Category: News

A newly formed Armenian political party, “Against All,” launched its campaign for the June 7 parliamentary elections in Yerevan, presenting proposals for major electoral reforms, including a “vote against all” option and lowering the electoral threshold.

The party presented its election manifesto at an event in downtown Yerevan.

Party member Hovsep Ghazaryan told reporters that the party’s main policy proposals include changing the electoral system, abolishing the “stable majority” rule in parliamentary elections, and lowering the electoral threshold to 1 percent.

Most notably, as the party’s name implies, it proposes adding an “against all” option on the ballot.

In their view, voters should have the opportunity to cast a ballot even if they do not support any of the candidates running for office, and the best way to ensure this is by including a “vote against all” option on the ballot.

Representatives of the “Against All” party have already stated that the party is self-dissolving, and that if it comes to power, it will implement its program within 100 days and then resign to trigger new elections. The party’s prime ministerial candidate is human rights advocate Nina Karapetyants, who, if elected, would lead a 100-day government and commit to staying out of politics for 10 years afterward.

At the launch of the campaign, party representatives also carried out a so-called “mud-throwing” protest, throwing mud at a poster featuring the logos of all political forces, saying it symbolized the “toxic and dirty atmosphere” in the political arena.

The Reformist Party unveiled its election manifesto ahead of the June 7 polls as Friday marked the first day of the campaigning season.

Key points presented by party president, former lawmaker Vahan Babayan, as well as the party’s candidate for prime minister, former Defense Minister Vagharshak Harutyunyan, include adopting a new national security concept in response to shifting geopolitical conditions, addressing demographic challenges through a state-led immigration program, and introducing constitutional reforms to limit the PM to a single term while tightening eligibility requirements for the office.

The program also suggests making voting a civic duty, replacing the deposit-based election system with a signature-based mechanism, and significantly expanding state involvement in the economy.

In social policy, it calls for free higher education and healthcare, along with substantial salary increases for teachers and doctors.

It proposes positioning Armenia as a regulated and attractive regional crypto hub to attract investment, create jobs, and improve economic transparency.

Following the presentation of the party manifesto at a press event, party members rallied in Yerevan.

YEREVAN, 8 MAY, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 8 May, USD exchange rate down by 0.27 drams to 369.01 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 0.35 drams to 434.14 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.002 drams to 4.9472 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 0.96 drams to 502 drams.

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

Gold price up by 392 drams to 56275 drams. Silver price up by 31.66 drams to 953.15 drams.

Head of Mission for the European Union Mission in Armenia (EUMA), Satu Koivu hosted President of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives Peter De Roover on May 7, during which the Belgian official also participated in a patrol along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border with representatives of the EU mission.

“Mr. De Roover expressed his appreciation for the important work carried out by EUMA and thanked the Head of Mission, the Belgian contingent and all mission members for their dedicated service and commitment,” the mission said in a post on X.

As of 30 days before election day, the total number of voters included in the voter register of the Republic of Armenia is 2 million 482 thousand 872. Armenia’s Migration and Citizenship Service has published the voter register data for the National Assembly elections to be held on June 7, 2026.

According to the report, the number of voters registered at polling stations by location is 586, while the number of unregistered voters is 16.

The service reminded that, in accordance with the constitutional law “Electoral Code of the Republic of Armenia,” the total number of voters included in the voter register during National Assembly elections is published on the 30th, 20th and 10th days before voting day.

Eight railway wagons of diesel fuel will be sent from Russia to Armenia via Azerbaijan on May 9, APA news agency reported.

According to the report, six railway wagons loaded with fertilizer will also be transported from Russia to Armenia via Azerbaijan in transit.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has extended congratulations to the leaders of former Soviet republics, as well as to the peoples of Georgia and Moldova, on the anniversary of victory in the Great Patriotic War. Messages were also addressed to the leaders of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which are internationally unrecognized.

“On the occasion of the 81st anniversary of victory in the Great Patriotic War, Vladimir Putin has sent congratulatory messages to the leaders of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Abkhazia and South Ossetia, as well as to the peoples of Georgia and Moldova,” reads a statement published on the Kremlin’s website on May 8.

Putin emphasised that the day is one on which “we express our gratitude and respect to our fathers and grandfathers, who fought shoulder to shoulder at the front and worked in the rear, bringing the long-awaited Victory over the Nazi invaders ever closer at the cost of countless sacrifices and hardships.” 

He also extended heartfelt congratulations and sincere words of gratitude to veterans of the Great Patriotic War and home front workers, wishing them good health, strength of spirit and long life.

In his messages to the peoples of Georgia and Moldova, Putin called for preserving the memory of the events of those brutal wartime years and passing on to future generations the good traditions of friendship and mutual assistance that unite the peoples of all countries.

Renowned Icelandic artist Roza Gisladottir, whose work engages with politics, philosophy, and the technological, cultural and environmental challenges of the contemporary world, is set to exhibit in Armenia for the first time.

The exhibition, titled Reflection of Time, will open on May 11 at the Centre for Contemporary Art.

Visitors will have the opportunity to explore 23 works. Speaking to journalists on May 8, Sona Harutyunyan, Acting Director of the HayArt Centre, described hosting Gisladottir’s exhibition as an honour – not only for the centre, but for Armenia as a whole.

“The exhibition will be spread across all of the centre’s halls – the entire museum space will be filled with Gisladottir’s works. One of the most significant aspects of the display is that the celebrated artist is donating five of her works to the Centre for Contemporary Art – and in doing so, to this beloved city of Yerevan. These works will become part of our museum’s permanent collection,” Harutyunyan said.

Five of Gisladottir’s large-scale art installations will also be placed along Mashtots Avenue and Saryan Street, at what is known as the “Art Crossroads.” Gisladottir first visited the HayArt Centre two years ago. She was so taken with the space that she resolved to return and present an exhibition there.

“In addition to sculptures, photographs will also be on display. Two of the five works were previously shown in Rome and are executed in the style of Greco-Roman classicism. Two of the sculptures stand approximately two metres tall and are made from a mixture of acrylic and plaster. The third carries the title of the exhibition – Reflection of Time – and takes the form of a round, transparent cylinder shaped after this museum’s appearance. It has a mirror-like quality: looking into it, you can see Yerevan behind you, see yourself, and reflect on the past, the present and the future. Another sculpture is called Where Are We Going? and shares the same philosophical spirit as the previous one. It is a square sculpture comprising eight steps. Yet another work is titled Length and Width,” the artist explained.

Gisladottir is an internationally experienced artist whose works have been presented at prestigious venues, including the Trajan’s Market in Rome, the Ásmundarsafn and Einar Jónsson museums in Iceland, and the Kópavogur Art Museum.

The Yerevan exhibition has been supported by the Yerevan Municipality and the Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Iceland in the Republic of Armenia. Consul Levon Hayrapetyan noted that the consulate’s work promotes cooperation between the two countries not only in economic and other fields, but also in the spheres of culture and the arts. “The realisation of Reflection of Time – a large-scale exhibition of contemporary Icelandic art in Armenia – is an important step in the region towards developing Armenian-Icelandic artistic collaboration. The exhibition brings together artistic and educational components, contributing to the engagement of art-loving audiences and broader segments of society in the promotion of contemporary art,” he added.

The exhibition will run until August 11.