Category: News

Armenia to begin designing Trump Route infrastructure, Pashinyan says

Emil Karabekian
OC Media
Nov 3, 2026
by Ani Ghulinyan

3 November 2026•2 min read

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said that Armenia will begin commissioning design work for the railway, highway, and power transmission lines for the Trump Route in order to avoid any delays in the project’s implementation.

Armenia, Azerbaijan, and the US agreed to establish the route during the Washington summit of August 2025. The massive infrastructure project would connect Azerbaijan to its exclave of Nakhchivan through Armenian territory. A bilateral document with the US and Armenia described the route as being  ‘expected to generate reciprocal benefits for international and intra-state connectivity for the Republic of Armenia’.

The Trump Route will be developed by the TRIPP Development Company. Pashinyan has said that once the company is set up, Armenia will transfer the completed work to the company.

During a budget discussion in parliament on Monday, Pashinyan also announced that the government had begun implementing the project, describing it as a turning point for Armenia that would help to end the ‘30-year lasting blockade’.

Armenia’s borders with Turkey and Azerbaijan have been closed for decades over the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Turkey has repeatedly stated that Armenia’s signing of the peace treaty with Azerbaijan would remain a precondition for the ending of the border closure.

In the framework of Turkey-Armenia normalisation, two countries have reached an agreement to allow third-country citizens and diplomats to cross the border. However, the Armenia–Turkey land border remains closed, with Turkey conditioning progress on its opening on the Armenia–Azerbaijan peace process.

‘Before organising the subsequent processes, the Armenian government will, on its own initiative, launch the process of commissioning the design of the railway, highway, and power transmission lines under the TRIPP project, so that we do not lose time and can begin work on the project’, said Pashinyan during the budget discussion in parliament on Monday.

On 28 October, Armenia’s Parliament ratified a framework agreement with the US on strategic cooperation concerning the Trump Route. The agreement was adopted by parliament on 28 October, with only the ruling Civil Contract party’s support. The opposition voted against the agreement.

Pashinyan clarified that the unblocking of transport links does not mean that all new infrastructure has to be part of the route.

‘The TRIPP project will include the Nrnadzor–Karchevan railway, as well as power transmission lines and a highway there. The issues of a gas pipeline and an oil pipeline are matters for discussion at a later stage’, he added.

Nrndazor and Karchevan are two villages in Armenia’s southernmost Syunik region through which the Trump Route is expected to pass. The Nrnadzor–Karchevan railway is part of a Soviet-era track that has been out of commission since 1989.

Responding to opposition MP Kristine Vardanyan, Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said on 21 October that the Meghri railway would likely follow a narrow strip between a river and cliffs where a railway once ran, but he doubted that oil and gas pipelines could fit in the same place.

‘The TRIPP project has no area. This is because Armenia has ratified an international agreement that has superior legal power. TRIPP projects can be implemented in different places across Armenia’, Pashinyan said on Monday, adding that it was not a given that, if future oil or gas pipes passed through Armenia, they wouldn’t necessarily have to pass through the south of the country.

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Pashinyan sues journalists who speculated around brief split with his wife ear

Parkev Tvankchian
OC Media
Nov 3, 2026
by Ani Ghulinyan

3 November 2026 (Updated:  about 8 hours ago)

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has filed a defamation lawsuit against the administrator of the Facebook page Hayakan Zham (Armenian Time) and the company behind the outlet Iravunq Tert (Right Newspaper), demanding public retractions and ֏4 million ($11,000) in compensation. Pashinyan is challenging posts published on 30 September and 5 October 2026, which speculated over the reasons for the brief separation from his wife, Anna Hakobyan.

Pashinyan and Hakobyan announced their separation in February 2026 ahead of the 7 June parliamentary elections after nearly 30 years together, with Hakobyan announcing it on social media and Pashinyan saying he ‘respects Anna’s decision’. Months later, Pashinyan confirmed that the two had reconciled, saying he had actively worked toward it.

Armenia decriminalised defamation and insults in 2010, shifting such disputes to civil courts. In 2021, however, Pashinyan’s government tripled the maximum civil fines to ֏3 million ($8,300) for insults and ֏6 million ($16,600) for defamation.

Separately, parliament introduced criminal liability for ‘grave insult’ in July 2021, which Civil Contract MPs defended as a way to combat disinformation and abusive language online. However, press freedom groups criticised the changes at the time, warning that the fines could bankrupt smaller outlets and encourage self-censorship, while benefiting public officials that want to take legal action. Defamation cases have commonly been used by ruling party members against critics and journalists.

Local advocates say fines of this size are roughly 30 times a journalist’s monthly salary.

According to Armenia’s legal information system, Datalex, Pashinyan’s claim is against Anna Gevorgyan, administrator of the Hayakan Zham page and Iravunq Tert LLC, which operates a news website and Facebook page.

The posts Pashinyan is suing for alleged, among other things, that the couple split because they had accumulated ‘large capital’ they wanted to ‘legalise on paper’, and that Hakobyan was being freed from asset declaration requirements as part of the separation process. They also claimed that as part of the separation the couple’s main property and money would be kept in the EU, and that Hakobyan had bought a house in central Paris for €5.7 million ($6.3 million).

The posts also referred to Hakobyan’s visits to Switzerland in 2018–2020, describing them as secretive and linking them to the country’s banking secrecy. They cited an unnamed Central Bank employee as saying that one should ‘look at the money flows’ to understand the trips.

The exact posts are the following:

‘Anna and Nikol have accumulated large capital that they now want to legalise on paper’.

‘While they lived in the same house, Anna was obliged to submit an asset declaration. With this story, Anna was freed from filling out declarations, and now they have already started the process of transferring their capital into Anna’s name’.

‘They will not have anything in Armenia; the main property and money will be kept in EU territory’.

‘Anna has already bought a large house in central Paris, the price of which was €5.7 million [$6.3 million]’.

‘If you recall, between 2018 and 2020, Anna Hakobyan frequently visited Switzerland. These visits generally remained secret, and the purpose of her trips to that country was unknown. Switzerland is world-renowned for its banking secrecy; it is precisely there that the funds of those who have plundered the country often end up. A Central Bank employee told us: ‘‘If you want to understand why Anna Hakobyan goes to Switzerland, look at the financial flows’’. The difference is enormous. It’s interesting to wonder what percentage of these funds Anna Hakobyan is connected to’.

Pashinyan’s claim describes all of these statements as false and defamatory.

What does Pashinyan want?

Pashinyan wants the court to order both respondents, within five working days of a ruling entering into force, to publish a retraction on the same platforms where the original posts were published. The claim specifies the wording of the retraction, which would state that the information ‘defames Nikol Pashinyan, is false, and does not correspond to reality’.

The claim also sets conditions for how the retraction should appear. It must be visible to all users, remain online without a time limit, be no less prominent in placement, font size and style than the original posts, and contain no commentary from the respondents or third parties. If publication on the Facebook pages proves impossible, he asks that it be printed in a newspaper with a circulation of at least 5,000 copies sold across Armenia.

Pashinyan is also seeking ֏4 million ($11,000) from the two respondents jointly as compensation for non-pecuniary damage.

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Armenian opposition MP challenges finance minister over corruption scandals

Tatoyan Vazgen
Panorama, Armenia
Nov 3, 2026

Armenian opposition lawmaker Edgar Ghazaryan on Tuesday pressed Finance Minister Vahe Hovhannisyan over corruption allegations, accusing law enforcement authorities of turning a blind eye to misconduct by government officials while pursuing opposition politicians.

The exchange took place during parliamentary committee hearings on the draft 2027 state budget, where Ghazaryan questioned the minister about a report by RFE/RL’s Armenian Service concerning allegations made by lawyers against Hovhannisyan.

The report cited discrepancies in financial declarations and questions surrounding loans totaling nearly $1 million.

“It appears that your involvement in corruption scandals is becoming a recurring pattern,” Ghazaryan told the minister, asking whether any legal proceedings had been launched against him.

The Strong Armenia faction MP also recalled an earlier controversy involving a property reportedly owned by Hovhannisyan and leased to an associate who used U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) funding to organize a corporate party.

“Are your dealings with law enforcement authorities limited to financial matters, or could you also find yourself facing legal action?” Ghazaryan asked.

Hovhannisyan said journalists had repeatedly asked him about the allegations and that he had referred them to the relevant authorities, adding that he was not familiar with the details of the cases.

He dismissed Ghazaryan’s question as irrelevant to the budget debate, arguing that the lawyers who had filed the lawsuit had no connection to the proceedings under discussion.

The minister also described the investigation as an unnecessary expense for the state and said he had no interest in the matter.

Ghazaryan rejected that argument, saying the issue was relevant because Hovhannisyan was a government official. He accused law enforcement authorities of applying double standards by initiating proceedings against opposition politicians while failing to pursue allegations involving members of the ruling party.

“I want to know why only opposition politicians face legal proceedings over alleged misconduct in this country, while no proceedings are initiated against government officials despite the huge public outcry and documented evidence surrounding allegations against them,” Ghazaryan said.

He questioned whether the substantial state funding allocated to law enforcement agencies, including additional funds earmarked for this year, could be contributing to selective enforcement.

Ghazaryan also asked how many MPs from the opposition Strong Armenia and Hayastan factions were facing criminal charges, noting that no members of the ruling Civil Contract faction or the government had been charged.

In response, Hovhannisyan said the lawyers had taken the matter to court because he had decided to impose taxes on them.

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Armenia to apply for EU membership in 2027 or 2028 ‘realistic’, PM tells Euron

Hovhannisian John
EuroNews
Nov 3, 2026

Armenia could formally apply to join the EU in 2027 or 2028, PM Nikol Pashinyan told Euronews. He called EU membership a strategic choice to protect democracy, said Armenians must choose between Brussels and Russia’s Eurasian bloc, and rejected warnings that Armenia could become the next Ukraine.

Armenia formally applying to join the EU in 2027 or 2028 is “realistic”, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told the Euronews EU Enlargement Summit, adding that his government intends to let Armenians choose their own path.

“Next year we can be realistic. 2028 can be realistic,” he said. “We started the process which will bring us to the final decision to submit application for formal membership of European Union.”

In August, Pashinyan announced before the national parliament that his government intends to apply for EU membership “in the near future”. The move would pull the South Caucasus country out of Russia’s orbit and towards Brussels.

Yerevan has yet to submit a formal application. It is in a visa liberalisation dialogue with the European Commission, aiming to complete the process by 2029.

For Pashinyan, EU membership is a strategic choice to protect Armenia’s democracy after the 2018 revolution that ousted pro-Russian politicians from power.

“For our people, democracy isn’t a matter of circumstances. It is a strategic choice,” he said. “The European Union was one of the main partners of the Republic of Armenia in the democratic reform agenda implementation.”

“Our first intention is to create an alternative for the people of Armenia and for the Republic of Armenia, because, traditionally, the perception of our society and maybe our neighbourhood was that Armenia has no alternative,” Pashinyan said.

Russia has threatened retaliation, most notably by cutting off Armenia’s energy supply. Pashinyan said his government aims to diversify its political and economic relations.

“If there is no balance in any relations, there is always a risk,” he said.

Asked about threats from former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev that Armenia could become the next Ukraine, he dismissed the comparison, stressing that his priority was safeguarding the country’s independence.

“Our goal is to level up, to develop our independence. And that is a legitimate goal. Nobody could reduce Armenia’s aspiration to be a more independent, more integrated country,” Pashinyan continued.

The Armenian leader said he was aware of the trade-off between joining the EU and remaining in Russia’s Eurasian Economic Union, and that it would be for the Armenian people to make that choice.

“We were inspired by Georgia’s determination to be a full member of the European Union. For Armenia, the success of Georgia is very important, for the citizens’ perception of our European prospects,” he said.

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Nikol Pashinyan: We will support Georgia with every possibility so that it can

Kanayan Tamar

We will support Georgia with every possibility so that it can realize its European aspirations – Georgia’s success is of very great importance for Armenia, – this was stated by Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan in Brussels at the EU enlargement summit organized by Euronews.

“Inasmuch as Georgia is a candidate country and, to speak frankly, when adopting the law on the start of the process of accession to the European Union, we were inspired precisely by the decision of the European Union and by Georgia’s aspiration to become a full member. For us, for Armenia, Georgia’s success is of very great importance. This is very important for the perception by our citizens of our European policy and of our European process,” Pashinyan stated.

According to him, Armenia’s goal is to obtain the status of an EU candidate country and subsequently full membership.

“Of our four neighbors, two – Georgia and Turkey – are EU candidate countries. This is beneficial for our European policy. I hope that in our region Armenia will become the third candidate country,” the Prime Minister of Armenia noted.

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Armenian culture finds a home at Fresno State

Dabaghian Diana
The Daily Collegian
Fresno State Uni
Nov 2, 2026
From family recipes to karaoke nights, the Armenian Student Organization brings students together while keeping traditions alive.
By Karen Creviston, Staff Reporter • Nov 2, 2026

For Fresno State’s Armenian Student Organization (ASO), preserving the generations of culture and tradition before them can be fun social events centered around building community. ASO has hosted events such as cooking nights, holiday parties and hikes. Through these activities, ASO helps college students make their heritage part of their college experience.

“ASO aims to connect Armenian students together,” said Emily Sahakian, ASO vice president. “At Fresno State, it can be hard to meet other Armenians, so this club is the perfect opportunity to meet new people.”

College is often a time of self discovery and exploration. Cultural organizations can give students an opportunity to explore their heritage while connecting with people who share similar backgrounds. 

“It matters for college students to have spaces where they can explore their cultural identities because college is a time for self-discovery and personal growth,” Sahakian said. “These spaces can help students learn more about their backgrounds and traditions while connecting with others who have similar experiences.” 

For Jordan Mazmanian, ASO president, making those connections also means finding new ways to incorporate Armenian culture into the club’s activities.

“ASO’s mission is to not only spread Armenian awareness but also make Armenians feel welcome within our Armenian community at Fresno State,” Mazmanian said. “This year, ASO is trying to focus more on making our events more cultural to keep our Armenian heritage alive.”

One way the club shares Armenian culture with its members is through food. On Oct. 3, the club hosted its first cooking night. Members’ parents and grandparents taught the group how to prepare traditional Armenian dishes such as sarma, manti and pilaf.

The event brought generations together through a shared experience, giving younger students the opportunity to learn recipes directly from older generations. Rather than simply discussing Armenian heritage, students could participate in it firsthand.

“We want our activities to revolve around Armenian culture and teach students something new they may not have known before,” Sahakian said.

For Matthew Krikorian, ASO treasurer, preserving that connection also means remaining involved in the broader Armenian community.

“Being Armenian, to me, means being engaged in our community and involved in the churches associated with it,” Krikorian said. “Armenians tend to stick together as a community, and for me, it’s very important to be a part of it.”

While family and church traditions remain important, ASO is finding ways to carry that sense of community into students’ everyday college experiences. Mazmanian said the club is adapting its approach to appeal to younger generations, using social media to reach students and encouraging them to connect with each other.

“Older generations may have preserved the Armenian culture through church, family traditions, or passing down stories, but ASO is trying to preserve the Armenian culture through the younger generation by posting on social media and by creating new cultural events such as cooking and Armenian dancing,” Mazmanian said. “As generations change, we need to adapt how our events are to make them more enjoyable to the younger generation.”

That approach extends beyond events specifically designed to teach Armenian traditions. ASO also hosts holiday parties that give students a chance to socialize. 

Although these events may not center on cultural education, they create opportunities for students to meet, build friendships and become part of the community. For a generation accustomed to connecting through screens, gathering in person offers another way to form relationships and create shared memories.

“Even if the Halloween party and Friendsgiving, for example, are not solely educational events, students will always be exposed to Armenian culture in one way or another, and it’s just a great chance to meet new people,” Sahakian said.

Cultural preservation does not always require a formal lesson or a traditional ceremony. For Mazmanian, one of the most memorable examples was the club’s Halloween party last year. The evening included dinner, karaoke and an impromptu swim.

“We ate dinner, hung out with each other, did karaoke, and some people even ended up jumping in the pool,” Mazmanian said. “Nothing about the party went how the board expected it to, but that was what made it so much fun!”

ASO also welcomes students who are not Armenian, giving them an opportunity to experience the culture while connecting with people from different backgrounds.

“These events bring all sorts of students together,” Krikorian said. “Being in ASO doesn’t directly mean that we share a cultural background. This organization prioritizes connecting, regardless of cultural background, but it does teach everyone what our culture is like.”


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Karabakh: Why have only 40,000 of planned 140,000 Azerbaijanis returned?

Emil Lazarian
JAM News
Nov 3, 2026
  • JAMnews
  • Baku

Azerbaijan will mark Victory Day on 8 November. The first state programme, known as the “Great Return”, is due to conclude at the end of this year. According to data from the State Statistical Committee, 40,520 former internally displaced persons (IDPs) had returned to Karabakh and East Zangezur as of 1 October.

However, under the programme, 140,000 people were expected to return by the end of 2026. With just three months remaining before the programme’s conclusion, only around 29% of the target had been met.

In 2025, JAMnews reported on the social problems associated with the return of displaced people. This time, we examine a different question:

Why has less than a third of the target been achieved as the first programme nears its end, and what could the second programme change?

Return of Azerbaijanis to Karabakh: numbers rise, questions remain

The reconstruction of Karabakh is not just a technical task, but also a symbolic and political process for Azerbaijan. Large budgets, drafted plans, and declared goals are one thing

What do the figures show?

Indicator Target Latest figures
Number of former internally displaced persons (IDPs) who have returned Around 140,000 people 40,520 people (as of 1 October)
Number of settlements 100 47 (as of September)
Area cleared of landmines 280 000 hectares Around 300,000 hectares (as of September)
Funding More than 32bn manats (approx. $18.8bn) More than 25bn manats (approx. $14.7bn) (2020–2026)

Sources: Official government portal, State Statistical Committee, Prime Minister Ali Asadov and Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA).

The pace of returns is increasing. At the beginning of the year, the number of returnees stood at 26,014. This means that a further 14,506 people returned to the region over nine months. If the current pace continues, it will take another five years for the remaining roughly 100,000 people to return.

The frequently cited figure of 96,068 refers to the total number of people living, working and studying in the region. In January, President Ilham Aliyev said that “120,000, 130,000 or 140,000 people” could be living and working there by the end of the year. However, he also acknowledged that implementation of the programme could take longer than expected:

“I have told everyone, and I can tell the public now, that I have never set any deadlines.”

Nevertheless, the programme itself sets the end of 2026 as the deadline for achieving its target.

Razim Amiraslanli, deputy chairman of the opposition Musavat party, told Meydan TV that around 20 of the 47 settlements had been rebuilt, while the remainder were villages that came under Azerbaijani control in 2023.

That same year, around 100,000–120,000 ethnic Armenian residents of the region were forced to flee to Armenia. Yerevan describes the events as ethnic cleansing, while Baku maintains that Armenians can return if they accept Azerbaijani citizenship.

Return of Karabakh Armenians: Balasanyan’s remarks, challenges and future outlook

Vitaly Balasanyan expressed hope that Armenians who left Karabakh will one day return to their land. How realistic is this?

What has the money been spent on?

In September, Prime Minister Ali Asadov said that more than 25bn manats (approximately $14.7bn) had been allocated from the state budget for the reconstruction of the region since 2020.

This year’s budget earmarked 3.5bn manats (approximately $2.06bn) for reconstruction. According to Finance Ministry figures, 1.76bn manats (approximately $1.035bn) was spent over the first nine months of the year. Of this amount, 891.8m manats (approximately $524.6m) went towards infrastructure development, while a further 692.5m manats (approximately $407.35m) was allocated to projects in education, healthcare and culture.

Ilham Aliyev explained the distribution of funds, saying: “As infrastructure projects are implemented, more funds will naturally be allocated to housing construction.”

However, critics argue that the main problem is a lack of transparency. According to Meydan TV, annual progress reports on the programme’s implementation are not publicly available, while the website of the centre responsible for monitoring the programme does not publish its findings.

Azerbaijan’s 2027 budget: how will fall in oil revenues be offset?

State budget revenues from the oil and gas sector are forecast to decline, while tax revenues are expected to increase

How serious an obstacle do landmines remain?

According to Azerbaijan’s Mine Action Agency (ANAMA), 979 landmines and 3,070 unexploded ordnance items were discovered in October alone. The agency had previously reported that 421 people had been injured or killed by landmines and other explosive devices between November 2020 and April 2026, including 72 fatalities. In September, ANAMA chairman Vugar Suleymanov said there had also been cases of previously cleared areas becoming contaminated with landmines again as a result of flooding.

Journalist Tapdig Farhadoglu told the Caucasian Knot news outlet that much of the territory could become habitable within 10–15 years, while the full restoration of mountainous areas could take 20–30 years.

Economist Natig Jafarli, meanwhile, considers the current pace of returns justified. Speaking to the same outlet, he expressed confidence in the official statistics and noted that a phased return of displaced people made it easier to ensure their safety. He argued that too much emphasis should not be placed on deadlines and numerical targets, saying that “these are not Soviet five-year plans”.

Azerbaijanis return to Karabakh: Who can relocate and how? Answers to 8 questions

It is expected that by the end of this year, around 20,000 people will return to the cities of Jabrayil, Kalbajar, Khankendi, Khojaly, and Shusha

Housing is available, but what about jobs?

Analyst Togrul Juvarli told the Caucasian Knot news outlet that the 1,200-square-metre plots of land provided with houses were insufficient for viable farming. Meanwhile, large agricultural enterprises offer local residents low-paid jobs. Economist Natig Jafarli also pointed out that internally displaced persons had not received land plots during the agricultural reforms of the late 1990s. He believes they should now be granted private ownership of land.

Razim Amiraslanli, deputy chairman of the opposition Musavat party, described the situation in an interview with Meydan TV:

“If a village has housing but no jobs, opportunities to use land are limited, starting a business is difficult, and people have to leave again to find work in other cities, it is hard to call this a genuine Great Return.”

Aytaj Amirjanli, who relocated to the village of Vangli in Aghdara district, told Radio Liberty that she had been registered with the employment service for ten months. According to her, the village has neither a pharmacy nor public transport. She claimed that “most residents are already locking up their homes and leaving for Baku”.

Meanwhile, presidential aide Hikmet Hajiyev advised residents to submit complaints directly to government officials rather than record and circulate videos expressing their grievances.

On 30 October, MP Agil Abbas told parliament that around 10,000 people originally from Aghdam were not registered in the city and did not have internally displaced person status. Parliamentary Speaker Sahiba Gafarova objected, saying: “So much work has been done. Why are you trying to discredit it?”

Azerbaijan changes status of internally displaced people: What do new rules provide?

Ilham Aliyev signs amendments to the law on the status of refugees and internally displaced persons.

What could the second programme change?

In September, Prime Minister Ali Asadov said that the draft of the second programme had been submitted to the president. He also described the implementation of the first programme as successful. The targets of the new programme have yet to be made public. According to Finance Ministry projections, 13.2bn manats (approximately $7.765bn) is expected to be allocated to the region’s reconstruction between 2027 and 2030.

Under amendments approved in July, anyone who refuses housing offered by the state loses their status as an internally displaced person. Human rights defenders argue that this violates the principle of voluntary return, while pro-government media portray the changes as a restoration of property rights.

Razim Amiraslanli has called for a comprehensive audit of the first programme. He believes the new programme should focus not on the number of buildings constructed, but on the number of people who have found employment and families who have received land plots.

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UAE leads foreign investment in Armenia as direct flights rise to 26 weekly

Emil Karabekian
UAE – Nov 3, 2026

By Harriet Shephard  

The UAE and Armenia are increasing their efforts to boost their economic and tourism ties and increase tourism across both countries.  

The signing of the Services Trade & Investment Agreement by the UAE and the Republic of Armenia in February 2026 marked a pivotal milestone in this regard. 

Increasing the UAE’s market-access commitments to Armenian firms from 32 to 122, it saw the UAE overtake Russia to become the leading foreign investor in Armenia.    

In September,  Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism for the UAE then met with H.E. Gevorg Papoyan, Minister of Economy of the Republic of Armenia to discuss “ways to boost visitor movement and tourism exchange, jointly promote destinations in both countries, and share expertise.” 

According to an announcement by the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism, the UAE welcomed 15,832 Armenian visitors from January to May 2026, and 95,990 during 2025.   

Meanwhile, at the recent Tourism Regional Forum in Dilijan, Tigran Gasparyan, Deputy Minister of Economy of the Republic of Armenia noted that Armenia received approximately 2.2 million tourist visits in 2025, performing eight percent above pre-pandemic levels.   

However, he added that most tourists still do not stray outside of Yerevan, with 65 percent of the country’s hotel supply being within the capital.    

“Our goal is now not just to encourage visitors to come to Armenia, but to encourage them to visit for longer and outside of Yerevan as well,” explained Gasparyan.   

Another aspect that will drive tourism in the two countries is the recent increase in direct flights between the UAE and Armenia.   

Adding to the existing options offered by flydubai and Air Arabia Abu Dhabi, Etihad launched ten Abu Dhabi-Yerevan routes per week in June 2026, raising the number of direct flights per week to 26.  

As reported by Travel & Tourism News Middle East in July, GCC citizens and eligible residents can also enjoy visa-free access to Armenia under an agreement running until July 2027.   

In addition, Armenia’s tourism infrastructure and transportation links are being expanded rapidly. 

With some areas experiencing a shortage of accommodation during the peak summer months and during large events such as the recent COP17, a national €120.5 million Tourism and Regional Infrastructure programme has been introduced that will run until 2030.   

Focused on developing hotels, restaurants, roads and infrastructure in areas outside of Yerevan – including Areni, Dilijan and Dvin – it aims to encourage visitors to head outside of the capital and explore Armenia’s natural landscapes and historical sites.  

One development company contributing to this mission is Green Rock. The Armenian business has invested more than $160 million into developing the tourism, education and residential sectors of the mountain town of Dilijan, with the biggest project being the construction of the 210-room Hyatt Regency Dilijan. 

Hospitality management group Kaioon Management has also just opened the 92-room Dili Town Resort & SPA in Dilijan, and it plans to open another property at Lake Sevan in the Gegharkunik region in the near future as well.    

Furthermore, the Armenia Market Pulse report by global consulting and services firm HVS states that 20 hotel projects are set to open in Armenia before the end of 2030.   

Big international brands feature heavily in these upcoming openings, including seven Accor properties, three Hilton, three IHG, two Hyatt (including the Hyatt Regency Dilijan), two Wyndham and one Marriott.   

Finally, the announcement of TRIPP, the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity, is also predicted to boost tourism in Armenia.  

Backed by the US, the transport and connectivity project will link mainland Azerbaijan with its Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic through the southern Armenian province of Syunik.  

Speaking to Travel & Tourism News Middle East at ITB Asia in Singapore, Karina Hovsepyan, Founder of Phoenix Tour Armenia said: “There are a lot of investment projects happening in southern Armenia and we have seen an increase in interest from European countries ever since the TRIPP route was announced. Efforts are also being made to improve Gyumri Shirak International Airport, Armenia’s second biggest airport, and get it ready to offer more international flights to Europe and elsewhere.”    


https://www.gdnonline.com/Details/1411676/UAE-leads-foreign-investment-in-Armenia-as-direct-flights-rise-to-26-weekly

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Armenia’s tax-to-GDP ratio projected to rise by 0.6 percentage points in 2027

Maghakian Mike
Finances12:53, 2 November 2026
Read the article in: ՀայերենРусскийTürkçe

Finance Minister Vahe Hovhannisyan told lawmakers on Monday that the tax-to-GDP ratio is projected to improve by 0.6 percentage points in 2027 under the state budget bill.

“Capital expenditures will stand at around 5.7% of GDP, the state budget deficit will be 3.4%, compared to the 4.5% planned for 2026, and public debt will stabilize at around 47%. Economic growth is projected to stand at around 6% over the medium term. In 2029, the tax-to-GDP ratio will reach 25.7%, capital expenditures will rise to 5.9%, government debt will decline to 46.4%, and the deficit will fall below 2%,” Hovhannisyan said at a joint session of parliamentary committees discussing the 2027 state budget bill.

Read the article in: ՀայերենРусскийTürkçe

Published by Armenpress, original at

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Armenia’s tax revenues rise 14.5% in January-October 2026

Emil Karabekian
Economy14:16, 2 November 2026
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Armenia’s state budget received 2 trillion 566.1 billion drams in tax revenues and state duties in January-October 2026, up 14.5%, or 325.6 billion drams, compared to the same period last year, Chairman of the State Revenue Committee (SRC) Eduard Hakobyan has said.

“We are consistently recording strong growth in tax revenues together with taxpayers. In particular, the state budget received 2 trillion 566.1 billion drams in tax revenues and state duties in January-October 2026, up 14.5%, or 325.6 billion drams, compared to the same period last year. In October alone, the budget received 257.9 billion drams in taxes and duties, up 30.3 billion drams, or around 13.3%, compared to October last year,” Hakobyan wrote in a Facebook post.

The SRC chairman also noted that 286.9 billion drams had been refunded to taxpayers in the first 10 months of 2026, up 32.1 billion drams, or 12.6%, compared to the same period in 2025.

“We will continue our consistent efforts and, alongside sustained growth in tax revenues, strengthen voluntary tax compliance, creating a tax environment that is more predictable, transparent and provides equal competitive conditions,” he added.

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