Category: News

Armenia’s national artistic gymnastics team is holding a training camp in Germany from October 2 to 12 ahead of the World Championships.

The Senior World Artistic Gymnastics Championships will be held in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, from October 17 to 25. Armenia will be represented by Artur Davtyan, Artur Avetisyan, Hamlet Manukyan, and Mamikon Khachatryan.

The Armenian woman wounded by an Azerbaijani serviceman who illegally crossed into Armenia and opened fire at her home in Syunik Province has undergone surgery and is in stable condition following the procedure, Armenia’s Health Ministry spokesperson Mariam Tsatryan told Armenpress on Monday.

“There is no risk to her life. She is under doctors’ supervision and receiving medical care appropriate to her condition. There are no complications,” Tsatryan said.

The 39-year-old woman was wounded in the leg when Azerbaijani serviceman Nasimi Rahim oghlu Musayev opened fire after entering her home in the Shaki village on October 1. Her two children, who were also in the home at the time, sustained injuries and received medical assistance.

Musayev was subsequently apprehended and is being held in pre-trial detention for two months as part of the ongoing criminal investigation.

Armenia’s National Security Service said earlier that Azerbaijan’s State Security Service had informed it on September 29 that an Azerbaijani serviceman had left his place of service and was missing, while not ruling out the possibility that he had illegally crossed into Armenia. Armenian and Azerbaijani authorities subsequently conducted search operations.

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

Armenian Interior Minister Arpine Sargsyan, accompanied by Police Chief and Deputy Interior Minister Kamo Tsutsulyan, visited a patrol officer who was wounded in a shooting during a traffic stop in Kotayk Province early Monday.

Sargsyan inquired about the officer’s health and treatment. Medical staff, headed by YSMU Rector Armen Muradyan, briefed the minister on his condition and treatment.

The minister thanked the patrol officer for his dedication to duty and wished him a speedy recovery.

The shooting occurred at around 1:35 a.m. on October 5, when patrol officers in Kotayk Province instructed the driver of a Hyundai to pull over. The driver failed to comply with the officers’ stop signal, after which shots were fired from the vehicle, wounding two patrol officers, the Interior Ministry said.

Both officers were taken to a medical center. One received medical treatment and was discharged, while the officer visited by Sargsyan remains under medical care.

Police subsequently identified and detained two people suspected of involvement in the shooting and found the Hyundai.

According to preliminary information, the driver and passenger, both residents of Kotayk Province, were intoxicated at the time of the incident.

A criminal proceeding has been initiated. Measures are being taken to establish all circumstances of the incident, including to locate the firearm allegedly used in the shooting.

Representatives of Armenia’s Human Rights Defender Anahit Manasyan on Monday revisited a Yerevan hospital and met with Ani Avetisyan, the woman who was wounded in a shooting in Shaki, Syunik Province, by an Azerbaijani serviceman who crossed into Armenia, the Ombudsperson’s Office said.

The representatives visited St. Gregory the Illuminator Medical Center to review issues related to ensuring Avetisyan’s right to medical care and services, the office said.

“All issues related to the rights of Ani Avetisyan and her children, as well as all rights-related matters concerning the incident, are under the direct attention of the Human Rights Defender and are being addressed within the scope of the Defender’s authority,” the office said.

The Ombudsperson’s Office recalled that Manasyan, accompanied by representatives of her office, visited the same medical center on October 3 to examine on site issues related to ensuring Avetisyan’s right to medical care and services.

Avetisyan was wounded in the leg on October 1 when Azerbaijani serviceman Nasimi Rahim oghlu Musayev opened fire after entering her home in Shaki. Her two children were also injured.

Avetisyan subsequently underwent surgery and is in stable condition, with no risk to her life, according to Armenia’s Health Ministry.

Musayev was subsequently apprehended and is being held in pre-trial detention for two months as part of the ongoing criminal investigation.

Armenia’s National Security Service said earlier that Azerbaijan’s State Security Service had informed it on September 29 that an Azerbaijani serviceman had left his place of service and was missing, while not ruling out the possibility that he had illegally crossed into Armenia. Armenian and Azerbaijani authorities subsequently conducted search operations.

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

Armenia’s Human Rights Defender (Ombudsperson) Anahit Manasyan has begun a working visit to Serbia.

As part of the visit, Manasyan met with Serbian Justice Minister Nenad Vujić on October 5, her office said in a statement.

The meeting focused on issues related to human rights protection and justice, with particular attention to ensuring the rights of persons deprived of their liberty and improving penitentiary systems.

The sides exchanged views on the conditions of persons deprived of their liberty and the physical conditions of penitentiary institutions in the two countries, as well as the proper protection of human rights in closed institutions.

The protection of children’s rights and issues related to human rights education were also addressed separately.

Manasyan presented the mandate and main areas of activity of the Human Rights Defender’s institution, providing detailed information on the Defender’s activities as the National Preventive Mechanism, monitoring visits to closed institutions, and the work carried out to protect the rights of persons deprived of their liberty.

At the end of the meeting, the sides emphasized the importance of exchanging professional experience and expressed readiness to continue cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 5 October, USD exchange rate down by 0.74 drams to 361.81 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 1.99 drams to 405.3 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.0692 drams to 4.2671 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 0.4 drams to 478.42 drams.

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

Gold price up by 348 drams to 48741 drams.

Armenia’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Greece, Tigran Mkrtchyan, attended the annual “Dourgouti Remembers the Blockade” memorial event in Athens’ historic Dourgouti neighbourhood, which marked its second edition this year.

The event commemorated the victims of the August 1944 blockade in Dourgouti, as well as those subjected to persecution, violence and execution during the Nazi occupation, including many Armenians.

According to a statement issued by the Armenian Embassy in Greece, the event was organised by the Union of Armenians of Greece and the “Pegasos” Sports and Cultural Organisation, with the support and under the auspices of the Municipality of Athens.

Armenian Ambassador to Greece Tigran Mkrtchyan laid a wreath at the Dourgouti Blockade Memorial, paying tribute to the victims. He then delivered a speech highlighting the historic friendship between the Armenian and Greek peoples, the memory of their shared hardships and struggles, and the importance of passing historical memory on to future generations.

The event was attended by representatives of Greek state and parliamentary institutions, local authorities, religious circles, political groups and civil society organisations.

The memorial ceremony was followed by a concert in Dourgouti Square by the Athens Municipality Greek Music Workshop.

Rosatom is ready to apply its technologies and expertise to a project to decontaminate the site of the former Nairit chemical plant in Armenia.

This was reported to TASS by Rosatom’s subsidiary, the Federal Environmental Operator.

“Rosatom has all the technologies and expertise needed to address the most complex environmental disasters and is ready to apply them to a wide range of challenges, including a project to ensure the safety of the site of the former Nairit chemical plant,” the company said.

Rosatom’s potential involvement in addressing the problems at the former Nairit chemical plant has been under discussion since 2022.

In 2023, at the request of its Armenian partners, one of the companies within Rosatom conducted a site survey and an inventory of accumulated waste at its own expense. Following the survey, the Armenian side was presented with the findings and proposals for further work.

A silver commemorative coin dedicated to the 17th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17), to be held in Yerevan this month, was unveiled at the Central Bank of Armenia on 5 October.

It joins a series of commemorative and collector coins issued over the years celebrating Armenia’s natural environment.

The coin, with a face value of 1,000 drams, is made of 925-fineness silver and was minted by the Royal Dutch Mint in a limited issue of just 300 pieces. It weighs 33.6 grams, has a diameter of 40 mm, a proof finish and a reeded edge.

The obverse features Armenia’s coat of arms and a stylised tricolour. The reverse bears the COP17 logo, depicting a stylised Yerevan blue butterfly, and the inscriptions “COP17, YEREVAN, ARMENIA” and “TAKING ACTION FOR NATURE”.

The commemorative coin, certificate of authenticity and information booklet are made from recycled materials. The designs are by Anna Kurghinyan.

Presenting the coin, Central Bank Governor Martin Galstyan said this was the first time the Central Bank had unveiled a commemorative coin made from recycled silver, with the entire production process powered exclusively by solar energy, without the use of gas or other biofuels.

“Hosting COP17 in Armenia is particularly significant. It will turn our country into a platform for important international discussions, bringing together representatives of states, international organisations, the expert community and civil society around biodiversity conservation and a responsible approach to nature. By issuing this commemorative coin, the Central Bank wishes to make a symbolic contribution to recognising the significance of this important event. Commemorative coins have more than numismatic value: they also bear witness to their time, recording significant events in our country’s history, culture and public life. This issue is another such memorable symbol. It embodies the ideas of nature conservation, the importance of biodiversity and our shared responsibility towards future generations,” Galstyan said.

He expressed confidence that hosting COP17 in Armenia would help deepen international cooperation, establish new partnerships and strengthen the country’s role in the biodiversity conservation agenda.

Armenian Minister of Environment and COP17 President Hambardzum Matevosyan said a number of initiatives and events had been carried out alongside preparations for this globally significant event, scheduled for 17–30 October.

“I think both the issue of the commemorative coin and today’s event are symbolic, with the latter serving as a concluding event before the official opening of COP17. This is also the first Armenian commemorative coin minted in compliance with environmental standards. As part of our symbolic heritage, I believe it will have a distinctive place in our history. I wish for all our future activities and work to be in keeping with COP17’s slogan, ‘Taking Action for Nature’,” Matevosyan said.

Armenian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Robert Abisoghomonyan said the coin symbolised both the forthcoming important international event and Armenia’s responsibility to preside over a multilateral process of global significance and help strengthen international cooperation.

“In recent years, the Republic of Armenia has adopted a positive, forward-looking agenda in multilateral forums. I believe COP17 offers another opportunity to present Armenia as a responsible, proactive and reliable international partner, ready both to participate in global agendas and to lead them. In the coming days, Yerevan will become an important platform for multilateral diplomacy. Representatives of states, international organisations, civil society, academia, young people, women and the private sector will meet here to discuss an issue that has long extended beyond environmental concerns and affects our everyday lives, including food and water security, healthcare, the economy and, ultimately, the resilience of societies. This is precisely why Armenia attaches importance to raising biodiversity issues, including at the political level. The ‘Leaders for Nature’ summit preceding COP17 is therefore intended to complement the event and give it additional political impetus,” Abisoghomonyan said.

According to the deputy minister, commemorative coins preserve the memory of their time. Years from now, this coin will serve as a reminder both that Yerevan hosted COP17 in 2026 and that it became a platform for dialogue, cooperation and joint action.

The Convention on Biological Diversity, one of three global environmental conventions, coordinates international efforts to conserve and restore biodiversity, ensure environmental sustainability and promote the sustainable use of natural resources. The Convention’s highest decision-making body, the Conference of the Parties, or COP, brings together its 196 member countries every two years to jointly develop implementation mechanisms and ensure their delivery. By hosting COP17, Armenia will assume the presidency of the Convention until 2028.

The official COP17 logo features the Yerevan blue butterfly (Polyommatus eriwanensis), an endemic species listed in Armenia’s Red Book.