1TV Georgia
May 26 2026
President of Armenian National Assembly: Armenia highly values strong partnership, historic friendship between two countries
14:29, 26.05.2026
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Category: News
Armenian students win five bronze medals at International Biology Olympiad
Panorama, Armenia
May 26 2026
Armenian high school students clinched five bronze medals at the second International Open Biology Olympiad held at the Sirius Federal Territory in Sochi. The competition drew more than 100 participants from 17 countries, Armenia’s Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports reported on Tuesday.
The national team was represented by six students: Narek Ghazaryan, Mariam Galstyan, Nane Ananikyan, Edvin Shahinyan, Veronika Ohanyan, and Meri Nikolyan. The delegation was led by Syuzan Marutyan, a junior researcher at Yerevan State University’s Institute of Biology and a teacher at YSU STEM High School.
The Olympiad unfolded across three rigorous stages — theoretical (individual), practical (individual), and project-based (team). Students from YSU STEM High School and Heratsi High School earned bronze distinctions, marking a notable achievement for Armenia.
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There will be traffic restrictions in Yerevan on May 27
26.05.2026
There will also be traffic restrictions as part of the events dedicated to the Republic Day.
on May 27
from 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. the streets adjacent to Republic Square will be closed: Zakyan-Amiryan, Abovyan-Arami, Nalbandian-Sakharov Square, Melik-Adamyan-Tigran Mets-Agatanghegos intersection, Beirut-Grigor Lusavorich, Italia-Grigor Lusavorich, Khorenatsi-Beirut, Khorenatsi-Agatanghegos, Agatanghegos – all, Vazgen Sargsyan-Republic Square road sections.
Earlier we informed that there will be traffic restrictions in Yerevan on May 26 and 28.
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The government is preparing to justify another defeat and make a concession
26.05.2026
Since the battles of July 2020 and especially during the awarding ceremony held in Sardarapat, the acting governor and related CP members have been praising the armed forces.
Unprecedented qualifications, high-pitched formulations. at that time the army was glorious and victorious.
After the defeats and the discrediting of the army, the same army and its servicemen became strangers, turned into an ordinary institution, and instead of the soldier, the tax payer was declared a hero.
Now the elections are approaching. the government is enthusiastic again: it brings this, that takes away, paints equipment, holds a military parade.
In front of my eyes are their future texts to justify another defeat and offer another concession.
Tigran Abrahamyan, secretary of the NA “I have an honor” faction
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The question of handing over the railway to the concession management of another country remains
26.05.2026
The issue of handing over the Armenian railway to the concession management of another country remains on our agenda, Secretary of the Security Council Armen Grigoryan stated in a conversation with “Azatutyan”.
“That topic is part of our agenda, we will continue to discuss and look for solutions. At the moment, the negotiations are ongoing and as soon as we have results, we will naturally announce it,” he said.
Prime Minister Pashinyan publicly announced in February that Armenia is losing its competitive advantage in the general context of the regional de-blockade due to the Russian management of the Armenian Railways. The Prime Minister also spoke about the possible danger of bypassing Armenia.
“In general, in order for us to gain a competitive advantage in terms of regional structures, we need to work as quickly as possible, build or rebuild infrastructure as quickly as possible. Speed is an important factor here, which side will be able to develop its infrastructure as quickly as possible,” said Grigoryan.
Regarding the reconstruction of the railway infrastructure in Yeraskh and Akhurik sections, Grigoryan said that negotiations with Moscow are ongoing. Grigoryan mentioned that these parts will be reconstructed through the state budget of Armenia.
Although the railway is under concession management to the Russian side and there were negotiations with Moscow for the Russians to undertake the repair, the Prime Minister announced the other day that the Armenian government will do it.
“We understand that infrastructure development is not about one piece, it’s about whole infrastructures, it’s also about TRIPP, it’s about our railway infrastructures that we have in Armenia, which we need to restore or rebuild or use the existing ones, it’s about the development of general infrastructures,” he said.
“To the question of freedom, that is, is there a need to completely modernize the railway network of Armenia, the Secretary of the Security Council answered that there is in some places.
“After the collapse of the Soviet Union, some of it was not used, you know some of it as iron, it was given to other countries for money or sometimes maybe without money. This is the problem, that the complete infrastructures are restored,” added Grigoryan.
“Armenia will work primarily to gain a competitive advantage, to open infrastructures, to invest in infrastructures from the beginning, and then in addition to these infrastructures, so that goods and services mainly pass through Armenia,” said the Secretary of the Council of Ministers.
And in what terms does Armenia expect the negotiations with the Russian side to be resolved, he said, as soon as possible.
“We believe that we should continue the dialogue with the Russian Federation to find a solution to the issues that exist, and negotiations are the main means of this,” he said.
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There is no crisis. Secretary of the Council of Ministers on RA-RF relations
26.05.2026
The spectrum of Armenian-Russian relations is very large, and there may be some questions in some parts of that spectrum, but I think there is no crisis. Armen Grigoryan, Secretary of the Security Council, told “Azatutyun” about this.
Armen Grigoryan stated that regarding the statements made by the Russian side.
“I think that there is no crisis, as I mentioned, and these statements are not new. We will continue to work with the same logic that we used in our relations with the Russian Federation, we will continue to talk about our problems and try to find solutions to these problems.”
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Andranik Tevanyan’s case involves another former deputy
26.05.2026
“Hraparak” daily writes:
In the case of Andranik Tevanyan, who is accused of espionage and treason, according to our law enforcement source, another deputy candidate, a former deputy, is passing, and steps have been taken in his direction.
We are talking about Aregnaz Manukyan, a former deputy of the Armenia bloc.
According to the Investigative Committee, Tevanyan transferred information containing state secrets to the director of the “Russia Caucasus” center 2 years ago for $622,000. from the hearings held in the closed-secret session of the National Assembly in April on the topic of border demarcation. Tevanyan is not a member of the National Assembly from 2023.
According to reports, Aregnaz Manukyan gave him this information, which does not contain any secrets, and the authorities have been making hints about it for several days.
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Verelq: I call on the collective opposition on the main issue of power change
26.05.2026
The letter of “Mother Armenia” party chairman Andranik Tevanyan from “Yerevan-Kentron” penitentiary institution.
Dear compatriots, sisters and brothers,
According to Nikol Pashinyan’s illegal order, a criminal case has been initiated against me, which provides for life imprisonment. Nikol Pashinyan, who serves the Turkish-Azerbaijani agenda, who brought war and defeat, caused thousands of victims and wounded, handed over the territories of Artsakh and Armenia, accuses me of state treason. In fact, the traitor shouts the loudest: catch the traitor.
For Nikol, those who are against his government are “state traitors”. He himself would like all the citizens of Artsakh to be killed, as well as all those citizens of RA who are against him to be killed or imprisoned for life. In other words, Nikol Pashinyan would like the vast majority of RA citizens to die or be imprisoned for life.
The citizens of Armenia should oust Nikol Pashinyan with a united effort, actively participating in the elections.
I call on the collective opposition to be united in the main issue of power change and the formation of the Armenian government.
Join us to change.
Andranik Tevanyan
Chairman of “Mother Armenia” party
Number 2 of the proportional list of “Prosperous Armenia” party
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Armenia did not request CSTO assistance during the Karabakh conflict – Shoigu
Aysor, Armenia
May 26 2026
During the Karabakh conflict, the Armenian side did not request assistance from the CSTO, Secretary of the Russian Security Council Sergei Shoigu stated, according to RIA Novosti.
“There was no request from Armenia for assistance during that conflict,” Shoigu said following a meeting of the Committee of Secretaries of the Security Councils of the Collective Security Treaty Organization.
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EAEU Summit in Astana: Is Moscow Pushing Armenia Toward the Exit?
The Times of Central Asia
May 26 2026
Russian President Vladimir Putin is due to arrive in Astana on May 27 for a state visit, while the Eurasian Economic Forum and a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council will take place in Kazakhstan’s capital on May 28-29. Against the backdrop of increasingly strained relations between Moscow and Yerevan, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will not attend the summit. Armenia will instead be represented by Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan.
Kazakhstan’s presidential administration has already outlined the agenda for the visit. Putin is expected to receive full state honors. After the official welcoming ceremony, Putin and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will hold bilateral talks.
On May 28-29, Tokayev, Putin, and other EAEU leaders are expected to take part in the Eurasian Economic Forum and the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council meetings.
Strategic Partnership and Growing Pressure
Political analyst Andrey Chebotarev said the agenda of the Tokayev-Putin talks is likely to focus on implementing the declaration signed during Tokayev’s state visit to Russia in November 2025, which raised Kazakhstan-Russia relations to the level of a “comprehensive strategic partnership and alliance.” The declaration envisioned expanded cooperation in politics, security, economics, integration, high technology, and humanitarian affairs.
According to Chebotarev, the two presidents now need to define concrete mechanisms for implementing those agreements. Among the most sensitive issues is the planned construction of Kazakhstan’s first nuclear power plant with the participation of Russia’s Rosatom. Astana, Chebotarev argued, is particularly interested in ensuring the continuity of the project as Western sanctions against Moscow tighten.
Another key issue is the uninterrupted transit of Kazakh oil exports to Europe through Russian territory.
“This issue is especially relevant given, first, the suspension of oil deliveries through the Druzhba pipeline, which the Russian side explains as being due to technical reasons, and second, the continuing Ukrainian drone attacks on the Russian ports of Novorossiysk and Ust-Luga on the Black and Baltic seas,” Chebotarev said.
Other likely topics include logistics linked to the North-South transport corridor and the worsening decline in the Caspian Sea’s water level, particularly ahead of the planned seventh summit of Caspian littoral states later this year.
Information Wars and the Golden Horde Debate
The Putin-Tokayev meeting is taking place against an increasingly difficult information backdrop shaped by several Russian media outlets and commentators. Russian public discourse has continued to react strongly to the recent international symposium in Astana dedicated to the legacy of the Golden Horde, as well as to Tokayev’s remarks during the event.
Kazakh political analyst Daniyar Ashimbayev, commenting ahead of Putin’s visit, argued that Kazakhstan-Russia relations were being subjected to “attacks and information provocations.” He described this as part of a campaign to turn Kazakhstan into “a platform for confrontation with Russia” amid the broader Russia-West conflict.
He added that similar efforts were visible in attempts to inflame tensions between Kazakhstan and China.
At the same time, Ashimbayev avoided publicly criticizing Russian opinion leaders, many of whom have become increasingly vocal in questioning the alliance between Moscow and Astana.
Armenia’s Growing Rift With Moscow
Yet the deepest tensions inside the EAEU currently revolve around Armenia. Analysts expect one of the main priorities at the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council meeting to be the removal of trade barriers and the development of the union’s transport and logistics potential. Ironically, this is precisely the area where Russia has recently intensified pressure on Armenia.
On May 22, Russia imposed restrictions on imports of Armenian flowers, officially citing concerns over phytosanitary safety and Russia’s export potential. Armenian fruit and vegetable exports have also reportedly encountered difficulties, according to the head of Russia’s agricultural watchdog, Rosselkhoznadzor. Meanwhile, Russia’s consumer protection agency suspended imports and sales of Armenia’s well-known Jermuk mineral water.
Russian restrictions have been widely interpreted in the media as retaliation for Armenia’s increasingly open interest in closer ties with the European Union and its possible eventual withdrawal from the EAEU.
However, just one day earlier, on May 21, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan insisted that Armenia had no intention of leaving the Eurasian Economic Union.
“The issue of Armenia leaving the EAEU cannot be discussed unless Armenia submits the appropriate application and expresses such a desire. We have not done so,” Mirzoyan said.
Nevertheless, Moscow’s trade restrictions increasingly create the impression that Russia may not be trying to prevent Armenia’s drift away from the bloc, but rather pushing it toward the exit.
Armenia Looks Westward
Pashinyan appears to understand the message. On May 23, he announced that Armenia had secured a new railway connection to the European Union.
“Railway communication with the European Union is now also possible through Georgia and Turkey. In the near future, railway links Armenia-Turkey and Armenia-Azerbaijan are expected to open, followed by Armenia-Iran via Nakhichevan. We will witness these developments soon as part of the implementation of the TRIPP project,” Pashinyan said.
Kazakh political analyst Gaziz Abishev argued that Armenia’s suspension of participation in the CSTO, its distancing from EAEU activities, and its declared aspiration to join the EU form a central part of Pashinyan’s political platform ahead of parliamentary elections.
“From a purely research perspective, it is interesting whether Armenia can actually join the EU, how quickly it could happen, and what effect leaving the EAEU would have on its economy,” Abishev said. “The Baltic states joined the EU. Moldova is moving toward the EU through Romania. Now, Armenia is trying to do the same. What if it succeeds and becomes better off rather than worse?”
If Armenia does decouple from the EAEU in the near future and seeks to join the EU, the question will be how Moscow responds. So far, Russia has relied on selective trade restrictions rather than a direct political break.
But Pashinyan’s absence from Astana will make that ambiguity harder to ignore. For the EAEU, the summit is therefore not only about tariffs, transit routes, and integration plans. It is also a test of whether the bloc can keep one of its most disaffected members inside the room.
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