Category: News

EU, UNDP and Government of Armenia Launch New Initiative to Restore and Protec

Tambiyan Samvel
Oct 23, 2026

EU, UNDP and Government of Armenia Launch New Initiative to Restore and Protect Lake Sevan

Yerevan, 22 October 2026 – A new initiative to support the long-term restoration of Lake Sevan and strengthen the resilience of one of Armenia’s most important ecosystems was officially launched today at the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP17) in Yerevan.

The EU4biodiversityinSevan: Enhancing Lake Sevan Ecosystem Restoration project brings together the European Union (EU), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Government of Armenia around a shared goal – to strengthen the foundations for the long-term restoration and sustainable management of Lake Sevan.

Funded by the EU and implemented by the UNDP in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, the EUR 1.53 million project will strengthen the institutions responsible for managing and protecting Lake Sevan through better biodiversity monitoring and reporting, modern technologies and improved approaches to fisheries management. At the same time, it will bring restoration efforts closer to the ground through pilot riverbed and riverbank restoration in rivers important for Sevan trout reproduction, forest assessment and rehabilitation planning, and support to the Sevan National Park forest nursery.

Highlighting the EU’s continued support to Armenia’s environmental agenda, H.E. Ambassador Vassilis Maragos, Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia, said, “The European Union is proud to support Armenia in advancing biodiversity protection and ecosystem restoration. Through this new initiative, we aim to contribute to stronger environmental governance, science-based restoration efforts, and closer cooperation among institutions, local communities, and development partners”.

Natia Natsvlishvili, UNDP Resident Representative in Armenia, emphasized the importance of bringing together institutional capacity, science, local action and sustainable financing to create lasting change for Lake Sevan. “Our ambition is not simply to complete a set of activities over the next three years. It is to help establish stronger institutions, more reliable monitoring systems, healthier habitats and practical approaches to financing conservation that can continue to deliver benefits well beyond the project’s lifetime,” she said.

Recognizing that ecosystem restoration also requires sustainable resources, the project will explore new approaches to financing ecosystem restoration and engaging the private sector. It will support sustainable income-generating opportunities for Sevan National Park, including through recreation and ecotourism, while encouraging local businesses to adopt greener practices.

The project presentation was followed by a panel discussion focusing on freshwater biodiversity restoration, communities and sustainable local development, and financing restoration – the three themes at the heart of the project’s approach. More specifically, the panel explored the importance of restoring Lake Sevan’s rivers and surrounding ecosystems to protect biodiversity and strengthen the resilience of the lake basin. Discussions also highlighted the role of local communities in conservation efforts and the opportunities that ecosystem restoration can create for sustainable livelihoods and local economic development. The panel further examined opportunities for financing ecosystem restoration through private-sector engagement, as well as the potential of recreation and ecotourism in Sevan National Park and incentives for greener business practices.

Lake Sevan is Armenia’s largest freshwater body and a vital ecosystem for biodiversity, water resources, local livelihoods and communities. Protecting it requires more than individual conservation measures. It calls for stronger institutions, practical restoration efforts and sustainable financing that can support conservation over the long term.

The launch of EU4biodiversityinSevan at CBD COP17 places Lake Sevan within a broader conversation about how biodiversity commitments can be translated into practical restoration at national and local levels. Through stronger ecosystem governance, targeted restoration measures and sustainable financing solutions, the project aims to help create approaches that can continue and be scaled up beyond the project period.

About EU4biodiversity in Sevan Project

The EU4biodiversity in Sevan: Enhancing Lake Sevan Ecosystem Restoration project is funded by the European Union and implemented by UNDP in partnership with the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Armenia. The project supports the long-term restoration and sustainable management of Lake Sevan through stronger institutional capacities, practical ecosystem restoration and biodiversity conservation measures, and sustainable financing approaches.

For more inquiries about the project:

Ms. Magda Avetisyan, EU4biodiversityinSevan Project Coordinator: [email protected]

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Courts rule that internal affairs of the Armenian Apostolic Church are beyond

Chakrian Hovsep
Aysor, Armenia
Oct 23, 2026

Judges S. Abovyan and H. Melkonyan of the Court of General Jurisdiction of the First Instance of Armavir Province have dismissed civil proceedings initiated by former priests of the Aragatsotn Diocese, Stepan Asatryan (formerly Ter Aram) and Aramayis Takhmazyan (formerly Ter Tade). The former priests had asked the court to invalidate the Pontifical decrees issued by His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, declaring them defrocked, and to reinstate them as spiritual pastors of Surb Hovhannavank and the Talin region, respectively.

Ara Zohrabyan, a lawyer representing the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, noted that in both cases, the courts upheld the Mother See’s legal position: matters concerning the defrocking of clergy are governed by the Church’s internal canon law and are not subject to adjudication in civil proceedings.

“The courts further affirmed that spiritual service cannot automatically be equated with an employment relationship and that the internal life of the Armenian Apostolic Church is protected from state interference. In both rulings, the courts ordered the lifting of previously imposed interim measures that had required the Mother See to ensure the continued service of the former priests.

These decisions are of significant importance not only in the context of the specific legal cases but also for protecting the autonomy of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church and the constitutional guarantees of its hierarchical governance. The separation of Church and State means that state bodies, including courts, cannot assume the functions of ecclesiastical authorities or determine the canonical status of clergy under secular law.

At the same time, internal ecclesiastical matters must be resolved in accordance with the Church’s canons and the procedures prescribed therein. Protecting the Church’s autonomy also upholds the principles of freedom of religion and the rule of law,” Zohrabyan noted.

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TRIPP project bill to be presented at plenary session of Armenia legislature o

Mary Lazarian
News.am, Armenia
Oct 23, 2026

The draft law on the ratification of the Framework Agreement on Strategic Cooperation between the Republic of Armenia and the United States of America concerning the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) regional transport project was discussed Wednesday by the Standing Committee on Foreign Relations of the National Assembly of Armenia and, following a vote, was included on the agenda of the National Assembly’s plenary session.

Accordingly, the draft law will be presented at the plenary session of the National Assembly on October 27, Armenian News-NEWS.am is informed by the TRIPP Armenia Facebook page.

For information: The procedures necessary for the Agreement’s entry into force have already been completed in the United States. Once the relevant procedures are completed in Armenia, this international agreement concerning TRIPP will enter into force.

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‘Buying Czech aircraft is part of Armenia’s air force modernisation’ — milita

Emil Lazarian
JAM News
Oct 23, 2026
  • JAMnews
  • Yerevan

Armenian Defence Minister Suren Papikyan is on an official visit to the Czech Republic. He began his visit with a trip to Aero Vodochody, a Czech defence industry company. According to reports, he discussed the possibility of further cooperation with the company’s management. He also examined Aero Vodochody’s products in detail.

“These marvels will soon take to the skies over Armenia,” the defence minister wrote in a caption accompanying a video he posted shortly after visiting the company.

Papikyan also shared photographs, captioning them: “One of the landmark days in the history of the Armenian Armed Forces’ aviation.”

Experts have speculated, based on the video and photographs he posted online, that Armenia is preparing to receive Czech-made L-39 Skyfox aircraft. These are a new generation of jet trainers.

Military expert Eduard Arakelyan believes that Armenia, which has a limited fleet of aircraft, could use the L-39 Skyfox not only for training but also for certain operational tasks:

“As a result, the purchase could become a practical step towards modernising the air force. However, its scale does not yet justify claims that it would significantly change the combat capabilities of Armenian aviation. For training purposes, four aircraft could serve as the first batch in a transition to a new training system and curriculum. If the Skyfox purchase forms part of a broader restructuring of the air force, expanding the fleet further would be the logical next step.”

The L-39 Skyfox is a new-generation jet trainer designed for advanced pilot training. It features modern digital avionics, multifunction displays and an integrated virtual training system. These capabilities allow pilots to simulate various tactical scenarios during training flights.

According to Defense Mirror, one Skyfox costs less than $10 million. The final price depends on the aircraft’s configuration and delivery terms.

Depending on its configuration, the aircraft can carry air-launched weapons, reconnaissance equipment and additional external systems. This allows it to perform limited military and reconnaissance missions.

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  • Armenia’s army to continue acquiring advanced weaponry, defence minister says

What we know about the defence minister’s visit

The defence minister arrived in the Czech Republic on 20 October. During his visit, Suren Papikyan attended the opening ceremony of the Future Forces Exhibition & Forum. He toured the exhibition halls and viewed the latest technologies and advanced military equipment on display.

The Armenian minister also held talks with Czech Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Jaromír Zůna.

Armenia’s Defence Ministry said the two ministers discussed:

  • Armenian-Czech defence cooperation, including military-technical cooperation;
  • reforms in the Armenian Armed Forces and cooperation in military education.

“Both sides stressed the importance of cooperation in multilateral formats, including within the EU and NATO,” the statement said.

Papikyan also discussed bilateral military-technical cooperation with Czech First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade Karel Havlíček.

‘New army, new weapons’: military parade in Yerevan marks Republic Day

The government showcased new weapons and military equipment acquired from foreign partners in recent years, as well as systems produced in Armenia itself.

Commentary

Military expert Eduard Arakelyan noted that a Czech defence industry source had reported a month earlier that AERO Vodochody Aerospace was producing four L-39 Skyfox aircraft for Armenia. Specialist publications had also circulated the information, but none identified the customer or disclosed the terms of the deal.

Meanwhile, Arakelyan said, the Armenian Air Force already operates Czech-made L-39 Albatros trainers. Armenia acquired these second-hand aircraft in 2004 and 2010–11. It purchased some of them from Ukraine.

“However, the exact number of aircraft that remain in service with the Armenian Air Force and can still fly regularly is unknown,” the expert said.

In Arakelyan’s view, the Skyfox purchase fits Armenia’s strategy of diversifying its arms suppliers and expanding cooperation with European defence manufacturers:

“An Armenian-Czech agreement on military-technical cooperation, which has been in force since 2023, provides an additional basis for collaboration.”

Arakelyan believes the Armenian defence minister’s statement signals that the Skyfox acquisition has reached a practical stage.

“Nevertheless, until the parties officially disclose the terms of the deal, questions remain about the actual cost, delivery schedule, configuration and maintenance. These include technical support from the manufacturer and specialist training.

“The delivery of four Skyfox aircraft would represent a generational shift in Armenia’s training platform rather than a numerical expansion of its air force. The deal’s significance will depend on whether it remains a standalone purchase or marks the first stage of a broader overhaul of pilot training and air force capabilities. In the latter case, the Skyfox could bridge the gap between existing training aircraft and future combat platforms, with the four aircraft serving as the first batch in an air force modernisation programme.”

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How the Armenian government built a sham exhibit at the National Gallery

Hunanian Jack
OC Media
Oct 24, 2026

This is just one example of the Armenian authorities creating a spectacle through confiscated wealth.

by Ani Ghulinyan

24 October 2026

In early October, on the ground floor of the National Gallery of Armenia, there was a small, unnamed, uncatalogued, and uncurated temporary exhibition. There was no mention of the exhibition on the National Gallery’s website at the time, nor was there any announcement about it beforehand.

The centrepiece of the exhibition was an unnamed 1913 canvas by Gevorg Bashinjaghyan, a renowned 19th-20th century Armenian painter who had a significant influence on Armenian landscape painting. Also on display were works by Grigor Khanjyan, Sargis Muradyan, Vahan Khorenyan, and Vartan Mahokyan, as well as other artists from Armenia and abroad.

Yet there was no clear artistic link between the approximately 30 works, which ranged from a copper portrait by Anatoli Avetyan to an antique map of South America. Instead, what linked this exhibition together was that all works on display were confiscated by Armenia’s Investigative Committee from Gagik Khachatryan, a former Finance Minister and former chair of the State Revenue Committee.

A close-up of one of the paintings confiscated from Gagik Khachatryan, a former Finance Minister and former chair of the State Revenue Committee. Photo: Ani Ghulinyan/OC Media.

The exhibition was ultimately curated by the Investigative Committee, with 40 of the confiscated paintings, including a portrait of Khachatryan himself seen in footage of the confiscated items, not making the cut.

The authorities claimed that the purpose of the exhibition was to make cultural assets accessible to the public. Yet, the public only learned about the exhibition from the Investigative Committee’s video featuring Education Minister Zhanna Andreasyan, Prosecutor General Anna Vardapetyan, and Investigative Committee Chair Artur Poghosyan attending the opening and viewing the exhibited works with a tour guide on 7 October.

Yet when OC Media visited the exhibition in the National Gallery on 14 October, there were no other visitors. Furthermore, the docent was unaware of the exhibition’s name or the paintings presented, stating that the ‘exhibition might be collected by the end of the day’. Other employees could not clarify who had made that decision.

The untitled exhibition at the National Gallery displaying artwork confiscated from former Finance Minister Gagik Khachatryan. Photo: Ani Ghulinyan/OC Media.

The exhibit did not appear to have been advertised anywhere, and was even absent from the National Gallery’s own website, raising the question of whether it was intended to be viewed at all, or was in fact a pseudo-event — a staged occurrence created to attract media attention — rather than an act of public accountability.

The American historian Daniel Boorstin first used the term ‘pseudo-event’ in 1962 to describe events that are planned rather than spontaneous and staged mainly to be reported. Such events are often self-fulfilling, because they are designed to influence public perception of what is real.

A history of public spectacles

This is not the first time the Armenian government has created a spectacle over the confiscated wealth of a former official, a focus that has become a noticeable aspect of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s tenure.

In 2020, the government adopted a law on the confiscation of property of illegal origin, which was intended to hold former officials accountable, many of whom Pashinyan claimed had acquired their wealth illegally.

On his Facebook page, Pashinyan uses the hashtag ‘Bit by Bit’ (Hatik ar Hatik) to write almost daily about the small or large properties that were acquired illegally and have now been returned to the state. This is intended to demonstrate the government’s and Pashinyan’s commitment to their promises, and to show the public the return of what was taken from them.

US court seizes LA mansion of family of former Armenian finance minister

When targeting political figures, the Investigative Committee has also taken to releasing footage of arrests and raids focused on luxury interiors and spectacle rather than the charges.

The leader of the Prosperous Armenia party, businessperson Gagik Tsarukyan, and his wealth have been common topics in law enforcement videos. In 2020, the NSS raided his home on suspicion of bribery and vote buying during the 2017 elections. However, the video released mainly showed his luxurious home interior, stacks of cash, taxidermy of hunted animals, and a collection of luxury cars parked in his garage.

Tsarukyan’s home was revisited by NSS in 2026 after the June parliamentary elections, when Armenian authorities raided over 70 addresses associated with Tsarukyan and arrested him in his home for financial crimes. In the video of his arrest released by the NSS, the 70-year-old Tsarukyan shows no resistance, yet officers force him to the ground and handcuff him, with handcuffs that are clearly too small for his hands. This created a spectacle, an eye-catching event in which Tsarukyan was explicitly shown to be overpowered just after Pashinyan had called him a criminal and declared that Tsarukyan ‘would live in a cage for decades to come’.

While earlier videos of such arrests during Pashinyan’s government did not attract much criticism, they have recently received more backlash. Armenia’s Human Rights Defender, Anahit Manasyan, has opened a review into the Investigative Committee’s video of Tsarukyan’s arrest, saying the footage raises questions about compliance with legal standards on the use of handcuffs and physical force.

Representatives of the Human Rights Defender’s office visited him at the Yerevan-Kentron Penitentiary to assess his health, detention conditions, and whether his rights were being protected. Manasyan stressed that law enforcement may lawfully use detention and force but must follow the principles of legality, necessity, and proportionality set out by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). Handcuffs and force must be justified by concrete circumstances, such as resistance or flight risk, not simply by the fact of arrest, and handcuffs must never be excessively tight.

The detention of Gagik Khachatryan, the owner of the paintings being shown in the National Gallery, similarly drew wider attention after he was brought to court on a stretcher on charges of particularly large-scale bribery and money laundering. His lawyers and family argued that Khachatryan has serious spinal health problems, while law enforcement authorities maintained that there were legal grounds for his detention because of the risk he could obstruct the investigation or abscond. His lawyers have filed an application with the ECHR challenging his arrest and detention, claiming that his condition makes detention unjustified.

Human rights advocates also criticised how the proceedings were handled. Human rights activist Zaruhi Hovhannisyan warned that the process risked moving away from restoring justice and toward violations of personal dignity, with treatment that could amount to degrading conduct. Artur Sakunts of the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor Office, a local rights group, shared that view, saying the court should have prevented it. In his assessment, wheeling a person into the courtroom on a stretcher and holding the hearing while he lay on it was an affront to human dignity.

The legality of showcasing the paintings confiscated from Khachatryan’s house was also questioned by his legal team, who argued that the exhibit violates the property and privacy rights of his family members. The lawyers say that many of the roughly 70 paintings seized in the criminal case were never his, but instead came from a family apartment and belong to various relatives who received them as gifts. They called the seizure and public display unlawful and say investigators never asked the family about the paintings’ origin or ownership.

Under a Peaceful Sky by Sargis Muradyan, one of the confiscated artworks formerly owned by Gagik Khachatryan. Photo: Ani Ghulinyan/OC Media.

The Investigative Committee in turn stated that canvases seized and examined during the criminal proceedings were recognised as material evidence.

In response, Khachatryan’s lawyers have argued that putting the works on display, rather than simply preserving them, shows the paintings cannot be material evidence in the case. The lawyers have sent a written inquiry to the Investigative Committee, but have not yet received a response.

The National Gallery declined to comment on the exhibition.

Asked about the exhibition, the Investigative Committee said that ‘70 paintings discovered and seized as a result of searches conducted in the apartments of the defendants Artyom and Gagik Khachatryan, who are being investigated by the Investigative Committee, have been recognised as material evidence by a decision. They have been handed over to the National Gallery of Armenia for safekeeping, and thus the issue of their possession has been resolved during the preliminary investigation of the criminal proceedings’.

The Investigative Committee did not address questions over why they had decided to exhibit the artwork, why the exhibition was not advertised, why it had no name, or why it did not have a curator.

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Foster + Partners designs pair of skyscrapers connected by garden bridges in A

Antonian Lara
Dezeen
Oct 23, 2026

Foster + Partners designs pair of skyscrapers connected by garden bridges in Armenia

Amy Peacock
Architecture reporter
23 October 20263

A pair of skyscrapers joined by three bridge elements will form the centrepiece of World Trade Center Yerevan, a development by British studio Foster + Partners set to be built in Armenia.

Situated in the Armenian capital of Yerevan, one of the towers will house offices and the other will contain apartments and a hotel.

Foster + Partners plans to connect the skyscrapers with enclosed bridges that will provide amenities for occupants of both buildings, including landscaped terraces.

Wrapped in glazed facades, the pair of skyscrapers will have a concrete structural frame with steel bracing and a split core, catering for open, flexible interior spaces.

The towers will be angled to give views of notable landmarks, including the National Assembly of Armenia, the Armenian National Opera and Ballet Theatre, the Armenian Genocide Memorial and Mount Ararat.

The World Trade Center Yerevan development will also feature low-lying buildings at the base of the skyscrapers containing entertainment, hospitality and shopping spaces arranged around a public square.

“Our new development is in close dialogue with the country’s history and culture,” said Foster + Partners senior partner Niall Dempsey.

“The low-rise buildings seamlessly stitch into the wider urban fabric, while the towers are elevated above ground level, freeing up 50 per cent of the site and making an important contribution to the life of the city.”

The central green axis of the nearby park will be extended to form a route leading to a podium at the base of the skyscrapers.

Foster + Partners aims for the public spaces to reference the area’s architectural heritage in its design for World Trade Center Yerevan.

The development is set to be built in an area of Yerevan that was masterplanned in 1924 by Armenian architect Alexander Tamanian, who had ambitions to transform the Armenian capital into a garden city.

“Our scheme celebrates the outdoor life of the city by connecting the urban fabric with public spaces, ensuring our new interventions work in harmony with the historic grain,” said Foster + Partners partner Juan Frigerio.

“To the north of the towers, the events plaza responds to the significant St John the Baptist Church and its forecourt, creating a seamless connection between old and new.”

Other designs recently unveiled by Foster + Partners include its plans for the Two World Trade Center skyscraper in New York and a masterplan to transform the area surrounding an airport near Luanda, Angola.

The images are by Foster + Partners.

https://www.dezeen.com/2026/10/23/world-trade-center-yerevan-foster-partners-armenia/

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Israeli researchers use ancient stone tools to trace hunter-gatherer migration

Alex Jidarian
Jerusalem Post
Oct 23, 2026

The study focused specifically on the late Middle Paleolithic period, when ancient hunter-gatherers attempted to navigate intense environmental shifts in the South Caucasus region.

Obsidian convergent scraper found in Ararat-1 cave, Armenia, in 2019.(photo credit: Boris Gasparyan/Hebrew University of Jerusalem)ByMIRIAM SELA-EITAMOCTOBER 24, 2026 07:45

Fragments of ancient stone tools found within a cave in the Armenian Highlands have revealed new insight into the complex nomadic lifestyles of Middle Paleolithic hunter-gatherers, according to a recent study. 

The study was conducted by a team of international researchers, headed by Dr. Ariel Malinsky-Buller and PhD students David Nora, Ioannis Oikonomou and Dominik Rogall from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem,

Published in the journal Quaternary Science Reviews, the study analyzed an assemblage of 1,770 stone artifacts spanning five distinct layers in Ararat-1 Cave in Armenia in order to trace how early humans adapted their technology in order to survive harsh and changing environments.

The study focused specifically on the late Middle Paleolithic period, roughly between 33,000 and 52,000 years ago, when ancient hunter-gatherers attempted to navigate intense environmental shifts in the South Caucasus region.

Studying the tool fragments, researchers found a distinct difference in how such prehistoric groups used the stone resources available to them.

Ararat-1 Cave, Armenia. (credit: Ariel Malinsky-Buller/Hebrew University of Jerusalem)

Obsidian was transported from afar, local stone used as needed

While high-quality obsidian tools were transported across long distances to be used, some originating from olcanic sources up to 200 kilometers away, tools made from local chert reflecting the hunter-gatherers’ resourcefulness.

Researchers found that the obsidian tool fragments bore evidence of continuous reshaping and maintenance, indicating that they had been specifically designed to survive use by mobile groups moving through areas of extreme altitude.

In contrast, the chert tool shards show signs of benign produced on-site where they were found, pointing to early hunter-gatherers utilizing nearby resources for short-term tasks when staying at a specific location.

By adopting an analytical framework to track tiny fragments smaller than 20 millimetres in size, researchers were able to identify near invisible evidence of tool repair, even when the tools tthemselves had been removed from the site.

The findings challenge traditional methods classifying ancient cultures solely by static tool shapes found in their camps.

Instead, the study showed that Ararat-1 Cave functioned mainly as a maintenance-and-rest station within a network of seasonal migration routes.

“Our study demonstrates that ancient hunter-gatherers were highly flexible and strategic thinkers,” said Malinsky-Buller. “They did not rely on a single way of doing things. Instead, they carefully balanced portable, long-distance toolkits with immediate local resources, treating caves like Ararat-1 as critical hubs to rest, repair their gear, and plan their next move across a challenging landscape.”

The project received support from the European Research Council and the Fritz Thyssen Foundation.

https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-912655

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COP17 puts Armenia’s environmental record in the spotlight

Emil Lazarian
Al-Jazeera, Qatar
Oct 24, 2026
Opinion|Environment

As Yerevan hosts the global biodiversity summit, mining interests and weak environmental regulation raise questions about the country’s leadership.

By Vladislav Inozemtsev

Russian economist and sociologist.

Last weekend, the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17) opened in Yerevan with a lavish ceremony. It is the first time the summit has been hosted by a former Soviet republic, an occasion the Armenian government has celebrated as an opportunity to establish the country as a leader in environmental protection. But Armenia’s own ecological record raises serious questions about its suitability for this role.

When Yerevan was awarded the right to host COP17 in 2024, the Armenian authorities celebrated the decision as recognition of the country’s environmental ambitions. Yet Armenia has struggled for decades to develop effective conservation policies, and its record remains poor in several important areas. In Yale University’s 2026 Environmental Performance Index, Armenia ranks 75th out of 177 countries, compared with first place for Estonia, another former Soviet republic.

Its performance is particularly poor on waste management, where it ranks 164th, and wastewater treatment, where it ranks 165th. These figures point to serious shortcomings in basic environmental protection.

The contrast raises an obvious question: why was a country facing such serious environmental challenges chosen to host one of the world’s most important biodiversity conferences? The selection might have offered an opportunity to encourage change, but there is little indication that the Armenian authorities have used the occasion to address the country’s longstanding problems.

A major obstacle is the structure of Armenia’s economy, in which mining plays an important role, alongside ageing industrial facilities and inadequate environmental regulation. The country’s largest mining operations, including the Zangezur, Agarak and Teghut copper-molybdenum mines, extract ore using open-pit methods that generate large quantities of waste and pose serious pollution risks. The World Bank has identified mining as a significant source of environmental pollution in Armenia. Open-pit gold mining has also been licensed at Meghrasar, on land that originally overlapped with Arevik National Park, before the government reduced the park’s boundaries in 2015. The Artsvanik tailings reservoir, which holds millions of tonnes of mining waste, has also been linked to heavy-metal contamination in nearby waterways.

Armenia’s environmental problems extend beyond mining. Forests cover only 11.1 percent of the country, while in Yerevan, levels of harmful fine particle air pollution are about five times the World Health Organization’s recommended limit.

Armenia’s dependence on Russian-linked businesses in some of its most important industrial sectors further complicates efforts to strengthen environmental regulation. These companies are not only major investors and employers, but also important contributors to the state budget, giving the government a powerful economic incentive to protect their operations. Russian-linked investors hold a controlling stake in the Zangezur copper-molybdenum complex, which was Armenia’s largest taxpayer in the first half of 2026.

That conflict between economic interests and environmental protection was on display just days before COP17, when Armenia inaugurated the controversial Amulsar gold mine. Environmental organisations, including the Global Forest Coalition and various Armenian civil society groups, have condemned the move, arguing that it disregards longstanding environmental concerns and recommendations under the Bern Convention.

Human rights organisations have documented intimidation and lawsuits targeting activists campaigning against Amulsar. Armenia’s Economy Minister has defended the project on economic grounds, saying it could contribute between 1.5 and 2 percent of the country’s GDP and generate approximately $130m annually in taxes and other payments to the state budget. The projected revenues expose the contradiction between the government’s determination to expand mining and its ambition to present Armenia as an international leader in biodiversity protection.

These competing priorities are particularly important as Armenia seeks closer relations with the European Union and distances itself from Moscow. The EU–Armenia Strategic Agenda identifies the need for stronger implementation of environmental impact assessment legislation, improvements to waste management, and further action on air quality, water protection and industrial emissions. Progress on these commitments should be central to the EU’s assessment of Armenia’s efforts towards closer integration.

At COP17, governments are reviewing progress under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which aims to halt and reverse nature loss by 2030. The summit is expected to finalise a “Yerevan Pathway” to accelerate implementation of its targets. The prospects are already bleak. The State of Biodiversity Action report, launched before the summit, found that fewer than half of assessed national targets are on track.

Financing remains a major obstacle. Developed countries have provided about $16bn annually in international biodiversity finance, falling short of the $20bn target for 2025. Meanwhile, the Cali Fund, established with the goal of collecting $1bn in annual contributions from companies profiting from genetic data derived from nature, has received just $6,000. These shortfalls illustrate the difficulties facing governments as they seek to turn their biodiversity commitments into action.

As host of COP17, Armenia should be prepared to demonstrate that the commitments being discussed in Yerevan also apply to its own mining industry, environmental regulations and treatment of conservation activists. Participating governments should use the summit to press the Armenian authorities to strengthen environmental protections, enforce pollution controls, ensure credible environmental impact assessments and address the concerns raised by civil society over projects such as Amulsar.

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera’s editorial stance.


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Armenian Ruling Party Mps Hope Pashinyan Will Avoid Snap Elections

Emil Lazarian
MENAFN
Oct 24, 2026
(MENAFN- AzerNews) AzerNEWS Staff Read more

Members of Armenia’s ruling Civil Contract party hope that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will refrain from calling snap parliamentary elections, according to the Hraparak newspaper, which cited its sources.

The report said lawmakers in the ruling parliamentary faction were concerned about potentially losing their seats and the high salaries they receive over the next five years if early elections were held.

According to the newspaper, members of the faction believe Pashinyan will avoid taking such a political risk. Their assessment is also influenced by the prime minister’s intention to sign a peace agreement with Azerbaijan by 2031, the report said.

However, Pashinyan did not rule out the possibility of snap elections on October 22. He said alternative scenarios, including early parliamentary elections, could be considered if the authorities failed to secure opposition support for the adoption of a new constitution.

Constitutional reform and the signing of a peace agreement with Azerbaijan remain key issues on Armenia’s domestic political agenda.

MENAFN24102026000195011045ID1111858858

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2,700-Year-Old Woman Buried with Urartian Seal Found in Armenia By Oguz Buyuky

Maral Takmazian
Oct 24, 2026
By Oguz Buyukyildirim


An unusual burial discovered inside an ancient house at Metsamor, Armenia, has revealed the remains of a woman accompanied by a Urartian-style cylinder seal.  Archaeological evidence and isotope analysis suggest she held a distinctive place in her community and may have spent her childhood elsewhere.

Some 2,700 years ago, a woman was buried in the courtyard of a house at Metsamor, in present-day Armenia. Her body was placed in a tightly contracted position, accompanied by a cylinder seal and several bronze objects. Unlike most burials found in the settlement, her grave appears to have been created while the house was still occupied. Now, new scientific analysis suggests that she may also have grown up beyond the immediate area, raising questions about her identity and the position she held in her community.

 Archaeologists Krzysztof Jakubiak and Arkadiusz Sołtysiak examined the burial using skeletal analysis, radiocarbon dating, and strontium isotope testing. Their study, published in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, explores whether the unusual grave represents an isolated case or belongs to a broader pattern of funerary practices in the Iron Age South Caucasus.

A Grave Beneath an Occupied House

Metsamor lies in Armenia’s Ararat Valley, approximately 30 kilometers west of Yerevan. Occupied since prehistoric times, the settlement became an important fortified and metalworking center during the Bronze and Iron Ages. Its citadel was protected by massive stone walls, while the Lower Town contained residential buildings and an organized network of streets.

The woman’s grave, identified as Burial 11, was discovered in the courtyard of a structure known as House II, associated with the late eighth and early seventh centuries BC. Most burials documented in the Lower Town belong to later periods, when abandoned buildings were reused for funerary purposes. This grave, however, appears to have been deliberately inserted into the courtyard floor while domestic life continued around it.

The burial pit measured approximately 2.56 by 1.96 meters and was oriented north to south. The woman’s remains lay on her left side, with her body tightly flexed. Although early interpretations described her as sitting or crouching, closer examination suggests that she was buried in a contracted lateral position.

The grave had been looted in antiquity, leaving only part of its original contents. Nevertheless, several surviving objects provide an important indication of the circumstances surrounding her burial.

A Seal That Suggests Status, but Not a Title

The most distinctive object is a cylinder seal associated with Urartian traditions. Its decoration appears to include stylized animals, possibly including fantastic creatures, although the surviving details are not sufficiently clear for a definitive interpretation.

Similar seals have been documented at sites including Armavir, Karmir Blur, Iğdır, and Noratus. Their forms and decorative styles help place the Metsamor example within the wider material culture of the Armenian Highlands during the Iron Age.

In the ancient Near East, seals served practical functions related to identification, ownership, and administration. They could also carry symbolic significance and were sometimes worn on the body. Its presence in the Metsamor grave suggests that the seal may have held personal or symbolic significance for the woman, although its exact function remains unknown.

However, the researchers caution that the object does not establish whether the woman was a priestess, administrator, or member of an elite institution. Her burial suggests that she held a socially distinctive position, but the precise nature of that position remains unknown.

The cylinder seal discovered in the 2,700-year-old woman’s grave at Metsamor, Armenia, shown from the side and end. Credit: © Krzysztof Jakubiak and Arkadiusz Sołtysiak, 2026.

Her Skeleton Reveals a Difficult Life

Analysis of the poorly preserved skeletal remains indicates that the woman was probably over 40 when she died. Her bones and teeth preserve evidence of physical stresses experienced at different stages of her life.

Degenerative changes in her knee joints may reflect long-term mechanical strain, habitual activities, or age-related processes. Her teeth also showed advanced decay, potentially associated with dietary practices and other factors affecting oral health.

Particularly revealing were defects in the enamel of her upper canine teeth. Known as enamel hypoplasia, these markings can develop when childhood growth is disrupted by illness, nutritional deficiencies, or other physiological stresses.

Although the evidence cannot identify the specific hardships she experienced, it suggests that her childhood included periods of biological stress. Her unusual burial treatment, however, indicates that the circumstances of her death and commemoration were different from those of many other individuals buried at Metsamor.

Chemical Evidence Points Beyond Metsamor

To investigate where the woman may have grown up, the researchers analyzed strontium isotopes preserved in her tooth enamel. Because enamel develops during childhood, its chemical composition can reflect the geology of the environment in which an individual spent their early years.

The woman’s measured strontium ratio was 0.70740, slightly outside the currently established local range for Metsamor, approximately 0.70689 to 0.70736. This difference suggests that she may not have spent her childhood in the immediate surroundings of the settlement.

The researchers emphasize that the result is not conclusive. Geological conditions can change over short distances, and the comparative isotope data available for Metsamor remain limited. Consequently, the analysis cannot establish where she originated or how far she may have traveled.

Marriage, family relocation, or wider social connections could explain such movement, but none of these possibilities can currently be demonstrated.

Radiocarbon analysis provides another important qualification. Although the grave’s  archaeological context points toward the late eighth or early seventh century BC, the calibrated radiocarbon result spans approximately 775–430 BC. This broad interval reflects the Hallstatt plateau, a period in which fluctuations in atmospheric radiocarbon concentrations make precise dating particularly difficult.

An Unusual Burial in the Urartian World

The researchers also compared the Metsamor grave with funerary discoveries elsewhere in the region. At Oshakan, north of Metsamor, archaeologists documented a woman buried in a possibly contracted or seated position, although poor preservation complicates interpretation. Another comparison comes from Estark in northern Iran, where a female burial displayed some similar characteristics.

Particularly relevant examples come from the Van region of eastern Türkiye. Several female burials there combine strongly contracted body positions with seals or small metal objects associated with Urartian cultural traditions. Their dates and archaeological interpretations remain debated, preventing researchers from identifying a single, widespread funerary custom.

The Metsamor burial therefore appears unusual without being entirely without parallels. Its significance lies in the combination of its location within an occupied house, the woman’s carefully arranged body, the surviving grave goods, and chemical evidence suggesting possible mobility.

Jakubiak, K., & Sołtysiak, A. (2026). The burial of a woman at Metsamor: An isolated phenomenon or part of a broader funerary pattern? Journal of  Archaeological Science: Reports, 74, Article 105927. class=”gmail_default” st1yle=”font-family:tahoma,sans-serif”>

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