News – Page 291 – Armenian Directory & News

Is it better to be a builder “kyarpinj” or a stranger’s “klung” to destroy?

May 23, 2026May 23, 2026 Eduard Nalbandian

22.05.2026

As always, Nikol Pashinyan, who calls his political opponents “kiarpinj”, does not even realize the real meaning of the word he used. But the people understand that difference very well.

Kyarpinj is a symbol of the builder, ceremony, home and hearth keeper. With Kyarpinj, people build a house, erect a wall, maintain a family, and strengthen their homeland. It is a symbol of creative work, patience, roots and continuity.

And the pickaxe is an instrument of destruction. It is even more dangerous when it finds itself in the hands of the enemy and begins to serve not to build one’s own house, but to destroy the foundations of one’s own state.

Pashinyan is exactly that used political pickaxe, from whose blows Artsakh, national security and the peace of thousands of Armenian homes came to a stage.

Now is it better to be a builder “kyarpinj” or a stranger’s “klung” to destroy?

Political scientist Suren Surenyants

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3 new enlarged communities will be formed in Armenia

May 23, 2026May 23, 2026 Hagop Kamalian

22.05.2026

At the May 22 session of the RA NA Standing Committee on Territorial Administration, Local Self-Government, Agriculture and Environmental Protection, the package of drafts “On Amendments to the Law on “Territorial Division” and related laws, which envisage new community unification programs, were discussed and adopted in the second reading.

As a result of the changes, three new enlarged communities will be formed in Lori, Syunik and Vayots Dzor marzes.

Stepanavan (Lori). Stepanavan, Gyulagarak and Lori fortress are united with a total of 20 settlements.

Goris (Syunik). Goris, Tatev and Tegh communities are united with a total of 28 settlements.

Yeghegnadzor (Vayots Dzor). The communities of Yeghegnadzor, Areni and Yeghegis are united with a total of 32 settlements.

In general, with this program, 80 settlements of 9 communities will be united, forming 3 enlarged units.

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Verelq: For us, diplomacy is not an adventure. Tonoyan, Pashinyan’s

May 23, 2026May 23, 2026 Nahapetian Samvel

22.05.2026

Nikol Pashinyan, who started the negotiations from his own zero point and failed the 26-year negotiation process, declared himself a pioneer of foreign diplomacy this time and gave evaluations to Gagik Tsarukyan’s statement on naming Pakistan among the countries guaranteeing peace. This was written by Iveta Tonoyan, press secretary of the PAP leader.

“Firstly, Gagik Tsarukyan, Pakistan has mentioned many other influential superpowers: the USA, Russia, China among other countries, secondly, perhaps your countless advisors forgot to report to you that the main mediator stopping the Iran-American war in our neighbor and brotherly Iran and bringing peace is Pakistan itself. Pakistan, being a nuclear power, has a great influence on Azerbaijan and can be a serious player in preventing a new war and curbing Azerbaijan’s aggressive actions. Apart from this, the Republic of Armenia has recently established diplomatic relations with Pakistan, perhaps realizing the importance of having diplomatic channels of communication even with difficult countries.

International experience shows that sometimes it is the strategic partners of one of the parties who are able to prevent the most dangerous force adventure and restrain the most radical approaches.

Armenia’s main priority should remain the security of the state through all effective diplomatic and international instruments.

Yes, we want to have good relations with Iran, the USA, the Russian Federation, China and all those countries that can contribute to the realization of our vision of guaranteed peace. , where the absolute priority will be Armenia and Armenia’s security.

For us, diplomacy is not an adventure when you speak something different during the most important international negotiations, and already in Armenia, something radically different.”

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CC: Pashinyan party’s approval rating at 17.8%, behind the 20.6% for Karapety

May 23, 2026May 23, 2026 David Nargizian

· MAY 21, 2026

ArmInfo.info

The political landscape and the balance of political forces in Armenia’s pre-election period continue to shift. According to a rapid poll conducted by the CAEAC Focus sociological center from May 4 to 10, 2026, the ruling Civil Contract party, led by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, is losing to Samvel Karapetyan’s Strong Armenia bloc.

The CAEAC Focus report notes that Samvel Karapetyan’s Strong Armenia bloc is almost 3 percentage points ahead of the ruling Civil Contract bloc (20.6% versus 17.8%). According to the results of the survey, the votes of approximately 60% of voters who intend to go to the polls would be distributed among the main political forces as follows:

United Opposition (Karapetyan/Kocharyan/Tsarukyan) – 46%; Civil Contract Party – 18%. Taking into account spoilers, the opposition would have captured more than half of the votes, while the pro-government camp would have approached 30%. Two-thirds of voters stated that the political position of Catholicos Garegin II, whom Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan refuses to recognize, is important to them. Of the well-known politicians, only three have a positive rating/anti-rating balance: Samvel and Narek Karapetyan, and Robert Kocharyan, all three are opposition leaders. Their opponent, Nikol Pashinyan, is the most unpopular in the country, trusted by approximately 11% and distrusted by approximately 79%. About 40% of Armenians surveyed do not consider foreign leaders to be authoritative election campaigners. Nevertheless, 18% would listen to Putin, 13% to Trump, and 10% to Macron. If faced with a stark choice between the EU and the EAEU, 74% of Armenians would choose the EAEU. The express telephone survey was conducted by SAEAC Focus from May 4 to 10, 2026. 1,220 respondents were interviewed. Population: The population of Armenia aged 18 and older. The sample was representative and was formed proportionally to the population of the regions and Yerevan by randomly dialing mobile and landline telephone numbers (RDD – Random Digit Dialing method). At a confidence level of 95%, the maximum margin of error does not exceed +3.1%.

It should be noted that CAEAC Focus (Free Alliance of Euro-Asian Sociologists) is an international network of volunteer sociologists conducting sociological research, surveys, and sentiment monitoring in the post-Soviet countries. The focus is on the countries of Euro-Asia, particularly Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, and Azerbaijan, with a focus on issues of politics, international relations, and security.

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Hakobyans and Ghazaryans win lawsuit against Armenia in European Court

May 23, 2026May 23, 2026 Emil Lazarian

· MAY 21, 2026

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International Observatory for Democracy in Armenia (IODA) to Conduct Second Fa

May 23, 2026May 23, 2026 Adrine Hakobian

· MAY 22, 2026

The International Observatory for Democracy in Armenia (IODA) will conduct its second fact-finding mission to Armenia from May 22–26, 2026, with the participation of Executive and Advisory Board members.

The delegation includes:

– Sarah Leah Whitson | Executive Director of DAWN, former Middle East and North Africa Director at Human Rights Watch (2004–2020), and a prominent expert and commentator on human rights and foreign policy.

– Bryan May | former Member of Parliament of Canada (2015–2025), long-serving Chair of the Canada–Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group, and an active advocate for Canada–Armenia relations.

– Diana Kearney | lawyer and advocacy specialist, Head of Legal and Shareholder Advocacy at Oxfam America, and Board Member of Amnesty America.

– Philippe Kalfayan | legal advisor, lecturer and researcher at Paris-Panthéon-Assas University, Assistant Judge at the French National Court of Asylum (CNDA), former Secretary General of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), and a long-standing human rights expert. Kalfayan is the coordinator of the IODA Executive Board.

IODA is an independent, ad hoc analytical body that observes, documents, and assesses political and institutional developments relevant to democratic governance and civic space in Armenia. The Initiative does not conduct formal election monitoring or endorse political actors, and its mandate is distinct from accredited domestic and international observation missions. Guided by the principles of independence, non-partisanship, evidence-based analysis, and transparency, IODA provides objective, verified assessments through direct engagement and constructive dialogue with local stakeholders.

More information is available at ArmeniaObservatory.org

Contacts:

Secretariat:

Anna Ivanyan (English, Armenian, Russian) E-mail: [email protected], Mobile: +374 91 618893.

Executive Board:

Philippe Kalfayan (English, French), E-mail: [email protected]

Sarah Leah Whitson (English, Armenian, Arabic), E-mail: [email protected], Mobile:+1(718) 213-7342

https://www.thecaliforniacourier.com/international-observatory-for-democracy-in-armenia-ioda-to-conduct-second-fact-finding-mission-to-armenia/?fbclid=IwY2xjawR-GKhleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeSpObDrbwcrRg6Rw2WyWlwlGv8-HPdV5VUerRUFargErruJ2NA40U93D_wuQ_aem_cJLafwbhtfyYjcvkf5ppMQ

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CC: Is There Hope for Armenian Football?

May 23, 2026May 23, 2026 Vorskanian Yeghisabet

· MAY 22, 2026

Figure 1 The football team dreams of flying the flag for Armenia at a World Cup – Source: Pixabay

All eyes will be on North America this summer as the FIFA World Cup is co-hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico. It is arguably the biggest sports event on the planet and has expanded further this edition to include 48 national teams fighting it out to be recognized as the very best.

Unfortunately, Armenia will not be at this year’s finals. With almost as many Armenians living in the US, the national team would have felt like it was playing at home wherever it was based. Fans will still be able to back their favorites on the best online betting sites in California, but they won’t be able to get behind the Havakakan.

OnlineSportsBetting.net is a good place to find the best sportsbooks, but can we dream of Armenia competing in major international tournaments soon? Is Armenia improving to a point where it can challenge the very best? Or, at least, experiencing a period of improvement to give the entire Armenian diaspora hope?

National Team Disappointment

When it comes to signs of improvement, recent results are an obvious place to begin. Unfortunately, the last few years have been overwhelmingly disappointing. Much of that time was taken up with World Cup qualification, where Armenia faced a tough group that included Portugal, Hungary, and the Republic of Ireland.

All three of those teams have good major tournament experience, and although Armenia was able to beat Ireland at home in the second round of games, the other five fixtures all ended in defeat, leaving Armenia finishing bottom of the group. A recent friendly against Belarus also ended in a loss, so upcoming games in Yerevan against Kazakhstan and Moldova offer an opportunity to finish the current season off on a much-needed high.

Lack of Emerging Stars

When it comes to Armenian footballers, there is one name that stands out from everyone else. At the time of writing, only one other man has represented his country more times than Henrikh Mkhitaryan. The former Manchester United, Arsenal, and Roma midfielder is still playing club football at the top level for Inter in Italy, but retired from the international scene in 2022.

There is little sign of another player with the same level of ability coming through at the moment. The current captain, Kamo Hovhannisyan, is set to overtake Mkhitaryan’s cap tally in the coming months, but he would readily agree that he is not at the same level as the nation’s record goal-scorer.

There are some good, young players coming through the ranks and gaining experience at senior level, but there is still a lack of real star quality. And nations the size of Armenia need a standout player to have any chance of competing with the best.

Club Success

Although it has been a frustrating time for the national team, Armenia’s clubs have been doing better in European competitions. Yerevan remains the hotbed of Armenian football, with all the best teams based in the capital, and Ararat-Armenia will be flying the flag in the prestigious Champions League qualifying this summer, while Noah and Pyunik will be looking to progress in the third-tier Conference League.

The lack of success on the international stage has been disappointing in the last few years, but the fact that club sides are beginning to do well is encouraging. Noah became the first Armenian team to reach the Conference League phase last season, and a focus on building infrastructure and youth development by the governing body could pay its own rewards in the years to come.

Nations League Next Up

The upcoming June friendly games will be important, if only to regain some pride after some recent grueling qualification campaigns. But it is the 2026-27 Nations League that will be the next real test of where Armenia is in world football. Latvia, Montenegro, and Cyprus will all face Armenia before the end of the year.

Out of those three, only Montenegro is ranked higher by FIFA, so this is an excellent opportunity for Armenia to do well and win promotion to the second tier of teams in Europe. Group winners are automatically promoted, while the runner-up qualifies for a promotion playoff. A good performance in the Nations League might also prove beneficial when it comes to qualifying for major tournaments.

Figure 2 The Havakakan will hope to win as many points at home in the upcoming qualifying campaigns – Source: Pixabay

Qualification Campaigns

It is the European Championship and World Cup finals that are the ultimate goal for Armenia. Under the current format, Nations League standings can play a role in qualifying, while finishing at the top of the group would win automatic qualification. With the World Cup expanding to include 48 national teams this summer, there is more chance than ever to play at the top level.

Armenia has never qualified for either of these two prestigious tournaments, so head coach Yegishe Melikyan will be under no illusions about the difficulty of the tasks ahead. But with improvements at home, more young players coming through thanks to increased investment, and a good Nations League campaign, there can be hope for the future.

With so many people of Armenian descent spread across the world, there would be a ready-made fan base wherever future tournaments are held. It would be incredible for the Havakakan to finally qualify and put Armenia on the football map as well.

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168: “If you don’t deny it, I will demand 10 million dollars in compensation.” Amsterdam d

May 23, 2026May 23, 2026 Alex Jidarian

May 22, 2026

Robert Amsterdam, an international human rights defender and a member of the legal team of the leader of the “Strong Armenia” party Samvel Karapetyan, will file a lawsuit against the NA Vice Speaker Ruben Rubinyan if he does not deny what he said. The human rights defender wrote about it on his Facebook page.

CP member Rubinyan stated earlier that Robert Amsterdam had contact with financier Jeffrey Epstein and provided him with legal services.
“Ruben Rubinyan, you are a liar who has lost his human form. I never worked with Epstein and I never gave him any advice. If you do not immediately and publicly deny this blatant lie, I will file a lawsuit against you demanding $10 million in damages,” Amsterdam wrote.
To remind, financier Jeffrey Epstein was arrested in 2006 on suspicion of involving minors in prostitution. In 2019, he was charged with criminal conspiracy to traffic and sexually exploit minors, which carries a sentence of up to 45 years in prison. Prosecutors allege that between 2002 and 2005, Epstein had sex with dozens of underage girls at his residences in New York and Florida, paid them money, and recruited some of them to recruit new victims. Some of the victims were younger than 14 years old.

In August 2019, Epstein’s body was found in the prison cell where he was awaiting trial. Epstein’s death was officially ruled a suicide, but conspiracy theories continue to circulate in the media, including because of gaps in released body camera footage.
In January 2026, the US Department of Justice released the files of Jeffrey Epstein’s criminal case (about 3 million pages), after which there was a great uproar, because the names of a number of famous people were touched in them.

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Urgent. masked persons invaded the NA Gyumri MP Martun Grig

May 23, 2026May 23, 2026 Anna Tamamian

May 22, 2026

According to the information of “Pastinfo”, masked persons broke into the house of Martun Grigoryan, a member of the National Assembly from Gyumri, early this morning around 07:30.

As it is already known, Martun Grigoryan in 2026 participates in the parliamentary elections with PAP and yesterday PAP chairman Gagik Tsarukyan had quite successful meetings in Shirak within the framework of the campaign.

Note that M. Grigoryan has a large electorate in Gyumri, which was also evidenced by the results of the extraordinary election of the Gyumri Council of Elders, where the CP lost and the opposition managed to unite and take over the administration of Gyumri.

Moreover, according to our information, M. A decision has already been made to arrest one person from Grigoryan’s team.

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Regarding the video published by Alik Aleksanyan about handing over his position

May 23, 2026May 23, 2026 Jhanna Virabian

May 22, 2026

According to the report about the apparent crime received by the RA Investigative Committee, AA posted a clip on Facebook with an accompanying note on May 21: “People, they are handing over a position secretly from you, listen to the words of this volunteer, meanwhile, the Minister of Defense is campaigning with hearts”, where the latter and another person are talking about handing over the combat position located in the direction of Jermuk city to Azerbaijan.

On the same day, the RA Ministry of Defense officially denied the information provided by AA and that person.

On the basis of the received report, criminal proceedings were initiated with features of perjury and organizing perjury.

The preliminary investigation revealed the identity of the person speaking in the given video, whose face is covered, who was on combat duty in combat position N.

During the interrogation, the latter denied the information about handing over any position, at the same time stating that, being in an inebriated state, he participated in the gathering organized by NK, where he met AA, who, being informed about his social problems, immediately organized the interview with the journalist. He stated that he was in an inebriated state and gave false information.

Notice: the person accused of a crime is considered innocent until his guilt is proven in accordance with the procedure established by the Code of Criminal Procedure by a legally binding court verdict.

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