RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan considers the limitations of the Russian market and the expected financial support from the EU not as a reason for additional tension, but as a strategic opportunity to diversify Armenian exports.

Referring to the publication of the British Financial Times periodical that Brussels is going to provide emergency aid to Yerevan to compensate for the damages of the Russian sanctions, the head of the government thanked the European partners for their prompt response. He emphasized that the authorities do not consider the closure of traditional markets as an ultimatum, but rather as an incentive to look for new directions. According to the Prime Minister, international support together with the state budget toolkit gives the opportunity to provide more targeted assistance to businessmen.

Evaluating the intermediate results of the reorientation of the economy, Pashinyan noted that the daily work already gives tangible results. The geography of supplies has been expanded by dozens of new countries, most of which previously had a zero level of trade turnover. The prime minister stressed that now the main challenge of Armenian business is not to find buyers, but to significantly increase production capacities to meet the high demand for new and long-term contracts.

In response to the journalists’ observation that a large amount of agricultural products are spoiled due to export problems, the head of the government urged not to dramatize the situation. He clarified that certain loss of perishable products, particularly apricots or flowers, is an inevitable part of any agricultural or production process. According to Pashinyan, such normal losses have occurred in the past as well, it’s just that now they are receiving exaggerated media attention.

Since June 12, Moscow, against the background of growing political differences with Yerevan, has completely banned the import and transit of all sub-quarantine products from Armenia. The restrictions were imposed by “Rosselkhoznadzor” after the discovery of a dangerous pest (capra beetle) and complaints about the phytosanitary control of the Armenian side.

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RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan denied the criticisms regarding the discussion of Armenia’s internal political issues with Azerbaijan, describing the process as a standard diplomatic practice aimed at managing regional risks and avoiding escalation.

During the briefing held on June 18, the head of the government commented on the Secretary of the Council of Ministers Armen Grigoryan and Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan Hikmet Hajiyev the meeting. Answering the question about the expediency of such contacts in the background of internal political developments, Pashinyan emphasized that he personally instructed to study the possibility of these negotiations in order to prevent a possible escalation of the situation, which was raised by experts.

The Prime Minister categorically disagreed with the view that such a dialogue is humiliating for Yerevan. According to him, the Armenian side did not give any explanation to Baku, but simply clarified its official positions. Pashinyan noted that the very essence of diplomacy is the exchange of first-hand reliable information in order to avoid misunderstandings due to reports from third countries or the media. As an example, he referred to the telephone conversation he had with the Prime Minister of Georgia on the election day, stressing that sharing information with neighbors is an accepted interstate practice.

In addition to general political issues, tens of other topics were also discussed at the Grigoryan-Hajiev meeting, including issues related to border management and persons in prison. The executive head refused to give additional details, reminding that exhaustive information was already provided the previous day in the parliament. Pashinyan also emphasized the fact that the meeting took place directly in Armenia, and not outside the region, evaluating it as an important step in the advancement of the peace process and self-management of risks.

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The smartphone has long ceased to be just a means of communication. Today, it stores passwords, banking applications, two-factor authentication codes, email access and digital assets. Therefore, the loss or theft of the device can lead not only to the loss of the phone, but also to the risk of personal data and financial resources.

Cyber ​​security experts note that one of the most common threats is when a malicious person learns the device’s unlock password and then gains physical access to the smartphone. In this case, saved passwords, financial services and other confidential data are at risk.

To reduce these risks, iPhone users are advised to pay attention to two important security features.

Stolen device protection
Stolen Device Protection was created by Apple to prevent unauthorized access to important device settings.
When this function is activated, confirmation via Face ID or Touch ID becomes mandatory to perform a number of actions. These activities include:
* Viewing passwords saved in Keychain,
* Changing Apple ID settings,
* Disabling the “Find My iPhone” function,
* device data deletion.

There is also a one-hour security delay for some Apple Account-related activities, after which biometric verification is required again. This gives the device owner extra time to spot suspicious activity and take protective measures.

Before enabling the function, you need to make sure that the following are activated on the device:
* Apple ID two-step authentication,
* device password,
* Face ID or Touch ID,
* “Find My” (“Find”) function,
* “Significant Locations” feature.
Additionally, you need to have iOS 17.3 or later.

Protection can be activated in the following way:
Settings → Face ID and password → Stolen device protection

Additional account protection with Passkey
In addition to device protection, experts recommend using modern authentication methods for important online services.

One of those solutions is the Passkey technology, which replaces traditional passwords with biometric authentication. To access the account, the user must verify his identity using Face ID or Touch ID, which significantly reduces the possibility of unauthorized access even when the device’s password has become known to third parties.

Many digital platforms, including cryptocurrency services, already support the use of Passkey as an additional layer of protection for a user’s account.

Safety starts with simple steps
Modern threats are more and more often related to simple device theft and password leaks rather than sophisticated hacking attacks. For this very reason, experts recommend regularly checking the security settings of the smartphone and using additional protection mechanisms for important accounts.

Activation of the “Stolen device protection” function and the use of Passkey technology allow you to significantly increase the level of security and reduce the risks of losing access to personal data and digital assets.

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RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that leaking information from the National Security Service is not a criminal offense if it was carried out by the decision of an employee with appropriate powers. This is how the head of the government commented on the publication of footage taken by the second president Robert Kocharian in the border control zone.

During the briefing held on June 18, journalists asked the Prime Minister under what circumstances a person undergoing passport control at the airport appeared at the disposal of the pro-government media. Robert Kocharyan photo.

Let’s remind that the former leader was forbidden to cross the state border, the news of which immediately appeared in the press pages.

Nikol Pashinyan emphasized that he did not initiate an official investigation in order to find out the source of the information. The head of the executive also expressed confusion about the assumptions that the incident should have caused him anger. He drew the journalists’ attention to the fact that the press regularly receives internal data, asking why the publication of materials by one media outlet is considered acceptable, but not by another.

The position of the Prime Minister is based on the separation of powers. According to him, if the employee of the power structure has the appropriate powers and independently makes a decision on providing the information, then such actions are considered legal.

According to Pashinyan, the violation is considered exclusively the disclosure of data by those persons who do not have the necessary official permission for it.

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RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan reaffirmed the invulnerable legitimacy of the elections and the results of the ruling party, while expressing concern about the lack of maturity of state institutions in preventing cases of distribution of election bribes by the opposition.

During the briefing following the government session on June 18, the head of the executive summarized the election process, emphasizing that the citizens had a full opportunity to freely express their will. According to his assurance, especially the indicators recorded by the “Civil Agreement” party reflect the real decision of the people.

At the same time, the Prime Minister clarified that his displeasure does not refer to the outcome of the vote, but to the vulnerability of the state system, which made possible the practice of bribing voters. Pashinyan reminded that dozens of criminal cases have already been initiated based on facts of distribution of election bribes by representatives of the opposition forces, and many recordings justifying this illegal practice are available to the public.

According to the results of the June 7 parliamentary elections, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s “Civil Contract” party retained power in Armenia, but failed to obtain a constitutional majority.

Formally, the ruling “Civil Agreement” party did not pass the fifty percent threshold (49.81%) according to the voting results, but the peculiarities of the national legislation, however, allow it to single-handedly form a government. This is due to the redistribution of the votes received by the forces that could not overcome the threshold for entering the parliament (4% for parties, 8% for alliances).

In addition to that party, the opposition “Hzor Armenia” (23.29%) and “Hazor Armenia” (9.94%) blocs confidently pass the highest legislative body, although by a large margin. A major local businessman Gagik Tsarukyan Literally several hundred votes were not enough for the “Prosperous Armenia” party to enter the parliament.

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The Armenian government has approved a large package of co-financing of regional projects, allocating more than 1.6 billion drams for the implementation of 16 infrastructure projects in 13 communities of the country.

The relevant decision was adopted at the June 18 executive session. Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Davit Khudatyan according to the report, state support will cover six regions. Subsidy programs will be implemented in Armavir, Ararat, Kotayk, Tavush, Gegharkunik and Aragatsotn.

The minister said that the volume of construction works in marzes is increasing significantly. there are communities whose applications for asphalting submitted for 2026 alone already exceed three to four billion drams.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has qualified the subsidy system as one of the most successful state projects, which significantly transforms the appearance and living conditions of Armenian settlements. The head of the government drew special attention to the plans for the overhaul of multi-apartment buildings.

He emphasized the strategic importance of increasing the level of energy saving in the housing stock, urging to apply the leading international experience and make this component a priority in future initiatives.

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In Luxembourg, the Foreign Minister of Armenia urged the countries of the European Union to speed up the steps to support Armenia in the background of the latest Russian restrictions, the sources of “Freedom” reported from Brussels.

“It was a positive and important meeting to counteract Russia’s hybrid and commercial attacks,” one of the European diplomats present at the meetings told Azatutyun.

Earlier, “Azat” became aware that the European Union intends to offer Armenia preferential conditions: Autonomous Trade Measures (ATM), within the framework of which some Armenian products can enter the European market without customs duties and quotas.

During Mirzoyan’s visit, according to “Freedom” sources, the European Commission reaffirmed this commitment. It is expected that the list of products will become known in the coming weeks.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced today in a briefing with journalists. “Of course, I am grateful to our partners in the European Union for responding so quickly, including for financial support, and there are laws by which we provide more targeted support to our entrepreneurs with budgetary possibilities.” 

Pashinyan emphasized that there are already contracts for the export of large and long-term batches. “We are talking about today, because every day there is work and every day there are events. Today, if you followed the government session, the Minister of Economy mentioned that the number of new directions in which we export already exceeds a dozen countries. Moreover, most of them we had zero exports before. Now we not only have batches, but also contracts for large and long-term batches.”

“[Mirzoyan’s] visit confirmed the deepening relations between the EU and Armenia,” said another European diplomat, adding: “Foreign Minister Mirzoyan also emphasized Armenia’s desire to diversify the energy sector and emphasized the need for the EU to take steps in that direction.”

According to “Azatutyun” sources, at the meeting, Ararat Mirzoyan expressed hope that the border with Turkey will be opened in the near future. He also noted the uncertainty in the peace process with Azerbaijan, which appeared after the June 7 elections, as a result of which Nikol Pashinyan’s “Civil Pact” could not get a constitutional majority.

Yesterday, Pashinyan announced in the Parliament that the visit of the assistant to the President of Azerbaijan last week was related to the results of the June 7 elections, in particular, “managing the threats” that emerged from it.

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Aliyev’s henchman Nikol Pashinyan has a simple explanation for another dose of speeches full of disgusting words and hatred. he did not win these elections, but only managed not to lose.

In addition, he is particularly concerned about the fact that after subjecting the Armenian people to so many trials, losses, pain, after the loss of Artsakh, after the occupation of our territories, after the invisible but very dangerous psychological and informational war waged against us together with Aliyev, 749,437 RA citizens said “no”. Those citizens, regardless of their political views, approaches and preferences, gave a simple message to both Aliyev, Pashinyan and various international actors. That message is as follows: “War is not peace, it is not normal to live in poverty, it is not normal not to have national dignity, it is not normal to have prisoners in Baku, it is not normal to have occupied territories, it is not normal to change the Constitution at Aliyev’s will, it is not normal to be afraid to pronounce the word Artsakh, it is not normal to be proud of the ethnic cleansing that took place in Artsakh, it is not normal to attack the Armenian Apostolic Church at the request of Baku, it is not normal to drag the victim’s mother, you are not normal. It’s not normal to say to a critical person, “Why didn’t you die?”

This series can be continued, but the fact remains that those who do not consider the plan of Nikol Pashinyan and his political forces to disfigure RA at the will of Aliyev as “peace” are the majority, because people have decided to be guided by simple logic, they have decided to show will, they have decided not to kill their sense of national dignity. I am not saying this to annoy or target those who voted for Pashinyan, I have never done that and I will never do that. I know that a part of people are guided by fear, interest, in the end, maybe also being under propaganda, they have no desire to raise logical questions. It is up to them to decide. I am sure that when they want to see the facts, they will see them immediately.

What I have to say is as follows: Pashinyan lost in the moral and psychological field, he lost in the ideological and value field, moreover, he did not lose to the opposition or any specific political force, but to the Armenian public itself. Now, he can call hundreds of thousands of people who voted against him “bribe takers” or “oppositionists of peace”, that does not change the reality, and he knows it. That’s why he behaves like this, it seems that he would even like to tell Aliyev to attack one more time, as if the Armenian people have not been disciplined well, they still have dignity and the will to resist. But that would also contradict the false talk about “peace” in which the “Demolish the State” political force has fallen into its trap…

Azerbaijanologist Tatev Hayrapetyan

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Short rain and thunder are expected. hail is also possible in places. This was reported by the “Hydrometeorology and Monitoring Center” of the SNOC.

In Yerevan, on the evening of June 18, 20 and 22, short-term rain and thunderstorms are possible in some parts of the city, during thunderstorms, wind intensification with a speed of 15-18 m/s is possible. Weather without precipitation is expected on June 19, 21 and 23. On the territory of the republic, in the afternoon of June 18, on the night of the 20th and 22nd and in the afternoon, on the 19th and 21st, especially in the evening hours, short-lasting rain and thunder are expected in some regions, hail is also possible in some places. Weather without precipitation is expected on June 23.

The wind will be south-west 2-5 m/s, during a thunderstorm, wind intensification is also expected at a speed of 17-20 m/s. The air temperature will gradually increase by 3-5 degrees on June 19-20, and will decrease by the same amount on June 21-22.

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Samvel Karapetyan, the prime ministerial candidate of the “Strong Armenia” movement, told reporters about the upcoming rally with the participation of all opposition forces.

Samvel Karapetyan proposed to call it “Strong and reliable rally”, emphasizing the importance of presenting a united front.

“Only in that case we can get the real support of our people,” he said.

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