Category: News

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has ordered the establishment of a special task force to coordinate measures to prevent the importation and spread of plague in Armenia from Russia’s Irkutsk Region, following the reported death of a 28-year-old lab worker there last week amid concerns over possible plague.

The government decision, published on the e-gov.am platform, establishes the task force as an advisory body responsible for coordinating preventive measures among government agencies.

According to the decision, the task force will be chaired by Armenia’s Minister of Health Anahit Avanesyan, who will oversee its work and promptly submit to the prime minister any necessary proposals on issues requiring interagency coordination.

The Health Ministry’s operational working group is also monitoring reports on pneumonic plague in Russia.

The World Health Organization has said it does not have the “full picture” from Russia following the suspected death from plague last week of a 28-year-old laboratory worker in Siberia.

The woman died two days after falling ill with cold-like symptoms, according to The Guardian. She was an employee at the anti-plague research institute in the eastern city of Irkutsk, with some reports suggesting she was infected after a workplace accident.

The Russian authorities have denied a connection with the institute and say D. Shipilova died from “pneumonia of an unknown aetiology”. They insist there is no danger of a plague outbreak and have described the “sanitary and epidemiological” situation in the region as stable.

A technical meeting between representatives of the relevant structures of the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan took place in the city of Goris, Republic of Armenia, on October 8, 2026, focusing on issues related to the placement of power transmission lines within the framework of the TRIPP project.

The Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of the Republic of Armenia said that during the meeting, the sides discussed technical issues related to the placement of power transmission lines, as well as exchanged views on relevant perspectives in this area.

Particular attention was paid to issues related to coordination between the relevant structures and the further steps necessary to advance the work.

Over 100 members of Congress – 26 Senators and 75 Representatives – have called on Secretary of State Marco Rubio to withhold U.S. military assistance to Azerbaijan, citing Baku’s sentencing of unlawfully detained Armenian prisoners, destruction of Armenian Christian heritage, and continued military occupation of sovereign Armenian territory.

The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) backed bicameral, bipartisan letter was led by Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Representatives Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Frank Pallone (D-NJ), and garnered support from Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and a number of Senate and House committee and subcommittee leaders.

The letter responds to the Trump Administration’s decision to extend the waiver of Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act, reauthorizing U.S. military assistance to Azerbaijan. President Trump first waived Section 907 in August 2025, following a White House summit with the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan, and notified Congress in July 2026 of his intention to extend that waiver.

“June 23rd, 2026, marked the 1000th day of unlawful detention for the Armenian prisoners in Azerbaijan’s custody. It is imperative that the United States applies meaningful pressure on Azerbaijan to ensure their release, as required under international law. We call on the administration to engage with Azerbaijan to secure the release of detainees and encourage the removal of Azerbaijani military forces from sovereign Armenian land. If meaningful steps are not taken, we urge your administration to withhold U.S. military assistance in order to demonstrate the United States’ commitment to ensuring all parties take the peace process seriously,” the US lawmakers said in the letter addressed to Rubio.

Joining Senators Peters and Schiff as signatories of the letter are Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senators Angela Alsobrooks (MD), Tammy Baldwin (WI), Michael Bennet (CO), Richard Blumenthal (CT), Cory Booker (NJ), Catherine Cortez Masto (NV), Tammy Duckworth (IL), Dick Durbin (IL), John Fetterman (PA), Ruben Gallego (AZ), Tim Kaine (VA), Andy Kim (NJ), Ed Markey (MA), Alex Padilla (CA), Jack Reed (RI), Jacky Rosen (NV), Bernie Sanders (VT), Elissa Slotkin (MI), Chris Van Hollen (MD), Raphael Warnock (GA), Elizabeth Warren (MA), Sheldon Whitehouse (RI), and Peter Welch (VT).

Joining Representatives Bilirakis and Pallone as signatories of the letter are Representatives Gabe Amo (RI-1), Jake Auchincloss (MA-4), Wesley Bell (MO-1), Don Beyer (VA-8), Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Mike Carey (OH-15), Andre Carson (IN-7), Greg Casar (TX-35), Judy Chu (CA-28), Jim Costa (CA-21), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Debbie Dingell (MI-6), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1), Lizzie Fletcher (TX-7), Vince Fong (CA-20), Valerie Foushee (NC-4), Laura Friedman (CA-30), Jesus Garcia (IL-4), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Laura Gillen (NY-4), Carlos Gimenez (FL-28), Dan Goldman (NY-10), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Maggie Goodlander (NH-2), Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5), Steven Horsford (NV-4), Jonathan Jackson (IL-1), Hank Johnson (GA-4), Young Kim (CA-40), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-8), John Larson (CT-1), George Latimer (NY-16), Mike Lawler (NY-17), Susie Lee (NV-3), Mike Levin (CA-49), Sam Liccardo (CA-16), Ted Lieu (CA-36), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Stephen Lynch (MA-8), Seth Magaziner (RI-2), Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11), Sarah McBride (DE-0), James McGovern (MA-2), Rob Menendez (NJ-8), Grace Meng (NY-6), Dave Min (CA-47), Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Chris Pappas (NH-1), Nancy Pelosi (CA-11), Chellie Pingree (ME-1), Mike Quigley (IL-5), Delia Ramirez (IL-3), Jamie Raskin (MD-8), Luz Rivas (CA-29), Janice Schakowsky (IL-9), Brad Schneider (IL-10), Brad Sherman (CA-32), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Haley Stevens (MI-11), Tom Suozzi (NY-3), David Taylor (OH-2), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Dina Titus (NV-1), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Lori Trahan (MA-3), David Valadao (CA-22), Nydia Velazquez (NY-7), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), and George Whitesides (CA-27).

MP Anna Grigoryan, head of the opposition Armenia faction of parliament, MP Arthur Khachatryan, secretary of the faction, and MP Levon Kocharyan met on October 8 with David Allen, Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Armenia.

According to a readout from the parliament’s press service, the meeting discussed issues related to deepening Armenia-U.S. relations and expanding cooperation.

The opposition MPs spoke about the ongoing domestic political processes in Armenia and presented their views on freedom of speech, the rule of law, and the protection of human rights.

The MPs expressed concern over what they consider to be certain criminal prosecutions and “democratic backsliding.”

The sides also exchanged views on the normalization of Armenia-Azerbaijan relations, as well as the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) project.

YEREVAN, 8 OCTOBER, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 8 October, USD exchange rate down by 0.35 drams to 361.97 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 0.72 drams to 404.72 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.0068 drams to 4.2413 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 1.08 drams to 477.76 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price down by 756 drams to 47661 drams. Silver price down by 11.33 drams to 699.25 drams.

YSU press release 

The Third International Conference “Transformative Economy: Green Transition, Institutional Quality and Value Creation” has opened at the Yerevan State University Faculty of Economics and Management. 

The event is jointly organized by the YSU Faculty of Economics and Management and The Regional Science Academy.

The event is jointly organized by the YSU Faculty of Economics and Management and The Regional Science Academy (TRSA).

The conference is being held ahead of the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17), which will take place in Yerevan, amid growing international attention to environmental and sustainable development issues in the region.

YSU Vice-Rector for Scientific Affairs Rafayel Barkhudaryan emphasized that such international academic initiatives are closely linked to the university’s vision of strengthening its research focus.

Speaking about the significance and format of the conference, Dean of the YSU Faculty of Economics and Management Karlen Khachatryan said that since 2024, the faculty has aimed to make Yerevan a regular meeting place for scholars and professionals. “Our goal is not simply to organize an annual conference. We seek to establish an international platform for academic cooperation at the YSU Faculty of Economics and Management, where representatives of different countries and disciplines can exchange knowledge and experience, initiate new research and develop joint projects,” Karlen Khachatryan said.

The opening ceremony brought together distinguished speakers, including Armen Nurbekyan, Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Armenia; Peter Nijkamp, Vice-President of the Regional Science Academy; Karen Zakaryan, President of the “FINARM” Association of Financial Market Participants; and John Carruthers, Associate Professor at Cornell University.

Around 60 scholars and researchers from more than 24 countries have traveled to Armenia to take part in the conference, including participants from the United States, Brazil, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Morocco, Taiwan, South Korea, Russia, India and other countries.

Keynote speakers include Nobel laureate Paul Krugman (2008, United States), Peter Nijkamp (Netherlands), Professor at Erasmus University Rotterdam, Vice-President of the Regional Science Academy (TRSA) and one of the world’s top 30 economists, Caspar van den Berg, President of the Association of Universities in the Netherlands and Professor of Public Administration at the University of Groningen, and Karima Kourtit, Executive Director of the Regional Science Academy (TRSA), Netherlands.

Presentations are being delivered both in person and online across seven thematic sections. The conference program includes around 150 presentations by Armenian and international scholars and researchers representing 50 universities and research centers. The event brings together representatives of the YSU Faculty of Economics and Management, other Armenian universities and research institutions, as well as professionals from public administration, the financial and banking sectors, and research organizations. Representatives of the Central Bank of Armenia and the Ministry of Economy will also deliver presentations.

The conference will continue through October 9.

Certificates of appreciation were presented for significant support in organizing the event to conference sponsor Evocabank and partner organizations INGO Armenia, the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Austria’s Agency for Education and Internationalisation (OeAD), and the Austrian Partnership Program in Higher Education and Research for Development (APPEAR).

Armenia’s Minister of High-Tech Industry and Artificial Intelligence, Davit Tadevosyan, has received Egypt’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Armenia, Amal Afifi.

According to a ministry statement, Tadevosyan outlined the ministry’s priorities under the Armenian government’s programme. He stressed the importance of further expanding and deepening the effective cooperation established between the two governments in the technology sector.

The meeting covered several key issues on the bilateral cooperation agenda, including prospects for cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI), information technology and the defence industry.

Both sides highlighted the importance of organising and participating in joint start-up forums and conferences, including the possibility of holding the Seaside Startup Summit in Egypt.

They also discussed developing cooperation between companies in the two countries’ technology sectors, further steps towards opening a TUMO Centre for Creative Technologies in Egypt, and programmes to exchange experience and professional knowledge to strengthen technological capabilities.

The two sides agreed to draw up a concrete cooperation agenda across various areas of technology for the coming years and work together to implement it.

Armenia’s Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport, Zhanna Andreasyan, received a delegation led by Iran’s Minister of Sport and Youth, Ahmad Donyamali. Deputy Minister Kristina Tataryan also attended the meeting.

According to a statement from the Armenian ministry, the two sides discussed deepening relations in sport and youth affairs. They highlighted the signing of a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in these areas between Armenia’s Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport and Iran’s Ministry of Sport and Youth.

Welcoming her counterpart, Andreasyan said several agreements discussed during her visit to Iran in 2025 were becoming a reality.

“The high-level political dialogue between Armenia and Iran also provides a favourable basis for further expanding cooperation in sport and youth affairs. I am confident that signing the memorandum of understanding will enable us to advance our joint initiatives in a coordinated way,” she said.

Donyamali said Iran attached importance to multifaceted cooperation with Armenia and outlined his country’s experience and achievements in sport.

Both countries were seen as having considerable potential to deepen cooperation, particularly in football, boxing, weightlifting and wrestling. The two sides stressed the importance of forming club teams, organising joint camps and training for coaches, and holding training camps in each other’s countries.

Andreasyan outlined the international competitions planned in Armenia next year, including the European Under-21 Karate Championships and the World Weightlifting Championships, saying Armenia would also be pleased to host Iranian teams.

The meeting also addressed opportunities for reciprocal visits by chess specialists, exchanges of experience and joint educational initiatives, given Iran’s interest in Armenia’s experience of teaching chess in schools.

Both sides emphasised cooperation in youth affairs, particularly dialogue between non-governmental organisations in the two countries, cooperation between young scientists and researchers, and exchanges of experience.

The meeting concluded with the signing of the memorandum, which both sides described as an important step towards strengthening the legal and institutional basis for bilateral cooperation.

The competent Italian authority has granted a request from Armenia’s Prosecutor General’s Office, and the wanted person has been handed over to the competent Armenian authorities.

This was stated in a release issued by the Public Relations Department of Armenia’s Prosecutor’s Office.

“Wanted person G.S. has been handed over to the competent Armenian authorities. G.S. is accused of abducting a person as part of a group for financial gain and committing robbery against that person as part of a group acting by prior agreement. At the instruction of the Prosecutor General’s Office, police officers from the Ministry of Internal Affairs arranged G.S.’s transfer to Yerevan,” the statement said.

Romanos Petrosyan, Temporary Administrator of Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA) CJSC, received representatives of Ineco Group CJSC at ENA’s headquarters.

The meeting was attended by Ineco Group Director Davit Baloyan, Inecobank Deputy CEO and Director of Corporate Business Artyom Chichyan, and Dimension CJSC Director Grigor Harutyunyan, according to an ENA statement.

“ENA Deputy General Director and Director of Economics and Finance Armen Shahnazaryan and Deputy Director of Economics and Finance Harutyun Narinyan also took part in the discussion. During the meeting, the two sides discussed potential areas of financial cooperation, possible financing mechanisms for various areas of ENA’s operations and the prospects for applying them, taking account of the legal and organisational procedures relating to ENA’s nationalisation process.

“Thanking the participants for initiating the meeting and for the agreements reached, ENA Temporary Administrator Romanos Petrosyan stressed the importance of open and constructive dialogue with financial institutions resident in Armenia for a strategic company in the energy sector,” the statement said.

The temporary administrator expressed his readiness to continue and expand cooperation with the banking sector through initiatives aimed at ENA’s sustainable development.