Armenia’s ruling Civil Contract party has selected its nominees for the chairmanships of the National Assembly’s standing committees through a closed, secret ballot, Prime Minister and Civil Contract Board Chairman Nikol Pashinyan announced after a meeting of the party’s board.

“The Civil Contract Party Board has decided to recommend that the Civil Contract parliamentary faction nominate the following candidates for the chairmanships of the National Assembly’s standing committees:

* Nazeli Baghdasaryan – Standing Committee on Labour and Social Affairs;

* Sisak Gabrielyan – Standing Committee on Education, Science, Culture, Diaspora, Youth and Sport;

* Lusine Badalyan – Standing Committee on Health;

* Sona Ghazaryan – Standing Committee on European Integration;

* Sargis Khandanyan – Standing Committee on Foreign Relations;

* Vilen Gabrielyan – Standing Committee on Defence and Security;

* Zaruhi Batoyan – Standing Committee on Protection of Human Rights and Public Affairs;

* Arusyak Julhakyan – Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs;

* Trdat Sargsyan – Standing Committee on Regional and Eurasian Integration;

* Vahe Ghalumyan – Standing Committee on Territorial Administration and Environmental Protection;

* Babken Tunyan – Standing Committee on Economic Affairs;

* Tsovinar Vardanyan – Standing Committee on Financial-Credit and Budgetary Affairs,” Pashinyan said.

A significant proportion of the underlying causes of negative incidents in the armed forces are not directly related to the military itself, and addressing the issue requires broader socio-psychological change in society, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said when commenting on non-combat deaths in the army.

“I see the solution in changing the socio-psychology of our society, because I have had the opportunity to say that the origins of approximately 70% of the incidents occurring in the army are not related to the army itself,” Pashinyan told reporters.

According to the prime minister, the officer corps also bears responsibility, but each case must be examined individually.

“The officer corps has its share of responsibility, but every individual case should be considered separately. In general, this is not the first time I have expressed my position on this issue. It is, of course, a problem that we must resolve,” he said.

Pashinyan stressed that the problem has persisted regardless of changes in officials or even governments.

“Unfortunately, ministers change, even governments change, but this problem remains. That means the causes are much deeper than we generally tend to imagine when dealing with these issues,” the prime minister said.

There is currently no discussion within the ruling Civil Contract party regarding the case involving Avet Konjoryan, the brother of Civil Contract parliamentary faction leader Hayk Konjoryan, as legal proceedings are underway, Prime Minister and Civil Contract Board Chairman Nikol Pashinyan said after a meeting of the party’s board.

“All citizens of the Republic of Armenia are equal before the law. Being a member of Civil Contract gives no one any privileges, but neither does it diminish anyone. There is no discussion within the party. A legal process is underway,” Pashinyan said.

The prime minister noted that there had been previous cases in which legal proceedings were followed by party decisions.

“There have been similar cases where a legal process took place, a legal assessment was made, people were expelled from the party, and then either before or after that they were convicted,” he said.

Asked whether the party might reconsider its decision to nominate Hayk Konjoryan for the post of Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly in light of the case involving his brother, Pashinyan replied:

“Why should it be reconsidered? Every individual is responsible for their own actions.”

He added that Civil Contract has an oversight body which, if necessary, can examine the matter and submit its conclusions to the party’s board.

A criminal case has been launched by the Kotayk Regional Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee over an incident in Abovyan in which Avet Konjoryan was allegedly subjected to physical assault by a group of individuals.

Within the framework of the proceedings, five people have been charged with committing physical assault as a group. Two of them have been placed under restrictions prohibiting them from leaving the country and released on bail.

Suren Papikyan and Arpine Sargsyan will be reappointed as Armenia’s Minister of Defence and Minister of Internal Affairs, respectively, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said during a briefing with reporters following a meeting of the Civil Contract party’s board.

“Yes, they will be reappointed,” Pashinyan said in response to a journalist’s question.

Papikyan has served as Minister of Defence since November 15, 2021.

Sargsyan has held the post of Minister of Internal Affairs since November 20, 2024.

The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 29 July, USD exchange rate down by 0.34 drams to 366.2 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 0.57 drams to 416.96 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.0512 drams to 4.6098 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 0.02 drams to 486.75 drams.

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

Gold price down by 666 drams to 47356 drams. Silver price down by 22.6 drams to 673.1 drams.

Armenia’s public debt stood at 41.3% of GDP during the first five months of this year, down from the end of 2025, although it could rise to around 50% in the second half of the year, Armine Manukyan, Senior Economist at the World Bank Group, said while presenting the report Armenia Economic Update: Pursuing Poverty-Reducing Growth Through More Effective Fiscal Policies on July 29.

“In the 2025 budget, the fiscal deficit was projected at around 5.5% of GDP, but the year ended with a deficit of 3.8%. This was mainly due to savings in current expenditure and some underexecution of capital spending, although capital expenditure has increased significantly in recent years. During the previous decade, capital spending averaged around 3% of GDP, whereas it is now about 6%. A very ambitious target had been set, and the capital expenditure programme was therefore not fully implemented.

“There was also strong tax revenue collection, which resulted in a smaller deficit. During the first five months of this year, the budget deficit had been projected at 1.7% of GDP, but it stood at 0.2%. This was mainly due to lower-than-planned capital expenditure. Capital spending is expected to increase in the second half of the year,” Manukyan said.

She noted that budget revenues increased by 15%, mainly due to higher value-added tax (VAT) and personal income tax receipts. According to Manukyan, the number of income taxpayers has risen alongside growth in salaried employment, while higher wages have also contributed to stronger personal income tax collection.

Manukyan said Armenia’s public debt amounted to 41.3% of GDP during the first five months of the year, lower than at the end of 2025.

“However, we expect it to increase in the second half of the year, driven by capital expenditure and the budget deficit, reaching around 50%,” she said.

Commenting on inflation, Manukyan noted that there was no price growth in Armenia in 2024, but prices began to rise the following year, with inflation accelerating further this year.

“Inflation has mainly been driven by food and non-alcoholic beverages, largely due to higher prices on international markets. It has also been influenced to some extent by the depreciation of the Armenian dram against the Russian rouble, as Armenia imports most of its goods from Russia.

“Healthcare costs have also increased to some extent since 2025. Transport prices are another contributing factor. We expected increases in transport and energy prices to have a stronger impact on inflation in Armenia, but compared with other countries, the effect has so far been more limited,” the economist said.

Armenia’s Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport, Zhanna Andreasyan, has received members of the national shooting team after their historic performance at the World Moving Target Shooting Championships held in Estonia from July 20 to 26.

According to the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport, the Armenian team won a total of nine medals—five gold, one silver and three bronze—and produced the country’s first-ever world champions in the discipline.

The meeting was also attended by Narine Shahbazyan, Head of the Ministry’s Sports Policy Department, and Areg Saribekyan, Secretary General of the Shooting Federation of Armenia.

Congratulating the athletes, Andreasyan described their achievement as a landmark in Armenia’s sporting history, noting that the team’s international success reflects the steady and qualitative development of shooting in the country.

“I believe your success marks another important milestone in Armenia’s sporting history. What you have achieved has already become part of history, and I am very pleased that we have reached such a result,” Andreasyan said, thanking the athletes, coaches and the Shooting Federation of Armenia for their consistent efforts.

The minister also highlighted the extensive joint work carried out to organise this year’s European Shooting Championships, saying the event had been successfully staged despite numerous organisational challenges and had received positive feedback from international partners. She added that investments made in shooting infrastructure for the championships were already yielding tangible results.

Speaking about the government’s sports policy, Andreasyan said that under a recent government decision, the state will finance training for children attending private shooting ranges. She also noted that discussions are underway on the possibility of incorporating shooting into the school physical education curriculum, citing the sport’s role in developing concentration and other important skills.

Andreasyan further referred to major international sporting events scheduled to be hosted by Armenia next year, stressing that the country continues to strengthen its position as a venue for international competitions. In this context, she said the possibility of hosting another international shooting tournament in Armenia would be considered.

Shooting Federation of Armenia Secretary General Areg Saribekyan said state support had become increasingly tangible in recent years, while investments made ahead of the European Championships had significantly contributed to the national team’s preparation and its results at the World Championships.

National team member Lilit Poghosyan also thanked the ministry for the reception, saying the team had sought to achieve the best possible results at the World Championships following the European Championships in Yerevan to demonstrate that the state’s efforts had not been in vain.

Armenia competed in the World Championships in Estonia with a 12-member squad.

In the senior competition, Hayk Minasyan and Gor Khachatryan claimed individual world titles. In the team event, Minasyan, Khachatryan and Hovhannes Margaryan won gold in the 50-metre running target normal run event.

Among the juniors, Aida Azatyan delivered an outstanding performance, becoming a two-time junior world champion.

Armenia also secured team medals in other events. The men’s team of Minasyan, Khachatryan and Margaryan won silver in the mixed run event.

Hayk Minasyan earned an individual bronze medal, while the same trio added two further bronze medals in the team competitions of the 50-metre mixed run and normal run events.

Armenia’s Human Rights Defender Anahit Manasyan visited the Ministry of Defence’s Yerevan Garrison Hospital on July 29, the Ombudsperson’s Office said.

During the visit, Manasyan toured the hospital, met with servicemen receiving treatment in the psychiatric ward, reviewed their health conditions and treatment progress, and inspected the hospital’s facilities.

She particularly stressed the need to improve the infrastructure and conditions of the psychiatric ward.

The hospital’s management and medical staff discussed a number of issues related to medical care provided to servicemen, as well as the organisation of the psychiatric ward’s work. Manasyan underscored the importance of fully ensuring servicemen’s right to receive medical treatment in dignified and appropriate conditions.

As part of the visit, the Ombudsperson held private meetings with servicemen in the ward. Discussions focused on medical care, living conditions, and potential issues arising during military service, as well as possible solutions. A psychiatrist from the Ombudsperson’s Office also participated in the visit.

Particular attention was given to reports circulated on social media concerning the rights of conscript serviceman A.H. Manasyan, accompanied by the staff psychiatrist, held a confidential meeting with the serviceman and listened to the issues he raised.

Medical records were also reviewed. The Ombudsperson’s Office said all matters concerning the serviceman are currently being addressed by the relevant authorities within their respective competencies, and that the case remains under the Ombudsperson’s direct supervision.

The office said it would provide additional publicly disclosable information after completing its review.

The Ombudsperson’s Office also noted that servicemen and their family members can contact the Human Rights Defender regarding rights-related issues by calling the 116 hotline, or 096 116 100 outside working hours and on non-working days.

They may also apply in person at the Human Rights Defender’s Office (56A Pushkin Street, Yerevan) or by email at [email protected].

Armenia’s Greco-Roman wrestling team member Janes Nazaryan has won the gold medal at the U17 World Wrestling Championships.

Competing in the 71 kg final of the tournament in Baku, Azerbaijan, Nazaryan defeated Aslan Dzuev by 4-3 to claim the world title.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has signed a law approving the agreement between the Republic of Azerbaijan and Ukraine on legal assistance in civil and commercial matters.

 The Azerbaijani news agency APA reported that the agreement was signed in the city of Gabala, Azerbaijan, on April 25, 2026.