Category: News

A forest dedicated to the memory of the late Hrant Dink, editor-in-chief of Istanbul-based Agos weekly, is home to 53,000 trees. The forest is located near the Vanadzor-Dilijan highway.

The 11-hectare reforestation project was implemented by the Armenia Tree Project charitable foundation.

In response to an inquiry from Armenpress, Vahe Matsakyan, the foundation’s Forestry Program Manager, said that the reforestation work began in 2007.

The Hrant Dink Memorial Forest was established following the murder of Hrant Dink, editor-in-chief of the Agos newspaper, who was shot dead outside his Istanbul office in 2007.

According to Matsakyan, the land belongs to the community of Fioletovo. It was previously degraded pastureland with surface water flows.

“Thanks to the work carried out over the years, we now have an established forested area. The forest is planted mainly with pines, as well as broadleaf tree species, including wild pear and apple trees. The Armenia Tree Project foundation not only carried out the planting but also organized the forest’s maintenance. Maintenance work is currently being carried out to protect the area. This year, thinning is also planned as part of the maintenance work. Undergrown and damaged trees will be cut down, and the resulting timber will be provided to residents of Fioletovo. The purpose of the thinning is to increase the productivity of the forest,” Matsakyan said.

He said that in 2027, the forested area will officially be handed over to the Fioletovo community, while the foundation intends to continue working with the community in the future by providing professional advice on proper forest management.

“Measures are also planned to change the species composition and promote natural regeneration. This is the first forest we are handing over as a forested area,” Vahe Matsakyan said, adding that similar areas are planned to be handed over to the communities of Spitak, Koghes and Tashir in the coming years.

Dink’s murder in 2007 brought thousands of people in Türkiye into the streets, chanting the slogan “We are all Hrant Dink.” A total of 77 people were charged in connection with Hrant Dink’s murder. Two former senior police officials were sentenced to life imprisonment. Thirty-three people involved in the case were acquitted.

Afforestation efforts in Armenia are aimed not only at increasing forest cover but also at preventing further land degradation, enriching biodiversity, and engaging communities.

The Armenia Tree Project (ATP) Charitable Foundation carries out afforestation work in several regions, taking into account the climatic and geographical characteristics of each area.

Vahe Matsakyan, Forestry Program Manager at the Armenia Tree Project Charitable Foundation, told journalists during the “From Seed to Forest” media tour that last year the foundation planted one million trees across 250 hectares. This year, afforestation work is planned on 200–210 hectares.

“We grow two million seedlings in our nurseries annually, which we are able to use for afforestation activities,” Matsakyan said.

According to him, the foundation seeks to establish forests on land that is no longer suitable for agricultural use.

“Through afforestation, we are trying to establish forests on land that has become unsuitable for agricultural use. This is not an end in itself. Our primary goal is to prevent further land degradation, but at the same time, we carry out afforestation using different tree species, which also helps enrich biodiversity. It also has a social component, ensuring that community residents are involved in the work and later treat the forests they have helped create with greater care,” he said.

Asked which regions are most in need of afforestation, Matsakyan said the foundation had been carrying out afforestation work in Shirak Province for around five years. The work was later expanded to Kotayk Province, and programs have also been implemented in Gegharkunik Province over the past three years. In his assessment, Shirak, Kotayk, Aragatsotn, Gegharkunik, and Armavir provinces are particularly in need of afforestation.

“There are almost no natural tree stands in Shirak Province; there are mainly artificial forests there. The climatic conditions are also unfavorable, so there is a great need for afforestation,” Matsakyan said.

To ensure the effectiveness of afforestation efforts, it is necessary to take into account Armenia’s complex mountainous terrain and the characteristics of its climatic zones. According to Matsakyan, planting the same tree species in all provinces and expecting the same results is not the right approach. It is also important to consider where the seeds were collected, the conditions under which the seedlings were grown, and the areas where they will be planted.

“Armenia has complex mountainous terrain, with pronounced vertical zonation. It is not possible to establish forests using the same tree species in every location. Before doing so, it is very important to understand where the seeds used to grow the seedlings were collected and where the seedlings will be planted. It is not possible to have a nursery in one geographical zone in Armenia and use the seedlings grown there in all provinces. The purpose of our four nurseries is to produce seedlings suitable for different climatic zones that can be used under different conditions,” he emphasized.

Addressing logging and changes in forest cover, Matsakyan said that, in his assessment, the area of forest restored in Armenia was proportional to the volume of logging. At the same time, he emphasized that the question of which tree species were used to restore those areas was a separate issue.

Addressing fire prevention in forested areas, the specialist said that he had not encountered a naturally caused forest fire in Armenia during his career. According to his observations, the fires had been caused by human activity, in some cases deliberately and in others because people had failed to recognize the risk of a fire spreading.

According to him, the foundation pays attention to preventive measures. In particular, protective buffer zones are established outside settlements, while grass cutting and soil mineralization are carried out using tractors.

According to the foundation’s specialists, selecting a suitable area for afforestation is a lengthy process. Since the land belongs to the community, the foundation first examines community residents’ attitudes and opinions. Specialists then assess the area, and once the necessary positive conclusions have been obtained, the community and the organization sign an agreement for gratuitous use.

“Selecting an area for afforestation is quite a time-consuming process. We express our willingness to establish a forest. There are communities that take great care of their forests. Our work begins with the attitudes and opinions of community residents, after which various experts assess the area. Once all the necessary positive conclusions have been obtained, the community and the organization sign an agreement for gratuitous use for a specified period. In the case of forests, this period is 20 years,” Matsakyan concluded.

President of Zanzibar Hussein Ali Mwinyi has arrived in Yerevan to participate in the Leaders’ Summit within the framework of COP17.

The president’s aircraft landed at Zvartnots Airport at midday on October 14.

COP17 has enabled Armenia to establish ties with various parties, including international organisations and donors, generating interest in implementing projects across several sectors.

Armenian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Robert Abisoghomonyan said this at a briefing on 14 October.

He said another important outcome was the development of Armenia’s capabilities, which would help resolve problems in the sector in the future. Drawing on the expertise of local specialists and experts would make it possible to address existing challenges.

Abisoghomonyan said more than 50 high-level participants were expected at the leaders’ summit, while up to 150 senior participants were expected at the high-level ministerial segment scheduled for 27–28 October.

Asked which country would assume the COP presidency in two years, the deputy minister said this was decided on a rotational basis.

Under that principle, the next presidency should go to the Latin American and Caribbean regional group. The decision must be reached by consensus.

“It is not always possible to reach a decision by consensus, as was the case with Armenia. Armenia’s presidency was confirmed by a vote,” he added.

A solemn ceremony to raise the United Nations and Armenian flags was held at the Meridian Expo Center ahead of the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

The ceremony was attended by Minister of Environment Hambardzum Matevosyan, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity Astrid Schomaker, UN Resident Coordinator in Armenia Françoise Jacob, and partners from government agencies and international organizations.

The Ministry of Environment of Armenia said in a press release that the raising of the UN flag symbolizes an important milestone in the preparations for the conference, highlighting the cooperation between Armenia as the host country and the United Nations in advancing the international agenda for biodiversity conservation.

Yerevan will host COP17 on October 19–30, bringing together delegations from countries around the world, representatives of international organizations, and civil society to assess progress in biodiversity conservation and discuss further joint action.

During the conference, the Blue Zone at the Meridian Expo Center will operate under the relevant procedures and security rules established for UN conferences.

The 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 17) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) will be held in conjunction with the twelfth 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). COP 17 will mark the first global review of collective progress towards the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF).

The delegation of Iran’s Mehr News Agency visited the Armenpress news agency headquarters in Yerevan during its trip to Armenia.

The delegation comprised Mohammadmahdi Rahmati, CEO of Mehr Media Group; Mohammad Hessam Heidarzadeh, the group’s International Relations Officer; and Haidari Hesamalddin, Editor-in-Chief of Mehr News Agency.

The delegation is in Armenia at the invitation of Armenpress.

During the meeting, Armenpress Director Narine Nazaryan once again emphasized the importance of the memorandum of understanding signed between the two media organizations in 2024, noting that two years ago, the parties undertook an important commitment to bringing the societies of the two countries closer together.

“I think this visit is a good opportunity to strengthen that commitment. In my view, the cooperation and this document concern not only content and news exchange, but also the exchange of experience, learning a great deal from each other, discovering new ideas and, of course, what is particularly important these days, countering disinformation and manipulation by joining our forces and capabilities,” Nazaryan said.

She expressed hope that there would be an opportunity to discuss how the working teams of the two institutions could cooperate more closely, including in multimedia production, as well as digital developments and all those areas that are becoming increasingly interesting for media organizations in a rapidly changing media environment.

Mohammadmahdi Rahmati, CEO of Mehr Media Group, in turn, noted that the Armenpress team helps people form an accurate understanding of Iran.

“On the other hand, it is important for us to help you foster a better understanding of Armenia among Iranians. I have heard that around 200,000 Iranian tourists arrived here in 2025. Iranians are welcome guests here, and we are ready to show them as much as possible about Armenia’s development path. We are here to take a certain step forward in our relations. I think we can make progress in our engagement, particularly in the fields of cinema, short films and documentaries, as well as news concerning the region, especially Iran and Armenia,” Rahmati said.

Nazaryan informed the Iranian delegation that a photo exhibition by Armenpress would soon be held at the Holy Mary metro station in Tehran. The representatives of the Iranian delegation pledged to provide media support for the event.

The guests toured the agency’s premises, learned about its historic building and content production capabilities, explored the operations of its interview and press conference studios, and viewed the unique archival photographs adorning the agency’s walls.

The Iranian delegation’s schedule includes visits to Armenia’s Public Radio and Public Television, the Garni Temple, the Geghard Monastery Complex, and the Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts (Matenadaran), as well as a discussion with leading experts from the Orbeli Analytical Center.

An Armenpress correspondent spoke to Artem Oganov, one of today’s prominent Armenian scientists based in Russia, during his latest visit to Armenia. A professor of the Russian Academy of Sciences, a foreign member of Armenia’s Academy of Sciences, a crystallographer, chemist and materials scientist, Oganov took part in discussions in Yerevan entitled “Artificial Intelligence in Science and Industry: Opportunities and Challenges” and “Artificial Intelligence in Biomedicine, Pharmaceuticals and Materials Science: From Genomic Data to New Medicines and Materials”.

Our conversation focused primarily on one of today’s most pressing subjects: the role and significance of artificial intelligence (AI), its influence on scientific development and its impact on human life.

We also discussed a welcome and significant event this summer: his receipt of China’s prestigious international state award in science and technology. Our compatriot was presented with the award by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Before beginning the interview, I would like to congratulate you on receiving China’s state award. Which of your scientific achievements was it awarded for?

I will probably never know precisely myself, although, of course, I could find out. The point is that my Chinese colleagues nominated me, but I have not seen the nomination documents or the justification, so I do not know which of my works they considered.

I can only speculate. Most likely, they nominated me for the work I also regard as my most significant: predicting crystal structures, developing methods for designing new materials, and research into high-pressure chemistry. These are my most significant contributions, although there are other important studies too. In principle, I could ask my Chinese colleagues what they wrote. Judging by everything, they wrote something good.

Let us consider it an award for your overall scientific work. As this interview is taking place within a discussion about the role and significance of artificial intelligence in science and industry, how much does AI help scientific work, and how much does it hinder it?

Of course it helps. Artificial intelligence is an immensely powerful tool that allows us to solve problems previously considered entirely unsolvable. A scientist’s work today is different from what it was even a few years ago. AI has changed everything fundamentally. Before that, computers had already changed everything substantially.

Just think about how scientists put their work on paper 40 or 50 years ago: using a typewriter or writing by hand. There was far less automation in scientific research. Now we are reaching the other extreme.

The automation of experiments has advanced to the point where robotic systems are being created that conduct experiments around the clock, practically without human involvement. A scientist gives AI a task. It devises an experimental procedure and passes it to a robot, which carries it out, measures the resulting data and sends them to a computer. The AI model is then refined, and the work continues.

This is a closed loop that can increase an experimental laboratory’s productivity around a hundredfold. Imagine that work which might previously have taken 100 years can now be done in one year. There is your comparison.

What has AI changed in your field, materials science?

Previously, scientists believed that a material’s properties could be predicted by understanding the physics of the processes that determine them. Knowing the forces of interaction between atoms, they calculate derivatives and obtain information about the material’s stiffness, its elasticity and so on.

But if you do not understand those properties, everything becomes very complicated and tangled. For example, what is a material’s radiation stability or resistance? How can you know what it is? There are so many different processes involved—the breakdown of chemical bonds, ionisation, the formation of defects and so on—that they create an incredibly complex mixture. How can you predict such a property? You cannot. If you do not understand the properties, you cannot model the necessary parameters.

You have probably heard the story of Alexander the Great cutting the Gordian knot with a single stroke of his sword after many others had unsuccessfully tried to untie it. He solved the problem without delving into the intricacies of how the knot had been tied.

In this sense, AI allows us to solve problems in Alexander’s style. We examine a database of a material’s properties, and you could not care less about what causes them.

Take the radiation properties of steel, which one of my students modelled for Rosatom. He was able to identify new types of steel with high radiation resistance. These are for nuclear reactors. This is a genuinely important practical problem that you would never solve by following the traditional route of a theorist. But through machine learning, the problem has been solved.

Those results are now undergoing experimental testing. Other, equally important properties, such as corrosion resistance, have already been confirmed experimentally.

How much can we trust artificial intelligence when solving such serious problems?

Let me ask a question in return: should we not also double-check data obtained by a human? I think checking is very important in every case. Artificial intelligence provides a quick, inexpensive prediction. That does not mean you should trust it unconditionally. You must verify it.

AI can, of course, make mistakes. To avoid such situations, you must rely on your own knowledge and use AI’s capabilities properly.

Every self-respecting scientist—and I count myself among them—publishes research results only after checking and rechecking them repeatedly. That is necessary; indeed, it is compulsory.

Similarly, every self-respecting writer reads a text several times before publication, rewriting some passages and editing others. How do predictions differ from the solutions provided by artificial intelligence? In principle, they do not. So they also need to be checked.

Can we therefore say that a distinctive exchange of knowledge takes place between humans and AI?

Certainly. In the same way, when solving a problem, we draw on our own experience, our teachers’ experience and the knowledge we have acquired. Artificial intelligence similarly learns from other experience. In that respect, there is not even a fundamental difference.

Could AI ever completely replace experiments?

It will not. Experiments will always play a primary role, particularly in the physical sciences. AI models will continue to improve. Their likelihood of success and the accuracy of their predictions will increase, but will never reach 100%.

A device or programme can never completely replace a doctor, but it can allow you to monitor your health every day and consult a doctor much earlier than you might otherwise think of doing.

Do you think AI could develop to a level at which it becomes possible to devise a means of living forever?

Scientists have long been working to extend human lifespans. This is no longer an alchemical problem, as it was in the Middle Ages, but a mainstream scientific challenge.

There is a widespread scientific field, gerontology, which studies ageing in living organisms and humans and the possibilities for slowing it down. Of course, we will not live forever, but we can substantially extend our lifespans.

We are already seeing this happen: people now live longer than ever. Most scientists estimate that the maximum human lifespan is currently around 120 years. Some people live approximately that long. Can it be extended further? I do not know. But if the maximum is 120 years, that means average life expectancy could be brought close to that benchmark.

What is human health? Where can it fail? What is disease? These are important and very complicated questions. When discussing a person’s DNA profile, we must understand that we are talking about potential diseases, not guaranteed ones. A high probability of developing skin cancer, for example, does not mean it will necessarily happen.

Incidentally, DNA testing does not replace tests of blood, other biological tissues and so on. In this context, I think it is important to mention that I recently tried a new ATM that will be used in Russia. Customers simply place their fingers in the designated position and look at the screen to obtain information about their heart rate, blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose levels, and so on. The data have a reliability rate of 80%. Now anyone can check all of this completely free of charge without visiting a medical facility.

Why is this important? My working hypothesis is that lifespan does not depend very heavily on living standards. It depends on two factors: dietary habits and early disease prevention. The information obtained from that ATM can help people change their lifestyles and extend their lives to some degree.

Have you tried developing an elixir of longevity?

No. Everyone should do their own job. There are professional gerontologists whose task is precisely that. I have a different specialism.

Do you have a scientific dream that you are absolutely determined to achieve?

I want to understand this world better.

Are you succeeding?

Perhaps I have made about 1% progress in that direction.

Do you have scientific contacts with Armenian colleagues?

We have developed excellent cooperation. There are many colleagues with whom discussing scientific subjects is always interesting and enjoyable.

But there is also direct scientific cooperation with the laboratory led by my good friend Hayk Zakaryan, who works at Yerevan State University. That cooperation is developing very well: we have joint projects and publications.

You probably know that two data centres have already opened in Armenia. Could they attract leading scientists and help important research take place here?

They could, but this is quite a complex issue. Attracting talent to a country requires political will above all. It requires financial resources, scientific infrastructure and a suitable environment.

There must be a scientific system that does not burden scientists with bureaucratic hurdles and gives them freedom. That means freedom to spend most of their time pursuing their dreams and creating, rather than doing nothing.

There must be a stimulating environment based on meritocracy (rule by the most deserving, with leadership positions occupied by the most capable—Ed.), where people are judged by their talent and intellectual ability rather than their political views or closeness to influential people.

Then it will be possible to retain talent in the country. But one further condition is necessary: political stability. It is very difficult for people to make plans in a country with an uncertain outlook.

We can see this in Israel. Salaries are high, the economy is developed and scientific infrastructure exists, but I find it difficult to imagine a foreign scientist moving there given the current situation. Personally, I would not move to Israel because I do not see a future.

What about Armenia?

Honestly, the same applies.

Is there more certainty in Russia?

Yes, but there are no guarantees anywhere in the world now. The world is a hair’s breadth away from a major war. So what can guarantee the future? As you can see from the news, first and foremost, probably the reliability of air defence. That is what a guarantee of the future looks like today. In that respect, Russia’s air defences are better than anywhere else.

As for the rest, time will tell. Russian science also faces enormous challenges now. We are managing for the time being. What will happen later, I do not know.

Can we say that a distinctive community of Armenian scientists has emerged in Russia?

It emerged a long time ago. There is an enormous number of scientists of Armenian origin in Russia.

The greatest Armenian scientist living in Russia today is Yuri Tsolakovich Oganessian, a man who discovered 10 elements of the periodic table. In science, you cannot place anyone alongside him on that pedestal.

I could give a long list of outstanding Armenian scientists living in Russia. Of course, Armenian scientists are in contact with one another, and those contacts extend beyond any one country.

When were you last in Armenia?

About a year ago. I usually come once a year, sometimes several times. My visits sometimes include meetings with young scientists or students and lectures. This time, I gave two talks at different round-table discussions.

What change would you like to see in Armenian science by your next visit?

Recently, I watched an interesting video on YouTube that ranked the Soviet republics according to how useful or unhelpful they had been during the Soviet period. It discussed each republic’s strengths and weaknesses at the time. I will not say which were the most useful or the opposite, but will focus on what was said about Armenia.

It noted that, despite its small territory, population and limited natural resources, Armenia had been a republic with substantial industry and enormous scientific and engineering potential during the Soviet years.

In effect, Armenia occupied roughly the same position within the USSR as Greece did within the Roman Empire. Rome’s most educated and progressive emperors were sincere admirers of Greece and Greek culture. Greece still has well-developed science today, but many of its best scientists live in other countries, including Russia.

In this respect, too, there is a similarity between Armenia and Greece. Armenia probably has not lost its scientific potential either, but many Armenian scientists, like their Greek counterparts, are described with the prefix “diaspora-”.

I very much want people to say of present-day or future Armenia that this small country has such enormous intellectual potential that all the surrounding states aspire to match it.

Armenia’s Elmira Karapetyan claimed gold in the 10m Air Pistol Women final at the ISSF World Cup Rifle/Pistol in Cairo, Egypt, on 14 October, finishing with 242.4 points after a final that included a dramatic three-way shoot-off, the ISSF reported.

Karapetyan held off Bulgaria’s Miroslava Mincheva, who took silver with 240.2 points, while France’s Camille Jedrzejewski secured bronze with 219.3 points. Karapetyan also topped the qualification round with 582 points and 23 inner tens. China’s Zhang Qi matched her score but finished second with 19 inner tens.

This is Karapetyan’s second gold medal at an international competition. In 2025, she won gold at the Polish Open Kaliber international competition.

Benik Khlghatyan, Gevorg Melkonyan, and Armen Gevorgyan are also competing in the tournament as members of Armenia’s national team.

Karapetyan’s gold is Armenia’s first medal at the 2026 championship.

The Armenian government is expected to adopt a decision in the coming days recognizing the 100% shareholding of Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA) as being of overriding public interest.

Romanos Petrosyan, the government-appointed interim administrator of Electric Networks of Armenia CJSC, announced the planned measure on social media.

In 2025, the Armenian government enacted emergency legislation to take over the management of ENA, which is owned by Samvel Karapetyan’s Tashir Group, citing alleged mismanagement by the power distributor. It later announced plans to nationalize the company through eminent domain.

Petrosyan said he had visited an ENA branch to review ongoing work.

“I visited ENA’s Musaler branch and Armavir electric network, which serve Armavir and Aragatsotn provinces. During a working meeting, I introduced Arthur Sardaryan, the new head of the Musaler branch, to the staff. We discussed the progress of ongoing investment programs, existing problems, and efforts to address them. We also outlined upcoming tasks and priorities. During the past year of interim management, work has been carried out in Armavir Province to modernize the distribution network and improve its reliability. In particular, the following have been replaced: 841 reinforced concrete utility poles, 39 power transformers, 101 km of overhead lines, 2.7 km of cable lines, and more than 17,000 electronic meters. Listening to citizens’ concerns, responding promptly to them, and improving the quality of services provided are among our priorities. Regarding the process of nationalizing ENA, the next step will be the adoption of a decision by the Government of Armenia recognizing the company’s 100% shareholding as being of overriding public interest. This is expected to take place in the coming days,” Petrosyan said in a Facebook post.

The boldest ideas become reality when they are backed by a clearly defined goal and hard work. Sometimes, forging your own path begins with trusting your instincts.

For Artashes Stepanyan, founder and director of the X-Drive driving school network, hard work is the secret of success, people are his source of inspiration, and helping others is his mission in life. Fairness underpins his work. He cannot imagine business without innovation and loves his work because he built it through his own efforts.

For him, a car is more than a means of transport: it represents independence and freedom. Perhaps that feeling has driven him for years to set new goals, bring ideas to life and inspire others. We spoke to Stepanyan about his dream car, motorsport, the creation and development of X-Drive, and his plans for the future.

Who is Artashes Stepanyan? Tell us a little about your roots, family and childhood memories.

My roots are in Tavush, in the village of Gandzakar in Ijevan. My warmest childhood memories are connected with Tavush: its indescribable natural beauty, forests, rivers, mountains and, of course, its people. I attended school in Ijevan until the fourth grade, after which my family moved to Yerevan, where I continued my education.

Education was always important in our family, so I was among the best pupils at school. My parents envisaged a clear path for me: my father was a lawyer and my mother a mathematician, and I was presumably expected to choose one of those fields. Although I initially chose law, I eventually realised that working within an institutional system was not for me and began looking for my own path.

How did your driving skills help you during military service?

My grandfather taught me to drive, and years later those skills proved useful during my military service. In my second year, while we were at the positions, the battalion commander’s UAZ 469 encountered an obstacle on a difficult road. The driver could not manoeuvre the vehicle, so I decided to tackle the obstacle myself. I took the wheel and got the vehicle out of the situation. Afterwards, the commander appointed me as his driver at the positions.

For the rest of my service, I drove the UAZ 469 along all kinds of difficult roads, in snow and rain. I still have a special affection for that vehicle. It is fantastic.

At the time, there was also a state programme for young people approaching conscription age. If they learnt to drive and obtained a driving licence before being called up, they could serve as drivers in the army. Today, X-Drive runs that programme, equipping young people with the necessary knowledge and skills.

How did your career develop before you founded X-Drive, and what were you doing during those years?

After military service, I began working and studying at the same time. My first job was on my uncle’s farm, where I bred turkeys. Later, I worked at a shopping centre, became involved in commercial activities and established my own businesses, including a construction company specialising in energy infrastructure, particularly gas pipelines.

How did you buy your first car?

My dream car was a VAZ 21099, but I eventually bought a more modern version, the VAZ 21015.

Buying my first car was a spontaneous decision. My friends and I often talked about buying one. One day, we saw an advertisement on television, called the owner and agreed to buy the car. There was just one problem: we had no money (laughs—Ed.).

The next day, the car was in front of us. We had promised to buy it, but did not even have part of the money. We had heard about buying in instalments but did not know how it worked. At the bank, they told us they had such a scheme but had not launched it yet. That is how I became their first customer. The process was so complicated that I did not take out my next loan until about 20 years later (laughs—Ed.).

After buying the car, I constantly looked for reasons to drive, just to keep the engine running. I had a car, and it felt as though life had worked out.

How did a Jeep Wrangler go from being your dream car to the starting point for founding the 4×4 Off-road Club?

My interest in cars kept growing. Next, I bought a Mercedes E-Class, but I still thought about the Jeep Wrangler parked in its usual spot on Abovyan Street. For years, I would change my route to see it, walk further and sometimes even skip classes.

Ten years later, when I saw that same car for sale, I bought it without hesitation. It was uncomfortable, and spare parts and fuel were expensive, but it was my childhood dream.

Following the advice of people around me, I eventually sold it and bought a more upmarket car, a Mercedes-Benz CL500 (W140). But later I bought my old car back. It became one of my favourites and the beginning of a new journey.

Wranglers regularly needed repairs, and there were few specialists in Armenia who could work on them. Those of us who owned Wranglers therefore met at the same garage, where we got to know one another and became friends.

One day, after watching a programme about an off-road competition, I decided to bring those people together. I suggested starting a club to Boris, a vehicle service specialist who later became the club’s co-founder and a good friend of mine. We began contacting his customers who owned Wranglers and inviting them to join our initiative. That is how a group of friends founded the 4×4 Off-road Club in March 2009.

On 5 March, we set off for Mount Ara in around 10 off-road vehicles. We returned covered in mud from head to toe, but incredibly impressed and happy. By 24 April, we had organised a candle-lighting convoy of around 50 off-road vehicles to churches in Tavush. Despite the snow and rain, we negotiated the difficult route and reached Makaravank and Goshavank.

Did the 4×4 Off-road Club operate only in Armenia, or also abroad?

We took part in our first major competition in Georgia, followed by events in Iran, Russia and Türkiye. The journey to Trabzon was particularly memorable: we travelled 1,500 km to get there.

There was nothing unnecessary inside the vehicles: no carpets, no stereo, no air conditioning. They had been adapted to overcome obstacles, rather than travel comfortably along long stretches of tarmac. Smoke filled the cabins, and the heat from the engines literally melted our shoes (laughs—Ed.).

We reached Trabzon in the rain with open roofs, while teams from neighbouring countries travelled in comfortable minivans and transported their competition vehicles on recovery trucks. Through these experiences, we learnt the details of organising and running competitions.

I also applied the experience I gained at international competitions in Armenia. In 2013, as president of the Extreme Sports Federation, I organised the international Motul Low Range race in Ijevan, with more than 50 vehicles taking part. I personally managed all the organisational work, from designing the routes to running the race. The initiative continued for the following two years.

After the race’s success, I was invited to France to learn about the 24 Hours of Le Mans, one of the most prestigious events in motorsport. There, I understood the true scale of motorsport for the first time: enormous infrastructure and an airport within the circuit grounds. It was like a city within a city.

Later, at the Paul Ricard circuit in southern France, I had the opportunity to drive an Aston Martin DB9 racing car. When representatives of world-famous brands congratulated me and presented me with gifts, I realised I had achieved good results. It was truly impressive.

Years later, in 2019, we obtained a licence to hold the internationally significant Rainforest Challenge, an exceptional right in the history of independent Armenia. We organised the event in Tavush, in my ancestral village of Gandzakar, with the direct participation of RFC founder Luis Wee. It became one of the significant events in Armenian motorsport.

Let us talk about your work in the public sector.

My work in the public sector began in 2017. From 2017 to 2019, I was an adviser to Armenia’s Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs on technical sports. I subsequently served as an adviser to the Defence Minister, specialising in driver education and military equipment, and also taught at the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ Educational Complex. As you can see, everything was connected with vehicles again.

How was X-Drive created? What principles underpinned its development, and how did you begin putting them into practice?

The name X-Drive is connected with the xDrive system used in all-wheel-drive vehicles. The company was founded on the idea of establishing a new kind of driving school in Armenia.

Our aim was to teach people to drive and help them obtain a driving licence, while also giving them the fundamental knowledge and practical skills needed to travel safely, control a vehicle in extreme conditions and respond correctly in emergencies.

Educational quality and safety are the main principles of our work. Guided by them, we chose Mini Cooper vehicles for teaching, although financially they were not the most economical option.

Building an experienced and well-trained team was also important. I brought in friends involved in motorsport, with whom I had negotiated many racing circuits, former members of the State Traffic Inspectorate’s special-purpose company, and specialists we had trained ourselves.

Our professional experience and the confidence gained through motorsport soon produced the first results. We received our first major order from Lydian Armenia and trained around 160 employees working on the Amulsar road. At the same time, we began organising the Ijevan motor races under the X-Drive name.

Driver training for young people awaiting conscription also became an important part of our work, which we approached with great responsibility. After the war, we began cooperating with the Defence Ministry in this area. During those days, our entire team worked day and night to provide the training needed for conscription.

We are pleased to have contributed to this important work. Our cooperation with the Defence Ministry continues to this day.

Today, X-Drive is one of Armenia’s largest driving schools.

What does X-Drive mean to you today, and what is its greatest achievement?

For me, X-Drive is more than a business. It is about helping people and developing a driving culture. It represents 11 years of work.

My friends and I started almost from nothing. Initially, we had no resources and did much of the work ourselves. Today, it is an established business and an organisation making a professional contribution to road safety.

For me, the greatest achievement is that the state now recognises X-Drive’s professional expertise and involves us in discussions when initiating various changes. We try to propose models that take account of the interests of the state, businesses and citizens. Ultimately, our shared goal is road safety.

What is X-Drive’s competitive advantage?

X-Drive’s main advantage is our team’s professional training. Our instructors and trainers use a method I developed, based on teaching safe driving.

Other advantages include the quality of our service, one of Armenia’s newest vehicle fleets and our accident-avoidance driving courses. We also train qualified specialists ourselves under a programme approved by the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport.

The trust of major organisations is another important recognition of the quality of our work. Our partners include the UN office, ContourGlobal Hydro Cascade, the Zangezur Copper Molybdenum Combine, Pernod Ricard, the Red Cross and many international companies.

What are X-Drive’s upcoming plans, and how do you envisage the company’s development over the next 10 years?

Investment in X-Drive is continuous. We buy new vehicles almost every month because the fleet needs constant renewal.

In the near future, I would like to use my experience to help the state establish appropriate licensing standards for the sector, supporting its development and the provision of quality services. Looking 10 years ahead, I see X-Drive as an international brand in Europe, the CIS countries and the United States.

The greatest inspiration is the journey, with its twists and victories. When I see how an idea born years ago now guarantees the safety of thousands of people, I realise we are on the right path. This is only the beginning: greater horizons lie ahead.