Category: News

The Armenian government has received no indication from Russia of an increase in the tariff for imported gas, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said.

“When there is an indication, when there is a situation, we will think about it,” he said at a press briefing when asked about the matter.

The Prime Minister added that the government, however, constantly discusses scenarios related to various situations.

“I have been facing this situation every year since 2018, because these questions are constantly being raised. We discuss various scenarios, but at this point we have no such indication,” Pashinyan emphasized.

Russian officials had previously stated that the preferential price of Russian gas for Armenia could be set on a market basis if Yerevan decides to withdraw from the Eurasian Economic Union.

The Armenian government is studying the report of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) observation mission on the conduct and results of the June 7 parliamentary election, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said.

“I share all the concerns, as well as the recommendations, and naturally, we will examine them in the greatest depth, because we are currently analyzing the recommendations,” Pashinyan said at a press briefing when asked by Armenpress.

“PACE is one of the institutions whose recommendations, in my opinion, can never do harm if implemented. But in order for us to address this issue at the expert level, it should also be discussed at the expert level,” the Prime Minister said.

Pashinyan emphasized that his government had also identified problems concerning the conduct of the elections.

“We recorded immediately after the elections that very serious changes need to be made to our electoral system so that we can somehow prevent the situations that have arisen, or reduce their impact to zero,” Pashinyan said.

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe’s observation mission stated in its report that the parliamentary election held in Armenia on June 7 gave voters a genuine choice between political alternatives and was, overall, well organized. The report noted that the conduct of election day was assessed positively at the vast majority of polling stations observed.

At the same time, the report noted that direct pressure from abroad was observed during the campaign in the form of growing trade restrictions and security threats. According to the report, their purpose was to exert undue influence on voters in favor of opposition forces.

The report also noted that statements by Western and European officials supporting the ruling force were perceived as external interference, but without the scale of coercion characteristic of Russian actions.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said he considers the Armenian Apostolic Church to be “seized” and sees the need for legislative changes to resolve the situation.

“The Church is neither the Catholicos nor the bishops; the Church is the faithful people. The faithful people have been excluded from the governance of the Church. The tradition of Church governance is parish councils, diocesan councils, and the National Ecclesiastical Assembly, which, contrary to what is prescribed, has not been held. Imagine if there were no Cabinet or National Assembly sessions in Armenia. Imagine if I had a status that precluded me from being prime minister, and everyone said, ‘Well, it’s okay, if he has made it to that office, let him sit there for himself,’” the Prime Minister said at a press briefing. 

Referring to the recently published report on the Church crisis authored by the Information and Public Relations Center of the Prime Minister’s Office, Pashinyan said that an investigative commission should be established in the near future to examine the report.

“As a result, legislative changes should be made to end the seizure of the Church,” Pashinyan said.

The Pashinyan administration’s 2026–2031 program includes an agenda for reforming the Armenian Apostolic Church, including the removal of its current head, Catholicos Karekin II, from office and the holding of new elections for the Catholicos of All Armenians.

Pashinyan and other members of his administration have repeatedly accused Karekin II of illegitimately holding office and called on him to step down. He has so far refused to do so and denied any wrongdoing.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said that the planned modular nuclear power plant may not be sufficient to meet the country’s growing electricity needs, as approved investment programs have pushed Armenia from an electricity surplus to a deficit.

Speaking at a press briefing, Pashinyan said the government continues discussions on the construction of a new nuclear power plant.

“The fact is that one year and four months ago, Armenia was a country with a surplus of electricity, and we had to think about where to consume our energy. One year later, Armenia has become a country with an electricity deficit. The fact that two AI factories have been established is not the issue. The issue is that the investment programs that have already been approved are of such a scale that Armenia now has an electricity deficit. In other words, our entire surplus is being fully consumed by the investment programs, and therefore, we need to think about what to do,” Pashinyan said.

The Prime Minister noted that it has become necessary to consider the “possibility of importing electricity and generating electricity from our sources.”

“I have said dozens of times before that we need nothing more than a modular nuclear power plant. That has been our position. But now, due to this change, we have to understand that, most likely, a modular plant will not be enough for us,” the Prime Minister said.

Armenia is working to extend the operating life of the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant until 2036, while steps will be taken to build a new nuclear power plant in the meantime. The government had previously said it was looking into a modular nuclear power plant project.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan held a meeting with Paula White-Cain, Senior Advisor to the White House Faith Office, who is visiting Armenia to attend the Armenia Prayer Breakfast.

The Prime Minister’s Office said in a readout that Pashinyan welcomed Paula White-Cain’s visit to Armenia and emphasized the importance of the dialogue established with the White House Faith Office.

Pashinyan highlighted Paula White-Cain’s participation in the second Armenia Prayer Breakfast event to be held in the coming days.

The Prime Minister expressed hope that the event would create a platform for frank discussions among participants from different countries.

Prime Minister Pashinyan welcomed the recent meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump, Armenian spiritual leaders and the Armenian Ambassador, which was another opportunity to emphasize the Armenia-United States partnership, shared Christian heritage and shared values.

Paula White-Cain thanked the Prime Minister for the warm hospitality and for inviting her to the Armenia Prayer Breakfast event. Ms. White-Cain noted that they are interested in closely cooperating with both the Government of Armenia and Armenian spiritual leaders in the United States.

During the meeting, the sides exchanged views on the second Armenia Prayer Breakfast event, as well as other issues of mutual interest.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan received Asif Mahmoud, Chairman of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF).

According to a readout issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, Pashinyan welcomed Asif Mahmoud’s visit to Armenia and congratulated him on his election as Chairman of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom.

Pashinyan highlighted Asif Mahmoud’s participation in the upcoming Armenia Prayer Breakfast and noted that the event provides an opportunity to bring together representatives of different countries and religious communities around the ideas of peace, human dignity, and public service.

The Prime Minister expressed hope that the connections established during the event would lead to sustained dialogue and practical cooperation.

During the meeting, the two sides exchanged views on the Armenia Prayer Breakfast, its objectives, and issues of mutual interest.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan received Croatian Health Minister Irena Hrstić.

According to the Armenian Prime Minister’s Office, Pashinyan emphasised the importance of developing relations between Armenia and Croatia across all sectors and noted that an active dialogue had developed between the two countries in recent years.

Nikol Pashinyan expressed confidence that Hrstić’s visit would give fresh impetus to expanding cooperation in healthcare as well.

Irena Hrstić discussed the agreements reached with her Armenian counterparts and their subsequent implementation. She also highlighted the importance of exchanging experience in implementing healthcare reforms.

The Armenian government approved the draft 2027 state budget at a Cabinet meeting on October 1. The bill will next be submitted to parliament for consideration.

The 2027 state budget bill envisions revenues of 3 trillion 603.8 billion drams, expenditures of 4 trillion 72 billion drams, and a deficit of 468.2 billion drams.

Of the revenues, around 3 trillion 462.7 billion drams is expected to come from tax revenues and state duties. Official grants will amount to around 14.2 billion drams, while other revenues will amount to 126.9 billion drams.

According to the draft, the budget deficit is planned to be financed by domestic sources in the amount of around 187.5 billion drams and external sources in the amount of around 280.7 billion drams.

The Armenian government approved a decision at its October 1 Cabinet meeting to amend the 2026 state budget to provide funding for road construction works.

Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Davit Khudatyan said the works cover a total of 32.7 km of roads.

The minister said at the meeting that AMD 4.069 billion ($11.24 million) is planned to be allocated for the works.

The sections included in the program comprise 3.5 km of interstate roads, 9.6 km of republican roads, and 19.6 km of regional and local roads. A significant portion of the latter lead to schools.

The works include, in particular, the collapsed section of the Vanadzor–Alaverdi–Bagratashen road, a section of the Spitak–Gyumri road, as well as sections of the Ayghehovit–Vazashen–Paravakar–Aygepar, Jrashen–Nubarashen, Gavar–Noratus and Mets Masrik–Kakhakn routes.

Khudatyan also said that the contract for the reconstruction of approximately 66 km of the Yenokavan–Karmirgyugh route is worth AMD 14.7 billion. The works are scheduled to be completed by the end of 2028.