April 12, 2026
For more than a year, small and medium-sized businesses have been facing various problems, and in many cases they have been closed due to the Government’s decision to increase the turnover tax. The decision came into force on January 1 last year, which was followed by protests by small and medium-sized entrepreneurs, which, however, did not yield any results, many entrepreneurs simply closed their businesses.
SME: of the association Shiraki branch director Karen Avagyan warns again: small and medium-sized businessmen continue to close their businesses, adding that, apart from the turnover tax, there is one more problem.
“Now, small and medium-sized businesses are greatly hindered by the uncontrollable growth of large supermarkets. Of course, it is good that supermarkets are opening, but where one supermarket is opened, small shops in that area with a radius of about 500 meters are closed, even if they are not closed at that moment, they are closed after some time.
Right now, in the central streets of Gyumri, particularly in the 58th district, I counted the other day, 13 shops had the sign “For Rent” written on them. 168.amKaren Avagyan said in a conversation with
According to him, they should not invent the solutions to this problem, because such solutions have been around the world for a long time, one of them is that big supermarkets should be located outside the city, have a large parking lot, and every family should go to do their big shopping once a week. And the rest of the purchases should be made in small shops already inside the city.
“The whole world went to these solutions a long time ago, but we don’t want to use it.
Of course, we are all happy that jobs are opening, but as far as I understand, our Government is acting with the opposite thinking. In other words, they justify their actions and tax policy by the fact that efficiently working shops survive. Well, it’s clear that whoever invests a lot of capital can organize their activities very efficiently, for example, there could be one accountant for 10 supermarkets, the costs will automatically be lower. However, small shops should have a separate accountant,” added Karen Avagyan.
Continuing to talk about the problems, Karen Avagyan also pointed out that they have complicated the use of QR codes for products, they are constantly adding to the list of products for which separate accounting with QR codes is required. It turns out that small stores either have to refuse to sell products with these codes, which will automatically drive their customers to large stores, or they have to incur expenses again, pay accounting fees to online accounting companies for QR code maintenance, etc.
“The question arises: why should people necessarily work hard, why shouldn’t there be an easy option of taxation for small businesses?” We have known for a long time that SMEs agree to pay high taxes in order to avoid additional complications. Knowing all that, they raised the taxes and tightened everything even more.
“Today, you can see many stores where not only seasonal discounts are offered, but also the entire product is sold at liquidation prices, because they are closing,” emphasized Karen Avagyan.
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168: Didn’t the Armenian people see the fortune of Syria? that we need wisdom and experience?
April 12, 2026
“Pressing” religious scholar, sociologist and philosopher Vardan Khachatryan in the program spoke about the last meeting between Putin and Pashinyan. The latter noted that it was perhaps the toughest of the Pashinyan-Putin meetings. that was the leitmotif of the meeting.
“Europe understands that its relations with the USA are in danger. In this case, Europe can have ambitions of future rise only through China, and this can happen only over Azerbaijan, based on which we have to consider our possible steps. Is this comparable to our interests?” said Vardan Khachatryan.
The former member of the National Assembly wondered if the Armenian people did not see the fate of Syria. If we must learn wisdom and experience only from our own mistakes, we will perish.
“What is Pashinyan’s Europe and where does he want to go?” Is there any analytical document, is there an analysis that, for example, the structure of the economy of Germany, France or Austria is such that we can have a presence there,” said Vardan Khachatryan.
Details in the video.
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Asbarez: ‘Just Like We Entered Karabakh’: Erdogan Threatens Military Action A
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Israel Invokes the Armenian Genocide in Slamming Erdogan
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey on Sunday threatened military action against Israel accusing the Jewish State of atrocities being carried out against Palestine and Lebanon. The Turkish leader cited interventions in Karabakh as a blueprint for its proposed attack.
Meanwhile, Israel responded by accusing Turkey of “building its economy on the Armenian Genocide,” calling Erdogan a “megalomaniacal dictator.”
“We must be strong to prevent Israel from doing this to Palestine,” Erdogan told reporters on Sunday. “Just as we entered Karabakh, just as we entered Libya, we will do the same to them,” he added. “There is nothing to prevent us from doing it. We just need to be strong so that we can take these steps.”
This became yet another public admission by Erdogan that Turkey was actively involved and engaged in the 2020 Artsakh War, a fact being downplayed by Turkish diplomatic circles and ignored by the international community.
Earlier in the day, in an address to the International Asia-Political Parties Conference being convened in Istanbul, Erodgan called Israel’s actions “barbaric.”
“The blood-stained genocide network continues to kill innocent children, women, and civilians without any rule or principle, ignoring all kinds of human values,” Erdogan said at the conference.
Sharply condemning Erdogan’s remarks, Israel’s Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu accused the Turkish leader of hypocrisy, noting Turkey’s history of territorial aggression in Cyprus and its treatment of minorities, particularly the Kurds, reported MSN.com.
“Turkey, which conquered Northern Cyprus and controls Kurdish territories in the east, dares to lecture us on morality. Turkey, which built its economy on the Armenian Genocide, dares to accuse us of genocide. Turkey, which enforces Islamization by force, dares to speak about human rights,” Eliyahu said in a statement.
“The hypocritical Erdogan doesn’t impress anyone with this current circus,” he continued, describing the Turkish president as a “megalomaniacal dictator” with “imperialist ambitions” who sees himself as “an Ottoman Sultan while being no more than a pathetic tyrant of a country with a collapsing economy and a dead democracy.”
Eliyahu’s remarks went further than only criticizing Erdogan, implying that it was time for Israel and Turkey to “close this sad chapter of relations” and vowing to bring a proposal before the Israeli government to sever diplomatic ties with Turkey completely.
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Asbarez: Declaration of the Diaspora Mobilization Conference
The Diaspora National Mobilization Conference took place from April 11 to 12, in Paris, bringing together more than 150 distinguished intellectuals, political leaders, and public and community figures from Armenia, Artsakh, and 26 countries across the Diaspora. The conference provided a comprehensive assessment of Armenia–Diaspora relations amid ongoing national challenges and evolving geopolitical realities, highlighting the urgent need for coordinated mobilization around a unified pan-Armenian agenda.
At the opening session of the conference, welcoming remarks were delivered by His Holiness Karekin II and His Holiness Aram I, as well as by the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Artsakh and Acting President of the Republic of Artsakh, Ashot Danielyan. Best wishes for the success of the conference were also conveyed by ARF Bureau Representative Armen Rustamyan.
Following discussions on the four-point agenda, the conference adopted relevant decisions, outlined key priorities, and identified the steps to be undertaken in that direction.
A. THE STRATEGIC ROLE OF THE DIASPORA AND THE POLITICAL AGENDA
The role of the Diaspora in addressing the challenges facing the Armenian people holds strategic importance. Today, as Armenian statehood faces serious security threats and the foundations of national identity are being targeted, a pan-Armenian mobilization around national agendas has become imperative. The national and state interests and goals of Armenia, Artsakh, and the Armenian people are inseparable.
At the current stage, the key priorities of the Diaspora’s political agenda are:
Strengthening Armenian statehood. Developing and implementing a comprehensive strategic program aimed at reinforcing the Republic of Armenia’s strength and security.
Recognition and reparation of the Armenian Genocide. Despite the policies pursued by the current authorities of Armenia, the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide and the pursuit of reparations remain imperative.
The Artsakh issue. The issue of Artsakh remains on the agenda and includes the following practical steps:
- Pursuing the immediate release of prisoners of war
- Protecting the rights of the people of Artsakh and internationalizing the right to collective return
- Safeguarding the Armenian cultural heritage of occupied Artsakh
- Providing full support to the functioning of Artsakh’s state institutions
- Working to protect the civil rights and address the socio-economic challenges of forcibly displaced Armenians from Artsakh currently residing in Armenia
B. THE ROLE OF NATIONAL VALUES AND THE ARMENIAN CHURCH IN PRESERVING ARMENIAN IDENTITY IN THE DIASPORA
Armenian identity is rooted in Armenian history, the Armenian Church, language, culture, and national values, which constitute the fundamental pillars of the Diaspora’s existence. In the current critical circumstances, the Armenian Church, as in the past, continues to serve not only as a spiritual anchor but also as a cornerstone of the Armenian people’s national and spiritual identity.
Condemning the campaign unleashed by the authorities of the Republic of Armenia against Armenian values and the Armenian Apostolic Church, it is necessary to take into account the following priorities:
- Resistance. Any step or action directed against national identity must be met with organized and unified resistance.
- Unity. Prevent division and establish strong unity around the Church.
- Education and upbringing. Strengthen and expand the educational, cultural, and spiritual systems of the Diaspora to ensure the preservation and transmission of Armenian identity to larger numbers of future generations. Foster in the younger generation a sense of awareness of national collective interests and the will to uphold and take ownership of them.
C. KEY ISSUES AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS OF ARMENIA–DIASPORA RELATIONS
The national value system is the primary source of strength for the Republic of Armenia and the Armenian nation as a whole. It must serve as the indispensable foundation for shaping Armenia–Diaspora relations and the pan-Armenian agenda. Following the 44-day war, as well as the most recent war in Artsakh and the subsequent ethnic cleansing, the policies pursued by the Armenian authorities have led to deep disappointment and disillusionment among the Diaspora, giving rise to concerning tendencies of internal detachment from the homeland.
The policy of the current Armenian authorities—marked by the neglect, division, and disregard of the organized Diaspora and its support for the homeland—is strongly condemnable. Equally concerning is the inaction of the Armenian authorities toward Armenian communities in the Middle East facing existential threats.
Accordingly, the priorities of Armenia–Diaspora relations are:
Strategic Armenia–Diaspora cooperation: Restore and elevate institutional ties with the Diaspora to a new qualitative level.
Effective mechanisms for utilizing pan-Armenian capacity and networks: Ensure the broad participation of Diaspora professionals across various state projects and sectors, with the prospect of assuming responsibilities.
Formation of a unified Armenia–Diaspora framework: Develop and implement a unified policy across political, diplomatic, economic, scientific, military-industrial, informational, and educational-cultural spheres. In this context, the Diaspora’s professional potential plays a significant role in the application of Armenian soft power.
Western Armenian is endangered: The protection and development of Western Armenian requires an active role not only from the Diaspora but also from the Republic of Armenia.
Enhancing the role of the Diaspora: Initiate professional discussions on the possible models of Diaspora participation in the governance of the Republic of Armenia and in advancing pan-Armenian issues, with the aim of achieving national consensus and legal solutions within Armenia’s political system.
D. DIASPORA MOBILIZATION AND REVITALIZATION FOR PAN-ARMENIAN GOALS
The need for unity, strengthening, and reorganization of the Diaspora around pan-Armenian agendas is indisputable.
It is imperative to consolidate the Diaspora around national goals, modernize Diaspora structures and overall modes of operation, foster direct cooperation between communities, and consistently strengthen collective capacity. In this process of reorganization, the full engagement of youth is especially vital.
Diaspora mobilization must be carried out around strategic programs, taking into account the following priorities:
- Strengthening the global Armenian nation and the Republic of Armenia as two components of one nation
- Supporting the process of building a strong national state
- Advancing the Armenian Cause and pan-Armenian objectives
In light of the above conclusions and outlined priorities, the Diaspora National Mobilization Conference emphasizes that, in today’s complex geopolitical environment, the vitality and strength of the Diaspora are inseparably linked to the homeland.
Our unity must be anchored in enduring national values and a vision of strengthening statehood as a shared agenda. The national and state interests and goals of Armenia, Artsakh, and the Armenian people are inseparable.
We reject the divisive and alienating approaches adopted by the current authorities of the Republic of Armenia.
Instead, we call for the establishment of healthy, coordinated, and balanced relations, which are the only guarantee for strengthening the Armenian nation and preserving Armenian statehood.
With a strong sense of national responsibility, our collective potential must serve exclusively pan-Armenian goals, ensuring a secure and guaranteed future for the Armenian people.
To this end, we emphasize the importance of the participation of all citizens of the Republic of Armenia—regardless of their place of residence—in National Assembly elections. We call on all citizens of the Republic of Armenia, including those abroad, to travel to Armenia by their own means and take part in the elections.
It is necessary to change the current authorities’ anti-national course and establish a national state-oriented path of development.
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Dr. Oz Sued by Armenian Meat Market Owner Over Viral Video
Ivanyan claims Oz’s accusations of healthcare fraud damaged her business and reputation.
Apr. 11, 2026
Dr. Oz, the former TV personality, is being sued by Anna Ivanyan, the owner of Tigranakert Meat Market in Van Nuys, California. Ivanyan alleges that a viral video posted by Oz in January, where he accused various businesses of being linked to a ‘Russian Armenian Mafia’ healthcare fraud scheme, has damaged her business and reputation.
Why it matters
This case highlights the power and responsibility of public figures when making serious accusations. While Oz has the right to free speech, the impact of his words on a small business owner’s livelihood raises questions about defamation and the influence of social media.
The details
In the video, Oz featured Ivanyan’s meat market, implying it was part of the alleged criminal network. Ivanyan denies these claims and has filed a lawsuit, arguing that Oz’s video has ruined her business and reputation. The case showcases the complexities of modern media, where a single viral video can have far-reaching consequences.
- Oz posted the viral video in January 2026.
- Ivanyan filed the lawsuit against Oz in April 2026.
The players
Dr. Oz
A former TV personality who posted a viral video accusing various businesses, including Ivanyan’s meat market, of being linked to a ‘Russian Armenian Mafia’ healthcare fraud scheme.
Anna Ivanyan
The owner of Tigranakert Meat Market in Van Nuys, California, who is suing Dr. Oz for allegedly damaging her business and reputation through his viral video.
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What they’re saying
“While Dr. Oz has the right to voice his concerns, the impact of his words and actions cannot be understated. By associating a small business with organized crime, he potentially ruins lives and livelihoods.”
— Author
“This case highlights the fine line between free speech and defamation. While Dr. Oz has the right to voice his concerns, the impact of his words and actions cannot be understated.”
— Author
What’s next
The court will determine whether Oz’s video constitutes defamation and if Ivanyan is entitled to financial compensation for the alleged damage to her business.
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Armenia: First Live Performance of “Paloma Rumba”
SIMÓN performed “Paloma Rumba”, his entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026, during Eurovision in Concert 2026 in Amsterdam last Saturday. SIMÓN performed the song live for the first time alongside other Eurovision 2026 contestants in the Dutch capital.
Simon Hovhannisyan, better known as SIMÓN, participated in Depi Evratesil, the Armenian selection for Eurovision 2025 and finished second with “Ay paparey bye”. He won the international and Armenian jury votes during the contest. SIMÓN was the final artist to be revealed for Eurovision 2026.
SIMÓN will perform “Paloma Rumba” sixth in the second semi-final on May 14.
Armenia debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2006 and has participated every year since, excluding 2012 and 2021. Armenia’s best results came in 2008 and 2014, when they finished 4th in the final. They have failed to qualify for the final on three occasions. Since their debut, they have finished in the top 10 in the final eight times.
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Montvale to host Armenian Genocide commemoration April 18
MONTVALE — A pan-Armenian community commemoration of the Armenian Genocide is scheduled for Saturday, April 18, at 4 p.m. at Huff Pond on Memorial Drive.
In the event of inclement weather, the program will be held at the Montvale Community Center, 1 Memorial Drive.
The event is being organized by the Armenian National Committee of New Jersey and supported by members of the Montvale community. It is being held under the auspices of Montvale Mayor Mike Ghassali.
The keynote speaker will be Nina Shahverdyan, an educator and activist from Stepanakert, Artsakh.
Invited clergy include representatives of Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Apostolic Church, St. Leon Armenian Apostolic Church, and the Armenian Presbyterian Church.
Invited guests include Congressman Mike Lawler of New York, Congressman Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey, State Sen. Holly T. Schepisi, and Bergen County Commissioners Tracy Silna Zur and Thomas Sullivan.
The program will also include a musical interlude by oudist Ara Dinkjian. Taleen Stephans will serve as emcee, while Niree Kaprielian and the Homenetmen of New Jersey Scouts will present the flags and anthems. Youth speaker Sarhad Melkonian is also scheduled to participate.
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‘Symbol of trust:’ Estonia opens embassy in Armenia
Estonia opened a new embassy in Armenia’s capital, Yerevan, this week, marking a “new stage” in relations between the two countries, Minister of Foreign Affairs Margus Tsahkna (Eesti 200) said.
At the opening ceremony, the minister highlighted that practical cooperation between the two countries has grown significantly.
“Diplomatic relations between Estonia and Armenia date back to 1992, and the opening of our embassy in Yerevan today marks a new stage in our relations. The embassy is a symbol of trust, reaffirming Estonia’s commitment to being present, contributing and strengthening relations with Armenia,” Tsahkna said.
Estonia’s first Ambassador to Armenia Marge Mardisalu-Kahar said the country is an important partner for Estonia in development cooperation.
“Estonia has shared its experience and expertise in the digital field, where Armenia has made rapid progress. Together with ESTDEV, we will continue implementing development cooperation projects in both digital development and strengthening export capacity,” she added.
Mardisalu-Kahar was formerly the ambassador in Georgia, but Estonia withdrew the position in February.
Relations between Tallinn and Tbilisi have cooled after the ruling Georgian Dream party took power at the end of 2024. The new government has halted its accession process with the European Union, introduced a Russian-inspired foreign agent law for NGOs, and suppressed protests.
Estonia’s relations with Armenia have begun to develop rapidly after 2023, when Russia failed to guarantee the country’s security in a conflict with Azerbaijan and Yerevan started looking westwards.
Tsahkna also met with Armernia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ararat Mirzoyan during his visit.
“We see strong potential to expand cooperation in innovation, cybersecurity and digital development. There is also growing interest in Armenia in Estonian companies and start-ups,” he added.
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Kyrgyzstan and Armenia had the highest-quality corporate loan portfolios in th
Kyrgyzstan and Armenia demonstrated the highest quality of corporate loan portfolios among the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union as of the fourth quarter of 2025. This is evidenced by comparative data on the banking systems of the region’s countries.
The share of loans without overdue debt in Kyrgyzstan and Armenia was 99% each. This is the highest figure among the countries under review. For comparison, this figure was 98.7% in Belarus, 97.6% in Kazakhstan, and 96.6% in Russia.
Accordingly, the level of non-performing loans, i.e., those with overdue debt, in Kyrgyzstan and Armenia was minimal—1% each. This is significantly lower than in Kazakhstan (2.4%) and Russia (3.4%).
At the same time, against the backdrop of a high-quality loan portfolio, Kyrgyzstan also showed the most significant growth in lending. The volume of corporate debt on loans in national currency increased by 39% over the year. This is the highest figure among the EAEU countries. In Armenia and Belarus, growth amounted to 20% in each country, in Kazakhstan—18%, and in Russia—11%.
In the foreign currency loan segment, most EAEU countries also saw an increase in debt, with the exception of Belarus and Russia, where a decline was recorded.
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The End of Moscow’s Monopoly: America’s Strategic Victory in the South Caucas
Historically, the South Caucasus has been at the epicentre of great power rivalries, from Roman to Russian hegemonies, shaping a complex region marked by deep ethnic divisions. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the region has often been labelled as Russia’s backyard, but this dynamic is now shifting as growing American interest expands Washington’s sphere of influence directly along Moscow’s periphery.
The US Vice President’s historic state visit to Armenia and Azerbaijan on 9–11 February captured a pivotal moment in contemporary American foreign policy. What was once considered peripheral to American interests is now positioned to consolidate the United States’ strategic diplomatic and economic orbit. Under President Trump’s second term, Washington has emerged as a guarantor of regional peace, with plans to advance major investments in AI, defence, energy, and trade corridors. Key agreements totalled billions of dollars, signalling a westward reorientation amid declining Russian influence.
First American Vice President in Armenia
J D Vance honoured the Armenian victims of the tragic events of 1915 at the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex in Yerevan on 9 February as a gesture of solidarity prior to official talks with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. He continued to emphasize Armenia’s importance in the Christian faith as one of the first peoples to accept and missionize the religion. Both officials prioritized the TRIPP (Trump Route for Peace and Prosperity) initiative, designed to facilitate Armenia’s role as a Europe–Asia bridge for trade and energy flows. This economic corridor would enable Central Asian rare earth minerals, uranium, and other metals to be exported to Western markets via Azerbaijan and Armenia, including through the Zangezur, or Syunik, corridor, thereby significantly reducing US dependence on Chinese rare earth supplies, which currently account for approximately 70 per cent of American consumption.
‘Under President Trump’s second term, Washington has emerged as a guarantor of regional peace’
Among the many significant deals signed in Yerevan, the agreement on AI and semiconductors attracted considerable attention following the Vice President’s endorsement of NVIDIA’s partnership with Freebird AI. The project entails a $500 million initial factory, expanding into a $4 billion Phase 2 megaproject—one of the world’s top five GPU clusters—creating jobs and reducing US chip vulnerabilities.
Another civil nuclear agreement, aimed at reducing Yerevan’s reliance on Russian energy, secured a $5 billion US investment to construct small modular reactors, along with $4 billion in long-term support to help Armenia diversify its energy portfolio. A defence cooperation agreement included an $11 million V-BAT drone sale under the Foreign Military Sales programme, enhancing surveillance capabilities following joint ‘Eagle Partner’ exercises. In Armenia’s experience, drone supremacy proved decisive during the Second Karabakh War, when Azerbaijan deployed advanced Israeli and Turkish drones to shift the conflict’s outcome.
However, Iranian pressure on Armenian officials—Khalil Shirgholami confirmed that a deal is expected to be signed in 2026—could potentially complicate expanded military cooperation with Washington, given the sensitivity of exposing American technology to hostile states. The IRGC and Iran’s political establishment have consistently opposed President Trump’s regional peace efforts and have attempted to disrupt the process through various channels.
Vance’s Visit to Azerbaijan and the Charter of Strategic Partnership
Vice President Vance’s visit to Baku was the highest-level diplomatic trip of an American official to the nation’s capital since Dick Cheney’s 2008 tour of the South Caucasus. The Second Lady, Usha Vance and the Vice President paid their respects at the Alley of Martyrs, laying a wreath at the Eternal Flame to honour the victims of the 20 January 1990 Soviet massacre, symbolizing respect for Azerbaijan’s sovereignty.
The historic visit defines a turning point in US–Azerbaijan relations, underscored by the signing of the Charter of Strategic Partnership, which formalizes cooperation will cover defence, AI, counterterrorism, and Caspian maritime security. The agreement also encourages private US investment in Azerbaijan’s infrastructure, including the establishment of multiple AI data centres to expand America’s digital footprint, although specific financial figures remain undisclosed pending private sector commitments.
‘The historic visit defines a turning point in US–Azerbaijan relations’
The defence pact provides for the export of American-made patrol boats to complement Azerbaijan’s newly acquired Israeli-made ‘Sea Breaker’ precision-guided missiles, strengthening its capacity to address Iranian threats in the Caspian Sea. Integration into the TRIPP strengthens Azerbaijan’s posture in rerouting Central Asian rare minerals westward, enhancing US supply chain resilience which will ultimately grant Washington greater strategic access to the Caspian basin and the Middle Corridor.
The record of Azerbaijan is a testimony of its active participation in NATO’s Partnership for Peace (PfP) programme together with its peacekeeping operations alongside American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. The country holds strategic importance for United States interests because it shares a border with Iran, and operates as a vital transportation link between Central Asia and the rest of the region.
Erosion of Russian Influence and the Rise of US Engagement
Under Nikol Pashinyan’s premiership, Armenia has transformed from a Russian satellite state into a pro-Western democracy, aiming to deepen its ties with the European Union and the United States. Following the peace agreement signed under the supervision of President Trump, Azerbaijan also appears to be moving along a more US-aligned trajectory.
Baku has traditionally maintained relatively pro-Western orientations due to its close ties with Ankara and Jerusalem, while supplying natural gas to more than a dozen EU member states. Recent developments further institutionalize both Yerevan’s and Baku’s political engagement, reflected in their accession to the Board of Peace as founding members.
For Armenia, Russia has proven to be an unreliable guarantor of its security, significantly eroding public trust. Fewer than 20 per cent of Armenians now perceive Russia as a reliable ally, compared to 93 per cent in 2013. Azerbaijan, meanwhile, is seeking the repeal of Section 907 following its suspension under President Trump’s rapprochement policy in August 2025, a move that would further enhance military ties between Azerbaijan and the United States.
Despite Russia’s role as a catalyst for renewed tensions and regional instability, both countries remain committed to learning how to coexist in peace. The downing of an Azerbaijani passenger plane in December 2024, along with Russia’s continued efforts to undermine Nikol Pashinyan’s democratically elected government, has discouraged both nations from seeking political alignment with Moscow. At the same time, US strategic interests in the region centre on preserving peace after three decades of continuous bloodshed.
Farid Shukurlu is a Research Fellow at the Danube Institute in Budapest. He holds an LLM in International Law from the University of Hull and a Bachelor of Social Sciences, magna cum laude, in International Relations and European Politics from Masaryk University, with additional studies in European Union law at Eötvös Loránd University.
His research focuses on international law on the use of force, security doctrine, and the foreign policies of the United States, the United Kingdom, Hungary, and Israel, with particular expertise in EU law and international law.
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