Category: News

The Armenian civil society delegation, which held its latest round of the “Peace Bridge” initiative meetings in Azerbaijan, said on Monday that it has repeatedly raised the issue of the remaining Armenian captives and other detainees held in Azerbaijan. 

During a press briefing, Naira Sultanyan, Director of the Democracy Development Foundation, noted that during the initiative’s meetings, members of the Armenian delegation consistently included this issue on the discussion agenda.

“We have spoken about the captives and detainees more than once. Many members of the delegation have included this issue in their remarks,” said Sultanyan.

According to her, the Armenian side emphasized that the issue of captives does not fit within the current logic of the peace process, and that their release would be an important precondition for progress.

“We have stressed that the peace process has moved forward, and these issues must be resolved in order to better ensure the continuation of progress,” she said.

Sultanyan said that the issue of missing persons was also raised during the discussions, emphasizing that the work of the relevant commission is not proceeding at the desired pace.

At the same time, she noted that the Azerbaijani side also raised issues of concern to them, but stressed that the primary goal of the initiative is to create an environment of mutual listening and understanding.

“When you hear the other side’s perceptions, it becomes easier to understand the issue and model realistic solutions,” said Sultanyan.

In her assessment, strengthening trust could help ensure that such humanitarian issues are resolved more effectively in the future and do not become instruments of political pressure.

Armenia’s Prosecutor General, Anna Vardapetyan, met with Ying Yong, Prosecutor General of the Supreme People’s Procuratorate (SPP) of China, during her visit to Shanghai for the 61st session of the International Association of Prosecutors Executive Committee.

Armenian Ambassador to China Vahe Gevorgyan also took part in the meeting.

Anna Vardapetyan thanked her counterpart for initiating the meeting and emphasized the importance of direct dialogue between the prosecutors general of the two countries for deepening cooperation in criminal justice and developing bilateral relations, her office said in a readout.

“The International Association of Prosecutors is an important platform for effective professional dialogue and the strengthening of bilateral ties, designed to facilitate cooperation between the prosecution services of different countries, including our own,” Vardapetyan said.

She also referred to the international and bilateral legal instruments in force between the Republic of Armenia and the People’s Republic of China that regulate cooperation in criminal matters, including legal assistance and extradition.

The Prosecutor General of Armenia also cited statistical data on cooperation, noting that in 2018–2025, the Armenian Prosecutor’s Office sent 37 requests for legal assistance to China on various cases, including cybercrime, tax evasion, illicit drug trafficking, and corruption. During the same period, two of the requests received from China were fulfilled.

The parties emphasized the need to develop cooperation in the law enforcement sphere within the framework of the strategic partnership established between the Republic of Armenia and the People’s Republic of China in 2025.

The prosecutors general of the two countries also highlighted the potential for further cooperation between their offices and, among other issues, discussed practical matters related to legal assistance requests.

Anna Vardapetyan and Ying Yong stressed the importance of intensifying direct contacts between the competent units of their respective offices in order to resolve working issues more swiftly.

During the meeting, the need to develop and formalize a new cooperation program was also discussed.

The prosecutors general of Armenia and China reaffirmed their readiness to expand cooperation, particularly in combating transnational crime, corruption, money laundering, and cybercrime.

At the end of the meeting, the parties expressed confidence that such contacts would contribute to strengthening bilateral relations and enhancing the effectiveness of cooperation.

Anna Vardapetyan is participating in the 61st session of the IAP Executive Committee in Shanghai as a member of the IAP Executive Committee.

Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan rebuked fare dodgers on Monday, claiming that the city loses enough money each week to buy two new buses.

“Calculations show that we have 70–80 million drams of unpaid fares per week, which is enough to buy two buses. In other words, those who do not pay are complaining that, because of their irresponsibility, we are not buying additional buses. Although we purchase new buses every year and will continue to do so this year as well, and we are also improving quality. We are carrying people who do not pay as a burden on our shoulders,” said the mayor, adding that fare dodging in public transport ought to be considered shameful and condemnable, and that no one should allow themselves to use public transport without paying.

The mayor thanked law-abiding citizens and public transport drivers for their diligent work.

The mayor presented the work carried out over the past week to ensure proper fare collection in public transport, emphasizing that, according to averaged weekly data, the number of validations by public transport users in Yerevan has increased from 15 to 30 percent. He expressed gratitude to law-abiding citizens and urged them to support drivers and public order enforcement officers in tackling fare evasion.

“Actually, no matter how much some individuals try to provoke drivers, they mostly remain calm. I want to first of all thank them,” he said.

Avinyan stressed that instead of being ashamed, fare dodgers are giving speeches and displaying aggressive behavior.

He noted that several incidents had occurred in public transport in recent days. The mayor described a recent assault on a driver as an “attack against the city.”

“One particularly unpleasant incident occurred that escalated into a fight and involved an attack on a driver. I know that three individuals have been arrested, and the fourth is also being processed under the relevant case. I want to be confident that these individuals will be held accountable to the fullest extent. In reality, any attack on a driver is not just an attack on an individual; it is an attack on the city, an attack on the entire system,” said the mayor.

He assured that once order is established in the sector, Yerevan will have significantly higher-quality public transport.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told business leaders on Monday that Armenia is entering a new phase of economic development, crediting the newly established peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

“We expect major developments in the near future, primarily related to the launch of the TRIPP project, which is significant in that it will ultimately allow the Republic of Armenia to fully emerge from its state of blockade. In fact, Armenia has already overcome the blockade to some extent, as you know that rail freight transportation to Armenia through Azerbaijani territory is possible and is being carried out. I would also like to note that exports can be conducted by rail as well, of course via Georgia, until we open the railway with Azerbaijan, primarily within the framework of the TRIPP project. This is very important, and the political agreement is that this railway will never be closed. In other words, it will be a reliable route for both imports and exports,” the Prime Minister said at a meeting with executives of top taxpayer companies.

The Prime Minister noted that since 2018, when he took office, according to real estimates, Armenia’s gross domestic product has grown by 53%, and that the country’s economy has reached a point where business-to-business, state-to-business, state-to-employee, and employee-to-employer relations must now develop in a new way. In this regard, the Prime Minister emphasized the importance of the meeting for discussing such issues and hearing the views of business representatives.

“Once again, I want to thank all of you for the changes that have taken place in our country, because there are sectors and companies whose role in the Republic of Armenia is difficult to overestimate. It is very important that these companies also bring a new mentality, new thinking, and a new culture to Armenia, which is actually the most important capital, opening new areas and opportunities for entering new fields of activity. I believe that today the Republic of Armenia has horizons before it that it has never had in its entire history. Armenia has never experienced such an unprecedented period of opportunities. We need to be able to continuously and consistently make use of this situation. It is clear that the government cannot do this without key players in the economy and the real sector. And beyond simply expressing gratitude today, I also want to draw your attention to this situation—this is essentially my main message,” said Nikol Pashinyan.

The Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) is a connectivity project in Armenia, envisaged under the U.S.-brokered Armenian-Azerbaijani joint declaration signed in Washington, D.C. The project is expected to unlock strategic economic opportunities, create long-term benefits by promoting infrastructure investment, and enhance regional connectivity. An Armenian-American joint enterprise is expected to develop the route.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has congratulated Tisza Party President Péter Magyar on his victory in the Hungarian parliamentary elections.

“Extend my cordial congratulations to Péter Magyar & the Hungarian people on the occasion of the victory in the Hungarian elections. These democratic elections reflect the will of the Hungarian people & the future vision of the country,” Pashinyan said on X.

With 98% of votes counted, Hungarian opposition leader Péter Magyar’s Tisza Party secured 138 seats in the 199-seat parliament with 53.6% of the vote, while incumbent Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz won just 55 seats with 37.8% of the vote in an election that saw nearly 80% turnout. Orbán has conceded defeat after 16 years in power.

Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Armenia Ruben Rubinyan held a meeting on Monday in Yerevan with Audra Plepytė, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania.

According to a readout from the parliament’s press service, Rubinyan praised Armenia–Lithuania cooperation, including within the framework of interparliamentary relations.

The sides also discussed regional issues and the security situation. In this context, Rubinyan spoke about Armenia’s normalization process with Azerbaijan and Türkiye.

They also discussed prospects for deepening Armenia–EU relations.

Armenian Minister of Education, Science, Culture, and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan, together with Football Federation of Armenia President Armen Melikbekyan, has inspected the ongoing construction of the Juventus Academy Armenia in Yerevan, near the Hrazdan Stadium.

At the construction site, the minister and the president of the Football Federation of Armenia were presented with the football academy’s designs, the progress of construction, and details of the ongoing work.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, Minister Zhanna Andreasyan emphasized the importance of establishing the academy for the development of Armenian football, the sports education of young athletes, and the strengthening of international cooperation. In her words, a major hub of modern sports infrastructure is being formed in this area adjacent to Tsitsernakaberd Highway; alongside the Football Academy, the gymnastics sports school named after Albert Azaryan is also being built.

The Juventus Academy in Armenia will consist of three training bases designed for 2,000 trainees. Two of them will be located in Yerevan’s Avan district and near the Hrazdan Stadium, while the third will be in the Nor Hachn community of Kotayk Province. The training complex will also include a hotel residence for European coaches and for children studying at the academy.

Each year, the academy’s best students will travel to Turin to the main Juventus Academy, where they will participate in training sessions and friendly matches.

Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan held a meeting on Monday with Audra Plepytė, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania.

According to a readout from Grigoryan’s office, the Secretary welcomed Plepytė’s visit to Armenia and stressed the continuous and growing dynamics of political dialogue in Armenia–Lithuania relations.

Secretary Grigoryan and Vice Minister Plepytė also exchanged views on the Armenia–EU cooperation agenda, the visa liberalization process, regional developments, and other matters of mutual interest.

The novel Death and the Gardener by Georgi Gospodinov has won the Spanish Critics Award for Best Foreign Book, the Bulgarian publisher Janet 45 announced.

“We are happy to share that Death and the Gardener by Georgi Gospodinov has won the Spanish Critics Award for Best Foreign Book. This is the 70th edition of one of Spain’s most important literary awards. It is the only prize granted to works in all four official languages of Spain by a jury of 21 independent literary critics,” the publisher said in a statement. 

This is the first time a Bulgarian book receives this distinction.

This latest major recognition for Gospodinov comes just a month after Death and the Gardener (translated by Maria Vutova) won the Grand Prize for Best Fiction Book 2025 awarded by the Spanish Confederation of Booksellers Guilds and Associations.

The Spanish publisher Impedimenta wrote on its website: “Today we celebrate news that fills us with joy: Georgi Gospodinov has been awarded the 2025 Critics Prize for Death and the Gardener. This distinction recognizes one of the most unique, insightful, and indispensable writers of our time. His literature – delicate and deeply humane – explores memory, the passage of time, and the fragility of existence. In his pages, the intimate becomes universal, nostalgia takes on new forms, and everyday life reveals unexpected depth.”

A ninth edition of the novel in Spain is expected within days. Since its release less than a year ago, Death and the Gardener has remained among the most sought-after books, according to Janet 45.

(This information is published according to an agreement between Armenpress and BTA). 

The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 13 April, USD exchange rate down by 0.54 drams to 375.19 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 1.34 drams to 438.75 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.0697 drams to 4.9341 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 0.72 drams to 504.07 drams.

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

Gold price up by 52 drams to 57584 drams.