Category: News

As a result of the comprehensive and effective preliminary investigation carried out within the framework of the criminal proceedings of the main department of the investigation of especially important cases of the RA Investigative Committee of human trafficking, crimes against the sexual integrity of minors and drug trafficking crimes, as well as operative-investigative measures carried out by the employees of the Yerevan Department of the RA NSS, during the years 2024-2026 through the online store-platforms of “Telegram”, with commercial motives, especially large-scale drug trafficking and smuggling the identities of AV, the leader of the group involved, and his wife, who carried out criminal activities within the group.

CC informs about it.

The latter were arrested and presented to the body conducting the proceedings when they tried to cross the RA state border.

On the basis of the collected evidence, a public criminal prosecution was initiated against them under Article 393, Part 3, Clause 2 of the Criminal Code (especially the illegal sale of large amounts of narcotics).

As a result of the investigative actions and operational-investigative complex measures taken, one more member of the criminal group was identified, and during the search of his apartment, around 2 kg of various types of drugs and the necessary accessories for their sale were found and seized.

The leader of the group was arrested, his wife was placed under house arrest as a preventive measure.

The preliminary investigation of the criminal proceedings continues, extensive administrative actions are being carried out to find out the identities of the other participants involved in the criminal scheme and bring them to criminal responsibility.

Notice: the person accused of a crime is considered innocent until his guilt is proven in accordance with the procedure established by the Code of Criminal Procedure by a legally binding court verdict.

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By the decision of the Council of Heads of Governments of the CIS, Kapan was recognized as the CIS Youth Capital of 2026.

On July 23-25, the events of the “Youth Capital of the CIS” program will be held in Kapan. Under the chairmanship of Deputy Minister of CIS Artur Martirosyan, the regular session of the Council on Youth Affairs of the CIS Member States, the CIS International Youth Forum will take place.

The official opening ceremony of the program will be heralded by the concert program of the variety-symphonic orchestra of the Public Radio of Armenia. the solemn event will take place today, at 19:00, in the Kapan culture center. After the concert, a disco will be held in the central square of Kapan. Entry to the events is free.

A postage stamp with the symbol of the CIS youth capital of 2026 will be issued, a number of cultural and youth events will be held.

“Kapan: 2026 Members of the delegations of the CIS member states, representatives of youth organizations, who arrived in Kapan to participate in the events of the “CIS Youth Capital” program, will participate in the events of the “CIS Youth Capital” program.

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Foreign investors and RA citizens living abroad will get a unique opportunity to purchase real estate in new buildings in a completely remote format, bypassing complicated notary procedures and personal visits.

At the July 23 session, the Armenian government approved a project that significantly simplifies the process of purchasing property in apartment buildings under construction or already commissioned. Head of the Cadastre Committee Suren Tovmasyan the initiative presented by provides for the introduction of a fully electronic system for real estate transactions with mortgage lending.

The essence of the innovation is the integration of a special template in the electronic system of the Cadastre. From now on, the buyer, the developer and the bank can sign and validate a tripartite contract in the digital domain from anywhere in the world.

Then the financial institution itself will take over the obligation to submit that document to the state registration of ownership rights, freeing the buyer from unnecessary hassles.

In the past, for the implementation of such transactions, the physical presence of the buyer at a notary operating in the Republic of Armenia or the preparation and sending of a corresponding power of attorney was strictly required, which required additional time and costs from persons outside the country’s borders. Since banks already thoroughly check the client’s solvency and all necessary data when issuing a mortgage, it was decided to cancel the double notarization stage.

Referring to the new regulation, Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Khachatryan emphasized that this step not only significantly simplifies the administration, but also testifies to the growing confidence of the state in the technologies used in the modern digital environment.

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On July 21, 2 servicemen accused of carelessly committing suicide of N.T., a soldier of the N military unit of the Ministry of Defense, were arrested. This is reported by the Investigative Committee.

Earlier, the Investigative Committee announced that during the preliminary investigation of the criminal proceedings initiated on July 21 regarding the death of N.T., a soldier of the N military unit of the Ministry of Defense, a public criminal prosecution was initiated against the latter’s co-serviceman, junior sergeant, according to Article 522, Part 2, Clauses 1, 2, and 3 of the Criminal Code, and against the private soldier, under Article 522, Part 2. With items 1 and 3 (causing a serviceman to commit suicide by carelessness). As part of the proceedings, the latter were arrested and a petition was submitted to the court to apply detention as a preventive measure.

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The Government of Armenia has approved the expropriation of a plot of land in Marmashen for the purpose of implementing a large educational program aimed at the development of the IT sector and startups in the marzes.

At the session of the Cabinet of Ministers held on July 23, a decision was made to directly sell the 0.52 hectare area located in Marmashen settlement of the Akhuryan enlarged community of Shirak marz to the “Gyumri Information Technology Center” scientific and educational foundation.

Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Davit Khudatyan according to the announcement, a green technology hub will be built in that location by the end of 2028, the total investment volume of which will be around 100 million drams.

The innovative complex will include a state-of-the-art education center and six technology shelters equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, including drones.

Within the framework of the initiative, special attention is paid to the social component. Women and young people of Akhuryan and neighboring rural communities will have the opportunity to participate in technology training programs for free.

Free transportation service to the educational complex will also be provided for the convenience of the participants. It is expected that the implementation of the project will not only increase the level of digital literacy in the region, but also serve as a solid foundation for the creation of at least five new startups.

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A meeting of members of the “Armenia” faction was held under the leadership of “Armenia” bloc leader Robert Kocharyan. This was reported by the “Armenia” bloc.

The upcoming tasks were discussed. Anna Grigoryan was elected as the leader of the faction, Artur Khachatryan as the secretary of the faction.

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“The Armenian Center for Political Rights, the Helsinki Committee of Armenia, the Forum for Freedom of Religion in Europe and the International Christian Solidarity (Christian Solidarity International) issued a joint statement.

“Statement of OSCE Secretary General Feridun H. About Sinirlioglu’s statements regarding the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church

The Armenian Center for Political Rights, the Helsinki Committee of Armenia, the Forum for Freedom of Religion in Europe and Christian Solidarity International express deep concern and condemn the Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Turkish citizen Feridun H. Regarding Sinirlioglu’s recorded remarks, in which he essentially expressed his office’s willingness to provide support to the Armenian government in the campaign to oust Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II, leader of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church (HACE). The fact that the highest-ranking official of an organization whose fundamental obligations are the protection of human rights, although fleeting, nevertheless expresses willingness to support such a request, is deeply disturbing and requires immediate and public clarification.

We are aware of the circumstances under which those statements were made. They were received by Russian pranksters, who presented themselves as Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan during the phone conversation. The conversation was published on July 8. The pranksters in question have a documented history of targeting politicians and government officials in order to obtain statements on sensitive public issues. We do not condone the use of such deception. And although we realize that the conversation was provoked by a trick, the words of the general secretary reveal such a position that is incompatible with the duties of his position.

During the conversation, the General Secretary accused the Catholicos of All Armenians of politicizing the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church. Then he agreed to “study” (“look into”) how the OSCE can support the person posing as the Prime Minister of Armenia, the Catholicos, in deposing him. When the General Secretary asked if he could “change the Catholicos”, the person pretending to be the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia replied that he was “considering all possible ways”. He asked for the Secretary General’s support in case the move was met with any public criticism, to which the Secretary General replied: “OK, I’ll do my best, I’ll try.” At any stage of the conversation, the Secretary General did not object that the forced removal of the religious leader by the state would violate the fundamental freedoms that the OSCE is called to protect.

Principle VII of the 1975 Helsinki Final Act defines the fundamental commitment of the OSCE: “respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, including freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief.” That commitment has been repeatedly reaffirmed and is binding for all 57 OSCE participating states, including Armenia. The autonomy of religious organizations and the freedom to independently regulate their internal and canonical affairs are key components of that guarantee. Since the Secretary-General is entrusted with the responsibility of keeping that commitment, he should not give even modest support to a government that is bent on deposing a church leader.

These statements cannot be considered in isolation. Since May 2025, the Armenian government has been conducting a coordinated and continuous campaign against HASE, part of a broader attack on democracy and the rule of law. Prime Minister Pashinyan publicly called for the removal of Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II, published a “road map” of the steps to depose him, and also made baseless accusations against the Catholicos and high-ranking clergymen. The Catholicos and a number of bishops have been banned from leaving the country, and high-ranking clergy have been detained on criminal charges that appear to be politically motivated. All in all, these actions are state-organized efforts aimed at subordinating the Church to the will of the government, endangering the principle of separation of church and state enshrined in the Armenian Constitution.

The Armenian Apostolic Holy Church is not an ordinary party to a political dispute. Since the adoption of Christianity as the state religion by Armenia in 301, the Church has played a crucial role in preserving the language, culture and national identity of the Armenian people. That role is recognized by Article 18 of the Constitution of Armenia as its “exclusive mission”. Contrary to the General Secretary’s claim that the Catholicos is politicizing the Church, he actually tried to fulfill that Constitutional mission by protecting the rights of the Armenian people, including the Armenians who were ethnically cleansed from Nagorno Karabakh in 2023. Therefore, any attempt by the state to depose the Catholicos violates not only Armenia’s international obligations in the field of religious freedom, but also the country’s constitutional order.

Therefore, we call on Secretary General Sinirlioglu to

● publicly clarify and cancel any suggestion that the OSCE may support the dismissal of the Catholicos of All Armenians or interfere in any other way with the internal governance of HASE;

● reaffirm the OSCE’s commitment to the protection of freedom of religion or belief in Armenia, in accordance with its obligations under the human dimension,

● dialogue with the Catholicos of All Armenians to ensure full protection of the rights of HASE, its clergy and believers.

We are willing to meet with OSCE representatives to present additional information and our concerns, and will continue to closely monitor the activities of the organization’s leadership. The head of the OSCE should be a protective barrier against violations of religious freedom, not their voluntary supporter. According to the published statements, General Secretary Sinirlioglu has failed this examination and is now obliged to clarify his position.

John Eibner President, International Christian Solidarity

Jan Figel, President, Forum for Religious Freedom in Europe

Rafael Ishkhanyan, President, Armenian Center for Political Rights

Siranush Sahakyan, President, Helsinki Committee of Armenia,” the announcement reads.

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Although the participation of the Catholicos of All Armenians in the regular session of the National Assembly is provided for by the constitutional law “Regulations of the National Assembly”, there is currently no invitation. If there is any other information, we will let you know. Reverend Yesai Artenyan, Director of the Information System of the Mother See, informed NEWS.am about this.

It should be noted that the opening session of the 9th NA convocation will take place on August 2 at 10:00.

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With the technical support of the Center for Nuclear and Radiation Safety, a workshop entitled “Evaluation of nuclear security threats and management of design-based threats” was held in Yerevan. The event was organized by the RA Nuclear Security Regulatory Committee and the Sandia National Laboratories operating under the US Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration.

The workshop was attended by experts from the USA, as well as representatives of the Armenian Nuclear Regulatory Authority, the Armenian Atomic Power Plant, the RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Foreign Intelligence Service, the National Security Service, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the State Revenue Committee.

The main objective of the event was to strengthen Armenia’s capabilities to assess nuclear security threats and develop physical protection systems based on design baseline threat assessment to ensure the safety and security of the Armenian nuclear power plant.

The participants discussed the current challenges of protecting nuclear power plants from radiological sabotage, referred to the relevant guidelines of the International Atomic Energy Agency and discussed the methods of evaluating the effectiveness of physical protection systems.

The main topics discussed were:

Threat assessment. Assessing the motives, intentions and capabilities of potential external or internal/own enemies.

New risks. countering cyber threats, other unforeseen threats, and the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) by potential adversaries.

Scenario exercises. developing attack scenarios using the Lone Pine nuclear power plant model, conducting Tabletop Exercises and planning Force-on-Force exercises to assess the performance of physical defense systems.

The event emphasized the importance of close cooperation between competent state authorities and organizations operating nuclear facilities to strengthen nuclear security, reduce the risks of nuclear terrorism, and ensure the safe and peaceful use of nuclear energy.

The workshop also reaffirmed the ongoing cooperation between Armenia and the US in the field of nuclear security, in accordance with international standards and IAEA guidelines.

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On July 22, Aragatsotn regional administration received a report of R., born in 1970. About the disappearance of M. The criminal police of Aragatsotn, implementing operational information, obtained factual information that in March of this year, during an argument over domestic issues in their apartment in Melikgyugh village, 25-year-old and 20-year-old brothers killed their mother, R. To M.

In order to cover up the crime and eliminate the traces, they moved the body to a half-built building near the mentioned address and hid it under the soil layer. This is reported by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. On July 22, the brothers were found, arrested and taken to the Aragatsotn Regional Department of the Criminal Police, where one of them confessed what had happened. The young people and the prepared documents were sent to the pre-trial body. As part of the initiated criminal proceedings, the body of a 56-year-old woman was found in the indicated place, under the soil layer. The 25-year-old and 20-year-old youths were arrested and taken to the detention center. The investigation is ongoing.

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