Category: News

Armenian Defence Minister Suren Papikyan visited defence company Aero Vodochody during his official visit to Czechia.

The Armenian Defence Ministry’s spokesperson said Papikyan met the company’s management and discussed cooperation.

Papikyan also toured the facility, where samples of the company’s products were presented to him.

At the initiative of Kajaran Mayor Manvel Paramazyan, an Armenian khachkar (cross-stone) dedicated to the memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide has been installed in the courtyard of the Armenian Catholic Church of St. Gregory of Narek in Saint-Chamond, France.

The Kajaran City Hall said in a statement that this significant event is another important step toward strengthening the friendly relations between the sister cities of Kajaran and Saint-Chamond, preserving Armenian cultural and spiritual heritage, and presenting it to the international community.

Kajaran Mayor Manvel Paramazyan, Saint-Chamond Mayor Axel Dugua, representatives of the municipal authorities, clergy, members of the local Armenian community, and guests attended the solemn ceremony.

Following a special church service, the khachkar was consecrated by Bishop Elie Yéghia Yéghiayan, head of the Armenian Catholic Eparchy of Sainte-Croix-de-Paris in France, with the blessing of Father Raphael Shefikyan. A Holy Mass was held during the day in memory of the holy martyrs of the Armenian Genocide.

During the ceremony, Manvel Paramazyan and Saint-Chamond Mayor Axel Dugua delivered speeches, emphasizing the importance of the warm relations established between the two communities, mutual cooperation, and the preservation of historical memory.

The event also held special significance for the Kajaran mayor. In recognition of his initiative and contribution to preserving Armenian spiritual and cultural values, Manvel Paramazyan was awarded the medal named after Saint Ignatius Maloyan by Bishop Elie Yéghia Yéghiayan, and the St. Gregory of Narek medal of the Armenian Catholic Church of Saint-Chamond by Father Raphael Shefikyan.

“The installation of the Armenian khachkar is a meaningful event not only for the Armenian community in France but also for all Armenians. It is a unique _expression_ of the Armenian people’s historical memory, Christian faith, national identity, and the unbreakable bond between generations. From now on, the Armenian khachkar in Saint-Chamond will stand as an enduring symbol of the perpetuation of the memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide, the resilience of the Armenian people, and the centuries-old friendship between Armenia and France,” Manvel Paramazyan said.

The Ministry of Labor and Welfare has drafted legislation proposing to extend the program providing a 20% cashback, up to a maximum of AMD 10,000, on non-cash transactions made using pension and benefit bank cards from January 1, 2027, through December 31, 2029, inclusive.

The bill, a draft Cabinet decision, has been submitted for public discussion. It proposes maintaining the existing mechanisms for calculating and paying the cashback.

As of October, 572,590 pensioners and benefit recipients had already benefited from the 20% cashback program, with the average cashback amount standing at approximately AMD 8,150, the ministry said.

The cashback is calculated and transferred automatically when payment cards are used to make transactions through POS terminals at retail outlets and service providers operating in Armenia.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has stressed the importance of protecting democracy in Armenia while commenting on allegations of pressure involving the ruling Civil Contract party against opposition representatives ahead of upcoming local elections.

Pashinyan had earlier called on all candidates and voters participating in local elections who claim to have been subjected to illegal pressure to report directly to him at [email protected].

He had pledged to publicly hold to account any official responsible for such actions if the allegations were substantiated.

“I have received three messages on this matter. One was a public statement by a member of the Strong Armenia faction, in which the MP raised certain concerns, particularly about people allegedly being dismissed from their jobs for political reasons. I have instructed the Inspection Body to conduct an urgent review and provide information. I also received a video showing a child delivering a campaign speech. I forwarded that material to the Anti-Corruption Committee. I also received a message from a citizen who expressed support for our policies while adding that we had nominated a poor candidate for mayor,” Pashinyan said on social media. 

The prime minister stressed that democracy and democratic values are unquestionably a top priority for his administration.

“We are committed to deepening democracy and advancing democratic reforms in Armenia. The challenge is to prevent anti-democratic rule from taking hold in Armenia under the guise of democracy. I am concerned that anyone might claim that an atmosphere of fear has been established in Armenia. At the same time, citizens who feel intimidated for any reason must be persistent in defending their rights. We have defended these citizens’ rights, are defending them, and will continue to do so. If an official exerts pressure on a citizen, and I learn of the incident and it is substantiated by evidence, I will undertake to publicly punish that official. There is a risk that such allegations may not be substantiated, but we cannot dismiss an official based on unverified, unsupported verbal claims without first establishing the facts,” Pashinyan added.

The prime minister also urged voters not to vote for candidates or political forces that use administrative resources, threats, pressure, threats of dismissal, promises of employment, or distribute or promise bribes in exchange for votes in the upcoming local elections.

“If a candidate from the Civil Contract party engages in such conduct, I urge you to vote against that candidate. Separately, report all such cases to me or law enforcement authorities,” Pashinyan said.

Local elections will be held on October 25 in Hrazdan, Artashat, Ijevan, Gavar, Martuni, Goris, and several other communities in Armenia.

Members of Armenia’s men’s and women’s national chess teams, Haik Martirosyan and Elina Danielian, respectively, are competing in the 41st European Chess Club Cup and the 30th European Women’s Chess Club Cup, the chess federation reported. 

The tournaments are being held in Budva, Montenegro, from October 17 to 23.

GM Martirosyan is playing for Romania’s SuperChess Romania team, while GM Danielian represents Luxembourg’s CE Gambit Bonnevoie team.

Martirosyan has scored 2 points out of a possible 2, while Danielian has scored 3 out of 3.

Armenian GM Sergei Movsesian is also competing in the tournament as a member of the Czech team Sigil Fund Pardubice. He has scored 1.5 points out of 3.

Armenia’s Narek Grigoryan, competing in the 75 kg weight category, was named Best Lifter in the men’s junior category at the EWF European Junior and U23 Weightlifting Championships, which concluded in Albania, the press service of the Weightlifting Federation of Armenia reported.

In the final team standings, Armenia’s junior national team finished third on points, while the U23 team placed fourth.

Armenia has expanded the destinations for its flower exports to 23 new markets this year, as the country continues efforts to diversify its foreign economic ties and increase the presence of Armenian products in international markets, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade has said.

“From January 1 to October 12, 2026, Armenia exported 908.6 tons of flowers to 30 countries, including neighboring countries (Türkiye, Iran and Georgia), as well as markets in Europe (14 EU member states, Switzerland, Moldova, Ukraine and Serbia), the Middle East (the UAE and Oman), Central Asia (Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan), and North America (the United States),” the ministry said.

Compared with the same period last year, the geographical reach of flower exports has expanded.

Whereas last year exports went only to France, the UAE, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Belarus, Georgia and the Russian Federation, this year the list of destinations has grown by 23 new markets.

Among EU countries, Armenian flowers have already been shipped to the Netherlands, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Italy, Poland, Cyprus, Czechia, Romania and France.

The EU’s Autonomous Trade Measures (ATMs) for Armenia entered into force on October 10, 2026.

The European Union has introduced temporary trade liberalization measures for Armenian products to support Armenia’s economy following recent trade restrictions imposed by Russia. The preferential regime has liberalized around 80% of Armenia’s exports to the EU. As a result, customs duties have been eliminated on many Armenian goods imported into the EU, including certain agricultural products.

The measures will remain in effect for two years. They cover product categories accounting for nearly 99% of Armenia’s exports of fresh fruit, vegetables and plants to Russia, as well as more than 91% of its exports of beverages and alcoholic beverages.

Women’s direct access to funding, meaningful participation in decision-making and recognition of their contributions to biodiversity conservation were among the key issues raised by the Convention on Biological Diversity’s (CBD) Women’s Caucus at COP17 in Yerevan.

At a press conference held in the Blue Zone at the Meridian Expo Center during the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17), Caucus representatives presented recommendations on financing, the protection of traditional knowledge and advancing gender equality in biodiversity conservation.

Ana Di Pangracio, Deputy Director of Fundación Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (FARN) and a representative of the Women’s Caucus, emphasized that the issue of financing concerns not only the volume of funds mobilized but also access to those funds, decision-making on their allocation and the ultimate beneficiaries.

“Without adequate financial resources, the commitments made by governments remain promises written on paper,” she said.

According to Di Pangracio, who is also Biodiversity Director at FARN, more predictable, adequate and sustainable public funding must be ensured for biodiversity conservation. She emphasized that developed countries must fulfill their financial commitments and that new financing mechanisms must not create an additional debt burden for developing countries, women and communities.

She said that organizations representing women, Indigenous Peoples and local communities continue to face barriers to accessing funding despite their important role in biodiversity conservation, restoration and sustainable use. Complex procedures and short-term financing mechanisms often limit the opportunities available to local initiatives and women-led organizations.

Representatives of the Women’s Caucus called for direct, simplified, flexible and long-term access to financial resources, with women fully participating in decision-making on the governance of financial mechanisms and the allocation of resources.

They also stressed the importance of strengthening accountability mechanisms and environmental and social safeguards, emphasizing that it is necessary to assess not only the volume of funds mobilized or allocated but also their actual accessibility and impact on communities.

Cristina Eghenter, Senior Expert in Global Governance Policy at WWF International (Italy) and a member of the Women’s Caucus Board, stressed the importance of applying the whole-of-society approach in the development, implementation, monitoring and accountability of biodiversity policies.

According to Eghenter, the rights, responsibilities and roles of all stakeholders involved in biodiversity conservation efforts must be clearly recognized. She noted that the blanket term “actors other than national governments” may not adequately reflect the distinct status and contributions of different groups.

She said that the Women’s Caucus, together with representatives of Indigenous Peoples, local communities and youth, had jointly proposed using the term “major groups and other stakeholders” to ensure clearer recognition of the groups participating in these processes.

She also emphasized the need to accelerate inclusive and effective action following the global assessment, noting that the “Yerevan Pathway” could help promote a whole-of-society approach, gender equality and human rights-based approaches.

The 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is being held in conjunction with the 12th meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (CP-MOP-12) and the sixth meeting of the Parties to the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-sharing (NP-MOP-6). COP17 marks the first global review of collective progress toward implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF).

Preparations for the launch of Benfica Academy Armenia have advanced with a visit to Lisbon by the project’s founder, Alfred Sadoyan, and director, Artur Azaryan, who traveled to Portugal to learn more about the renowned club’s youth development methodology, SL Benfica press service reported. 

The academy, a joint project of Sport Lisboa e Benfica and Football Investment Group, is scheduled to open in the summer of 2027.

Sadoyan and Azaryan traveled to the Portuguese capital to take part in a work program focused on technical training and integration into Benfica’s culture.

Over several days, they met with representatives of various club departments during sessions held at Benfica’s home stadium, Estádio da Luz, and the Adidas Benfica Campus. The meetings aimed to provide a deeper understanding of the working methods, organizational principles and values underpinning Benfica’s youth development model.

The Benfica academy in Armenia will feature a stadium, six football pitches and other state-of-the-art facilities, with capacity for more than 1,000 footballers aged 4 to 17.

The training program will cover different levels of play, from recreational football to competitive teams and elite divisions, offering athletes development opportunities tailored to their age, abilities and individual ambitions. At the local level, this structure will follow the logic of Benfica’s development pyramid, which brings together a network of football schools, training and development centers, and the Adidas Benfica Campus. The goal is to create a coherent training pathway in which the club’s methodology is applied at different stages of young footballers’ development.

“Today, everyone recognizes that Benfica’s youth academy, along with its educational and coaching methods, is among the best in the world, thanks to its approach to developing talent and creativity. We are confident that the same principles will guide our work in Armenia,” Sadoyan said.

In July 2026, the Football Federation of Armenia (FFA) and Football Investment Group announced the launch of the Benfica Academy Armenia project. Under the initiative, the official academy of the renowned Portuguese club Sport Lisboa e Benfica will begin operating in Yerevan in the 2027–2028 season.

The project will be implemented on the grounds of the FFA’s Technical Center-Academy. The federation has granted a section of the facility to Football Investment Group LLC for long-term, gratuitous use to implement the Benfica Academy Armenia project.

The decision reflects the exceptional scale of the initiative and its strategic importance for the development of Armenian football, as well as the fact that SL Benfica’s academy is one of the leading football academies in the world.

An exhibition titled “Witnesses of Time: A Century-Old Square and Opera,” marking the 100th anniversary of Republic Square, has opened at the Tiridates exhibition hall of the Alexander Tamanyan National Museum-Institute of Architecture in Yerevan. The exhibition features historical photographs, including contemporary images provided by the Armenpress state news agency’s archive.

In an interview with Armenpress, museum-institute Director Zaruhi Hayrapetyan said the exhibition will run through November 20.

“We have tried to present a chronological overview, selecting photographs dating from the 1920s to the present day. We are very grateful to the Armenpress state news agency for providing contemporary photographs from its archive. We have also included plans, drawings and photographs related to the historical period, selected from the museum-institute’s collections or acquired through cooperation,” Hayrapetyan said.

She said the exhibition would give visitors an opportunity to appreciate the contributions of the architects who helped shape the square’s architectural appearance.

During the exhibition’s opening ceremony, the museum-institute and the National Archives of Armenia signed a memorandum of cooperation.

“We greatly value the work of the archives, as they are the repository of our people’s memory. The materials related to urban planning and architectural art preserved in the archives are of great museum value to us. The memorandum could help increase the number of joint exhibitions in the future,” Hayrapetyan said.

National Archives of Armenia Director Artur Stepanyan said the memorandum would open up new opportunities for both institutions and enhance their cooperation.

“We already have experience of effective joint work. It is a great honor for us that the National Archives of Armenia has provided unique documents and photographs for the exhibition, making it possible to present the history of masterpieces of Armenian architecture. The memorandum sets clear guidelines for the future, and we plan to expand our joint programs,” Stepanyan added.