- Susan Badalian
An Armenian deacon on Friday claimed to have been physically attacked by a bishop who has joined Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian in demanding Catholicos Garegin II’s resignation.
The long-serving clergyman, Gegham Avetisian, said Bishop Anushavan Zhamkochian repeatedly hit him right after a recent Easter Eve service in Yerevan’s St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral.
“I don’t know if that can be considered a beating, but he dealt me several blows,” Avetisian told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service.
He said he is still taking medication to cope with what he described as mental pain caused by the April 4 incident.
Zhamkochian, who oversees the country’s largest cathedral, denied assaulting Avetisian. He said he only reprimanded the latter over “proper performance of a deacon’s duties” after the service led by Archimandrite Poghos Vardapetian.
Vardapetian said that during the service the bishop ordered the deacon to descend from the cathedral’s altar and stop participating in the ceremony for unknown reasons.
“I called [Avetisian] and wondered if there is a [reason for such an order,]” Vardapetian told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service. “He said no. I therefore said, ‘Stay on and continue your ministry so that the liturgical service does not suffer.’”
Zhamkochian and Avetisian had a one-on-one meeting in an adjacent room after the service, Vardapetian said. He described the deacon as a “very humble, obedient and servile person devoted to the church.”
Avetisian has served as a deacon for 23 years and remains loyal to Garegin. By contrast, Zhamkochian was among about a dozen senior clergymen who broke ranks last November to join Pashinian’s controversial campaign against the supreme head of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
One of them, the California-based Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, effectively pledged renewed allegiance to Garegin in February. He signed a joint statement by over two dozen bishops that condemned Armenia’s authorities for their “unfounded prosecution” of the Catholicos. Another renegade bishop, Abraham Mkrtchian, retired from the church one month later with Garegin’s permission requested by him.
Pashinian began his campaign last May right after Garegin accused Azerbaijan of committing ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh and illegally occupying Armenian border areas during an international conference in Switzerland.
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From Purchasing to the Delegation of Intentions: The Future with AI Agents at
The premier Armenian event for the digital economy and financial technology, the Doing Digital Forum (DDF), took place in Yerevan for its fourth consecutive year. Under the theme “Bridging Platforms and Economies,” the forum gathered approximately 30 local and international speakers, including leading experts, business representatives, and public sector officials, to explore the future of the global digital landscape.
Tatevik Simonyan, Founder of Doing Digital Forum and Co-Founder of SPRING PR, Forum’s organizer, opened the event by highlighting how digital technologies are transforming not only business connectivity but how entire economies interlink. “In the recent past, these connections were built through states, banks, and traditional trade relations; today, they are primarily formed around digital platforms, data, and financial technologies. This has become a new environment where economies are united not by roads, but by data, algorithms, and digital infrastructures,” she noted.
The central theme served as an invitation to think strategically about our collective role in shaping the architecture of tomorrow’s global economy. Martin Galstyan, Governor of the Central Bank of Armenia, noted that despite global uncertainties, the current era also presents unique opportunities. “Armenia, situated at the crossroads of Asia and Europe, is uniquely positioned to be a bridge in the true sense—linking markets, ideas, capital, and talent across continents,” Galstyan stated. He added: “But for that bridge to come to fruition, it must be built on solid ground. It is macroeconomic stability and institutional credibility that provide that ground. With the right financial and digital infrastructure in place, our partners in Armenia and around the world will be well-positioned to innovate, invest, and build the economy of tomorrow.”
According to Mkhitar Hayrapetyan, Minister of High-Tech Industry of the RA, building a digital society and economy based on trust is a strategic priority for the Government. “Artificial intelligence aims to simplify the lives of citizens and create an environment of trust and predictability for the private sector. It serves to protect citizen data, build infrastructure, and provide a new environment for the development of technology and innovation,” the Minister emphasized.
Adding to this national vision, Eduard Hakobyan, Chairman of the State Revenue Committee, presented a strategy to position Armenia as a regional technological and logistics hub. “By combining international tax transparency, ‘smart borders,’ and e-commerce integration, Armenia is emerging as a high-trust technological and logistical crossroads,” Hakobyan stated.
The agenda featured keynote speeches and panel discussions centered on the harmonious collaboration between AI agents and human potential, the interconnection of financial capital and technological platforms, and the balancing of regulatory frameworks alongside rapid innovation.
This year’s special guest, Leiming Chen, Senior Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer at Ant International, shared his vision of “agentic commerce” during a fireside chat with David Pollack, Innovation Ecosystem Leader and Managing Partner at Unchain. “AI has already become a core layer of financial infrastructure,” Chen remarked. “The next phase is AI agents acting as active participants… fundamentally changing money from something static and user-driven to something dynamic, programmable, and increasingly autonomous.”
In his keynote, Oleksandr Yablunivskyy, VP and Head of Products and Solutions at Visa CISSEE, discussed the payment ecosystem in the age of agentic AI, citing Deloitte research that predicts agentic AI will influence 30% of digital commerce, a $17.5 trillion opportunity, by 2030. “The next stage will be when the agent initiates the transaction under human control, and then that agent will conclude autonomous transactions. This means that we will delegate not only our purchases, but also our intentions,” Yablunivskyy stated, noting that the most critical challenges ahead involve security and consumer trust.
Matias Undurraga, Enterprise Technologist at Amazon Web Services (AWS), declared the end of the digital transformation era, urging companies to become AI-native. “An AI-native enterprise is a company that uses AI not as a tool, nor like a chatbot. It uses AI to rethink the way it operates and the way it builds. Their teams think about AI not as a tool, but as teammates” said Undurraga.
Dirk Ohlmeier, CEO of Just Better, addressed the fundamental shift in leadership, urging leaders to move out of the “dark zone” of fearing replacement. “AI is not replacing us; you will be replaced by humans who use AI. We are in an age of infinite opportunity, but it requires a leader who uses ultimate human power, curiosity, creativity, and courage, and supports it with AI. AI is here to push you and make you better,” Ohlmeier said.
Other sessions explored open finance, new payment ecosystem, and the interconnection between digital infrastructures and the real economy.
“The next stage of financial infrastructure is a more direct connection between platforms and economies,” noted Artur Kartshikyan, Founder and CEO of aeda wallet. “New financial rails allow value to move more freely – linking markets, unlocking new opportunities, and strengthening economic ties beyond borders.”
According to Aram Azatyan, Founder and Director of Finbox, Armenia’s first and only independent ATM network, completely abandoning cash is currently unrealistic. Finbox’s approach is that accessibility to cash actually supports the growth of cashless transactions.
Sadyk Azimov, Deputy General Director for Digitalization at Zangezur Copper Molybdenum Combine (ZCMC), emphasized that for the mining industry, digitalization is a fundamental shift in business operations. “Digitalization is a complex transformation that redefines how we operate, moving beyond simple technical upgrades to integrated, end-to-end management processes,” Azimov stated. He noted that by leveraging real-time data and sensors, ZCMC is creating a “single source of truth” that optimizes production while fundamentally enhancing safety and ESG compliance.
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Since its launch in 2023, DDF has featured the latest technological developments and economic trends, bringing together over 90 prominent speakers and up to 4,000 participants from 15 countries such as Armenia, Georgia, the United Kingdom, the United States, the UAE, Germany, Australia, Switzerland, Poland and CIS countries.
The forum is organized by SPRING PR, with Visa serving as the Innovation Partner, imID as the Digital Identity Partner, aeda as the Blockchain Partner, Zangezur Copper Molybdenum Combine as the Industrial Transformation Partner, and Freedom Broker Armenia as the Investment partner.
Published by Armenpress, original at
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Verelq: RA should be the axis and center of gravity of Armenian life. Pasha
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan attended “Arshil Gorky. New York – Yerevan. at the opening of the exhibition entitled “new achievement”. The government acquired the graphic work “Untitled” (1944) by the world-famous American-Armenian artist from the international auction, which is an important contribution to the addition of the national collection.
The event was attended by Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Zhanna Andreasyan, Director of the National Gallery of Armenia Marina Hakobyan, representatives of the executive power, artists, guests.
The Prime Minister delivered a speech, congratulated everyone on the occasion of this day, noted that Arshil Gorky is one of the significant figures of world fine arts and fine arts of Armenian origin. “Today’s event and the Government’s decision have several meanings and all these meanings are, of course, related to the following. we talk a lot about the fact that the state, the statehood, the Republic of Armenia should be the core and center of gravity of Armenian life. Our people have had different pages of history: sometimes the center of Armenian reality was Madras, sometimes, at some time the center of Armenian reality was Istanbul, sometimes at some time the center of Armenian reality was Tbilisi, at some time the center of Armenian reality was Venice, etc. We say that the center of Armenian reality and life is the Republic of Armenia in all aspects: cultural, ideological, ideological. And this situation, which exists and must develop, must be permanent and not temporary.”
According to Nikol Pashinyan, the critical mass of Armenian art and cultural heritage should be in the Republic of Armenia. According to the head of the country, this is not an isolated event, because recently a similar important event took place in the history museum, such an event has already been celebrated twice in Matenadaran. Prime Minister Pashinyan emphasized that this is a policy adopted by the Government and all opportunities will be used to bring the heritage of Armenian origin of art and culture to the Republic of Armenia and make it a lasting haven for these values.
In this context, the Prime Minister thanked all the citizens of Armenia who work, create results, and pay the taxes prescribed by law, because Arshil Gorky’s canvas appeared in the Republic of Armenia thanks to thousands of tax-paying citizens.
Summarizing his speech, Nikol Pashinyan also thanked the people who initiated and initiated this process and brought it to a logical end.
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Within the framework of the program of replenishment of the museum collections of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the Republic of Armenia implemented in 2025 with state funds, the “Culture Development” Foundation conducted inspections of the lists of values presented for sale by international auction houses and private galleries.
As a result of observations, it was found that the graphic work “Untitled” (1944) by the world-famous American-Armenian artist Arshil Gorku (paper, pencil, 45.4 × 55.5 cm) is presented at Sotheby’s auction house operating in London. The starting price of the auction was 45,000 euros, and the expected maximum price was 70,000 euros.
During the auction held on December 3, 2025, the Government purchased the given work for 30,978,000 (thirty million nine hundred and seventy-eight thousand) drams and it was placed in the National Gallery of Armenia.
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Is Nikol Pashinyan giving a “turn” to the “Western” forces?
“We have not argued with Russia, we do not argue, we will not argue. Attempts to involve us in all contradictions, be it economic or political, are futile. No one will succeed in doing this. Those who want to undermine the friendship and brotherhood between the Republic of Armenia and the Russian Federation, those people are just foreign agents.” This is announced by Nikol Pashinyan in the parliament.
Is Nikol Pashinyan giving a “turn” so to speak to the “Western” forces? But aren’t those forces his allies, because they are fighting against the opposition forces, those forces are described as “pro-Russian”, “old Russian”, “Russian subject”. It’s not that the “Westerners” or so called “pro-Westerners” help Nikol Pashinyan in that way. Now, in fact, he declares that those who want an Armenian-Russian confrontation are “innoagents”.
I repeat, it is enough to listen to the political and, so to speak, civil subjects, and it is obvious who expresses himself with an anti-Russian emphasis. Accordingly, it is clear that what Pashinyan says refers to pro-Westerners, who are his allies in the fight against the opposition. So the question arises, why does Nikol Pashinyan declare his allies “innoagents”?
But, at first glance, this surprising circumstance is not so surprising in practice. Nikol Pashinyan needs a lot of votes, every vote is important, because there is a serious rating problem. Therefore, he also needs the votes of “allies”.
It will not even be surprising if in the near future certain compromising materials will appear in the field regarding many of them.
Analyst Hakob Badalyan
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The number of arrested people reached 14
This morning, searches were conducted in all offices of the “Strong Armenia” party in Artashat, some people were detained.
The sources of the law enforcement system “Hraparak” say that they were arrested for making promises of alleged “election bribes” and distributing election bribes.
Hasmik Amirzadyan is among those arrested. All are in the anti-corruption committee.
Updated
As part of the criminal proceedings under investigation by the Anti-Corruption Committee of Armenia, 14 persons were arrested on charges of giving and receiving election bribes. This was reported by the department.
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No exports from Armenia to Azerbaijan recorded – State Revenue Committee deni
There has been no recorded case of exports from Armenia to Azerbaijan, the press service of the State Revenue Committee of Armenia told Sputnik Armenia.
Earlier, Azerbaijani media, citing the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan, reported that Azerbaijan had imported goods from Armenia for the first time in March of this year, with the total value amounting to $960.
“Responding to the information circulated in the press, we inform you that, according to the customs statistics of the State Revenue Committee of the Republic of Armenia, no instance of exports from Armenia to Azerbaijan has been recorded,” the Committee stated.
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Netanyahu says U.S.-Iran ceasefire ‘does not include Lebanon’
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has expressed support for the United States’ decision to suspend strikes on Iran, but said the two-week truce will not extend to Israel’s ongoing military operations in Lebanon.
In a statement on X on Wednesday, Netanyahu said Israel backed US President Donald Trump’s efforts to ensure “Iran no longer poses a nuclear, missile and terror threat to America, Israel, Iran’s Arab neighbors and the world”.
But the two-week ceasefire “does not include Lebanon”, he said.
Netanyahu’s statement comes after Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that the US, Iran and their allies “have agreed to an immediate ceasefire everywhere, including Lebanon and elsewhere,” according to Al Jazeera.
Sharif said the move was “effective immediately”.
Lebanon was drawn into the U.S. and Israel’s war on Iran on March 2 after Tehran-aligned Hezbollah launched attacks on Israel.
Published by Armenpress, original at
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Cypriot Parliament commemorates Armenian Genocide victims
The Cypriot parliament observed a moment of silence during the opening of its plenary session in honor of the victims of the Armenian Genocide of 1915 in the Ottoman Empire.
Armenian Ambassador to Cyprus, Inna Torgmonyan, participated in the session, the embassy said.
The plenary session was opened with a special address by President of the House of Representatives, Annita Demetriou, followed by the observance of the moment of silence. Member of the House of Representatives Vartkes Mahdessian, representing the Armenian community, delivered the main speech.
Published by Armenpress, original at
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RA is ready for all scenarios. Pashinyan about the possible price increase of gas
Armenia has been ready for any scenario of the development of events for a long time, but the technical problems emerging in the Armenian-Russian trade and economic relations should not be politicized. As for the supply of Russian gas, it is regulated by long-term contracts. This was announced by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, responding to the questions about the obstacles to the export of Armenian products (in particular, brandy and flowers) and the possible increase in the price of gas.
During the briefing following the April 9 cabinet meeting, the Prime Minister refused to comment on hypothetical scenarios regarding the intensification of economic pressures, stating that one should be guided by the facts. According to Pashinyan, the problems related to export are mostly technical and refer to product quality and standards.
He reminded that since 2018, the government has been talking about the need to modernize the economy and standardize products, for which the state has allocated millions of dollars to businesses.
“We support and will continue to support economic operators in modernization, but we also do not agree that an attempt is made to present technical issues under a political umbrella,” Pashinyan emphasized. He also added that there are clear rules for the free movement of goods, services, capital and labor in the Eurasian Economic Union, and as a member of the Higher Economic and Intergovernmental Councils of the Eurasian Economic Union, he will be consistent in their smooth operation.
Referring to the risks of the possible price increase of Russian gas and the termination of contracts, the head of the government emphasized that Yerevan and Moscow have long-term contracts, and there is no basis for such assumptions.
“We cannot relate to Russia or any other country with the logic that one of the parties thinks that the other will violate all its agreements. That would mean that the violating party is not a contractual entity at all. How can such a thing happen?” concluded the RA Prime Minister.
Why did the gas price issue arise?
Discussions about the possible increase in gas tariffs intensified after the Pashinyan-Putin meeting held in Moscow on April 1. During the meeting, Russian President Vladimir Putin specially emphasized that Russia supplies gas to Armenia at preferential prices. According to him, when the price of 1000 cubic meters of gas in Europe exceeds 600 dollars, Armenia receives it for 177.5 dollars. The Russian President also noted that he is familiar with the approaches of the Armenian side regarding pricing mechanisms, over which the parties often “debate”.
Let us also add that Russia, represented by Gazprom, is the de facto monopolist supplying natural gas to Armenia. According to the data of 2024, Armenia imported a total of about 2.7 billion cubic meters of natural gas, the vast majority of which, about 2.3 billion cubic meters (or about 84% of the total volume), fell to Russia. The rest is imported from Iran, providing only 16% of the country’s domestic demand (mainly through the “gas for electricity” barter program).
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Calls Grow for Release of Teenager Arrested on Palm Sunday for ‘Confronting’ P
YEREVAN (Azatutyun.am)—Armenia’s human rights defender appeared to add her voice on Thursday to growing calls for the release of a high school student who was arrested on March 29 after confronting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in a church in Yerevan.
The 18-year-old man, Davit Minasyan, remained, meanwhile, in hospital in what his lawyers described as serious condition.
Minasyan was arrested and charged with hooliganism and obstruction of Pashinyan’s “political activities” after an incident that marred a Plam Sunday Mass in St. Anne’s Church. The church was packed with worshippers when Pashinyan unexpectedly arrived there with his bodyguards who cleared the way for his passage. A visibly annoyed Minasyan told them not to push him and said he wants to keep “standing in the middle” of the church.
“Don’t look at me like that,” he then told Pashinyan before stretching a hand toward his shoulder.
Minasyan was punched and knocked down by one of the bodyguards as Pashinyan left the church amid angry cries from other believers. His twin brother Mikael and another man were also detained and indicted afterwards. But they both were freed pending investigation.
Davit Minasyan was rushed to Yerevan’s Nairi Medical Center on April 3 hospital after reportedly passing out at a juvenile institution just north of the Armenian capital. Only his lawyers have been allowed to visit him there. According to them, he was injured in the head and suffered concussion in the church.
“I visited him this morning,” one of the lawyers, Lusine Martirosyan, told reporters. “He complained of headaches. I tried my best not to disturb him. He said he wants to sleep all the time.”
Martirosyan spoke as a group of Minasyan’s sympathizers gathered outside the Office of the Prosecutor-General to demand an urgent meeting with Prosecutor-General Anna Vardapetyan and hand her a letter signed by 150 people demanding the student’s release. Vardapetyan refused to receive them.
A similar petition circulated online earlier has been signed by thousands of other Armenians. Anahit Manasyan, the human rights ombudsman installed by the country’s current leadership, insisted as recently as on Wednesday that she has no legal authority to also call for the student’s release from custody.
In an apparent change of heart, Manasyan said on Thursday: “Taking into account the documents available regarding the suspect’s health condition, issues related to his right to education etc., I myself have also suggested that an alternative measure of deterrence [for the student] be considered.”
Pashinyan and his political allies have defended Minasyan’s arrest, saying that the student assaulted the prime minister. Armenian opposition figures counter, however, that the church incident was the result of what they see as Pashinyan’s provocative behavior. They claim that Pashinyan ordered the arrest in a bid to intimidate disgruntled Armenians ahead of the June 7 parliamentary elections.
Pashinyan has spent the past several weekends touring various parts of the country and talking to people on what looked like election campaign trips. Some of those citizens caused him to lose his temper by openly denouncing his policies or complaining about his government’s track record.
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