March: 30, 2026
Nikol Pashinyan announces almost on a daily basis that “if the CP does not form a constitutional majority in the elections, then there will be a war.”
He made another such statement this morning on Facebook live, during which he called on the people to “stand up for peace”. Parallel to all this, Nikol Pashinyan and his teammates do not miss the opportunity to declare that “there is no longer peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan”, without answering the question whether they should remain in power forever so that there is peace in Armenia.
To what extent can Nikol Pashinyan’s threat to the people “there will be a war if I am not in power” affect people’s psychology, can this affect people’s orientation in the elections?
Psychologist Karine Nalchajyan, answering these questions, he said: at this pre-election stage, the tools that Nikol Pashinyan has in his hands are mostly outdated: wooing people, pretending to be a common man, etc.
“The working tool left in Nikol Pashinyan’s hands is to scare people with war. Fear is one of the deepest, most archaic feelings, and war, especially after seeing so much destruction and blood, people probably don’t want war the most.
So, out of the theses put forward by Nikol Pashinyan, only this can work to some extent, but I will not say that it will be very influential. Those people whose consciousness and ability to analyze are in place are not blinded by emotions, they understand very well that this power and peace are as far apart as the earth and the sky. of 168.am Karine Nalchajyan said in a conversation with
According to the psychologist, the situation in which Nikol Pashinyan has put himself, together with his team, is dangerous, because they do not say it openly, but they are already mocking the people.
“All this is from the genre of absurdity, this is a mockery of people, it says: ‘Do whatever you want, your song is sung.’ It is understandable, this causes laughter, disgust and other emotions, and at the same time, Nikol Pashinyan is not idle, he is doing business, he is advancing his plans, and that is in a hurry, for which he occupies the society with nonsense.
So, this behavior of his is already very dangerous, one should not despise and disgust him. With all this, they spoil the collective image of the Armenian nation, reduce the self-esteem of the Armenian people,” Karine Nalchajyan added.
Continuing, the psychologist said that the “color revolutions” that are happening in the world are preceded by a decrease in the self-esteem of nations, therefore, the pranks that are happening today are not done as an end in themselves.
“Today, many of us, don’t we, hear when people say: what kind of nation are we, what kind of people are we? This is what this government wants. Our collective opposition should work on this and raise the self-esteem of our people. If the authorities need the voice of the people, that’s why they took to the streets, that’s why people should understand that their voice is important and with that voice they can change things in this country,” emphasized Karine Nalchajyan.
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168: Pashinyan gave all the keys to Armenia to Alev. Hrant Mikayelyan
March: 30, 2026
Azerbaijan has found a new format to expand its territory at the expense of the Republic of Armenia. What is presented as the process of border demarcation between Armenia and Azerbaijan is not actually demarcation and demarcation, but a process of new occupation of Armenian territories without firing a shot. He expressed such a view 168 TVof Revue on the air of the program political scientist Hrant Mikayelyan՝ talking about the possible reasons for the decision to change the direction of the Georgia-Armenia gas pipeline.
The political scientist puts forward the hypothesis that the transfer of the 5.5-kilometer section of the Georgia-Armenia gas pipeline at the request of the Armenian side may also be related to the process of Armenia-Azerbaijan demarcation and new concessions.
“The following is happening today: Azerbaijan demands to receive all the directions where Armenia has advanced, and the directions where Azerbaijan has advanced, the Azerbaijani side, of course, is not going to give, that is, this process is not demarcation and demarcation, but in fact it is a process of new territorial conquests by Azerbaijan, simply without firing, with the agreement of the Armenian government and on the condition that there is no war, because Rubinyan and his ilk constantly talk that “peace you have to caress, caress, and in order to keep it you have to give in all the time”, they don’t know any other way to keep peace, now Azerbaijan is making new demands, and we see that Pashinyan has to give in some other parts as well. Regarding this specific episode, it will be clarified, but in general, we can comment that Azerbaijan is considering in different ways how to conquer new territories from Armenia.” commented Hrant Mikayelyan.
The political scientist recalled the Azerbaijani demand to hand over Verin Voskepar and several other villages in Tavush and the handover of the Goris-Kapan interstate road in 2021. in September, noting that, in fact, it was demarcation without demarcation.
“The Azerbaijanis, for example, can enter there one day and create a direct connection, and Azerbaijan can send in troops and share Tavush. there is a northern part, there is a southern part, and if the Kirantsov advance and Verin Voskepar are taken under their control, they will already completely share the territory of Tavush. Thus, this is just one example: how Azerbaijan has advances in various strategic border areas, which not only improve Azerbaijan’s position, but also worsen our situation. Let me remind you one more thing: demarcation without demarcation, which happened during the surrender of the Goris-Kapan road, when Azerbaijan seized and closed the road, the main road that connected Armenia with Iran and the south of Armenia with other territories of Armenia. This is the same format: Azerbaijan is trying to worsen the situation in Armenia, and the Armenian government is playing games, pretending to achieve peace.”
According to the political scientist: “When you give what you have to the enemy, so that the enemy can use it against you, it is not peace, it is a different type of war… And then, of course, you can threaten war, because all the keys and all the opportunities have been given to Azerbaijan for war.” added Hrant Mikayelyan.
The political scientist emphasizes that in 1918-20 The Republic of Azerbaijan, which considers itself the successor of the extremist union called “Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan”, actually has territorial ambitions for almost the entire territory of the Republic of Armenia and does not recognize the territorial integrity of the Republic of Armenia.
In this context, Hrant Mikayelyan also referred to the 1975 map of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the USSR, which was accepted as the basis for demarcation, noting that they are trying to mislead the public with statements about “cadastre paper” and “internationally recognized borders”, while the concept of “legal force” does not really exist at the international level.
“Of course, there are 10 basic international principles that are continuously violated, and among the first violators are Turkey and Azerbaijan, and nothing happens to them, for example, Turkey has occupied many areas in the north of Syria and is not returning them, it has also occupied Northern Cyprus, and where are the internationally recognized borders, or who forces Turkey to leave those areas?
Thus, legal force exists only when the parties have reached an agreement, the international community has recognized, there are force mechanisms that ensure the implementation of the agreement. If all these mechanisms are present, including the balance of power that ensures the protection of borders, then yes, but if we see that one side is constantly imposing, then it is clear that there is no peace and no territorial demarcation is taking place.
By the way, why is the map of 1989 not accepted as a basis, with the demarcation of which, for example, the Sotk mine completely passed within the borders of Soviet Armenia, but Azerbaijan takes the Soviet map of 1975, which is the most favorable for it? Very good. We accepted. But even this is not accepted by Azerbaijan as a fact, because after 2020, Azerbaijan has advanced about 220-250 km, and they have occupied our dominant heights. At the moment, the Azerbaijanis are located at an altitude of 3,200 meters, our forces are at an altitude of 2,600 meters, and our forces are much less protected, which are objectively in a vulnerable state, and all this is happening not because Azerbaijan is establishing peace, but on the contrary, Azerbaijan is preparing for war or at least preparing to constantly impose its desired solutions on Armenia. explains the political scientist.
According to the political scientist: It is beneficial for Pashinyan that Aliyev threatens Armenia with war.
Referring to the regional situation, Hrant Mikayelyan added that the war against Iran will have a very significant impact on the upcoming parliamentary elections in Armenia.
Full interview in the video.
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RFE/RL – Iran Thanks Armenia For ‘Humanitarian Support’
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has thanked Armenia for what he described as humanitarian support provided to Iran during its ongoing war with the United States and Israel.
“The support of the Armenian government and people to the Iranian people in the evacuation of Iranians and humanitarian aid is highly commendable,” he said in a weekend post on X. “The centuries-old ties between Iran and Armenia have once again shown their strength in a difficult time, and these brotherly steps will remain in the memory of the Iranian people.”
Araghchi’s Armenian-language tweet followed his phone call with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan. According to the Iranian Foreign Ministry, the two men discussed “consequences of the continued US and the Israeli military aggression against Iran.” In a statement, the ministry said Mirzoyan offered Yerevan’s condolences over the deaths of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, other officials as well as civilians killed in U.S.-Israeli air strikes.
The Armenian Foreign Ministry released a much shorter readout of the call. It said Mirzoyan discussed with Araghchi “possibilities for resolving the situation” around Iran and “humanitarian issues.” It did not elaborate.
The Armenian government has reacted cautiously to the war, declining to criticize the U.S.-Israeli military campaign. Mirzoyan said last week that it has delivered medicines and other humanitarian assistance to the Islamic Republic. He did not reveal the volume of the aid.
The government had not officially reported the shipment. Its critics claimed that it was afraid of displeasing the U.S.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian’s administration has sought to reorient Armenia towards the West in recent years. It agreed last year to open a U.S.-administered transit corridor for Azerbaijan what would run along Armenia’s strategic border with Iran.
In the months leading up to the ongoing war, Iranian officials spoke out against the transit arrangement. They feared that it could undermine Armenian control of the border and lead to U.S. security presence there. Yerevan sought to allay their concerns. Some observers believe that Tehran will now be even more opposed to the planed Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity.
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American University Of Armenia Responds To Iran’s Threats
In what it called a “precautionary measure,” the American University of Armenia (AUA) switched to online classes on Monday following neighboring Iran’s threats to target U.S.-affiliated campuses in the region.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) made the threats after U.S.-Israeli airstrikes reportedly destroyed two Iranian universities on the night from Friday to Saturday.
“If the U.S. government wants its universities in the region to be free from retaliation … it must condemn the bombing of the universities in an official statement by 12 noon on Monday, March 30, Tehran time,” the IRGC said, according to Iranian news agencies.
It warned “all employees, professors, and students of American universities in the region and residents of their surrounding areas” to stay a kilometer away from campuses. The warning seemed primarily addressed to several U.S. universities that have branches in Gulf Arab states.
“Due to the threat made by Iran to target American universities in West Asia and the Middle East, all AUA classes on Monday, March 30, will be held fully online,” read a statement released by the Yerevan-based university.
“In taking this step, we emphasize that we have received no direct threats against our university, and no indication that we are in any kind of danger, so there is no cause for alarm,” it said. “This is simply a precautionary measure, taken out of an abundance of caution, because the safety of our community is of paramount importance.”
The AUA did not explicitly say when it will resume in-person teaching. It was also not clear whether the university administration consulted with the Armenian government before announcing its decision. The government did not immediately react to it.
The AUA, which is affiliated with University of California, was founded in 1991 with the help of Armenian philanthropists in the United States as well as Armenia’s first post-Communist government. It has since expanded significantly and become of the country’s most reputable universities.
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RFE/RL – Pashinian’s Visit To Yerevan Church Followed By Arrests
- Naira Bulghadarian
Two teenage brothers and another man were arrested on Sunday after confronting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian at a church in Yerevan.
Surrounded by his bodyguards and aides, Pashinian unexpectedly arrived at the packed St. Anne’s Church during a Palm Sunday Mass held there. He began making his way out of it shortly afterwards, with the bodyguards clearing the way for his passage. They upset a young worshipper who told them not to push him and said he wants to keep “standing in the middle” of the church.
“Don’t look at me like that,” the man, subsequently identified as Davit Minasian, then told Pashinian before attempting to slap him on the shoulder.
Videos of the incident showed a Pashinian bodyguard knocking down one of the brothers moments later. Meanwhile, the premier signaled to his entourage to not react to the man and to carry on. They left the church amid angry cries from other believers.
Minasian was arrested right after the liturgy along with his twin brother Mikael and another citizen. Footage posted online showed several police officers dragging the 18-year-old high school student from the church courtyard in downtown Yerevan.
All three men remained in police custody but were not formally charged with any crime as of Monday evening. Another law-enforcement agency, the Investigative Committee, said it launched a criminal investigation into hooliganism committed against a state official performing their duties or engaging in political activities.
Vartuhi Elbakian, a lawyer representing the brothers, insisted that they did not commit any crimes when she spoke to reporters outside the Interior Ministry building in Yerevan picketed by their classmates and the latter’s parents demanding their release.
“The boys to go to Mass every Sunday,” she said. “They are very pious.”
Elbakian also insisted that the Minasians “have no connection” to the third detainee, opposition activist Gevorg Gevorgian. The latter stood next to them during the incident.
Pashinian’s loyalists blamed it on Catholicos Garegin II, the supreme head of the Armenian Apostolic Church whom Pashinian has been controversially trying to depose. The chief of the prime minister’s staff, Arayik Harutiunian, accused Garegin of turning the church into a political “sect.” Opposition figures countered that the incident was the result of what they see as Pashinian’s provocative behavior.
Pashinian has spent the last few weekends touring various parts of Armenia and talking to people in the streets on what look like campaign trips connected with the June 7 parliamentary elections. Some of those citizens caused him to lose his temper by openly denouncing his policies or complaining about his government’s track record.
In the most scandalous of those incidents caught on camera, Pashinian raged at a female refugee from Nagorno-Karabakh who blamed him for Azerbaijan’s recapture of the region that forced its ethnic Armenian population to flee to Armenia. The premier branded the Karabakh Armenian as “fugitives” and said they have no moral right to denounce him, sparking a storm of criticism from not only his detractors but even some sympathizers. He later apologized for his outburst.
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California Courier Online, March 30, 2026
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has repeatedly misled the Armenian public by making false promises since coming to power in 2018.
To preserve his seat, Pashinyan has used three ploys:
1) Promise the gullible people a rosy future using the slogan, “There is a future” (abaka ga);
2) Exploit the naïve public’s blind trust by making false promises;
3) Blame all his errors and the country’s current problems on former leaders, even though he has been in charge for eight years.
Whenever anyone points out his mistakes and deceitful promises, Pashinyan either denies ever making such statements or dodges the question. His excuse is that, since the people elected him, he can do whatever he wants, even though he never told his electors that he would hand over Artsakh to Azerbaijan and relinquish part of Armenia’s territories to the enemy state.
Since the parliamentary elections are scheduled to take place on June 7, Pashinyan is once again busy misleading the public. He and his ministers exaggerate their accomplishments, and act as if Armenia did not exist before 2018, when they came to power.
In order to fool the public, Pashinyan described in 2020 what his imaginary Armenia would look like in 2050, knowing full well that neither he nor his political party will be around by then. He called the plan “A Development Strategy for Armenia until 2050.”
His plan for 2050 is no different from many of his other fake promises. According to the well-known saying, “Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.” Armenia’s citizens must finally wake up and realize that they are being deceived repeatedly by their incompetent but cunning leader.
Here is the list of Pashinyan’s 18 unrealistic goals to be accomplished by 2050:
• Increase Armenia’s population to at least five million.
• Create 1.5 million jobs.
• Overcome poverty through work.
• Increase Armenia’s GDP 20-fold.
• Increase the average salary seven-fold.
• Make a healthy lifestyle a national chracteristic; increase life expectancy to 90 years.
• Have the world’s most combat-ready army per capita.
• Have one of the 10 most efficient intelligence services in the world.
• Make learning a national way of life.
• Have at least three universities among the world’s top 200 ranked universities.
• Turn Armenia into a high-tech industrial country.
• Have at least five high-tech companies valued at $10 billion or more and at least 10,000 operating startups.
• Ensure a healthy environment; make Armenia climate-resilient and energy-efficient.
• Double Armenia’s forested areas.
• Win 25 Olympic gold medals.
• Make the Armenian national football team the winner of the European and/or World Championship.
• Win the title of world individual chess champion.
• Increase to 15 million the annual number of tourists visiting Armenia.
Many of these 18 goals are unattainable. Six years after Pashinyan’s announcement, there has been hardly any progress. Even though there is nothing wrong with having personal or national goals, to achieve them one needs to take the following steps:
1) Set realistic goals with a reasonable chance of success. Rather than getting up on a stage and saying whatever comes to mind, there needs to be an in-depth study before making haphazard public announcements.
2) Ask experts to develop a detailed, realistic, and achievable plan of action. The head of government must first consult specialists in various fields to develop a roadmap for getting the country from here to there.
3) Provide a timeline and incremental milestones. It is not enough to state what you want to achieve by 2050. The government must have a detailed plan that specifies actions to be taken each year until 2050.
4) Include the public in setting national priorities. The Prime Minister should not ignore the will of the people and singlehandedly decide what is best for citizens. He should organize local conferences in each region to ask the public what they would like to see accomplished by 2050. The government should also conduct public polls to obtain reliable data about citizens’ interests.
5) Most importantly, ensure competent leadership now. Before worrying about 2050 — or even 2026 — the country must have a competent leader. Armenia’s citizens have the opportunity in this June’s parliamentary elections to decide who can best lead the country now. Otherwise, they may not have a country by 2050.
Anar Rustamov formed a fake durable medical equipment company, or “DME” to fraudulently bill taxpayer funded Medicare for $90 million in supplies that were not needed or received according to DOJ officials.
Rustomov’s San Francisco Bay Area company Dublin Helping Hands was submitting the claims the Feds say.
The listed patients were unaware of the submissions and the referring medical provider listed did not authorize the claims, according to the indictment.
The claims listed everything from back braces to glucose monitors.
The fraudulent activity took place from October of 2024 and peaked in April of 2025 when the company submitted claims totaling more than $49 million.
“The billing volume and timing was designed to maximize the amount of money paid out before the fraud was detected,” the indictment said.
Rustamov is a wanted man, and officials believe he’s on the run. Special agent Robb R. Breeden said the agency will “pursue those who attempt to exploit federal health care programs — no matter where they attempt to hide.”
If convicted, Rustomov faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for each violation.
— April 15th Capitol Hill Commemoration and Congressional Staff Briefing will Link 1915 and 1923 Genocides to Present-Day Armenian Security and Artsakh’s Right of Return
WASHINGTON, DC –
Members of Congress will join with Armenian Americans and allies from across the United States on Wednesday, April 15th for the annual Capitol Hill Armenian Genocide observance and a Congressional briefing challenging the failure of theArmenia-Azerbaijan peace process to address Turkey and Azerbaijan’s unanswered crimes against the Armenian nation.The Capitol Hill program opens with a 1:00 p.m. Congressional briefing, “Peace Without Justice in the South Caucasus,” hosted by the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) in Cannon HOB Room 130. Later that evening, the Armenian Genocide Congressional Commemoration – titled “Armenian Genocide: From Remembrance to Responsibility | Justice for a Century of Genocide | Armenia | Artsakh | 1915-2023” – will take place from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Rayburn HOB Foyer.
Both events will be live webcast on ANCA social media channels.
“Remembrance – a moral imperative, necessary to combat denial – is a requirement of truth. Truth in the service of justice; justice in the service of security – the key to lasting peace,”said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “On April 15th, the Armenian American community and our Congressional allies will reaffirm our collective commitment to justice – the release of Armenian hostages, the return of Artsakh refugees, and the restoration of desecrated Christian holy sites.”
Capitol Hill Armenian and Artsakh Genocide Observance
The evening Congressional Armenian Genocide Commemoration is co-hosted by the ANCA and the Armenian Assembly of America, in cooperation with the Congressional Armenian Caucus. It marks the most recent iteration of a decades-long tradition of annual Capitol Hill observances dating back to the first Capitol Hill commemoration, in 1965, marking the 50th anniversary of this crime.
This year’s program comes as Turkey and Azerbaijan’s genocidal crimes against the Armenian nation – from 1915 to 2023 – remain unaddressed and ongoing. Armenian prisoners of war and civilian captives, including Artsakh leaders, continue to languish in Azerbaijani detention. More than 150,000 Artsakh Armenians remain forcibly displaced from their homes. And Azerbaijan continues to occupy sovereign Armenian territory while pressing demands designed to foreclose any prospect of justice, accountability, or return.
Bus transportation to the Rayburn HOB Foyer is available, departing from Soorp Khatch Armenian Apostolic Church, 4906 Flint Drive, Bethesda, MD 20816, at 4:30 p.m. Buses will return immediately after the program. To reserve a spot, email [email protected] or call Elizabeth Chouldjian at (703) 585-8254.
Capitol Hill Staff Briefing: Peace without Justice in the South Caucasus
The 1:00 p.m. briefing is open to congressional staff and members of the public and will offer an expert assessment of the outstanding humanitarian and security issues that risk undermining any just and durable peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
In August 2025, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev initialed a draft peace agreement at the White House. While presented as a diplomatic breakthrough, the agreement drew immediate concern from human rights and security experts for its failure to address critical unresolved issues — including the release of Armenian prisoners of war, the withdrawal of Azerbaijani forces from sovereign Armenian territory, the protection of Armenian cultural heritage in Artsakh, and the right of return for the more than 150,000 Armenians forcibly displaced from their homes in 2023.
The White House summit also announced the “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity” – or TRIPP – a proposal under which Armenia would grant a U.S.-operated consortium exclusive development and management rights over a multi-modal transport corridor connecting Azerbaijan to its exclave Nakhichevan and onward to Turkey, under a 49-year lease extendable to 99 years.
The briefing will feature a round table discussion with two subject-matter experts
Dr. Robert Krikorian: Retired Senior State Department Official with more than two decades as an intelligence analyst and senior adviser in State’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research, and Ph.D. in History and Eurasian Studies from Harvard University.
Karnig Kerkonian, Esq.: International Human Rights Lawyer and founding partner of Kerkonian Dajani LLP, with expertise in complex litigation, international sanctions regimes, and public international law; J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School; Diploma in Public International Law from Cambridge University.
To register for the 1:00pm briefing, visit anca.org/rsvp.
ANCA Legislative Priorities
The ANCA continues to press Congress to take concrete action alongside any peace process, advancing three key pieces of bipartisan legislation:
The Azerbaijan Sanctions Review Act of 2025 (H.R.5369), led by Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), directs the Trump-Vance Administration to review the applicability of Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act sanctions against Azerbaijani officials responsible for war crimes, human rights abuses, and the ongoing illegal detention of Armenian prisoners of war and civilian captives.
The ARMENIA Security Partnership Act (H.R.6840), led by Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Representatives Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Frank Pallone (D-NJ), would prohibit the president from waiving Section 907 restrictions on U.S. aid to Azerbaijan unless the Aliyev regime takes concrete steps toward a lasting peace with Armenia.
The Armenian Genocide Education Act (H.R.2585), led by Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV) and joined by Representatives Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Ted Lieu (D-CA), and David Valadao (R-CA), directs the Library of Congress to implement a nationwide education program about the genocide committed by the Ottoman Turkish Government from 1915 to 1923 against Armenians, Assyrians, Greeks, Syriacs, Arameans, Maronites, and other Christians.
Armenian Americans and allies are encouraged to contact their Senators and Representatives to encourage them to attend the April 15th events and to visit anca.org/action for the latest advocacy resources.
California is being investigated by a powerful congressional committee after the Post exposed rampant hospice fraud that’s cost taxpayers more than $100 million.
The House Oversight Committee sent shockwaves across the Golden State on Monday after launching the bombshell probe into widespread Medicare fraud on the West Coast.
The investigation comes off the back of the Post’s revelations multiple “ghost” hospices were allegedly billing the government while operating from buildings that have been abandoned for years.
The secret network included empty storefronts, auto parts shops and other offices that were not in use, while other addresses did not exist at all.
The Republican-led House Oversight Committee demanded all documents and communications relating to audits and oversight of federally-funded hospice programs be handed over.
Chair James Comer sent a damning letter to Governor Gavin Newsom, claiming the state has a “well-documented history of fraud in its hospice programs” and estimated the total amount at over $105 million.
The letter said: “Recent reporting has revealed alarming evidence of fraudulent activity in California’s hospice programs, including agencies overbilling Medicare and fraudulently enrolling beneficiaries without their knowledge.”
It added: “The Committee is concerned your administration does not have sufficient internal controls to prevent and detect fraud and is not conducting proper oversight of these hospice programs.
“As a result, Americans across the country are paying for California’s rampant hospice fraud and vulnerable patients are being exploited.”
The committee said its auditors estimate LA County hospice providers overbilled Medicare by at least $105 million in a single year, adding it had seen a 1,500% increase in registrations since 2010 — resulting in more than 2,800 providers across the state.
A Post investigation earlier this month obtained data detailing hundreds of suspect hospices and home agencies across the state, with numerous instances of agencies listed at the same location.
St Rita’s Home Health, which data shows billed Medicare about $4.3 million between 2019 and the first-half of 2025, was registered to a vacant Van Nuys strip mall with a “for rent” sign outside.
A similar story was about six miles away in North Hollywood, where another building that was listed as operating 12 hospice and home health agencies had the same sign hanging out front.
The Post contacted several of the companies allegedly operating inside the building.
One hung up when asked to confirm its location, another said it moved — despite still being listed on the CDPH database at the North Hollywood address — and a third went to a voicemail for ”Alexander from Southern California Auto.”
One alleged hospice fraudster had the audacity to show off her $4 million Carmel-by-the-Sea home for a news outlet just days before being arrested and charged with stealing $3.2 million from Medicare.
The Post’s findings were consistent with what whistleblowers and industry insiders have described elsewhere — an epidemic of medical scams, particularly in and around Los Angeles.
Dr Mehmet Oz, head of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, told the Post earlier this month: “Thirty to 40% of all the hospices in America are in Los Angeles, so there’s just no way they are all legitimate.”
He swiftly cut off payments to suspicious operations across the city and said every hospice in the state was under investigation.
California gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton told the Post: “‘Until I’m governor next January, it’s only through federal investigation and enforcement that we can expect real accountability for Gavin Newsom, who falsely claims that he’s cleaned up hospice fraud in California.”
Newsom came out swinging after the investigation was announced, claiming a moratorium he imposed in 2021 stopped “bad actors” entering the system.
A spokesman said: “In 2021, Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation placing a moratorium on new hospice licenses – a policy that remains in effect today, preventing bad actors from entering the system while strengthening oversight of existing providers.
“This work is delivering results, as more than 280 hospice licenses have been revoked over the past two years and an additional 300 providers are under investigation.
“The state continues to take coordinated action to suspend Medi-Cal payments, revoke licenses, and pursue prosecutions.”
Experienced hospice provider Kevin Tutunjian, founder of In the Arms of Grace Hospice, acknowledged fraud exists but defended the industry.
He said: “Blatant fraud is someone who just bills Medicare without the individual knowing. That is one thing.”
“But there are organizations trying to do the right thing, but maybe they just are ill-equipped to deliver quality care for whatever reason.”
The House committee has asked Newsom to provide records related to anti-fraud practices, audits, Medicare billing and other information by April 6.
commentary,
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Armenia has become a transit country for those arriving across the border with
As reported by “Caucasian Knot,” a collection of humanitarian aid for arriving Iranians has begun in Yerevan. An ambassador for one of the foundations stated that up to a million people could arrive in Armenia. Commentators on social media believe that the influx of refugees from Iran into Armenia will negatively impact the country’s economy and social sphere. Other users stated that it is necessary to help people in need. There are also concerns that the refugees will seriously impact relations between countries in the region.
164 Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant employees were evacuated from Iran through Armenia on March 27 and flown to Moscow. Since the escalation of the situation in the Middle East, 327 Russian citizens have been repatriated through Armenia.
The Iranian Embassy in Yerevan told the “Caucasian Knot” correspondent that there is no flow of refugees from Iran to Armenia, the border checkpoint is operating as usual, and there are no crowds on the Armenian-Iranian border.
They also noted that “people with dual citizenship are arriving in Armenia from Iran to then depart for their country via Zvartnots Airport, since flights to Iran have been canceled.”
According to the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of Armenia, “The border checkpoint in Agarak, on the border with Iran, is being completely reconstructed, and work is also underway from scratch on the project for a second customs checkpoint on the Armenian-Iranian border together with Iranian partners.”
Starting from February 28, citizens of 46 countries have been evacuated from Iran through the territory of Armenia, reported the press secretary of the Armenian Foreign Ministry Ani Badalyan, noting that they are entering to go to their countries.
“The transportation of foreign citizens from Iran through Armenia continues, if necessary, the Republic of Armenia provides them with support in obtaining entry visas,” she told a “Caucasian Knot” correspondent.
The press secretary of the department added that “on March 28, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan held a telephone A conversation with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, in which “the ministers touched upon humanitarian issues and the situation in the Middle East.”
No applications for refugee status have been received from Iranian citizens, a “Caucasian Knot” correspondent was informed by the Migration Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Armenia.
Journalist and blogger Marut Vanyan reported that “he was on a business trip to the south of Armenia and did not observe a flow of refugees.”
“I spent two days in Meghri, visiting the Nurduz-Agarak checkpoint several times for several hours at different times. There were no refugees, as we know. Sometimes people with luggage would pass through the checkpoint, but it turned out that they were considering Armenia as a transit to another country,” he told a “Caucasian Knot” correspondent.
A man who arrived from Iran on condition of anonymity told a “Caucasian Knot” correspondent that he arrived in Armenia several days ago and was heading to Germany. He is Iranian, but also has German citizenship, where he lives with his family.
“At first, I thought the war would end quickly, but when I realized it would be a long time, I decided to return to my family,” he said.
According to him, “there is a lot of bombing, Tehran is almost deserted, but hospitals and some stores are open, there is no internet.” “Foreign citizens and those who have additional citizenship of another country are leaving Iran. Iranian citizens are mostly not leaving. Perhaps “due to financial difficulties or patriotism. But there is movement within the country – mostly people go to places where there is no bombing,” he noted.
As a reminder, on February 28, Israel and the United States began striking Iran. Donald Trump announced the start of a large-scale military operation. In response, Iran began shelling Israel, American military facilities, and civilian targets in the Middle East, according to the “Caucasian Knot” report “Key points about the impact of the military conflict with Iran on the Caucasus”.
The “Caucasian Knot” has collected materials about the impact of military operations in Iran on the Caucasus on the thematic page “Iran: War is Near”. The “Caucasian Knot” also published a chronicle of the war in Iran.
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Iran Praises Armenia’s Support in Wartime
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi expressed deep appreciation for Armenia’s humanitarian support and assistance to Iranian citizens amid the ongoing US-Israeli war of aggression against Iran.
In a message posted on his X account in Armenian language, Araqchi highlighted the strong and enduring relationship between Iran and Armenia, noting that Yerevan’s support in facilitating the relocation of Iranians and providing humanitarian aid reflects longstanding ties between the two nations.
“The support of the government and people of Armenia for the people of Iran—in matters of relocating Iranians and providing humanitarian aid—is highly appreciated,” Araqchi said.
“The centuries-old ties between Iran and Armenia once again demonstrated their strength in a difficult moment, and these brotherly actions will remain in the memory of the Iranian people,” he added.
The US and the Israeli regime launched a large-scale unprovoked military campaign against Iran following the assassination of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, along with several senior military commanders and civilians on February 28.
The attacks have involved extensive aerial strikes on both military and civilian locations across Iran, causing significant casualties and widespread damage to infrastructure.
In response, the Iranian Armed Forces have carried out retaliatory operations, targeting American and Israeli positions in the occupied territories and at regional bases with waves of missiles and drones.
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News: Study finds Armenian alphabet structurally closer to ancient Ethiopic Ge
Addis Ababa – A new study has found that the Armenian alphabet may be structurally closer to the ancient Ethiopic Ge’ez than previously understood, shedding fresh light on possible historical connections between cultures in Africa and the Caucasus.
The research, conducted by scientists at San Diego State University and reported by Phys.org, used artificial intelligence to examine similarities among ancient writing systems. The findings were published in the journal Digital Scholarship in the Humanities.
Using a dataset of more than 28,000 Ethiopic characters, researchers trained a computer model to recognize structural features such as curves, straight lines, and angles. The system, which had no access to historical or cultural context, then compared these patterns with letters from Armenian, Georgian, and Caucasian Albanian alphabets.
The analysis showed that Armenian letters exhibited the strongest structural similarity to Ge’ez, followed by Caucasian Albanian with moderate resemblance, while Georgian showed weaker and less consistent similarities. By contrast, the Latin alphabet demonstrated significantly lower similarity, reinforcing the distinctiveness of the observed patterns.
“Our aim was to move beyond visual impressions that are difficult to test or replicate,” said Sam Kassegne, the study’s lead investigator. “By making our criteria explicit and mathematical, we introduced an objective computational approach that is easily reproducible.”
One notable finding is that the Armenian script appears nearly as similar to Ge’ez as Ge’ez is to its own earlier forms, suggesting the resemblance may not be coincidental. Both writing systems developed around the 4th to 5th centuries CE—a period marked by documented travel between Ethiopia and parts of the Middle East, including Jerusalem, Egypt, and Syria. Historical accounts also indicate that Mesrop Mashtots, credited with creating the Armenian alphabet, traveled within the region.
“What makes the research significant is that computational geometry and historical scholarship converge on the same scripts and time period,” said Daniel Zemene, the study’s first author.
While the researchers caution that structural similarity does not prove direct borrowing, the findings strengthen arguments that cultural contact and exchange may have influenced the development of writing systems across regions. The study also highlights the growing role of artificial intelligence in uncovering patterns in historical and linguistic research. AS
https://addisstandard.com/study-finds-armenian-alphabet-structurally-closer-to-ancient-ethiopic-geez-revealing-links-between-african-and-caucasus-scripts/
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American University of Armenia switches to online learning ‘amid threats from
The American University of Armenia (AUA) has shifted to remote lectures following threats from Iran to target US and Israeli universities in retaliation for attacks on Iranian universities. The AUA described the move as a ‘precautionary measure’, while stressing that it has received no direct threats.
The university released a statement on Monday noting that all classes planned for the day would be held ‘fully online’.
It added that the AUA was ‘monitoring the situation closely’ and would provide updates on any changes to the schedule if they occur.
‘In taking this step, we emphasise that we have received no direct threats against our university, and no indication that we are in any kind of danger, so there is no cause for alarm’, the AUA underscored in its statement.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued its warning on 29 March, weeks into its conflict with the US and Israel. It warned that Israeli and US universities ‘in the West Asia region’ were ‘legitimate targets’ in retaliation for Iranian universities damaged in US and Israeli attacks.
The IRGC issued the threats following the bombing of Tehran University of Science and Technology, as well as the ‘targeting Iranian universities with their bombings for the umpteenth time’.
The IRGC urged staff, students of American universities, as well as people residing near such institutions, ‘to stay at least one kilometre away from these universities to ensure their safety’.
It also issued a precondition: if the US government wanted its universities “to be spared at this stage beyond the two retaliatory targets, it must, by no later than 12:00 on Monday, 30 March (Tehran time), issue an official statement condemning the bombing of universities’.
‘If it also wants to prevent further strikes on its universities in the region, it must restrain its allied forces from attacking universities and research centres. Otherwise, the threat remains valid and will be carried out’, the statement concluded.
Following the threat, the American University of Beirut moved classes online, and the US Embassy in Iraq warned that American universities in Baghdad, Sulaymaniyah, and Dohuk could also be targeted.
Armenia has good relations with Iran, with whom it shares an open border, unlike Turkey and Azerbaijan. There is also a modest population of ethnic Armenians in Iran, numbering some 60,000 to 80,000, according to various estimates.
Armenia’s government programme for 2021–2026 describes the bilateral relations with Iran as ‘special’, adding that Yerevan is seeking ‘to further develop’ ties. Despite Armenia fostering closer bonds to the West, including the US, Armenia has continued to maintain its cordial relationship with Iran.
Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan stated in mid-March that Armenia had sent its first humanitarian aid to Iran since the war broke out there on 28 February.
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