Author: Maral Takmazian

Pashinyan highlights education and investment as keys to public sector innovat

Maral Takmazian

Armenia13:51, 17 March 2026
Read the article in: FrançaisՀայերենRussian

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, in his speech at the Public Sector Innovation Forum III, emphasized the critical link between public sector performance, innovation, and the overall quality of life for Armenian citizens.

“The quality of work in the public administration sector directly translates into the quality of life of the public. I believe, however, that this connection is not always recognized or understood everywhere. To make the lives of our citizens better, we need to improve the quality of governance in the public sector. And to improve governance, there is one key tool: additional investments in this sector.

In general, our thinking in many areas tends to be extra-systemic and extra-governmental, and we continue to believe that it is possible to avoid investment and still achieve good results—relying, for example, on enthusiasm, emotion, dedication, and the like. At the same time, the role of enthusiasm, emotion, and dedication should never be underestimated,” the Prime Minister said, adding, “If there is no infrastructure to transform enthusiasm and emotion into value, then enthusiasm and emotion alone cannot have a significant impact.”

According to the Prime Minister, there is another challenge in improving the public sector in the current reality, because, at least on a subconscious and emotional level, the public sector is somewhat demonized.

“This is connected to our historical experience. Our several-hundred-year history shows that we have dealt with a public sector that is oppressive, destructive, obstructive, and inhibiting. This has been the nature of our experience over the last 500 years, with some exceptions. And this perception continues to persist in our reality. The truth, however, is that the public sector constitutes the rails on which the train of our public life runs. We can make the greatest possible investments in the train itself—gold-plating its seats and carriages—but if proper investments are not made in the rails, the train either will not move at all or will frequently be at risk of accidents, which, let’s admit, happens quite often in our reality.

It is crucial to recognize that no citizen of Armenia has—or can have—more influence over their personal well-being than the public administration sector has over that citizen’s well-being. Therefore, changing our public attitude toward public administration is one of our most important tasks. In Armenia, there is not a single family or individual who spends more on their personal well-being than the Armenian state spends on that same individual’s well-being. Every dram of tax paid by each citizen is returned to that citizen tenfold,” Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated.

Addressing the topic of innovation in the public sector, the Prime Minister first explained what innovation means in his view.

“What does innovation mean? Innovation is education, because without education, innovation is impossible. To create something new, you must first know something new, and to know something new, you need education. This is why, over at least the last 1.5 years, the policy of the Armenian government has focused on making significant investments in the public sector—investments that introduce self-sustaining educational systems within public administration.

We are doing this so that education in the public sector becomes a motivation in itself, and through education, new motivation for work and innovation is created, along with new knowledge and understanding. Thanks to these investments and programs, thousands of civil servants today are engaging with their education. After work, they participate in educational programs to improve their qualifications, to raise the quality of their work—and this is done primarily to improve the lives of citizens and residents of Armenia,” Pashinyan said.

He added that any unresolved problem is a consequence of past underinvestment in public administration.

“Today, there are many skilled and knowledgeable professionals in public administration, but I also want to say that knowledge alone cannot produce results. Knowledge must be placed in the right position and within the right system.

One example that impressed me most is the U.S. Apollo program mission to the Moon, which required the work of more than 400,000 scientists. This means that if that country had only 250,000 scientists instead of 400,000, this monumental project simply would not have happened. Of course, in our thousand-year history, we have never planned—and, unfortunately, are still not planning—to fly to the Moon, and there is only one reason for that: the absence of those 400,000 scientists and professionals. Because if those 400,000 scientists and professionals existed, could anyone explain why we should have given up on going to the Moon?

Forgive the rough example, but there is a saying: ‘The fox’s nose cannot reach the grapes, so it says they are sour.’ Flying to the Moon is like those grapes for us—it is indeed far off, because spring has just begun and there is still much time before the fruit is ripe,” Pashinyan concluded.

Read the article in: FrançaisՀայերենRussian

Published by Armenpress, original at 
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California Courier Online, March 16, 2026

Maral Takmazian
California Courier Online, March 16, 2026

1- Pashinyan Exposes Before European Parliament

His Feuds with Church and Political Parties

By Harut Sassounian
2- Israeli strike hits Beirut’s Armenian-populated district of Bourdj Hammoud
3- Genocide scholars condemn removal of Armenian Genocide Museum director Edita Gzoyan
4- Bishops summoned to investigative committee in Armenia
5- Armenian language courses open at Azerbaijan’s National Defense University
6- The Armenian Diaspora and Electoral Influence Ahead of 2026
7- Phishing attack by cyber fraudsters posing as members of Armenia’s ruling party
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1- Pashinyan Exposes Before European Parliament

His Feuds with Church and Political Parties

By Harut Sassounian
www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan committed, last week, the sin of attacking the clergy of the Armenian Apostolic Church and his domestic political opponents before the European Parliament. Regardless of internal disputes, it is unacceptable for the head of the Armenian government to disparage his people to a foreign audience. He should not disseminate outside of Armenia his feuds with local opponents.

Pashinyan began his remarks in Strasbourg on March 11 by praising himself for making “such changes in Armenia and in the South Caucasus in general, which have a century-long, if not a millennium-long significance.” In reality, his constant concessions to Aliyev and Erdogan have brought Armenia to its knees.

He then spoke of a non-existent “complete peace” with Azerbaijan, well before any peace treaty was signed.

Pashinyan repeated another false claim about a road crossing Armenia, linking Eastern Azerbaijan with Nakhichevan. This so-called “Trump Path” (TRIPP) was included in the memorandum signed on August 8 at the White House by Pashinyan, Aliyev, and Trump. The memorandum described TRIPP as an “unobstructed” path through Armenia which was done at the demand of Aliyev, who calls this road a “corridor,” implying that the Armenian territory it crosses belongs to Azerbaijan.

Although the Prime Minister is harming the country, he portrayed himself as Armenia’s savior, claiming that “in the months of March-April 2024 we had reached the brink of Armenian statehood, and if in April 2024 we had not made a decision to launch the demarcation process with Azerbaijan, the Republic of Armenia would today not be an independent state, but at most a territory under foreign rule.” This claim is delusional and detached from reality.

Pashinyan then claimed, “And how did we solve the problem? We talked to our employer, the people.” In fact, since promising to consult the public in spring 2018, Pashinyan has never sought the people’s opinion. He makes all governmental decisions alone, bypassing the government’s ministers, Parliament, and the President. The country has become a one-man show — a de facto dictatorship.

Pashinyan denied “that the Armenian government is restricting freedom of conscience, that a dictatorship is being established in Armenia, that there are political prisoners in Armenia.” All three statements are facts, despite his denials. He blamed the “de facto head of our church…, the emissaries of the clergy, and representatives of certain lobbying organizations affiliated with them.” Actually, the clergy and opposition groups are attempting to make a last-ditch effort to save the country from his destructive policies.

Ironically, Pashinyan speaks of the rule of law while violating just about every law as well as the constitution by meddling in the Church’s internal affairs. He wants to decide who should be the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church and what the clergy can say in their sermons. He has accused clergy members of being foreign agents, without a shred of evidence. If true, the government would have taken legal action.

Near the end of his 26-minute speech, Pashinyan referred to “Karabagh” Armenians disparagingly, claiming that they are being given “false hopes.” Contrary to his defeatism, Artsakh Armenians hope to return to their homeland when circumstances allow. He also asserted that Artsakh Armenians “must receive Republic of Armenia citizenship,” despite being citizens of Armenia and possessing passports of the Republic of Armenia. Pashinyan is rejecting their Armenian citizenship to prevent them from voting against him in next June’s parliamentary elections.

To deflect from his failure to secure the release of the Artsakh leaders held in Baku, he cited four Armenian prisoners released in January by Azerbaijan. He did not disclose that they were exchanged for two Syrian Jihadist mercenaries who had been serving life sentences in Armenia after their capture in the 2020 war, while fighting for Azerbaijan.

In 2019, when Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan addressed the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), I wrote a commentary commending him for his speech and particularly his spontaneous answers to members’ questions. My commentary was titled, “Pashinyan passes first political test in the international arena.”

A few days later, Pashinyan shared my commentary on his Facebook page, after adding the following introductory note: “I am happy that one of the most prestigious newspapers of the Diaspora, ‘The California Courier,’ has appreciated in this way my speech at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).” His post received 3,900 likes, 181 comments, and 195 shares.

Months later, when I visited Armenia, the Prime Minister received me in his office. During our hour-long meeting, we discussed the critical issues facing Armenia, as I have done with all previous leaders of Armenia.

Given Pashinyan’s zero tolerance for criticism, I doubt he will share my new commentary on his Facebook page, let alone express his appreciation.

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2– Israeli strike hits Beirut’s Armenian-populated district of Bourdj Hammoud

Armenpress
An Israeli strike has hit a residential apartment building in Bourdj Hammoud, a suburb northeast of Beirut, Lebanon, according to multiple reports. 

AP reported that the Israeli strike hit an apartment in the Nabaa neighborhood, leaving it engulfed in flames. Nabaa, on Beirut’s northern outskirts within the densely populated Burj Hammoud district, is home to a sizable Armenian community.

No casualties were immediately reported.

Local authorities reported that Israeli airstrikes had earlier targeted the southwestern suburbs of Beirut, killing one person in Jnah.

Israel says it is targeting Hezbollah members and infrastructure.

Israel began a military campaign targeting Hezbollah after the U.S. and Israel launched their war on Iran, which prompted Hezbollah to target Israel. Lebanese authorities say that nearly 690 people have been killed in the attacks.

Shahan Kandaharian, Editor-in-Chief of the Beirut-based Aztag Daily, told Armenpress that no Lebanese-Armenian residents were injured or killed in the attack allegedly targeting a Hezbollah member in Nabaa.

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3- Genocide scholars condemn removal of Armenian Genocide Museum director Edita Gzoyan

We, the undersigned, express deep concern over recent and troubling developments at the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute (AGMI) in Yerevan. On March 11, 2026, Dr. Edita Gzoyan, one of the most outstanding and dedicated directors in the history of the institute, submitted her resignation — reportedly under pressure from the government rather than by free choice. 

Dr. Gzoyan elevated the AGMI to international academic prominence. Under her leadership, the institute expanded its archival collections, organized key symposia and conferences, and produced scholarly works that significantly advanced genocide studies worldwide. She has been a tireless advocate for rigorous historical research on the Armenian Genocide and related atrocities against Armenians — work that has strengthened global understanding of past injustices and supported the cause of historical truth. 

What makes her forced departure particularly alarming is its timing and context. Just weeks earlier, Dr. Gzoyan personally guided U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance during his visit to the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex. She highlighted not only the genocide of 1915 but also later massacres of Armenians in Sumgait, Kirovabad, and Baku, underscoring the historical continuity of anti-Armenian violence in the region. She also presented Vice President Vance with scholarly works on the Armenian Genocide and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict — essential context for understanding Armenia’s history and contemporary challenges. On March 12, responding to a journalist’s question regarding the forced resignation of Dr. Edita Gzoyan, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said: “I was the one who asked the director of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute to submit a resignation letter; it was done on my instruction. I considered giving a book about Artsakh to Vance to be a provocative act that goes against the Government’s policy.”

The sequence of events indicates a broader and deeply troubling pattern: the silencing of independent academic voices in favor of political convenience. There is every reason to believe that this is less about museum administration and more about repositioning AGMI to align its work with geopolitical priorities — especially a desire to avoid honest discussion of atrocities related to Azerbaijan amid ongoing normalization efforts.

The Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute is not merely a tourist site. It is a center of historical memory and scholarship — a bulwark against denial and distortion. Its leadership should be protected from political interference, not subjected to it. Dr. Gzoyan’s forced exit sends a chilling message to academics and historians everywhere: that rigorous inquiry and truthful remembrance can be displaced for diplomatic comfort.

 All of us have been actively engaged with AGMI in numerous meaningful capacities — participating in its conferences, serving on the editorial board of the International Journal of Armenian Genocide Studies and on the academic board, collaborating with AGMI staff on joint scholarly initiatives, and contributing to the field through the publication of academic articles and books. Gzoyan has played a key role in involving us in AGMI’s activities through her creative vision and outstanding scholarship, helping shape the Institute’s future.

We believe that any attempt to remove Dr. Gzoyan from the directorship of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute (AGMI) would seriously jeopardize the Institute’s future and undermine its standing within the international scholarly community. Such a decision would not only disrupt the institute’s ongoing work but would also send a deeply troubling signal to leading scholars of genocide studies worldwide, discouraging them from collaborating with AGMI and weakening the global academic partnerships that are essential to its mission.

For these reasons, we strongly urge the Armenian government to refrain from interfering in the leadership of the Institute. We call on the authorities to respect the independence of AGMI and to ensure that Dr. Gzoyan is allowed to continue her work without political pressure or intervention. Protecting the Institute’s autonomy and leadership is critical for preserving its credibility, safeguarding its scholarly mission and maintaining the trust of the international academic community. We believe that directorship of the AGMI should be based on the qualities of the individual as a scholar and administrator and not the political expedience of any particular administration.

AGMI staff and board members have expressed their full confidence in Dr. Gzoyan’s exceptional leadership. We firmly demand that Dr. Gzoyan be reinstated immediately and allowed to continue the outstanding work she has been leading.

Prof. Bedross Der Matossian, professor of history, Hymen Rosenberg Professor in Judaic Studies, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Prof. Elyse Semerdjian, Robert Aram, Marianne Kaloosdian and Stephen and Marian Mugar Chair of Armenian Genocide studies at the Strassler Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies, Clark University.

Prof. Armen Marsoobian, professor of philosophy, Southern Connecticut State University

Prof. Keith Watenpaugh, professor of human rights studies, University of California, Davis 

Prof. Melanie Schulze Tanielian, associate professor of history, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Dr. Simon Maghakyan, associate member of the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, University of Oxford

Dr. Boris Adjemian, Director of Bibliothèque Nubar de l’UGAB

Marc Mamigonian, Director of Academic Affairs, National Association for Armenian Genocide and Research (NAASR)

Prof. Vahé Tachjian, Houshamadyan, Berlin / Ara Hrechdakian Chair of Armenian Studies at Saint Joseph University of Beirut

Prof. Houri Berberian, professor of history, Meghrouni Family Presidential Chair in Armenian Studies University of California, Irvine

Prof. Henry Theriault, Ph.D., Vice-Chair, Board of Directors, National Association for Armenian Studies and Research, and Co-Editor, Genocide Studies International

Prof. Ronald Grigor Suny, William H. Sewell Jr. Distinguished University professor of history emeritus, The University of Michigan; Professor of Political Science and History emeritus, The University of Chicago

Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian, Haig and Isabel Berberian Coordinator of Armenian Studies, California State University, Fresno

Prof. Lori Khatchadourian, associate professor, Departments of Near Eastern Studies & Anthropology, Cornell University

Dr. Hilmar Kaiser, Universität Bern

Michael Bobelian, adjunct professor at Columbia University and Baruch College 

Prof. A. Dirk Moses, Anne and Bernard Spitzer Professor of International Relations at the City College of New York

Prof. Hervè Georgelin, assistant professor, National University of Athens, Greece

Gregory Aftandilian, Senior Professorial Lecture, American University, Washington, D.C.

Prof. Julien Zarifian, professor of U.S. history, University of Poitiers, France

Prof. Fatma Müge Göçek, professor of sociology, University of Michigan

Prof. David Gaunt, emeritus professor of history, Södertörn University, Stockholm, Sweden

Prof. Tessa Hofmann, formerly Freie Universität Berlin, Germany, Institute for Eastern European Studies

Dr. Talar Chahinian, Continuing Lecturer in Armenian Studies, University of California, Irvine

Prof. Samuel Totten, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

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4- Bishops summoned to investigative committee in Armenia

Panarmenian.net

Several members of the Supreme Spiritual Council have received notices from Armenia’s Investigative Committee ordering them to appear for questioning.

According to Aysor.am, those summoned include Bishop Hovnan Hakobyan, primate of the Gugark Diocese; Bishop Makar Hakobyan, primate of the Syunik Diocese; Archbishop Haykazun Najaryan; and Bishop Mushegh Babayan.

Lawyer Armine Fanyan said the clergy were called to the Investigative Committee within the framework of the same criminal case as before — allegedly obstructing the enforcement of a court decision.

The Investigative Committee declined to comment on the matter.

“We do not comment,” the committee’s spokesperson told the media.

On March 12, the lay members of the Supreme Spiritual Council had also been summoned to the Investigative Committee.

Currently, six bishops and one priest from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin hold the status of defendants in the case.

They are accused of obstructing the enforcement of a court ruling that requires the reinstatement of Arman Saroyan as primate of the Masis Diocese.

Earlier, the Investigative Committee had summoned Bishops Makar, Hovnan, Nathan, Haykazun, Mushegh and Vahan, as well as Father Movses.

As a preventive measure, the authorities imposed a ban on leaving the country for them.

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6– The Armenian Diaspora and Electoral Influence Ahead of 2026

Caucasus Watch

Armenia is approaching what may become one of the most consequential electoral cycles since the political transformation that followed the 2018 Velvet Revolution.

The parliamentary elections scheduled for June 7, 2026, will take place amid continued security uncertainty, shifting geopolitical alignments, and unresolved debates over governance reform, foreign policy orientation, and national identity. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s ruling party is expected to seek reelection, while opposition forces, some connected to established political figures from earlier administrations and others representing newer critical voices, are preparing to challenge the government and offer alternative approaches.

Although electoral outcomes will ultimately be determined by voters physically present within Armenia, the country’s vast diaspora, numbering several times the domestic population, remains a powerful political stakeholder. Despite their exclusion from formal participation at the ballot box, diaspora communities continue to shape the national conversation through media, advocacy, fundraising, and transnational networks, amplifying debates over the country’s direction and policies.

The Armenian diaspora, estimated at five to seven million people, significantly exceeds Armenia’s domestic population of roughly three million. Large communities in Russia, the United States, France, and the Middle East operate within distinct political and media environments. These contexts shape how diaspora Armenians interpret developments in Armenia and how they seek to influence them. Diaspora engagement has historically taken the form of remittances, philanthropy, lobbying, and participation in transnational media networks. Following the 2020 war and the 2023 displacement of Armenians from Nagorno Karabakh, diaspora mobilization intensified, often in explicitly political terms.

Under Armenia’s current electoral framework, citizens abroad cannot vote. The law requires physical presence in Armenia on election day. Policymakers have historically justified this restriction by citing administrative feasibility, verification challenges, and security risks associated with overseas or electronic voting. Critics argue that the exclusion of citizens abroad creates a democratic deficit, particularly given that more ethnic Armenians live outside the country than within it.

The absence of enfranchisement has not rendered the diaspora politically neutral. Instead, it has redirected political engagement into informal but consequential channels. Diaspora actors operate through media ecosystems, fundraising networks, protest mobilization, and foreign policy advocacy. These arenas are often structured around well-established institutions with longstanding ideological identities and transnational reach.

The 2021 parliamentary elections illustrate this dynamic. In the weeks preceding the June 20 snap vote, nearly forty-seven diaspora organizations issued a coordinated public endorsement urging support for the opposition Armenia Alliance (founded in 2021 and led by former President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan). Although diaspora groups do not participate directly in elections, the episode demonstrated their willingness to articulate explicit political preferences and intervene in Armenia’s domestic debate from abroad. It also highlighted the role of highly organized networks in shaping diaspora messaging.

Diaspora-run media platforms reinforce this influence. Publications such as The Armenian Weekly, Zartonk Media, and Asbarez in the United States, Nouvelles d’Arménie Magazine in France, and Yerkramas in Russia serve as hubs for commentary and mobilization. Their coverage frequently circulates inside Armenia, especially during politically sensitive periods. Many of these outlets have given substantial space to criticism of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s post-war security policies, negotiation strategy with Azerbaijan, and broader geopolitical positioning.

Organized political structures amplify this ecosystem. The Armenian Revolutionary Federation maintains a uniquely transnational presence. Domestically, it holds parliamentary representation as part of the opposition Armenia Alliance. Internationally, it operates one of the most extensive Armenian organizational networks in the world, including youth federations, educational institutions, cultural associations, and advocacy arms across North America, Europe, Russia, and the Middle East. This dual structure enables it to function simultaneously as a domestic parliamentary actor and as a global mobilizing force. During periods of political crisis, ARF-affiliated structures abroad have articulated positions critical of the government’s territorial negotiations and national security approach, reinforcing opposition narratives through coordinated messaging.

In the United States, the Armenian National Committee of America remains one of the most prominent Armenian-American advocacy organizations. It does not participate directly in Armenian elections, but it shapes U.S. policy toward Armenia and regional security issues. Its campaigns often intersect with Armenia’s domestic political debates. Since 2020, ANCA has issued statements critical of aspects of the Armenian government’s negotiation process while pressing U.S. lawmakers on humanitarian assistance, sanctions enforcement, and security support.

An individual affiliated with ANCA, who requested anonymity, explained that their focus ahead of the 2026 elections will not be direct intervention in Armenian party politics but rather public awareness and advocacy. “Our responsibility is to inform and mobilize the Armenian American community about what is at stake,” the interlocutor stated. “Many of us are deeply dissatisfied with the government’s recent actions, especially on security issues. We cannot vote, but we can shape opinion, advocate in Washington, and ensure that policymakers understand the concerns of our community.” The comment reflects a broader pattern of diaspora engagement that emphasizes influence through information and foreign policy advocacy rather than formal electoral participation.

Comparative experience across the post-Soviet space underscores that diaspora enfranchisement is politically consequential. Moldova has expanded overseas voting through embassy based polling stations, and turnout from abroad has at times played a decisive role, often favoring reformist and pro-European platforms. Ukraine’s foreign ministry has been working on mechanisms to enable citizens abroad to vote in future elections once martial law is lifted, including discussions about digital voting systems. Georgia, by contrast, has moved to restrict overseas voting mechanisms and eliminate certain polling arrangements abroad, citing concerns about electoral vulnerability and foreign influence. Critics argue that these measures disproportionately affect migrant voters. These cases demonstrate that decisions about diaspora voting are rarely technical. They reflect broader struggles over legitimacy, political control, and national identity.

Armenia’s approach has so far favored restriction. Yet this does not shield domestic politics from diaspora influence. Instead, it produces a paradox. A globally dispersed population lacks ballots but retains the capacity to shape discourse, mobilize resources, and influence foreign governments whose policies affect Armenia directly. Political parties inside Armenia increasingly calibrate their messaging with diaspora narratives in mind, particularly on questions of security, sovereignty, and geopolitical alignment.

As Armenia approaches the 2026 parliamentary elections, the diaspora will remain politically engaged but institutionally excluded. Its influence will be measured not in votes cast but in narratives amplified, funds mobilized, advocacy campaigns launched, and international partnerships shaped. Whether Armenia eventually adopts an overseas voting mechanism or maintains its current framework, the relationship between the state and its global nation will remain central to the country’s democratic trajectory. The Armenian diaspora may not vote in 2026. It will nonetheless participate in shaping the political environment in which those votes are cast.


Contributed by Davit Gasparyan who researches security and political dynamics in the South Caucasus and Russia’s regional strategy. He conducts research with Harvard’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs and previously served as a Russia researcher at the Institute for the Study of War. He has also worked with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

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7- Phishing attack by cyber fraudsters posing as members of Armenia’s ruling party

  • JAMnews

Unknown individuals attempted a phishing attack against NGOs in Armenia. They sent emails from an address resembling that of the ruling party. The messages appeared to come from a representative of the Civil Contract party.

Political analyst Tigran Grigoryan said the cyber fraudsters targeted not only civil society

representatives. They also targeted authors of analytical articles that criticise Russia’s policies. The attack also targeted the Regional Center for Democracy and Security, which he heads.

“The email was so poorly fabricated that even a non-specialist could see it was fake or part of a so-called hybrid operation. It could be interpreted either as fraud or as an attempt at external interference of this kind,” he said.
Information security expert Artur Papyan says similar attacks have increased in Armenia over the past year. According to him, attackers used the same methods earlier in Ukraine and Moldova.

This is everything known at the time of publication. Journalists are seeking comment.

About the email sent in the name of a ruling party representative

The attackers sent the fake email in the name of Maria Karapetyan, a member of the ruling party. Civil society representatives who reported the possible attack noted that:

  • The cyber fraudsters used the domain civilcontact.am and created fake email addresses.
  • The text of the email contained numerous grammatical mistakes.
  • The message was written in Armenian, but the party name “Civil Contract” appeared in English.

NGO representatives contacted information security experts and the cyber police. The authorities have already blocked access to the fraudulent website civilcontact.am.

“An obvious hybrid attack”

“A group of fraudsters registered a domain that closely resembled the domain of the Civil Contract party and misled recipients. The cyber criminals used it to send emails and tried to obtain people’s data and email addresses,” said ruling party member Vaagn Aleksanyan.

According to him, not only civil society representatives received such emails. Some party members also received them.

“As far as I understand, the goal was to collect data. The message included various questions, a kind of Google form. The attackers attached it to the email as a questionnaire. The recipient had to fill it out. They may have tried to gain access to email passwords this way,” he explained.

Aleksanyan believes such attacks will become more frequent ahead of the parliamentary elections. The country will hold them on 7 June.

In this context, he also referred to an investigation into a printed newspaper distributed on the streets of Yerevan. Investigative journalists found that despite its American symbolism, the paper had been printed in Russia.

“At the same time, disinformation about a supposed shooting in Syunik spread online. It is obvious that we are dealing with a hybrid attack,” the ruling party member said.

One of the local television channels found copies of a newspaper called Wyoming Star in several districts of Yerevan. Distributors hand it out for free, mainly in the city center. The editor of the 12-page newspaper, published in Armenian and English, remains unknown. The articles carry no bylines. All of the paper’s materials criticize Armenia’s current authorities.

Journalists found that printers produce the newspaper in Russia and then bring it to Armenia. The last page states that private entrepreneur Shukuryan Vanik Volodyaevich publishes the paper. However, the Armenian state register of legal entities does not list him. Shukuryan told journalists that he does not personally know the owner or editor of Wyoming Star. People he “cooperates with” know them.

Earlier, on 5 March, several local outlets and opposition MPs reported that residents in the town of Kapan in the Syunik region had heard gunshots. Kapan lies in southern Armenia, though not directly near the Armenian-Iranian border. Armenia’s Defence Ministry denied the reports.

“No shootings or explosions occurred on Armenian territory. Certain groups circulate articles with manipulative headlines and try to create unacceptable tension among the population,” ministry spokesperson Aram Torosyan said.

Information security expert Artur Papyan believes:

“Either Azerbaijanis or Russians carry out major cyberattacks in Armenia. When we see that attackers target Armenia and the digital trace links to Ukrainian infrastructure, we can confidently assume that Russians are behind it.

The latest phishing attack aimed to gain access to the Google accounts of prominent civil society representatives and government officials. Why? Because for many people their Google accounts link to backup copies of phone contacts and to WhatsApp.

Even if all official or work correspondence takes place elsewhere, access to these shared files can still have significant value. It can also provide important intelligence.

Attempts to gain access to Google accounts remain one of the most common methods. People need to improve their level of digital security and remain vigilant about suspicious messages.

People who hold important or sensitive information should ideally use Google Advanced Protection. This especially applies in the context of Armenia’s European integration and democratic values.

For example, when I tried to follow the link mentioned in the email, Google immediately stopped me and warned that it was very dangerous.”

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Armenian resident embassy inaugurated in Bern

Maral Takmazian

Politics15:31, 13 March 2026
Read the article in: العربيةFrançaisՀայերենRussian

The official opening ceremony of the resident Embassy of the Republic of Armenia in Switzerland took place on March 12 in Bern within the framework of the working visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, Ararat Mirzoyan, to Switzerland. Ignazio Cassis, the Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of the Swiss Confederation, attended the ceremony.

The flag of the Republic of Armenia was raised in front of the Embassy, in the heart of Bern, in the historic district included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The national anthems of the two countries were performed, and following the ceremonial ribbon-cutting, the opening of the Embassy was officially announced.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan, and the Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of the Swiss Confederation Ignazio Cassis, delivered welcoming and congratulatory remarks, the Foreign Ministry said in a press release. 

Minister Mirzoyan emphasized: “While our traditional presence in Geneva has already established a strong political dialogue, the relocation of the bilateral Embassy to the capital of Switzerland is an important step in the development of our bilateral relations and symbolizes our joint commitment to continuously strengthening the friendship and cooperation between our two countries.

Ignazio Cassis, Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland, emphasized: “Our presence in the federal capital will make it possible to develop closer cooperation between our institutions and further strengthen the relations between our two countries.

In many traditions, it is customary to greet a new home with salt and bread. Bread symbolizes stability and continuity, while salt symbolizes taste and, traditionally, protection.

In this spirit, I lovingly invite all of you to share the salt and bread with us.”

The Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Switzerland and the guests of the event shared the “salt and bread” served at the Embassy.

Remarks by Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and Ignazio Cassis are presented below.

Ararat Mirzoyan: “Dear Federal Councillor, Dear Ignazio,

Excellencies,

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today we stand in Bern to celebrate the opening of the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia in the Swiss Confederation. While we have developed solid political dialogue through our traditional presence in Geneva, relocation of the bilateral Embassy to the capital city marks an important step in our bilateral relations and symbolizes our shared commitment to further strengthening the friendship and cooperation between our two nations.

This new Embassy will serve as another home for Armenian diplomacy in Switzerland, but it will also serve as a bridge – connecting stronger our governments, our institutions, our businesses, and, most importantly, our people. 

But allow me first to express my deep appreciation to the Swiss authorities for their support and above all, dear Mr. Federal Councillor, for your personal engagement and presence here today with us which gives particular significance to this ceremony. I would also like to thank all the guests present today – representatives of the Swiss government, members of the diplomatic corps, our partners and friends – for joining us in celebrating this special day.

Dear colleagues,

Diplomatic relations between Armenia and Switzerland were established in 1992, shortly after Armenia regained its independence. Over the past three decades, our partnership has steadily developed across political, economic, humanitarian, and cultural fields. Our political dialogue has been strengthened through numerous reciprocal visits and meetings between the highest authorities of our countries. Close cooperation across a wide range of sectors – both bilaterally and multilaterally – as well as active inter-parliamentary engagement including through parliamentary friendship groups, has further consolidated the ties between Armenia and Switzerland.

Today, relations between our two countries continue to develop dynamically. We see great potential to further expand our cooperation in areas such as innovation, high technology, education, sustainable development, and trade. Switzerland’s excellence in science, engineering, and finance, combined with Armenia’s rapidly growing technology sector and dynamic human capital, creates promising opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation.

Armenia is committed to strengthening democratic institutions, promoting economic development, and contributing to peace and stability in our region. I believe that this is also a shared vision for our two countries, anchored in historical developments, on our shared values and maybe most importantly in the approach focused on the prosperous future for our citizens. Needless to say, in a world facing many complex challenges, stronger engagement with like-minded partners has become more important than ever.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

And let me conclude by my more personal and very simple note: I was here around two weeks ago, and every time I come back to Switzerland it feels like home much more than any other place we travel throughout the year, and the reason is obvious, it is not the factors that I mentioned, but the astonishing mountainous landscape and the nature, so similar to Armenia, and the traditions in believe in [one we just saw of the bread and salt. 

Emphasizing human capital, we may also wish to pay special tribute to Charles Aznavour who by representing our country here, in a nation that was also familiar and dear to him, he embodied with dignity and humanity the living bond between Armenia and Switzerland.  

Once again expressing my sincere gratitude to our Swiss partners for their friendship and cooperation. I also thank everyone who contributed to making this day possible.

Thank you.”

Ignazio Cassis: “Minister, dear colleague, dear friend,

Excellencies, 

Ladies and Gentlemen. 

Today marks an important moment as we celebrate the opening of the Embassy of Armenia here in Bern.

For more than three decades since the establishment of diplomatic relations, Switzerland and Armenia have enjoyed strong and friendly ties, built on dialogue, cooperation, and mutual respect. 

The opening of this embassy, after many years of diplomatic presence in Geneva, represents a meaningful step forward, much like the opening of the Embassy of Switzerland in Yerevan 15 years ago. Being present in the federal capital will allow even closer exchanges with our institutions, and will further strengthen the links between our two countries. 

Our cooperation continues to grow in many fields, from political dialogue to economic exchange and people-to-people contacts. The Armenian community in Switzerland also plays an important role in strengthening the ties between our societies.

Another important dimension of the relationship between Armenia and Switzerland is our shared engagement within the Francophonie. In this regard, I would like to warmly greet Ambassador Tolmajian, whose perfect command of French reflects Armenia’s long-standing connection with the French-speaking world. 

Charles Aznavour, who served Armenia as Ambassador in Switzerland, said once:  «Mon pays, c’est la langue française». Through his music, texts and songs, he built bridges between cultures. He carried both Armenia and the French language to audiences around the world, including here in Switzerland. 

Switzerland and Armenia have a remarkable historical heritage. Armenia’s history stretches back millennia, and its ancient shrines stand as powerful symbols of resilience and continuity. Switzerland, too, preserves early аlpine monasteries that have shaped our own cultural landscape. These places remind us that both countries draw strength from an extraordinary continuity while looking towards the future.

Dear colleague, 

Speaking of the future, we commend the concrete steps taken by Armenia and Azerbaijan towards peace. While the wider regional stage is currently marked by concerns and uncertainty, the prospect of open borders and increased connectivity in your neighborhoods is encouraging and is needed. 

As chairman-in-office of the OSCE, I attach special significance to the ongoing efforts for peace, security and stability in the South Caucasus and beyond.

Dear friends, 

The opening of an embassy is, in many ways, similar to moving into a new home. It creates a place where dialogue can flourish and where partnerships can grow. 

In many traditions, a new home is welcomed with bread and salt. Bread represents stability and continuity, while salt brings flavor and, traditionally, protection.

In this spirit, I warmly invite you all to share bread and salt with us. 

Published by Armenpress, original at 
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The new supreme leader of Iran, Mojtaba Khamenei, was offended. Foreign Ministry of Iran

Maral Takmazian

The new supreme leader of Iran, Mojtaba Khamenei, was injured, but he is feeling well. This was announced by the spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic, Esmail Baghai.


“He is injured, but he feels good. I don’t know when he will make his first speech. Three or four people claimed the position of the new supreme leader, but the majority of the Council of Experts chose him,” Baghai said in an interview with the Italian newspaper “Corriere della Sera”.

—

A hungry mob talks about filling the state budget while the country’s foreign

Maral Takmazian
Aysor, Armenia
March 11 2026

The Prosecutor General’s Office report, according to Armen Ashotyan, deputy chairman of the Republican Party of Armenia, “serves as a propaganda balloon for Nikol Pashinyan’s regime,” claiming that over the past seven years, “property and funds worth $773 million have allegedly been returned to the state.”

Ashotyan emphasized that official figures, like any other reported information, must always be verified.

“Let us put aside the fact that the vast majority of such cases proceed and end with blatant legal violations. I fully acknowledge that in some cases, the outcomes can be legitimate.

Yet, here we have a hungry mob talking about filling the state budget, during whose tenure: the country’s external debt has increased by more than $8 billion; weapons worth over $6 billion have been donated to Azerbaijan; a bounty exceeding $200 million has been distributed; tens of billions of dollars’ worth of property, resources, and territories in Artsakh have been handed over to Azerbaijan. Not to mention thousands of human lives lost.

To grasp the audacity, consider this calculation: $773 million ÷ 5,000 = $154,600. This is the value assigned to each human loss under their tenure – roughly the price of a three-room apartment.

Would you exchange the life of your son, husband, brother, grandson, or father for a three-room apartment?” Ashotyan remarked.

—

Iraqi, Armenian presidents hold talks in Baghdad to boost ties

Maral Takmazian
Feb 28 2024
IANS |

BAGHDAD: Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid and his Armenian counterpart Vahagn Khachaturyan met in Baghdad and discussed means to enhance bilateral ties in various aspects.

A statement by the media office of the Iraqi presidency said on Tuesday that the two leaders discussed ways to enhance bilateral relations and cooperation in various fields, including the economy, trade and investment, Xinhua news agency reported.

During the meeting, Rashid stressed the importance of intensifying international efforts to "continue combating the threat of terrorist organisations and extremist ideology that target the security and lives of everyone without exception, " the statement said.

Rashid also commented on the tension between Armenia and Azerbaijan, stressing Iraq's position calling for dialogue and adopting political solutions to settle their differences.

Later on Tuesday, the two Presidents held a joint conference, during which Rashid welcomed Khachaturyan and expressed his readiness to "work with his Armenian counterpart to make this visit an essential milestone in improving relations between the two countries".

For his part, the Armenian President told the press conference that the talks discussed ways to develop bilateral relations and many issues related to regional developments.

"We stressed the need to reach a peaceful settlement of existing conflicts based on the rules of international law and respect for the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and equality among all countries, " Khachaturyan added.

https://www.punjabnewsexpress.com/news/news/iraqi-armenian-presidents-hold-talks-in-baghdad-to-boost-ties-241873

Armenia: EU4Business project on innovative tourism and technology development presents its results

Maral Takmazian
Feb 27 2024

A total of 150 ventures and companies received technical and financial assistance, 126 partners received grants, and over 350 participants took part in various programmes. 

These are results of the EU4Business Innovative Tourism and Technology Development for Armenia (ITTD) project, summed up at the project’s closing event in Yerevan on 26 February.

Thanks to the €14.95 million project, 1,415 jobs were created and sustained. Over half of employees from supported enterprises are women and over 78% of enterprises have women in ownership or managerial positions. 

“Through ITTD, we’ve witnessed remarkable initiatives flourishing in northern Armenia, revitalising local economies and communities with innovative tourism ventures,” said Erik Tintrup, Chargé d’Affaires of the German Embassy in Armenia. “These businesses not only highlight Armenia’s cultural heritage and natural beauty but also foster sustainable livelihoods. And support to the technology industry is unlocking Armenia’s potential as a tech innovation hub in the region.”

The goal of the EU4Business Innovative Tourism and Technology Development for Armenia (ITTD) project was to create innovative and diversified tourism enterprises in the northern regions of Armenia, as well as to promote and further develop the technology and innovation ecosystem of Armenia. Since 2019, the project has worked in close cooperation with the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Armenia and the Ministry of High-Tech Industry of the Republic of Armenia.

Find out more

Press release

More distinct legal bases to be designed for providing circulation of medicine

Maral Takmazian

 16:52,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. The addenda and amendments being proposed to the law ''On Medicine'' and the enclosed laws will promote the processes of medicine registration, the regulation of the clinic experiment sphere, and the medicine import will be harmonized, the press service of the Armenian National Assembly said.

At the National Assembly sitting the Armenian Minister of Health Anahit Avanesyan informed and added that during the implementation of the implementation of the law on Medicine adopted in 2016 a number of shortcomings were revealed, which impede the full regulation of the sphere.

Certain problems were also recorded in the legal practice of the Armenian Health and Labor Inspection Body, including the implementation of the examinations. By the minister’s observation, the law does not envisage definition of the organization implementing examinations and professional observations in the state regulation of circulation of medicine. Authorizing norms are necessary for changing the decisions of the Government.

According to Anahit Avanesyan, one of the shortcomings is that refusal system of permission of parallel import and its providing is designed, without specifying the connection with the import certification processes and the refusal bases.

It was noted that while making up the package the proposals of the importing companies was taken into consideration.




“Armenia, My Home” Premiering February 27 Oo PBS Stations

Maral Takmazian

Armenian News Network / Armenian News


PBS is set to air premiere of ARMENIA, MY HOME, a spectacular visual journey through Armenia, premiering February 27, 2024, on PBS (check local listings). From filmmaker Andrew Goldberg and narrated by Andrea Martin (My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Only Murders In The Building).


The documentary promises viewers a breathtaking exploration of Armenia's rich cultural tapestry, featuring stunning cinematography, striking archival photographs, incredible interviews, and vibrant music. 

 

View an Open/Promo for the show.


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BACKGROUND ON THE DOCUMENTARY

 

ARMENIA, MY HOME, narrated by Andrea Martin (Only Murders in the Building), features prominent voices from the Armenian diaspora including actor Eric Bogosian (Succession); author Chris Bohjalian (HBO’s The Flight Attendant); Pulitzer Prize-winning author Peter Balakian (Black Dog of Fate); journalist Araksya Karapetyan (Good Day LA), author Dawn Anahid Mackeen (The Hundred-Year Walk); Conan O’Brien’s famed assistant Sona Movsesian; and Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan, Primate of the Eastern Diocese of NY. Additional voices include educator Dottie Bengoian, internationally renowned artist Michael Aram, comedian Vahe Berberian, and scholars Ron Suny and Salpi Ghazarian.

 

ARMENIA, MY HOME celebrates the modern-day, independent Armenian Republic and its people, and offers a lens into the nearly 3,000-year-old storied past of the world's first Christian nation. From medieval monasteries nestled in northern forests to the spectacular Hellenistic temple of Garni, the documentary takes viewers on a compelling journey through Armenia's diverse landscapes. Sweeping from the Caucasian mountains with stunning views of the peaks of Mount Ararat, ARMENIA, MY HOME seamlessly blends the epic with the everyday, evoking the deep emotions felt by Armenian Americans for a heritage that has endured for millennia. The film incorporates the spiritual charm of Armenian music throughout, telling a story that resonates with the fusion of East and West.

 

“For so many that we interviewed in this film, Armenia is more than a country, it’s a part of who they are – a community that has survived and flourished, despite untold enemies who sought to conquer them. This is more than a story of a nation, it is the story of some of the most resilient people alive,” stated director Andrew Goldberg.

 

“It’s an honor to narrate this documentary exploring Armenia’s storied past and vibrant culture,” said Emmy Award-winning actress Andrea Martin. "As an Armenian-American, I am deeply connected to our ancient history and thrilled to be partnering on this project.”

 

Filmed using state-of-the-art cameras and drones, a team of cinematographers known for their work on films like Thor: Love and Thunder, and the upcoming Mad Max Furiosa, has revolutionized the visual representation of Armenia. This groundbreaking approach provides viewers with quite simply, the most impressive visual showing of Armenia ever made.

 

For an added layer of authenticity, ARMENIA, MY HOME takes viewers on a journey into a dungeon that dates back nearly 2,000 years, providing a rare glimpse into Armenia's ancient and mysterious history. Alongside the spectacular landscapes, ARMENIA, MY HOME delves into the complex and crucial subjects of the Armenian Genocide and the recent war in Artsakh, acknowledging their historical significance and impact on the Armenian people and the world.

 

About Andrew Goldberg

Emmy Award-winning producer/director Andrew Goldberg is the founder and owner of So Much Film in New York City. He has executive produced and directed 15 prime-time documentary specials for PBS and public television, multiple lifestyle series for HGTV, and Magnolia Channel, and a variety of long and short-form segments for such outlets as CBS News Sunday Morning, ABC News, NPR’s All Things Considered, E! Entertainment Television, and Food Network. He has worked as a journalist for virtually every major TV news organization including ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN and Fox. In 2006, he produced and directed the critically acclaimed film, The Armenian Genocide for PBS. Andrew’s most recent film was the critically-acclaimed Viral: Antisemitism in Four Mutations, which was released theatrically across the country and aired nationally as a prime-time special on PBS in 2020.

So Much Film Contact:

So Much Film <>



Armenia-My-Home.pdf

New Azerbaijani attack on Armenia ‘highly likely’, Pashinyan warns

Maral Takmazian

 10:04,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. An Azerbaijani attack against Armenia is ‘highly likely’, Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan has warned.

“Upon analyzing the statements coming out of official Baku, we conclude that indeed an attack on Armenia is highly likely,” Pashinyan said in an interview with France 24. “Why? Because, for example, Baku very often makes statements about the so-called Western Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan is basically calling the entire Republic of Armenia ‘Western Azerbaijan’, calling the territories of the Republic of Armenia as Azerbaijani ones. On the diplomatic level Azerbaijan is assuring that it doesn’t have intentions to attack, but where do these opinions on the likelihood of an attack come from? First of all, upon expressing the publicly agreed principles in the text of the peace treaty we see some difficulties caused by Azerbaijan. Secondly, it is the public narrative voiced on the highest level, which, in short, is reflected in calling the Republic of Armenia as ‘Western Azerbaijan’. Third, the aggressiveness on the border. For example, the latest incident, when we had four deaths, this incident wasn’t anyhow justified. They stated that one of their soldiers was wounded, and we stated that we would investigate, because there’s an order not to carry out any unjustified actions, and if it turns out that there is a violation of that order there would be consequences envisaged by law. Despite these statements, Azerbaijan took advantage of that occasion in order to display aggression. It is the combination of these facts that leads many Armenian and international experts to conclude that Azerbaijan is planning a new attack on Armenia.”