Category: News

The Ministry of Labor and Welfare proposes to no longer provide the “funeral benefit” to all groups, instead directing the funds allocated for it toward increasing pensions. 

“There has always been a question about whether the ‘funeral benefit’ was appropriately targeted,” Minister of Labor and Welfare Arsen Torosyan told reporters.

“We have decided to direct those funds to pensioners, while retaining the benefit for certain groups who will have greater need to cover these expenses. We are referring to citizens included in the social assistance system,” Torosyan said.

Torosyan said the change is planned to take effect on January 1, 2027. An additional AMD 5.5 billion will be added to the funds saved by abolishing the “funeral benefit” to increase pensions.

“We will increase the minimum pension, which is currently AMD 46,000, to AMD 47,000; there will be an AMD 500 increase in the amount used to calculate labor pensions based on years of service; and the pensions of citizens receiving military pensions will increase,” the minister said.

Under current law, the “funeral benefit” is AMD 200,000 and is provided when a pensioner or a family member receiving a social assistance benefit dies.

The Armenian government has approved projects to build UEFA Category 4 football stadiums in Vanadzor and Ijevan.

The stadiums are expected to be ready by the end of 2028, ahead of the 2029 FIFA U-20 World Cup, which Armenia will co-host with Georgia.

The decision was presented at the Cabinet meeting by Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Zhanna Andreasyan.

The minister recalled that 24 teams will participate in the FIFA U-20 World Cup.

“A total of 52 matches will be played, half of them in Armenia. It is planned to hold 15-17 matches in Yerevan and a total of 9-11 matches in Ijevan and Vanadzor. For this, we need UEFA Category 4 stadiums with at least 10,000 seats,” Andreasyan said.

According to the minister, the tournament is scheduled to take place in September-October 2029, while international requirements stipulate that the stadiums must be ready at least six months in advance. Therefore, they must be commissioned and certified by March 2029.

“At this point, we have 30 months,” the minister noted.

She explained that during this period, the design and cost-estimate documentation must be finalized, expert examinations conducted, and construction and reconstruction work carried out. The limited timeframe necessitates organizing the procurement through an urgent procedure.

Negotiations on the construction work were held with VenueEra Holding, the company responsible for designing the stadiums, which has international experience in designing similar facilities. The company has proposed completing the work within 24 months.

“In Vanadzor, we are talking about reconstruction, while in Ijevan, we are talking about building from scratch,” Andreasyan said.

According to the minister, if work starts now, both stadiums can be ready by the end of 2028. Following adoption of the decision, the contract is also expected to be finalized and signed within one month.

For the Ijevan stadium, the company has proposed using SPS composite terracing technology. According to Andreasyan, its use will help shorten the construction period and reduce the amount of work to be carried out on site. UEFA will provide professional consultancy during the project.

The decision also sets out specific arrangements for organizing the procurement, securing the contract and qualification requirements, the company’s agency fee, pricing of materials and products, and payment upon issuance of the completion certificate.

Andreasyan noted that in some cases, stricter conditions than those stipulated by law have been established. In particular, only half of the amount withheld at 5% of the contract price will be paid after the completion certificate is signed, while the other half will be paid after the warranty period expires.

According to the justification for the decision, the company’s total price proposal amounts to approximately €52.2 million, excluding VAT, import taxes and duties. Of this amount, approximately €49.7 million is the agreed contract price for the two stadiums, while approximately €2.5 million is a reserve for potential changes in material prices. The agreed price for the Vanadzor stadium is €22.55 million, while the price for the Ijevan stadium is approximately €27.17 million.

The minister emphasized that the stadiums will serve not only as venues for the FIFA U-20 World Cup but will also become important infrastructure for the development of sports and the respective communities in the future.

The government proposes ending the social package program, which was introduced in 2012-13 to compensate for low pay in the public sector by allowing citizens to use allocated funds for certain services, including resort stays, recreation, sports and education, Minister of Labor and Welfare Arsen Torosyan has said.

“The social package program was adopted in 2012-13 as compensation for low pay in the public sector, under which our citizens could purchase certain services, including resort, recreation, sports, education and other services. But we know that, particularly in recent years, all citizens who had a social package have, as a result of various reforms, seen both increases in their salaries and greater opportunities to cover their healthcare expenses thanks to health insurance. And now the time has come simply to end the provision of this service, because it has fulfilled the task it was created to address,” Torosyan said at a press briefing when asked by Armenpress why no funds have been allocated for the social package under the draft 2027 state budget.

The Minister of Labor and Welfare said that citizens who have accumulated funds in their bank accounts under the social package will be able to use them for purposes to be defined by a special government decision.

Seven grandmasters representing Armenia are included in the updated rating list of the International Chess Federation (FIDE).

The men’s rating list includes Haik Martirosyan (54th), Shant Sargsyan (67th), Robert Hovhannisyan (75th), and Aram Hakobyan (80th), while Norway’s Magnus Carlsen tops the men’s rankings.

Levon Aronian, the former leader of Armenia’s men’s national chess team who now represents the U.S., is 19th in the rating list.

Armenia has three representatives in the women’s rating list: Mariam Mkrtchyan (32nd), Elina Danielian (59th), and Lilit Mkrtchyan (76th), while China’s Hou Yifan holds the top spot.

The delegation of the Council of the European Union’s Working Party on Eastern Europe and Central Asia (COEST), which included representatives of more than two dozen EU member states, the European External Action Service and the European Commission, visited Kirants on September 29 as part of its visit to Armenia.

The delegation toured the village, visiting the Primary School, the Holy Trinity Church, as well as the demarcated section of the state border between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan.

As part of the visit, the delegation was presented with the work carried out following the delimitation and demarcation. They also familiarized themselves with the infrastructure created in the settlement following the process.

Russian football coach Dmitry Gunko, who previously managed Armenian clubs Noah, Ararat-Armenia and Urartu, has been appointed as Pyunik’s new head coach.

“We are pleased to announce that Russian coach Dmitry Gunko has been appointed as Pyunik’s new head coach,” the Armenian football club said in a statement.

As a player, Gunko represented Spartak-2 Moscow, Tyumen, Spartak-Chukotka, Arsenal Tula and Torpedo Vladimir.

“After ending his playing career, he spent many years working within the Spartak Moscow system, coaching the club’s youth team, which became champions of the Russian Youth Championship twice under Gunko’s leadership,” the club said.

In March 2014, after Valery Karpin’s departure, Dmitry Gunko was appointed interim head coach of Spartak Moscow and remained at the helm of Russia’s most decorated team until the end of the season. During that period, Armenia national team players Aras Özbiliz and Yura Movsisyan were also playing for Spartak.

In August 2020, the Russian coach took charge of FC Khimki, but left the position shortly afterwards.

Dmitry Gunko then continued his coaching career with Armenian clubs and achieved the most notable successes of his coaching career during his time in Armenia.

In November 2020, Gunko was appointed head coach of Noah and led the team to a second-place finish in the Armenian Premier League in the same season.

The following season, he took charge of Ararat-Armenia and once again finished as runner-up in the Armenian Premier League, this time in the 2021/22 season, with Ararat-Armenia finishing one point behind Pyunik, who were crowned champions.

In June 2022, Gunko was appointed head coach of Urartu, and in the 2022/23 season, he led the team to a domestic double, winning both the Armenian Premier League and the Armenian Cup.

Following that season, he was also named the Armenian Premier League’s Best Coach.

In June 2025, after three years at the club, Gunko left Urartu. In total, under his leadership, Urartu played 119 matches, recording 66 wins, 22 draws and 31 defeats.

Dmitry Gunko’s most recent club was Arsenal Tula, which he took charge of in June 2025. Under Gunko, the Gunners finished 13th in the previous Russian First League season. In September this year, the 50-year-old coach left his position as Arsenal Tula’s head coach.

Dmitry Gunko’s coaching staff will include Dmitry Kudryashov, Nikolay Tyunin and Igor Menshchikov. Assistant head coach Artur Avagyan and fitness coach Ciro Hosseini Varde’i will also continue their work with the team’s coaching staff.

“We wish Dmitry Gunko and his coaching staff productive work and continued success at our club,” FC Pyunik said.

Lawmakers on Thursday postponed debate on domestic violence legislation to address all the proposals that have been received and make revisions. 

The relevant proposal was presented on October 1 at a meeting of the parliamentary Committee on Protection of Human Rights and Public Affairs by Civil Contract MP Zaruhi Batoyan, the main rapporteur on the package.

The legislative initiative was co-authored by Civil Contract legislators Zaruhi Batoyan, Sona Ghazaryan and Tsovinar Vardanyan. The package includes a draft law on making amendments and additions to the Law on Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence and Protection of Persons Subjected to Family and Domestic Violence, as well as amendments to related laws.

Batoyan said numerous proposals had been received and that, given the scope of the package, additional time was needed to properly address proposals submitted by colleagues and civil society.

Committee Chair Lilit Galstyan welcomed the decision to postpone the discussion and amend the bill. 

Batoyan stressed that, alongside legislative amendments, public awareness and cooperation are also important.

“Of course, during the presentation, I will try to address the main changes. But I do not think that we can solve all the problems with a single amendment. Public awareness, discussions and cooperation are also very important. So, thank you for the discussions. And yes, we will also hold working discussions with you to see which changes we can implement at this point, and which ones we can implement either through subordinate legislation or at a later stage,” the MP said.

At the beginning of the meeting, Batoyan also addressed the Day Against Domestic Violence, observed on October 1, calling on people not to remain silent about violence and to seek help.

“There is no shame in talking about domestic violence. There is no shame in seeking help and support. There is no shame in calling the Police and reporting a case of violence. There is no shame in responding to a case of violence and helping the victim. There is no shame in telling your story and sharing your own experience. What is shameful is justifying violence and blaming the victim,” Batoyan stressed.

Committee Chair Lilit Galstyan said that non-governmental organizations and interested individuals wishing to participate in the discussions may contact the committee. Proposals from individual MPs and parliamentary factions will also be discussed in working sessions and at a committee meeting.

One of the buildings at Yerevan’s Republic Square, formerly housing the headquarters of the Foreign Ministry, will be transformed into a multifunctional complex. The building is owned by Corporación América Airports, which operates Armenia’s airports.

“We are pleased to announce that the redevelopment concept for the former Ministry of Foreign Affairs building, located in Republic Square, Yerevan, and owned by Corporación América Airports, was unanimously approved on September 30 by the Scientific and Methodological Council operating under the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the Republic of Armenia,” the company said in a press release.

Developed in collaboration with Foster + Partners, the internationally renowned London-based architecture and design firm behind some of the world’s most significant architectural and urban projects, and Quadrum Architectural Office, a leading Armenian practice with experience in the restoration of historic buildings, the concept envisions transforming the existing building into a mixed-use development combining hotel, residential, office and retail uses, together with new public spaces, the company added.

“The approval follows approximately 18 months of close collaboration between the architectural teams and the Scientific and Methodological Council operating under the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the Republic of Armenia. Throughout this process, the concept evolved through ongoing dialogue, carefully incorporating the Council’s considerations and recommendations, with particular attention given to preserving the building’s architectural and historical significance and its distinctive heritage features,” it said in the press release.

With the concept now approved, the project will move into the next stage of development.

“Our goal is to give this landmark building a new life, preserving its historic identity and its relationship with Republic Square while creating a vibrant, contemporary destination for residents and visitors alike,” said Martín Eurnekian, Chief Executive Officer of Corporación América Airports.

The overall investment program envisages investments exceeding USD 150 million, according to the company.

“Through high-quality architecture and the sensitive transformation of one of the city’s most prominent buildings, the project also aims to become a new attraction for Yerevan and contribute to the city’s growing position as an international cultural and tourism destination,” it added.

Chairman of the Investigative Committee of Armenia Artur Poghosyan met with Attorney-General of the United Arab Emirates Dr. Hamad Saif Al Shamsi on the sidelines of the 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Abu Dhabi.

According to the Investigative Committee press release, the meeting discussed ways to strengthen judicial and legal cooperation, the exchange of experience, and the development of cooperation in combating transnational crime, particularly corruption-related offenses.

The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 1 October, USD exchange rate down by 0.01 drams to 362.82 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 2.44 drams to 409.7 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.0116 drams to 4.3483 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 2.44 drams to 479.76 drams.

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

Gold price up by 149 drams to 48716 drams.