Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said that Melania Harutyunyan, the secretary of the Civil Contract party’s youth organization council, will be appointed as his spokesperson, replacing Nazeli Baghdasaryan, who has been elected as a member of parliament.

“As you know, Ms. Baghdasaryan is stepping down from her role as the prime minister’s press secretary. I would like to thank her and take this opportunity to inform you that Melania Harutyunyan will be appointed as the prime minister’s press secretary,” Pashinyan said at a press briefing, introducing Harutyunyan to reporters. 

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan highlighted Armenia’s foreign policy shift toward diversifying its strategic partnerships, arguing that Yerevan seeks balanced relations rather than exclusive ties with any single country.

Speaking at a press briefing, Prime Minister Pashinyan once again addressed relations between Armenia and Russia.

“The issue is the following: Armenia has decided to have alternatives. Until now, Armenia did not have alternatives or strategic relations, either in economic or political terms. Now Armenia has signed strategic relations documents with China, the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, France, and many other countries, and Russia sees a problem in this. Russia believes that either relations must be exclusive, or there should be no relations at all. We do not accept this approach. We say that relations are not exclusive, but relations must exist. This is a legitimate position,” Pashinyan stated.

Asked whether Armenia is ultimately a good partner or not, Prime Minister Pashinyan noted:

“What made Armenia a bad partner in 2022, that the CSTO failed to fulfill its functions? What had the Republic of Armenia done, and whom had it harmed? In what way was the Republic of Armenia at fault that the Russian peacekeepers in Karabakh failed to carry out their duties? Is the issue about October 6, 2022? But there were events before that.

Why is the assumption constantly being made that we are the bad partner? Or what had the Republic of Armenia done to anyone? Had it harmed Belarus in some way for the President of Belarus to declare that Armenia is not needed by anyone? The respected partner—the President of Belarus—searched and searched but could not find an answer to that question. How can one speak about a sovereign country in such a way?

Now we are demonstrating who needs the Republic of Armenia, and Armenia also needs those partner countries. I ask that our position be approached with understanding and respect, especially since its legitimacy in practice is not being questioned,” Pashinyan said.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that continuous efforts are being made to secure the release of Armenian prisoners of war held in Azerbaijan.

“Our state institutions are working daily to secure the release of Armenian prisoners of war held in Azerbaijan — first and foremost, by verifying information and, where possible, providing assistance,” he said at a press briefing.

“Our previous experience has shown that these efforts are more or less effective when they are carried out quietly and confidentially. This is also the approach being followed now,” Pashinyan said.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said Armenia is ready to address Iran’s concerns over the TRIPP project, stressing that the initiative is transparent and aimed at benefiting the entire region.

Speaking at a press briefing, Pashinyan said that Armenia is a modest and small country and cannot have ambitious intentions to act as a mediator between Iran and the United States, as he believes that seeking to become involved in resolving relations between major powers would not be appropriate.

Addressing Iranian concerns regarding the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) project, Pashinyan said that during his latest visit to Iran, as well as before that, he had clearly stated that the Armenian side operates in an open and transparent manner.

“We are ready to provide answers to all questions of concern so that all concerns are dispelled, because TRIPP is a major and very important economic and infrastructure project. It will only benefit the region, including Armenia and Iran. I would like to remind you that as a result of the implementation of this project, the Persian Gulf–Black Sea railway connection will also be opened through the territories of Iran, Azerbaijan, Nakhchivan, Armenia, and Georgia,” Pashinyan said. He said that this is one of the factors that refutes criticism that the implementation of the TRIPP project would exclude any country from the region.

“On the contrary, this is an inclusive project, and, of course, a factor that could hinder it is regional instability. I hope that stability will be established as soon as possible so that we can implement all constructive projects,” Pashinyan said.

The first session of the ninth convocation of Armenia’s National Assembly will open at 10:00 a.m. on August 2, marking the start of a series of constitutional procedures, including the resignation of the current government and the appointment of a new prime minister. Until the election of the Speaker of Parliament, the session will be chaired by the oldest newly elected MP, Knyaz Hasanov, who was born on January 17, 1945 and was elected from the Civil Contract party’s electoral list representing national minorities.

The new parliament will consist of 105 lawmakers representing three political forces. 

The ruling Civil Contract party will hold 64 seats, the Strong Armenia Alliance 29 seats, and the Armenia Alliance 12 seats. Having secured more than 52% of the parliamentary mandates, Civil Contract will form the governing majority in accordance with the Constitutional Law on the Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly, while the Strong Armenia and Armenia alliances will serve as the opposition. 

The inaugural session will begin with an address by President Vahagn Khachaturyan. 

Newly elected MPs will then take the constitutional oath, sign the oath text, and officially assume their mandates. After the oath ceremony, the presiding officer will announce the total number of MPs, introduce the members of parliament and the political forces they represent, after which lawmakers will register for the session. 

The agenda first предусматривает the formation of the Counting Commission, after which parliament will proceed to elect the Speaker of the National Assembly. Each parliamentary faction has the right to nominate a candidate. 

The Speaker is elected by secret ballot with the support of a majority of all MPs. In the 105-seat parliament, at least 53 votes are required. 

The Civil Contract party has nominated Ruben Rubinyan for Speaker. The party has also selected Hayk Konjoryan and Vahagn Aleksanyan as its candidates for the posts of deputy speaker. 

Parliament has three deputy speakers, one of whom must be nominated from among the opposition factions. 

Deputy speakers are also elected separately by secret ballot with at least 53 votes.

As of July 29, no final decision had been announced regarding the opposition’s candidate for deputy speaker, although media reports have suggested Aram Vardevanyan, elected from the Strong Armenia Alliance, as a possible nominee. 

During the first session, parliament will determine the number, names, areas of responsibility and membership of its standing committees before electing their chairpersons. 

On July 29, the Civil Contract party board selected its nominees for the committee chairmanships through a closed, secret ballot. The agenda also includes the establishment of the Ethics Commission. 

This is a new requirement introduced through amendments to the Constitutional Law on the Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly adopted in July 2026, which require the first Ethics Commission of a newly elected parliament to be formed during its inaugural session. 

The procedure for appointing a prime minister following the election of a new parliament differs from the procedure applicable after a resignation or another vacancy. 

On August 2, the current government will resign, with ministers continuing to perform their duties until a new cabinet is formed. 

Under Article 149 of Armenia’s Constitution, once the term of the newly elected parliament begins, the President of the Republic must immediately appoint as prime minister the candidate nominated by the stable parliamentary majority. With 64 seats, Civil Contract will independently form that majority. 

The party’s officially endorsed candidate for prime minister is Nikol Pashinyan, meaning the parliamentary majority will nominate him in accordance with the Constitution, and the president will appoint him to the post. Following the prime minister’s appointment, the government must be formed within 15 days. 

Within five days of taking office, the prime minister must submit nominees for deputy prime ministers and ministers to the president, who must appoint them within three days or refer the nominations to the Constitutional Court. 

After the cabinet is formed, the prime minister has 20 days to submit the government’s programme to parliament. The National Assembly must consider and approve it within seven days by a majority of all MPs, requiring at least 53 votes.

Nazeli Baghdasaryan is leaving her position as spokesperson for the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia in connection with assuming the mandate of a Member of Parliament.

“Over the past three and a half years, I have worked at the Prime Minister’s Office. I assumed the responsible position of spokesperson during a difficult period for our country, trying to ensure, to the best of my ability, the necessary conditions for public communication, transparency, and accountability, to remain as accessible as possible, and to contribute to effective communication with the public,” Baghdasaryan said in a statement posted on social media.

She thanked Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan for his trust, joint work, and the experience she gained, as well as representatives of state institutions, press secretaries, and spokespersons.

Baghdasaryan particularly highlighted her cooperation with the staff of the Information and Public Relations Department, the Strategic Communications Department of the Prime Minister’s Office, and the Public Relations and Information Center.

“And, of course, special thanks to all journalists and representatives of the mass media. Our cooperation has always been of key importance to me. Your work and dedication are extremely important in informing the public and covering the activities of state institutions,” she said.

Baghdasaryan also announced that, by the decision of the Civil Contract party’s board, she has been selected as the party’s candidate for the position of chairperson of the parliamentary Committee on Labor and Social Affairs.

“See you in the National Assembly,” she concluded.

Baghdasaryan was appointed spokesperson for the Prime Minister on June 23, 2023.

Earlier, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told journalists that Melanya Harutyunyan, secretary of the Civil Contract party’s youth organization council, would be appointed to the position of Prime Minister’s spokesperson.

The Cabinet held its final meeting in its current composition today, July 30.

At the end of the session, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that, due to the formation of the new parliament, his government would formally resign on Sunday, August 2, in accordance with the procedure stipulated by the Constitution.

Following this, the President of Armenia will appoint as prime minister the candidate nominated by the parliamentary majority.

Pashinyan thanked the members of the current Government for their joint work, noting that some of them will continue their activities in other fields.

Chief of Staff of the Prime Minister’s Office Arayik Harutyunyan thanked the Prime Minister for entrusting him with this position five years ago, saying that it had been a valuable experience that would be very useful in his future work. Harutyunyan has been elected as a Member of Parliament.

Minister of High-Tech Industry Mkhitar Hayrapetyan thanked everyone for their joint work over the past approximately two and a half years. He said that, as a result of their coordinated, effective, dedicated, and complementary efforts, they had managed to achieve visible results for the state in several priority areas, particularly in the defense industry, artificial intelligence, and technology sectors.

Kotayk Governor Aharon Sahakyan said that it was a great honor for him to serve his people and his region. He assured that he would assume the position of Member of Parliament with a great sense of responsibility and would continue to serve the Republic of Armenia.

Prime Minister’s spokesperson Nazeli Baghdasaryan also said that she would continue serving the country by returning to the National Assembly.

Pashinyan’s Civil Contract party secured a majority in the parliamentary elections held in June.

Armenia’s Investigative Committee has launched criminal proceedings over alleged hooliganism committed through the use of information or communication technologies following a report by Anna Hakobyan, the wife of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, regarding threats to her life.

“The criminal proceedings were initiated over an incident of hooliganism committed through the use of information or communication technologies. We also note that, in a separate criminal case involving public calls for violence against the individual, a detention order has been issued and the suspect has been placed on the wanted list,” Investigative Committee spokesperson Kima Avdalyan said.

Earlier, the Investigative Committee said Hakobyan’s report was under review. Armenia’s Prosecutor General’s Office had also initiated proceedings based on her public statement in which she said she felt her life was under threat.

In recent weeks, Hakobyan has published a series of social media posts condemning domestic violence. In one of her latest videos, she said that after speaking publicly about the issue, she had begun receiving threats to her life.

 “I hope the state authorities will be able to prevent something like this from happening, because it would seriously damage the country’s reputation if the Prime Minister’s wife became a victim of violence,” Hakobyan said, urging women not to be afraid to speak out about domestic violence.

Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan has again visited the Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex in Yerevan to inspect the ongoing second phase of maintenance and restoration works.

The ministry said in a press release that the second phase of the project includes major renovation works on three additional columns of the Temple of Eternity, as well as repairs to the museum section.

Representatives of the contractor organization briefed the minister on the progress of the works, noting that the quality of the construction and improvement activities is ensured through professional oversight.

Armenia’s team won two silver and two bronze medals at the 10th European Junior Olympiad in Informatics (EJOI), held in Kaunas, Lithuania, from July 24 to 30.

The format of the Olympiad follows that of the International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI), with each country allowed to send up to four participants (while the host country may participate with two teams). During two competition days, participants solve three tasks each.

The Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Armenia said in a press release that 100 students from 25 countries participated in this year’s Olympiad.

Armenia’s team consisted of ninth-grade student Mamikon Hambaryan from Gyumri Secondary School No. 41; Hayk Adamyan (7th grade) and Vache Kocharyan (8th grade) from Quantum College; and Levon Hayrapetyan (8th grade) from Ayb School.

The Armenian team won two silver medals, awarded to Vache Kocharyan and Mamikon Hambaryan, and two bronze medals, awarded to Levon Hayrapetyan and Hayk Adamyan. The team was led by Alex Grigoryan from Quantum College and Tigran Matsakyan from the A. Shahinyan Specialized School of Physics and Mathematics. Armen Andreasyan from Yerevan State University participated as a member of the EJOI International Committee.

In 2025, the 9th European Junior Olympiad in Informatics was held in Shumen, Bulgaria, where the Armenian team won one silver and two bronze medals.