Category: News

The opposition Strong Armenia faction plans to hold discussions in parliamentary committees on the problems arising from Russia’s restrictions on Armenian goods and businesses, the faction’s leader Narek Karapetyan told reporters.

Asked what steps Strong Armenia intends to take to raise farmers’ issues in parliament and whether it is considering organizing parliamentary hearings, Karapetyan said:

“It is very important to resolve emerging escalations through diplomatic means. Economic peace is one of the forms of peace. We must achieve economic peace with our main economic partner.”

“The economic affairs committee and, I believe, also the committee on territorial issues are responsible. We will hold broad discussions and propose solutions on this issue,” he said.

Russia began imposing restrictions on imports of many Armenian goods ahead of the June 7 elections in Armenia.

The Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili has congratulated his Armenian counterpart, Ruben Rubinyan, on his election to the post.

In a letter to Rubinyan published by the Parliament’s press service, Papuashvili wished him success during his tenure.

Papuashvili noted that the strategic partnership between Georgia and Armenia is based on mutual trust, good-neighborly relations, and common interests. He expressed confidence that close cooperation between the parliaments of the two countries would contribute to further strengthening interparliamentary ties and expanding the strategic partnership.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has reappointed Kristinne Grigoryan as Chief of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Armenia.

The reappointment order was published on Thursday.

Andranik Simonyan has been reappointed as Director of the National Security Service. The order signed by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan was published on Thursday.

In a separate decree, Simonyan’s deputy, Aram Hakobyan, was relieved of his duties.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has reappointed State Protection Service Director Artur Gasparyan to the post, according to a decree published online.

Deputy Chairman of the Urban Development Committee Arman Petrosyan has been relieved of his duties.

The order dismissing Petrosyan was signed by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun discussed relations with Armenia and ways to further develop them with Lebanon’s Ambassador to Armenia, Dima Haddad.

In a readout, the Lebanese presidency said that Aoun and Ambassador Haddad also discussed the role of the Lebanese community and its contribution to strengthening ties between Lebanon and Armenia.

“The President of the Republic and Ambassador Haddad also discussed the invitation received from President of the Republic of Armenia Vahagn Khachaturyan to participate in the Leaders’ Summit to be held in Yerevan on October 16, which will take place ahead of the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity,” the readout said.

ID Bank press release 

Moody’s Ratings has changed the outlook on IDBank’s long-term deposit ratings to positive from stable.

It should be recalled that Moody’s recently affirmed IDBank’s long-term deposit ratings at Ba3, as well as the Bank’s ba3 Baseline Credit Assessment (BCA) and Adjusted BCA, highlighting its solid capital and liquidity buffers, high profitability and continued improvement in asset quality.

The positive outlook reflects the improving operating environment in Armenia, which could contribute to a further upgrade of the Bank’s ratings. According to Moody’s, IDBank will maintain strong solvency and liquidity over the next 12–18 months.

IDBank’s long-term deposit ratings and Baseline Credit Assessment (BCA) are at the same level as the sovereign issuer rating of Armenia.

THE BANK IS SUPERVISED BY THE CBA

The Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces and First Deputy Minister of Defense, Lt. Gen. Edward Asryan, has held a meeting with squad leaders and other senior enlisted servicemembers.

The meeting focused on matters pertaining to military discipline and adherence to the code of conduct.

“During the meeting, issues related to strengthening discipline within the armed forces and combating harmful practices and negative phenomena affecting the military were discussed,” the Defense Ministry said in a press release.

Armenia’s Investigative Committee has announced that it has uncovered a case involving the alleged extortion of property worth $2.5 million and money laundering by businessman and Prosperous Armenia Party leader Gagik Tsarukyan and Sedrak Arustamyan, the former CEO of Tsarukyan-owned Multi Group Concern.

Both Tsarukyan and Arustamyan are already being held in pre-trial detention in a separate, unrelated criminal case.

According to the Investigative Committee, the new case concerns allegations that Tsarukyan and Arustamyan extorted a Lebanese-Armenian businessman’s 50% stake in a jointly owned company, valued at $2.5 million, by threatening violence in 2010. Investigators also allege that the two later concealed the criminal origin of the assets through transactions involving affiliated companies, amounting to money laundering on an especially large scale. Based on the evidence, both men have been charged with extortion on an especially large scale and money laundering.