- Karlen Aslanian
A political ally of billionaire Samvel Karapetian was arrested on Tuesday on charges which his opposition movement described as politically motivated and linked to its weekend massive rally in Yerevan.
Gohar Ghumashian is a senior member of Karapetian’s Strong Armenia party widely expected to be the main opposition contender in Armenia’s upcoming parliamentary elections. The Anti-Corruption Committee (ACC) accused the young woman as well as another person of violating a legal ban on election-related benevolence.
The law-enforcement agency claimed that she handed out cash to one voter and promised “service on preferential terms” to another last month. It did not elaborate. In another statement issued later in the day, the ACC said it has asked a court to move Ghumashian to house arrest because she has three young children.
One of the children was born less than two months ago. Senior Strong Armenia figures emphasized this fact when they rushed to condemn Ghumashian’s arrest before the ACC revealed the charges levelled against her. They claimed that her “political persecution” is the result of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian’s knee-jerk reaction to a large crowd pulled by Karapetian’s party on Saturday.
“Another manifestation of Pashinian’s panic after the Big Rally,” Narek Karapetian, the tycoon’s nephew and right-hand man, said in a social media post. “Fearful of Samvel Karapetian, Pashinian sent law-enforcement officers to detain a breastfeeding mother of multiple children.”
“This is a consequence of our successful rally,” Gohar Meloyan, another senior Strong Armenian member, told reporters.
The rally held in Yerevan’s Liberty Square on Saturday featured Karapetian’s first video address to supporters since his arrest last June. He had issued only statements messages until then.
The 60-year-old tycoon, who was moved to house arrest in December, initially faced an accusation stemming from his criticism of Pashinian’s controversial attempts to depose Catholicos Garegin II, the supreme head of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Investigators also charged him with tax evasion, fraud and money laundering after he announced in July plans to challenge Pashinian in the 2026 elections.
Karapetian’s trial is scheduled to start on Wednesday. His lawyers said they will ask the presiding judge to release him from house arrest.
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Armenian, French and Lithuanian officials discuss Armenia–EU cooperation, regi
A trilateral meeting was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia on April 14, with the participation of Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Vahan Kostanyan, Minister Delegate for European Affairs at the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs Benjamin Haddad, and Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Audra Plepytė.
The meeting focused on issues related to the Armenia–France and Armenia–Lithuania bilateral agendas, efforts to combat disinformation, as well as cooperation within the framework of the Armenia–EU strategic partnership, the Armenian Foreign Ministry said in a readout.
The representatives of France and Lithuania reaffirmed their support for Armenia’s European aspirations.
A number of issues related to preparations for the upcoming European Political Community Summit in Yerevan were also discussed. The French and Lithuanian counterparts reaffirmed their willingness to support Armenia in organizing the summit in the best possible way.
In the context of regional developments, Deputy Minister Kostanyan presented the positive developments taking place in the South Caucasus as a result of the Washington agreements, referring to the Armenia–Turkey and Armenia–Azerbaijan settlement processes.
During the meeting, views were also exchanged on a number of issues on the international agenda.
Published by Armenpress, original at
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Armenian Social Affairs and Labor Minister, Iranian Ambassador discuss deepeni
Armenian Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Arsen Torosyan received Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Armenia Khalil Shirgholami on Tuesday, the ministry said.
Torosyan stated that the development of friendly and trust-based relations with Iran remains one of the Armenian government’s foreign policy priorities.
He also expressed condolences over the deaths in Iran as a result of recent military operations and noted that Armenia is deeply concerned about the regional situation, stressing that peace and stability are of vital importance.
Ambassador Shirgholami thanked the government and people of Armenia for their support during the current situation.
The sides discussed prospects for expanding cooperation in labor and social protection, including labor migration, human capital and skills development.
The ambassador also noted that the growth of registered jobs in Armenia in recent years is impressive.
Both parties emphasized the importance of interdepartmental cooperation and expressed readiness to make efforts toward the effective implementation of jointly planned programs.
Published by Armenpress, original at
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Armenpress: Armenian FM, EU Commissioner discuss Armenia–EU cooperation, secur
Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan met with the European Commissioner for Defence and Space in Brussels on April 14, the foreign ministry said in a readout.
The sides noted with satisfaction the active expansion of the Armenia–EU partnership.
They exchanged views on prospects for cooperation in the security and defence sector. Both parties highlighted Armenia’s significant progress in implementing democratic reforms, as well as the adoption of the Armenia–EU Strategic Partnership Agenda.
The sides also discussed upcoming high-level events to be held in Yerevan in May, including the agenda of the Armenia–EU summit.
Mirzoyan and the EU Commissioner further exchanged views on regional developments. The Armenian Foreign Minister presented efforts aimed at further institutionalizing peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Published by Armenpress, original at
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Verelq: An entire government against an 18-year-old
Late yesterday evening, 18-year-old Davit Minasyan was transferred from Nair Medical Center to the Correctional Facility. This was reported by the lawyer of the youth, Lusine Martirosyan.
“An entire state resource was focused on just an 18-year-old young man, and what is being done to Davit now is not the same as what is being done to our compatriots in Baku prison…”, the lawyer wrote.
To remind, Davit was arrested in the incident of St. Anna church. Apart from the fact that Nikol Pashinyan’s bodyguard hit him, he received a concussion and other injuries, he also has other health problems. However, the court did not take him to house arrest and the teenager was taken to the medical center from the first day.
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Ara Abrahamyan will be replaced
“Hraparak” daily writes:
According to some information, the Russian circles are considering the change of Ara Abrahamyan, the president of the Union of Armenians of Russia.
Ara Abrahamyan has been the president of this public organization since 2000. In 2003, he was elected the president of the international union of Armenian non-governmental organizations “World Armenian Congress”, created the Russia-Argentina Council of Businessmen and is currently its co-chairman from the Russian side.
He is also the co-chairman of the Franco-Russian Association. He was re-elected several times as the chairman of the NGO, but there are reports that now the Russian authorities are dissatisfied with him and are discussing candidates for his replacement.
Russian sources say that the most likely is the candidacy of Viktor Soghomonyan, the former press secretary of the second president, the former official of the office. The versions of Kamo Avagumyan and Karen Shahnazarov are also discussed.
However, Kamo Avagumyan, the owner of “Avalon” company and the representative of “Mercedes” in Russia, is more engaged in business, and community issues may be subordinated, and Shahnazarov is more interested in Russian interests than in Armenian ones.
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Armenia before the election. It is not the Russian Federation that forces us to take sides, but the West
Since the West fails to deceive Russia and steal its victory, in order to maintain the hegemony of the United States, there is no need to talk about peace anymore, there is no need for a Nobel Prize anymore, there is no need for Orbán anymore.
Now it is necessary for Hungary to stop playing on two strings and stand by the collective West and prepare for war against Russia.
We note that Hungary also failed in the policy of playing on two strings, because the collective West does not allow any state to play on two strings in such a tense geopolitical situation. For the West, now you are either its ally, you are its supporter and you are preparing to go to war against Russia, or you are its enemy, there is simply no other way.
We live in such times when each state should be able to position itself correctly in such a geopolitical struggle, understanding its own state interests, and the West will not allow it to play on two strings, and those states that were wrongly positioned will pay a very high price for their political miscalculations.
Now Armenia is also facing a choice, and it is not Russia that is forcing Armenia to take sides, but the West is imposing such steps and actions on Armenia, as a result of which Russia is forced to present a political demand to Armenia in order to understand whether Armenia is now its ally or whether it is joining the camp of its enemies.
Dear people, actually the situation is quite difficult, and it is time for us to realize that the only ally, friend is Russia, and we will not get anywhere good by playing on two strings. Playing on two strings, the West will use Armenia for its geopolitical purposes and leave us alone with our very difficult problems. It is time to stand by our state interests, that is, by the side of the Russian Federation.
This is dictated by the state interest of Armenia, and we are obliged to realize this.
Mher Avetisyan
Chairman of the Russian-Armenian Business Council, Observer Council, founder of the “Together” people’s movement
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Book: Aram Mrjoian on Navigating Armenian History in His Debut Novel ‘Waterlin
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Armenia: Where ancient history meets modern adventure
YEREVAN, ARMENIA – Armenia is drawing new global attention as Lonely Planet spotlights the country, giving travelers a fresh reason to consider a destination that pairs ancient history, mountain adventure, affordability, and a reputation for warm hospitality.
Now the country has a bigger spotlight.
Lonely Planet’s Armenia guide highlights the country’s monasteries, rugged landscapes, and rising appeal, while Armenia’s official tourism site is pitching the country as a place where deep history, adventure, and everyday hospitality meet. For travelers looking beyond the usual European circuit, Armenia has become a serious contender.
The case for Armenia starts with a simple truth.
It offers experiences that feel increasingly rare. You can walk through an old capital city in the morning, drink wine in one of the world’s oldest wine-making regions by afternoon and end the day looking out over mountains with barely another tourist in sight.
Former Armenia tourism chief Sisian Boghossian sums up the country in a few plain words: “Armenia is honestly a hidden gem.”
That line lands because it feels true.
Start in Yerevan, a capital that carries its age lightly. Armenia’s official tourism site describes it as one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Lonely Planet’s coverage points visitors toward a city that mixes history, Soviet era architecture, lively squares, wine bars, and cafés that keep the streets active deep into the evening. It is old, but it does not feel frozen. It feels lived in.
Boghossian captures that energy in human terms. “Every few steps, there’s a new restaurant, there is a new cafe,” she said. “And there’s so much life with so many people in the streets enjoying themselves.”
That mix matters.
The 2,808-year-old Yerevan does not ask visitors to choose between atmosphere and accessibility. It offers both. The city center is walkable. English appears widely enough in menus and visitor settings to ease the learning curve for many first-time travelers.
Dig deeper:
Then there is the history.
Armenia’s tourism materials proudly note that Armenia became the first nation to adopt Christianity as a state religion. The result still stands across the landscape in stone. Geghard Monastery rises from rock and cliffs. Tatev Monastery sits above the Vorotan Gorge with the kind of dramatic setting that makes photographs feel almost inadequate.
Boghossian gives the stronger image. “You could be honestly hiking somewhere quite random and randomly come upon a monastery deep in the forest,” she says.
That sentence explains part of Armenia’s power. History here does not always arrive with ticket lines and velvet ropes. Sometimes it appears around a bend in the trail.
That trail matters too.
For travelers drawn to nature, Armenia offers a quieter kind of reward. Boghossian points to the work of Hike Armenia, which has helped map and promote routes across the country.
Tour guides also direct visitors to Dilijan, mountain regions, and forested paths that feel strikingly uncrowded compared with better known hiking destinations across Europe.
Boghossian puts it this way: “Because it’s not a crowded place, you can be really the only one hiking on a beautiful mountaintop and ending up somewhere with a beautiful view.”
That is not a small selling point. In an era when travel often means standing in line to see what everyone else already posted, solitude itself becomes part of the luxury.
More on Armenia’s winemaking
Armenia also carries an advantage that reaches beyond scenery. It has a story to tell about wine.
The official tourism site points visitors to the Areni 1 cave complex, promoted as the site of the world’s oldest known winery, dating back more than 6,100 years. That history now feeds a present-day revival. Armenia’s wine identity no longer lives only in archaeology. It lives in glasses, vineyards, tasting rooms, and a growing confidence about what the country produces now.
Boghossian describes it as “a little bit of a wine renaissance.” She says Armenia was “basically the birthplace of winemaking,” and that after a long pause in prominence, the country’s modern wine scene has started to “really take off.”
In a country like Armenia, that kind of revival feels fitting. The old and the new do not compete. They reinforce each other.
The same pattern appears in its marquee attractions. A visitor can take in Garni Temple, one of the country’s most important pre Christian sites, then move on to monasteries, wine country, or the southern highlands.
Armenia rewards movement. It asks travelers to connect eras instead of sorting them into separate boxes.
For many visitors, the south delivers the strongest cinematic moment. The Wings of Tatev cable car carries passengers above a dramatic gorge on the way to Tatev Monastery. Armenia’s official tourism site presents it as the world’s longest reversible aerial tramway, and the experience is built for travelers who want both beauty and story in the same frame.
Then come the practical questions every traveler asks.
Is is affordable to travel to Armenia?
Is it safe. Is it affordable. Is it easy.
Boghossian argues yes on all three. “As a woman, it’s very important to be able to travel by myself if I want to go somewhere and not worry about safety,” she says. “Armenia definitely offers that.”
Armenia’s official tourism site recently made a similar pitch in a feature aimed at solo travelers, describing Armenia as a welcoming destination with low crime rates and a sense of ease for women traveling alone.
The price point strengthens the argument.
Boghossian says a coffee may run about three dollars, a glass of wine about five, and a meal around $15 depending on where and how you dine. That kind of affordability does not just make a trip cheaper. It changes the mood of travel. Visitors can linger. They can say yes more often. They can experience a place instead of calculating the expense at every stop.
There is also timing. Peak travel season from is May through October. That’s when the weather favors movement and the calendar fills with festivals, including wine, food, and outdoor events. The official itinerary pages and travel articles suggest a country that opens-up even more fully in warmer months, especially for those who want a mix of cities, villages, trails, and cultural gatherings.
Still, the strongest reason to go may have less to do with rankings, lists, or even scenery.
Boghossian says many visitors leave Armenia with the feeling that it feels like home. “Just that warmth, I think, and the hospitality really speaks to them and gives them a feeling of family,” she says. That may be the part of Armenia no guide can fully package. You can link to a monastery. You can map a hiking route. You can book a table or a cable car. But the thing people often remember most is harder to list. It is the welcome.
That is where Armenia seems to separate itself. It offers old churches, mountain trails, wine, and city life. Other countries can claim parts of that. Armenia’s edge may come from the way those elements meet in a place that still feels personal.
For travelers ready to make a plan, the official portal at Armenia Travel offers itineraries, destination guides, and practical information. The country has not exactly been hidden. But for many travelers, it still feels undiscovered. And that may be the sweet spot.
https://www.foxla.com/news/armenia-where-ancient-history-meets-modern-adventure
Also watch videos at
https://www.foxla.com/video/fmc-mprkehp5pjf9n84r
https://www.foxla.com/video/fmc-pl04qlcv80qdmtfz
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Resilience and Reconstruction in Practice
Resilience
Practical steps to support identity and belonging amid displacement.
Posted April 13, 2026
Key points
- A comprehensive, long-term approach is needed when forced displacement occurs.
- Resilience thrives on maintaining identity continuity amid forced displacement challenges.
- Meaningful work boosts displaced individuals’ resilience through contribution and recognition.
This post is the final installment in a four-part series based on a 2023 qualitative study conducted by The Fund for Armenians Relief’s (FAR) Child Protection Center (CPC) to explore the psychological and social dynamics of forced displacement, using Armenia’s integration of over 115,000 displaced persons from Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) as a contemporary case study.
Continuity as Psychological Protection
At the cultural level, resilience depends on the continuity of identity. For many Artsakh Armenians, maintaining symbolic ties to their homeland is not resistance to change but protection against erasure.
“Why should we give up passports and lose the last connection to our homeland?” one participant asked .Nadav Shelef1 might call this “ethnoterritorial identity continuity” — an aspiration to maintain a territorial connection even in the case of its physical loss:
“Since homelands are a nationalist form of territoriality, their physical contours have to be clearly articulated and continually demarcated. As a result, nationalists exert tremendous energy to maintain, if sometimes banally, the territorial boundaries of the homeland.”
For many participants, protesting against the change to their passports is a form of resistance to the injustice committed against them. A passport is a symbol of “Homeland” for displaced people. As Dawn Chatty2 suggests, “’Home’ and ‘homeland’ are ‘one of the most powerful unifying symbols for the dispossessed.'”
Findings suggest that this continuity serves as an anchor. Instead of hindering integration, it provides stability that enables adaptation. Resilience here is built by:
- Allowing dual belonging
- Validating attachment to lost places
- Avoiding premature identity replacement
Clinical work that pushes rapid identity reformation risks invalidating grief and destabilizing already fragile coherence.
Work, Contribution, and the Restoration of Worth
Meaningful contribution emerges as one of the strongest predictors of long-term resilience. Displaced Artsakh Armenians described working in public service, construction, utilities, education, and security roles. One participant summarized it simply: “We serve where needed—police, military, maintenance crews.”
This aligns with Sennett’s (2003)3 framework of mutual respect, in which dignity arises from recognized competence rather than sympathy. Resilience through work is built by:
- Opportunities for visible contribution
- Recognition of skill rather than need
- Shifting narratives from dependency to participation
Institutional capacity to organize an effective response directly determines whether displaced persons are seen and heard. The limited number of helping professionals in both community and state services, the lack of proactive engagement, and inconsistent levels of professional competence and preparedness all undermine both the right to be heard and the fulfillment of needs.
The spectrum of available support—ranging from basic time allocation to therapeutic intervention—is directly contingent on achieving an adequate ratio of helping professionals to displaced persons.
Building Resilience in Practice
This research points to clear, actionable steps for clinicians and social-work professionals working with displaced communities around the world:
- Create roles, not just services. Teaching, mentoring, and leadership restore presence and recognition.
- Support dual belonging. Integration is strengthened when past and present identities coexist.
- Prioritize institutional visibility. Listening, presence, and response matter as much as policy outcomes.
- Shift from individual to environmental modes. Symptoms often reflect environmental strain rather than personal pathology.
Survival, Renewal, and Resilience
Efforts to preserve identity are both natural and necessary. Focus group participants described a recent large-scale event showcasing Artsakh culture—song and dance, performers, and artists presenting their work reimagined for life in Armenia. Though permeated with tears and suffering and carrying simultaneous feelings of longing and joy, the event conveyed no explicit message yet brought profound relief to all who attended. It served as an _expression_ of collective mourning, an assertion of continued existence—fittingly titled, “We Exist.”
For participants, however, affirming identity does not mean refusing the present. As one person explained: “I try to live in the present, not by rejecting the past, but by keeping it alive—in my dreams, my thoughts, my stories, and my relationships. This is what allows me to feel grounded and true to myself.”
What emerges from Armenia is not merely adaptation but social innovation under pressure. Displacement forces both newcomers and host communities to renegotiate identity, responsibility, and belonging in real time.
One of Us
The integration of Artsakh Armenians into Armenian society presents not only humanitarian challenges but also sociopolitical and economic challenges that require comprehensive, long-term approaches. The adaptability of the host society’s institutional and social structures and the resilience potential of Artsakh Armenians together can create what has been termed “social reconfiguration” — a reorganization of society that offers new opportunities for social and economic development where the main challenge is transformed into an opportunity for collective development and empowerment.
This process of reforming the collective identity of Armenians, recognizing the multi-level nature of national identity (David & Bar-Tal, 2009)4, can lead to a more inclusive and resilient national conception in which the Artsakh experience is incorporated into the broader structure of national history and identity.
For practitioners working in contexts of global displacement, be it in Ukraine, Sudan, or Gaza, the lesson is clear: Resilience is not located solely in individuals. The ultimate answer to the question “One of us or…?” is cultivated through systems, relationships, and meaning over time. And it is only through the often indelicate acceptance of the tension arising from humanitarian, sociopolitical, and economic reconfiguration that both host communities and displaced persons find true, lasting integration.
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