Category: News

Armenia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs is establishing a modern cyber laboratory aimed at boosting the police’s technical capabilities and enhancing the detection of cybercrime.

The ministry said in a press release that, with the support of the U.S. Embassy in Armenia, the Department for Combating Cybercrime of the General Department of Criminal Police has received the first batch of modern equipment and software.

“The received technical equipment is intended for the study, processing, and analysis of electronic data and will support the operations of the cyber laboratory being established within the department,” the ministry said.

It added that the new set of tools will enhance the detection of cybercrimes and the effectiveness of combating other types of offenses using information technologies, while also contributing to the introduction of new mechanisms for ensuring public safety.

The National Security Service (NSS) has conducted a search at the office of the “Mother Armenia” party, whose leader, Andranik Tevanyan, is facing criminal proceedings on charges of treason and espionage.

Tevanyan is running for parliament on the Prosperous Armenia Party ticket, led by Gagik Tsarukyan.

Andranik Tevanyan told journalists that during the search, NSS officers seized computers, phones, technical equipment, and analytical materials from the party office.

“They now also want to search our apartment; the search will continue there,” Tevanyan said.

He described the operation as an obstacle to their election campaign and dismissed the criminal proceedings initiated against him by the Investigative Committee as absurd.

According to investigators, in 2024, Tevanyan allegedly leaked classified data from a parliamentary hearing to a foreign intelligence service. He was not a lawmaker at the time and is said to have obtained the information illegally from the hearings through another individual. He denies the charges.

The Prosecutor General’s Office said it submitted a motion to the Central Election Commission seeking approval to initiate criminal proceedings against Andranik Tevanyan.

The original version of this article has been updated to include information from the Prosecutor General’s Office. 

The examination board has reported that Dentistry, General Medicine, and Law continue to be the most sought-after specialties among university applicants, with Design emerging as a growing favorite.

Yerevan State University leads in overall applicant demand, followed by several other major institutions.

Karo Nasibyan, Deputy Director of the Evaluation and Testing Center, said at a press conference that, according to the results of the second phase of university admissions in Armenia, 16,482 applicants have registered. As a result, the Evaluation and Testing Center will conduct exams for 21,130 applicants.

Nasibyan noted that, for the first time, fewer exams will be conducted during the summer second phase of admissions than were held in January–February.

“As you know, for several years now, applicants have had the opportunity to take exams both in January–February and in the summer. Typically, more exams are held in the summer than in winter, but this year the situation has changed. This summer, we will conduct 21,130 exams, compared with 23,472 exams held in January–February. This is because graduates who took the exams earlier were satisfied with their results and chose not to participate again in the summer,” Nasibyan explained.

Although the results of the January–February exams were satisfactory for many graduates, and they did not wish to participate in the summer exams, they were still required to register to confirm that they would retain their scores, as well as their chosen university and specialty. Despite awareness campaigns, some applicants still failed to register within the prescribed period, which ran from April 15 to May 10.

“We informed applicants through multiple channels and even sent several SMS reminders a few days before the registration deadline. Nevertheless, it turned out that 70 applicants did not register. This is a recurring issue, and resolving it is beyond the authority of the Evaluation and Testing Center. Only a decision by the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports can allow them to participate in an additional exam phase,” Nasibyan explained.

Exams will take place from June 12 to June 30, covering subjects including Biology, Geography, Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, Armenian Language and Literature, Armenian History, Russian, and Foreign Languages (English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, and Persian). Additional exams will follow.

Regarding the choice of specialties among applicants, Nasibyan noted that trends are largely consistent with previous years.

“Competition remains particularly high at Yerevan State Medical University for the Dentistry program, with a ratio of 2.9 [applicants] per available place. General Medicine is the second most in-demand program, with a ratio of 2.3 per place. Law at Yerevan State University follows, with a ratio of 2.1 per place. I would also like to note that Design has seen a significant rise in popularity among applicants this year,” Nasibyan said.

In terms of overall applicant demand, Yerevan State University ranks first, followed by the Armenian State University of Economics, the National University of Architecture and Construction of Armenia, the National Polytechnic University of Armenia, and Yerevan State Medical University, among others.

HayPost press release 

On May 22nd, 2026, a souvenir sheet with one postage stamp dedicated to the theme “World Famous Armenians: 125th Anniversary of Alex Manoogian” has been put into circulation.

The postage stamp of the souvenir sheet with the nominal value of 500 AMD depicts the prominent American-Armenian businessman, inventor, benefactor, long-serving president of the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU), public figure and the National Hero of Armenia Alex Manoogian (1901-1996).  

The souvenir sheet depicts the inscriptions “ARMENIAN BUSINESSMAN, INVENTOR, BENEFACTOR” and “125th ANNIVERSARY” in Armenian and English languages.

Alex Manoogian invented the world’s first single-handled Delta faucet. With his support, dozens of Armenian schools and cultural centers have been founded and funded around the world.

Date of issue: May 22, 2026 

Designer: Vahagn Mkrtchyan

Printing house: bpost Philately & Stamps Printing, Belgium

Stamp size: 40,0 x 30,0 mm S/sheet size: 60,0 x 60,0 mm Print run: 15 000 pcs

Chairman of the Investigative Committee, Arthur Poghosyan, met with Khalil Shirgholami, Iran’s ambassador to Armenia. The meeting was the first between Poghosyan and Shirgholami since the latter took office in late 2025.

Poghosyan congratulated him on his appointment and wished him success during his tenure, the Investigative Committee said in a press release.

During the meeting, Poghosyan discussed the exchange of information and the conduct of investigative inquiries in criminal proceedings involving citizens of both countries, highlighting the efficiency of these processes, which has become especially evident in recent years thanks to the daily effective cooperation between the Investigative Committee and the embassy.

The ambassador expressed gratitude for the constructive cooperation, emphasizing that investigations in various criminal cases (such as counterfeit currency, prohibited drugs, and others) are carried out within short timeframes.

The Chairman of the Investigative Committee stressed that proceedings involving foreign citizens are under his and the sector-coordinating deputy’s direct supervision, and that, under his instructions, they are being handled within the shortest possible timelines.

The meeting also addressed joint efforts to combat transnational crime, particularly in the area of drug trafficking.

Central Electoral Commission (CEC) Chairman Vahagn Hovakimyan met with the head of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s observer delegation, Jevrosima Pejović, the CEC said in a press release.

The mission will soon deploy around 100 observers to Armenia.

Hovakimyan welcomed the delegation members and outlined the CEC’s preparatory work ahead of the parliamentary elections.

Vice Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia Ruben Rubinyan met on May 22 with a delegation from the observation mission of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, which has arrived in Armenia. Chairman of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Foreign Relations Sargis Khandanyan also took part in the meeting.

According to a statement released by the National Assembly of Armenia, welcoming the guests to parliament, Ruben Rubinyan highlighted the role and activities of the observer mission in strengthening democratic processes and ensuring stability in the region.

The vice speaker also briefed the delegation on the course of the election campaign.

Ruben Rubinyan and Sargis Khandanyan answered questions from members of the delegation during the meeting.

The opening ceremony of the Centralized Monitoring Center and the launch of the CertScan program took place at the State Revenue Committee headquarters.

The projects were implemented with support from the U.S. government, within the framework of the State Department’s EXBS program, in cooperation with S2Global, and support from the U.S. Embassy in Yerevan.

Eduard Hakobyan, Chairman of the State Revenue Committee, said that the establishment of the Monitoring Center and the implementation of the CertScan project are the result of more than two years of dedicated planning, close collaboration, and continuous effort.

“CertScan will significantly strengthen border security, enhance the identification of potential risks and security threats, reduce corruption risks and internal threats, and improve the efficiency, consistency, and transparency of customs control operations,” said Hakobyan. He added that, in practice, the system will serve as a centralized technological tool for border management, ensuring safer, more secure, and more efficient customs operations while also facilitating legal trade and the smooth movement of goods across Armenia’s borders.

According to Hakobyan, through modern technological solutions, faster information exchange, and centralized expert oversight, the Monitoring Center aligns Armenia’s customs procedures with the highest international standards.

David Allen, Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Armenia, said that the new system will significantly facilitate customs procedures.

“This is a state-of-the-art system that integrates various components of border checkpoints—from X-ray machines and other scanners to physical inspections—into a single unified platform. The system will assist the State Revenue Service and individual officers in making decisions about what requires additional inspection and what can just go forward. At the same time, it will speed up processes, reduce service time, and enhance the Committee’s capacity to detect, prevent, and curb illegal and illicit trade,” stated the Chargé d’Affaires.

Michael Maglothin, Director of International Projects at S2 Global Inc., said that the implemented CertScan system reflects operational and technical expertise gained through deployments supporting customs and border agencies in various countries around the world. He assured that the tool will serve the State Revenue Committee effectively for many years to come.

The system integrates X-ray scan images from border checkpoints and terminals of the State Revenue Committee into a single platform, enabling centralized, real-time monitoring of these images.

The implementation of this platform is expected to significantly enhance border security by enabling more effective detection of potential risks and security threats. At the same time, it will reduce corruption risks by improving the transparency of customs control processes, thereby supporting the development of legal trade and the smooth movement of goods across Armenia’s borders. During the project’s implementation, particular emphasis was placed on the application and integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning elements within the customs system.

The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 22 May, USD exchange rate up by 0.11 drams to 367.97 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 0.28 drams to 426.7 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.013 drams to 5.1616 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 0.08 drams to 493.93 drams.

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

Gold price up by 280 drams to 53299 drams.

Vice Speaker of Parliament Ruben Rubinyan held a meeting with French Ambassador to Armenia Olivier Decottignies.

In a readout, the parliament’s press service said that the opportunities to enhance relations between Armenia and France, as well as prospects for cooperation in a number of areas, were discussed.

Regional developments were also addressed.