Meteorologists predict short rains and thunder on the territory of Armenia on Wednesday, July 29.

According to the Hydrometeorology and Monitoring Center, the precipitation will not last long. from July 30, weather without precipitation will be established in the republic.

The temperature in the regions on July 29.

26°C to 28°C is expected in mountainous regions (Shirak, Lori, Gegharkunik). The air will warm up to 30°C in Tavush, 34°C in Kotayk, 35°C in Aragatsotn. The hottest weather will remain in the Ararat valley, Vayots Dzor and Syunik, where the temperature will reach 36…37°C.

Short rains and thunder are expected in Yerevan on Wednesday, the maximum temperature will be 36°C.

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On the instructions of Human Rights Defender Anahit Manasyan, on July 23, representatives of HRD staff conducted an unannounced monitoring visit to “Haghtanak” round-the-clock care center of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs. The purpose of the visit was to get acquainted with the state of ensuring the rights of people receiving care in the institution.

As part of the monitoring, the representatives of the HRD staff toured the territory of the institution, studying the living, domestic and sanitary conditions of the beneficiaries, the organization of food, the provision of medical assistance and services, the organization of rest and entertainment, as well as the specifics of the provision of care services.

Special attention was paid to ensuring dignified and respectful treatment of beneficiaries, respect for their private life and right to make independent decisions, as well as the general psychological and social environment formed in the institution.

HRD representatives had private conversations with the beneficiaries, getting directly informed about their problems, needs, the quality of services provided and the organization of daily life.

During the visit, the issues related to the availability and efficiency of the services provided to the beneficiaries were also studied, as well as the steps taken to solve the problems raised during the previous monitoring.

The human rights defender considers it welcome that, compared to the results of the previous monitoring visits, positive progress has been recorded in the institution. In particular, a positive trend in the organization of the daily life of the beneficiaries and the improvement of the provided care services was observed, which indicates the effectiveness of the steps taken to implement the recommendations and observations presented by the Defender’s institution during the previous visits.

The results of the monitoring visit will be summarized and the recorded problems and recommendations will be addressed to the competent state bodies in order to ensure their effective and systematic solution.

The human rights defender’s unannounced monitoring visits to social care institutions are continuous in nature and are aimed at effective protection of the rights of persons receiving care and continuous improvement of the quality of services provided.

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Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov’s statement actually establishes a new political reality.

In the Putin-Pashinyan telephone conversation held on July 27 at the initiative of the Armenian side, Moscow clearly emphasized the necessity of holding a referendum on Armenia’s membership in the European Union or remaining in the Eurasian Economic Union as soon as possible. Dates have not been specified, but the message is unequivocal. the question is no longer a subject of theoretical discussion.

Thus, the demand to hold a second referendum on the initiative of a foreign actor is actually legitimized in Armenia’s foreign political agenda.

The first is the constitutional referendum. Baku has been presenting it as a key precondition for a peace treaty for years. The text of the agreement initialed in Washington in August 2025 has not been signed for this very reason. Azerbaijan has already succeeded in getting the issue of amending the Constitution to appear on the internal political agenda of Armenia, according to the logic of its demands.

Now, with the same logic, Moscow is publicly promoting the idea of ​​a second referendum. It is important to note, however, that this demand did not arise just like that. The law “On starting the process of accession to the European Union” adopted in Armenia in 2025 has become a proof of legal incompatibility for EAEU partners. With the joint statement of Astana on May 29, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan had already demanded a referendum and set a deadline for the preparation of a report on the possible consequences of the suspension of the EAEU treaty in December. Peskov’s statement is a reaffirmation of that position, with a higher tone.

Nikol Pashinyan continues to resist, setting a condition that the referendum is possible only after submitting an official application to the European Union and making the issue substantive. However, the fact remains unchanged. the agenda of the two referendums has already been formed outside of Yerevan.

A highly symbolic image is obtained. The government continues to talk about Armenia’s “unprecedented sovereignty”, while in real political processes the country faces the prospect of two externally imposed referendums. One at the request of Baku, the other at the initiative of Moscow and EAEU partners.

All this also indicates a deeper problem. Confidence in Nikol Pashinyan’s political speech and commitments has clearly decreased among external actors. If earlier his assurances were enough, today both Baku and Moscow prefer to fix the issues of vital importance for them not with the Prime Minister’s promises, but through a referendum, with the direct expression of the will of the Armenian people.

This is not only a problem of foreign policy. We are talking about Armenia’s state sovereignty, international subjectivity and the level of external trust in the current government. When the agenda of the country’s strategic decisions is formed in foreign capitals one by one, and Yerevan appears in the role of responding to these agendas, statements about “unprecedented sovereignty” lose their political content.

In the end, if the agenda of the referendums on the future of Armenia is being formulated in Baku and Moscow one by one, then it is no longer about the strengthening of sovereignty. It is the gradual institutionalization of foreign political coercion, the biggest victim of which may be Armenia’s right and ability to make independent decisions.

 Political scientist Suren Surenyants

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Armenian Ambassador to the USA Narek Mkrtchyan was hosted at the Hudson Institute to discuss the key directions of the developing partnership between Armenia and the United States.

This is reported by the embassy.

During the interview with Michael Doran, director of Hudson Institute’s Center for Peace and Security in the Middle East, the current agenda of RA-US relations, regional developments and new opportunities for cooperation were discussed.

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During the preliminary investigation of the criminal proceedings carried out in the Department of Investigation of Crimes Against Humanity of the Main Department of the RA Investigative Committee, it appears that factual data were obtained that H.M., with the prior consent of her sister’s husband H.S., as part of a group, using cattle herders, minor A.P. and his father Y.P. owed them 40-60 thousand AMD, as well as the circumstances of the minor’s mental illness. In the period from August 8 to September 4, 2025, A.P. was subjected to trafficking, forced labor, which negligently caused severe consequence, causing him severe psychological and emotional suffering.

As a result of investigative and procedural actions, the persons who committed the crime were identified and decisions were made to initiate public criminal prosecution against them, according to Article 189, Part 3, Clause 2 of the Criminal Code (trafficking or exploitation of a child or a helpless person).

One of them was put under house arrest as a preventive measure, and the ban on absenteeism was applied to the other.

The criminal proceedings were sent to the supervising prosecutor with an indictment.

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The preliminary investigation of the criminal proceedings initiated in connection with the case of hooliganism on Facebook has been completed in the Lori Marz Investigation Department of the RA Investigative Committee.

In particular, on May 9, 2026, AO published a video containing obscene expressions on his Facebook page with the direct intention of committing hooliganism, using information technologies, due to the political views of 61-year-old H.M., with the motive of supporting the “Civil Agreement” party, by posting the latter’s photo, thereby showing an open contempt for moral norms.

According to the decision of the supervising prosecutor, a public criminal prosecution was initiated against A.O. for committing hooliganism using information or communication technologies.

The criminal proceedings were sent with the indictment to the supervising prosecutor with a request to send it to the court for confirmation and examination.

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According to the information of “Pastinfo”, the conditions of serving the sentence of the former commander of the Armed Forces Jalal Harutyunyan have been changed. The anti-corruption court confirmed our information, stating that the Criminal Court of General Jurisdiction of Yerevan satisfied Jalal Harutyunyan’s appeal against the decision of the head of the Penitentiary.

As a result, the terms of Jalal Harutyunyan’s imprisonment have changed and he will continue to serve his sentence in the mild conditions of a low security zone. On January 15, he found Jalal Harutyunyan guilty under the 3rd part of Article 550 of the RA Criminal Code, sentencing him to imprisonment for 5.5 years. The Criminal Court of Appeals, presided over by Judge Mkhitar Papoyan, composed of Judges Robert Papoyan and Lusine Abgaryan, left the guilty verdict unchanged in its ruling of June 18. The Court of Cassation did not accept the appeals, accordingly, on September 26, the guilty verdict entered into legal force, as a result, Harutyunyan was transferred to the Penitentiary in October to serve his sentence. Some time after his imprisonment, the conditions of his detention were changed.

Let’s remind that in one of the episodes in the case of the former commander of the Armed Forces Jalal Harutyunyan, in 2020. regarding the counterattack on October 7, the criminal prosecution was stopped while still in the preliminary investigation, and the other episode, which refers to the attack on the D20 division of “Tsori” military unit on October 12, was sent to court. According to the accusation, he, occupying the position of the commander of the Armed Forces, with the rank of lieutenant general, being an official person, a public servant, being a commander with a service position and a military rank due to his rank and position, having the authority to issue orders and orders arising from his authority and to ensure their execution, during the declared martial law in 2020. on October 12, showed a negligent attitude towards the service, as a result of dishonest and negligent attitude towards the performance of his official duties, he performed them improperly, which negligently caused serious consequences. In particular, according to the criminal case, during the enemy’s attack on the D20 division, the command of the division contacted Jalal Harutyunyan’s deputy, head of artillery, Gennady Baghdasaryan, and informed them about the enemy’s attack, but Jalal Harutyunyan, according to the case, said that the approachers were his own. The ban on absence was applied to Jalal Harutyunyan as a preventive measure.

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The administration of the governing “Civil Agreement” party has decided on the candidates for the positions of the chairmen of the standing committees of the National Assembly of Armenia.

Nazeli Baghdasaryan was nominated for the position of the chairman of the permanent committee on labor and social issues. The Standing Committee on Science, Education, Culture, Diaspora, Youth and Sports was proposed to be headed by Sisak Gabrielyan, and the Standing Committee on Health Affairs by Lusine Badalyan.

Sona Ghazaryan was nominated for the position of the chairman of the Standing Committee on European Integration, and Sargis Khandanyan for the position of the Standing Committee on Foreign Relations.

In addition, Zaruhi Batoyan was elected as a candidate for the chairman of the Standing Committee on Human Rights Protection and Public Affairs.

Vilen Gabrielyan became the candidate for the chairman of the Standing Committee on Defense and Security Affairs of the National Assembly, and Arusyak Julhakyan became the candidate for the chairman of the Standing Committee on State-Legal Affairs. 

Trdat Sargsyan was nominated as the chairman of the Standing Committee on Regional and Eurasian Integration, Vahe Ghalumyan was nominated to the Standing Committee on Territorial Management and Environmental Protection, Babken Tunyan was nominated to the Standing Committee on Economic Affairs, and Tsovinar Vardanyan was nominated to the Standing Committee on Fiscal and Budgetary Affairs. 

The final decision on the appointment of the presidents of the commissions will be made by the National Assembly in accordance with the established procedure.

 In a conversation with journalists, RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan emphasized that this decision does not mean that all the candidates presented will be elected presidents of the commissions. According to him, the final picture also depends on the fact that the opposition factions will choose the leadership of the permanent commissions.

To the journalists’ question whether the government has already decided which two commissions will be reserved for the opposition, Pashinyan answered that the matter has not yet been finally closed.

“We had a discussion, there is a decision, but since there is still time, certain adjustments are possible, so I don’t want to announce it now,” he said.

Turning to the question of why Vilen Gabrielyan defeated Armen Khachatryan and Sasun Mikayelyan was not elected during the election of the KP board, Pashinyan noted that in a number of cases the fight between the candidates was quite equal.

According to him, the elections were held by closed secret ballot, and there was no unanimously elected candidate. In some cases, a second round was also necessary, and the difference between several candidates was only one vote, 9 to 10.

Pashinyan also drew attention to the fact that gender balance was maintained among the nominated candidates: six women and six men. According to him, there was no special trend, and such a result was formed exclusively as a result of closed voting.

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Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin did not congratulate him on the results of the elections during the last telephone conversation.

Answering the journalists’ question why there was no mention of congratulations in the official messages of the parties after the conversation, Pashinyan confirmed the absence of congratulations. “The President of Russia did not congratulate me, but here a question arises: who was he talking to in that case?” asked the Prime Minister. He also informed that contacts with the Russian side will continue, and the meeting with the Russian president may take place in the near future.

“We have said that we will meet in the near future, but the dates have not yet been specified,” Pashinyan said.

Earlier, after the phone conversation between Pashinyan and Putin, the parties had released messages, in which it was said about the discussion of bilateral relations, regional agenda and current issues, but no information about the congratulations related to the elections was published.

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