Energy collapse and migration. Russia warns what will happen if it changes the game

April 3, 2026

After the Putin-Pashinyan meeting, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk’s statement that Armenia is very close to the point when Russia will have to rebuild its economic relations with it caused a great resonance in various circles.

Head of the “Armenia is me” political initiative, t:optician Nairi Sargsyan 168amin a conversation with, he mentioned that although similar statements have been made by the Russian side for a long time, the situation has worsened recently.

In this context, Nairi Sargsyan reminds about Armenia’s economic dependence on Russia. “Energy dependence on Russia. Nuclear power plants and thermal power plants are about 72%, the price of gas, which if sold to Europe is 600 euros, to Armenia – 170, if fuel is sold to other countries at a much higher price, it is sold to Armenia at the tariff of Russia’s domestic consumption, with quota sales, about 70 percent of remittances come from Russia, different figures are given for those who went to work abroad.

The Russian Federation continues to be the number 1 partner of Armenia’s export market or trade turnover of Armenia. trade turnover is around 40%.

Read also

  • WHENEVER PASHINIAN GOES OUT AGAIN, PUT SOIL, METALLACH, CARPET OR LAMINATE FROM ARMENIA IN HIS POCKET, HE WILL BE A LITTLE FURIOUS. ARTHUR KHACHIKYAN
  • Everywhere you go, you’ll be called a traitor, Nicole
  • PUTIN SAID: THINK WELL… IF YOU PULL OUT YOUR EYES WITH YOUR OWN FINGERS, DON’T COMPLAIN: YOU ARE BLIND… DID THE ARMENIAN PEOPLE NOT SEE THE LUCK IN SYRIA? Vardan Khachatryan

Under such conditions, if Russia goes to warn Armenia, then Armenia will feel all its harmful consequences. Every citizen of Armenia will feel it.”

To clarify how anti-Russian is real in the case of these indicators? Is it possible, it is only at the level of announcements, the specialist responded. “It is not excluded, because the Nikol Pashinyan-Vladimir Putin meeting a few days ago was very interesting for me. usually, the meetings of the leaders of the superpowers are not direct meetings, they are meetings with pre-planned agendas, approved, probable answers or predetermined expectations. In this case, this meeting still raised many questions for me.

But we see the side that is still visible. what was said behind the scenes is the most important for deep analysis and understanding.

Referring to the prospect of the warning from Russia and the specific possible consequences, Nairi Sargsyan elaborated:

“For example, the price of gas, I’m not saying it’s at the level of European prices, but if it only doubles, the heating costs of each family will double in the form of direct costs. Then comes the indirect costs. only the increase in the price of gas and the stoppage or increase in the price of the supply of electricity raw materials will lead to the collapse of the heating system in general, energy collapse, which will lead to the collapse of Armenia’s already weak industry, starting from the production of bread and pasta, to the production of cans and clothes, the main consumption market of which is still Russia.

In such conditions, poverty, energy crisis, unemployment will be followed by emigration, which will open a direct way for Azerbaijanis to settle in Armenia.”

168: Pashinyan Should Go Out Again, Put Soil, Metal Lach, Carpet Or Laminate From Armenia

April 3, 2026

Satik Seyranyan in the “Pressing” program the guest is Dr. Artur Khachikyan of Stanford University political science is.

The main theses of the interview are below.

  • It was impossible to imagine that an 18-year-old boy would be punched and thrown to the ground during the liturgy in Armenia. This group crossed all the red lines. The head of state writes such things on Facebook that I will not allow myself to write even when drinking with my friends. We learned that Vehapar and the church can be attacked, that the exit of Vehapar can be closed. This is what they teach now։
  • This person provokes and tries to break the people’s resistance to see how far they will tolerate… Tomorrow he can enter your house, force you to love him, and if you refuse, they will imprison you.   
  • This person has a need for revenge because he sees that he has failed, he has not succeeded, neither as a leader of the country, nor as a journalist… He is a vindictive person. He takes revenge on us because he sees that there are many decent people who could make a decent peace, and he hates them. He hates us all because we witnessed his downfall. 
  • They changed the name of corruption, they put reward. Poor pensioners are given 10,000 drams, and they are given 10-12 million drams.
  • We woke up a long time ago and realized that human rights are only for serving western interests. Imagine if Putin’s bodyguard did something like that, hit an 18-year-old boy in church, those pro-Western human rights defenders would talk about it until they foamed at the mouth like a washing machine… 
  • 75,000 women and children have been killed in Gaza, the West is quietly watching. They bring a terrorist and make him the head of Syria. This is the West today.
  • He shouted in 2020: this is our new Sardarapat, even in 2021 he told the people of Karabakh: you should live safely in Artsakh. Now, how does the head of state talk to the woman who became a refugee because of him? Every morning our day is ruined, the reality show continues…
  • Looking at Pashinyan’s and Putin’s body language and voice intonations, one can imagine what kind of conversation took place behind closed doors. Putin calmly, but very accessible and transparent hints about what could happen if Armenia goes to NATO and EU. The next day, Deputy Prime Minister Overchuk further elaborated on what was said by Putin. And today Dmitry Medvedev already put the end point. This government is fighting with Russia for something that will not happen. Even they admit that Armenia will not be in the EU, that we will not be accepted into the EU, we were neither invited nor expected… 
  • Previously, in 2017, the leaders of Armenia signed CEPA, a real document that needed to be developed, but today they have fallen behind unreal things. Quotas, right to work, various privileges could be obtained from Europe with that document, but they did not. We will become a nursing home if this continues, the youth will flee the country…
  • Tomorrow the Europeans can tell us: don’t grow apricots because Spain doesn’t want them, don’t produce wine because you’re hurting French winemaking… You didn’t like communism, now you’re going to get Eurocommunism. They will tell you what to do, but that will not happen because Armenia will not be a member of the EU.

Read also

  • 8 years later. highway motels on death roads
  • Energy collapse and migration. Russia warns what will happen if it changes the rules of the game
  • Davit Minasyan was hospitalized, he is in “Nairi” Medical Center
  • Pashinyan’s behavior inside and outside reminds me of the meeting between King Arshak and the Persian Shapuh. The next time Pashinyan goes to Russia or somewhere else, put soil from Armenia in his pocket, a mat or khali, a laminate so that he can stand on it, get a little angry, and talk the way he talks to us in Armenia.։
  • Russia is a huge territory, Russians have 10 time zones, they come from Vladivostok to Moscow, the day changes, or the government changes in Italy… So, Russia does not need Armenia to become part of Russia. Enough of repeating that over and over again, as if the Union State wants to take us away…
  • It is sad that we are presented with this disgrace, who, when 180 baby girls were buried in Iran, was playing drums in Georgia…
  • Yes, the speech of Russian officials is harsh, and it is very bad that they talk about the leader of our country like that. But they clearly tell us that if you leave the EAEU, the 40,000 drams paid for gas per month in winter will become at least 120,000 drams. Are our pensioners ready to pay such a price? As soon as we leave the EAEU, I will advise our citizens to buy raskladushkas, because tens of thousands of Armenians will come here from Russia, those who have supported their friends in Armenia for 35 years.
  • You can’t blame anyone for Artsakh, neither Iran nor Russia, although I hope that those countries have now understood what value Artsakh had for them… If you recognize Artsakh in Prague as part of Azerbaijan, it means that it’s over, there is no conflict, and what would Russia or any other country do? He did everything to get Russia out of Artsakh…
  • A head of a vassal state headed by his lord would threaten with war. Yes, it is very possible that they agreed with Aliyev that he would attack before the elections, that he would say this: you see, I am the only leader of the country who can ensure peace. There is no precedent in the history of the world for a leader of any country to consider a part of his people as a yoke around his neck
  • It is already the biggest economic crisis in the whole world. The Strait of Hormuz is closed, and this creates problems. The USA wants to occupy Kharg Island as well. They want to send marines to extract uranium from Iran. This will be a disaster, there will be thousands of victims, there will be chaos. This is a psychological war. As soon as the financial markets fall, Trump announces something, the situation stabilizes, then it falls again… Great Britain already has a week’s worth of fuel left. Half of the data center projects for the next year have been canceled. This is a major blow to the AI ​​industry. Agriculture is in decline. According to the UN, we are heading towards starvation. Trump brags like a child that they blew up the most modern bridge in Tehran… This is a war crime. Iran is also attacking oil and gas infrastructures. We are heading for a huge economic crisis. Iran may go to negotiations, but it will demand a big price for it: the US must withdraw its bases from the Gulf countries, which is hard to imagine, the Strait of Hormuz must remain under its control, it must be given full guarantees. Maybe the US has an advantage militarily, but the economic, psychological and political advantage in this war is on the side of Iran.
  • It is clear that the Republicans will not win in the USA this fall. Democrats will take over Congress and begin the process of impeaching Trump. In the US, 8 million people took to the streets against the war against Iran։
  • Iran will be a new Vietnam for America, and it will have to deal with its consequences for tens of years. Trump trades. He says to Europe, if you don’t help me open the Strait of Hormuz, I won’t help you in Ukraine either.։


  • Maybe the Kurds also have KP and can still give in to the promises of the Americans, but at the moment they do not want to give in to the provocation of the USA once again, because they have seen that they have been defeated twice.
  • Israel’s goal is to establish hegemony in the entire Middle East by destroying all anti-Israeli states. The US has become a branch of Israel, but if Israel feels that the US is withdrawing, they say that Israel will go for nuclear escalation, but then Iran will also create nuclear weapons very quickly, and as a result of this war, nuclear weapons will spread to our region.։
  • The former head of the US CIA announced yesterday that we helped to strengthen the power of radicals in Iran, and this is logical. It turned out exactly the opposite of what they intended․ they wanted to change the Iranian regime, the opposite happened. So, this war was a shameful mistake of the USA, and it fell into Israel’s trap.
  • We were lucky that they did not manage to make TRIPP, because if there was an American object on our border, the first drones of this war would have landed on our heads. The government of Armenia conducts the world’s most short-sighted foreign policy. We are turning Iran and Russia against us and bringing 10,000 km to the region a distant country that loses in Iran. 
  • The USA is withdrawing its citizens from Iraq because pro-Iranian Shia Muslims have declared jihad there.

Investing in Local Economies: Tourism Powers Jobs and Growth in Armenia

World Bank
Apr 4 2026

Story Highlights

  • Armenia is unlocking the potential of tourism by investing in improved accessibility for cultural heritage sites like medieval monasteries, historic towns, and neighborhoods.
  • World Bank-backed efforts have helped revitalize nearby municipalities, creating opportunities for small businesses that are employing locals and reinvesting in their communities.
  • These initiatives provided people with renewed hope while diversifying the economy, generating jobs, and attracting diaspora Armenians.

Armenia has long been called an open-air museum. The country’s medieval monasteries, historic towns, and ancient folk traditions and customs have long been admired, yet in many regions the economic benefits of tourism have been constrained. Poor roads, limited accessibility, and lack of infrastructure kept many of these sites out of reach, limiting how communities could reap the rewards of inflows of domestic and international visitors.

Recognizing how investing in cultural heritage preservation and conservation could help diversify the country’s economy, revitalize rural communities, and reduce poverty, the Government of Armenia and the World Bank have worked together to invest in tourism. 

Through the Local Economy and Infrastructure Development (LEID) Project, efforts focused on making selected sites more accessible to visitors: paving and expanding roads across the country; installing ramps, guardrails, outdoor lighting, and seating; restoring the public spaces and establishing regional tourism centers. 

Investment Attracts Visitors, Fuels Private Sector Growth

One site impacted by the project was the Marmashen Monastery complex, dating back to the 10th century. Having survived numerous hardships over the centuries, including earthquakes and invasions, this historical site has until recently remained largely inaccessible to visitors who had to travel to it via a dirt road snaking through steep mountain passes. As a result, only about 3,000 visitors a year were making the trek to Marmashen. 

Since the upgrade of the route to the monastery, which included paving an access road 2.4 kilometers in length, the number of visitors has surged to more than 40,000 annually.  “In 2013, when I was appointed abbot of the monastery, throughout that entire year, we had only two baptisms here,” emphasizes Father Paren“Following the road’s renovation, it is not only on Saturdays and Sundays that pilgrims or visitors come to Marmashen for services. Now ceremonies are held every weekday. We have 300-400 worshippers daily.”  

The LEID Project took a hub-and-spoke approach to investing in 28 subprojects connected to 17 project sites across nine regions of Armenia.  This approach connected the main destinations with surrounding locations, increasing the inflow of tourists and expanding the demand for new services in the local communities. These efforts help fuel an influx of tourists for cafe and guesthouse owners, tour operators, taxi drivers, artisans, craft producers, and restaurateurs, LEID’s impact meant longer stays, fuller tables, and year-round income instead of seasonal lulls and uncertainty. That surge in spending and private investment by entrepreneurs jumping into the tourism sector translated into tangible job creation in communities across Armenia.

A Reason to Return, Stay, and Build a Future

All this public and private investment in tourism and nearby infrastructure is giving residents a reason to stay and, in some cases, giving Armenians living abroad a reason to return. 

The dual shocks of 2020—the COVID-19 pandemic and the conflict with Azerbaijan—disproportionately affected border regions, reversing economic gains in Armenia’s south. In the city of Goris, post-conflict fragility threatened several economic sectors and disrupted tourism flows by deepening the sense of instability and increasing the risk of out-migration.

With World Bank support, 36 culturally significant old houses were restored, downtown and historic urban areas upgraded, including streets, energy efficient streetlights, rehabilitation of fountains and parks, and installing benches and wastebins. Private investors followed public upgrades. Hotels expanded, businesses flourished, and the city welcomed unprecedented numbers of domestic and international visitors.

“Many people have opened hotels, seeing that tourism in Meghri is growing,” explains Noubar Shakeryan, the founder of Balcony Caffe, who moved back to the town in the country’s south, as LEID renovated local urban infrastructure. “I have no regrets about moving to Meghri, or about returning to Armenia. It was the best decision I have ever made.”

Tourism has become not just a cultural asset but a resilient engine for growth and jobs capable of absorbing economic, humanitarian and environmental shocks in some regions while sustaining opportunity in others. 

Many people have opened hotels, seeing that tourism in Meghri is growing. I have no regrets about moving to Meghri, or about returning to Armenia. It was the best decision I have ever made.Noubar Shakeryan
Founder of Balcony Caffe

With a new tourism development project now underway to scale upon LEID’s success and investments in seve tourism clusters across the country, Armenia is building a tourism model that ensures its most precious historical treasures bring resilient economic growth and new opportunities for communities.

Armenia is proving that when public investment in infrastructure connects cultural and natural heritage to markets, it can catalyze jobs and private sector growth. 

Armenia: Defense Questions Legality Of Archbishop Bagrat Wiretapping

EurasiaReview
Apr 4 2026

By PanARMENIAN

The defense of Archbishop Bagrat in the Sacred Struggle case has requested the court to clarify the legal basis on which wiretapping of the cleric and other individuals was conducted.

The motion was submitted by defense lawyer Hovhannes Khudoyan during a hearing at the Yerevan Court of General Jurisdiction, presided over by Judge Karen Farkhoyan, Pastinfo reports.

Khudoyan argued that if law enforcement authorities lacked legal grounds to initiate proceedings and carry out surveillance, then all subsequent actions would also be unlawful.

“We are raising a very simple question: was the initiation of the case lawful? It is unclear to me why the public prosecutor insists that evidence should first be examined and only afterward the issue of legal grounds addressed. Naturally, if the prosecution fails to present the relevant data to the court, then in the absence of such information, the entire trial becomes meaningless and no evidence can be properly examined.

The working time of the court, the prosecutor, and the defense, as well as the right to a trial within a reasonable time, directly depend on whether this case can proceed at all. And the position on that issue is clear — whether sufficient grounds existed or not. From a legal standpoint, the prosecution’s approach is unclear; from the perspective of political persecution, it is entirely understandable,” Khudoyan said.

Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan was detained overnight between June 25 and 26, 2025. Armenia’s Investigative Committee stated that participants and leaders of the Sacred Struggle movement had planned terrorist acts and actions aimed at seizing power. His detention has since been repeatedly extended.

Pashinyan And Putin: Frenemies In Kremlin

EurasiaReview
Apr 4 2026

By Eurasianet

(Eurasianet) — Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Russian leader Vladimir Putin were not in a jesting mood during an April Fools’ Day meeting in the Kremlin. The two traded far-from-subtle barbs on a range of subjects, including Armenia’s upcoming elections and Yerevan’s efforts to improve relations with the European Union.

In public comments opening the Kremlin meeting, the two made passing references to the two countries’ “open, trusting” relationship and “civilizational affinity.” But their respective statements were also loaded with coded language that underscored their growing differences. 

Referring to Armenia’s upcoming June 7 parliamentary vote, which offers voters a stark choice about the country’s geo-economic future, Putin made it clear to Pashinyan that Russia is not a passive observer and is keen to keep Yerevan in its geopolitical orbit. He stated that dual Armenian-Russian citizens should be allowed to run for seats in the Armenian parliament, including Samvel Karapetyan, the founder and funder of “Strong Armenia,” one of the leading opposition challengers to Pashinyan’s Civic Contract party. Karapetyan is presently under house arrest, charged with money laundering and anti-state activities. 

“We would like them all to be able, at the very least, to participate in this domestic political process,” Putin said. He added with a hint of menace that Russia has “many friends in Armenia – many.”

Armenian officials and international watchdog groups have accused Russia of trying to influence the election outcome by funneling assistance to anti-Pashinyan groups and waging a disinformation campaign via broadcast outlets and social media.

Pashinyan parried Putin’s thrust and tossed a few disses back at the Kremlin leader. He bluntly told Putin that “only citizens holding an Armenian passport – and no other nationality – can run in these elections.”

He proceeded to cast shade on Putin’s authoritarian ways by underscoring the competitiveness of the Armenian parliamentary race. “Regarding our internal political processes, Armenia is a democratic country, you know, and we actually always have political processes, and this is already commonplace for us,” he said. 

Pashinyan also took a dig at Putin’s efforts to exert total control over Russia’s information space, noting that in Armenia, “our social media, for example, is 100 percent free. There are no restrictions at all.”

The two additionally jousted over the Armenian government’s efforts to seek membership in the European Union, even though Yerevan is already a member of the Moscow-led rival economic organization, the Eurasian Economic Union. (EAEU).

Putin told Pashinyan flatly that Armenian membership in both the EU and EAEU is “simply untenable.”

The Armenian prime minister batted away Putin’s concern.

“What we are doing, and the agenda we have, at least at present, they [Armenia’s relationships with the EU and EAEU] are compatible,” he said. “When the processes develop to the point where a decision must be made, I am confident that we, the citizens of the Republic of Armenia, will take that decision.”

Pashinyan took Putin to task over Russia’s failure to fulfill its obligations under the Collective Security Treaty Organization by not coming to Armenia’s aid during the Second Karabakh War, a grievance that caused Yerevan to suspend its participation in the security alliance. “We are currently not participating in the work of the CSTO for one simple reason: we still have no explanation to offer to our people as to why the CSTO failed to respond,” the Armenian prime minister stated.

Pashinyan ended his statement on a positive and defiant note, in effect telling Putin that he better get used to Armenia’s efforts to diversify its geopolitical choices. He also conveyed confidence about his re-election chances.

“I am confident that after our upcoming elections, democracy in Armenia and the people’s power in Armenia will be further strengthened,” he said.

The Russian reaction to Pashinyan’s Kremlin performance has been characteristically cranky and threatening.

Top Russian officials, such as Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk, have taken to attacking Pashinyan for what they characterize as a display of insolence. “Armenia has come very close to the point where will have to reconsider our economic relations with this country,” he said.

Dr. Taner Akçam is keynote speaker at San Diego Armenian Genocide Commemorati

San Diego Union Tribune
Apr 4 2026
Dr. Taner Akçam is keynote speaker at San Diego Armenian Genocide Commemoration event

On Sunday, April 26, at 1 p.m., the San Diego Armenian community will feature renowned professor and scholar Dr. Taner Akçam as the keynote speaker at its 2026 Armenian Genocide Commemoration, to be held at St. Sarkis Armenian Church in Carmel Valley.

Akçam is the inaugural director of the Armenian Genocide Research Program of the Promise Armenian Institute at UCLA. Previously he was the Kaloosdian and Mugar chair in Modern Armenian History and Genocide in the Strassler Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Clark University, according to a news release.

Akçam is widely recognized as one of the first Turkish scholars to write extensively on the Ottoman-Turkish Genocide of the Armenians in the early 20th century. His latest book is Killing Orders: Talat Pasha’s Telegrams and the Armenian Genocide (Palgrave 2018). He last spoke in San Diego in 2018 and is very pleased to be returning to the ever-growing San Diego Armenian community, the news release stated.

The cultural program will feature musical performances by youth and adults of the San Diego Armenian community, and a Q&A with Akçam after his remarks. Refreshments will be served after the event. The church is located at 13925 El Camino Real, San Diego, 92130.

The commemoration committee is co-chaired by Hygan Nalbandian and Sarah Baghdasarian and is comprised of representatives from all San Diego Armenian organizations, including St. Sarkis Armenian Church, and Very Rev. Fr. Pakrad Berjekian, Parish Priest; all St. Sarkis Church organizations, and the San Diego chapters ANCA, ARF, ARS, ASA, Homenetmen, Knights and Daughters of Vartan, and Trex Fraternity, the news release stated.

For more information, contact [email protected].

Yerevan named the conditions under which Armenia will withdraw from the CSTO a

EurasiaDaily
Apr 4 2026
Yerevan named the conditions under which Armenia will withdraw from the CSTO and the EAEU

The scenario in which Armenia withdraws from the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) is unlikely.

This was reported on Saturday, April 4 by the TASS news agency, referring to the statement of the Speaker of the National Assembly (Parliament) of Armenia Alain Simonyan.

He expressed his forecasts at a briefing, answering a question about the meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Moscow.

Simonyan admitted that Yerevan may decide to withdraw from the CSTO and the EAC if the Russian side raises gas prices for Armenia.

“I must say that if such a decision is made, Armenia will make its decision and finally withdraw from both the CSTO and the EAEU and other structures. But I don’t think it will come to that,” the politician said.

He commented on the talks about a possible increase in gas tariffs for Armenia and noted that such proposals have been repeatedly raised in the public field and have been discussed for many years.

The Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia also commented on the meeting of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan with Russian President Vladimir Putin and called it a “very working and effective” conversation.

“I have said and I repeat: we have not done anything against Russia, we are not doing it and we are not going to do it. But at the same time, we have defended and will continue to defend the interests of Armenia,” the speaker said vaguely.

Earlier, EADaily reported that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s visit to Moscow was a fork in the road for Armenia’s political choice. Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that Yerevan’s drift towards the EU will lead to a break with Eurasian integration.

Read more: https://eadaily.com/en/news/2026/04/04/yerevan-named-the-conditions-under-which-armenia-will-withdraw-from-the-csto-and-the-eaeu

Turkish press: Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan named candidate for premier i

Anadolu Agency, Turkey
Apr 4 2026

Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan named candidate for premier in upcoming elections

Armenia’s Civil Contract party approves its list of candidates for June 7 polls

Kanyshai Butun

ISTANBUL

Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan was unanimously nominated Saturday as the Civil Contract party’s candidate for premier in early parliamentary elections set for June.

According to state news agency Armenpress, at an extraordinary party conference, the Civil Contract party approved its list of candidates.

The parliamentary polls are set for June 7. Pashinyan has served as the country’s prime minister since 2018.


Armenia threatens to walk away from Russia-led bloc, sets condition

RBC Ukraine
Apr 4 2026
Sat, April 04, 2026 – 17:00
2 min
Yerevan warns of tough response if Moscow raises Russian gas prices

Dariia Yankovska

Armenian Parliament Speaker Alen Simonyan said Yerevan could decide to leave the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) if Russia raises gas prices for the country, NEWS.am reports.

According to the outlet, Simonyan made the remarks on April 4 during a briefing ahead of an extraordinary meeting of the Civil Contract party, commenting on the meeting between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The speaker said such discussions between the sides are not new, noting that issues such as gas prices and other goods have been under discussion for many years.

Simonyan said that if a relevant decision is made, Armenia “will make its decision” and withdraw from both the CSTO and the Eurasian Economic Union.

At the same time, he stressed that he does not believe it will come to that, noting that after the issue was raised, the two leaders held a “very good, productive and constructive conversation.”

Armenia’s parliament speaker said that during contacts with the Russian side, Armenian premier conveyed Yerevan’s position, and assessments circulating online largely align with his own view.

“We have done nothing against Russia, we are doing nothing, and we will do nothing, but at the same time we will defend the interests of the Republic of Armenia,” Speaker Simonyan emphasized.

Earlier, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, during a meeting with Vladimir Putin, stressed that there are no political prisoners in Armenia and that social media remains fully free. He also said that democracy is a fundamental principle for Yerevan, even though some citizens view the level of political activity as excessive.

Jaishankar thanks Armenia for assisting evacuation of Indian fishermen from Ir

The Statesman, India
Apr 4 2026

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Saturday expressed gratitude to his Armenian counterpart, Ararat Mirzoyan, and the Government of Armenia for facilitating the evacuation of Indian fishermen from Iran, as efforts continue to bring back Indian nationals amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Saturday expressed gratitude to his Armenian counterpart, Ararat Mirzoyan, and the Government of Armenia for facilitating the evacuation of Indian fishermen from Iran, as efforts continue to bring back Indian nationals amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia.

“Thank FM @AraratMirzoyan and the Government of Armenia for facilitating the evacuation of Indian fishermen today from Iran through Armenia to India,” the External Affairs Minister said in a post on X.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) informed that a total of 345 fishermen arrived in Chennai from Iran via Armenia this evening.

Earlier, on April 2, the MEA had said that India is closely monitoring all developments related to the Strait of Hormuz, adding that so far, around 1,200 Indian nationals, including 845 students, have been assisted in exiting Iran through land borders into Armenia and Azerbaijan amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia.

“Of these, 996 have crossed into Armenia and 204 into Azerbaijan,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said while addressing an inter-ministerial briefing in the national capital on the situation arising out of the conflict in West Asia.

https://www.thestatesman.com/india/jaishankar-thanks-armenia-for-assisting-evacuation-of-indian-fishermen-from-iran-1503577780.html