The Armenian national boxing team kicked off its first training camp of the year in the resort town of Tsaghkadzor in preparation for the World Boxing Cup – Brazil 2026.
Round 1 of the training camp will conclude on March 31, with another round scheduled to begin on April 4, the Boxing Federation of Armenia said in a press release.
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Member of Parliament Vladimir Vardanyan was confirmed by parliament as a Constitutional Court Justice in a closed vote following a confirmation hearing.
Only 67 of the 107 MPs took part in the vote, with all voting in favor of Vardanyan’s candidacy. He is expected to resign from parliament and take the oath of office as a Justice of the Constitutional Court on March 26.
Vardanyan had been serving as an MP since 2019 and chaired the parliamentary Committee on State-Legal Affairs.
He had been affiliated with the ruling Civil Contract party for years but resigned after President Vahagn Khachaturyan nominated him for the Constitutional Court, to become nonpartisan, a requirement for serving in the independent judicial body.
During the confirmation hearing on Tuesday, amid opposition concerns about ties to the ruling party, Vardanyan vowed to remain impartial and uphold the constitution if elected. He reminded lawmakers of the oath of office for an MP:
“I have been in the Parliament for seven years, and each of us is under an oath, which contains a clear requirement—to uphold the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia. From the moment of taking the oath, you assume responsibilities, and regardless of your political orientation or personal preferences, you are obliged to act in accordance with your oath,” Vardanyan said.
Vardanyan is expected to replace Hrayr Tovmasyan, whose mandate at the high court was terminated after a court found him guilty of exceeding his authority while serving as justice minister more than a decade ago.
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Ambassador of Armenia to the United States Narek Mkrtchyan held a meeting in Washington, D.C. with Bethany Kozma, Director of the Office of Global Affairs of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to discuss prospects for the development of Armenia–U.S. cooperation in the field of healthcare, the embassy reported.
Julie Wallace, Deputy Assistant Secretary (Office of Global Affairs), also participated in the meeting.
According to a readout, the sides addressed the bilateral cooperation agenda, particularly emphasizing the importance of strengthening the institutional foundations of cooperation in the healthcare sector.
A number of issues were also discussed, including opportunities for cooperation in the areas of biosafety, development of laboratory capacities, medical education and training, as well as the application of innovative technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) in the healthcare sector.
The importance of expanding collaboration with relevant U.S. institutions and professional organizations was also underscored, with a view to enhancing professional capacities and promoting the exchange of expertise.
The parties agreed to continue the dialogue to ensure the practical implementation of the issues discussed.
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The Armenian Prime Minister’s casual language fight with a forcibly displaced woman from Artsakh in the Yerevan subway turned into a high-profile political scandal. Nikol Pashinyan’s public outburst, the accusations against people who lost their homes and the hasty apology that followed revealed the deep crisis in the relationship between the government and society, turning the political agenda into a stage of social hostility.
The scene unfolding in the Yerevan metro carriage seemed to become a regular episode of a politician’s interaction with the people. However, the polite refusal of the woman, who was forced to leave Nagorno-Karabakh, to take the pre-election booklets, caused an unexpected harsh reaction from the Prime Minister. Waving a finger in front of a small child and being surrounded by a dense circle of bodyguards. Nikol Pashinyan went on a rant, accusing the refugees of having spent “billions” on them, and throwing categorical words; “Don’t try to say that I gave away Karabakh with those who escaped.” Just hours later, realizing the scale of the outrage on social media, the Prime Minister released a video message apologizing and calling for a new meeting.
To independent observers and political opponents, however, this gesture was not so much a sign of genuine remorse as a clumsy attempt to minimize the damage done to his reputation. As a political commentator notes Hakob Badalyan, this apology is more like a carefully calculated urban-technological trap. The woman’s consent to the meeting will instantly turn the state propaganda machine in favor of the prime minister, and her refusal will give a legitimate reason for a new wave of persecution. The vocabulary chosen by the head of the government also deserves special attention. The use of the term “Karabaghtsi” instead of “Artsakh citizen” is an obvious attempt to balance internal resentment and the fear of provoking the anger of the president of neighboring Azerbaijan.
It was this sharp contrast between the behavior of the Prime Minister of Armenia in the international arena and within the country that made him the leader of the Wings of Unity alliance, a candidate for the Prime Minister. Arman Tatoyan the target of harsh criticism. In his address, the politician noted that the metro incident finally tore Pashinyan’s mask of pacifism. According to Tatoyan, the man who lavishly distributes “pachiks and hearts” to the public every day showed his true face, trying to humiliate the Armenian mother in the presence of his entourage. The opposition figure pointed out the astonishing metamorphosis. In meetings with Ilham Aliyev, the head of the government smiles, obligingly offers coffee and shows extreme obedience, but when he returns to his homeland, he “cuts a lion” and unleashes his aggression on defenseless citizens. Instead of fighting against an external threat, the government itself becomes a generator of internal hatred, Tatoyan emphasized, promising to become a leader who will heal wounds and unite society, not divide it for the sake of keeping the seat.
In the background of such uncompromising and harsh criticism of the former ombudsman, the acting Human Rights Defender of Armenia Anahit Manasyan the response was too restrained and abstract. In his official statement, he never directly mentioned either the name of the prime minister or the actual incident in the subway. Instead of giving a specific legal assessment to the actions of the first person of the country, the existing HRD was satisfied with general statements that political rhetoric is activated in the electoral processes. Manasyan only called on “officials, all political and public actors” to show the necessary sensitivity when communicating with forcibly displaced people in order not to deepen their vulnerability. This evasive call to create an “atmosphere of solidarity”, which carefully avoids direct criticism of the outrageous behavior of the head of state, only emphasizes the depth of the existing institutional crisis in the country.
The problem is actually much deeper than a politician’s personal intemperance. Political scientist Tigran Grigoryan diagnoses the consequences of this incident very accurately. such behavior of the first person of the state legitimizes hate speech at the household level. When the prime minister publicly announced that he was giving financial aid to the people who lost their homeland, he gave a green light to the extremist elements of his electorate. The wheel of aggression launched in the metro will inevitably move to social networks, kitchens and streets, destroying the already fragile fabric of Armenian society.
The actions of the information resources affiliated with the ruling “Civil Pact” party became the absolute confirmation of this political hypocrisy. While Pashinyan was publicly apologizing, the party’s Civic.am periodical began purposefully publishing angry posts on the same woman’s personal social pages. This is a classic method of political reprisal, which, according to experts, is aimed at marginalizing any voice that dares to criticize the government.
“Instead of acting as a guarantor of the nation’s unity in this difficult historical period, the state machine directs huge resources to driving a wedge between the people of Armenia and those forcibly displaced from Artsakh. This dangerous course does not solve any of the country’s institutional problems, but creates new, deep lines of division, which will no longer be possible to heal with the occasional apologies in messengers,” the experts say.
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After political verdicts were handed down against Armenian prisoners of war in Azerbaijani courts, public attention to this issue has significantly declined, wrote National Assembly deputy Tigran Abrahamyan.
“Although Azerbaijani media outlets presented the events selectively and with significant distortions, the photos, videos, and fragmentary statements of Armenian POWs still conveyed certain information.
With the closure of the office of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Baku, the information blockade surrounding Armenians held in Azerbaijan has become even more complete.
The Armenian authorities are taking no steps to break this information blockade, as their agenda and priorities lie in an entirely different sphere.
Freedom to all Armenians held in prisons in Baku,” he noted.
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Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has congratulated the Kurdish community of Armenia on the occasion of Newroz.
“Dear representatives of the Kurdish community of the Republic of Armenia, I warmly congratulate you on the occasion of Newroz, the New Year,” the Armenian Prime Minister said in a statement published by his office.
“On this holiday symbolizing the spring’s renewal, I wish new achievements to all Kurds living in our country, who, as an important part of our society, bring a unique color to the nation’s public and cultural life. We take pride in the successes and accomplishments of our Kurdish citizens, while also recognizing the existing challenges that we must address through our creative efforts. Be assured that the state is attentive to and committed to supporting the development of national minority communities living in Armenia. Once again congratulating you on this beautiful holiday, I wish your families abundance and harmony, and your community the successful implementation of new development programs. Happy Newroz.”
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On March 12, an extraordinary incident took place in Yerevan. Around 10:15, the Nor Nork Division of the Community Police Department of the RA Ministry of Internal Affairs received an alert that one of the residents of the special shelter located at 29/1 Moldovakan Street was in a mentally unbalanced state and asked a police officer to come to him in order to take him to a mental health center.
Shamshyan.com reports that after some time, the Nor Nork Police Department received information that a child who was abused at the address was taken by the ambulance team to the Wigmore Medical Center with the diagnosis of “bruises on the body and neck with a lip injury.”
According to the source, the officers of the Nor Nork police department found out that the victim was a 3-year-old boy, an Iraqi citizen, and on the same day, around 10:00 a.m., the 35-year-old mother shouted at the child in the allocated room, after which she hit him several times on different parts of the body, then threw him from the bed to the floor and dragged him, causing physical injuries.
On the facts of the incident, documents were drawn up in the Nor Nork police department, which were transferred to the investigative department of the Avan and Nor Nork administrative districts of the Yerevan City Investigation Department of the RA Investigative Committee.
Notice: The person suspected or accused of the alleged crime is considered innocent, until his guilt is proven in accordance with the procedure established by the RA Criminal Procedure Code, by the court’s legally binding verdict.
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Ilia II, the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, died on Tuesday at the age of 93 after being hospitalized, the Georgian public broadcaster First Channel reported.
The announcement was made outside Tbilisi’s Caucasus Medical Centre by Metropolitan Shio Mujiri, Locum Tenens of the Georgian Patriarchal Throne, according to the report.
Following a deterioration in his health, Ilia II had initially been taken to the Chapidze Clinic and subsequently transferred to the Caucasus Medical Centre. He led the Georgian Orthodox Church since 1977.
Following the news of the patriarch’s death, Georgia declared a national day of mourning.
According to the government decree, state flags will be flown at half-mast on administrative buildings across the country.
Ilia II will lie in state at the Holy Trinity Cathedral, according to Archpriest Andria Jaghmaidze, Head of the Georgian Orthodox Church’s Public Relations Service.
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Under the updated rules, travellers who hold a valid residence permit from the United States, European Union Member States, Schengen Area countries, the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait or Oman can now enter Armenia without obtaining a visa, provided their permit is valid for at least six months from the date of entry. Eligible visitors may stay for up to 180 days within a one‑year period, giving ample flexibility for everything from short city breaks to extended exploratory journeys.
The initiative is part of Armenia’s wider strategy to boost tourism, strengthen global connectivity and encourage more last‑minute travel whether that’s a weekend in Yerevan, a family visit, a business trip or a longer adventure through the country’s dramatic landscapes. With visa barriers lowered, Armenia is positioning itself as one of the most accessible destinations in the Caucasus.
Armenia sits in the Armenian Highlands of West Asia, part of the culturally rich and historically complex Caucasus region. It is bordered by Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Iran and the Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhchivan, placing it at the crossroads of Europe and Asia a geography that has shaped its identity for millennia.
This is a country where ancient monasteries cling to cliffsides, volcanic mountains dominate the skyline, and millennia‑old traditions sit comfortably alongside a fast‑modernising capital. Yerevan, one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities, blends Soviet architecture with pink‑stone boulevards, wine bars, jazz clubs and a thriving café culture. Beyond the capital, travellers find deep gorges, high‑altitude lakes, UNESCO‑listed monasteries and a food culture rooted in hospitality and seasonality.
The new visa‑free policy is particularly attractive for business travellers and digital nomads who need flexibility. With stays of up to 180 days permitted, Armenia becomes a practical base for remote work, regional business trips or extended stays that blend work and exploration. Yerevan’s growing tech scene, modern co‑working spaces and strong café culture make it an appealing hub for professionals seeking somewhere fresh, affordable and culturally rich.
Connectivity is improving too. Direct flights link Yerevan to major European and Middle Eastern hubs, and the country’s compact size makes it easy to combine meetings in the capital with weekend escapes to Lake Sevan, Dilijan National Park or the wine‑growing region of Vayots Dzor.
Perhaps the biggest shift is psychological: Armenia is now a destination you can decide to visit on a whim. No visa forms, no waiting times, no administrative hurdles just a valid residence permit and a passport. For travellers accustomed to last‑minute city breaks or flexible business schedules, this opens the door to a part of the world that was previously less accessible.
Whether you’re drawn by its monasteries, mountains, wine, culture or emerging business scene, Armenia is ready to welcome a new wave of global travellers and with its visa‑free policy now in place, there has never been a better moment to visit.
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The press secretary of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, Nazeli Baghdasaryan has rejected a report published by the website VT Foreign Policy and its author Lucas Leiroz, which alleged that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and several officials were involved in trafficking and organ sales.
Baghdasaryan said the article contained “serious and obviously unfounded accusations” and was part of an information manipulation campaign.
“It is obvious that the publication exploits extremely sensitive and emotional topics for society- human health, organ transplantation and alleged trafficking – in an attempt to create a shocking and discrediting information background,” Baghdasaryan wrote on Facebook.
She said such methods are commonly used to undermine trust in state institutions and officials.
Baghdasaryan also pointed to dynamics of the dissemination of the material, noting it first appeared on social media, including on the X platform via the author, then quickly spread through bot networks and was republished by several Azerbaijani media outlets. She said the claims were later circulated within Armenia by certain political groups.
“This sequence is typical of the mechanisms of disseminating disinformation often encountered in the regional information environment,” she said.
Baghdasaryan stressed that the allegations had no factual basis and urged media and the public to treat the publication as “another manifestation of information-hybrid influence actions.”
“Several media outlets in Armenia have already sought clarification. Therefore, I consider it necessary to state clearly that this publication is disinformation and should be regarded as another manifestation of information-hybrid influence operations,” Baghdasaryan said.
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