Category: News

Armenian PM Pashinyan says Kazakhstan among key countries taking interest in T

Kanayan Tamar
KazInform – Kazakhstan
April 9 2026
17:43, 9 April 2026

Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on Thursday that Kazakhstan, like many other countries, is interested in the TRIPP connectivity project, ARMENPRESS reports. 

Photo credit: Armenpress

A new route for international communication is opening, and Kazakhstan is one of the major players in the international transport sector, particularly in terms of the flow of goods to and from China, Pashinyan said at a press briefing on April 9, when asked about the Kazakh Foreign Minister’s visit to Armenia.

“Our Kazakh partners, with whom we also discussed this issue during my visit, are trying to gain a more concrete understanding of the transport opportunities that are opening up and how this will affect them,” he added. 

Kazakhstan is not the only country interested in this topic; many countries are. The process is public, and we do not intend to hide it from our partners. Naturally, we should invite Kazakhstan to be prepared to consider using transit routes through Armenia as part of their export, import, and transport service chains, Pashinyan said.

The Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) is a connectivity project in Armenia, envisaged under the U.S.-brokered Armenian-Azerbaijani joint declaration signed in Washington, D.C. The project is expected to unlock strategic economic opportunities, create long-term benefits by promoting infrastructure investment, and enhance regional connectivity. An Armenian-American joint enterprise is expected to develop the route.

On April 8-9, Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister, Yermek Kosherbayev, will pay an official visit to Armenia. The delegation also includes Kazakhstan’s Minister of Transportation, Nurlan Sauranbayev.

Previously, Qazinform News Agency reported Kazakhstan approves an intelligence cooperation deal with Armenia. 

 

—

Armenia’s Foreign Policy Dilemma: The Pashinyan–Putin Meeting in Context

Ani Basmajian
Special Eurasia
April 9 2026

Armenia’s Foreign Policy Dilemma: The Pashinyan–Putin Meeting in Context

Executive Intelligence Snapshot

Armenia’s leadership is attempting to rebalance its foreign policy between Russia and the West ahead of pivotal June 2026 elections, but Moscow’s warnings and tightening leverage signal a narrowing space for Yerevan’s strategic manoeuvre.

Key Judgments

  1. Russia is increasing political and economic pressure on Armenia to deter deeper EU alignment, signalling readiness to recalibrate bilateral ties.
  2. Pashinyan aims to maintain ties with Moscow and pursue Western integration, yet domestic election concerns limit his options.
  3. The unresolved CSTO dispute and competing connectivity projects heighten strategic uncertainty in the South Caucasus, exposing Armenia to coercive risks from multiple directions.

Situation Overview

  • Nikol Pashinyan’s official visit to Moscow on April 1, 2026, occurred amidst a politically charged atmosphere, as parliamentary elections loomed and his Civil Contract party garnered approximately 25% in opinion polls. He sought to show his ability to handle Yerevan’s ties with Moscow while also appeasing Western-leaning voters.
  • Talks with Putin underscored widening strategic differences, especially over Armenia’s EU ambitions. Moscow argued that EU membership would conflict with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), suggesting economic repercussions for Yerevan if it changed its policy.
  • The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) dispute remained unresolved, with Russia arguing Armenia’s recognition of Azerbaijani sovereignty over Nagorno‑Karabakh/Artsakh in 2022 limited the alliance’s ability to intervene. This position further diminished the Armenian public’s trust in the CSTO.
  • Heightened economic pressures arose because of Russia’s possible imposition of tougher trade laws and intimations of further measures, as stated by Aleksei Overchuk, the Russian Deputy Prime Minister. In response, Armenia suggested it might withdraw from the EAEU and CSTO and is looking into Western-backed transport corridors to decrease reliance on Russian infrastructure.
  • Russia’s proposal to re-establish railway connections close to Armenia’s borders and its desire to maintain control over the country’s rail operations intensified infrastructure competition. The US-backed TRIPP corridor and the EU-supported Trans-Caspian routes provided alternative options, lessening Armenia’s reliance on Russian-controlled infrastructure.

Intelligence Assessment

The Armenian leadership’s objectives include safeguarding long-term sovereignty, decreasing its security dependence on Russia, and aligning the nation with Western political and economic systems. Pashinyan, however, must contend with internal politics where nationalist factions retain considerable influence, and any perceived overextension of strategy could upset the precarious post-Karabakh political accord. Russia aims to halt the diminishing of its sway in the South Caucasus and perceives Yerevan’s ties with the West as indicative of a larger trend of geopolitical expansion.

Moscow still has significant leverage: energy pricing, labour migration flows, trade access, and Russian military facilities in the Caucasian republic. Recent warnings show a readiness to employ economic pressure against Yerevan. Armenia’s signals about possibly withdrawing from Russian-led blocs seem intended to discourage pressure, not to enact a definitive separation. Considering Yerevan’s economic vulnerabilities and the lack of prompt Western security guarantees, the credibility of these threats is questionable.

The most likely scenario is a continued uneasy equilibrium. Armenia intends to strengthen its collaboration with the EU and the US, focusing on areas such as connectivity, digital infrastructure, and defence-related technologies. However, the country will refrain from taking any official actions that could provoke a response from Russia. Moscow will continue with its rhetoric and targeted economic sanctions, but will avoid a complete break, believing that destabilising Yerevan could drive it closer to the West.

A significant escalation of Russian pressure poses the greatest risk, possibly instigated by Yerevan formally joining the EU or changing the status of Russian military bases. A confrontation like this could lead to instability in Armenian domestic politics, strengthen nationalist factions, and jeopardise the precarious peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan. This situation might also allow Iran or Turkey to increase their influence because of the current regional instability, especially considering the ongoing conflicts involving Iran and the potential for them to spread into the South Caucasus.

Second-order consequences may involve divisions among Armenia’s political leaders, a decline in investor trust for projects connecting the region, and intensified rivalry between Western and Russian endeavours.

Indicators to Monitor

  • Russian economic measures, such as revisions to trade embargoes, energy rate adjustments, or prohibitions affecting Armenian exports and the influx of its labour force.
  • Armenia’s engagement with EU structures, especially any formal steps toward accession or deeper security cooperation.
  • CSTO dynamics, with particular attention to Russian pronouncements on Yerevan’s paused membership and any shifts concerning Russian military installations in the South Caucasus republic.
  • Domestic political shifts in Armenia, particularly polling trends for nationalist or revanchist parties ahead of the June 2026 elections.
  • Developments in regional connectivity, including advancements in EU and US-supported corridors as opposed to rail and transport initiatives proposed by Russia.

—

Why absurdly affordable Yerevan deserves a place on your travel wishlist

Jirair Kafian
The Telegraph, UK
April 9 2026

With Wizz Air poised to launch direct flights from London, there’s never been a better time to discover the vibrant capital of Armenia

Elise Morton

It’s late evening in Yerevan, and the pavements are still buzzing. Couples stroll past the fountains on Republic Square, families and young people chat outside late-opening coffee shops. “In summer especially, the streets are busy until late, no matter the day of the week,” says my guide Lusine, who runs tour company Next is Armenia.

Many cafés stay open until 11pm, bars even later – a treat for anyone arriving from London, where finding somewhere nice to sit with a cup of coffee after 5pm can be a genuine challenge if you don’t fancy a drink.

Armenia’s capital is one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities – founded in 782 BC by King Argishti I as the fortress of Erebuni, it is 29 years older than Rome – yet it remains remarkably under the radar as a travel destination.

That looks set to change this summer, when Wizz Air launches a direct route from London Luton – the first direct connection in years. And while the price tag is undeniably appealing (we’re talking flights from around £37 one way and pints for barely £1.50), what kept surprising me was just how much this city offers for a long weekend: extraordinary history, bold architecture, superb food and a creative energy that feels genuinely its own.

Deep roots into a distant past

Yerevan sits against a dramatic backdrop. The silhouette of Mount Ararat – sacred to Armenians, though it lies just across the border in Turkey – looms over the city, the mountain where, legend has it, Noah’s Ark came to rest. This is a country that wears its ancient identity proudly: Armenia was the first nation to adopt Christianity as its state religion, in 301 AD, and you feel that deep-rootedness everywhere you go. 

The city is built from distinctive pink and ochre volcanic tufa stone, lending it a warm, rosy glow in the late-afternoon light. Republic Square, with its grand ring of buildings and illuminated fountains after dark, is the obvious starting point; nearby, the sprawling Vernissage Market is the place to rummage for handmade pottery, traditional carpets and all manner of curios.

One of the first things you notice in Yerevan is the beguiling Armenian script. Its curling, hook-like letters are everywhere, on shopfronts and monuments and menus. To dig deeper into its history, head to the Matenadaran, a remarkable repository of more than 17,000 ancient manuscripts and 100,000 documents – just one of a host of museums that make this city so rewarding. 

The History Museum of Armenia – which houses around 400,000 objects, including Iron Age altars and maps from the Russo-Turkish wars – rewards a visit, as does the Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex on Tsitsernakaberd hill, a sobering reminder of the mass atrocities committed against Armenians during the First World War.

Then wander down to the Cascade Complex, a vast terraced structure housing the Cafesjian Art Center and a sculpture park with pieces scattered among its gardens and stairways. For cinema lovers, the Sergei Parajanov Museum is a wonderfully eccentric tribute to the visionary director of The Colour of Pomegranates, displaying his artistic and literary heritage from photos to screenplays.

Long lunches and musical grapes

The food scene is a highlight in its own right. At Lavash, you can sample harissa (a slow-cooked wheat and lamb porridge that’s something of a national dish), Armenian trout from Lake Sevan and arishta, a thick local pasta. At Dalan Art Gallery and Restaurant, the garden setting makes for a perfect long lunch. For coffee, head to Lumen, which has the buzzy energy of an East London roastery, or the stylish yet disarmingly friendly NÖNÖ.

It would be churlish not to wash down the sumptuous cuisine with some Armenian drinks. No visit would be complete without the Ararat brandy museum, where an unforgettable aroma hits you the moment you walk through the door – what my guide Ani tells me is called the “angel’s share”, the small percentage that evaporates annually from the ageing barrels. The tour takes you through the history of distillation and barrel-making before culminating in a tasting.

For wine, venture out to the Aragatsotn region to visit Van Ardi, Armenia’s first boutique winery. Founded by the Mouradian family, who uprooted their lives in Los Angeles in 2008 to pursue a dream, it’s a passion project in the truest sense. Varuzhan’s daughter, Arpi, leads tours through vineyards planted in volcanic soil at more than 1,000m above sea level. Sound, she explains, is vital to the health of the vines: classical, jazz and Armenian compositions play to the grapes year-round, and visitors are invited to ring a huge church bell in the on-site tower. 

Lunch in their restaurant – fried vine-leaf tacos, an aromatic tarragon salad and roast lamb with garlicky potatoes – is exceptional. And for something stronger, make time for Aharonyan Distillery, where small-batch fruit spirits are triple-distilled from Armenian orchard produce with no sugar or additives. The apricot – Armenia’s national fruit – is outstanding, as are the mulberry and nectarine.

A day trip with a difference

A long weekend in Yerevan all but demands a day trip, and the classic outing is the Garni-Geghard circuit, about an hour’s drive east. Taxis are inexpensive and drivers will cheerfully wait for you, or group tours are widely available. The Temple of Garni is a first-century colonnaded wonder – the only largely intact Hellenistic structure in the former Soviet Union, thought to have been dedicated to the sun god Mihr. It collapsed in a 1679 earthquake but was painstakingly reconstructed in the 1970s; standing among its columns, high on a gorge above the Azat River, is one of those moments that fixes itself in your memory. 

Fifteen minutes further into the gorge lies the Unesco World Heritage Site Geghard, a medieval monastery partially carved into the mountainside. Water trickles through the rock-cut chambers; Lusine tells me that many devout visitors come to drink from its spring, which is believed to have healing qualities. The monastery’s name means “spear” – a reference to the lance said to have pierced Christ’s side, which was once kept here among its relics.

At every turn, Yerevan surprised me: grander, livelier, more layered than I’d expected, and far easier on the wallet than almost anywhere in Europe. There is a warmth to the city – in the stone, in the people, in the late-night hum of the streets – that stays with you long after you leave. With direct flights imminent, the secret is unlikely to keep for long.

Essentials

Wizz Air will begin flying direct from London Luton to Yerevan on June 12, 2026, with fares from around £37 one way.

Avenue 30 Hotel has doubles with balconies from £67 per night, including breakfast. Grand Hotel Yerevan has doubles from £148 per night, including breakfast.

Elise Morton visited Yerevan with support from The Armenia Project.

—

Pashinyan says Armenia–Russia relations undergo ‘constructive transformation’

Toneyan Mark
OC Media
April 9 2026

Amidst renewed tension in Armenia–Russia relations following a meeting between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Russian President Vladimir Putin on 1 April, Pashinyan has said the bilateral relationship is undergoing a ‘constructive transformation’.

‘I evaluate this process positively’, Pashinyan said during his weekly press briefing on Thursday.

He added that Armenia would ‘not deviate from the logic of friendly dialogue and will continue along this path’. Pashinyan also disclosed that, based on the agreements reached, he would meet Putin again in the ‘second half of June’.

During their latest meeting in April, Pashinyan and Putin failed to reach an agreement regarding the future of Armenia’s railways, which is currently under Russian management as part of a 30-year concession agreement signed in 2008.

Following the talks, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksei Overchuk stated there were ‘no objective reasons for selling’ the concession to a third party.

Putin and Pashinyan hold contentious talks in Moscow

However, Armenia has insisted that Russian management means a loss of ‘competitive advantage’ by having international routes pass through the country. In February, Pashinyan said that a country with ‘friendly relations’ with both Russia and Armenia could ‘purchase the concession management rights’ of Armenia’s railways, naming Kazakhstan, among others, as a possible fit for the role.

Pashinyan stated that the railway issue ‘may’ be touched upon ahead of talks between Kazakhstan and Armenia in Yerevan on Thursday, as the country’s Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev and Transportation Minister Nurlan Sauranbayev arrived in the capital.

Meanwhile, he expressed Armenia’s reluctance ‘to do anything behind Russia’s back or against Russia’.

‘At least at this stage, when dialogue opportunities are open and broad, we will continue our work’, Pashinyan said.

Threats do not scare a hedgehog

During his Thursday briefing, Pashinyan also stated that there exists ‘no basis’ for the increase in the Russian gas price for Armenia, noting that Armenia has ‘long-term contracts’ with Russia.

Speculation appeared following the 1 April talks, when Putin addressed gas prices, highlighting the significant discount Armenia receives from buying Russian energy.

‘The price of gas in Europe exceeds $600 per 1000 cubic metres, and Russia sells gas to Armenia for $177.5 per 1000 cubic metres’, Putin said.

In turn, Armenia threatened to leave the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) in case of an increase in Russia’s gas prices, though adding that such an increase seemed unlikely.

Yerevan threatens to leave Russia-led blocs in latest diplomatic row with Moscow

During her Wednesday briefing, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova burst into laughter for several seconds upon hearing the name of Armenia’s Parliamentary Speaker, Alen Simonyan — one of the officials who had suggested such a withdrawal — at the start of a journalist’s question.

Only after this outburst did the journalist manage to finish the question, requesting a comment on Yerevan’s threats to leave the two organisations. Zakharova responded with a metaphor, saying the threats reminded her of ‘threatening a hedgehog by exposing one’s capabilities’. She apparently implied that it would be impossible to threaten such an animal, or Russia, due to the number of needles or protective barriers it has.

Zakharova further noted her lack of interest in ‘seriously commenting on the statements of emotional politicians’. Instead, focusing on gas prices, she noted that it was the ‘responsibility of the Armenian leadership to ensure its country’s energy security’.

She added that the issue was especially relevant given the turmoil in gas markets due to the US–Israel attack on Iran.

—

Armenpress: Macron condemns Israeli strikes, stressing Lebanon must be include

Arpi Talalian
Read the article in: ArmenianRussian:

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday he told the leaders of Iran and the United States that he hoped a ceasefire between them ‌would be respected in Lebanon and across “all areas of confrontation”, as Israeli strikes continued to hit Beirut.

The U.S. and Iran on Tuesday agreed to a two-week ceasefire, but Israel on Wednesday killed more than 250 people in its heaviest strikes on Lebanon since fighting ⁠with Hezbollah broke out last month.

Israel and the U.S. have said Lebanon was not part of the ceasefire with Iran, although Pakistan, a key intermediary in the ceasefire talks, said the truce would include Beirut, Reuters reported.

Iran has told intermediaries that Lebanon must be included in any ceasefire agreement with the U.S. and Israel, Reuters reported citing sources familiar with Iran’s position.

Macron said he spoke to Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian and U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday ‌and ⁠conveyed to them that including Lebanon was “a necessary condition for the ceasefire to be credible and lasting”. He added that any deal between the countries must address concerns raised by Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs, as well as its regional ⁠policy and its actions obstructing navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

Macron also spoke to Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and condemned Israel’s “indiscriminate ⁠strikes”, which he said pose a threat to the sustainability of the ceasefire.

“I reiterated the need to preserve Lebanon’s territorial integrity and France’s ⁠determination to support the efforts of the Lebanese authorities to uphold the country’s sovereignty and implement the Hezbollah disarmament plan,” Macron added on X.

Read the article in: ArmenianRussian:

Published by Armenpress, original at 
—

Trump says U.S. military to stay around Iran; threatens action if Tehran fails

Nahapetian Samvel
Read the article in: ArabicՀայերենRussian

President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that U.S. military ships and aircraft will remain around Iran and threatened that the U.S. will ‌start shooting again unless Tehran fully complies with the two-week ceasefire deal reached with Washington.

“All U.S. Ships, Aircraft, and Military Personnel, with additional Ammunition, Weaponry, and anything else that is appropriate and necessary for the lethal prosecution and destruction of an already substantially degraded Enemy, will remain in place in, and around, Iran, until such time as the REAL AGREEMENT reached is fully complied with. If for any reason it is not, which is highly unlikely, then the “Shootin’ Starts,” bigger, and better, and stronger than anyone has ever seen before. It was agreed, a long time ago, and despite all of the fake rhetoric to the contrary – NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS and, the Strait of Hormuz WILL BE OPEN & SAFE. In the meantime our great Military is Loading Up and Resting, looking forward, actually, to its next Conquest. AMERICA IS BACK,” Trump said on Truth Social.

Negotiations between the U.S. and Iran are expected soon.

Read the article in: ArabicՀայերենRussian

Published by Armenpress, original at 
—

White House says U.S. working on modified plan ahead of talks with Iran, Trump

Hagop Kamalian
Read the article in: العربية Armenian:

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has dismissed any suggestion that U.S. President Donald Trump simply accepted all of Iran’s demands by agreeing to the ceasefire.

The Iranians, she said at a press conference, originally put forward a 10-point plan that was “literally thrown in the garbage by President Trump and his negotiating team.”

Many outlets, she said, have reported that initial proposal as being acceptable to the president and those reports are “false.”

As Tuesday’s 8 p.m. deadline neared, the Iranian regime “acknowledged reality” and put forward a “more reasonable and entirely different” plan, she said. The president and his team determined the new, modified plan was workable to negotiate from and align with the White House’s 15-point plan, she said, according to CBS News.

“The president’s red lines, namely the end of Iranian enrichment in Iran, have not changed, and the idea that President Trump would ever accept an Iranian wishlist as a deal is completely absurd,” she said. 

Still, Leavitt didn’t say what 10 points the Iranians presented that the president ultimately accepted as largely reasonable. She simply said Iran has agreed to open the Strait of Hormuz. 

Leavitt said Vice President JD Vance will lead talks with Iran in Islamabad, with the first round of discussions set for Saturday morning local time. 

Special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Mr. Trump’s son-in-law, will also be part of the negotiating team, Leavitt said. 

Published by Armenpress, original at 
—

Lebanon situation relatively calm but unpredictable, Beirut-based editor Shaha

Ara Felekian
Diaspora18:40, 9 April 2026
Read the article in: ArabicՀայերենRussian

The situation in Lebanon is relatively calm for now, but remains unpredictable, Shahan Gantaharian, editor-in-chief of the Beirut-based Aztag daily, told Armenpress.

According to Gantaharian, no Armenian casualties or material losses have been reported in Lebanon so far, although the atmosphere remains tense.

He noted that the entire territory of Lebanon was subjected to what he described as unprecedented Israeli bombardment the previous day.

At present, the situation is relatively calm, but it remains unpredictable, he added.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry said the death toll from Israeli strikes across the country on April 8 had risen to 203, with more than 1,000 people injured.

Senior officials from several countries have condemned Israel’s attacks on Lebanon.

The Lebanese government declared April 9 a national day of mourning in memory of those killed in the Israeli airstrikes.

Read the article in: ArabicՀայերենRussian

Published by Armenpress, original at 
—

EBRD plans €5 billion investment for economies hit by Middle East conflict, i

Ani Basmajian
Economy21:23, 9 April 2026
Read the article in: ArmenianRussian:

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) plans to invest around €5 billion in 2026 in economies affected by the conflict in the Middle East, including Armenia.

According to the bank, Armenia is among the countries not directly involved in the conflict but still exposed to its economic fallout as part of the wider regional chain.

The EBRD said the impact is being felt through disrupted trade routes, energy and commodity shocks, weaker investor confidence, and rising socio-economic pressure.

The bank said its conflict response programme will include support for financial institutions, measures to strengthen private-sector resilience, and investment in infrastructure — areas from which Armenia could also benefit.

EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso said the bank is prepared to deepen its engagement in countries facing this kind of pressure.

“In a context of growing uncertainty, we are increasing our engagement while maintaining sound banking principles. We are here to support the economies, clients and people of our partner countries in difficult times,” she said.

Under the programme, the EBRD also plans to strengthen energy security, support businesses facing market volatility, and invest in infrastructure and digital solutions.

The bank said its support will also focus on preserving jobs, expanding access to finance, and protecting vulnerable groups.

It added that the scale of investment will remain demand-driven, given the fast-changing nature of the situation.

The EBRD said it will implement the programme in cooperation with international partners to help support economic resilience and sustainable development.

Read the article in: ArmenianRussian:

Published by Armenpress, original at 
—

Armenia, France discuss upcoming COP17 and Jeux de la Francophonie

Kanayan Tamar
Politics11:55, 9 April 2026
Read the article in: Español, Farsi, Français, Armenian, Georgian

Armenian Ambassador to France Arman Khachatryan met with Éléonore Caroit, the Minister Delegate to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, responsible for Francophonie, International Partnerships, and French Nationals Abroad.

The Armenian Ambassador also serves as the Armenian Prime Minister’s Personal Representative on the Permanent Council of La Francophonie (OIF).

The Ambassador and the French official discussed the Armenia–France agenda, as well as the active cooperation established between Armenia and France within international organizations, particularly in the framework of La Francophonie, the embassy reported. 

The Ambassador presented the progress of preparations for the 10th La Francophonie Games (Jeux de la Francophonie), to be held in Armenia in 2027, reaffirming Armenia’s commitment to hosting the event at a high level. Both sides emphasized the importance of the Jeux de la Francophonie as a significant event contributing to the promotion of Francophone culture and values, as well as the development of the French language.

Views were exchanged on the preparatory work and possible cooperation ahead of the 17th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17), to be held in Armenia this year. Ambassador Khachatryan presented Armenia’s vision for organizing the conference, aimed at ensuring the full and meaningful participation of all stakeholders in discussions related to biodiversity.

Ambassador Khachatryan also presented the peace established between Armenia and Azerbaijan, highlighting the importance of its further consolidation.

Read the article in: Español, Farsi, Français, Armenian, Georgian

Published by Armenpress, original at 
—