The visit to Armenia of the Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan, Shahin Mustafayev, was not unanimously welcomed in Yerevan
In an interview with news.am, Artur Khachatryan, a member of the opposition Hayastan faction, said the timing of the visit was not coincidental.
The MP reaffirmed the opposition’s thesis that Nikol Pashinyan, who lacks internal legitimacy and popular support, has placed his hopes on Azerbaijan. According to Khachatryan, the main propaganda line of the authorities is that peace has already been established, and if Pashinyan is not in power, war will break out.
According to the opposition figure, in the current situation, the Armenian authorities need Azerbaijan to confirm this claim. The MP emphasized that the purpose of Mustafayev’s visit is to show that peace has allegedly been established between Yerevan and Baku.
“Baku is doing this because it is well aware that as soon as Pashinyan leaves and a new government is formed in Armenia, the latter, unlike Pashinyan, will stand up for national interests and will not carry out Azerbaijan’s instructions. The purpose of Mustafayev’s visit is to show that everything is in order, and as long as Pashinyan is in power, relations will be normal. However, Baku is not doing this for nothing. In exchange for their support, they will take something from the Armenian authorities,”
Khachatryan suggested that the demands to extract new concessions from Armenia may relate to the demarcation, since Mustafayev is the Azerbaijani co-chair of the relevant commission. “I think Mustafayev will insist that the demarcation be carried out along the route where the pan-Turkist corridor will pass. The authorities should not hope that the demarcation, for example, will begin from Jermuk or the northwest, as stated in the regulations of the bilateral working group,” the MP emphasized.
Artur Khachatryan also noted that Mustafayev also met with businessmen. According to the MP, this may be done to create the illusion that the establishment of normal relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan will open up new business opportunities. “And by ‘normal relations’, Azerbaijan understands Armenia’s unconditional acceptance of its conditions,” the opposition figure concluded.
source: commonspace.eu with news.am (Yerevan)
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Armenia eyes closer European ties with major summits
AFP: Relations between Yerevan and its traditional ally Moscow have become strained in recent years
Armenia is gearing up for two major summits that the former Soviet nation hopes will bring it closer into the European fold as Yerevan tries to cautiously loosen itself from Russia’s grasp.
Relations between Yerevan and its traditional ally Moscow have become strained in recent years, in part because Russian peacekeepers failed to intervene during military conflicts with neighbouring Azerbaijan.
Dozens of European leaders are expected to attend a summit of the European Political Community (EPC) on May 4, followed by an EU-Armenia summit the following day with the bloc’s chief officials.
For Armenia, the EU summit, the first of its kind, is about telling the European Union “we are here and we are ready”, said Olesya Vartanyan, an analyst on security issues in the South Caucasus.
Under Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Armenia has formally pursued a strategy of what he calls “diversification”, in which the landlocked country pursues ties with both Russia and the West.
“In reality it’s a process where Armenia tries to establish relationships with the European Union,” said political scientist Alexander Iskandaryan.
The country of three million people between Europe and Asia signed a comprehensive partnership agreement with the European Union in 2017, deepening its cooperation in trade and other areas.
Last year, the country adopted a law formally declaring its intention to apply for EU membership.
When the EU’s Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos visited Armenia in March, she declared that “Armenia and the EU have never been closer”.
Angering Moscow
But Yerevan has not yet taken the formal step of submitting an application.
Armenia is currently a member of the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union and the Moscow-led CSTO security alliance, although it froze its membership of the latter in 2024.
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Armenia in April that it could not be a member of both blocs.
“It’s simply impossible by definition,” Putin told Pashinyan.
For Europe, holding the meeting in Yerevan is a purposeful choice “to counter the narrative of Russian spheres of influence and to show Vladimir Putin that these countries … do not belong to him”, Sebastien Maillard, a special adviser at the Jacques Delors Institute, told AFP.
The European Union has meanwhile dragged its feet on enlargement, with fatigue in the bloc over expansion and Ukraine, currently battling a Russian invasion, a priority.
“We know countries, for example, Western Balkans, who are already in negotiation with the European Union for decades,” said Iskandaryan.
It could take decades for Armenia to become a member, he said.
Opinion polls show most Armenians are in favour of European integration, while support for Russia has dramatically fallen.
But many are sceptical about whether joining the EU is realistic and worried about further provoking Moscow.
“Everyone understands that Europe’s goal isn’t really to help us, but to push Russia out of the region,” Armine Vanyan, a 52-year-old psychologist told AFP in Yerevan.
“There will be lots of statements about Europe being close to Armenia and ready to help, and then they’ll leave. After that, Russia will probably get even angrier,” hairdresser Susanna Melkonyan told AFP of the upcoming summits.
Sitting in ‘both chairs’
Armenia’s government has taken an increasingly distant tone towards Moscow, with authorities suggesting Russia is attempting to meddle in domestic politics.
But Russia has no incentive to walk away from Armenia, analysts say.
With Georgia’s domestic politics torn over the issue of Russian influence and Azerbaijan forging closer ties with Europe and Turkey, Armenia is still Moscow’s closest ally in the Caucasus.
If Russia cuts economic ties with Armenia, “they will lose the last instrument to impact the region,” said Iskandaryan.
For now, Armenia is trying to sit on “both chairs at the same time”, said Vartanyan.
On the streets of Yerevan, many are realistic about where Armenia fits in the geopolitical struggle.
“We all know Armenia won’t be joining the EU anytime soon — not today, not tomorrow, not in the near future. But closer ties could help us become more independent from Russia,” said Manush Ghevondyan, a 58-year-old out-of-work accountant.
“At the same time, it shouldn’t happen too abruptly or at the cost of making Russia an enemy.”
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Armenia to introduce mandatory iGaming self-exclusion system
Member of Armenia’s National Assembly, Hayk Sargsyan, has proposed to amend the law “On Regulation of Gambling Activities” and introduce a mandatory requirement for online casinos to have publicly accessible self-exclusion buttons on their platforms.
During the Parliamentary Committee meeting on April 29, 2026, Sargsyan revealed that online casino bets have increased 35-fold over the last 8 years and reached $19.9 billion in 2025. He stressed that the numbers show how gambling addiction is becoming a bigger problem in Armenia, as players are able to access online casinos from any location without proper tools to help them stop.
Sargsyan commented:
“In an attempt to recoup their money, citizens are accumulating debts and loans, thereby further worsening an already critical situation. Under the current circumstances, the National Assembly is obliged to take preventive measures aimed at maximally restricting participation in online casinos for individuals who no longer want to gamble but are unable to overcome their addiction, as well as those in dire social situations or those using government support programs.”
In an effort to control the increase in gambling addiction, Sargsyan’s legislation aims to require all gambling operators to add clearly visible self-exclusion options on their websites.
He further added:
“After clicking this button, playing at online casinos will be prohibited for a period of five years, with no possibility of early reinstatement. After this period, the ban is automatically extended for another five years unless the citizen submits an application to lift the restriction five days before its expiration. Information about the self-ban will be communicated to the gaming operator. Activity in other online casinos and gaming platforms will also be suspended.”
There are also additional plans to ban access to online casinos for bankrupt individuals, recipients of social benefits, individuals whose consumer loans are more than 40% of their annual income, and those persons who receive a pension as their primary income.
https://affpapa.com/armenia-to-introduce-mandatory-igaming-self-exclusion-system/
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Hands off Armenia: Europe must act now to protect Armenia’s democracy
April 30, 2026
With Armenia’s parliamentary elections set for 7 June 2026, the European Parliament today adopted a resolution initiated by the Renew Europe Group, calling for urgent action to protect the integrity of the vote.
Armenia is the only democracy in its region. On 26 March 2025, its parliament adopted legislation formally expressing the country’s aspiration to join the European Union. That choice carries a price: Russia is already working to undermine it. Disinformation campaigns, cyberattacks, illicit political financing and the mobilisation of oligarchic networks are being deployed to destabilise Armenia’s democratic process – mirroring tactics used in recent elections in Moldova and Georgia.
The interference goes to the highest level: on 1 April 2026, Vladimir Putin personally pressed Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to allow detained Russian-Armenian billionaire Samvel Karapetyan to stand in the June elections. Vote-buying attempts have been documented, and Russia is applying direct economic pressure on Armenia to influence the outcome of the vote. Renew Europe condemns these actions in the strongest terms. Armenia’s sovereignty is non-negotiable.
“Armenian democracy is a miracle in a region where Armenia stands as an exception. Faced with all those seeking to pressure Armenian voters, the country is looking to the European Union to help it hold free and fair elections. Let us not let it down,”
Nathalie LoiseauRenew Europe MEP, France, Horizons
said Nathalie Loiseau (Horizons, France), Renew shadow rapporteur for this resolution and Chair of the EUDS Committee.
The resolution calls for a robust international observation mission, enhanced cybersecurity for electoral infrastructure, full transparency of campaign financing, and strong safeguards against vote-buying and foreign-funded coercion. It also welcomes the establishment on 21 April 2026 of the EU Partnership Mission in Armenia (EUPM Armenia), which – following the model deployed in Moldova – will provide direct support to Armenian institutions in countering hybrid threats, disinformation and illicit financial flows ahead of the vote.
The upcoming European Political Community Summit on 4 May and the first-ever EU-Armenia Summit on 5 May in Yerevan must be more than symbolic. They are a historic opportunity to send an unambiguous signal of European solidarity and to politically anchor Armenia within Europe through concrete deliverables on connectivity, security and democratic resilience.
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They are promoting a plan to bring 300,000 Azerbaijanis to Armenia – Narek Kar
Narek Karapetyan, who leads the electoral list of the “Strong Armenia” party, has published a video claiming that the current authorities are promoting a plan to bring 300,000 Azerbaijanis to Armenia.
“The Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan expressed a desire to visit the village where he was born. This is a propaganda move by Azerbaijan to present the idea of return. This is a plan to relocate 300,000 Azerbaijanis to Armenia,” he said.
Details in the video. https://www.aysor.am/en/news/2026/04/30/Karapetyan/2421529
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EUROPEAN UNION DISBURSES € 8.55 MILLION FOR REFORMS IN EDUCATION
The Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of the Republic of Armenia and the European Union Delegation to Armenia jointly present the results achieved to date under the “EU Support to Education in Armenia” Financing Agreement, to highlight tangible progress in the system of general education.
The development and modernisation of educational infrastructure stand as a core pillar of the programme.
Major construction and rehabilitation works have already been implemented in 13 selected schools across the communities of Kapan and Goris in Syunik region, delivering over half of the targets set for 2025.
Substantial progress has also been registered in strengthening school management and governance. Around 50% of public schools have adopted the new management system, while 346 principals have been appointed based on recommendations by professional selection committees, ensuring transparency and high professional standards throughout the process.
To improve the effective organisation of multi-age classes, a new financing mechanism has been introduced, resulting in the full achievement of the target set in this area.
Within the framework of advancing science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education, 231 schools across the Ararat, Kotayk and Gegharkunik regions have been equipped with modern laboratories, thereby achieving the programme’s target.
In parallel, around 9,000 teachers have received training aligned with the new education standards, ensuring the full achievement of the target set in this area.
Career guidance programmes have been introduced across all schools in the Republic of Armenia, reaching students in grades 8 to 11 and supporting them to make more informed decisions regarding their future education and professional pathways.
As part of the modernisation of education content, approximately 27% of school projects address green economy and climate change themes, ensuring the achievement of the target set for this component.
In addition, a new student assessment system has been introduced in schools across the Republic of Armenia, ensuring the full delivery of the planned targets.
Following the above assessment of targets the European Commission disbursed € 8.55 million for reforms in education.
The Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of the Republic of Armenia reaffirms its commitment to continue education reforms, ensuring quality, inclusive and modern education for all citizens of Armenia.
The Ministry attaches great importance to the close and efficient cooperation established with the European Union Delegation to Armenia, which is instrumental in the successful and targeted implementation of the EU budget support programme.
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Armenia’s Russia debate deepens ahead of 2026 elections
Speaking last June, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that ties with Moscow “will no longer be what they were before,” signalling a shift rather than a definitive break in relations. Now, in the light of the upcoming elections in June 2026, Armenia’s relationship with Russia is one of the key discussion points as political parties, analysts and government officials debate the country’s future direction ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for June 2026.
For decades, Russia was Armenia’s main security and economic partner. But cooperation has weakened in recent years, with Armenia freezing participation in the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) alliance, Russian border guards withdrawing from some locations, and Yerevan expanding ties with the European Union and the United States.
A major point of dispute is Armenia’s railway system, operated by a Russian company under a concession agreement signed in 2008. In a press statement on 13 February, Pashinyan said Armenia could consider bringing in a third-country operator if Russia cannot modernise or restore key sections of the network. Russian officials reacted sharply: Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu reportedly called the idea “ill-conceived,” while Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova described it as “bizarre and unacceptable.”
Meanwhile, Armenian analysts remain divided. Some argue Russia’s influence is declining because of the war in Ukraine and Moscow’s reduced capacity in the South Caucasus. Others warn Armenia still depends heavily on Russia for trade, remittances, energy and access to markets, making any rapid break risky.
In an interview with Caucasus Watch, political commentator Arnold Bleyan said Armenia is likely to gradually reduce dependence on Russia if relations with Azerbaijan and Türkiye improve and borders reopen. He also warned of possible Russian attempts to influence Armenian politics through media narratives, cyber activity and support for opposition groups. On the other hand, interviewed also by Caucasus Watch, academic Grigor Balasanyan said accusations of Russian “hybrid warfare” are overstated and argued that European involvement in Armenia’s electoral process is more visible.
Former president Robert Kocharyan and other opposition figures have criticised the government’s foreign policy. They call for a more balanced approach that avoids dragging Armenia into rivalries between outside powers or chasing short-term geopolitical advantages.
The June 2026 election is now expected to be a key test of Armenia’s geopolitical course. A renewed mandate for Pashinyan could accelerate closer ties with Western partners, while an opposition victory may bring a more balanced approach that favours closer ties with Russia in order to avoid dragging Armenia into rivalries between outside powers or chasing short-term geopolitical advantages.
Source: commonspace.eu with Caucasus Watch
https://www.commonspace.eu/news/armenias-russia-debate-deepens-ahead-2026-elections
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From NATO Partnership for Peace crisis to European Peace Facility delays: Orbá
The recent defeat of Viktor Orbán in Hungary has opened up new opportunities for genuine rapprochement with Armenia. Despite the restoration of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2022 – following a decade-long suspension triggered by Hungary’s handling of an ethnically motivated murder during a NATO PfP training it hosted – Hungary’s subsequent positions have constrained and delayed EU support to Armenia.
April 30, 2026 – Sossi Tatikyan
Viktor Orbán’s electoral defeat marks a significant political development not only for Hungary, the European Union, and support for Ukraine, but also for Armenia. After all, it may have implications for EU cohesion, decision-making dynamics, and the Union’s external engagement in regions such as the South Caucasus. Armenia has been directly affected by a series of decisions taken by the government of Viktor Orbán between 2012 and 2025.
A defining episode: the 2012 extradition
The roots of this trajectory go back to August 2012, when the Hungarian government authorized the extradition to Azerbaijan of Ramil Safarov, a convicted Azerbaijani military officer who had killed the Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan with an axe while he slept during a NATO Partnership for Peace (PfP) English-language training course in Budapest in 2004. He had also intended to attack a second Armenian officer but was prevented by security personnel. The murder itself had caused a significant sense of crisis within the NATO Partnership for Peace framework, raising concerns about trust, security, and the viability of cooperative engagement between its members. This incident ultimately contributed to the eventual cancellation of a planned NATO PfP military exercise in Baku in September 2024.
Upon his return to Azerbaijan, Safarov was pardoned by President Ilham Aliyev. The officer was promoted in rank, awarded, and publicly honoured. This drew strong international criticism, including condemnation by US President Barack Obama. In response, Armenia suspended diplomatic relations with Hungary in 2012, which remained frozen for a decade.
The extradition was accompanied by allegations of financial incentives. Investigative reporting pointed to transfers exceeding seven million US dollars to a Hungarian bank account linked to an offshore company associated with Azerbaijani elites around the same period. This also coincided with Viktor Orbán’s visit to Baku and the decisions that shaped the extradition process. In addition, broader arrangements were reported, often referring to two to three billion euros in Azerbaijani investments or purchases of Hungarian government bonds.
Post-2022 normalization without policy shift
Diplomatic relations between Armenia and Hungary were restored in December 2022. However, the subsequent positions of the government led by Viktor Orbán continued to align with Azerbaijan, with practical implications for Yerevan. Within the Council of the European Union, Hungary and Italy reportedly prevented consensus on adopting a strong collective condemnation of Azerbaijan’s September 2023 military offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh. As a result, a statement was issued instead by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell.
Symbolic signalling and cultural heritage
In July 2024, Viktor Orbán visited Shusha (Armenian version – Shushi) to participate in an informal summit of the Organization of Turkic States hosted by Ilham Aliyev. The town, located in the former area of Nagorno-Karabakh, had come under Azerbaijani control following the 2020 war and has since been used as a venue for international events. The choice of the town as the venue conveyed clear political signalling in the aftermath of the conflict.
Despite the Hungarian government’s self-positioning as a defender of Christian heritage, it did not publicly address the condition of Armenian religious and cultural heritage in the area. This is particularly significant given documented cases of the alteration and distortion of Armenian heritage. This includes the Surb Ghazanchetsots Cathedral in the centre of the town, as well as damage and appropriation to sites in other parts of Karabakh.
Delays in EU support to Armenia
Hungary played a sustained role in trying to prevent and delaying EU assistance to Armenia under the European Peace Facility, an instrument designed to support partners’ security and defence capacities through non-lethal means. Both the first (ten million euro) and second (20 million euro) assistance measures for Armenia were blocked by Hungary for extended periods – approximately 1.5 years each – before their eventual approval. These delays were not procedural but political, reflecting Hungary’s positioning within EU decision-making processes.
The prolonged blockage occurred at a time when Armenia was seeking to strengthen its resilience and defence capacity following repeated security challenges, including escalations along its internationally recognized borders. The delays therefore had practical implications, postponing the delivery of EU-supported capabilities and limiting the timeliness of the EU’s response.
Implications for Armenia’s upcoming elections
These dynamics also intersect with Armenia’s domestic political context ahead of the forthcoming elections on June 7th. Orbán has often been perceived as being aligned with Russia and, by extension, associated in Armenian political discourse with external influence narratives linked to Moscow. This perception is reinforced by Moscow’s support for pro-Russian opposition forces in Armenia working against Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.
At the same time, Armenia’s parliament adopted an EU integration bill in spring 2025. This was cautiously framed as a long-term aspiration toward membership in the European Union – an agenda explicitly opposed by Russia. However, the opposition also claims that US Vice President J.D. Vance has expressed support for Pashinyan during his February 2026 visit to Armenia, as he previously did for Orbán. This adds further complexity to the interpretation of external signals.
Supporters of both the ruling party and the opposition interpret these signals through their respective political narratives. For the ruling side, Orbán’s defeat is framed as a setback for Russia and, by extension, Vladimir Putin, while for the opposition it is seen as a setback for J.D. Vance. In spite of these different interpretations, Orbán is widely perceived in Armenian public discourse as the leader responsible for extraditing the convicted killer of the army officer.
Outlook: opening space for Armenia–Hungary engagement
In the short term, these dynamics may influence the framing of the electoral campaign itself. Competing interpretations of external developments – whether linked to Russia, the European Union, or the United States – are likely to be mobilized by both sides to reinforce existing narratives about Armenia’s strategic orientation and external partnerships.
Taken together, these developments illustrate how Armenia–EU relations have been shaped not only by bilateral engagement but also by internal EU dynamics. The EU’s ability to act as a coherent foreign policy actor depends on consensus among its member states, and when that consensus is constrained, the effects extend directly to Armenia.
Overall, these developments reflect a set of policies that have had practical implications for Armenia. While it is too early to assess future directions, the political transition in Hungary may provide an opportunity to open a new page in Armenia–Hungary relations and explore more constructive engagement within the EU framework.
Sossi Tatikyan holds a Master of Public Administration degree from the Harvard Kennedy School, has been a NATO Defense College Partnership for Peace Research Fellow, and is currently a PhD Researcher at Sorbonne Nouvelle University. She is the co-founder and director of the Yerevan Center of Foreign and Security Policy established in 2025. Previously she has been a diplomat for Armenia and UN Security Sector Reform and Political Officer in several peace operations. Her main research topics are ethnic conflicts, cognitive and information warfare and lawfare, Euro-Atlantic integration, and the security dilemmas and policies of small states.
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Disinformation watch: false claims on Armenia village transfer to Georgia debu
Pashinyan says no talks with Azerbaijan on return of displaced Armenians
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Thursday firmly denied that Armenia is engaged in negotiations with Azerbaijan over the return of displaced Armenians or Azerbaijanis to their former homes, including Nagorno-Karabakh and Baku.
Addressing reporters at a government briefing, Pashinyan said such discussions have “never” been part of the bilateral agenda. He warned that both issues, the return of Armenians to Azerbaijan and Azerbaijanis to Armenia, are being deliberately manipulated to provoke political tensions.
“We are not discussing the return of Armenians to Karabakh, to Baku, or to other places, nor are we discussing the return of Azerbaijanis,” Pashinyan declared. “These topics have a provocative effect on the current political situation. They can escalate one another and often that is exactly what happens.”
He accused some political figures of exploiting the issue for “cheap political manipulation”, claiming they alternate between inflaming one narrative and then another when the first fails to gain traction.
“This is nothing more than low-level political exploitation,” Pashinyan added.
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