At the 152nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Istanbul, the representative of the ruling party of Armenia announced the beginning of a new era of stability in the South Caucasus, stressing the economic and humanitarian benefits of the peace process with Azerbaijan.
Hasmik Hakobyan, deputy of the “Civil Agreement” faction, in his speech called the joint declaration of August 8, 2025 a historical milestone, which established the recognition of mutual sovereignty based on the Alma-Ata declaration.
The politician considered the fact that, thanks to diplomatic efforts, there have been no armed incidents and casualties on the borders for almost two years, and it was also possible to ensure the return of prisoners. Yerevan considers regional economic integration to be the main driver of lasting peace.
As an example, Hakobyan pointed to the launch of the TRIPP program, within the framework of which, in November of last year, for the first time since 1991, a cargo train from Azerbaijan arrived in Armenia through the territory of Georgia.
“We are also ready to facilitate transit transportation between Azerbaijan and Turkey, believing that interdependence is the best antidote to enmity,” the Armenian parliamentarian emphasized.
Ahead of the parliamentary elections scheduled for June 2026, the Armenian authorities are promoting the concept of “Real Armenia”, which is aimed at development in internationally recognized territories.
According to Hakobyan, the government strives to make democracy and peace irreversible by building a future where state borders serve not as obstacles, but exclusively as gates of regional cooperation.
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Baku blocks the dialogue between Yerevan and Ankara. Simonyan
The Speaker of the Armenian Parliament, Alen Simonyan, stated that the process of normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations is being artificially stopped by Azerbaijan, whose political lobbying directly exerts pressure on Ankara.
In an interview with the Armenian media published in Turkey, the President of the National Assembly emphasized the paradoxical nature of the created situation. Baku conducts direct peace negotiations with Yerevan, but at the same time it hinders the Armenian-Turkish dialogue.
According to him, Ankara has actually fallen under the influence of Azerbaijan. Despite this, Simonyan expressed optimism about the early opening of borders and the establishment of diplomatic ties, stressing that technically both sides have done everything possible and have no serious disputes.
“Turkey seems to be a prisoner of these relations, but I believe that in the near future we will witness the opening of the border,” the spokesperson said.
Commenting on the initiative of the head of the Turkish parliament, Numan Kurtulmus, to create a regional parliamentary format with the participation of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey, Simonyan described it as a positive intermediate step against the background of the delay in opening the borders. He informed that he personally made a similar proposal a year and a half ago, sending official letters to colleagues from neighboring countries.
Simonyan added that Armenia should not be isolated and is ready to directly negotiate with its neighbors on issues that concern it.
Referring to Ankara’s unstable position, Simonyan drew attention to the constant change in Turkish preconditions. At first, the opening of the border was connected with the solution of the Karabakh problem, and then with the signing of the Armenian-Azerbaijani peace treaty.
The speaker reminded that Yerevan and Baku have already held lengthy negotiations, fully agreed on the 17 points of the document and even initialed it, but the expected breakthrough in relations with Turkey has not yet been recorded.
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The court extended the deadline for the sale of the share of HETC in favor of “Tashir”
The Administrative Court of the Republic of Armenia satisfied the claim of “Tashir Capital” CJSC against the government, giving the company the opportunity to expropriate its 70 percent share in “Electric Networks of Armenia” CJSC by May 25, 2026.
The court found it inadmissible to deprive the company of negotiations for the sale of property due to the bureaucratic delay of the postal notification by the government.
The legal dispute arose over the process of expropriation of HEP shares after the Public Service Regulatory Commission suspended the company’s electricity distribution license in November 2025. After that, the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure offered the shareholders to sell 100 percent of the shares to the state, setting a deadline of February 21, 2026 for a response. The department intended to consider the absence of a response within the specified time as a refusal of the transaction.
The problem was that the Ministry’s official letter to Tashir Capital arrived only on February 25, four days after the deadline. As a result, the shareholder was physically deprived of the opportunity to express his position, negotiate and voluntarily alienate the property to the state.
Judge Artur Avagyan ruled that the deadlines for the fulfillment of obligations start to operate only from the moment of proper notification of the party. According to the court, the opposite interpretation violates the principles of legal certainty and justice.
“From a legal point of view, such a period is considered ineffective and cannot lead to the loss of rights. In such conditions, the company cannot suffer negative legal consequences, and the opposite position of the administrative body contradicts the constitutional protection of property rights,” the court’s ruling states.
The court also stated that under the existing circumstances, the use of stricter measures by the state, including forced expropriation of assets, will be assessed as a disproportionate and premature interference with property rights. In addition, during the court hearings, the representatives of the government did not present legal counterarguments regarding the calculation of the terms, which was considered by the court as acceptance of the facts pointed out by the plaintiff.
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The court canceled Serzh Sargsyan’s deal. 78.8 million drams will be charged to the budget
The Anti-Corruption Court of Armenia invalidated the sale and purchase agreement of the state plot signed by the former Minister of Defense Serzh Sargsyan in 2006, obliging the buyer to pay multi-million financial compensation to the state.
The judicial act was made on the basis of the claim of the State Interests Protection Department of the General Prosecutor’s Office. The 0.17-hectare plot of land located on Tsovakal Isakov Avenue in Malatia-Sebastia administrative district of the capital appeared at the center of the case.
The court recognized the deal between the then head of the defense department and the private company as illegal. Since the actual return of the territory to the state is currently impossible, the court ordered the closed joint-stock company to compensate the market value of the asset. The amount subject to confiscation will be 78.86 million drams (equivalent to about 205.3 thousand US dollars).
“Considering the impossibility of returning the mentioned plot of land, as a consequence of the invalidity of the contract, its value will be expropriated from the company in favor of the Republic of Armenia,” explained the supervisory department, adding that the judgment has already entered into legal force and an enforcement notice has been issued.
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Verelq: Yerevan tightens control over the construction of “Ajapnyak” metro
Yerevan is speeding up the implementation of the strategic plan for the construction of the new “Ajapnyak” metro station, moving the control of the works to a strict weekly regime.
During the procedural session held on April 20, the mayor of the capital, Tigran Avinyan, declared the construction of the station as an absolute priority of the city authorities. The mayor instructed to report on the progress of the project every Monday, presenting even the smallest details.
According to him, the monitoring will be maintained until the actual construction works start. “I will personally call, write letters, tire my colleagues on this topic on a weekly basis, so that the program moves forward,” Avinyan emphasized, demanding practical steps.
In parallel, the municipality is preparing the construction area. Aneta Babayan, the head of Yerevan Development Investment Program Implementation Office informed that the expropriation zone will cover an area of about 42 thousand square meters, including 33 property units. In order to compensate the owners, 10 billion drams will be provided according to the preliminary calculation.
It is expected that the economic profitability of the project will be 15.3 percent, which is significantly higher than the minimum threshold of 9 percent set by the government. The financing will be carried out entirely by means of the state budget. It is planned to allocate 2 billion drams in 2026, and another 22 billion in the following two years.
In order to effectively coordinate large-scale works, a special interdepartmental management council will be created in the near future.
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Official invitation
Dear partner,
We kindly invite you to participate in the professional workshop entitled “Re-reading the political, religious and social ideas of the spiritual leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ali Khamenei”, which will take place on on April 22 at 14:00 at YSU Theology Faculty.
Your presence will be greatly appreciated and will greatly contribute to the success of the event.
Address: c. Yerevan, Abovyan 52:
Date: April 22, 2:00 p.m
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Let no one monopolize peace. Raffi Hovhannisyan
This week’s guest of the “Mary’s Question” project is Raffi Hovhannisyan, the first minister of foreign affairs of RA, head of the “Heritage” party.
24News-in a conversation with, referring to their non-participation in the national elections and cooperation with other forces, Hovhannisyan said:
“We looked for solutions to go through an alliance with “Strong Armenia”, “Land of Living”, and Tatoyan, but it didn’t work, but we support them.”
And to the question of what kind of Armenia he dreams of, the First Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia stated: “I want an Armenia where from now on no one will risk saying that I am the only one who will bring peace, without me there will be war. Let no one monopolize peace and put the realization of the capitulation of the motherland on someone else.”
Մանրամասները՝ 24Newsin the video of
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ACT petition pushes for Greek, Armenian and Assyrian genocide education in sch
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A new petition before the ACT Legislative Assembly is calling for the inclusion of Armenian, Assyrian and Greek genocide education in the territory’s school curriculum, as community groups intensify efforts to secure broader historical recognition.
The e-petition, sponsored by Greens MLA Andrew Braddock, urges the ACT Government to incorporate teaching on the experiences of these communities during World War I and its aftermath, particularly the period between 1915 and 1923.
It comes as the Canberra Association of Pontos ‘Trapezounta’, alongside Armenian and Assyrian organisations, continues a coordinated push to have the proposal adopted.
Supporters say the initiative is about strengthening historical awareness and ensuring students gain a more complete understanding of events that profoundly impacted these communities.
The petition highlights what it describes as the systematic mass killings and deportations carried out under the Ottoman Empire, which led to the deaths and displacement of millions of Armenians, Assyrians and Greeks.
Advocates argue that including this history in the curriculum would not only acknowledge the experiences of affected communities, but also contribute to a broader understanding of migration, identity and multicultural Australia.
The petition, lodged earlier this year, remains open to ACT residents, with organisers urging supporters to take part, noting that even small increases in signatures could strengthen the case for parliamentary consideration.
If successful, the proposal would prompt the ACT Government to review its curriculum framework and consider formally incorporating the topic into classroom teaching.
The push reflects a wider movement across Australia, where diaspora communities have long advocated for greater recognition of these historical events within education systems and public discourse.
If you are an ACT resident, you can sign the petition here before it closes on May 3.
https://greekherald.com.au/news/act-petition-pushes-for-greek-armenian-and-assyrian-genocide-education-in-schools/
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Armenian Women’s Forces announce the death of one of their fighters
April 20 2026
Armenian Women’s Forces announce the death of one of their fighters
The Armenian Women’s Forces – Martyr Nubar Ozanyan Battalion announced that one of its fighters, named Talar, has lost her life.
The Armenian Women’s Forces – Martyr Nubar Ozanyan Battalion shared the identity details of one of its fighters, named Talar (Nesrin Şukri), who lost her life as a result of an accident.”
“With great pride and honor, yet in deep sorrow; with our unwavering belief in the righteousness of the struggle we continue, we announce with great sadness the martyrdom of our brave and determined comrade Talar, who lost her life as a result of an incident that occurred while carrying out her duty,” said the statement on Monday.
Commending Talar’s personality and struggle, the statement noted that she was “an example of unique courage and unwavering will”, and that she “maintained her belief in the cause to which she dedicated her life until her final moment.”
“Our resilient comrade Talar was an example of unparalleled courage and unshakable will; in every step she took, she embraced the spirit of continuous struggle and boundless sacrifice. She always believed in the justice of the cause to which she devoted her life and therefore continued on her revolutionary path until the very end. Her memory will always live in our hearts, remain in our remembrance, and will be a source of resistance and sacrifice for us,” the battalion stated.
The battalion emphasized that the loss of their fighter is great and also places a heavier responsibility on them, adding: “We reiterate our promise to continue walking on the path of all our martyrs and to remain committed to the principles for which they sacrificed their lives.”
The statement concluded: “We will continue our struggle until we achieve full freedom, social justice, and equality. We extend our condolences to Martyr Talar and bow in respect before her memory. All our heroic martyrs who have lost their lives for our just cause are immortal. We firmly believe that the victory of our just cause is near.”
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Ranking Member Shaheen, Senator Tillis Send Bipartisan Letters to Meta, Alphab
WASHINGTON – Last week, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen, Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Thom Tillis (R-NC), sent letters to Meta and Alphabet urging them to devote sufficient resources to preventing Russian disinformation ahead of Armenia’s June 2026 parliamentary elections.
“Independent experts assess that Russia is updating its playbook from Moldova, including by using Meta platforms, to influence the results of Armenia’s democratic process,” wrote the Senators in their letter to Meta. “Prime Minister Pashinyan has noted that ‘people from Russia’ are being encouraged to support certain political parties. A respected Armenian civil society group, the Union of Informed Citizens, has identified more than a hundred pages on Meta platforms promoting manipulative content relating to the upcoming elections. The group has also noted coordinated inauthentic behavior reportedly directed by a Russian-Armenian oligarch listed by the first Trump Administration in a statutorily required report to Congress as a ‘significant senior foreign political figure [or] oligarch in the Russian Federation, as determined by their closeness to the Russian regime.’”
“We hope that you will reprise and adapt efforts taken to support Moldova in defending its democracy against foreign assault but now with relevant Armenian institutions,” wrote the Senators in their letter to Alphabet. “We urge Alphabet to devote sufficient resources to counter Russian disinformation ahead of the Armenian elections.”
The Senators expressed their concerns to the companies and the recognition by the United States of the grave threat posed by Russian actors’ disinformation efforts to Armenian democracy.
Full text of the letters to Meta and Alphabet are available HERE and HERE and provided below.
Dear Mr. Zuckerberg,
We appreciate Meta’s engagement with our teams to explain your initiatives to counter Russian-backed disinformation and political financing ahead of Moldova’s September 2025 parliamentary elections. We write to call your attention to another of the Russian Federation’s efforts to interfere in a vulnerable democracy’s elections, this time ahead of Armenia’s June 2026 parliamentary elections. These elections are pivotal for determining Armenia’s future, as they are likely to determine the outcome of regional peace initiatives and connectivity projects, including the flagship Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity, a key component of peace talks. No foreign power should be permitted to influence the results of Armenia’s sovereign decisions.
Independent experts assess that Russia is updating its playbook from Moldova, including by using Meta platforms, to influence the results of Armenia’s democratic process. Prime Minister Pashinyan has noted that “people from Russia” are being encouraged to support certain political parties. A respected Armenian civil society group, the Union of Informed Citizens, has identified more than a hundred pages on Meta platforms promoting manipulative content relating to the upcoming elections. The group has also noted coordinated inauthentic behavior reportedly directed by a Russian-Armenian oligarch listed by the first Trump Administration in a statutorily required report to Congress as a “significant senior foreign political figure [or] oligarch in the Russian Federation, as determined by their closeness to the Russian regime.”
We hope that you will reprise and adapt efforts taken to support Moldova in defending its democracy but now with relevant Armenian institutions. We urge Meta to devote sufficient resources to counter Russian disinformation ahead of the Armenian elections. While the United States must remain impartial in its views about the results of Armenia’s democratic process, we cannot turn a blind eye when we see a foreign power attempt to impose its will on the Armenian people. If these efforts use platforms based in the jurisdiction of the United States, our responsibility is even greater to mitigate and prevent such efforts. I urge Meta to use this moment to help ensure that Armenia’s elections remain free and fair.
Dear Mr. Pichai,
We appreciate Alphabet’s engagement with our teams to explain your initiatives to counter Russian-backed disinformation and political financing ahead of Moldova’s September 2025 parliamentary elections. We write to call your attention to another of the Russian Federation’s efforts to interfere in a vulnerable democracy’s elections, this time ahead of Armenia’s June 2026 parliamentary elections. These elections are pivotal for determining Armenia’s future, as they are likely to determine the outcome of regional peace initiatives as well as connectivity projects, including the flagship Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity, a key component of peace talks. No foreign power should be permitted to influence the results of these sovereign decisions, which must be made exclusively by the Armenian people.
Independent experts assess that Russia is using and updating its playbook from Moldova, including by using Alphabet platforms, to influence the results of Armenia’s democratic process. Prime Minister Pashinyan has noted that “people from Russia,” referring to Armenians abroad, are being encouraged to vote for certain political parties. A respected Armenian civil society group, the Union of Informed Citizens, has identified at least seventeen YouTube channels promoting manipulative content relating to the upcoming elections.
We hope that you will reprise and adapt efforts taken to support Moldova in defending its democracy against foreign assault but now with relevant Armenian institutions. We urge Alphabet to devote sufficient resources to counter Russian disinformation ahead of the Armenian elections. While the United States must remain impartial in its views about the results of Armenia’s democratic process, we cannot turn a blind eye when we see a foreign power attempt to impose its will on the Armenian people. If these efforts use platforms based in the jurisdiction of the United States, our responsibility is even greater to mitigate and prevent such efforts. I urge Alphabet to use this moment to ensure that Armenia’s elections remain free and fair.
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