Category: News

“That’s enough! How much can the people’s nerves be strained?” Nikol Pashinya

Emil Lazarian
Aysor, Armenia
April 16 2026

For Nikol Pashinyan, serious problems persist in the justice sector in Armenia.

“Yes, we are fighting the mafia in many areas, and that mafia has metastasized everywhere: in the National Assembly, the government, the prosecutor’s office, the courts, the investigative bodies – everywhere. We must proceed with surgical methods; chemotherapy is no longer effective,” he stated at the National Assembly of Armenia.

Pashinyan lost his temper: “That’s enough! How much longer can the people’s nerves be strained?”

“There is no more room – today there is a shame in Armenia’s justice system,” he added. 

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The Anti-Corruption Committee has not yet commented on detention of “Strong Ar

Hambardsumian Paul
Aysor, Armenia
April 16 2026

The Anti-Corruption Committee of Armenia has so far not provided any explanation regarding the detention of members of the “Strong Armenia” party.

Committee spokesperson Marina Ohanjanyan told Aysor.am that there is currently no comment.

As previously reported, since early morning the Anti-Corruption Committee has been conducting searches in various offices of “Strong Armenia.” Around 15 individuals have been detained.

Hasmik Amirzadyan, a member of the party who was detained, has been charged, and the issue of a preventive measure is currently under discussion.


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Direct political persecution is being carried out against the “Strong Armenia”

Yeghisabet Arthur
Aysor, Armenia
April 16 2026

The arrests of members and supporters of the “Strong Armenia” party are being viewed as direct political persecution, according to the political force’s press secretary Marianna Ghahramanyan.

“We assess the arrests of members and supporters of the ‘Strong Armenia’ party as direct political persecution against the party. This is a continuation of the process from previous days. Among those detained is another woman, Hasmik Amirzadyan from the Artashat office. Nikol Pashinyan is trying to apply pressure and conduct a struggle through women. However, these political persecutions do not stop us; we will continue along the path we have set,” she said.

It should be noted that 14 individuals have been arrested within the framework of criminal proceedings conducted by the Anti-Corruption Committee of Armenia on charges of giving and receiving electoral bribes, according to committee spokesperson Marina Ohanjanyan.

Since early morning, the Anti-Corruption Committee has been conducting searches in various offices of the “Strong Armenia” party. Charges have been filed against Hasmik Amirzadyan, a party member, and the issue of a preventive measure is currently under discussion. 

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No exports from Armenia to Azerbaijan recorded – State Revenue Committee deni

Karakhanian Suren
Aysor, Armenia
April 16 2026

There has been no recorded case of exports from Armenia to Azerbaijan, the press service of the State Revenue Committee of Armenia told Sputnik Armenia.

Earlier, Azerbaijani media, citing the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan, reported that Azerbaijan had imported goods from Armenia for the first time in March of this year, with the total value amounting to $960.

“Responding to the information circulated in the press, we inform you that, according to the customs statistics of the State Revenue Committee of the Republic of Armenia, no instance of exports from Armenia to Azerbaijan has been recorded,” the Committee stated.

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Why were members of the “Strong Armenia” party arrested? Anti-Corruption Comm

Emma Jilavian
Aysor, Armenia
April 16 2026

The Anti-Corruption Committee reports that new cases of electoral bribery have been uncovered, with more than a dozen individuals arrested.

“Evidence has been obtained indicating that members of the “Strong Armenia” party, along with a group of individuals registered as employees of a cooperating non-governmental organization, distributed electoral bribes to voters in the Artashat community of Ararat Province.

To conceal their activities and avoid detection, the individuals involved reportedly communicated through internet-based applications.

A criminal case has been initiated under the relevant articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia. Law enforcement authorities have conducted numerous searches, resulting in the arrest of more than a dozen people,” the statement said.

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Armenpress: Trump says US-Iran talks ‘could be happening over next two days’

Garo Vardanian
Read the article in: ArmenianRussian:

U.S. President Donald Trump said US-Iran peace talks “could be happening over next two days” in Pakistan’s capital, the New York Post reports.

In an initial phone interview with the New York Post, Trump had claimed that discussions were “happening, but, you know, a little bit slow” before indicating that a second round of direct negotiations to end the seven-week war would likely happen somewhere in Europe.

About half an hour later, Trump called back with an update, according to the New York Post.

“You should stay there, really, because something could be happening over the next two days, and we’re more inclined to go there,” he said of Islamabad. “It’s more likely, you know why? Because the field marshal is doing a great job.”

Trump was referring to Pakistan Field Marshal Gen. Asim Munir, with whom he forged a connection last year while the country was in the throes of its own war with India, which ended after just four days thanks to a peace deal that the US helped to broker.

“He’s fantastic, and therefore it’s more likely that we go back there,” he said. “Why should we go to some country that has nothing to do with it?”

Trump then told Fox News that the US-Iran war is “very close” to an end as hostilities ease amid a two-week ceasefire agreement.

“I think it’s close to over, yeah. I view it as very close to being over,” Trump told FOX Business anchor Maria Bartiromo in an interview that will air on “Mornings with Maria” on Wednesday.

Published by Armenpress, original at 
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Vance says Trump wants ‘grand bargain’ with Iran

Emil Lazarian
Read the article in: ArmenianRussian:

US Vice President JD Vance said President Donald Trump wants to make a “grand bargain” with Iran, CBS News reports.

Speaking at a Turning Point USA event in Athens, Georgia, Vance said that negotiators “made a ton of progress” in Pakistan over the weekend.

But he said Trump is not looking for a “small deal” with Iran, and instead wants to strike a “Trumpian grand bargain”.

Vance noted there was a lot of mistrust between the two countries.

“You are not going to solve that problem overnight,” he said, according to Reuters.

Read the article in: ArmenianRussian:

Published by Armenpress, original at 
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Russia not taking part in conflict over Iran — Kremlin

Arbi Tashjian
Read the article in: ArmenianRussian:

Russia is not participating in the conflict over Iran, as this is not its war, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday.

“Russia is not a participant in this war. It is not our war,” Peskov said in an interview with India Today.

Read the article in: ArmenianRussian:

Published by Armenpress, original at 
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ANN/Groong – Calendar of Events – 04/16/2026

Aram Torosian

Armenian News Calendar of events

(All times local to events)

    What: “American Organizations Supporting The Armenian Cause: An Overview”

    a lecture in English is given by Raffi Hamparian

    When: Thursday, April 30, 2026, 7:30 pm Pacific time

    Where: Crescenta Valley Meher & Satig Der Ohanessian Youth Center Hall

    2633 Honolulu Ave. Montrose, CA 91020

    Misc: This presentation will provide a broad overview of American institutions and prominent

    individuals who are working today, in tandem with the ANCA, to advocate for Armenia

    and Artsakh. In his remarks, Raffi Hamparian will address how American organizations 

    provide a powerful force to counter efforts by other lobbies to weaken and break the 

    ANCA’s leadership as it relates to advancing the  Armenian Cause.

    Raffi Hamparian served as the national chairman of the Armenian National Committee

    of America (ANCA). He is currently the chair of the ANCA Endowment Fund.
     We invite the greater community to attend this free zoom presentation.

    Tel: 818-244-9639

      Armenian News’s calendar of events is collected and updated mostly from

      announcements posted on this list, and submissions to Armenian [email protected].

      To submit, send to Armenian [email protected], and please note the following

      important points:

      • Armenian News’s administrators have final say on what may be included in Groong’s calendar of events.
      • Posting time is on Thursdays, 06:00 Pacific time.
      • Calendar items are short, functional, and edited to fit a template.
      • There is no guarantee or promise that an item will be published on time.
      • Calendar information is believed to be from reliable sources. However, no responsibility is assumed by Armenian News Administrators for inaccuracies and up-to-date-ness..
      • No commercial events will be accepted. (Dinners, dances, etc. This is not an ad-space.)
      • The Week in Review Podcasts
      • The Critical Corner
      • The Literary Armenian News
      • Review & Outlook
      • Probing the Photographic Record
      • Armenia House Museums
      • ..and much more

      © Copyright 2026, Armenian News Network / Armenian News, all rights reserved.

      Regards,
      —
      Armenian News Network / Armenian News
      https://Armenian News.org/

      Los Angeles, CA     / USA

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      Russia praises Armenia and Azerbaijan for providing “significant assistance” i

      Emil Lazarian
      Read the article in: العربيةEspañolFarsiHayerenРусский中文

      A senior Russian official has lauded Armenia and Azerbaijan for their “significant assistance” in facilitating the evacuation of Russian nationals from Iran amid the U.S.-Israeli war with the Islamic Republic.

      “Armenia and Azerbaijan have provided significant assistance in evacuating our compatriots from Iran. At the request of the Russian Embassy in Tehran, Baku allowed Russian citizens to use the Astara border crossing, which had been closed to individual crossings since 2020,” the Russian TASS news agency quoted the director of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Consular Department, Alexey Klimov, as saying.

      Published by Armenpress, original at 
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