Category: News

Pashinyan vows tough response to electoral bribe distributors

Karagyozian Lena
Politics13:05, 29 October 2026
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Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said there should be no opposition party that distributes electoral bribes, warning that those who do so would face consequences.

“No electoral bribes should be distributed. We will ‘break the arms and legs’ of those who distribute electoral bribes—in the political sense, of course,” Pashinyan told reporters during a press briefing.

He added that if it turns out that members of his Civil Contract party also intend to distribute electoral bribes, they will be his class enemies.

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Pashinyan condemns violence in parliament, blames opposition for brawl

Greg Madatian
Politics13:16, 29 October 2026
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Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has reacted to the brawl in Armenia’s parliament, condemning violence while placing full responsibility for the incident on the parliamentary opposition and praising the actions of his Civil Contract faction.

“I condemn violence, but I support the measures taken by the Civil Contract faction today, because being in the opposition does not mean that one should become insolent,” he said at a press briefing.

“When a member of the Strong Armenia parliamentary faction behaved insolently from the parliamentary podium and refused to apologize despite appeals, requests and calls to do so, it was clear that this was how it would end. I place full responsibility for what happened on the opposition and, yes, I welcome the actions of Civil Contract faction MPs,” he added.

“Whether with a chair or something else, it is proportionate and right,” Pashinyan said, referring to Deputy Speaker Vahagn Aleksanyan from Civil Contract throwing a chair during the brawl.

Tensions escalated in parliament on October 29 during an exchange of views on the election of a member of the Audit Chamber. The incident occurred while Taron Chakhoyan, a Civil Contract faction MP, was speaking.

Chakhoyan reminded Karapetyan that his cousin had yet to apologize for a statement made before the parliamentary elections in which he said that, if they came to power, they intended to establish a separate “ministry to satisfy women.”

Karapetyan began speaking from his seat and then approached the podium. 

A brawl subsequently broke out.

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Pashinyan calls Armenia’s Declaration of Independence “anti-state”

Kajoyan Gevork
Politics13:20, 29 October 2026
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Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has described Armenia’s Declaration of Independence as anti-state, arguing that its text is incompatible with the existence of an independent state.

“That text makes it impossible to have an independent state; it is about the impossibility of having a state,” Pashinyan told reporters during a briefing.

Pashinyan said the adoption of a new Constitution was part of the Civil Contract party’s election program and that, having secured an absolute majority in the elections, his party must implement it.

“The opposition linked the constitutional process to the international and regional agenda. I think I will be able to make an offer that the opposition cannot refuse. There is a very high probability that this will not come to early elections. On the contrary, an offer will be formulated that the opposition cannot refuse. Yesterday, they gave us the opportunity to conduct the process in such a way that public pressure would be generated on the opposition, enabling them, through their vote, to make a referendum on a new Constitution possible,” the prime minister said.

Pashinyan had earlier announced that a draft of the new proposed Constitution would be published in the coming period.

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Pashinyan says he aims to leave office with peace deal signed and ratified

Hovhannisian John
Politics13:25, 29 October 2026
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Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said he would consider it a personal failure if he leaves office without Armenia’s peace agreement with Azerbaijan being signed and ratified.

“My goal is to end my tenure as prime minister with the peace agreement signed and ratified. If this does not happen, I will consider it a personal failure,” Pashinyan told reporters during a briefing.

Armenia and Azerbaijan initialed the Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and Interstate Relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan in Washington on August 8, 2025.

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Pashinyan and Kajzer discuss deeper Armenia–EU relations and regional connect

Antranik Varosian
Politics16:54, 29 October 2026
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Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan received Slovenia’s Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tone Kajzer.

According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the meeting covered the development of relations and the deepening of cooperation between Armenia and Slovenia. Pashinyan and Kajzer stressed the importance of stepping up political dialogue and expanding cooperation across various sectors, highlighting the need to arrange reciprocal high-level visits.

They also addressed the development of economic, technological and investment ties.

The two sides discussed further deepening Armenia–European Union relations, as well as steps to strengthen regional peace and stability. In this context, they highlighted the importance of implementing projects to unblock regional communications and develop transport links.

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Armenia to publish new Constitution’s text soon, Pashinyan says

Ara Felekian
Kazinform, Kazakhstan

Oct 29, 2026
21:57, 29 October 2026

Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said the text of a new Constitution would be published soon, followed by public discussions involving citizens and parliament, Armenpress reported.

Pashinyan made the remarks in response to MP Garnik Davtyan during a government question-and-answer session in the National Assembly.

The prime minister recalled that adopting a new Constitution had been included in his party’s election manifesto and was now also part of the Government’s programme.

“The text of the new Constitution will be published soon, and we will begin discussions with the people of the Republic of Armenia, including parliament. Of course, there will first be a public discussion over the coming months, after which the remaining stages will proceed in accordance with the established procedure,” Pashinyan said.

Earlier, Pashinyan did not rule out holding snap parliamentary elections to adopt a new Constitution if the process could not be completed through other means.

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From Resources to Opportunities: Armenia’s Mining Sector Looks to the Future

Eduard Nalbandian
Morning Star
Oct 29, 2026
Provided by PR Newswire Oct 29, 2026, 8:22:00 p.m

YERVANON, Armenia, Oct. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — More than 30 presentations, panel discussions and roundtables explored the future of responsible mining, investment and technology at the third annual Mining Armenia Forum 2026, held in Tsaghkadzor, Armenia. The event brought together around 50 speakers from Armenia and 14 other countries, including representatives of international mining companies and financial institutions, investors, policymakers, sustainability experts, technology providers, academics and civil society. The event was attended by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan, and other government officials.

The Forum also brought together a distinguished international lineup of speakers, including Mark Cutifani, as a keynote speaker.

Mining Armenia Forum partnered with Resourcing Tomorrow in forming a keynote panel on investment trends and with Wood Mackenzie that presented a survey on Armenian mining sector’s investment attractiveness.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan described the forum as an effective platform for transparent dialogue, emphasizing the importance of openly addressing the sector’s challenges and identifying opportunities for development. 

Building public trust and strengthening cooperation between the state, industry and society remain essential to the future of mining. Mineral resources belong to the people and the state of Armenia, while mining companies act as operators, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan emphasized at the forum. “We have also observed that the more the public sees the sector as its own, the more positively it perceives it”, Nikol Pashinyan said. 

The Prime Minister also highlighted the economic opportunities offered by mining and the growing need for new geological exploration. 

The global energy transition is creating new opportunities for resource-rich countries, but realizing them requires a forward-looking approach. Mark Cutifani, an internationally recognized mining expert and keynote speaker at Mining Armenia Forum 2026, highlighted the role of metals, technological advances and artificial intelligence in shaping the future of the sector. He argued that countries with significant mineral resources could achieve substantial development over the next 50–100 years.

“Armenia has already made good progress in its mining sector. The next stage is about building on that foundation through stronger engagement with local communities, constructive cooperation with government, and a clear, consistent regulatory framework. If industry, government, and society can align their interests, Armenia will be better positioned to unlock its mining potential and attract long-term investment.” 

Demand for critical minerals is expected to continue rising, placing countries such as Armenia in a position to capitalize on their resource base. According to the International Energy Agency, global copper demand alone is projected to increase by approximately 7 million tonnes by 2040. 

“Armenia has a long history of mining and produces metals in demand on international markets, including copper and molybdenum. Our goal is not simply to have more mining. Our goal is to develop a qualitatively new mining industry,” the Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan said. 

Long-term investment depends on clear, predictable rules and confidence in the stability of the business environment. Roman Khudoliy, CEO of the Zangezur Copper Molybdenum Combine (ZCMC), stressed the need to rethink the relationship between the state and subsoil users and establish transparent, consistent conditions for investment. “Investment recovery in the mining sector can take 10–15 years or longer, so investors need predictable conditions and confidence that their rights will be protected,” Khudoli added.

According to Vardan Jhanian, President of the Mining and Metallurgy Association of Armenia and First Deputy CEO of ZCMC, Armenia’s mining exports could reach approximately $3 billion in 2027, supported by the development of the Amulsar mine and rising copper and molybdenum prices. “We need a developed and growing mining industry, but it must also meet the expectations of the majority of our population by minimizing its impact on nature and surrounding communities. This is possible if we adopt the best standards for sustainable development,” Jhanian said. 

Unlocking Armenia’s mining potential will require sustained investment, modern technologies and international best practices. Hayk Aloyan, Founder, Chairman of the Board and CEO of Lydian Armenia, said that the sector’s future must be built on competitiveness, innovation, environmental responsibility and sustainable development. 

The importance of responsible resource management is particularly relevant as Armenia hosts the COP17 summit on biodiversity. The topic of biodiversity management was a prevalent theme across the discussions on sustainability. 

Held under the theme “From Resources to Opportunities,” Mining Armenia Forum 2026 was organized by the Mining Forum Development Foundation and the Mining and Metallurgy Association of Armenia. The strategic sponsors of the forum are the companies “Zangezur Copper and Molybdenum Combine” and “Lydian Armenia”, and the main sponsors are Ameriabank and “Teghut” CJSC.Over the past three years, Mining Armenia Forum has brought together more than 500 participants and over 40 international speakers from more than 20 countries.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/from-resources-to-opportunities-armenias-mining-sector-looks-to-the-future-302924115.html

SOURCE Mining Armenia Forum

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Galstyan clarified his statement about an “apocalypse” due to rising gas price

Emil Lazarian
ARKA, Armenia
Oct 29, 2026
29.10.2026, 10:46

In an interview with Hetq, Central Bank of Armenia Governor Martin Galstyan clarified his statement about an “apocalyptic scenario” for a gas price increase.
YEREVAN, October 29. /ARKA/. In an interview with Hetq, Central Bank of Armenia Governor Martin Galstyan clarified his statement about an “apocalyptic scenario” for a gas price increase.

At a press conference on September 16, Galstyan described the possibility of a gas price increase in Armenia as a Type X scenario, which “implies something more apocalyptic,” stating that the regulator’s response to it should go beyond the usual regime.

“Scenarios X or apocalyptic scenarios and I’m not talking about the gas price being apocalyptic, but about the characteristics of the scenario itself are those scenarios that are extremely unlikely but could have a major impact. This was precisely the goal to explain to the audience that we are also considering such scenarios,” Galstyan said. He explained, however, that these scenarios are not included in the Central Bank’s scenario-based decision-making approach because the regulator considers them unlikely.

Currently, when forecasting monetary policy and determining the refinancing rate, the Central Bank of Armenia relies on two alternative inflation scenarios A and B that are higher and lower than market participants’ expectations, focusing on risk management, minimizing potential economic losses, and increasing the transparency of decision-making.

Impact on the Economy

Responding to a question about the Central Bank’s position on the EAEU’s forecast of a possible 69% increase in gas prices for Armenia if its membership in the Union is suspended, the head of the Central Bank said that this is a different matter.

“If, for example, the price of gas were to rise by 69% or 79% […], we will pursue a policy aimed at returning inflation to our target. […] We will see what happens and, naturally, take appropriate steps more drastic or more lenient. “This will depend on the development of events and possible scenarios,” Galstyan said.

He announced that the Central Bank will begin another round of discussions on interest rates and monetary policy on November 2, during which, among other things, the potential knock-on effects will be discussed.

“An increase in gas prices could have various consequences. Some households may decide to consume less, while others may increase their gas budgets, leaving them with less money for other savings-related expenses,” he explained.

Speaking about businesses, the head of the Central Bank noted that some enterprises will be very sensitive to gas prices, while others will not feel the change at all.

“That is, it is also necessary to consider the sectoral structure of the economy to understand the impact this will have on the economy,” he said. Galstyan also emphasized that, unlike other agencies that can take certain preventative measures, such as stockpiling gas, the Central Bank will respond to an event that has already occurred, and will determine the intensity with which to apply its instruments, depending on whether the gas price changes or not.

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Amount of financial assistance to vulnerable families forcibly displaced from

Nahapetian Samvel
News.am, Armenia
Oct 29, 2026

The Armenian government made a new decision at Thursday’s Cabinet session on the social assistance program for the vulnerable families forcibly displaced from Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) to Armenia.

In particular, the period of monthly support of 30,000 drams (about $83) being allocated to individual groups has been extended until July 2027.

At the same time, however, starting from April 2027, that amount will be reduced to just 15,000 drams (about $41.5) per month.

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Armenia justice minister: Our internal agenda is not to remove something from

Babken Chilingarian
News.am, Armenia
Oct 29, 2026

Armenia justice minister: Our internal agenda is not to remove something from constitution, but to write new one

The text of the Armenia’s new constitution will be publicized within the next month, unless something unexpected happens, Justice Minister Srbuhi Galyan on Thursday told reporters outside the Armenian government building.

Asked how the discussions on Armenia’s new constitution will be organized, Galyan replied: “The same way as discussions on draft laws are organized, but broader, more inclusive, and longer—taking into account the importance and volume of the document.”

To the remark that the demand to remove the reference to Armenia’s Declaration of Independence from the country’s constitution comes from Azerbaijan, while the Armenian authorities say that it is Armenia’s internal agenda, the justice minister responded: “Our internal agenda is to develop a new constitution and decide what should or should not be in the constitution. Our internal agenda is not to remove anything from the constitution, our internal agenda is to write a new constitution.”

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