Author: Kanayan Tamar

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan visited downtown Yerevan on Saturday to participate in the Citizen’s Day celebrations, an annual public holiday observed since 2019.

Pashinyan toured the food festival on Amiryan Street and spoke with people, who also took selfies with him. A concert will take place at 20:00 in Republic Square, Yerevan. Pashinyan said he would also attend the concert.

The Central Electoral Commission of the Republic of Armenia on Tuesday hosted a delegation led by Scott Mastic, Vice President of the International Republican Institute.

The CEC said it had earlier decided to invite a foreign non-governmental organization to conduct an observation mission for the June 7, 2026 parliamentary elections.

CEC Chairman Vahagn Hovakimyan welcomed the delegation and answered their questions regarding the legislation.

On April 20, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had a telephone conversation with Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran Abbas Araghchi, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a press release.

“Abbas Araghchi informed Sergey Lavrov of the Islamic Republic’s position regarding ceasefire violations committed by the United States, including an illegal naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and a seizure of an Iranian container ship,” it reads.

According to the foreign ministry, the Russian side reiterated the need to maintain the ceasefire which must be observed within the parameters initially agreed upon and announced by Pakistani mediators. 

“The importance of continuing diplomatic efforts aimed at preventing the situation from escalating uncontrollably and avoiding a relapse into armed confrontation was emphasised.

Russia also reaffirmed its readiness to facilitate the achievement of mutually acceptable agreements between Iran and the Arab states of the Persian Gulf.

The Iranian side, for its part, reaffirmed its readiness to take all necessary steps to ensure unimpeded passage of Russian vessels and cargo through the aforementioned waterway,” it reads.

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has mentioned the relationship with Armenia in his address to the eighty-second session of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).

“Since 2021, when I first addressed this distinguished body, the South Caucasus has undergone profound transformation. Azerbaijan has fully restored its sovereignty and territorial integrity and initiated a peace agenda with Armenia. At the Washington Summit last August hosted by President Donald Trump of the United States of America, historic progress was achieved in the normalization between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Today, we are witnessing the dividends of peace. Trade relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia have commenced, and Azerbaijan is now facilitating transit access for Armenia. Reciprocal visits of civil society representatives are contributing to confidence-building,” the Azerbaijani APA news agency quoted Aliyev as saying.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan reiterated that the Armenian judiciary ought to be reformed and highlighted the proposed new constitution in that regard.

He spoke about the matter at a press briefing when asked about his suggestion to introduce a jury system in the judiciary.

With the adoption of a new Constitution in Armenia, significant changes are expected in the judicial system, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said.

He noted that there is even a proposal suggesting that, from the moment the new Constitution is adopted, the status of all judges should be redefined as acting judges. Within a set period, and only after the establishment of a new integrity standard—which would become possible under new legal regulations—they would be reappointed.

Pashinyan said that there cannot be a judiciary—or any branch of government—that is not organically connected to the people.

“I believe the General Assembly of Judges, for example, should not have the right to elect members of the Supreme Judicial Council. They should have the right to nominate candidates, but in all cases the final decision should be made by the body that holds the primary mandate of the people, and that body is the National Assembly,” Pashinyan said.

Pashinyan recalled that when he said years ago that the judicial system should be independent, he did not mean it should be independent from him while being dependent on many others.

“This is where a balance is disrupted, and we need to address this issue. For example, if it turns out that there is a judge in Armenia who does not meet the professional standards of a judge, then that person cannot be independent, because while writing decisions, verdicts, or reviewing motions, they will constantly turn to others, which in itself creates dependencies with resulting consequences,” Pashinyan emphasized.

Ucom press release 

As part of a free First-Person View (FPV) drone training program for teenagers organized by the ArmDrone community with the support of Ucom, an open class was held. The session was attended by the General Director of  Ucom, Ralph Yirikian.

During the session, participants worked with software, soldered drone components, performed indoor flights using Mini Whoop drones, observed demonstrations of large drone flights, and took part in a small virtual competition.

“Such educational initiatives play an important role in the development of the tech community and the formation of a new generation. At Ucom, we believe that fostering technological thinking among young people and equipping them with practical skills is a long-term investment in the country’s future,” said Ralph Yirikian, General Director of Ucom.

In conversation with the General Director, participants shared their experiences and discussed the challenges they faced, their interests, and their future goals.

“We attach great importance to such initiatives, as they contribute to community development and increase young people’s interest in technology-related fields. Teenagers participate in the courses with great enthusiasm. We highly appreciate the opportunity provided by Ucom,” said Hayk Karapetyan, founder of the ArmDrone community.

For the second consecutive year, dozens of teenagers have had the opportunity to gain knowledge in the field of UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) field through these courses supported by Ucom, while developing their technical thinking and practical skills. Participants are introduced to modern UAV technologies, the fundamentals of engineering thinking, and the specifics of FPV drones. They acquire both theoretical and practical knowledge of UAV mechanical structure, software and flight parameter configuration, safety regulations, and explore competition strategies while developing relevant skills.

*FPV drone (First-Person View) — a type of unmanned aerial vehicle that allows the operator to control the drone from a first-person perspective. Through a video transmitter mounted on the device, the camera feed is transmitted to the operator’s video receiver (FPV goggles), enabling control over long distances. This technology is widely used in filmmaking, education, and international drone racing competitions.