News – Page 341 – Armenian Directory & News

Asbarez: Armenian Bar Releases Report Advancing U.S.–Armenia Cooperation in A

September 26, 2026September 26, 2026 Hambik Zargarian

by Contributor

September 25, 2026

in Armenia, Latest, News, Top Stories

The Armenian Bar Association has released a landmark third report from its Intellectual Property & Information Technology Committee, known as TechLaw, examining how Armenia can expand access to advanced U.S. technologies and strengthen the legal and institutional safeguards needed to support responsible technology transfer, innovation, and investment. The report presents a practical roadmap for addressing export-control barriers that can constrain U.S.–Armenia high-tech cooperation, while promoting compliance measures designed to prevent diversion and protect the integrity of technology partnerships. Its recommendations are intended to support the objectives of the August 2025 U.S.–Armenia Memorandum of Understanding on an AI and Semiconductor Innovation Partnership.

The new report builds on more than a decade of TechLaw’s engagement with intellectual property and technology-law issues in Armenia. Through research, collaboration with Armenian government institutions and other stakeholders, and initiatives connecting legal, business, academic, scientific, and technology communities, the Committee has worked to identify legal and institutional challenges and develop practical reforms that can strengthen Armenia’s capacity for innovation, entrepreneurship, investment, and technology development and commercialization.

The Committee’s work has included its 2019 IP Protection & Corporate Law Improvement Report, which examined intellectual property and corporate-law issues and proposed reforms, as well as its 2023 Second Report: “Analyzing Intellectual Property-Related Challenges and Solutions in Armenia — Expert Conclusions and Recommendations on Intellectual Property Rights Protection & Enforcement for Armenian Innovation and Growth.” The 2023 report examined developments in Armenia’s IP laws and enforcement mechanisms and sought to advance the country’s alignment with international practices.

The third report represents the Committee’s effort to develop a practical roadmap for improving Armenia’s access to advanced U.S. technology by addressing the export-control barriers that currently constrain U.S.-Armenia high-tech cooperation, while strengthening compliance and safeguards against diversion. Ultimately, the third report is meant to support the objectives of the August 2025 U.S.-Armenia Memorandum of Understanding regarding an AI and Semiconductor Innovation Partnership.

Report Launch and Expert Discussion
To mark the launch of the Report, the ArmenBar also organized a special discussion bringing together experts to examine the report’s subject matter and broader developments in intellectual property, technology, and innovation.

The program provided an opportunity for participants to discuss the legal and policy issues addressed by the Report, consider their practical implications, and explore opportunities for continued cooperation between Armenia and the global Armenian legal, technology, academic, and business communities. The discussion is available online.

Building Armenia’s Innovation and IP Ecosystem
The ArmenBar’s IP/IT Committee — also known as TechLaw — is dedicated to fostering a dynamic ecosystem for intellectual property and information technology law in Armenia and among legal professionals of Armenian heritage around the world. The Committee serves as a link between practitioners and academicians in the Diaspora and stakeholders in Armenia, facilitating the exchange of expertise concerning patents, trademarks, copyrights, technology law, and related transactional and litigation matters.

The Committee has also played an active role in initiatives designed to strengthen Armenia’s position as an innovation hub. Its work has included organizing the IP & Corporate Law Summit in Yerevan , collaborating with Armenian ministries and government agencies, contributing to legislative and institutional reform efforts, and supporting capacity-building among members of the judiciary, legal profession, and business community.

The Committee’s approach emphasizes that a strong innovation ecosystem requires effective intellectual property protection, practical implementation, and collaboration across disciplines and institutions. Strong IP laws and enforcement mechanisms, together with workable investment and technology-transfer frameworks, can provide an important foundation for innovators, entrepreneurs, investors, researchers, and businesses seeking to develop and commercialize new ideas and technologies.

“We are proud to continue the Armenian Bar Association’s commitment to advancing intellectual property and technology law in Armenia,” said Denise Darmanian, Co-Chair of the ArmenBar IP/IT Committee. “This report reflects the Committee’s continuing effort to bring together legal expertise, government stakeholders, business and technology communities, and members of the Diaspora to identify practical ways to strengthen Armenia’s innovation ecosystem.”

Karén Tonoyan, Co-Chair of the IP/IT Committee, added, “The development of a modern and effective legal and institutional framework for innovation is an ongoing process. Through research, dialogue, education, and collaboration with stakeholders in Armenia and abroad, the Committee seeks to translate practical recommendations into reforms that help innovators protect and commercialize their work, attract investment, and access the technologies and international partnerships needed to grow.”

The Armenian Bar Association recognizes the contributions of the many professionals and institutions whose expertise and collaboration have supported the IP/IT Committee’s work over the years.

The new report is available here.

Founded in 1989, the Armenian Bar Association is an international organization of attorneys of Armenian heritage and friends of the Armenian legal community. The ArmenBar provides a forum for professional development, legal education, community service, and engagement on legal issues affecting Armenia and Armenians around the world.

Through its committees and programs, the Armenian Bar Association promotes the rule of law, access to justice, professional development, and the exchange of legal expertise between Armenia and the Diaspora.

—

CC: Armenian national sentenced to 2 years for ransomware attacks, including O

September 26, 2026September 26, 2026 Nahapetian Zhanna

· September 25, 2026

Sabinna Pierre

Yahoo News

An Armenian citizen extradited from Ukraine was sentenced Tuesday to two years in federal prison for his role in a ransomware scheme that targeted companies in the United States, including one in Oregon, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.

Karen Vardanyan, 35, was also sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $1,219,106 in restitution to victims, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Prosecutors said Vardanyan was part of a group that used Ryuk ransomware to lock victims out of their computer systems and demand payments. The ransomware was used against companies, schools and other organizations around the world from March 2019 through about June 2020, according to court documents cited by prosecutors.

One of the victims was a company in Wilsonville, Oregon.

Ransomware is malicious software that can prevent people or organizations from accessing their computer systems until a payment is made. Prosecutors said payments in the scheme were made using cryptocurrency, including Bitcoin.

Vardanyan, who also used the names Maneeken and Karl Lagerfeld, pleaded guilty in July to conspiracy and computer fraud charges, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

A federal grand jury in Portland charged Vardanyan in a superseding indictment in February 2024 with conspiracy, computer fraud and computer-related extortion, according to prosecutors.

Vardanyan first appeared in federal court in June 2025 after being extradited from Ukraine. He was detained pending the case, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs helped secure Vardanyan’s arrest and extradition from Ukraine, prosecutors said. The U.S. Attorney’s Office also credited Ukrainian authorities for their assistance.

The FBI investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Rykken prosecuted it, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford announced the sentence Tuesday.

—

Human Rights Lawyer Brings Artsakh Hostage Fight to Los Angeles

September 26, 2026September 26, 2026 Kalashian Nyrie

· September 25, 2026

Siranush Sahakyan during a panel discussion moderated by Annie Bedian

LOS ANGELES—At the invitation of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Western United States Central Committee, human rights attorney Siranush Sahakyan is in the Los Angeles area this week to advance the legal and political fight for Armenian hostages held in Baku and for the forcibly displaced people of Artsakh.

Sahakyan, Executive Director of the Armenian Legal Center for Justice and Human Rights and counsel for Armenian detainees before the European Court of Human Rights, came to L.A. after keynoting the Armenian National Committee of America’s Capitol Hill program marking three years since Azerbaijan’s ethnic cleansing of Artsakh. Her Los Angeles program has paired community briefing with civic advocacy and outreach to the next generation, with further public programs still ahead.

Town Hall in Burbank
Community members filled the ACF Beshir Mardirossian Youth Center in Burbank on September 22 for a town hall sponsored by the ARF Western United States. Master of Ceremonies Annie Bedian opened the program. Levon Baronian, Representative of the ARF Western United States Central Committee, delivered welcoming remarks on behalf of the organization.

ARF Western US Central Committee Representative Levon Baronian

Baronian thanked Sahakyan for her work in defense of Armenian prisoners held in Azerbaijan, including the political and military leadership of Artsakh, and set the Party’s message in clear terms: “Artsakh exists.” That affirmation, he stressed, cannot remain a slogan. It is a daily obligation to work for the freedom of the prisoners, defend the rights of the people of Artsakh, keep the right of return on the national agenda, and ensure that forced displacement does not erase a people’s connection to its homeland.

Community members attend Town Hall meeting

He said the Diaspora’s institutions exist to serve the Armenian people, not merely to preserve themselves, and that this duty has grown heavier as the government of Armenia has treated the Artsakh question as closed. “When official Armenia retreats from the Artsakh issue,” Baronian said, “the responsibility of the Diaspora and its institutions becomes greater, and our efforts must be doubled and tripled.”

He pointed to ongoing ARS and Homenetmen efforts for displaced Artsakh families, school visits arranged through Central Committee coordination, Sunday’s fundraising program for the legal defense of the hostages, and an AYF Western United States-led rally in Glendale on November 8 under the same banner: the Artsakh issue is not closed. Artsakh exists.

Sahakyan then delivered a detailed briefing on international and regional legal avenues being pursued on behalf of the hostages, including cases before the European Court of Human Rights.

She addressed the conditions confronting Armenian detainees, the broader pursuit of accountability, and the continuing legal struggle to protect the rights of the people of Artsakh, including those forcibly displaced from their homeland. A substantive question-and-answer session followed.

Former Primate of the Artsakh Diocese Archbishop Parkev Martirossyan

The program concluded with blessing remarks by His Eminence Archbishop Barkev Martirosyan, the longtime former Primate of the Artsakh Diocese.

From l to r: Andranik Aboyan, Siranush Sahakyan, Laura Friedman, Lara Yeretsian, Ruben Karapetian

Civic and Institutional Meetings
Earlier on Tuesday, Sahakyan met with Representative Laura Friedman (CA-30), accompanied by ANCA Western Region Board Member Lara Yeretsian, Esq., ANCA-WR Executive Director Ruben Karabetian, and community member Andranik Aboyan. The delegation pressed the urgency of the Armenian hostages held in Baku, the rights of forcibly displaced Artsakh Armenians, and the need for continued U.S. engagement.

Siranush Sahakyan addresses Glendale City Council

That same day she met with Glendale Mayor Ardy Ardashes Kassakhian before addressing the Glendale City Council on the plight of the hostages. Mayor Kassakhian welcomed Sahakyan, expressed the City’s deep concern for Armenians facing persecution in Azerbaijani prisons, and reaffirmed Glendale’s support for their immediate release and for the right of forcibly displaced Artsakh Armenians to return to their homeland. Sahakyan outlined the advocacy underway before the European Court of Human Rights. Councilmember Elen Asatryan likewise affirmed the City’s support for the Armenian Legal Center’s efforts.

From l to r: Steve Dadain, Siranush Sahakyan, Berdj Karapetian, Armen Hovannisian

On Monday, September 21, Sahakyan visited the Armenian American Museum, where Executive Chairman Berdj Karapetian hosted the delegation and led a tour of the Museum’s future home. The visit included discussion of Artsakh’s history and the experiences of its people. Sahakyan was accompanied by ALC Board members Steven Dadaian, Esq., and Armen Hovannisian, Esq., who also serves on the Museum’s Board of Trustees as a representative of the Armenian Cultural Foundation.

Schools and the week ahead
On Wednesday, September 23, Sahakyan visited Vahan and Anoush Chamlian Armenian School, meeting students as part of a Central Committee-coordinated school itinerary designed to keep Artsakh present in the consciousness of the next generation. Visits to Rose and Alex Pilibos Armenian School and Holy Martyrs Ferrahian High School are scheduled for Thursday, with AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian School on Friday.

Siranush Sahakayn visited Chamlian Armenian School

Also on Thursday evening, September 24, at 5:30 p.m., Sahakyan will present “An Insider’s View: Unpacking Azerbaijan’s Cases against Armenian Civilian Leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh/Artsakh” at UCLA School of Law, Room 1347. The program is hosted by the Promise Institute for Human Rights at UCLA Law and co-sponsored by the Armenian Bar Association, the Armenian Legal Center, the Promise Armenian Institute at UCLA, UCLA’s Armenian Law Students’ Association, and the ANCA Western Region. Admission is free; registration is requested. The event will also be available via Zoom.

On Sunday, September 27, at 5 p.m., a “Bring Them Home” fundraising evening will be held at the Glendale Youth Center, 211 W. Chestnut Ave., in support of the legal fund defending Armenian hostages imprisoned in Baku. Sahakyan will be the featured guest.

Legal Backdrop
Sahakyan’s Los Angeles appearances come as her international caseload intensifies. Last month she submitted a collective application to the European Court of Human Rights concerning violations of the rights of fifteen Armenians held in Azerbaijan, including former political and military leaders of Artsakh, following a separate application in the case of former Artsakh State Minister Ruben Vardanyan, sentenced to 20 years after proceedings she has described as fundamentally illegitimate. She has warned that the prisoners are held in conditions of “absolute isolation,” without physical access to relatives, independent doctors or attorneys, consular representatives, or the International Committee of the Red Cross.

The Armenian Legal Center has reiterated its commitment to every available legal avenue for freedom, justice, accountability, and the right of the people of Artsakh to return to their homeland. For the ARF Western United States Central Committee, the week’s message remains the one delivered from the Burbank podium: Artsakh exists, and as long as the rights of its people, their right of return, and the fate of the prisoners remain unresolved, so does the Diaspora’s responsibility.

—

Armenian Bar Association Releases Report Advancing U.S.–Armenia Cooperation in

September 26, 2026September 26, 2026 Ani Kharatian

· September 25, 2026

The Armenian Bar Association (ArmenBar) released a landmark third report from its Intellectual

Property & Information Technology (IP/IT) Committee, known as TechLaw, examining how Armenia can

expand access to advanced U.S. technologies and strengthen the legal and institutional safeguards

needed to support responsible technology transfer, innovation, and investment.

The report presents a practical roadmap for addressing export-control barriers that can constrain U.S.–

Armenia high-tech cooperation, while promoting compliance measures designed to prevent diversion

and protect the integrity of technology partnerships. Its recommendations are intended to support the

objectives of the August 2025 U.S.–Armenia Memorandum of Understanding on an AI and Semiconductor

Innovation Partnership.

The new report builds on more than a decade of TechLaw’s engagement with intellectual property and

technology-law issues in Armenia. Through research, collaboration with Armenian government

institutions and other stakeholders, and initiatives connecting legal, business, academic, scientific, and

technology communities, the Committee has worked to identify legal and institutional challenges and

develop practical reforms that can strengthen Armenia’s capacity for innovation, entrepreneurship,

investment, and technology development and commercialization.

The Committee’s work has included its 2019 IP Protection & Corporate Law Improvement Report, which

examined intellectual property and corporate-law issues and proposed reforms, as well as its 2023

Second Report: “Analyzing Intellectual Property-Related Challenges and Solutions in Armenia — Expert

Conclusions and Recommendations on Intellectual Property Rights Protection & Enforcement for

Armenian Innovation and Growth.” The 2023 report examined developments in Armenia’s IP laws and

enforcement mechanisms and sought to advance the country’s alignment with international practices.

The third report represents the Committee’s effort to develop a practical roadmap for improving

Armenia’s access to advanced U.S. technology by addressing the export-control barriers that currently

constrain U.S.-Armenia high-tech cooperation, while strengthening compliance and safeguards against

diversion. Ultimately, the third report is meant to support the objectives of the August 2025

U.S.-Armenia Memorandum of Understanding regarding an AI and Semiconductor Innovation

Partnership.

Report Launch and Expert Discussion

To mark the launch of the Report, the ArmenBar also organized a special discussion bringing together

experts to examine the report’s subject matter and broader developments in intellectual property,

technology, and innovation.

The program provided an opportunity for participants to discuss the legal and policy issues addressed by

the Report, consider their practical implications, and explore opportunities for continued cooperation

between Armenia and the global Armenian legal, technology, academic, and business communities. The

discussion is available online.

Building Armenia’s Innovation and IP Ecosystem

The ArmenBar’s IP/IT Committee — also known as TechLaw — is dedicated to fostering a dynamic

ecosystem for intellectual property and information technology law in Armenia and among legal

professionals of Armenian heritage around the world. The Committee serves as a link between

practitioners and academicians in the Diaspora and stakeholders in Armenia, facilitating the exchange of

expertise concerning patents, trademarks, copyrights, technology law, and related transactional and

litigation matters.

The Committee has also played an active role in initiatives designed to strengthen Armenia’s position as

an innovation hub. Its work has included organizing the IP & Corporate Law Summit in Yerevan,

collaborating with Armenian ministries and government agencies, contributing to legislative and

institutional reform efforts, and supporting capacity-building among members of the judiciary, legal

profession, and business community.

The Committee’s approach emphasizes that a strong innovation ecosystem requires effective intellectual

property protection, practical implementation, and collaboration across disciplines and institutions.

Strong IP laws and enforcement mechanisms, together with workable investment and

technology-transfer frameworks, can provide an important foundation for innovators, entrepreneurs,

investors, researchers, and businesses seeking to develop and commercialize new ideas and

technologies.

“We are proud to continue the Armenian Bar Association’s commitment to advancing intellectual

property and technology law in Armenia,” said Denise Darmanian, Co-Chair of the ArmenBar IP/IT

Committee. “This report reflects the Committee’s continuing effort to bring together legal expertise,

government stakeholders, business and technology communities, and members of the Diaspora to

identify practical ways to strengthen Armenia’s innovation ecosystem.”

Karén Tonoyan, Co-Chair of the IP/IT Committee, added, “The development of a modern and effective

legal and institutional framework for innovation is an ongoing process. Through research, dialogue,

education, and collaboration with stakeholders in Armenia and abroad, the Committee seeks to translate

practical recommendations into reforms that help innovators protect and commercialize their work,

attract investment, and access the technologies and international partnerships needed to grow.”

The Armenian Bar Association recognizes the contributions of the many professionals and institutions

whose expertise and collaboration have supported the IP/IT Committee’s work over the years.

—

Armenia-Azerbaijan relations in crisis: domestic and external factors

September 26, 2026September 26, 2026 Greg Madatian

· September 25, 2026

Armine Martirosyan

JAM News

The process of normalising relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan is facing a crisis. Armenian analysts attribute it to instability driven by a combination of regional and global factors. In their view, the absence of official mediators in the negotiations does not prevent the US, Russia and Iran from influencing the positions of Yerevan and Baku. Against this backdrop, competing narratives are hardening, with new claims over borders and cultural heritage.

The general turmoil of recent weeks has also affected civil society. Dialogue under the “Bridge of Peace” initiative has stalled. The Azerbaijani side asked to postpone a meeting between experts from the two countries, which was due to take place in Yerevan in the coming days, “until tensions subside”. Boris Navassardian, a political analyst and the initiative’s Armenian co-founder, announced the decision.

“We want these meetings to go ahead, not be postponed. The Armenian side believed that, in this acute situation, the two sides needed to meet, try to reach a mutual understanding and agree on the kind of atmosphere they wanted to foster in the media and public sphere. However, our colleagues from Azerbaijan apparently do not consider contact at this stage appropriate,” he said.

The Azerbaijani publication Minval Politika explained the cancellation by citing an “information campaign” against Azerbaijan by Armenia and what it described as an attempt by the Armenian authorities to interfere in Azerbaijan’s sovereignty. However, the publication provided no evidence to support these claims.

Tensions escalated after 150 diplomats from 58 countries, accredited in Azerbaijan, visited Karabakh.

They toured the territory that the entire Armenian population left in 2023 and visited historical and cultural sites. Hikmet Hajiyev, an aide to Azerbaijan’s president, accompanied them. He showed the diplomats the Armenian monasteries of Gandzasar and Dadivank, claiming that they formed “an integral part of the ancient Caucasian Albanian Christian heritage”.

The “Bridge of Peace” initiative uses a Track 1.5 dialogue format. It complements official negotiations rather than replacing them.

As part of the process, experts, civil society representatives and media professionals held direct discussions and explored steps to prepare their societies for peace. The project has held four meetings so far: two in Armenia and two in Azerbaijan.

Commentary by political analyst Boris Navassardian

Radical narratives as a tool of pressure

“The current situation is not an isolated incident but the result of deep-rooted problems in the normalisation process. Mutual expectations may not be met, or the parties may be moving away from the principles agreed at the meeting held in Washington on 8 August 2025 under the mediation of the US president. The reasons may relate to the unblocking of transport links, delimitation and the issue of enclaves, or Baku’s desire to reassess its relations with the US, the EU and Russia.

Neither side has a shared vision of the endgame.

Two approaches dominate in Azerbaijan. The first holds that the outcome of the 44-day war in Karabakh has not yet been fully realized, and that Baku should secure further advantages: a favourable settlement on the enclaves and special rights to use Armenia’s transport links.

The second approach is more radical. Some members of the expert community claim that Azerbaijan has a right to all of Armenia’s territory except for 10,000 square kilometres. This refers to maps of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic from 1918–1920, which a delegation led by parliamentary speaker Alimardan Topchubashov took to the Paris Peace Conference at the time.

These views cannot be described as Baku’s official position, but neither are they marginal: a significant part of Azerbaijani society takes them seriously.

They may serve as a tool to pressure Yerevan into making smaller concessions. But the narrative is taking root in society. Given who is voicing these claims, they are unlikely to run counter to the position of Azerbaijan’s leadership. Rather, they form part of a narrative struggle and the negotiating process, in which psychological pressure serves as an element of diplomacy.

This factor cannot be dismissed. It must be taken seriously and countered effectively. The best solutions in this case are mutual recognition of territorial integrity, the establishment of interstate relations as set out in the initialled peace agreement, and the delimitation of borders while taking local residents’ interests into account.

Even when the issue involves socio-economic difficulties or the forced relocation of just a few hundred people, it affects the overall atmosphere. A constructive approach requires these factors to be taken into account.

There are also people in Armenia who build their political platforms around the idea of returning Nagorno-Karabakh and making claims against Azerbaijan. The situation there is not entirely smooth either. But Baku objectively has greater resources and influence than Yerevan. The authorities there are not under direct pressure from society, but they take public sentiment into account. That is why constructive approaches need to gain wider acceptance in Azerbaijan as well, not just in Armenia. This could influence diplomacy.”

External factors

“It is unclear how constructive approaches will work in practice. Recent weeks have shown that hopes of building relations between Baku and Yerevan independently of the external environment have not been fully realized.

Turbulence within the US, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine coupled with Moscow’s changing ambitions, and the situation in Iran all affect the Armenian-Azerbaijani process. Any changes have an impact on the course of normalization. Today, domestic and external factors have become intertwined, creating instability. External powers influence the parties’ positions even though, according to official statements from Yerevan and Baku, there are no mediators in the negotiations.

US initiatives to develop cooperation with Armenia have provided a key economic and technological foundation for constructive relations. These include the TRIPP project [a transit route through Armenian territory linking Azerbaijan with its exclave of Nakhchivan] and the development of data centres in Armenia. However, the situation in the US itself, particularly the midterm congressional elections, could lead to a change in this policy.

If Washington’s positive pressure weakens, the parties may shift their focus to other factors.

We can see clear attempts by Russia, on the one hand, to threaten Armenia and obstruct the implementation of agreements, including TRIPP, and, on the other, to make favourable offers to Azerbaijan to preserve its influence in the region. Iran is also pursuing its own interests and signaling its intention to prevent TRIPP from going ahead under the US framework.

All these factors influence the positions of the two capitals. Although, de jure, none of the three countries mentioned is a mediator or a direct participant in the negotiations.”

The battle of narratives

“When assessing statements coming out of Baku, from the rhetoric of officials to remarks by public figures, we need to distinguish clearly between different levels. On the one hand, some former officials and experts have made direct territorial claims against Armenia. Yerevan must categorically reject this position and refuse to discuss it altogether.

On the other hand, there is the issue of ‘Western Azerbaijan’. Formally, it is framed not as a territorial claim but as the right of Azerbaijanis to return to the places where they lived before the conflict began in 1988–1990. This issue is not currently part of the official negotiating agenda, although advocates actively promote it in the public sphere.

If Baku attempts to formally include this idea in the negotiations, it would mark a departure from the principles agreed in August 2025 and pose a serious threat to the peace process.

For now, however, it remains at the level of a public movement. It is possible to coexist with this movement while trying to influence the balance of narratives within Azerbaijani society.

Another issue concerns statements by presidential aide Hikmet Hajiyev in Gandzasar, Nagorno-Karabakh, about cultural and historical heritage. We are witnessing a relatively new phenomenon: Baku is seeking to portray Christian monuments on its territory exclusively as part of the heritage of the modern Azerbaijani state.

One possible explanation is that Azerbaijan is trying to reshape its relations with the EU. An analysis of the difficulties in its dialogue with Brussels may have led Baku to conclude that the European Union is a political bloc rooted in Christian traditions. To improve its image, Azerbaijan needs to show that Christian culture is not alien to it. This may explain why Baku is so persistently promoting the narrative that Christian heritage in this territory belongs exclusively to Azerbaijan, while Armenia, which enjoys particular favor in Europe, has no connection to it.”

Separating the past from the present and the future

“Armenia should respond to these developments in a differentiated manner. At the official level, Yerevan should state clearly and consistently that Azerbaijan’s attempts to reshape narratives and change the external environment surrounding the negotiations to gain advantages are hindering normalization. Armenian diplomacy must actively oppose these efforts.

At the academic and expert level, there is a need to demonstrate with evidence that Baku’s attempts to revise established views of cultural and historical heritage lack scientific credibility and are unfounded. Above all, these issues must not be allowed to become entangled with politics.

In the field of civil diplomacy, the guiding principle should be that genuine differences over interpretations of the past must not stand in the way of contact. Dialogue should focus on the present and the future, where the development of ties remains the only basis for ensuring regional stability.”

A frozen “bridge”

“Parliamentary elections in Armenia temporarily suspended civil society dialogue as attention shifted to domestic politics. However, after the elections, the parties came up against difficult issues that they had initially postponed. It was clearly impossible to reach an immediate agreement on matters such as the basic content of textbooks. But experts were ready to discuss removing elements of mutual insults from educational materials. At the very least, they managed to move towards an agreement on this level.

However, the general situation in recent weeks has effectively frozen dialogue under the “Bridge of Peace” initiative. The parties had to postpone discussions of sensitive issues until the initiative’s prospects become clearer.

Meanwhile, cooperation continues in other formats. In particular, the Yerevan and Baku press clubs, which are preparing to mark 30 years of cooperation, continue to produce joint programs.

Armenian-Azerbaijani relations require movement in both directions. Communication at the civil society and expert levels lays the groundwork for a constructive official process. Agreements in the fields of communication and economics also directly influence public sentiment.

Progress in both directions must be intensive. The “Bridge of Peace” initiative would benefit greatly from the practical launch of economic projects. Any progress in this area makes civil society dialogue more effective. In turn, public attitudes influence the parties’ willingness to compromise. All sides must make an effort. This is the only way to preserve the positive climate that has taken shape in recent months.”

—

International Observatory for Democracy in Armenia Launches High-Level Fact-Fi

September 26, 2026September 26, 2026 Greg Madatian

· September 25, 2026

YEREVAN — The International Observatory for Democracy in Armenia (IODA), an independent, non-partisan oversight organization registered under the laws of the French Republic, announces that, pursuant to a decision by its Executive Board, an international fact-finding mission will be deployed to Yerevan from September 28 to October 2, 2026.

IODA operates under a mandate to conduct independent monitoring and systematic analysis regarding the integrity of democratic institutions, adherence to the rule of law, human rights protections, and the sustainability of civic space in the Republic of Armenia.

The objective of the mission is to conduct an impartial, evidence-based assessment of post-electoral dynamics, the operational independence and effectiveness of the judiciary, adherence to due process standards, and the enjoyment of fundamental civil and political rights in light of international democratic standards and treaty obligations.

During the mission, the delegation intends to hold consultations with relevant state authorities, judiciary representatives, civil society organizations, legal professionals, and international diplomatic missions. Upon conclusion, IODA will publish a comprehensive findings report containing actionable policy recommendations, which will be submitted to the European Union, the Council of Europe, the OSCE, and international human rights bodies.

Composition of the Delegation

The fact-finding delegation comprises international experts from IODA’s Executive Board:

Sarah Leah Whitson — Head of Delegation; Member of the Executive Board, IODA | International human rights and foreign policy expert. Executive Director of DAWN (2020–2026); former Director of the Middle East and North Africa division at Human Rights Watch (2004–2020, overseeing operations in 19 countries). Co-author of From Apartheid to Democracy: A Blueprint for Peace in Israel-Palestine (2025).

Jose Aranaz — Member of the Executive Board, IODA | Spanish legal scholar and senior international consultant with over 30 years of professional experience in constitutional law, human rights, mediation, and electoral support. Served 23 years with the United Nations (14 years in senior leadership), and collaborated extensively with the OSCE, International IDEA, the EU, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Spain.

Hrair Balian — Member of the Executive Board, IODA | International conflict resolution expert with 35 years of experience across the Middle East, Africa, the Balkans, Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia. Held senior leadership roles at the UN, the OSCE (Head of the Elections Department at ODIHR), The Carter Center (2008–2022), and the International Crisis Group (1996–1998). Author of Anatomy of Peace Making: Nagorno-Karabakh & Missed Opportunities (2026).

https://www.thecaliforniacourier.com/international-observatory-for-democracy-in-armenia-launches-high-level-fact-finding-mission-to-yerevan/?fbclid=IwY2xjawUkYS1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBwZG9mAXNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR7Cd_R9n1Vi2vC6LWRcQrODMclYyzseJ8b56Jy-OitN4QAxFm1j1g1wEjWT6A_aem_yb9oMedS0Ye6yc3pFjxg-Q

—

Netayahu mentions Armenian Genocide In United Nations speech

September 26, 2026September 26, 2026 Maghakian Mike

· September 25, 2026

—

CC: Trump lawyer, 42, to marry Turkish billionaire, 29

September 26, 2026September 26, 2026 Aram Torosian

· September 25, 2026

By Josh Fiallo, The Daily Beast

One of President Donald Trump’s top personal attorneys is getting married for the third time this weekend, this time to a billionaire 13 years her junior.

Alina Habba, 42, is set to tie the knot with Turhan Mildon, 29, a member of a powerful business dynasty in Turkey that is a close ally of the country’s right-wing president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

The Daily Mail revealed the couple’s wedding plans Thursday, reporting that Habba, a New Jersey native who divorced her millionaire second husband in March and promptly moved near Mar-a-Lago, was spotted out with her fiancé in Palm Beach the night before.

President Donald Trump had Alina Habba sworn in as the acting U.S. attorney for New Jersey in an Oval Office ceremony, but she didn’t manage to get confirmed in the role. / Andrew Harnik / Getty Images.

Photographed on Habba’s left ring finger was a “gigantic diamond believed to be at least 23 carats,” the Mail reports. She was also snapped carrying a pink ostrich Hermès Birkin bag with an estimated price tag of $30,000—one of many designer bags Mildon has reportedly gifted her.

The Mail reports that the couple arrived in a black Mercedes G-Class SUV to dine at The Polo Room, where steaks run up to $175 and a martini costs as much as $34.

The report did not disclose where Habba, who has described herself as a devout Catholic, and Mildon will tie the knot. However, the tabloid cites sources as saying that the ceremony is expected to have significant security because its guest list includes top members of the Trump administration and “foreign heads of state,” though it did not name anyone.

Trump, 80, is unlikely to attend. On Saturday he is scheduled to fly to Knoxville, Tennessee, to attend a 12 p.m. EST college football game between top-ranked Texas and Tennessee. Trump did not attend his son Don Jr.’s wedding to second bride Bettina Anderson in May, though he did attend Stephen and Katie Miller’s wedding in the final year of his first term.

Habba and Mildon, who divorced his first wife in 2024, reportedly met this year at an event at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, where Mildon is a donor. The Mail reports that he is a “hit” with Habba’s young children, Chloe and Luke, whom she had during her first marriage with the attorney Matthew Eyet.

“They adore him,” a source told the Mail. “They even play Nerf Blaster gun fights with him.”

Mildon was married for three years to Betul Gursoy, who also hails from a wealthy and influential Turkish family, but they did not have any kids.

Alina Habba stumped for President Donald Trump on the campaign trail in 2024. / Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images.

The Mail reports that Habba and Mildon intend to live together in Florida, where they have spent “a lot of time together” since meeting this year.

Habba became a MAGA favorite when she became Trump’s personal attorney between his first and second presidential terms. She briefly served as acting U.S. attorney for New Jersey, but a federal appeals court ruled that Trump’s appointment of her was unlawful.

More recently, she was rumored to be a favorite to replace Karoline Leavitt as White House press secretary, but she downplayed that speculation in a statement last month.

—

168: Մեծ քաղաքականություն՝ փոքր համայնքներում, կամ «գյուղի ակումբը»՝ Երևանում

September 26, 2026September 26, 2026 Khondkarian Raffi

Սեպտեմբեր 25, 2026

Առաջիկա ամիսներին Հայաստանի մի շարք համայնքներում տեղի են ունենալու տեղական ինքնակառավարման մարմինների ընտրություններ։

Դրանց, բնականաբար, լրջորեն պատրաստվում է իշխանությունը՝ սկսած համայնքներում քիչ թե շատ հեղինակություն ունեցողների հավաքագրումներից, մինչև հակաիշխանական տեղաբնակների նկատմամբ ճնշումներ։

ՏԻՄ ընտրություններին մասնակցելու մասին հայտարարել է նաև ընդդիմությունը՝ այս պահին դեռևս առանձին կուսակցությունների մակարդակով։

Առաջիկա ՏԻՄ ընտրությունները կայանալու են 2026 թ. ԱԺ ընտրություններից հետո ձևավորված նոր քաղաքական ստատուս-քվոյի պայմաններում։ Եթե ընդդիմադիր ուժերը հաշվի չնստեն այդ իրողության հետ և ՏԻՄ ընտրություններին իրենց մասնակցությունը կազմակերպեն «հին ձևերով», ինչի նշանները տեսանելի են, ապա մեծ է հավանականությունը, որ արձանագրվելու է քաղաքական դասավորության իմաստով ԱԺ ընտրություններից ավելի տխուր պատկեր։

«Հին ձևերի» կամ նախկին փորձի ամենալուրջ մեթոդական սխալն այն է, որ ՏԻՄ ընտրությունները քաղաքական ուժերի կողմից դիտարկվում են բացառապես համայնքային պրիզմայով, ըստ այդմ էլ՝ փորձ է արվում գտնել այս կամ այն համայնքում «հարգված թեկնածու» ու քարոզարշավը կառուցել «համայնքային խնդիրների լուծման» խոստումներով։ Այդ մոտեցումը բխում է դեռևս իներցիայով քաղաքականությամբ զբաղվողների մոտ արմատացած կարծրատիպից, թե ՏԻՄ համակարգն ընդամենը տեղական, տարածքային խնդիրների լուծման հարթություն է։ Ֆորմալ առումով դա մեծ մասամբ ճիշտ է։ Բայց իրերի դրությունը միանգամայն այլ է, երբ ՏԻՄ համակարգը հանդես է գալիս՝ որպես երկրում հաստատված ավտորիտար, ուղղաձիգ իշխանության սպասարկու՝ ստորին մակարդակում։

Իսկ Հայաստանում ամեն ինչ հենց այդպես է, և առաջիկա ընտրություններն իշխանության համար ոչ թե լավ կամ վատ համայնքի ղեկավար ընտրելու առիթ են, այլ հենց ավտորիտար բուրգի ամրացման միջոցառում։

Իշխանության մոտիվացիան ՏԻՄ ընտրություններում 100 տոկոսանոց քաղաքական է, ինչը նշանակում է, որ ընդդիմությունը՝ դրան հակադրելով միայն «համայնքային խնդիրների լուծման» խոստումներ, գնալու է երաշխավորված պարտության՝ անկախ այս կամ այն համայնքում առաջադրվող թեկնածուի անձից։

Իրավիճակի նրբությունն այն է, որ իշխանությունը ևս քարոզչական մակարդակում ներկայանալու է «համայնքային խնդիրների լուծման» ոչ միայն խոստումներով, այլ նաև վերջին տարիներին բյուջեից կատարված անարդյունավետ, բայց մարդկանց համար տեսանելի ծախսերի (ասֆալտ, լուսավորություն և այլն) ներկայացմամբ։ Բայց խնդիրը ոչ միայն ու ոչ այնքան մակերեսային քարոզչությունն է, որքան ընտրություններին մասնակցության մոտիվացիան և դրան համապատասխան ռազմավարությունը։

Իշխանությունը ՏԻՄ ընտրություններին մասնակցելու է մեկ անձին ծառայող համակարգը նաև ներքևից սոսնձելու հստակ մղումով։

Ընդդիմությունը, հետևաբար, այդ ընտրություններին պետք է մասնակցի իշխանական մոնոլիտ համակարգն առնվազն թուլացնելու նպատակադրմամբ։ Դա կրկին չի նշանակում տեղական, համայնքային խնդիրների անտեսում։ Բայց հակառակն էլ չպետք է նշանակի քաղաքականության անտեսում ու ընտրություններին մասնակցություն պայմանական «գյուղի ակումբի» մակարդակով։

Մեծ քաղաքականության ու փոքր, տեղային խնդիրների միջև սահմանագիծը շատ նուրբ է, հաճախ անտեսանելի։ Բայց առանց մեծ, իրական քաղաքականությունը համայնքներ տանելու ու տեղական հարցերի լուծումը դրանց փոխկապակցելու, Հայաստանում հիմնարար փոփոխություններ հնարավոր չեն։

Առայժմ, սակայն, ցավոք, տեսանելի է հակառակը՝ «գյուղի ակումբի» դոմինանտությունը երևանյան քաղաքականությունում։

Դա այն է, ինչը մեծապես օգնելու է իշխանությանը՝ համայնքներում ավտորիտար բուրգն ամրացնելու գործում։

Հարություն Ավետիսյան

—

ՀՀ–ում հարցվածների 80%-ի կարծիքով՝ Տիգրանաշենը հայկական է և չի կարող փոխանցվե

September 26, 2026September 26, 2026 Elizabeth Jabejian

Սեպտեմբեր 25, 2026

Հայաստանում հարցվածների 80%-ը կարծում է, որ Տիգրանաշենը հայկական է։ Այս մասին այսօր հրավիրված ասուլիսում ասաց «Գելափ Ինթերնեյշնլ Ասոցիացիայի» հայաստանյան ներկայացուցչության տնօրեն Արամ Նավասարդյանը՝ ներկայացնելով սեպտեմբերի 22-24-ը 1000 բնակչի շրջանում իրականացված հարցումների արդյունքները։

«59%-ը կարծում է, որ Տիգրանաշենը հայկական բնակավայր է, և ՀՀ իշխանություններն իրավունք չունեն այն փոխանցել Ադրբեջանին, 21%-ը նշել է, որ Տիգրանաշենն ունի ռազմավարական նշանակություն, և դրա փոխանցումն Ադրբեջանին կարող է Հայաստանի համար ստեղծել անվտանգային և ռազմավարական ռիսկեր։ Եվ միայն 6,4%-ն է նշել, որ Տիգրանաշենը ՀՀ տարածք չէ և պետք է փոխանցվի Ադրբեջանին»,- նշեց Նավասարդյանը։

Հարցվածների 3,5%-ն այլ կարծիք է ունեցել, իսկ 10,1%-ը դժվարացել է հարցին պատասխանել։

—

Tensions escalated after 150 diplomats from 58 countries, accredited in Azerbaijan, visited Karabakh.

The “Bridge of Peace” initiative uses a Track 1.5 dialogue format. It complements official negotiations rather than replacing them.

Commentary by political analyst Boris Navassardian

Radical narratives as a tool of pressure

Neither side has a shared vision of the endgame.

These views cannot be described as Baku’s official position, but neither are they marginal: a significant part of Azerbaijani society takes them seriously.

External factors

If Washington’s positive pressure weakens, the parties may shift their focus to other factors.

The battle of narratives

If Baku attempts to formally include this idea in the negotiations, it would mark a departure from the principles agreed in August 2025 and pose a serious threat to the peace process.

Separating the past from the present and the future

A frozen “bridge”

However, the general situation in recent weeks has effectively frozen dialogue under the “Bridge of Peace” initiative. The parties had to postpone discussions of sensitive issues until the initiative’s prospects become clearer.

Composition of the Delegation

Կարդացեք նաև