could be seen moving fast behind Pashinian in a nine-second video of himself filmed and posted by him on Facebook on Sunday. A few hours later, the couple made a point of strolling together and visiting a café in Gyumri ahead of a pre-election concert organized there by Armenia’s ruling political team. They made no public statements on their joint appearance which puzzled both their sympathizers and detractors.

The announcement of their divorce was met with suspicion and even ridicule from critics of the Armenian government, who questioned its authenticity. Some of them claimed that Pashinian is trying to score points with voters ahead of the June 7 parliamentary elections by distancing himself from Hakobian’s controversial activities and statements. Others speculated that he wants to end opposition claims that a charity run by Hakobian is breaching a law that bans politicians and individuals linked to them from engaging in benevolent activities in the run-up to elections.

Armenia’s Anti-Corruption Committee pledged to look into those claims earlier in February. The law-enforcement agency has since taken no action against the charity called My Step.

Hakobian, 48, is believed to have exerted a strong influence on Pashinian during his eight-year rule. Some observers have even regarded her as the premier’s closest political confidante.

In a barrage of social media posts, Hakobian resorted in May 2025 to personal insults to attack opposition activists, public figures and other citizens in response to what she called slanderous claims made about her family. She made clear that her use of words like “idiot” and “louse” is part of her government-funded campaign purportedly aimed at helping Armenians become more educated.

Hakobian toured towns and villages across Armenia last spring and summer as part of the “Getting Educated Is Fashionable” campaign launched in late 2024. Pashinian spoke during some of those meetings attended by many local government officials and other public sector employees.

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168: “Noodles” in the ears of business. Business before choice

Kalantarian Kevo

April 18, 2026


A few days ago, Nikol Pashinyan gathered a group of businessmen and hung noodles in their ears, talked about the economic “miracles” recorded by the government, talked about entering a new period of economic development, conquering and setting new horizons, forgetting that he confronted the same big business. What Nikol Pashinyan intends to do, the future of business is at risk and now business will have to make a choice about its future.

Nikol Pashinyan does not say openly, but he does not hide that he is going to withdraw Armenia from EAEU. What this means for business, these people understand better than anyone else, regardless of what Nikol Pashinyan will say or not.

Nikol Pashinyan does not say that he will deprive businesses from the EAEU market, but everyone sees what he is doing. When they ask, he tries to give an evasive answer, saying that when the time comes, we will make a decision. He avoids saying it directly, but in the footnote everyone understands where all this is leading. The goal is to leave the EAEU and join the European Union, although we have been convinced many times that no one in the EU is waiting for Armenia.

As much as they do not expect Armenia in the EU, the rulers of Armenia have made their choice long ago. There is no doubt as to who will be the first victims on the way to that election. the people and the business will be the victims.

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The people and the business will bear the economic and social consequences of such a decision when they face serious problems. But then it will be too late. That is why it is necessary to think about one’s own future now, until others decide their fate for them. Even if it continues like this, even the authorities will not be the decision-makers. Neither will wait until they decide whether to stay or go. Without them, that decision will be made and Armenia will be faced with the facts.

In that case, the problem is not so much about Armenia’s high dependence on strategic goods imported from EAEU. The problem is about losing the largest market for the sale of Armenian products without the creation of alternative markets.

The largest market for the sale of Armenian products, including agricultural products, is the Eurasian Economic Union and, first of all, Russia. Those engaged in the production of agricultural products, especially those who took loans, set up production, built greenhouses in the hope that they will be able to sell their products in those markets, have a serious reason to think. The main market for Armenia’s greenhouse economy products is the Eurasian Economic Union and Russia. If they lose that market, the greenhouses will be closed everywhere, and the greenhouse owners will find themselves under loans. We still do not say that the greenhouse economy today is able to survive exclusively due to the cheap imported Russian gas. It is not difficult to say what will happen if Russian gas becomes more expensive.

Today, most of the products of Armenia’s processing industry and at least one third of the local products in general are sold in EAEU markets. In the case of being left out of the EAEU, there will always be reasons to limit or prohibit the sale of Armenian products in the markets of the EAEU countries. Not only do these products have no alternative markets, but it takes a long time to find them. Before finding them, you should think about ensuring their competitiveness. The competitiveness of Armenian products does not always allow to get sales opportunities in other markets. The EU is not an alternative in that sense.

Even after last year it was decided to subsidize customs duties for the supply of Armenian goods to EU countries, it did not have a significant impact on export volumes. If before that, supplies to EU countries amounted to 611 million dollars, after the subsidy they increased by only 55 million dollars. Almost as much as the provided subsidy.

At this rate, it will take tens of years to compensate for the possible losses of the EAEU markets.

Only the export of Armenian products to the Russian market fluctuates around 1.5 billion dollars per year. In the event that supplies to the EU markets do not even reach 700 million dollars. Last year, even after the subsidy from the state budget in terms of customs duties, they amounted to barely 666 million dollars.

At least twice less than the supplies of the Russian market alone.

By the way, in recent years, when the political government adopted the policy of EU integration, the supplies of Armenian goods to the markets of the European Union countries have even been reduced. 2018 More Armenian goods were exported from Armenia to the EU than now, 7 years later. In seven years, there has been no absolute movement, one thing has also been recorded, the volume of export of Armenian goods has decreased.

According to official data, 666 million dollars of goods were supplied to the markets of EU countries last year. In the event that in 2018 supplies amounted to 683 million dollars, 23 million dollars more than after 7 years.

Even in 2017 Almost as many goods were exported from Armenia as are exported now.

At one time, the share of exports to EU countries reached up to 27-28 percent, now it is barely 7-8 percent.

This is how economic relations with EU countries have been deepened.

Given the current opportunities and capabilities of the Armenian economy, the EU cannot be a substitute for the EAEU market. This may not concern Nikol Pashinyan and members of the CP, but all those businesses that are connected with the EATM sales markets cannot help but be concerned. That is why they are forced to think seriously about the future of their business before the upcoming elections.

No matter how Nikol Pashinyan declares that there are no problems with EAEU and especially with Russia, everyone understands that this is not the case. Those problems are already visible today, and they will deepen. It is obvious that if this continues, the issue of staying or not in EAEU will not depend on the decision of the Armenian authorities, as Nikol Pashinyan says, but will be sold independently of us. What the current rulers of Armenia are doing will accelerate these processes. And before it’s too late, we haven’t reached the point of irreversibility, business is forced to make a choice.

HAKOB KOCHARYAN



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Turkish Press: Armenia says it is ready to open border with Türkiye, awaits An

Kalantarian Kevo
Turkey Today
April 17 2026

Armenia says it is ready to open border with Türkiye, awaits Ankara’s move

Armenia is politically and technically ready to open its border with Türkiye at any time, Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan said, but added that the next step now depends on the Turkish side.

The normalization process between the two countries remains stalled on the ground despite recent diplomatic momentum.

Speaking to CNN TURK during the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, Kostanyan said the current focus is on the Alican border gate, while technical work also continues on reopening railway links between the two neighbors.

“We are politically and technically ready to open the border at any moment,” Kostanyan said. “However, I think this question should be directed to the Turkish side.”

Kostanyan said Armenia and Türkiye had already agreed since 2022 to open the border for diplomatic passport holders and third-country nationals, and that both sides had repeatedly reaffirmed that understanding.

He said Armenia now expects those agreements to be implemented in practice.

Armenia says normalization progress hasn’t yet changed ground reality

Kostanyan said Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian’s official visit to Türkiye on June 20 gave new momentum to the relationship.

He described it as a historic visit and said it was the first official prime minister-level visit from Armenia to Türkiye with a bilateral agenda since Armenia’s independence.

But he said that despite that political progress, the situation on the ground in Armenia-Türkiye relations remains unchanged.

“Unfortunately, Armenia-Türkiye relations on the ground are still in the same condition as one, two, three years ago,” he said.

He said Türkiye’s completion of infrastructure work had been important, but added that Armenia is now waiting for implementation in the field.

Alican border gate prioritized as railway work continues

Asked whether Alican and Akyaka could open at the same time, Kostanyan said the current discussion is focused on Alican.

He added that technical experts from both sides met last year to discuss the possibility of reopening railway links, and that expert groups are continuing their work and are expected to meet again in the near future.

Kostanyan said the worsening regional security environment should serve as an added motivation for Armenia and Türkiye to open the border.

“This should strengthen stability in the region,” he said.

He also noted that the border, closed since 1993, has occasionally opened for humanitarian purposes, including after the earthquake, when it was used for search and rescue teams and aid deliveries to Türkiye and Syria.

He said the border has too often opened only in times of crisis and argued that it should be fully open in times of prosperity as well.

Iran war and Hormuz crisis raise urgency of border opening

Kostanyan linked the importance of the Armenia-Türkiye border directly to the regional fallout from the war involving Iran.

He said Armenia has not yet faced major immediate difficulties because of the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the U.S. blockade, despite its large trade volume with Iran.

But he warned that over the longer term, the consequences could affect the whole region, including both Armenia and Türkiye.

“For this reason, in this context, the opening of the border between Armenia and Türkiye is very important,” he said. “This could be an important gain for both countries and a very important factor for stability not only in the South Caucasus but in the wider region.”

Asked about Iran’s warning that it could halt maritime trade in the Gulf and Red Sea if the blockade continues, Kostanyan said such developments would create turbulence not only for the region but on a global scale.

He said Armenia hopes negotiations between the parties will produce positive results.

Armenia says diplomacy is only way forward

Addressing the broader regional crisis, Kostanyan emphasized that stability remains critical for Armenia’s national interests.

He characterized the United States as a strategic partner while identifying Iran as another vital collaborator for the nation. Regarding ongoing regional tensions, Kostanyan expressed Armenia’s hope that all parties can reach a final agreement, maintaining that diplomacy is the sole path forward.

“We believe that the only way to overcome differences is through a diplomatic solution,” he affirmed. He further noted that Armenia appreciates international efforts to bring opposing sides together to seek resolutions for long-standing and complex issues.

Border opening seen as economic and logistics opportunity

Kostanyan said direct trade, tourism and connectivity could create major opportunities for the region.

He said new economic and logistical networks stretching between Europe, Central Asia and China could be important for regional development.

He also referred to the project he called TRIPP, or “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity,” saying that agreed terminology should be preserved.

According to Kostanyan, the agreements reached in Washington on Aug. 8 are important and backed by the U.S., and all sides need to remain committed to that peace declaration.

He said the two key elements of that declaration are inclusiveness and preserving the agreed terminology.

Armenia says no legal obstacle to peace deal with Azerbaijan

Turning to Armenia-Azerbaijan relations, Kostanyan said he sees no legal obstacle to signing the agreed peace treaty between the two countries.

He said constitutional questions are an internal Armenian matter.

“Since 2018, discussions on a new constitution have continued, and the government plans to publish the draft text soon,” he said.

He also said the upcoming June 7 parliamentary election in Armenia will be the first election held in a period of peace with Azerbaijan, and described that as notable given the deterioration in the wider regional security environment.

Kostanyan said relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan are moving in a positive direction and that the calm border carries symbolic and practical importance.

He also said it was meaningful that the foreign ministers of the two countries reaffirmed their commitment to peace when the developments around Iran began.

Armenia says transport opening already agreed

On the issue of the Zangezur corridor, which he referred to by its new name, the “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity,” Kostanyan said he does not view it as a demand because an agreement had already been reached on Aug. 8.

He said both Armenia and Azerbaijan attach great importance to reopening communication lines and that the process is drawing interest from Türkiye, the broader region and global actors.

He added that Armenia is working with the United States on implementation and said a joint Armenian-American initiative is planned.

According to Kostanyan, the implementation framework was adopted on Jan. 13, feasibility studies are underway, a U.S. company has taken on the process, financing work is continuing, and presentations for international investors are expected soon.

Armenia says it is ready for diplomatic ties and ambassadors

Asked when diplomatic relations with Türkiye would be formally established and when ambassadors might be appointed, Kostanyan said Armenia is ready.

He said if the matter depended only on Armenia, the process could have been completed even yesterday.

“If it depended only on Armenia, this process could have been completed even yesterday,” he said.

He added that Armenia is determined to achieve full normalization with Türkiye and said that many names would be ready to seek an ambassadorial role once diplomatic relations are established.

For now, he said, normalization must move forward as a two-sided process.

https://www.turkiyetoday.com/region/armenia-says-it-is-ready-to-open-border-with-turkiye-awaits-ankaras-move-3218272

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The search of the bishop’s residence became the authorities’ own verdict

Kalantarian Kevo

While watching footage of the search of Bagrat Srbazan’s residence, one thought kept haunting me. I was thinking, well, they didn’t find the Gospel. It is especially good that the Revelation of John was not attached to the criminal cases, otherwise the 18 righteous would also be accused of planning the Last Judgment…


And if you are serious, one thing has been very clear to me for a long time: in the case of the 18 righteous, it is not the court and the defendants who are judging Bagrat Bishop, but the exact opposite, the Holy Father is judging these authorities.


The verdict is already ripe. And that will be the verdict that will never be cleared from the face of the treacherous authorities. Before the Last Judgment, they will be remembered for generations by that decision.


Political scientist Hrant Melik-Shahnazaryan




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“On a non-working day, the body carrying out the proceedings in the case of Davit Minasyan is Armenian

Kalantarian Kevo

April 11, 2026

Davit Minasyan’s lawyer Lusine Martirosyan writes:

“IMPORTANT!

A little while ago, on a non-working day, the body conducting the proceedings in the case of Davit Minasyan announced the end of the preliminary investigation. This action proves that their goal is to prevent the possibility of releasing Davit Minasyan by the decision of the appeals court on April 17.”

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I will not be the prime minister, I have 3-4 candidates for the prime minister. Tsarukyan

Kalantarian Kevo

April 9, 2026

“We have 3-4 candidates,” Gagik Tsarukyan said in a conversation with journalists, answering the question of who will be the PAP prime minister’s candidate.

Gagik Tsarukyan also mentioned that he will not be prime minister if his forces win the elections.

“I don’t want the people to say that Tsarukyan came to fight for office. That’s the only thing that stopped me,” said Gagik Tsarukyan.

He also assured that cooperation with CP is excluded, they will not vote for that force if it depends on their vote whether they will be in power or not.

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Pashinyan recites the Beatitudes in Easter address

Kalantarian Kevo
Videos17:29, 4 April 2026
Read the article in:Russian

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan delivered an address on Holy Saturday to congratulate Armenians on Easter.

Pashinyan recited The Beatitudes of Jesus Christ, according to the Gospel of Matthew:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Pashinyan added the traditional Armenian Apostolic Church Easter greeting and response: “Christ is risen from the dead. Blessed is the Resurrection of Christ.”



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