July 26, 2026
“Pressing” in the program Former Prime Minister of RA (1992-93), former Speaker of RA National Assembly (NA) Khosrov Harutyunyan is. The latter spoke about the activities of the newly elected parliamentary opposition.
«What was the meaning and content of the political struggle of the opposition? Was coming to power the point? As a result of the government’s actions and inactions, our statehood appeared in front of a destructive reality, and it seemed that the opposition’s job should be to break this dethroning process. The means of this was to come to power, which in the given situation could not be an end in itself. We had to convince the foreign public that we are not revanchists, but political forces capable of putting on the table such proposals that would lead the region to sustainable development for a long time. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. In this electoral struggle, the prize seems to be the post of prime minister. Unfortunately, the goal I mentioned did not become central.
On the eve of the National Assembly elections, I submitted written proposals to all known leading opposition forces, in which I presented a list of priority steps for the safe development of the country. It is not possible to implement economic policy if you are not safe. Unfortunately, the opposition failed to make people understand that security is what matters. An impression was created: the fight was for power, the prize was for the post of prime minister. No one said: you became the prime minister, but who is your foreign minister, your defense minister, your finn, who is your team? Unfortunately, we did not see such a political application. This was the biggest omission by the opposition. people did not see an objective, content-based competition, which would be above shame, shame, bum, and other such words…” he said.
According to him, it is obvious that we are witnessing the process of disintegration of statehood. No state institution operates within the framework of the rights reserved to it by law, all of them operate under instructions from one point. Why did we fail to implement the principle of separation and balance of powers? Since the majority in the legislature and the executive are the same, there is no conflict between them.
“I thought that the political opposition should have made a joint statement that the elections were rigged, saying that we are taking the mandates, but we propose to form a system of checks and balances between the political majority and the opposition. For example, it was decided that the deputy chairman of the most important financial and budgetary commission should be a representative of the opposition, which would enable control over the government’s activities. Or, the head of the Audit Chamber should be a representative of the opposition. Or why should the most important institution of the Human Rights Defender be political? representative of the majority.
A political minority can never make decisions, but a political minority can have leverage to make the political majority consider its opinion. An offer should have been made to the majority to create a system of checks and balances, which of course would have been rejected. After that they should have said: take your 64 mandates, go, sit down and become a lame duck.
Okay, opposition, you came to power, you must say what steps you will take. You haven’t told me as a voter anything about that yet. We could get out of the soot, fall into the ant, and the more than 800,000 people who left their homes were obviously not of the government, but they did not see the opposition proposals that would take Armenia on the path of stable and safe development,” said Khosrov Harutyunyan.
Details in the video.
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It is necessary to clearly separate propaganda talk and real economic trends
July 26, 2026
“Rosselkhoznadzor” is already focusing on Armenian dairy products. they considered it dangerous and banned its import. The Federal Veterinary and Phytosanitary Control Service of Russia specifically reported that milk from sick animals and raw materials of unconfirmed origin were used in the production.
Economist Hrant Mikayelyan according to the assessment, the situation will continue to deepen, because it is obvious that neither Pashinyan nor Putin will change their policy.
Hrant Mikayelyan in his observations about the impact of these restrictions on the economy 168․amin a conversation with “At the moment, the macro impact is small. rather, it is on households, small business owners. The impact at the country level is still small because the weight of agriculture in the economy has been declining rapidly in recent years, especially after the closure of the Ministry of Agriculture.
But we will also witness a macro impact, because we see that, in addition to agriculture, agro-industry has already been affected, and then, probably, it will also reach the price of gas. And the later the change is at the political level, the deeper the economic impact will be. I assume that Pashinyan will not give any reaction, apart from technical experiments, the political course will be the same, and already next year, I think, there will be a rather heavy blow for the economy.”
Hrant Mikayelyan also noted that the authorities’ promises about diversification and allocation of subsidies cannot change the situation.
“The subsidies are very small, and the Armenian merchants do not have access to the European market,” he added.
The economist responded to the observation that it is said that Armenian apricots have reached Paris and roses have reached New York.
“I understand that such things can be said for propaganda purposes, but from the point of view of the economy, this is 0.01%. Armenian agricultural products have no market in France. You can talk a lot, but they don’t have a market, because Spain, for example, produces a lot of apricots and exports them to France, which is more affordable.”
He also considered the scene of the Armenian apricot jam of Martha Kos, the EU enlargement commissioner, as a mockery of our people.
According to the economist, some Armenian brands can be placed in the European markets, but even then we have to think about competition.
“I want to clearly separate propaganda talk and real economic trends. In real economic trends, we should maintain normal relations with our existing partners, with Russia, not worsen them, and then think, well, how should we compensate,” summarized Hrant Mikayelyan.
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Comrade judge, if you did not ask the investigator and defense attorneys a question, how did you write:
July 26, 2026
168TV’s “Classes” of the program the guest՝ Yerem Sargsyan, lawyer, founder and director of the “Virtus” Law Group law office, Andradadzav also at the court hearing in the case of Gagik Tsarukyan.
«The judge in Tsarukyan’s case did not ask us any questions about the arrest, then he came and said that the arrest was legal. Comrade judge, if you didn’t ask the investigator and defense attorneys a question, how did you write in your decision when the arrest took place?” said Yerem Sargsyan.
According to him, if anyone reads Garik Abelyan’s decision regarding Gagik Tsarukyan, he will see that there is not a single word of the facts mentioned by them for hours.
“Now I have to consider it a legal decision?” The Supreme Judicial Council (SCJC) announces that the courts mostly detain those arrested for bribery during the pre-election period. BDH, what are they doing to you? Did you want to justify yourself to someone, “Look, are we detaining you?” said the lawyer.
The latter noted that what the court in Armenia considered fraud, the court of the 2nd instance in Iran did not consider it either fraud or embezzlement.
Details in the video.
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168: If Tigranashe brings 200 Azerbaijanis, after 10 days they will have Azerbaijanis among themselves.
July 26, 2026
“Lessons” program the guests were reserve army colonel Hayk Nahapetyan and public-politician Edgar Ghazaryan are
The main theses of the interview are below.
Hayk Nahapetyan.– What the administration of the day is doing is preventive. They try to turn the situation upside down so that thought does not give birth to speech and action. The situation must be assessed correctly. Our opposition part does not give the same assessment of the situation.
Either you are with the collaborating government or you are against it. If you are against it, you have to fight.
Edgar Ghazaryan.– It is already visible what are the mistakes of the opposition elected by us in the National Assembly of the previous convocation. Repeating them will be disastrous both for the country and the newly elected opposition.
Nikol Pashinyan is the enemy of Armenia. Maybe there are people who don’t share that point of view, they consider him a bad manager. In any case, removing Pashinyan becomes the goal in both cases. You have to think of new things. Now things that have already been done are offered. We need a street fight, but not with the same leaders and the same way:
Hayk Nahapetyan.– If we think about how he can remain in power as a result of so many illegalities and violations of the Constitution, we must understand that he is not staying, he is being kept. They will keep for 20 years, will stay for 20 years.
See who is the first to congratulate, not counting the results yet. Macron, Ursula von der Leyen. Pashinyan’s rule is based on the great desire and goals of foreign rulers.
The “Turan” project remains, the USA becomes the moderator.
2024 on June 12, when the Internal Troops resorted to a special operation near the National Assembly, hundreds of oppositionists were arrested, the next day the US Embassy issued a statement blaming the opposition and praising the government. After the events of that day, the political opposition made a wrong decision. After that, the target should not have been Pashinyan, but the US embassy. That day became fatal for the Armenian people:
Edgar Ghazaryan.– Pashinyan cannot manage our country in any sense. He controls public moods only by suppressing them. In the end, he will face a very difficult situation.
Hayk Nahapetyan.- Why do they give house arrests because there is no room in prisons?
When the policemen can drag the mother, sister, daughters of your victim down the steps of Yerablur, and there is no uprising in your country, when we swallowed the illegalities and mutilation of people during the Holy Movement, the problem is already in the domain of the value system. How willing are you to protect your values? Does your dignity allow you to kneel or not? We had to make sure that these policemen were not accepted by their families, that they could not go out in society.:
Judges are the most responsible class in any society after the leaders of the country. The Jews had no state, but the most important people in the structure of the nation were the judges. Now that our judges are making such illegal decisions, is the response of our people sufficient?
Edgar Ghazaryan: People do not have anger and dissatisfaction, but fear, which prevents them from going out into the street. The people who told us not to take the mandates were saying it out of frustration, but it was basically giving up the fight. Getting rid of that disappointment should be our task. The majority of society is against Nicole. Our task should be to change the apathetic mood. I feel that responsibility.
No one congratulated us, and that is very natural. It’s like saying to someone going to war, I congratulate you for going to war:
I don’t go to deal with the CP and work with them, I go to the Parliament to represent the people. What are Nikol Pashinyan’s fears and post-election violence the result of? Winners don’t act like that.
Pashinyan is not an idiot. They work with him from outside. He knows very well what the situation is. He knows, except for the administrative resource, he did not pass. If Nikol Pashinyan was not in power, CP either would not have overcome the 4% threshold, or would have overcome it with great difficulty. He sees that he does not have real voices, he goes into hysterical actions.
Hayk Nahapetyan.- Nikol Pashinyan is trying to compensate for his non-existent power with police violence.
Who is Pashinyan to raise a sword against the anointed Catholicos, no matter how much he writes something like this in his pre-election program? Who is Nikol Pashinyan who is changing God’s decision in the Republic of Armenia?:
Edgar Ghazaryan: It is not excluded that Pashinyan will attack the church in the autumn itself. Going to his liturgies also has that purpose. Provides background information. There was a time when he was doing nothing but fighting against the church. He was busy with it from morning to evening. Whatever you say, he did it, he failed. Now he will consider that he has received a vote from the people, he will have to try again. Didn’t get any votes either. Fighting God is definitely not in his mind.
If your identity and faith are taken away from you, you become an animal.
The fight against the church is part of the plan to populate Armenia with Azerbaijanis. Allahshukyur Pashazade, the leader of Muslims of the Caucasus, said about it, who said that ghaziats, that is, dioceses should be created. Why are topics created?:
Hayk Nahapetyan: I think that Pashinyan will create a new Catholicosate, whose dioceses will be Armenian only. There will be an anti-Catholicism, the superior of which will be a former Turkish foreign intelligence officer, a Greek by nationality, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, who is an instrument to attack the Orthodox Churches. By the way, the same movement has started in Georgia. The target is the Orthodox churches. It will be a serious test for our people if his plans come to life. Swords are brandished against God:
Edgar Ghazaryan.- The Church passes this test with honor. Bishops were arrested, the Catholicos of All Armenians was arrested.
Yerevan Deputy Mayor Suren Grigoryan says in his interview that it doesn’t matter that we don’t have 2/3. According to the opinion of the people, 41 deputies cannot oppose. That is, they are ready for anything.
This law was adopted for the referendum. Voter lists will be diluted to make the constitutional referendum easy. For this, changes were made in the “Electoral Code”.:
Hayk Nahapetyan.– Collaborative government cannot do legal process. They told him: change your Constitution, and we don’t care what you will do, how you will change it.
Pashinyan’s crimes have a patron, they are high-ranking officials of the EU and heads of some states:
Starting with the patriarch Noah, French President Macron has played the biggest role in handing over a part of our Motherland to the enemy. If the citizens of the country held a demarche, actions, and protests against Macron and Ursula von der Leyen throughout the Republic, the EU leaders would understand that as a result of their actions, Armenia could very quickly turn into an anti-Western camp, and their behavior would change. Had to show some attitude:
Edgar Ghazaryan.– There is an incomprehensible activity of diplomatic representations and organizations of different countries in Armenia.
Hayk Nahapetyan.– The areas that are going to be handed over, Tigranashen and some areas of Tavush, will create security threats for Armenia. The gas pipeline entering Armenia and the Armenia-Georgia interstate road are at risk.
Edgar Ghazaryan.– If Tigranashe brings 200 Azerbaijanis, after 10 days they will kill an Azerbaijani woman with her two children among themselves and throw them on the Armenians.
Details in the video.
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Azerbaijan’s Great Return: Refugee Resettlement, Rebuilding, and Destruction o
By Kristie Moore
Conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh has been ongoing for decades. Displacement has been a constant facet of this reality. Both Armenians and Azerbaijanis have been cleared from the area on numerous occasions, displaced from their homelands, and forced to rebuild from nothing. This report examines Azerbaijan’s Great Return program and the aftermath of the 2020 War and Azerbaijan’s recent takeover of Nagorno-Karabakh in September 2023. Both events prompted the resettlement of Azerbaijani IDPs into regained territories and led to large-scale reconstruction efforts. This reconstruction has been highly controversial both for criticisms of being inefficient, marked by corruption, and indifferent to local needs and requests, and for its destruction of Armenian cultural heritage in the region.
The Great Return is a massive undertaking coordinated by the Government of Azerbaijan. It largely began following the end of the 2020 War when Azerbaijan took over seven districts surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh (Aghdam, Kalbajar, Lachin, Jabrayil, Fuzuli, Zangilan, and Qubadli) and approximately one-third of the region itself. This included historically significant cities like Shusha, a major cultural and symbolic center in the region. The Azerbaijani government divides the Great Return into three phases: 1) rebuilding infrastructure, including damaged electricity and gas lines, 2) building houses and essential facilities like schools, hospitals, clinics, kindergartens, and social service establishments, and finally 3) the relocation of IDPs into the region.
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‘Bullied, beaten up, killed’: Armenia’s drag queens risk it all for the stage
July 26, 2026
‘Bullied, beaten up, killed’: Armenia’s drag queens risk it all for the stage
Armenian attitudes toward the LGBTQ community have transformed in recent years, in part due to the war in Ukraine. While a queer club in Yerevan was firebombed in 2012, the capital is now home to a thriving underground drag scene. But despite these events attracting hundreds, police raids and family rejection are still commonplace.
Kal BERJIKIAN
Renée BERTINI
Hundreds of people gathered at a club in the heart of the Armenian capital Yerevan for an underground drag show in mid-June.
Due to security concerns, details about the Pride Month event spread through word of mouth or private Instagram stories.
Previous bars have closed their doors because of repeated police raids, and a queer club was firebombed in 2012.
“Drag is more political in Armenia because, honestly, we have to be,” said Leo, one of the main organisers of the event.
“It’s all about survival, and it’s all just about living – surviving, but also thriving.”
Despite fears of violence, this underground scene has been growing in recent years – fuelled, in part, by Moscow’s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
‘It scared me back into the closet’
Armenia often ranks poorly when it comes to its treatment of the LGBTQ community, and targeted acts of violence have been common.
The former Soviet country is listed near the bottom of ILGA-Europe’s rainbow map, which ranks European countries annually based on their legal protections for queer communities.
ILGA-Europe ranked Armenia 45th this year on its list of 49 countries – just four spots above Russia in last place. Nevertheless, there has been steady improvement since the Ukraine war began in 2022, when Armenia tied with Russia in 47th place.
In 2023, Adriana, a 28-year-old trans woman, was brutally murdered at her home, and her Yerevan apartment was set on fire.
In 2018, a mob of more than 30 people attacked nine members of the LGBTQ community in the village of Shurnukh in southeastern Armenia. Some of the people attacked were activists and employees of Pink Armenia, the country’s largest LGBTQ organisation.
The DIY club, a queer venue, was firebombed in 2012 after its owner Armine Oganezova was interviewed at a Pride parade in Turkey. She fled the country after being harassed and threatened, eventually moving to Sweden.
News of the attack spread far and wide.
“It scared me back into the closet … real fucking bad,” said Leo, one of the main forces behind the country’s drag scene.
“’Cause when you hear about … a queer place being bombed, attacked, then you’re like, ‘Oh my God, I’m never coming out.’ ‘Cause then they will kill me.”
Read moreFake Pride, masked men and a surge in misinformation ahead of Armenia’s election
Despite this fear, the drag scene is thriving in Yerevan.
The 28-year-old was first introduced to drag 10 years ago, when a friend working at Pink Armenia told him the organisation was putting on an event.
After that first show, “something switched in me”, he said.
“I felt like, well, this is what I’m supposed to do,” saying all the abuse he had witnessed since his youth, including members of the community “being bullied, beaten up, killed … was for this”.
‘I left Russia against my will’
Attitudes in Armenia have shifted since then – in part due to the arrival of tens of thousands of Russians.
The number of Russians who have left their country since the start of the war in Ukraine is difficult to gauge. A 2024 Stanford University publication estimated it at between 500,000 and 1 million, calling it Russia’s “largest wave of emigration since 1917”, during World War I.
Many were fleeing Moscow’s partial military mobilisation and Western economic sanctions, while others were political or queer refugees who left the country after Russia introduced more draconian anti-LGBTQ laws.
Tens of thousands of them eventually moved to Armenia, according to Aleksandr Gevorkyan, a professor of economics at St John’s University in the United States. But he added that the exact number is hard to verify.
While Yerevan’s figures put the number at around 100,000, Gevorkyan said many Russians subsequently left for other countries while between 35,000 and 55,000 stayed in Armenia.
Yerevan is part of the Eurasian Economic Union, and Russians can move to Armenia without visas – making it an easy landing for underprivileged people trying to flee the country.
Molly was one of them. The 26-year-old was a drag queen in Russia before the war in Ukraine.
She left the country after Russia banned the non-existent “international LGBT movement” as an “extremist” organisation, resulting in the bar where she performed being raided by police.
“We knew in about a week that something would happen, because raids had also begun in all other cities,” she said.
“We hired additional security, installed walkie-talkies in our dressing room, our guards put on bulletproof vests.”
Molly was hosting an event when she noticed a man with a machine gun in the crowd. Because she was on stage at the time, the men raiding the event were able to tackle and detain her.
Some of the people arrested are still facing legal proceedings more than two years later.
Molly was initially released. But she fled Russia after her lawyer told her that she could still face charges.
According to Leo, the arrival of Russians like Molly has made it more socially acceptable to be visibly queer in public.
Many of the new arrivals embrace styles that Armenians once associated with the queer community, like brightly coloured hair or men wearing clothing that “maybe looks like it’s from [the] female section”.
Leo said Armenians saw this, and it “clicked” that such things don’t necessarily mean someone is gay. However, tolerance still has its limits.
“It’s okay if you’re Russian, but if you are Armenian and you’re doing it, you’re bringing shame to your people,” he said.
According to Mamikon Hovsepyan, the former head of Pink Armenia, some of the Russian arrivals tried to create their own LGBTQ clubs and events.
But the community complained about the lack of security, he said.
“The door was just open. Sometimes people are getting attacked when visiting those locations.”
‘People are losing their housing’
Portal – one of the bars where Leo regularly performed – was created after the start of the war in Ukraine, opening its doors in October 2023 before shutting down just eight months later.
Despite shifts in attitude, the bar was not safe from police violence, according to its owner, Mari Muradyan, 31. The venue’s neighbours called the police after they saw a drag queen visiting from Georgia standing outside the club wearing high heels.
“They thought that strange people were coming [to the venue],” she said. “Guys in skirts are strange in Armenia.”
“For them, it is all perversion, you know. At some point, they just did everything to close the club.”
The police raided the club and arrested two men, who were later released. While drag is not illegal in Armenia, the country’s police often raid bars hosting the events under the pretext of looking for drugs, according to both Muradyan and Leo.
Muradyan eventually closed the bar after the police told her to do so. She has since fled the country, moving to the Netherlands to be with her wife.
Read more‘They are stealing the election’: How Armenia became the next Russia-EU battlefield
The demographic shift in Armenia has been a double-edged sword, according to Hovsepyan.
While he agreed with Leo that attitudes have shifted, he stressed that the economic situation remains challenging, notably with regard to rising prices.
“People are losing their housing because it’s getting expensive,” Hovsepyan said.
Landlords prefer to rent to Russians – who have more ready cash – instead of locals, while prices have risen by three or four times.
“Rents saw sharp increases in the second half of 2022 and early 2023,” Gevorkyan said, when the first Russian wave arrived after the start of the war. Prices have since dropped slightly.
One consequence of the increased cost of living, according to Leo, is that young people can no longer afford to move out of their homes, causing a spike in domestic violence.
Pink Armenia recorded 22 domestic violence cases in 2023, up from just 10 in 2022. That number rose to 38 in 2024.
The NGO says the actual figure is likely much higher, as many cases are never reported.
Some young people are being outed due to the increasing visibility of the LGBTQ community, leading some parents to “recognise” certain behaviours in their kids, said Hasmik Petrosyan, a lawyer and human rights activist who works with Pink Armenia.
‘People love us’
Despite the challenges, the marked shift in what is socially acceptable has created an environment for drag to thrive in Yerevan.
“We are truly, I think, being looked at in the community as stars, you know … we are respected, and we demand respect now,” said Leo.
“People love us,” he said. Some 250 people come to the drag balls on the “worst night”, and sometimes the crowd can surpass 450.
This was clear at an underground Pride event in Yerevan on June 13. Crowds danced on the stage during intermission at a venue covered with Pride flags.
But the fear of the police was still present despite how much things have changed, and halfway through the event, the performers cancelled the show in fear that the authorities would show up after a drag queen fainted.
Outside the venue, a group of men harassed attendees once they realised the nature of the event. One drag queen was followed home by a man carrying a knife but was unharmed, Leo said.
Despite all of this, Leo was hopeful about the future of the drag scene in Armenia. “If anything”, he said, “I think this is going to make us even stronger.”
“I think now … we have a much better understanding of how much this is needed, because you can’t be scared and stay at home and in the closet all the time.”
“You also have to be brave, and you have to live your truth.”
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Iran, Armenia forge comprehensive energy partnership
Iran, Armenia forge comprehensive energy partnership
TEHRAN – In a significant diplomatic push to deepen bilateral ties, Iran and Armenia have agreed on a sweeping new roadmap for energy cooperation, spanning electricity grid integration, hydroelectric development, and a fundamental overhaul of their gas-for-electricity trade mechanism.
The agreements were finalized during two high-level meetings in Tehran, involving Iran’s Ministers of Energy and Oil, alongside Armenia’s Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, Davit Khudatyan.
The developments mark a strategic pivot for both nations, aiming not only to complete long-pending infrastructure projects but also to position Armenia as a potential transit hub for Iranian natural gas exports to broader international markets. Officials from both sides described the talks as “highly constructive,” emphasizing their shared determination to transform bilateral energy relations from a simple barter system into a multidimensional, commercially robust partnership.
In the first of the two meetings, Iran’s Minister of Energy, Abbas Aliabadi, hosted Minister Khudatyan to review the status of joint electricity projects. According to reports from the Ministry of Energy, the two sides placed particular emphasis on accelerating the implementation of the third power transmission line—a project that has remained stalled for over twelve years—as well as developing the broader Iran-Armenia-Georgia-Russia power corridor.
The third transmission line, designed to operate at 230 kV, has faced significant delays, primarily due to liquidity constraints affecting cabling works. In their discussions, both ministers underscored the urgency of securing the necessary financial resources to resolve this bottleneck, thereby ensuring the line can be energized and brought into service. Encouragingly, an Iranian contractor involved in the project has pledged to complete the installation of transmission towers in sections 5 and 6 within the next month, signaling tangible progress on the ground.
Beyond this longstanding project, Minister Aliabadi raised the prospect of constructing the Meghri run-of-the-river hydroelectric power plant. The Armenian side responded positively, referencing prior agreements and expressing full readiness to cooperate. Significantly, an Omani company has reportedly stepped forward with an offer to finance and implement the Meghri project, which could add approximately 200 megawatts of clean, renewable capacity to the regional grid.
Regional connectivity and environmental stewardship
A central pillar of the discussions was the development of the Iran-Armenia-Georgia-Russia power corridor. Minister Aliabadi emphasized that technical and economic studies have already confirmed the viability of electricity exchanges along this route. Highlighting Iran’s technical expertise, he announced that Iranian companies stand ready to construct the transmission line segment between Armenia and Georgia, effectively linking the Caucasus to the broader Eurasian energy network.
This corridor is viewed as a strategic asset for Iran, providing a direct overland route to northern markets and reducing reliance on maritime chokepoints. Minister Aliabadi described Armenia as “one of the main links” in this vision, noting that alongside Armenia, other countries are actively involved in the planning stages to operationalize this high-voltage connection.
In parallel with these infrastructure ambitions, both nations addressed environmental concerns regarding the Aras River, a vital waterway bordering the two countries. Minister Aliabadi confirmed that discussions touched upon pollution control measures, and both sides expressed a strong interest in convening the Aras River pollution working group in the near future. The Iranian minister also highlighted domestic progress, noting that Iran has added approximately 9,000 megawatts to its national power generation capacity over the past year—a development that strengthens its ability to export electricity while meeting internal demand.
Revamping gas-for-electricity barter system
While the energy ministry focused on electrical infrastructure, a second pivotal meeting took place between Minister Khudatyan and Iran’s Oil Minister, Mohsen Paknejad. The discussions at this session revolved around overhauling the decades-old gas-for-electricity barter arrangement that currently underpins bilateral energy trade.
Minister Paknejad described Armenia as “one of Iran’s important neighbors” and emphasized Tehran’s willingness to assist its friendly counterpart within the framework of its capabilities. He proposed a fundamental shift in commercial strategy: defining a new model for gas trade that would go beyond simple swaps. Specifically, Iran is exploring the feasibility of exporting natural gas through Armenian territory to access third-party markets, effectively transforming Yerevan into a transit corridor for Iranian energy resources.
“The current model of cooperation is based on gas-for-electricity barter,” Paknejad explained. “However, Iran’s clear proposal is to define a new commercial model for gas exports. Implementing this requires examining existing infrastructure and the possibility of expanding gas trade beyond Armenia’s market and through its territory.”
The Oil Minister acknowledged the technical and commercial complexities inherent in this proposal, stressing that it would require extensive expert-level studies. To address these challenges, both sides agreed to establish a joint specialized working group dedicated to the energy sector. This working group is tasked with analyzing infrastructure capacities, assessing commercial viability, and preparing the ground for the new model’s implementation.
The scope of the oil ministry’s discussions extended well beyond gas exports. Minister Paknejad and Minister Khudatyan reviewed a broad spectrum of cooperation areas, including the trade of petroleum products, the export of technical and engineering services, and the potential construction of a refinery to meet Armenia’s domestic needs.
Khudatyan acknowledged the existing cooperation, noting that Armenia currently utilizes Iranian bitumen in its road construction projects—an indication of the practical, ground-level ties that already exist between the two nations. He expressed Yerevan’s strong interest in increasing the volume of energy exchanges and deepening bilateral collaboration “more than ever.”
The decision to form the joint working group was met with enthusiasm by both sides. Paknejad proposed that the group commence its activities as swiftly as possible, with results and follow-up achievements to be reviewed at the next high-level ministerial meeting.
Khudatyan echoed this sentiment, stating that the two countries are “determined to expand bilateral cooperation across all relevant areas.” He confirmed that the working group would begin its operations “in the shortest possible time,” focusing on all domains falling under the purview of the two ministries.
One of the most tangible deliverables of the talks is the 400 kV transmission line, currently under construction between the two countries. Khudatyan provided an update on this critical infrastructure, acknowledging that while certain obstacles remain, both sides are committed to resolving them through active consultation. He expressed optimism that with sustained joint cooperation, the project will be commissioned by the end of the current calendar year.
Minister Aliabadi, in his remarks, framed the broader context of these projects as a natural extension of the long-standing historical and brotherly ties between Tehran and Yerevan. “Both countries have always strived to develop these relations,” he stated, emphasizing that Khudatyan’s visit was specifically aimed at completing unfinished projects and initiating new joint ventures.
Taken together, the outcomes of these two meetings paint a picture of a rapidly evolving bilateral energy relationship. Iran and Armenia are not merely seeking to maintain their existing barter arrangement but are actively working to expand, modernize, and commercialize their partnership. The proposed gas export transit model, if implemented, could fundamentally alter regional energy flows, offering Iran a vital gateway to northern markets while providing Armenia with enhanced energy security and transit revenues.
Simultaneously, the push to complete the 230 kV and 400 kV transmission lines, alongside the development of the Meghri hydroelectric plant and the Iran-Armenia-Georgia-Russia corridor, signals a long-term commitment to physical grid integration. These projects, once realized, will diversify energy routes, increase regional resilience, and foster economic interdependence.
With joint working groups now poised to tackle the technical and financial challenges, the stage is set for a new chapter in Iran-Armenia relations—one defined by shared infrastructure, expanded trade, and a mutual vision for a stable and prosperous energy future.
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Beyond GDP: World Bank Says Armenia Must Turn Economic Growth into Broad-Based
Armenia’s economy remains one of the fastest-growing in the region, but the World Bank says future success will depend on making growth more inclusive through stronger fiscal policies, better jobs and greater investment in human capital. The report urges policymakers, development partners and private investors to focus on labour market reforms, regional development and productivity improvements to ensure economic growth translates into lasting poverty reduction and sustainable long-term development.
Key Takeaways
AI Summary
- Armenia has become one of the fastest-growing economies in Europe and Central Asia, with a 7.1% growth in 2025.
- The World Bank emphasizes the need for Armenia to focus on creating broad-based prosperity rather than just rapid economic growth.
- Key areas for improvement include effective fiscal policies, labor market reforms, and investment in human capital.
- Policymakers and investors are urged to ensure that economic growth benefits all regions and reduces poverty sustainably.
Armenia has emerged as one of the fastest-growing economies in Europe and Central Asia over the past few years, but the country’s biggest challenge is no longer achieving rapid economic growth. According to the World Bank’s Summer 2026 Armenia Country Economic Update, the priority has shifted toward ensuring that growth creates better jobs, reduces poverty sustainably and benefits people across all regions. The report finds that while Armenia’s macroeconomic fundamentals remain strong, long-term prosperity will depend on more effective fiscal policies, stronger labour market reforms and greater investment in human capital. For policymakers, development partners and private investors, the message is clear: maintaining high growth is important, but making that growth more inclusive will determine Armenia’s future economic resilience.
Strong Economic Growth Faces a New Reality
Armenia’s economy expanded by 7.1% in 2025, making it one of the strongest performers in the region. Growth was supported by rising household consumption, higher public and private investment, strong construction activity and a recovery in agriculture. The services sector, particularly information technology, finance and professional services, continued to drive economic expansion, while higher copper production also supported mining output.
However, the World Bank expects growth to gradually slow to 5.3% in 2026 and stabilize around 5% in the coming years. Rather than indicating economic weakness, this reflects the normalization of trade after the temporary boost created by regional geopolitical changes following 2022. Domestic demand is expected to remain the main engine of growth, supported by infrastructure investment, consumer spending and improving business confidence.
The report also notes that inflation increased because of higher food prices, global commodity costs and exchange-rate fluctuations. Since Armenia imports a significant share of its food and agricultural inputs, households remain vulnerable to international price shocks. This highlights the need for continued monetary discipline alongside policies that strengthen domestic production and productivity.
Growth Has Reduced Poverty, But Millions Remain Vulnerable
Despite impressive economic performance, the report warns that Armenia’s development challenges remain significant. Poverty has declined considerably in recent years, yet around two-thirds of the population is either poor or economically vulnerable, meaning many households live only slightly above the poverty line and could easily fall back into poverty during an economic downturn.
The report emphasizes that poverty is no longer mainly caused by unemployment. Instead, many Armenians have jobs that generate low and unstable incomes. Informal employment, self-employment and low-productivity agriculture continue to dominate large parts of the labour market. At the same time, fast-growing sectors such as information technology and finance require specialized skills that many workers do not possess.
Regional inequality also remains a concern. Rural communities continue to experience higher poverty levels than urban areas, while regions such as Shirak, Tavush and Armavir remain more vulnerable than the national average. Even Yerevan has experienced a slight increase in poverty as rising housing and living costs reduce household purchasing power.
Fiscal Reforms Can Turn Growth into Long-Term Development
The World Bank argues that fiscal policy will play a critical role in Armenia’s next stage of development. The government recorded stronger-than-expected fiscal results in 2025 due to improved tax collection and disciplined public spending, while public debt remained below the country’s fiscal rule limit.
However, stronger economic growth alone will not be enough to eliminate poverty. The report recommends improving the targeting of social assistance programmes, expanding the formal labour market and increasing investment in education, healthcare and workforce training. Better tax administration and higher labour productivity would generate additional public revenue while strengthening long-term economic competitiveness.
The report also highlights the need to strengthen Armenia’s pension system. Since many workers remain outside the formal economy, pension contributions are relatively limited, creating long-term fiscal challenges as the population ages. Expanding formal employment would therefore improve both household incomes and the sustainability of public finances.
What It Means for Governments, Development Partners and Businesses
For the Armenian government, the report provides a roadmap for maintaining economic momentum while making growth more inclusive. Policies that improve workforce skills, promote regional development, modernize infrastructure and encourage innovation will help reduce inequality and create more productive employment opportunities.
For international development partners such as the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, European Union and United Nations agencies, Armenia presents an opportunity to support long-term structural reforms rather than emergency financial assistance. Future cooperation is likely to focus on human capital development, digital transformation, climate-resilient infrastructure, agricultural modernization and institutional strengthening.
The private sector also has significant opportunities. Continued growth in information technology, tourism, renewable energy, manufacturing and logistics offers attractive investment potential. Businesses that invest in employee training, digital technologies and value-added industries can benefit from Armenia’s stable macroeconomic environment while addressing the country’s skills gap. At the same time, investors should remain aware of risks from regional geopolitical tensions, global commodity price volatility, inflation and demographic changes.
Overall, the World Bank concludes that Armenia has successfully built a stable and resilient economy. The next phase of development, however, will depend not on achieving exceptionally high GDP growth but on ensuring that economic progress creates quality jobs, strengthens public institutions and delivers lasting improvements in living standards. If policymakers successfully implement labour market reforms, strengthen fiscal policy and invest in people, Armenia will be well positioned to achieve more inclusive and sustainable growth over the coming decade.
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168: Another “sanction” of “Rosselkhoznadzor”. Why the meeting with Mishustin?
July 25, 2026
The deep crisis of Armenian-Russian relations and the cessation of political dialogue, which began with the pre-election campaign of the parliamentary elections held in Armenia, not only do not resolve, but also take on new, more dangerous manifestations.
Moscow, reducing high-level political contacts, refusing official post-election congratulations, continues the strategy of economic pressure on Yerevan. The federal veterinary and phytosanitary control service of the Russian Federation, “Rosselkhoznadzor”, announced that it did not allow the sale of dairy products imported from Armenia on the Russian market, considering them unsafe.
According to the statement of the department, on July 14-21, “Rosselkhoznadzor” specialists made inspections in the enterprises engaged in the processing of milk in Armenia, which had previously received permission to enter the Russian market, based on the guarantees of the Veterinary Service of Armenia.
According to the Russian side, similar violations were again recorded during the inspections, which were also found during the inspection visits of 2023-2024. They refer to the product traceability system, the formulation of veterinary accompanying documents for raw materials and finished products, the veterinary sanitary examination of incoming raw materials, the implementation of risk management systems and the implementation of production control programs.
However, Rosselkhoznadzor’s repeated ban on the import of Armenian dairy products is not just the result of an inspection, but a logical continuation of the economic sanctions launched in April, which earlier targeted mineral waters, fish products and other agricultural products. The created situation essentially shows the complete inefficiency of the foreign policy and diplomatic steps conducted by the Armenian authorities, to put it mildly.
After the elections, the phone call initiated by Nikol Pashinyan to the Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, then the urgent visit to Russia and the pronounced “cold” reception by Mishustin, did not actually produce any results. The restrained protocol of the Russian side and the subsequent economic restrictions prove that Yerevan has not managed to dispel Moscow’s dissatisfaction or reach any serious political agreement.
Against this background, the public statements of the RA authorities become more revealing. Weeks ago, Pashinyan assured that a number of agreements were reached at the meeting with the head of the Russian government, Mikhail Mishustin. Pashinyan did not elaborate on what the agreements were, but a stable impression was created that agreements aimed at easing the situation were reached. However, instead of the expected “positive result”, Armenian businessmen faced another closing of the doors of the Russian market. This proves that the visit to Moscow was not a strategic dialogue, but just an unsuccessful attempt to alleviate the situation, which was ignored by the Russian political leadership.
The content of Rosselkhoznadzor’s statement itself has a political connotation. The Russian agency, talking about contaminated milk or the lack of veterinary control, also directly targets the state administration reforms implemented in Armenia since 2019. Moscow has turned the EAEU technical and sanitary toolkit into a political whip, making it clear that as long as Yerevan continues its geopolitical fluctuations, economic levers will be used to exert maximum pressure.
The ban on dairy products is a direct and painful blow to the socio-economic system of Armenia. These and similar steps of the Russian side are aimed at causing a new wave of social discontent within the country, putting the Armenian peasant in a helpless situation and showing that the price of the foreign political vector adopted by the authorities is paid by the ordinary citizen.
Finally, these developments come to confirm that the “point of irreversibility” in Armenian-Russian relations has either already been crossed, or the parties are standing on the threshold of it. Moscow has put a tough dilemma in front of Yerevan: “EAEU or EU?”, and the attempts of the RA authorities to sit and maneuver in both chairs at the same time are no longer working. Without a clear strategy, without real provision of alternative markets, Armenia finds itself in an economic blockade and a geopolitical impasse.
The current crisis shows that the diversification agenda implemented in this way is not successful. The only way to protect Armenia’s economy and exporters from political shocks is a calculated foreign policy.
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In the USA, they called on Azerbaijan to immediately release the Armenian prisoners
July 25, 2026
The Foreign Relations Committee of the House of Representatives of the US Congress has adopted a corresponding bill, calling on Azerbaijan to immediately release the Armenian hostages. This is reported by ANCA.
“Azerbaijan’s release of Armenian hostages, the safe return of Artsakh refugees and the withdrawal of Azerbaijani occupation forces from the territory of Armenia are unconditional preconditions for peace and not a bargaining tool of Baku, with which the latter forces Armenia to make unilateral concessions,” ANCA Executive Director Aram Hambaryan noted.
The Parliament of Azerbaijan, as expected, reacted negatively to these developments. They described the adoption of the bill as “an attempt to turn the US Congress into an instrument of political pressure on Azerbaijan in the interests of the Armenian lobby.”
Baku “expressed particular indignation over the use of the terms “prisoners of war” and “political prisoners” in the bill.”
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