Video of overnight incident shows assailants hurling rocks at wall of Old City compound; allegedly told told Armenian woman, ‘Get back inside, you daughter of a whore!’
Six arrested after allegedly spitting, throwing rocks at Armenian church in Je
According to the police, five of the suspects were minors, and one was an adult.
Six suspects were arrested after allegedly throwing rocks and spitting at the Armenian Cathedral of St. James in Jerusalem’s Old City, Israel Police announced on Sunday.
According to the police, five of the suspects were minors, and one was an adult.
Kegham Balian, a Jerusalemite-Armenian reporter, wrote that the suspects had also thrown rocks at the window of an Armenian woman filming the event, while shouting “Get back inside, you daughter of a w****!”
Armenian Patriarchate files formal complaint
Balian also reported that the Armenian Patriarchate filed a formal complaint.
Three of the suspects were released under restrictive conditions, including being barred from the Old City for 15 days.
The other three were brought to the Magistrate Court, where the police requested an extension to their detention.
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Armenia becomes part of the US computing infrastructure system
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Armenia is becoming part of the American computing infrastructure system, the “Sector of Mountains” telegram channel said.
On August 1, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan visited the Eleveight AI computing complex in Gagarin of Gegharkunik region. The center was opened on June 1, and the visit showed the next stage of expansion. The first stage is estimated at $ 150 million, about $ 70 million has already been invested. The design capacity is 5 MW, then it is planned to increase to 40 MW.
The technical core of the center is 512 NVIDIA Blackwell Ultra B300 accelerators, combined into 64 HGX B300 systems. The company sells access to resources for model training, generative AI, engineering calculations and data processing. Armenia is starting to export not so much the work of programmers and IT services as it demonstrates computing power, the channel’s publication says.
At the time of launch, the commercially available load was about 1.5 MW. It was fully reserved for a month. There is demand, but the composition of clients and the terms of contracts are not disclosed. It is impossible to talk about a large domestic AI market yet. Part of the capacity can be serviced by foreign companies to which Armenia offers engineering personnel, an inexpensive platform and data storage inside the country. They promise to send up to 20% of resources to universities and research centers. In June, the government and Eleveight AI signed a memorandum on the development of computing, cloud services and application AI in public administration.
Delivery of the B300 became possible after obtaining an American export license. Yerevan connects it with the Armenian-American memorandum on innovative partnership in the field of AI and semiconductors from August 8, 2025. The document provides for strengthening export controls and preventing the transfer of resources to third countries. The United States has given Armenia access to advanced processors, but at the same time included it in its own technological control pool.
“Therefore, it is premature to talk about complete computational independence. The servers are located in Armenia and are managed by an Armenian company, but the architecture belongs to NVIDIA, the equipment is supplied from outside, and the expansion and transition to new generations of accelerators depend on Washington’s decisions. Armenia controls the placement of computing, but by no means the production of equipment and the rules for its delivery,” the Sector of Mountains said.
It is noted that with a constant load of 40 MW, the complex will consume about 350 million kWh per year — about 3.5% of the total electricity produced by Armenia in 2025. For one object, this is a significant amount. Separate network capacities, redundancy and a stable electricity price will be required. Gagarin’s high-altitude location reduces cooling costs, and solar installations partially cover consumption. At the same time, round-the-clock operation depends on the general power system.
“The technological part of the project is built into the American licensing system, while Armenia’s energy sector remains dependent on Russian gas and nuclear fuel supplies. American accelerators will work on infrastructure, the stability of which is still connected with Russia,” the author of the channel emphasizes.
A larger Firebird AI project is being prepared in Hrazdan. The first stage provides for 6,144 NVIDIA Blackwell accelerators, about 18 MW of capacity and $ 500 million of investment. The state allocates $25 million for five-year access to the center’s resources for universities, startups and departments. Eleveight AI is already operating as a commercial center. Firebird is larger and more closely connected with the state order.
“Armenia was the first in the South Caucasus to deploy a commercially available cluster of Blackwell B300 accelerators. The country risks remaining only an infrastructure platform that provides territory, energy and services to foreign customers while maintaining dependence on American licenses and external supplies of equipment,” the Mountain Sector notes.
More details: https://eadaily.com/en/news/2026/08/01/armenia-becomes-part-of-the-us-computing-infrastructure-system
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Rare Urartian Mural Found in Armenia with Its 2,600-Year-Old Colors Still Pres
Credit: Ambassade de France en Arménie via Facebook
A joint French-Armenian archaeological mission has uncovered a rare painted wall panel at Erebuni Fortress in Armenia, with much of its original color still visible after more than 2,500 years.
The French Embassy in Armenia announced the discovery, describing it as an unprecedented find at the archaeological site. According to the preliminary dating, the mural may belong to the second half of the seventh century BC or the beginning of the sixth century BC—one of the most turbulent periods in the history of the Kingdom of Urartu.
The embassy has not yet released a detailed interpretation of the painting’s figures or decorative motifs. Its exceptional state of preservation, however, is already attracting attention. Ancient wall paintings are especially vulnerable because their pigments can fade or separate from the plaster following centuries of exposure to moisture, soil pressure and changing environmental conditions.
The newly uncovered panel could allow specialists to examine the materials, colors and techniques used by Urartian painters. Scientific analysis may also reveal how the painted surface was prepared and whether the pigments were produced from minerals available in the surrounding region.
A Fortress Built to Display Royal Power
Erebuni was founded in 782 BC by King Argishti I, one of Urartu’s most powerful rulers. The fortress was constructed on Arin Berd hill, overlooking the Ararat Plain in what is now the Armenian capital, Yerevan.
A cuneiform inscription discovered at the site records the foundation of Erebuni, providing unusually direct evidence for the establishment of the ancient settlement. Archaeologists have found 23 stone inscriptions at the site documenting the construction and development of the fortress under successive Urartian rulers.
Erebuni was not simply a military outpost. Its fortified walls enclosed temples, administrative buildings, storage rooms and residential areas. At the center of its religious complex stood a temple dedicated to Haldi, the chief deity of the Urartian kingdom.
Fragments of earlier frescoes discovered at Erebuni show that its buildings were once considerably more colorful than their surviving mud-brick and stone ruins suggest. Religious figures, geometric patterns and other decorative motifs covered the walls of important rooms, transforming the fortress into a carefully designed center of royal and sacred authority.
A Painting from Urartu’s Final Centuries
Urartu emerged as a major regional power during the ninth century BC. From its capital at Tushpa, near modern Van in eastern Türkiye, its kings controlled territories extending across parts of present-day Türkiye, Armenia and northwestern Iran. They built fortified cities, temples, canals and large storage complexes while competing with neighboring states, particularly Assyria.
The proposed date of the Erebuni mural places it close to the final phase of Urartian rule. During the late seventh and early sixth centuries BC, the political landscape of the ancient Near East was changing rapidly. Assyria had collapsed, new regional powers were emerging, and Urartu gradually disappeared from written records.
This makes the mural important not only as a surviving work of Urartian art but also as evidence from a poorly understood period in Erebuni’s history. Further excavation and laboratory analysis may determine where the panel originally stood, what it depicted, and whether it belonged to the fortress’s final Urartian occupation or the cultural transition that followed.
For now, its surviving colors offer a rare impression of how vivid Erebuni’s palaces, temples and ceremonial spaces must once have appeared.
Ambassade de France en Arménie (Embassy of France in Armenia)
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Armenia’s COP17 Green Zone to host science and cultural events
Armenia will use COP17 to spotlight science, innovation and culture as countries review progress on the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework’s 23 targets.
A Green Zone at COP17 in Yerevan will host hundreds of scientific, cultural and environmental initiatives from October 19 to 30, bringing together civil society, researchers, businesses and international partners alongside the global biodiversity conference.
The Green Zone will operate at the Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concert Complex during the Seventeenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), according to Lilit Midoyan, Chief Coordinator of the COP17 Green Zone.
Speaking to reporters, Midoyan said COP17 will be held across two main venues. The Blue Zone, managed by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, will be located at the Meridian Expo Center, while the Green Zone will be based at the Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concert Complex.
“Shuttle services will operate between the two zones. The Green Zone will be open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. It will feature several thematic areas, including a Science and Innovation Zone, where scientific and innovative projects related to biodiversity and environmental protection will be showcased, as well as a Cultural Zone, where visitors will be introduced to Armenia’s cultural heritage through a variety of events,” Midoyan said.
The Ministry of Environment will draw up the agenda for the Green Zone’s 12-day program, while partner organizations will also be able to organize their own events and initiatives at the venue. The deadline for submitting session proposals is September 15.
“Applications will be evaluated based on three main criteria: scientific merit, alignment with environmental policy objectives, and technical feasibility. Individuals may not apply as session organizers, but organizations may host both public and closed events. Sessions may last 30, 60, or 90 minutes,” Midoyan said.
She added that all materials must be submitted electronically in advance because storage devices will not be accepted at the venue.
Speakers will also be able to participate online, Midoyan said.
Simultaneous Armenian-English and English-Armenian interpretation will be available for Green Zone events. Organizers requiring interpretation into other languages will be responsible for making their own arrangements.
A press center with capacity for approximately 90 media representatives will also operate in the Green Zone.
Around 100 exhibition booths will be installed in the grandstand area of the Sports and Concert Complex.
“The rental fee for each booth is AMD 1.44 million, including taxes, for the entire 12-day period. Organizers will also encourage environmentally responsible practices throughout the venue, including minimizing the use of plastic and other materials that may harm the environment,” Midoyan said.
COP17 will bring together representatives of the Parties to the Convention as well as Indigenous peoples and local communities, civil society, scientists, youth, businesses and other stakeholders to advance global action on biodiversity.
The conference will take place at a key stage in the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF).
For the first time since the Framework was adopted in 2022, countries will collectively review progress towards its 23 targets, shifting attention from commitments to evidence and from what was agreed to what has been achieved.
COP17 will provide an opportunity to assess collective progress, strengthen cooperation and accelerate action towards global biodiversity goals for 2030.
Hosting the conference will place Armenia at the center of the global discussion on biodiversity. Although the country represents only 6.7% of the Caucasus by area, it contains approximately 60% of the region’s biodiversity and is home to diverse ecosystems and thousands of plant and animal species.
As host, Armenia will welcome the international community to Yerevan, providing a platform for dialogue, cooperation and collective action while linking global biodiversity priorities with the country’s rich natural heritage.
This post is republished from Armenpress.
https://theclimatewatch.com/armenias-cop17-green-zone-to-host-science-and-cultural-events/
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Sharjah ruler’s $1.7m donation saved Armenia’s Haghartsin Monastery
The Haghartsin Monastery in Armenia, a 10th-century complex that had been left structurally unsound by earthquake damage and decades of neglect, was restored through a donation from Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, who contributed an estimated $1.7 million (Dh6.2 million) to fund the work.
How the Haghartsin Monastery Sharjah restoration came about
Sheikh Dr Sultan visited Armenia in 2005 at the invitation of then-president Robert Kocharian, a trip arranged by the Armenian business community in Sharjah. The state of the monastery during that visit prompted the offer to finance its full renovation.
The complex sits roughly 100 kilometres north-east of the capital, Yerevan, in forested mountain terrain. Founded in the 10th century, it comprises three churches and once housed around 250 monks. It had survived invasions and anti-religious campaigns during Soviet rule, but by the time of Sheikh Dr Sultan’s visit, plants had forced their way through the ancient stone walls and deep cracks threatened the structural integrity of the buildings.
One source, Kavkaz-Uzel, has reported the total restoration cost at $5 million, a figure that may reflect the full project expenditure including contributions channelled through Armenia Fund. Earlier reporting figure of $1.7 million appears to represent Sheikh Dr Sultan’s personal donation. The Armenian General Benevolent Union has described the donation as covering millions for the renovation, consistent with the higher estimate.
Five years of meticulous conservation work
The restoration ran from 2008 to 2013. Works included reinforcing foundations, repairing walls and floors, upgrading drainage and utility systems, and constructing a new access road to the site.
The project preserved the medieval fabric of the complex, including the 10th-century St Gregory church and a refectory hall supported by 12 columns representing the Disciples of Christ. Conservators kept the character of the original stonework intact throughout.
On 19 October 2013, the monastery was inaugurated in a ceremony attended by Armenian officials and representatives from Sharjah. It has remained an active place of worship since.
The monastery project is one part of a broader relationship between Sharjah and Armenia. The emirate is home to a substantial Armenian community, and the St Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Apostolic Church in Sharjah was built on land donated by Sheikh Dr Sultan and inaugurated in 1998.
Armenia is regarded as the first country to adopt Christianity as a state religion, in 301 AD, a fact that gives the monastery particular significance as a heritage site beyond its architectural merit.
Sheikh Dr Sultan’s cross-cultural contributions have received formal recognition abroad. On 3 October 2018, the University of Coimbra in Portugal awarded him an honorary doctorate, describing him as ‘the man who brings cultures together’, citing his support for culture, literature and history at both local and international level, according to the Emirates News Agency (WAM).
The Haghartsin Monastery restoration remains one of the more concrete examples of that record: a medieval complex that was close to collapse in 2005 and has been open to visitors and worshippers ever since 2013.
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The condition of Armenian captives in Azerbaijan has raised concerns among the
As reported by “Caucasian Knot”, on February 17, the Baku Military Court sentenced to 20 years of imprisonment the former state minister of Nagorno-Karabakh Ruben Vardanyan, whose case was considered separately. The defendant, who headed the Karabakh government for only a few months during the blockade of the Lachin corridor, was found guilty of war crimes. Vardanyan refused to file an appeal, explaining that he does not recognize the verdict as an act of justice. Other captives, whose cases were considered separately, also received long sentences. Veronika Zonabend, the wife of Ruben Vardanyan, appealed to international organizations and the authorities of Armenia to assist in visiting Armenian prisoners in Azerbaijan.
In the fall of 2023, after the completion of Azerbaijan’s military operation in Nagorno-Karabakh and the establishment of control over the territory, Azerbaijani law enforcement agencies initiated criminal prosecution against former leaders and residents of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. In early October 2023, former presidents Arkadi Gukasian (1997–2007), Bako Saakyan (2007–2020), Araik Arutyunyan (2020–2023), as well as parliament chairman David Ishkhanian were detained and transferred to Baku. More details about the events in Nagorno-Karabakh are provided in the reports of “Caucasian Knot” Karabakh: escalation of the conflict or a new war? and “The beginning and end of the unrecognized Republic of Artsakh”.
The human rights activist stated the possibility of violence against the captives
13:11 25.02.2026Vardanyan and 15 leaders of Karabakh: main points about the trials in BakuCourt proceedings took place in Baku regarding criminal cases against representatives of the former Karabakh authorities, accused of war crimes against Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijani people. Former state minister Ruben Vardanyan is being tried separately from 15 former leaders of Nagorno-Karabakh.
A representative of the interests of Armenian captives in the European Court of Human Rights, Siranush Saakyan, reported worrying information about the health of Armenians held in Azerbaijani prisons, including information about serious injuries that may have been sustained as a result of violence.
Although it is currently impossible to verify this information independently, it appears to be credible.
“We have received information about individuals among the Armenian captives held in Azerbaijani prisons who have sustained serious injuries. We cannot verify this information independently, but it raises serious concerns,” she said, as reported by “News Armenia”.
According to her, families of the captives also report a rapid deterioration in their condition and injuries.
“In some cases, serious alarming signals are coming in, and if this information is true, it may indicate conditions incompatible with life. We have received such reports of serious injuries. We do not have the ability to verify this information independently. At this moment, we trust this information,” said the human rights activist.
She noted that this includes fractures.
“We do not rule out that they may have been sustained as a result of violence. We cannot establish the causes. In several cases, it concerns the exacerbation of pre-existing health problems, but there are also cases that may indicate elements of violence or other interference,” emphasized Saakyan.
Relatives confirmed the deterioration of the captives’ condition
Armenians, who have been imprisoned for years without adequate medical care, are gradually losing their health, their relatives reported, who for safety reasons did not wish to disclose their names.
“He has lost a lot of weight, he is just skin and bones, and he also has no lower teeth. He doesn’t tell us anything, but during the trial, it is clear that he has no lower teeth; they have been knocked out,” said a relative of one of the captives.
Health problems are observed in almost all captives, stated a relative of another prisoner.
“He called and said: ‘We feel bad, everyone feels bad. One complains of heart problems, another of headaches. We are completely ignored,'” said a relative of a captive.
The wife of Ludwig Mkrtchyan, who has been in an Azerbaijani prison for six years, also stated that her husband’s health has sharply deteriorated in recent months.
According to relatives, some of the 19 Armenian captives have been in Azerbaijani prisons for about six years, while others for about three years. They are deprived of the opportunity to undergo comprehensive medical examinations.
Independent doctors do not have access to the captives.
Saakyan emphasized that by August 31, Azerbaijan is obliged to submit a report to the European Court of Human Rights on the conditions of detention of Armenian captives, including information about their health status. According to Saakyan, the medical documents contained in the report will be compared with the information received from relatives.
The consideration of the appeals of Armenian captives continues
On July 24, another hearing took place in the Baku Court of Appeals regarding the appeals of citizens of the Republic of Armenia – Araik Arutyunyan, Arkadi Gukasian, Bako Saakyan, David Ishkhanian, David Babayan, Levon Mnatsakanyan, and others, against whom the Baku Military Court issued a guilty verdict, reports Report,
Prosecutors supporting the state prosecution spoke in court. The next court session will take place on July 27.
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Vardanyan’s wife has again asked Pashinyan to assist with a visit to the capti
As reported by “Caucasian Knot”, on February 17, the Baku military court sentenced Ruben Vardanyan, the former state minister of Nagorno-Karabakh, to 20 years in prison, with his case being considered separately. The defendant, who led the Karabakh government for only a few months during the blockade of the Lachin corridor, was found guilty of war crimes. Vardanyan refused to file an appeal, explaining that he does not recognize the verdict as an act of justice. Other captives, whose cases were considered separately, also received long sentences. Veronika Zonabend, the wife of Ruben Vardanyan, appealed to international organizations and the authorities of Armenia, urging them to facilitate a visit to Armenian prisoners in Azerbaijan.
In the fall of 2023, after the completion of Azerbaijan’s military operation in Nagorno-Karabakh and the establishment of control over the territory, Azerbaijani law enforcement agencies initiated criminal prosecution against former leaders and residents of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. In early October 2023, former presidents Arkadi Gukasian (1997–2007), Bako Saakyan (2007–2020), Araik Harutyunyan (2020–2023), and the chairman of the parliament David Ishkhanian were detained and transferred to Baku. More details about the events in Nagorno-Karabakh can be found in the reports of the “Caucasian Knot” Karabakh: escalation of the conflict or a new war? and “The beginning and end of the unrecognized Republic of Artsakh”.
Veronika Zonabend, the wife of the former state minister of Artsakh Ruben Vardanyan, has once again made an appeal regarding the organization of an international women’s humanitarian delegation to visit Armenian prisoners in Baku.
The statement notes that this week marks 100 days since Vardanyan was transferred to the Umbaqi penitentiary complex. Zonabend emphasized that his detention has continued since September 2023, and during all this time he has not been able to meet with his family in person, writes Armenia Today.
She reminded of her appeals to the Ombudsman of Azerbaijan Sabina Aliyeva and the Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan regarding the preparation of the delegation. Vardanyan’s wife emphasized that the goal of this initiative remains purely humanitarian: to visit Armenian prisoners held in Azerbaijan, to deliver letters, photographs, and permitted personal items from relatives, as well as to help maintain their connection with their families. According to Zonabend, to date, no official responses have been received to the appeals sent. Therefore, she has once again sent repeated official letters to Pashinyan and Aliyeva with specific proposals for organizing a humanitarian visit, and today she publicly appealed to them again.
It is fundamentally important for us that the chosen format ensures direct humanitarian contact with the prisoners and the opportunity to deliver permitted items from relatives.
Zonabend stated that she is asking the Ombudsman of Azerbaijan to assist in organizing visits to Armenian prisoners in the Umbaqi prison, to determine the possible format of the visit, the procedure for access and delivery of packages from families, as well as the conditions for the safe entry, stay, and unobstructed exit of delegation members.
“We are ready to discuss various officially agreed formats, including a visit by the entire delegation, a visit by a limited group of participants, or conducting the visit with the accompaniment of a representative of the Ombudsman’s office. It is fundamentally important for us that the chosen format ensures direct humanitarian contact with the prisoners and the opportunity to deliver permitted items from relatives,” the statement says.
Vardanyan’s wife also reiterated her request to the Prime Minister of Armenia to designate a responsible person to coordinate this initiative and to provide the necessary diplomatic and practical assistance for its preparation. She noted that she wants to act openly, responsibly, and through official channels and expressed hope for receiving an official response and readiness for practical cooperation. Former leaders of Artsakh have been sentenced in Baku to terms ranging from 20 years in prison to life imprisonment. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has previously ruled out the possibility of their early release. Since the closure of the International Committee of the Red Cross office in September 2025, no international organization has visited Armenian prisoners.
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Armenpress: August weather in Armenia expected to stay within climate norms
Air temperatures and precipitation across Armenia are expected to remain within the climatic norm in August, according to Gagik Surenyan, Deputy Director of the Hydrometeorology and Monitoring Center.
“According to forecasts by the Armenian Hydrometeorological Service, both air temperatures and precipitation levels this August will remain within the normal climatic range,” Surenyan said on social media.
“This means that no unusually intense heat or unseasonably cold weather is expected across the country during the month. We can expect an August that is typical of Armenia’s climate,” he added.
Published by Armenpress, original at
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Pashinyan inspects COP17 venue as preparations move forward in Yerevan
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan visited the Meridian Expo Center in Yerevan on Saturday, where preparations for hosting COP17—the Seventeenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)—are in full swing.
Pashinyan’s office said that he inspected the ongoing work.
Officials responsible for the process briefed the Prime Minister on the upcoming steps and said that all preparations are proceeding according to plan.
The Prime Minister toured the areas designated for conference sessions, delegation work, media operations, technical services, and other functions. He also familiarized himself with the infrastructure, technical facilities, and measures being implemented to ensure logistical accessibility.
The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of effective interagency cooperation and proper coordination with international partners to ensure the successful organization and high-level hosting of COP17.
Published by Armenpress, original at
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