Category: News

The Armenian military has rejected claims by opposition figures that recently acquired weapons are incompatible with the army’s existing arsenal, saying all new procurements are carefully assessed for integration and operational compatibility before being adopted.

Speaking to reporters in parliament, Lt. Gen. Edward Asryan, the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, addressed claims that newly purchased weapons during the Pashinyan administration allegedly face integration issues with the Armed Forces’ overall equipment.

The top general said all parameters are taken into account when acquiring new weapons, including their compatibility with the Armed Forces’ arsenal and equipment.

“We do not buy weapons randomly. We assess all parameters and criteria—whether we can integrate the weapon into our arsenal and equipment, whether we are capable of learning to use it, whether our troops will be able to operate it, and how we will manage it within the overall automated system,” he said.

During a military parade held on May 28 at Republic Square in Yerevan, the Pashinyan administration showcased modern weapons systems, such as air defense systems and multiple rocket launchers, acquired over the past four years. Following the parade, various groups claimed that the newly acquired weapons are not compatible with the Armenian Armed Forces’ arsenal.

Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, Lt. Gen. Edward Asryan, reaffirmed that Armenia will not cede any territory from its declared 29,743 square kilometers during the ongoing border delimitation process with Azerbaijan.

He told reporters that the delimitation of the Armenia–Azerbaijan border is based on a specific map, which serves as the foundation for ongoing work in this direction.

“The delimitation process has a basis, and that basis is the map of a specific year,” he said when asked whether there are cases where he personally has disagreements in the process. “The General Staff also possesses this map, and we carry out our work in accordance with its requirements. There is also a representative of the Armed Forces in the delimitation commission who is very well versed in military cartography and fully familiar with all the requirements of that map,” Lt. Gen. Asryan explained, ruling out any disagreements on his part, since delimitation is being carried out along the state border of Armenia’s sovereign territory.

He reiterated that not an inch will be ceded from the declared 29,743 square kilometers of Armenia’s territory.

Referring to Armenian sovereign territories currently under Azerbaijani occupation following the incursions of 2021–2022, Asryan stressed that Armenia shall re-establish control over these areas as a result of the delimitation process.

Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan has said that anyone involved in electoral bribery must face strict accountability, stressing that the issue is a matter of both national security and democracy.

“If it is necessary to implement legislative and institutional changes for this, then those changes should be made now, without delay. However, I do not think such changes are necessary,” Pashinyan told members of his Cabinet during a live-streamed meeting.

“There is tolerance toward electoral bribery. I would not be surprised if it turns out that none of those caught taking or giving electoral bribes in previous elections are in prison today. Those who were caught during local elections continued their activities in parliamentary elections, and they will continue in the upcoming local elections as well.

I clearly demand that those who are caught taking or giving electoral bribes, regardless of their social status or position, be in prison at least until the official conclusion of the next national elections,” the Prime Minister added.

Prosperous Armenia Party President and business tycoon Gagik Tsarukyan has been indicted amid an ongoing criminal investigation, prosecutors said on Tuesday.

The criminal proceedings against Tsarukyan have been initiated on charges of tax evasion on a particularly large scale, according to the Prosecutor-General’s Office.

A travel ban has been imposed on him as a restraint measure as part of the investigation.

President of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides has congratulated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on his electoral victory.

“Warmest congratulations, Nikol Pashinyan, on your election victory. The people of Armenia have reaffirmed their commitment to a European future. Cyprus stands ready to further elevate our bilateral cooperation and EU-Armenia relations,” Christodoulides said in a post on X.

As Armenia pursues export diversification, an Armenian-Polish business forum was held in Yerevan to explore potential new markets for Armenian goods.

The founder and CEO of the Polish freight forwarding company “HayWay Group,” Artur Lewandowski, told Armenpress that practical contacts have been established between Armenian and Polish businesspeople, which will help strengthen bilateral economic relations.

“Negotiations are currently underway, and one of the practical steps will be that, at the end of June, 20 trucks loaded with Armenian apricots will go to Poland. Work is being done to obtain the necessary certificates so that the goods can be exported to Poland as soon as possible. We will start with apricot exports,” Lewandowski said.

Russia has been imposing growing restrictions on Armenian goods such as fruits and vegetables, prompting exporters to look for new markets. The EU has announced a support package, including €50 million in financial assistance, as well as additional measures aimed at expanding export markets for Armenian products.

The business forum brought together leading business representatives from both countries to strengthen economic, investment, and infrastructure cooperation between Armenia and Europe. The event, organized by several business organizations, hosted a 40-member Polish delegation visiting Armenia for five days, representing major international companies and sectors. Participants discussed expanding trade opportunities, including access to European markets for Armenian products. The forum also featured speeches by business and government representatives, highlighting the importance of deeper bilateral cooperation, and concluded with the signing of a cooperation agreement between the Armenian and Polish business communities.

The Bridge of Business: Armenia & Poland forum was jointly organized by the Mantashyants Business Club, the Polish company “HayWay Group,” and Employers of Poland, and was held within the framework of the “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity” (TRIPP) initiative, which aims to develop new and efficient trade routes connecting China and Europe, expand access for Armenian products to European markets, deepen Armenia–Europe economic ties, and explore the development potential of regional infrastructure and railway projects.

The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 9 June, USD exchange rate down by 0.08 drams to 368.45 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 1.42 drams to 426.15 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.0966 drams to 5.1181 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 1.95 drams to 493.61 drams.

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

Gold price down by 539 drams to 51182 drams.

The Anti-Corruption Committee announced on Tuesday that since February 7, 2026, it has initiated 115 criminal proceedings in connection with alleged corruption-related electoral offenses.

Of these, 77 cases (67%) are related to the Strong Armenia alliance, 24 cases (20.8%) to the Prosperous Armenia party, and 11 cases (9.6%) to the Armenia alliance, according to the law enforcement agency’s press release.

In 61 criminal proceedings, charges have been brought against 242 individuals. Fifty-two individuals are held in detention, while house arrest has been imposed on 48 individuals.

Alternative measures of restraint have been applied to 120 suspects: 20 individuals (8.2%) are under administrative supervision, and 100 individuals (41%) are under a travel ban.

Nineteen individuals are wanted, and 14 criminal cases involving 54 persons have been completed with indictments pending trial.

Stephen Doughty, the UK Minister of State for Europe, North America and Overseas Territories, has congratulated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on his victory in the parliamentary elections. The British official noted that the United Kingdom is ready to continue cooperation with Armenia’s new government.

“Congratulations to Nikol Pashinyan on your election victory. The UK looks forward to working with the new, democratically elected Armenian government to deliver on our Strategic Partnership, strengthen regional stability, and develop closer relations with partners in Europe,” Doughty wrote on his X account.

Parliamentary elections were held in Armenia on 7 June. According to preliminary results, three political forces have secured seats in parliament: the Civil Contract party, with 727,827 votes, or 49.825 per cent, which on the strength of its result will hold a parliamentary majority and form a government; the Strong Armenia alliance, with 340,088 votes, or 23.281 per cent; and the Armenia Alliance, with 145,113 votes, or 9.934 per cent. According to preliminary data, the Prosperous Armenia party is also very close to the four per cent threshold required to enter parliament, having received 3.996 per cent. The party had already announced that it would apply to the Central Electoral Commission for a recount at a number of polling stations. Other political forces had also called for a recount.