The vote to confirm Ruben Rubinyan as Speaker of Parliament is underway.

The secret ballot will last 45 minutes.

The Speaker is elected by secret ballot by a majority of the total number of MPs. A candidate must receive at least 53 votes to be elected.

Civil Contract has 64 seats, while the Strong Armenia and Armenia factions have 29 and 12 seats, respectively.

Rubinyan is the only candidate, having been nominated by the Civil Contract Party.

Ruben Rubinyan passed a confirmation vote in parliament on Monday and was elected Speaker with 63 votes in favor and 28 against.

Ninety-one out of 105 lawmakers participated in the vote.

Rubinyan was nominated by the ruling Civil Contract party.

The opposition Armenia faction boycotted the vote, while the other opposition bloc, Strong Armenia, said ahead of the vote that it would oppose Rubinyan’s candidacy.

“Dear colleagues, I would like to once again thank you for nominating my candidacy and for voting in my favor. This is the greatest honor for me, and I fully understand the responsibility that comes with this decision. I will do everything I can not to disappoint you.

Dear colleagues from the opposition, the fact that you did not vote for me does not mean anything in our relations. I intend to be the Speaker of the entire National Assembly,” Ruben Rubinyan said.

Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan has congratulated Ruben Rubinyan on his election as Speaker of Parliament.

“Congratulations on your election as President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, and I wish you success in carrying out this high and responsible mission,” the President said in a letter published by his office.

“The National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia is one of the fundamental constitutional institutions of our statehood. The effectiveness of legislative power, the development of parliamentary democracy, the preservation of constitutional values, and the strengthening of public trust largely depend on its activities.

The high office of the President of the National Assembly entails special responsibility for ensuring the parliament’s normal functioning, organizing effective legislative work, promoting constructive political dialogue, and strengthening the constitutional balance among the branches of state power.

I am confident that your tenure will contribute to the institutional development of the National Assembly, the further strengthening of parliamentary culture, and the adoption of decisions that will serve the national interests of the Republic of Armenia, the continued strengthening of our statehood, the advancement of democracy, and the well-being of citizens.

I wish you fruitful work, boundless energy, and new successes for the benefit of the Republic of Armenia, the strengthening of its constitutional institutions, the progress of our state, and a prosperous and secure future for our people.”

Newly elected Speaker of Parliament Ruben Rubinyan said on Monday that the government’s efforts to secure the release of the remaining Armenian POWs held in Azerbaijan continue on a daily basis.

“As you know, issues related to prisoners of war and other detainees are part of our daily work,” Rubinyan, a member of the ruling Civil Contract faction, told reporters at a press briefing shortly after being elected Speaker of Parliament. “It is thanks to this daily work that, over the years, more than 200 prisoners have returned to their homeland, and this work never stops,” he said.

He added that there have also been periods in the past when no visible progress was recorded in the return process, but negotiations continued.

“There have been months when there was no movement at all. There were discussions claiming that the government was doing nothing, but then suddenly, one day, another group of prisoners returned. We will do everything possible to make this happen as quickly as possible. Naturally, we will continue working at the parliamentary level as well, just as we have worked in this direction before,” he noted.

Nineteen Armenian prisoners remain unlawfully detained in Azerbaijan, including representatives of the former leadership of Karabakh. They have been sentenced to imprisonment based on fabricated charges.

President Vahagn Khachaturyan has formalized the appointment of Cabinet members upon the recommendation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, the president’s office reported. 

Most Cabinet ministers have been reappointed, with the exception of High-Tech Industry Minister Mkhitar Hayrapetyan, who earlier indicated that he would not continue serving in the government.

Davit Tadevosyan has been appointed Minister of High-Tech Industry.

The following officials have been reappointed to their positions: Defense Minister Suren Papikyan, Interior Minister Arpine Sargsyan, Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Davit Khudatyan, Environment Minister Hambardzum Matevosyan, Health Minister Anahit Avanesyan, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan, Justice Minister Srbuhi Galyan, Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Arsen Torosyan, Economy Minister Gevorg Papoyan, Finance Minister Vahe Hovhannisyan and Deputy Prime Ministers Mher Grigoryan and Tigran Khachatryan.

Lawmakers are debating the candidacies for the positions of deputy speakers of parliament.

The parliament has three deputy speakers.

The ruling Civil Contract faction has nominated Hayk Konjoryan and Vahagn Aleksanyan as its candidates, while the opposition Strong Armenia bloc has put forward Aram Vardevanyan’s candidacy.

Candidates must receive at least 53 votes in the 105-seat parliament to be elected in the confirmation vote.

Armenian Defense Minister Suren Papikyan held a meeting with senior military officials on August 3.

“Today I chaired a meeting on issues related to the further organization of military service in the Armed Forces, strengthening discipline, and ongoing activities,” the Defense Minister said in a social media post.

Armenia’s Minister of Economy Gevorg Papoyan has appointed Garik Boshyan as administrator of the Yerevan Ararat Brandy-Wine-Vodka Factory, a company which was up until recently owned by jailed businessman and Prosperous Armenia Party leader Gagik Tsarukyan.

Papoyan said on social media that, based on a motion submitted by the Prosecutor General’s Office and a decision by the Anti-Corruption Court, the company’s shares had been transferred to the management and custody of the state, represented by the Ministry of Economy.

Tsarukyan is currently in pre-trial detention on charges of large-scale fraud and money laundering.

Melanya Harutyunyan assumed the duties of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s press secretary on Monday.

“Dear citizens, colleagues, respected journalists, and representatives of the media,

As of today, by the decision of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, I have assumed the duties of Press Secretary to the Prime Minister,” she said in a social media post.

“I would like to thank Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan for entrusting me with this responsible position. Public communication is one of the most important components of public administration. I am confident that work with journalists and media representatives, based on mutual respect, professional responsibility, and constructive cooperation, will contribute to keeping the public fully and promptly informed while fostering open, effective, and trustworthy communication in the interests of the Republic of Armenia and our citizens.

I fully understand the responsibility of the mission entrusted to me and will devote all my efforts to carrying it out conscientiously and with dignity.

I serve the Republic of Armenia,” she wrote.

The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 3 August, USD exchange rate down by 0.22 drams to 365.98 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 0.63 drams to 421.76 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.0426 drams to 4.5639 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 0.4 drams to 492.65 drams.

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

Gold price down by 1023 drams to 47379 drams.