June: 10, 2026
Artak Zakaryan writes: “According to The New York Times, before the latest escalation of the situation, Washington and Tehran had gone much further in the negotiations than was supposed.
Stopping uranium enrichment
The USA believes that Iran can agree to freeze uranium enrichment for 15 years. As for the fate of already enriched uranium reserves, according to the periodical, the option of their dilution is also being discussed. In that case, the Iranian authorities can declare that the material remains in the territory of the country, but its military significance will be significantly reduced.
Regarding nuclear facilities
Washington demands to dismantle Natanz, Fordo and Isfahan facilities. Tehran insists on keeping at least one facility as part of its right to develop nuclear technology.
It is reported that the US is ready to consider the option of keeping one surface facility under strict international control.
Full access to IAEA specialists
The American side demands unlimited inspections, including surprise visits. It is not yet known whether Iran will agree to this.
I believe that the mentioned conditions and negotiation issues are not complete, and the parties have other key issues to reach a final agreement. However, the discussed conditions are significantly stricter and more comprehensive than in 2015. Agreements during the administration of Barack Obama.
Today, one of the most sensitive issues, the unfreezing of Iran’s assets amounting to 25 billion dollars, has not yet been resolved.
Tehran demands access to these funds, while the US is ready to take that step only in case of phased and continuous implementation of future agreements.
So, despite current tensions, negotiations between the parties appear to be at a more advanced stage than previously thought.”
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This is a ridiculous scenario. Zelensky’s accumulation of public debt is similar
June: 10, 2026
The former Prime Minister of Ukraine (2010-2014) Mykola Azarov stated that the state debt accumulated by the Kyiv regime cannot be paid either practically or theoretically.
According to him, Zelensky’s further accumulation of public debts is similar to the behavior of a drug addict or a gambler, who cannot control himself and understands that everything has already been sold, anyway, he will not return anything, so taking one loan more or less does not play a role.
“This is absolutely irresponsible behavior. And all those Western countries that decide to provide loans to the Kiev regime are either stupid or they understand that this is not a loan, but an irreversible grant. And despite the fact that it is formalized by certain documents, no one will fulfill them. Simply because they are impossible to fulfill. I mean the return of the loan.”he said.
He also said that it is time to give Zelensky the nickname “Vladimir 30 percent”. they steal so much from the budget of Ukraine.
“The basis of the Kyiv regime, the system of bribes, which is managed by the president, is not broken. Money circulates through offshore and buying real estate in the West. And the Europeans close their eyes to all this, because Zelensky is in their favor.”
Regarding the statement of the Kyiv regime about a possible attack on Belarus, the former Prime Minister of Ukraine Mykola Azarov called it An adventure like the Kursk operation.
“But when the Kursk adventure was being carried out, the Kiev regime had at least some inflow in the ranks of the armed forces of Ukraine, and now there is an outflow. I don’t think that the General Staff of the Kyiv regime is planning to start military operations against Belarus. Most likely, these are statements at the level of gangster elements who circle around Zelensky and spew all kinds of nonsense. I think that the General Staff understands that opening a northern front means exposing the capital to serious danger, after all, the distance from the border to Kyiv is not great.
This is a farcical scenario, but I have no doubt that the Kyiv regime would like to carry out such a provocation.
It is a different matter that Alexander Lukashenko recently warned the Kiev regime that the answer will be very serious. I think that he will not limit himself only to protest notes and so on, but will implement his warning to the full extent.
Prepared for publication 168.amthe
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The political forces that passed the parliament will have to make a decision, and all of us, chief
June: 10, 2026
Each of the options of the opposition forces that passed the parliament to take the mandates or give them up has its advantages and disadvantages, but the problem is not to choose the form, but to have a clear strategy. About this today, after the court session, 168.amin response to the question, he said Serzh Sargsyan, the third president of RA, chairman of RPAtalking about the results of the NA elections.
According to the third president, success can be achieved in both ways.
“Now the political forces that have passed to the parliament will have to make a decision, and we all have to obey that decision, we all have to implement those decisions,” said Serzh Sargsyan.
The third president of the Republic answered the question: is the street struggle agenda realistic today? “The street is always useful.”
“I think it’s no secret for anyone that there were massive violations both in the pre-election phase and on the voting day, and I think that if we, for example, held such elections in 2017, then European observers would definitely record the following sentence that both the pre-election phase and the election day were marked by widespread violations, but I don’t expect that the observers will make such a record now. For obvious reasons, no, because in that pre-election phase their political leaders expressed full support to the current authorities, I think it will constrain those people,” added the Third President.
Serzh Sargsyan also spoke about the recount of votes, noting that the recount can change the situation. The third president expressed confidence that the “Prosperous Armenia” party will receive mandates as a result of the recount, and if not, it will be unclear why.
Serzh Sargsyan answered the journalist’s question: Is the Republican Party ready for a street fight? “The Republican Party is ready to always support the political forces that received the vote of our people in a sufficiently large amount.”
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Who is to blame for the fact that the army is perceived as hard labor? 25-day training camps
June: 10, 2026
On June 4, news spread that Military Police officers are issuing notices to Armenian citizens arriving to Armenia from Russia to participate in training sessions at RA border checkpoints.
RA Defense Minister Suren Papikyan immediately responded in a conversation with journalists that there is a set procedure for the notification, and it is carried out in accordance with those procedures.
“There is a procedure for notification. Notification usually occurs in that order. It is not physically possible to give notice there. No summons can be issued to anyone directly at the airport. The military police carries out the functions assigned to it, and various state structures can carry out appropriate actions if necessary,” Papikyan said.
The Minister of Defense responded to the counter-argument: can it be ruled out that citizens from Russia can be sent to 25-day training camps?
“How can I rule that out?” A citizen of the Republic of Armenia coming from Russia is a soldier, doesn’t he have any duties towards his homeland? Naturally, I cannot rule it out. Not only from Russia, France, the United States of America, etc., etc.
Papikyan voiced the same idea in a briefing with journalists on the day of the NA elections.
“I think it is legitimate for RA citizens who are in military service to fulfill their responsibilities to the motherland, that is, apart from exercising their rights, they also fulfill their duty to the motherland,” he emphasized, assuring that the notices about participating in training camps were not issued by his and Nikol Pashinyan’s instructions, because they were on vacation, and it is nothing that, being the prime minister on vacation, at least Pashinyan gave instructions to the law enforcement officers during the pre-election period. In general, even today we live in the period of unwritten laws, if not to say, violation of the requirements of the laws.
On June 9, Edward Asryan, head of the General Staff of the RA Armed Forces, addressed the journalists ասել՝ it is true that all those registered in the reserve force must go to training sessions in order, not agreeing, of course, that there is a selective approach towards those with oppositional views.
Yes, within the limits of the law, RA citizens registered in the reserve army must participate in the training camp, and yes, without discrimination, selectivity and not dictated by the political moment. But the problem is in the last thought range, that is, it is the current authorities that push to consider the army and the training camps as a punitive action.
Should NEWS.am journalist Narek Khachatryan participate in training sessions the very day after the election? notification receipt does not fit into the above-mentioned logic, when on the day of voting, he recorded the gathering of hundreds of servicemen at the polling station in Sotk minutes before the end of the voting, as well as persons in civilian clothes who entered the polling station with the servicemen and did not leave them in any way, who did not have any status that would allow them to be in the polling station at that moment.
It is not excluded that the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia will not see any intention here and will say that employees of other media also receive such notifications, including governmental ones, that Narek Khachatryan, for example, will leave for a training camp on June 23, etc. Maybe, suppose we believed that everything was a coincidence and not intentional.
But next to this, there are also reports that the “sect” of male RA citizens from other countries was closed, although they were not accused of anything, nor did they receive a training camp notice, they were kept to give the notices one by one. Here, of course, the leadership of the defense department will say what we have already mentioned above. And before this we have the notes and appeals of the representatives of the authorities.
In particular, Gevorg Papoyan, RA Minister of Economy, Deputy Chairman of the “Civil Contract” Party Department, answered the question regarding the arrival of “100,000 voters from Russia” days before the elections. answered.
“I’m very happy because A) most of those people, our polls show, will vote for us, B) we need those people because now we are holding one-month (training) gatherings․․․ yes, and it would be great if it was 100․000 people, let’s say 30-40 thousand will stay here, we will send them to training camps. They will participate in a training camp for a couple of months, then return to Kaluga. What is it, what is the problem?’
It should be noted that Economy Minister Gevorg Papoyan did not serve in the army, the question here is not how legal or illegal it is to be released from service, but that a person who has not served can reserve the right to such a call.
Later, Taron Chakhoyan, Deputy Head of the RA Prime Minister’s Office, made a similar statement, stating:
“Those who arrived in Armenia for Samo from Kaluga with election bribes from Russia will participate in 25-day training camps. Some incomprehensible discussions have started since yesterday, whether those people should be involved in the 25-day training sessions or not. Answer: definitely yes, they should be involved. For one simple reason: if these people are citizens of the Republic of Armenia and have the right to vote in Armenia, naturally they also have duties towards the Republic of Armenia and must participate in the 25-day training camps. And all those who avoid the 25-day training sessions will naturally be subject to criminal liability.”
Chakhoyan in the biography nothing about military service either.
Are these people who have not served in the army, are they the defense ministers who decide who will be drafted? By the way, such behavior of government representatives is not new.
During the days of the resistance movement, in 2022, Andranik Kocharyan, a deputy of the “Civil Agreement” faction, called on the RA Police and the National Security Service to collect the data of citizens participating in political events and actions of the opposition and transfer them to the RA Ministry of Defense, which, according to him, “will use these ‘well-trained’ young people capable of following simple instructions to enrich the mobilization resource of our army and protect the security of the borders of Armenia and Artsakh.” in order to attract”.
At the same time, information was spread in the press that summonses to participate in the three-month mobilizations of the Ministry of Defense were sent to the opposition, including Taron Manukyan, the son of MP Gegham Manukyan, who was under arrest at that time.
By the way, at that time, Kocharyan made a similar call to journalists as well to address
In other words, taking the oppositionists to the training sessions would not have been manipulated so much if the authorities themselves had not created such an environment and atmosphere, after all, they go to the sessions in politically passive regions as well. This is the first. Second, notices of training sessions were also sent to the sons of the government representatives. For example, in April of this year, we once again tried the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia պարզել՝ Why was Ashot Pashinyan not called at least once for training camps after completing his mandatory military service, in response to which the department headed by Suren Papikyan informed us.
“In response to the letter dated 18.03.2026 addressed to the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Armenia. In response to your request, we inform you that the training sessions of reservists are carried out in accordance with the procedure and time limits established by the RA government. The selection of reservists is carried out according to the schedule and specialty of military accounting.
At the same time, we inform you that in 2023-2026 During this period, only 4.7 percent of those registered in the reserve force with Ashot Pashinyan’s military accounting specialty participated in the training sessions, and Ashot Pashinyan has not yet participated.”
The Ministry of Defense has kept secret Ashot Pashinyan’s profession or specialization in military accounting in the reserve forces, bypassed our questions to present legal justifications related to participation in training camps.
It seems that the son of Andranik Kocharyan, who served as the chairman of the National Defense and Security Committee, has not been called to the training camp these years either, we will try to get an official clarification from the RA Ministry of Defense regarding his son as well.
168.amthe had written that Kocharyan’s youngest son served in Haykazov, Artsakh, and continued his service in Vanadzor after the 44-day war.
We also have a problem with the training camps, that the participants are correctly allocated according to their military specialization. A problem we also had during the 44-day war.
And in 2026, as RA Defense Minister Suren Papikyan previously announced, 20,000 reservists will be conscripted to training camps, instead of 16,000 in 2025.
It should be noted that Article 59 of the RA Law “On Military Service and the Status of Servicemen”. defines that “Military commissariats carry out a preparatory process for the organization of the training camp at least three months before the day of the announcement of the training camp: in order to ensure the citizen’s participation in the announced training camp by clarifying the circumstances and conditions of not being called to the training camp provided by the 5th and this parts of this article and the health condition of the citizen, within the framework of which the citizen in the Republic of Armenia is obliged to appear at his military registration body based on the corresponding notification of the military commissariat”.
In other words, here too we have gaps in the law, which does not specify when the RA citizen should receive the notification and in what time frame he should go to the training camp, otherwise there is room for maneuver. As for who can be called to the training sessions carried out within the framework of reservist training, in detail on one occasion we have presented.
And Article 29 of the RA Law “On Defense” as well defines:
“1. The conscription of the citizens registered in the reserve force during the conscription is carried out by the military commissariats within the terms stipulated by the conscription plans of the armed forces and other troops.
2. A citizen who:
1) fixed in accordance with the procedure established by the Government of the Republic of Armenia.
2) was declared unfit for military service due to his health condition;
3) has four or more children.
4) He is a member of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia.”
Of course, half-joking-half-serious, we can propose that the legislative privilege be abolished, and MPs and members of the government who have passed the military service counting on their fingers be given the opportunity to participate in training sessions for 25 days and to keep the 29,743 sq km sovereign border of the Republic of Armenia they declared for 2 weeks. They will not take such a step, will they perceive the army as a place of punishment?
Mariam Petrosyan
P.S. In 2017, during the discussion of the draft law “On Military Service and the Status of Military Servicemen” submitted by the Government to the National Assembly, MP Naira Zohrabyan of “Tsarukyan” bloc was a question fix Minister of Defense Vigen Sargsyan: “how to make the army more attractive than a prison.” In other words, a disrespectful attitude towards the army has been expressed at all times, and perhaps the government had its share of the blame. And now Nikol Pashinyan’s government is working very actively.
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What does independence have to do with selling strawberries? when a person in his incompetent state
June: 10, 2026
Apricot harvest is approaching, but the executive still does not clarify what fate awaits Armenian apricots, and, for example, whether it is planned to include apricots in the package of privileges, considering the perspective of EU liquidity.
For several days, CP members and their close circles have been “announcing” that 20 trucks loaded with Armenian apricots will leave for Poland at the end of June. And although it is not yet clear which company will carry out the export and under what conditions, but? agriculturist Harutyun Mnatsakanyan for it is already clear that 20 truckloads of apricots is not a solution to the problem.
“About 50,000 tons of apricots were exported last year. And if you count those 20 trucks by 20 tons, it will be 400 tons. 400 tons makes a little less than 1 percent of 50,000 tons.” 168․amHarutyun Mnatsakanyan elaborated in a conversation with
Talking about the possibility of subsidies, as the government did for peppers, tomatoes, strawberries and flowers (although, for example, flower producers were note that is not a solution either), the farmer drew attention to the European standards.
“Since the European Union is very attentive to food, those apricots must meet their standards through laboratory analysis. Saying no. Well, let’s assume that Poland entered somehow, but what will the rest do?
I exported 3 tons of apricots one year, and I also paid environmental money to destroy those apricots.
In any case, these subsidies are short-term solutions, but what will happen in the long-term, how will it be so closed? They are exporting billions of dollars, how will they solve the problem with that subsidy or compensation?” he added.
In which case the direction to the EU can be considered as a diversification direction, in response to our question, Harutyun Mnatsakanyan listed the necessary priority conditions.
“We must have appropriate quality laboratories that can do normal sampling, check normal quality characteristics to understand whether the exported product meets the European standard. The state, SATM should work in such a way that any increase in the production of fruits and vegetables has traceability. In other words, any farmer should know what type and quantity of pesticide he uses, what type of pesticide he uses, what fertilizer…, our interlocutor mentioned, reminding that recently one of the media had conducted its own independent study and found banned substances in almost all fruits and vegetables. He wants to make a subsidy, he wants to compensate the cost of transportation, in addition to that, it is necessary to reduce the cost of plants and many other similar factors. When you add it all together, you realize that all this has not been done for 8 years, and it will take another 8 years to do it.”
In the context of Russian restrictions, Harutyun Mnatsakanyan emphasized correct politics and diplomacy in general.
“They say that there is a problem of independence, and with pathetic, vulgar texts, they are constantly telling us that they have banned strawberries, but we have kept our independence. What does independence have to do with selling strawberries? Georgia is a hostile country with Russia to this day, it has territorial problems, but it has not stopped its trade since 2008, it has not stopped its exports with Russia. And when a person tries to package his incompetent, dilettantish state under false theses of patriotism and independence, it’s simply ridiculous,” he concluded.
It should be noted that Russia began to apply restrictions on the import of a group of products from Armenia in May, first banning the sale of sweet potatoes, then restrictions were introduced on the import of flowers, vegetables, strawberries, and later on the import of stone fruits and grapes.
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Choice of uncertainty. What awaits Armenia in the June 7 vote?
June: 10, 2026
Parliamentary elections in Armenia have ended. And, perhaps, their main result was the confirmation of the thesis that the Armenian society is divided։
Neither supporters of friendship with Russia nor supporters of European membership could get a convincing majority. The “Civil Agreement” party of the current Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan collected only 49.81% of the 50% necessary for the formation of the government alone. Nevertheless, according to the complicated electoral legislation of Armenia, the political force that received the majority of votes increases the mandates of the national minorities of the Republic at its own expense, at the expense of redistributing the votes of the parties that did not overcome the transient threshold, which gives Pashinyan the opportunity to sit in the chair of the head of the government.
In turn, the two largest opposition forces, the “Strong Armenia” bloc, led by Russian businessman Samvel Karapetyan, and the “Armenia” bloc, a supporter of rapprochement with Russia, led by the second president of the Republic, Robert Kocharyan, collected 23.29% and 9.94%, respectively. The “Prosperous Armenia” party of big businessman Gagik Tsarukyan did not reach the threshold of 4%, which gives the opportunity to pass to the parliament. According to the data of the Central Electoral Commission (CEC), the other participants in the election campaign were also unable to overcome the electoral barrier.
Thus, from a legal and formal point of view, the winner is decided. However, the fact that the victory “hung by a hair” gives his opponents a reason to cite numerous violations and falsifications.
Thus, according to the RA General Prosecutor’s Office, a total of 425 reports were received regarding apparent election violations during the NA elections, and the RA Investigative Committee has already initiated criminal cases in 59 cases.
As a result all this can become the beginning of a serious political crisis in the country, which will be extremely difficult to overcome. The conflicting parties have very different views on the future of Armenia. Existentially different, even.
In that sense, the parliamentary elections of the Republic, in which almost two-thirds of the voters participated (according to the data of the CEC of Armenia, the final participation was 58.97 percent), were in many ways a historical choice for the future path.
Traditional relations with Russia and other countries in the post-Soviet territory have appeared on the other side of the scale: stable, strong, mutually beneficial and well predictable. And on the other hand, something beautifully packaged, which is a kind of fantasy about milky rivers with jelly banks, with little reminder of harsh reality. However, it is necessary to give credit to the European mythmakers. the tales of a rich and well-fed Europe, from which no one will be left out, neglected or oppressed, they are able to invent and then deliver with great skill.
Meanwhile, it has already been said, the reality is very strict and pragmatic. As of today, the accumulated investments in Armenia, 86% of which are of Russian origin, amount to 4.9 billion dollars. As a result, Yerevan’s refusal to cooperate with EAEU, which is inevitable in case of further rapprochement with the European Union, will lead to the loss of at least 14 percent of Armenia’s GDP.
In addition, In the case of leaving the Eurasian Economic Union, the republic will lose the opportunity to receive Russian gas at a preferential price, which is now $177.5 per 1,000 cubic meters, as opposed to $633 in Europe. The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Mikhail Galuzin emphasized that Russia does not intend and will not pay for Armenia’s road to the European Union.
Other, but no less important, losses to the republic’s economy, related to its desire to become part of the Western world, cause significant damage to agriculture, of which more than 96% of its output is consumed by Russia, metallurgy, beverage production, tobacco and food. The expected decline will be up to a third of the GDP (at least 5 billion dollars), and inflation will increase by 14.3%. And that with the most modest calculations.
In addition to purely economic problems, rapprochement with Europe will bring significant headaches to Armenia in terms of both domestic and foreign policy, as well as value orientations of Armenian society. And these are not empty words at all.
In the current situation of tough opposition of the West and Russia to the liberalization of legislation in the field of rights and freedoms of various minorities, which is already a serious challenge for conservative Armenia, Brussels and its satellites are guaranteed to insist that Yerevan join the anti-Russian sanctions and break all ties with Russia: political, economic, cultural and human, which will certainly have extremely negative consequences for the republic, the majority of whose citizens live in Russia.
Instead, Armenians are offered the same jelly, and without any clear prospect of receiving it. The point is that No one in Europe is waiting for the Republic striving towards the European Union with the efforts of Pashinyan. According to the Prime Minister’s admission, as of today, Armenia is objectively not even ready for the status of an EU candidate country. Moreover, what concerns the infamous visa liberalization, on the “hook” of which Europe once managed to catch Ukraine, then here too, nothing is radiating to Armenians. They only promise it, and that too after a few years.
And in such a situation, when the advantage is objectively in favor of friendship with Russia, European political technologists and Armenian authorities had to work seriously to achieve their desired voting results.
Literally everything worked.
- Ursula von der Leyen promised 50 million euros to Armenia՝ as a compensation for the losses suffered from damaged economic contacts with the Russian Federation. chickens laugh too, if we compare it with the Russian investment in the Armenian economy,
- According to Le Journal du Dimanche, during the election campaign, employees of the French intelligence unit VIGINUM, which specializes in cyber security issues, tirelessly cleaned the Internet day and night of any critical remarks against Pashinyan.. Paris-like blatant interference in the Armenian elections was the result of a cooperation agreement between France and Armenia, signed by Pashinyan and Macron, which legalized the practice.
- on the eve of the elections, the Ministry of Defense of Armenia warned that every citizen coming to Armenia from abroad, primarily from Russia, who aims to vote for one or another party, will necessarily be involved in military gatherings. In this way, the authorities hoped to defeat the wave of protest voting.
Well, the icing on the cake of this pre-election bacchanalia was the arrests of the leaders of several precinct election commissions on the very day of the parliamentary elections.
But all this did not bring Pashinyan’s longed-for unconditional victory in the West, which in turn threatens Armenia with serious political turbulence for several more years.
Alexey Belov
vpoanalytics.com
Translation by Zhanna Avetisyan
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168: The crisis of power will deepen… Pashinyan will come to power in the country as it is
June: 10, 2026
As a result of the recount of votes, the “Prosperous Armenia” party overcomes the electoral threshold and will go to the next convocation of the parliament. About this 168 TVof Revue informed on the air of the program Political scientist Suren Surenyants, a candidate for the National Assembly on the electoral list of the PAPthespeaking about the results of the June 7 National Assembly election and the political situation emerging around them.
“At the dawn of June 8, the summing up of all polling stations had already taken place at our pre-election headquarters, and we knew for sure that we did not have a transience problem. Of course, my mood did not become festive because of obvious reasons, because the political situation in the country does not change, but nevertheless, it was very sad to hear that irresponsible statement from the CEC president in the morning,” said Suren Surenyants.
The political scientist is deeply convinced that the preliminary results attributed to PAP – 3.996 percent of the votes of RA citizens who participated in the NA elections, due to which the party should not have been able to overcome the electoral threshold of 4 percent – is not a mere technical inaccuracy. The Central Electoral Commission (CEC) announced that PAP lacked about 60 votes to overcome the electoral threshold. According to Suren Surenyants, who is 8th in the pre-election list of “Prosperous Armenia”, we are dealing with organized crime.
“I am deeply confident that what happened in this case is not a technical inaccuracy. Now let me explain why. The point is that if the PAP did not enter the parliament, the CP had 3/5 of the NA mandates, which allowed it to adopt constitutional laws, elect or appoint a number of high-ranking officials only with its votes. Agree, this is a very powerful argument for a manipulator like Nikol Pashinyan to perform magic and leave PAP out of the parliament. Secondly, there was a continuous process of political reprisal, and logically he would like to see at least one of the “three-headed” parties before he passes, to show how “powerful” and “invincible” he is, therefore, a number of reasons give me reason to believe that we were dealing with an organized crime, the purpose of which was to leave PAP out of parliament, simply because it was obvious from the records of all 2005 precincts in our possession that we have overcome the threshold of transience, we proved very quickly and operatively, with the example of only four polling stations, that 120 votes were pocketed from us, and we restored justice very quickly,” commented Surenyants.
Evaluating the political arrangement formed in Armenia by the preliminary results of the NA elections, the CP led by Nikol Pashinyan getting a simple majority in the parliament, not a constitutional one, and the passing of three opposition forces: “Strong Armenia” led by Samvel Karapetyan, “Armenia” bloc led by Robert Kocharyan and PAP led by Gagik Tsarukyan, Suren Surenyants outlines a remarkable perspective arising from this situation. for further developments and predicts “power change with shocks”.
According to the prediction of the political scientist, “the dough will still draw a lot of water” of this election process, because this has only deepened the crisis of the government.
«The crisis of power has only deepened. Nikol Pashinyan will come to the country as an elite prisoner. He cannot move without a large number of security forces. This is not the attitude of a victorious leader, because I say that the crisis of the government will only deepen as a result of these elections. For example, our society saw how my colleagues and I politically destroy CP members in the booths. Their moral and political bankruptcy has already been revealed. The king is naked. Nikol Pashinyan is naked, his surroundings are a collection of thieves and cowards of the Motherland. The crisis of this government will deepen, it will lead to the fact that in a year and a half or two years, a change of power will take place in Armenia. I say precisely, You will have occasion to demand an account from me later for my wordsSurenyants predicts.
Let’s remind that on June 7, the nationwide voting for the election of the National Assembly took place in Armenia. The next day, June 8, the Central Electoral Commission summed up The preliminary results of the National Assembly elections, according to which the ruling “Civil Agreement” party received 49.8 percent of the total number of votes of 1 million 477 thousand 736 voters or 727 820 votes, the “Strong Armenia” bloc – 340 088 votes or 23.281 percent of the total votes, the “Armenia” bloc – 145 113 votes or the total votes 9.934 տոկոսը։
According to the Electoral Code, these three forces overcome the established electoral threshold and pass to the parliament if they take the mandates. According to preliminary results, the PAP received 58,378 votes or 3.996 percent of the votes, not being able to overcome the 4 percent electoral threshold set for the parties, but the pre-election headquarters of the PAP announced on the same day that it will apply to the CEC with the request for a recount of the votes.
The pre-election headquarters of the PAP announced that according to their data, the CEC did not count 120 votes in favor of the PAP in only four polling stations, much more than the 60 votes required to overcome the electoral threshold of 4 percent. Yesterday, on June 9, it became known that as a result of the recount of votes in polling stations No. 27/7 and No. 27/26 at the request of “Prosperous Armenia”, 92 votes will be added in favor of the party.
According to the official data of the CEC, in 2026 The total number of voters included in the voter lists in the National Assembly elections is 2 million 503,981. Summarizing the preliminary results, CEC President Vahagn Hovakimyan added to this number the number of voters (1237) included in the additional lists of voters who were present at the polling station on the day of the election, the number of voters who voted with mobile boxes (410), and the number of voters who participated in electronic voting (537), noting that the total number of voters is 2 million 507,216. According to preliminary results, 1 million 477,736 voters participated in the voting.
Full interview in the video.
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RFE/RL – Can The Dream Of A Trans-Caspian Pipeline Be Revived?
- By Zamira Eshanova and
- RFE/RL’s Turkmen Service
With the Iran war disrupting traditional energy supply routes and the West seeking to lessen reliance on Russian transit networks, Trans-Caspian corridors have again emerged as a focus of international diplomacy and investment.
Several distinct regional networks gained increased attention from global players at the Baku Energy Week earlier this month, including a subsea green electricity link and the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, also known as the Middle Corridor.
But prospects for another key project, the long-delayed Trans-Caspian Pipeline (TCP), remain in doubt, languishing in a geopolitical deadlock since 1999, although it does have its backers still dreaming of a fresh route for natural gas from Turkmenistan and other Central Asian nations.
How Iran’s Hormuz Blockade Chokes Global Trade Beyond Oil And Gas
By bridging the Caspian Sea from Turkmenistan to Azerbaijan, the TCP would deliver Turkmen and other countries’ natural gas directly into the Southern Gas Corridor, a mega-pipeline network stretching across Turkey to link with Greece, Italy, and the wider EU market.
Russia, Iran Bypassed, As China Maneuvers
The TCP has met resistance from Russia and Iran, which would be bypassed in the project. Chinese geopolitical and energy maneuvering only complicates the matter further.
But a key missing piece of the puzzle remains the reluctant supplier of the natural gas that would largely flow throw the pipeline: Turkmenistan.
Analysts say Ashgabat is not refusing to participate in the project but practicing strict strategic neutrality.
It wants to diversify via the proposed TCP but requires ironclad Western economic commitments before risking a major backlash from its powerful neighbors in Moscow and Tehran.
Conceived by the US, Bechtel, and General Electric in 1999, the original TCP was a $5 billion-plus megaproject designed to pump 32 billion cubic meters (bcm) annually.
Turkmenistan took it so seriously that it spent $2 billion completing its onshore East-West Pipeline in 2015. The line was built to feed 30 bcm from its massive Galkynysh field to the Caspian coast for a subsea link that never materialized, blocked by Russia-Iran geopolitics, European financing hesitation, and Ashgabat’s pivot to China.
Fierce legal resistance from Russia and Iran, extreme costs, and the EU’s green shift ultimately tore up the original blueprint. To rescue it, backers proposed a “lighter” 10–12 bcm “interconnector” costing just $500-$800 million.
In an interview with RFE/RL, John Roberts, a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Global Energy Center, argued that the downsized Western target for Turkmen gas fails to justify the immense geopolitical risk.
“The question for the Turkmens is the same as ever. Is it worth potentially offending Russia for a system of, say, 10 bcm?”
“Whereas it would definitely be worth offending Russia for a system of 30 bcm,” he said.
“So, the issue is, if 30 bcm is out for sheer financial reasons and complexity, is a 10 bcm system on the cards in terms of Azerbaijan, the companies, everybody else, including the United States, telling the Turkmens, this is available, do you find it acceptable?”
On May 29, Turkmen Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington. The State Department’s direct readout explicitly backed a westward transit path.
“Secretary Rubio expressed strong US support for diversifying Turkmenistan’s natural gas exports through Trans-Caspian routes,” the readout stated.
During a visit to Turkmenistan on June 9, Sarah Rodgers, US under secretary of state for public diplomacy, reiterated Rubio’s sentiments, saying that with the world’s fourth-largest reserves of natural gas, “we want the best for Turkmenistan in terms of developing and exporting those resources.”
In stark contrast, the Turkmen embassy’s statement avoided the phrase “Trans-Caspian Pipeline” entirely.
Reflecting Ashgabat’s calculated policy of permanent neutrality, its statement leaned toward more on generic phrasing, noting only that “particular attention was paid to cooperation in trade and economic affairs, energy, transport, and connectivity…[and] the importance of expanding mutually beneficial partnership, including in the areas of energy security and diversification of energy supply routes.”
China’s Strategic Leverage
Tired of waiting for a Western breakthrough, Turkmenistan is hedging its bets and casting its eye toward the East.
In April 2026, Ashgabat signed a massive $5.1 billion, four-year deal with Chinese state-owned CNPC to expand the giant Galkynysh field, adding 10 bcm of annual capacity destined for the upcoming Line D pipeline to fulfill its long-term goal of shipping 65 bcm to China annually.
Central Asia Emerges As Strategic Energy Player Amid Oil Crisis
On May 27, Meredov made a deliberate stop in New York to meet visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, explicitly reassuring Beijing that Turkmenistan stands ready to advance direct natural gas projects with China.
China remains Turkmenistan’s largest buyer, yet exports have stagnated at just over 30 bcm annually for years.
The Atlantic Council’s Roberts said he believes this stagnation serves a deliberate purpose for Beijing.
“Beijing can regard Turkmenistan as an asset that it could use and develop at any point it wishes. This gives China a very, very strong bargaining card when it comes to negotiating terms for gas import from Russia.”
As Moscow aggressively seeks alternative export markets to offset Western sanctions, Beijing is attempting to use its untapped Central Asian options to extract steep pricing concessions from Russia.
Until those multibillion-dollar talks settle, Roberts argues, China is keeping Turkmenistan idling.
“They’re keeping Turkmenistan in their back pocket, as it were — a card to be played as and when necessary.”
Rooftop Raids: Turkmenistan Cracks Down On Starlink Users
Too Many Superpowers
China is not the only heavyweight complicating the pipeline’s future.
Alongside Russia, Beijing’s deep regional influence creates a crowded superpower landscape that Anvar Khusainov, a former Uzbek oil and gas minister and deputy chairman of Uzbekneftgaz, states is keeping the TCP in limbo.
While Khusainov calls the TCP “one of my dreams” and “a very promising project,” he warns it is trapped.
“The interests of the Russian Federation are right in the middle of this. Because there are so many massive and numerous players involved — China, Russia, the US, the EU, Turkey, Azerbaijan — there is a profound ambiguity and uncertainty at the center of it.”
Yet, Khusainov retains long-term hope.
“It will certainly be implemented and will become a mega-project of immense regional economic cooperation.”
To make that dream a reality, Roberts believes that Ashgabat needs two baseline conditions.
Iran War Sends Economic Ripples Through Central Asia, Turkmenistan Most Exposed
“One, obviously, a good commercial return of their own, and two, some kind of security guarantee in effect from the United States,” Roberts said, without specifying the kind of protection Ashgabat would require.
While Washington’s current leadership has shown a renewed interest in the region, Roberts remains skeptical about the depth of that commitment.
“Certainly, the Trump administration has pushed Central Asian energy connections much more strongly than many other recent US administrations.”
“But whether they’re prepared to provide the kind of security that Turkmenistan in particular would wish to have, that’s a different question…. If it did feel that, I think we would have a Trans-Caspian pipeline.”
Still, not everyone has given up on the TCP, especially Turkey, which is seeking to become an indispensable European energy hub.
In a message delivered on his behalf at the Baku energy event’s opening, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stressed: “There are significant opportunities ahead of us to further develop our cooperation on the export of Turkmen gas via Azerbaijan and Turkey.”
Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar suggested that political momentum is finally building to make the project a reality. “There were statements that the time has come for Turkmen gas to reach Turkey and Europe through Azerbaijan…. Perhaps we are now at a point where everyone is ready to say yes.”
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RFE/RL – Karabakh Activist Released From Jail After 23-Day Hunger Strike
- Naira Bulghadarian
An exiled activist from Nagorno-Karabakh arrested after publicly arguing with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian was set free on Wednesday on the 23rd day of his hunger strike in prison.
Armenia’s Office of the Prosecutor-General said a prosecutor overseeing the controversial criminal case against Artur Osipian ordered his release from custody in view of appeals from civic activists. The move followed calls for his release made by Justice Minister Srbuhi Galian and human rights ombudswoman Anahi Manasian earlier in the day. Manasian also visited Osipian at Yerevan’s Nubarashen prison.
Pashinian reacted furiously when Osipian approached him and criticized his policies on Karabakh during an election campaign engagement in Yerevan on May 18. Moments after his supporters and bodyguards dragged away Osipian, Pashinian picked up a megaphone and rushed towards the Karabakh Armenian man, shouting insults and threats also addressed to “Karabakh pseudo-elites.”
“You should have died when there was the Karabakh issue. Why are you alive at all, you scumbag?” cried the premier.
Osipian was arrested and indicted hours after the incident. Armenia’s Investigative Committee claimed that he disrupted public order and obstructed the ruling Civil Contract’s election campaign. It also charged him with calling for a violent attack on Pashinian in a social media post in March.
Osipian, who denies the accusations, went on hunger strike to protest against his arrest and demand an apology from Pashinian. The latter rejected the demand late last month, saying that the Karabakh Armenian himself should apologize to him.
Osipian’s lawyer, Davit Hovannisian, told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service that his client did not end the hunger strike even after being set free. Still, Osipian reportedly promised afterwards to stop refusing food.
Osipian refused to be examined by prison doctors a week ago despite growing concerns for his health. Hovannisian called for his transfer to a civil hospital.
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Moscow Insists On Yerevan’s Quick Choice Between EU, Russian-Led Bloc
Russia on Wednesday continued to question the official results of Armenia’s parliamentary elections and demand that the Armenian government choose between seeking to join the European Union or remaining part of a Russian-led economic bloc.
Unlike Western leaders, Russian President Vladimir Putin has still not congratulated Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian on his party’s victory in the elections shown by their preliminary official results. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has cited “numerous irregularities” reported during the Armenian parliamentary race and said Moscow is waiting for the release of the final vote results expected on Sunday.
The Russian Foreign Ministry reiterated on Wednesday its negative assessment of the Armenian authorities’ handling of the June 7 polls. Its spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, singled out mass arrests of opposition members and supporters which continued on election day.
“This is absolutely unacceptable for us,” Zakharova told a news briefing. “I don’t know to what extent it is acceptable for a modern democratic state to arrest people participating in electoral processes on election day or on the eve of elections on absolutely fabricated pretexts and [have] this absolutely unacceptable, monstrous atmosphere of repression.”
The Russian reaction reflected the views of the main Armenian opposition groups but sharply contrasted with statements by EU leaders welcoming the election conduct and outcome. EU Council President Antonio Costa praised Pashinian on Monday for “strengthening Armenia’s resilience, stability and prosperity.”
Russian-Armenian tensions rose further in the run-up to the June 7 elections, with Moscow saying that Yerevan can no longer remain part of a Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) while continuing to strive for EU membership. Putin said on May 9 that Pashinian’s administration must make such a choice “as soon as possible.” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reaffirmed that demand on Wednesday, saying that Armenia’s continued membership in the EEU “has to be sorted out quickly”
“It is not because we don’t respect the choice of the Armenian people. We want to know this choice,” Russian news agencies quoted Lavrov as saying.
Pashinian remains reluctant to make such a choice, mindful of his country’s heavy dependence on Russia for trade and energy. He said on Monday that his government will carry on with its European integration policy. Zakharova insisted that Moscow will not put up with this stance anymore.
Later in May and earlier this month, Russian authorities imposed de facto bans on the vast majority of Armenian-made products exported to Russia. During the election campaign, Pashinian downplayed the embargo’s impact on the Armenian economy while pledging to have it lifted if we wins reelection. He said he will visit Moscow and meet with Putin for that purpose. Peskov indicated on Wednesday that no such talks are planned by the Russian side yet.
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