Category: News

The release of captives and clarification of the fate of missing persons are on Armenia’s permanent agenda and are raised in discussions with Azerbaijan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Ararat Mirzoyan has said.

Mirzoyan was asked in parliament by Civil Contract MP Sona Ghazaryan whether the issue was discussed during his meeting with Azerbaijan’s foreign minister in New York.

Addressing humanitarian issues, the minister clarified that, in this context, the Armenian side attaches priority importance to the release of captives.

“First and foremost, we mean the issue of releasing captives and clarifying the fate of missing persons. There are also other issues,” Mirzoyan said.

The FM said that the issue was also discussed during the meeting between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Bishkek. He said the prime minister once again raised the issue, proposing that work in this direction be made more practical and tangible.

Mirzoyan said that humanitarian issues were also specifically addressed during his meeting with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov in New York.

“This is not a new demand. This is one of the permanent topics of the Armenia-Azerbaijan dialogue,” the minister emphasized.

Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Ararat Mirzoyan said Iran was satisfied with Armenia’s transparency regarding TRIPP, its willingness to discuss questions and the project’s economic opportunities.

Mirzoyan made the statement during a question-and-answer session with the government in the National Assembly, responding to MP Arusyak Manavazyan’s question about his visit to Iran and the Iranian side’s views on TRIPP.

“Iran is satisfied with the complete transparency we have demonstrated throughout the TRIPP process, our willingness to discuss all questions, and the economic opportunities that bringing this infrastructure into operation will offer Iran itself,” Mirzoyan said.

The minister stressed that this assessment was based on his impressions and what he had heard during the visit. He said the hype surrounding TRIPP presented by some media outlets and opposition circles did not reflect reality.

Mirzoyan said questions had been raised and answers provided during discussions of the project with his Iranian counterparts, and work in this area was continuing.

Discussing the visit’s overall agenda, the minister said he had addressed the full range of bilateral relations with Iran’s leadership and his counterparts, from political dialogue and the strategic nature of relations to economic and infrastructure issues. International and regional developments were also discussed.

Responding to a question about freight and air transport, Mirzoyan emphasised Armenia’s readiness to deepen relations with Iran while taking account of restrictions arising from international sanctions.

“We highly value and attach great importance to our relations with Iran, and we will not jeopardise them,” the minister said.

He also said congestion and backlogs affecting freight transport in the customs zone on the Iranian side were being discussed intensively with the relevant authorities. According to Mirzoyan, technical solutions were available, and he expected to see them implemented in the coming days.

Armenia’s government has decided to discontinue the social package program designed for public-sector employees from January 1, 2027, arguing that the benefits it provides are increasingly covered by other state programs, making the scheme largely redundant.

According to Lusine Harutyunyan, Acting Head of the Labor Law Policy Department of the Ministry of Labor and Welfare, the social package was available to employees in the public sector regardless of their salary level. She stressed that, despite its social focus, the program was not a social assistance program and was not intended specifically to support vulnerable groups.

“For example, the social package provided healthcare guarantees. Now, since universal health insurance entered into force on January 1, 2026, and the number of beneficiaries is expanding year by year, this service is being provided to citizens through another program,” Harutyunyan said at a press conference. 

Acting Director of the Health Insurance Fund Hayk Babayan said that, in line with government policy, all working citizens in both the public and private sectors, including those who previously received the social package, will be included in the universal health insurance system from January 1, 2027.

The government is discussing covering AMD 8,800 of the AMD 10,800 health insurance contribution from the state budget next year for public-sector employees earning up to AMD 200,000 per month.

“Under the social package, citizens had the opportunity to visit a clinic once a year and undergo certain examinations even if they had no complaints. Universal health insurance will also provide this opportunity. From 2029, a component will come into force that will give citizens the opportunity to undergo preventive medical examinations,” Babayan said, stressing that annual checkups will be mandatory for activating the insurance policy. He described this as an important preventive component.

A significant share of social package beneficiaries were teachers, for whom the government has provided and continues to provide guarantees and opportunities through various separate programs.

Susanna Azatyan, Head of the General Education and Extracurricular Program Development and Implementation Department of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, said that government policy is focused on teachers’ continuous professional development and mechanisms for raising their salaries on that basis.

“A voluntary certification system has been introduced in the education sector. Currently, around 9,500 teachers have increased pay rates and receive additional payments as a result of certification. We currently plan to raise the pay rate set for certified teachers from AMD 200,000 to AMD 300,000. The Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports has also initiated amendments to the law on teacher status, which will establish a number of social guarantees and benefits for teachers,” Azatyan said.

The social package currently has around 130,000 beneficiaries.

Money accumulated under the program so far will remain with citizens. Those who are permitted to cash out the funds will be able to withdraw them.

Those eligible to cash out include people participating in the funded pension system who pay social contributions, as well as pensioners who have left employment and have not received a payment into their account for three months.

Those who are not permitted to cash out the funds will be able to use them for purposes established by the government, including recreation, certain healthcare services, particularly dental care, tuition payments, student loans and mortgage loans.

An arrest warrant has been issued for a teacher in Gegharkunik Province who was allegedly caught on school CCTV assaulting a female student.

According to the Investigative Committee of Armenia, it received a report concerning an apparent crime on October 6.

According to the report, on September 30, a teacher at Vardadzor Secondary School allegedly struck a female student with a pointer during class for talking. When the student ran into the hallway, the teacher allegedly followed her, hit the minor with her hand, and dragged her back to the classroom.

Some media outlets have published CCTV footage from the school showing the teacher’s actions in the hallway.

Criminal proceedings were initiated by the Gegharkunik Regional Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee on suspicion of causing severe physical pain or severe mental suffering to a minor, the Investigative Committee said.

During the preliminary investigation, based on sufficient evidence obtained, the investigator submitted a motion to the supervising prosecutor to initiate public criminal prosecution against the teacher. The motion was granted.

An arrest warrant was issued for the teacher.

The preliminary investigation is continuing.

Education authorities said they have launched a process to revoke the teaching license of the teacher.

Ombudsperson Anahit Manasyan decried violence and said her team was studying the reports, including a similar, separate alleged assault in Metsamor.

Armenian Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Davit Khudatyan held a meeting with Qatar’s Ambassador to Armenia Mansour bin Abdulla Al Sulaitin.

The press service of the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure said that the two sides discussed possibilities for expanding transport cooperation between the two countries, including the process of signing an agreement on international passenger and freight transportation by road and the development of cooperation in the field of air transport.

The minister emphasized the importance of expanding bilateral air links.

Qatar’s experience in water resource management and infrastructure development was also discussed.

The possibilities for cooperation in the field of renewable energy were also addressed.

A group of Belgian businesspeople is in Yerevan to explore opportunities for expanding economic cooperation and developing business ties with Armenia. The visit was organized by the Belgium-Armenia Chamber of Commerce with the support of the Embassy of Belgium in Armenia, and the delegation is holding meetings with government officials and business representatives from various sectors.

Speaking at a press conference, Valéry Safarian, President of the Belgium-Armenia Chamber of Commerce, said that before coming to Yerevan, meetings were held in Belgium with local businesspeople to present Armenia’s economic developments, progress and investment opportunities.

“At these meetings, we emphasize steady economic growth, Armenia’s growing ties with the European Union, as well as the strong ties and commonalities between Armenia and Belgium. Today, the heads of 15 companies are in Armenia. Among them are businesspeople who have already been to Armenia and explored opportunities for cooperation. They represent the healthcare, logistics, construction and information technology sectors,” Safarian said.

Eric De Muynck, Ambassador of Belgium to Armenia, emphasized that Belgium attaches importance to economic cooperation with Armenia and organizes a business delegation visit every year to promote it.

“I can say that the circle of those interested in Armenia is expanding year by year, with more companies responding and the range of sectors becoming more diverse. As we know, Armenia is making active progress in a number of areas, with infrastructure in focus, reforms underway in healthcare, and active development in the technology and artificial intelligence sectors,” the ambassador said.

The delegation of businesspeople visiting Armenia includes the top management of Belgian company Ecosteryl, which specializes in innovative technologies for the treatment and recycling of medical waste. Olivier Dufrasne, President of Ecosteryl, said that the company is one of the leading companies in this field and is interested in cooperation with Armenia.

“Our technological solutions make it possible to process this waste in an environmentally friendly manner and avoid incineration. Our goal is to present our experience and technologies to companies engaged in this work, which, when applied, will make operations more efficient and less costly. On the other hand, we want to offer the hospital sector equipment that would allow waste to be processed within hospitals, without logistical costs,” Dufrasne said.

Philippe Leroy, CEO of Saint-Luc University Clinics in Belgium, said that their clinics specialize in genetic diseases, complex surgeries and transplants.

“I had the opportunity to visit local hospitals just recently, and the visits will continue. I can say that we are very impressed by the infrastructure of Armenian hospitals and the quality of doctors’ education. I am confident that we will definitely be able to establish cooperation, focusing on professional training and discussions of complex cases of diseases,” Leroy said.

Valéry Safarian added that plans are underway to establish a health center of excellence in Armenia.

The project will be financed mainly by Belgian businesspeople, with investment also coming from Armenians in the diaspora. The health center will be built in Arzni. It will operate as a resort-style facility where people can come for recreation and rehabilitative treatment.

The French Development Agency (AFD) has signed a financing agreement worth the equivalent of €270 million as part of annual consultations with the authorities of the Republic of Armenia, the Embassy of France in Armenia has said.

“The first €250 million loan provided to the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Armenia, which is a record amount, is intended to support state reforms in the field of financial management. The second loan, worth €23 million and denominated in Armenian drams for the first time, finances housing provision for vulnerable families, particularly those displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh. Five months after the state visit of the President of the French Republic to Armenia, the commitments undertaken in May are being put into effect,” the statement said.

The French Development Agency (AFD), which has been operating in Armenia since 2012, supports the Armenian authorities, stakeholders in the economic sector and civil society in a number of areas: public finance, housing provision, water resources and agriculture, combating climate change, entrepreneurship and financial inclusion. The AFD’s total commitments to the country now amount to more than €850 million.

The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 7 October, USD exchange rate up by 0.18 drams to 362.32 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 1.75 drams to 405.44 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.0071 drams to 4.2481 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 0.85 drams to 478.84 drams.

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

Gold price up by 195 drams to 48417 drams.

Armenian Defense Minister Suren Papikyan has acknowledged shortcomings in connection with the unlawful border crossing by an Azerbaijani serviceman, noting that they have had and will have consequences.

“Of course, there have been shortcomings, and those shortcomings have had and will have consequences. But we can speak about the full consequences after the internal investigation,” the defense minister said in parliament when asked by Civil Contract MP Taron Chakhoyan about the matter.

Papikyan said detailed information about the incident could be provided after the internal investigations and investigative measures are completed.

According to the minister, after learning about the possible incident, the competent Armenian authorities carried out the actions prescribed by law, including search operations.

Taron Chakhoyan asked the minister to also address claims characterizing what happened as sabotage.

Papikyan responded that the Azerbaijani serviceman did not resist arrest. In the minister’s assessment, this circumstance in itself indicates that he was not a saboteur.

Armenia’s National Security Service said last Thursday that it had been notified by Azerbaijani authorities on September 29 that an Azerbaijani serviceman had allegedly gone AWOL and was missing. The Azerbaijani side did not rule out that he could have crossed into Armenia. Armenia and Azerbaijan conducted a search operation. Later, on October 1, Armenian emergency services received a report that a 39-year-old Armenian woman had been shot in the leg at her home in the Shaki settlement in Syunik Province. Authorities determined that the Azerbaijani serviceman was the shooter, and he was apprehended shortly afterward in Shaki and detained.

Meanwhile, health authorities said earlier last week that the woman was in stable, non-life-threatening condition and was receiving the required treatment. She was transferred to Yerevan after being initially hospitalized in Sisian. The Sisian Medical Center reported that the injured Armenian citizen’s children, who were with their mother during the incident, aged 15 and 12, had sought medical assistance for injuries. The 12-year-old child had a soft-tissue contusion, while the 15-year-old child had a fracture of the right wrist. Health authorities said Friday that the children are in satisfactory condition.

The Azerbaijani serviceman faces charges of illegally crossing Armenia’s state border, smuggling military-use products, firearms and ammunition, illegally trafficking in firearms and ammunition, unlawful entry into another person’s residence, and causing grievous bodily harm under aggravating circumstances, including with a firearm.

A total of 8,563 certificates have been issued under the housing support programme for people displaced from Karabakh, of which 4,911 have been redeemed.

Armenian Minister of Labour and Welfare Arsen Torosyan announced the figures during a question-and-answer session with the government in the National Assembly, responding to a question from MP Natalya Sinoryan.

“As of Monday, we have issued 8,563 certificates, of which 4,911 have been redeemed,” the minister said.

According to Torosyan, the number of certificates issued increases by around 100 each week. He cited the figures for 28 September, when the number stood at 8,446.

“Both figures—the number of certificates received and the number redeemed—are increasing daily. We hope that all our compatriots who are entitled to a certificate under the programme will receive and redeem it,” Torosyan said.

The minister recalled that changes had been made to the programme, taking account of proposals and its implementation. These included increases in the amounts of assistance provided through the certificates.

In response to Sinoryan’s follow-up question about the regions where the housing support programme was mainly being implemented, Torosyan said there were no restrictions on the choice of regions or cities, but the amounts of assistance varied.

He said assistance per family member in communities near Yerevan had been increased from 3 million to 4 million drams. In many communities across Armenia, it amounts to 4 million drams, while in border communities it is 5 million drams.