Osipyan called on Armenian citizens to seek justice for Karabakh refugees.

Emil Lazarian
Caucasian Knot
May 30 2026
Osipyan called on Armenian citizens to seek justice for Karabakh refugees.
Nikol Pashinyan should apologize to all internally displaced persons from Nagorno-Karabakh for his remarks about “fleeing,” as it was his political actions that led to the mass exodus of Armenians from the region, said arrested activist Artur Osipyan. The opposition figure continues his hunger strike in prison.

As reported by the “Caucasian Knot,” on May 22, it became known that Karabakh activist Artur Osipyan, arrested in Yerevan, has gone on a hunger strike, demanding an apology from Nikol Pashinyan. Observers are confident that Osipyan’s persecution is politically motivated, as he did not break the law. Authors of Facebook comments also spoke out in support of Artur Osipyan. On May 25, activists in Yerevan came out to the Armenian government building demanding Osipyan’s release.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan used insults and threats during meetings with voters in response to questions from refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh. After this, clinic employee Armine Soghoyan, who asked about casualties in the Karabakh wars, was asked to resign, and Artur Osipyan was detained. He is charged with hooliganism, incitement to violence, and obstructing a campaign. On May 20, the court sent him to pretrial detention for two months.

On May 29, the 11th day of his hunger strike, Artur Osipyan addressed the Armenian public from the pretrial detention center. His lawyer David Hovhannisyan conveyed his appeal, publishing it on his Facebook page*.

“From the moment of my arrest, I was forced to declare a hunger strike. The reason for my hunger strike is that Prime Minister candidate Nikol Pashinyan, unable to answer my questions during the election campaign, began publicly insulting me, calling me a ‘fugitive.’ He then extended this definition to all Artsakh residents. I demand that Nikol Pashinyan publicly apologize through his Facebook page* to me personally and to all those Artsakh residents who did not shy away from the war, made their families a shield for Artsakh, defending our homeland,” Osipyan said in his statement.

The activist notes that the Armenians of Karabakh, “remaining in conditions of complete blockade for ten months and subjected to another military aggression by Azerbaijan, without receiving assistance from either the peacekeeping forces or the Armenian authorities,” were forced to leave the region “to save 30,000 children facing starvation from physical “destruction.”

Artur Osipyan led the opposition “Revolutionary Party” in Nagorno-Karabakh and was a co-founder of the “My Right” movement. He is known for fighting the corrupt system, and during the blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh, he called for a peaceful march to unblock the Lachin corridor.

“And all this happened after Nikol Pashinyan recognized Nagorno-Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan, and after our army’s final efforts to prevent the mass extermination of civilians. What “escaped” is Pashinyan talking about? Why such disregard for his own people? This is unforgivable,” Osipyan said.

He called on “all fair political forces and individuals to take an objective approach and keep this issue on the agenda.”

Sociological candidate Hayk Trunyan supported Osipyan on his social media page. “You may have different opinions about the people of Artsakh (Karabakh), but illegally depriving a person of liberty, and especially putting them in danger of their lives, is unacceptable,” he wrote.

Trunyan believes that Osipyan “has not committed any illegal acts and does not pose a public danger.” He also emphasized that “Osipyan is a citizen of Armenia, a participant in the 44-day war, and an internally displaced person from Artsakh.”

The scholar called on society “not to remain indifferent to what is happening,” as “indifference to the fate of a person leads to the loss of the value of human life and a return to the practice of violence and humiliation.” Recalling that Osipyan is “on a hunger strike and his life is in danger,” he called on the authorities to “show responsibility and prevent tragic consequences.”

Blogger Tigran Galfayan also spoke out on his social media page in support of Artur Osipyan, describing him as “a man of high moral principles and an active civic stance.”

In his opinion, Osipyan has committed no illegal acts and his arrest should be considered unfounded. Galfayan considers Osipyan’s criminal prosecution unlawful. He expressed concern about the current situation, questioning whether “such processes correspond to the goals and expectations associated with the revolutionary changes in the country.”

Translated automatically via Google translate from class=”gmail_default” st1yle=”font-family:verdana,sans-serif;font-size:small”>
Источник: Кавказский Узел

—

Armenia’s Central Election Commission upheld the observer’s accreditation.

Andranik Taslakhchian
Caucasian Knot
May 30 2026
Armenia’s Central Election Commission upheld the observer’s accreditation.
The statement by the leader of the Enlightened Armenia party demanding that Daniel Ioannisyan, a representative of the Independent Observer coalition and the Union of Informed Citizens public organization, be stripped of his election accreditation, was dismissed.

As reported by the Caucasian Knot, the elections to the National Assembly of Armenia will be held on June 7. Analysts believe that the parties of Samvel Karapetyan, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, and former President Robert Kocharyan will be key competitors in the elections. Samvel Karapetyan’s “Strong Armenia”, along with Robert Kocharyan’s “Armenia” bloc and Gagik Tsarukyan’s “Prosperous Armenia” party, is one of the most pro-Russian parties in the Armenian parliamentary elections.

The “Caucasian Knot” has prepared a report “2026 Elections to the National Assembly (Parliament) of Armenia”.

The Central Electoral Commission (CEC) rejected the application of Edmon Marukyan, leader of the “Bright Armenia” party (also referred to in the media as “Bright Armenia”), demanding the deprivation of accreditation of Daniel Ioannisyan, a representative of the “Independent Observer” coalition and the public organization “Union” “Informed Citizens.”

Chairman of the Central Election Commission Vahagn Hovakimyan stated that there are insufficient grounds for revoking Ioannisyan’s accreditation. At the same time, the CEC called for the removal of negative publications concerning the Bright Armenia party and refraining from their re-dissemination, Armenia Today writes.

The Central Election Commission of Armenia de facto acknowledged that a violation had been committed against the party, but at the same time rejected the demand to revoke the mandate of the Union of Informed Citizens organization as observers, stated Edmon Marukyan, leader of the Bright Armenia party.

According to him, the CEC could have even limited itself to revoking Daniel Ioannisyan’s accreditation, but did not do even that.

At the same time, as Marukyan noted, the commission decided to oblige the independent observer alliance, of which Ioannisyan is a member, to remove publications and statements concerning him personally.

Marukyan He recalled that the video material and publications in question had already been distributed and posted in various sources, making the restoration of violated rights more difficult.

“The CEC essentially acknowledged that a violation against us had taken place,” he stated, adding that the commission considered the requirement to strip the observers of their mandates to be excessively strict.

At the same time, he expressed the opinion that the key issue remains oversight of the CEC’s decision: will Ioannisyan remove the relevant publications and what will happen in the event of a refusal, News.Am reports.

The Bright Armenia party submitted a statement against Ioannisyan to the Central Electoral Commission on May 27. The CEC began reviewing the case on May 29. Then, Artur Sakunts, a representative of the Independent Observer coalition, objected that Ioannisyan had not conducted counter-propaganda against any force or participated in political campaigning, but had only disseminated information from other sources on his Facebook page*, reports Armenia Today.

Translated automatically via Google translate from class=”gmail_default” st1yle=”font-size:small”>

Источник: Кавказский Узел

—

Moscow-led economic grouping threatens to suspend Armenia over its EU bid

Hagop Kamalian
Associated Press
May 30 2026

MOSCOW (AP) — Members of a Russia-led economic alliance on Friday warned member Armenia that it could face suspension over its aspirations to join the European Union as tensions continued to simmer between the Kremlin and the Armenian leadership.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and leaders of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, who attended a summit of the Eurasian Economic Union in Kazakhstan’s capital of Astana, noted that Armenia’s bid for the EU membership creates “significant risks” for their economic security. They ordered their officials to prepare a report in December on “possible consequences of suspending” Armenia’s membership in the grouping.

The four leaders also urged Armenia to hold a referendum to offer voters a choice between seeking a membership in the EU or staying in the Eurasian Economic Union, a single market created in 2015 to allow the free movement of goods, capitals and labor. Armenia’s Prime Ministe r Nikol Pashinyan has previously rejected the idea of holding the vote.

The warning comes just over a week before Armenia’s parliamentary elections on June 7, in which Pashinyan, in power since 2018, seeks to retain his job.

Armenia, which signed a U.S.-brokered agreement last year ending decades of hostilities with Azerbaijan, has increasingly sought to forge closer ties with the U.S. and the EU. Pashinyan has declared an intention to join the EU and his government has suspended the country’s participation in a Moscow-dominated security pact, the Collective Security Treaty Organization.

Armenia’s westward shift has angered the Kremlin. Putin has warned Pashinyan that his country would suffer massive economic damage if it pursues its EU aspirations. In recent days, Moscow warned Armenia that it could stop supplies of cheap natural gas and banned imports of Armenian brandy, fruit and vegetables, part of the Kremlin’s efforts to sway the outcome of Armenia’s election.

Putin has said Armenia can’t be a member of both the EU and the Eurasian Economic Union. He warned Friday that Armenia could lose up to 14% of its Gross Domestic Product if it opts out of the Moscow-dominated bloc.

Pashinyan has countered Putin’s warnings by arguing that for now Armenia can combine its membership in the Eurasian Economic Union with developing cooperation with the EU.

Speaking Friday, Putin also compared the current arguments with Armenia to the developments in Ukraine, whose bid to sign an association deal with the EU led to the ouster of its Moscow-friendly president, Russia’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula in 2014 and Moscow’s support for a separatist insurgency in eastern Ukraine that erupted the same year. In February 2022, Putin sent troops into Ukraine, staring the largest military conflict in Europe since World War II.

—

Russia recalls envoy to Armenia over EU ties ahead of vote (+Link)

Maghakian Mike
Reuters
May 30 2026
By Reuters

MOSCOW, May 30 (Reuters) – Russia said on Saturday it had recalled its ambassador to Armenia for consultations in protest at its rapprochement with the European Union as a June 7 ‌election nears.
Formally allied to Russia, the Caucasus nation of around 3 million people has been deepening ties with the West in recent years despite its economic dependence on Moscow.
“The Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Armenia, ⁠S.P. Kopyrkin, has been recalled to Moscow for consultations in connection with steps taken by the Armenian leadership toward rapprochement with the European Union,” Russia’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement about envoy Sergei Kopyrkin.
A Russian-led economic union of former Soviet republics also said on Friday it would consider suspending Armenia for seeking EU membership and called on Yerevan to hold a referendum.
Opinion polls for ‌the ⁠June election show pro-Western Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s party running ahead of the pro-Russian opposition.
U.S. President Donald Trump has endorsed Pashinyan, who swept to power in a 2018 revolution and was re-elected in 2021.
Armenia ⁠says Russia failed to protect it during fighting with neighbouring Azerbaijan, with which it was long at odds over Nagorno-Karabakh, a formerly breakaway region ⁠that had an ethnic Armenian population which Azerbaijan retook in 2023.
Russia says Western countries are meddling in Armenia in order ⁠to weaken Russian influence in the former Soviet Union.
There was no immediate response from Armenia to the Russian envoy’s recall.MOSCOW, May 30 (Reuters) – Russia said on Saturday it had recalled its ambassador to Armenia for consultations in protest at its rapprochement with the European Union as a June 7 ‌election nears.
ALSO AT

—

Indian Missiles, Chinese UAVs & Iranian SHORAD: Armenia Showcases Diversified

Bedik Zaminian
The Eurasian Times
May 31 2026
By

 Sakshi Tiwari

Armenia held its Republic Day celebrations on May 28, 2026, with a military parade in Yerevan’s Republic Square, showcasing the country’s various arms inventory assembled in the aftermath of the 2023 Nagorno-Karabakh war.

The Armenian Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinyan, described the massive military display as a report on Armenia’s military transformation following the military setbacks against Azerbaijan. The Prime Minister emphasized the progress made by the Armenian military, citing new weapons, new uniforms, and a new doctrine focused on defense and peace. 

Notably, the Armenian military displayed weapons procured from seven countries, in what appears to be the first showcase of a multinational arms inventory. “Today’s military parade report will feature weapons and military equipment produced by about 7 countries, and this geography of military-technical cooperation is the result of policies based on the ideology of the Real Armenia,” the Prime Minister said in an address ahead of the parade.

The parade appeared to be the final showcase of Armenia’s pivot away from its traditional ally, Russia, and a clear indication of arms diversification to counter regional security threats in the South Caucasus.

Armenia has made an active effort to forge closer ties with the West and other friendly countries in the rest of the world after Russia failed to supply the Armenian military during the 2023 war, due to commitments in Ukraine. Moreover, Yerevan was left disappointed by Moscow’s failure to safeguard its security despite being a member of the Russia-led CSTO (Collective Security Treaty Organization).

Under Article 4 of the CSTO Treaty, member states are obligated to give each other “the necessary help, including military” in the event of foreign aggression. However, Moscow merely sat at the fence, proving to be a highly unreliable partner.

While several weapons in its arsenal still trace their origins to Moscow, Armenia has been diversifying its arms purchases in recent years, courting the West and forging defense ties with friendly nations such as India, China, and Iran.

Armenia’s Multinational Military On Showcase 

Armenia purportedly unveiled an Iranian-origin air defense system called “Majid” at the military parade on May 28, 2026. 

The system, which has been renamed “Scorpion” in the Armenian service, was first spotted by open-Source trackers during rehearsals for the parade earlier this week.

Reports suggest that the Majid is a truck-mounted short-range air defense (SHORAD) system designed primarily to defend against drones, loitering munitions, cruise missiles, helicopters, and low-altitude aircraft. It has a range of about 8 kilometers and features a highly passive radar that primarily supports electro-optical targeting to avoid detection.

Armenia may have become the first export customer for the system, which was reportedly used for the first time during the 12-Day War with Israel in June 2025. It is highly mobile and light-weight, and could be deployed quickly upon receiving orders. The Armenian variant of the system is mounted on a 4×4 Iveco Daily light commercial vehicle, unlike Iran’s typical Aras 2 pickup truck chassis, as reported in open sources.

The purchase is part of a broader Armenian strategy to diversify its military equipment away from a heavy reliance on Russia and deep ties with Iran, and to improve its low-altitude air defense capabilities, particularly as Azerbaijan builds up its drone inventory.

Another weapon system displayed by Armenia that sparked intrigue among observers was the Chinese-origin CH-4B Rainbow combat drone, which was seen in the parade armed with air-to-ground missiles.

The CH-4B is a long-range unmanned aerial vehicle with a 1,500-kilometer range and a 14-hour endurance. It can hover over disputed territory, engage targets, or provide real-time intelligence. Additionally, it can carry a variety of weapons, including anti-radiation missiles to degrade enemy air defenses, FT-9 bombs, and AR-1 laser-guided missiles.

This is the first official confirmation of Yeravan’s purchase of the drone, although satellite imagery had earlier revealed at least two CH-4s at Gyumri Air Base. This acquisition fits the lessons learned by Armenia after the 2020 and 2023 Nagorno-Karabakh wars, which is to heavily invest in drones and air defense to counter Azerbaijan’s drone advantage.

The CH-4 series is one of China’s most successful military exports, especially in the Middle East and Africa, because it is cheaper than Western equivalents such as the MQ-9 Reaper and faces fewer export restrictions. However, the export of the CH-4B to Armenia likely marks the first confirmed Chinese arms sale to the South Caucasus, a market traditionally dominated by Russian arms.

Armenia also displayed some weapons acquired from France, which has emerged in recent years as one of the largest arms exporters after dethroning Russia from that position. The CAESAR Self-Propelled Howitzers, for which a deal was signed in 2024, were seen rolling down the square in images posted on X. Armenia has renamed the vehicles “Aramazd,” as disclosed during the parade.

The first batch of these vehicles arrived in Armenia by early 2026 and was publicly seen for the first time during parade rehearsals on May 11, before being presented at the parade. Caesar is a self-propelled gun mounted on a Renault Sherpa 10 truck chassis with an armored cab and shoot-and-scoot capability.

It has a range of up to 40 kilometers with standard ammunition and 50 kilometers with extended-range rounds. It can fire up to 6 rounds per minute, travel on roads at high speed, and is compatible with NATO-standard 155mm munitions.

The other French weapon system that drew eyeballs at the parade was the Bastion Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs). 

Armenia ordered a total of 50 Bastion 4×4 armored personnel carriers from France, with the first batch arriving in late 2023. The French-origin armored vehicle is primarily operated by special forces and peacekeeping units, and was seen during the Eagle Partner joint exercise between Armenia and the United States in 2024. 

The Bastion APC is a modern 4×4 light armored personnel carrier developed by the French company ACMAT. It is built on the rugged chassis of the VLRA 2 tactical truck series. It has been designed for rapid troop transport, reconnaissance, patrol, and fire support in difficult terrain.

It achieves a maximum road speed of about 110 kilometers/hour, with an operational range of 1,000–1,400 kilometers, depending on the configuration, and features 12.7mm M2 heavy machine guns and firing ports.

Interestingly, Indian systems formed a very prominent part of the mechanized column and static display. This included the Akash-1S air defense system, which Armenia purchased in 2022. The system has been renamed as “Lynx.”

An upgraded variant of the original Akash air defense system, the Akash-1S is a medium-range surface-to-air missile system with a range of about 18 to 30 kilometers, and altitude coverage of about 15 to 30 kilometers. The system can simultaneously engage multiple targets, including fighter aircraft, helicopters, drones, and cruise missiles.

The missile can carry a 60-kilogram high-explosive pre-fragmented warhead with a proximity fuse, according to publicly available information. It has an active Ku/X-band RF seeker, a reduced footprint, 360° engagement capability, and the ability to operate in extreme environments.

Another Indian weapon system prominently displayed at the parade was the Pinaka Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher System (MBRLS), also known as the Indian HIMARS. Armenia became the first export customer of the Pinaka in 2022, renaming the system as “Shant.”

Armenia has acquired three variants of the rockets used by the system Pinaka Mk-I, which has a range of about 38–45 kilometers, and is used for unguided area saturation; Pinaka Mk-I Enhanced, with a range of about 45–60+ kilometers and enhanced accuracy; and Guided Pinaka with a range of 70–75 kilometers and GPS/INS guidance. 

Armenia has four batteries of the system—each battery typically includes multiple launchers (each launcher has 12 tubes), reload vehicles, and command systems. The system can fire a salvo of 12 rockets in 44 seconds and is known for its “shoot and scoot” mobility, which helps it survive counter-battery fire.

The military also displayed the Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) 155mm Towed Howitzer, which was ordered in 2024 and renamed as “Tork.” 

These ATAGS are designed for high mobility and rapid deployment. They have advanced  communication and automatic command-and-control systems. Its high-altitude operability makes it ideal for Armenian forces.  These howitzers can strike targets up to 50 kilometers away, making them the best in their class. They can fire a burst of 5 rounds in 60 seconds and at a sustained rate of up to 60 rounds in 60 minutes.

The military also displayed the MArG 155-BR Wheeled Self-Propelled Howitzer, which has been named “Mihr” by Armenia. 

Additionally, the Swathi radar, which has been renamed “Mercury.” It is a phased-array, mobile Weapon Locating Radar designed for counter-battery and artillery fire direction.

This cutting-edge Indian-origin radar detects and tracks incoming artillery shells, mortars, rockets, and missiles, then calculates the exact location of the enemy firing position for rapid counter-fire. It has a range of up to 50 kilometers and can track multiple projectiles simultaneously.

The diversification in arms, as seen in the latest parade, aims to improve interoperability, address capability gaps, and reduce strategic vulnerability. 

However, it has further strained ties with Russia, which was quick to express its discontent over the military display. “We can’t be disturbed by the course taken by the Armenian leadership toward closer ties with the North Atlantic alliance, whose basic policy is aimed against Moscow,” Russian Foreign Minister Maria Zakharova said on May 28.

  • https://www.eurasiantimes.com/armenia-showcases-diversified-arsenal/

—

168: Քուչի պացանի բառապաշարով Փաշինյանը կարող է բոմժացնել նրանց, ում ինքը հար

Jirair Kafian

Մայիս 31, 2026

«Դասեր» հաղորդաշարի the guest Mamiko Aslanyan, the elected mayor of Vanadzor, is a member of the pre-election list of the “Strong Armenia” party.

The main theses of the interview are below.

  • Unfortunately, each subsequent election of Nikol Pashinyan becomes more unprecedented with its disgrace, and the society is ready for it and will not give in to blasphemous hysterics, intimidation, and pressure of administrative resources. I assure Nikol Pashinyan that surprises await him on the night of June 7-8. People will not vote for those who intimidate them. There is much to do, no matter what the challenge.
  • Vanadzor was beheaded by Nikol Pashinyan, Vanadzor has not been governed in the last 5 years, Nikol Pashinyan treated Vanadzor like a stepchild, and Vanadzor will not vote for him under any circumstances. Very few Vanadzor residents participated in his rally. Vanadzortsi was not allowed to have not only an elected mayor, but they also did not allow the council to work. Whatever they have done in Vanadzor that they show in their shows, it is either what I built or what I started and finished. For 5 years, the vote of Vanadzortsi was stolen, they were forced to come to terms with the realities that exist, for example, in North Korea:

Read also

  • Useful properties of strawberries
  • Hiding behind the law, Yerevan City Hall wastes state money mercilessly
  • “Rubio’s visit and the signed memorandum express political support to the authorities. With the document, Armenia can become a road “underfoot”. Narine Kirakosyan
  • The residents of Vanadzor and Lori know that the programs launched by them serve only their hidden propaganda purposes.
  • Whatever Nikol Pashinyan wants to say, he cannot harm Samvel Karapetyan’s activities in any way. He can make homeless those whom he has enriched, given houses and property to. All these talks are for the masses who imagine that Nikol Pashinyan can do everything. Apart from that, that speech, slang is not suitable for the prime minister.
  • Nikol Pashinyan is using all the disgusting election frauds and intimidation from the 90s, which have found a place among us, according to the rumors hanging in the air. If Samvel Karapetyan had distributed a bribe, it would have been talked about in cities and villages, not only in the recordings of the Anti-Corruption Committee, while the actions of the CP are being talked about everywhere.
  • There is no family in Armenia that is not affected by any provision of our program. Our program is about people. Samvel Karapetyan’s life is about human well-being, creation, and he will not back down from any promise he made. If Samvel Karapetyan is prime minister, the life of any RA citizen, be it a singer, businessman or employee in other fields, will improve.
  • The next government of RA, in the person of Samvel Karapetyan, will spare no effort to remove all illegalities without launching a repressive machine. Samvel Karapetyan’s government will not hunt witches and throw the country into turmoil on a daily basis like Nikol Pashinyan. A team of professionals will be assembled, which will reveal all the corrupt schemes and looting of this government. No misdemeanor or crime should be overlooked:
  • The support of the leader of any geopolitical center should not be decisive for the RA citizen, no matter where they come from, be it from the North or the West. The citizen of Armenia should make a choice based on his interest, he should choose the Armenian, the one identified with Armenianness.

  • During the 8 years of this government, there has been no serious foreign investment, and Samvel Karapetyan will give guarantees that our compatriots from the Diaspora will also invest here.
  • Liberalization of visas for literate, educated, accomplished people is about nothing, but what will a talentless, uneducated, uneducated person in Europe do that they are excited? What will change in their lives?
  • Even before Nikol Pashinyan came to power in Armenia, in 2017, the CEPA agreement was signed, which would bring positive changes and visa liberalization.
  • Europe is first of all a value system. if you talk to your opponents from morning to night with the vocabulary of Kuchi patsan, if you talk from morning to night about arresting people, if you call people robbers and thieves without a court ruling, if you fire the president of the Central Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan with a text message, if the principle of separation of powers does not work, what kind of European value system are we talking about? There are people who do not have money for food and medicine, what for them, will visas be liberalized or not?:
  • As always, Nikol Pashinyan builds his campaign on populism, and unfortunately, a part of society believes in it. We all eat perashki and kartoshka, but we do not make eating a cult. In government dachas, their cooks definitely don’t make perashki every day… Let them think that the streets of the Republic are flooded with strawberries because people can’t export their products.:

By the way, 621 million 341 thousand drams are allocated from the state budget from the pockets of ordinary citizens for the government residence of Nikol Pashinyan, who eats carrots in front of the cameras, and his family – more than 1 million 687 thousand dollars. In other words, more than 1,600,000 drams are spent daily from the state budget, from the taxpayers’ pockets, for the maintenance and feeding of their family. Who are they fooling by eating perashki and playing common man…

  • The Republic of Armenia is not about perashku, barbecue, corn and kebab, but about Komitas, Mashtots, Andranik, Kerkorian and Samvel Karapetyan. Therefore, our people will find children from their bosom, who will bring the society out of this darkness and bring prosperity. Armenianness is not about culinary sophistication, but about struggle and quality, church and hymns, millennia.

  • The June 7 elections are about the existence of Armenians, not even about the future, but about history, not about parties, but about the watershed that we face every 100-200 years. This is not another political election. It is necessary to compare who is who, who has created what in his life, and make a choice based on that:
  • No one can say that health insurance or free health care is a bad thing, but as a result of misorganizing these, the workload of doctors has increased enormously, there is no logistical support. Tara registered the citizens to ensure the pre-election show, from the 2-3rd day the problems of the citizens started… Health insurance was launched in the logic of the pre-election campaign. 
  • Everything should have an economic calculation and purpose. If you build a 2-3 million dollar school in a village with a population of 50-60, it is not the most efficient way of spending.
  • If there is talk among Azerbaijanis of coming to Armenia, and the RA leadership does not categorically deny it from high podiums, does not respond to Aliyev, and only after receiving a great response and receiving a dabro, they begin to deny it, it is not convincing. If there is no such thing, why did you get into the controversy? From morning to night, they talk about bringing 300,000 Azerbaijanis to Azerbaijan, the so-called “Western Azerbaijan”, hold conferences… it is part of the state policy in Azerbaijan. And when we start talking about it, some nervous things arise, they become hysterical… You would have talked about it 2-3 years ago, denied it, instead of accusing us of being Azerbaijani narratives. distribution. No one wants another war, but peace needs time, societies need to integrate, scars need to heal, and this is not done in a day.:
  • I think that Pashinyan has no intention to remove “Strong Armenia” from the election campaign and cannot do it. more wants to discredit. Therefore, there will not be a Moldovan scenario here, but a “Strong Armenia” scenario.

Details in the video.




—

Teachers and students of a rural school are involved in campaigning for Armeni

Adrine Hakobian
Caucasian Knot
May 31 2026
Teachers and students of a rural school are involved in campaigning for Armenia’s ruling party.
Teachers from the Byurakan village school wore ruling party T-shirts to a campaign event held by the governor of the Aragatsotn region. Children also attended the rally. The acting principal of the school called the teachers’ participation in the rally “an _expression_ of gratitude” for not having to pay for their jobs.

As reported by “Caucasian Knot,” the principal of the Byurakan village school explained that inviting teachers to a meeting with a representative of the ruling party of Armenia was not a use of administrative resources, but rather a notification of the opportunity to personally ask questions to the governor.

On May 13, teachers and students from schools in the Aragatsotn region took part in a ruling party campaign event instead of attending classes. The Electoral Commission reminded that involving public sector employees and schoolchildren in election campaigning is in violation of the Electoral Code. Ruling party representatives distanced themselves from the incident, but observers and the teachers themselves confirmed the violation. Reports of the ruling party’s abuse of administrative resources have already surfaced during the Armenian election campaign. Thus, on May 15, former ombudsman Arman Tatoyan, who heads the list of candidates from the Wings of Unity party, stated that college students in Armavir were forced to participate in a pre-election event in the interests of the Civil Contract party.

The staff of the school in the village of Byurakan in the Aragatsotn region, as well as children wearing T-shirts with the symbols of the ruling Civil Contract party, are participating in the pre-election campaign, News.Am reports.

Acting director of the Hovhannes Tumanyan Secondary School, Varsenik Vardanyan, reported that the school staff came to the campaigning event conducted by the governor of the Aragatsotn region and his supporters. She stated that she had invited the school’s teachers to ask the governor their questions and assured that there were no teachers wearing T-shirts with the ruling Civil Contract party’s logo among the participants.

However, one of the rally participants, wearing a ruling party T-shirt, identified herself as Anna Karapetyan, a teacher at Hovhannes Tumanyan Secondary School. She assured that no one had been forced to attend the campaign rally.

After seeing footage of the conversation with Karapetyan, Vardanyan, in a raised voice, stated that 10-15 teachers, including herself, were present at the campaign rally, having taken their jobs without paying anyone any money. “In the past, teachers and principals paid thousands of dollars to work at the school. Today, these people came to thank the authorities. I’ve been working at the school for 36 years, which was previously run by criminal elements,” she noted.

As a reminder, parliamentary elections in Armenia are scheduled for June 7. Seventeen parties and two blocs have been admitted. The Strong Armenia bloc of businessman Samvel Karapetyan, the Armenia bloc of former President Robert Kocharyan, and the Prosperous Armenia party of oligarch Gagik Tsarukyan are the most pro-Russian participants in the upcoming elections. According to analysts, the parties of Samval Karapetyan, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, and Robert Kocharyan will be key competitors in the elections.

The four main political forces participating in the parliamentary elections made promises to reduce poverty, create new jobs, and increase pensions and GDP. Analysts say most of these promises are simply populism.

The “second league” parties, which have fewer supporters than the ruling party’s main opponents, announced in their election platforms an end to pressure on the church, reform of the judicial system, and strengthening of the country’s security, including a revision of the peace agreement with Baku. Political scientists predict that not all of these four parties will be able to enter parliament.

The June elections will effectively be a referendum on the future of Nikol Pashinyan’s government and Armenia’s foreign policy course. At stake is the current team’s retention of power or its transfer to the opposition, which promises to reconsider key decisions of recent years, according to the “Caucasian Knot” report “2026 Elections to the National Assembly (Parliament) of Armenia”.

We have updated the apps on Android and IOS! We would be grateful for criticism and ideas for development both in Google Play/App Store and on KU pages in social networks. Without installing a VPN, you can read us on Telegram (in Dagestan, Chechnya and Ingushetia – with VPN). Using a VPN, you can continue reading “Caucasian Knot” on the website as usual, and on social networks: Facebook*, Instagram*, “VKontakte”, “Odnoklassniki” and X. You can watch the “Caucasian Knot” video on YouTube. Send messages to +49 157 72317856 on WhatsApp*, to the same number on Telegram, or write to @Caucasian_Knot.

* Meta (owner of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp) is banned in Russia.

Translated automatically via Google translate from class=”gmail_default” st1yle=”font-size:small”>
Source: class=”gmail_default” st1yle=”font-size:small”>© Caucasian Knot

—

The topics of Karabakh and Azerbaijan have become key in the campaigning of Ar

Babken Chilingarian
Caucasian Knot
May 30 2026
The topics of Karabakh and Azerbaijan have become key in the campaigning of Armenian politicians.

During his election campaign, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan declared that the end of Nagorno-Karabakh was inevitable, while his opponents blamed him for making concessions in negotiations with Azerbaijan.

As “Caucasian Knot” reported, “Civil Contract” and “Alliance Armenia” appealed to the past in their campaign on May 29: Nikol Pashinyan’s party criticized its predecessors, while Robert Kocharyan recalled his achievements. “Strong Armenia” and “Prosperous Armenia” tried to attract voters with promises of a prosperous future.

Elections to the National Assembly of Armenia will be held on June 7. According to analysts, the parties of Samvel Karapetyan, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, and former President Robert Kocharyan will be key competitors in the elections. Samvel Karapetyan’s Strong Armenia, along with Robert Kocharyan’s Armenia bloc and Gagik Tsarukyan’s Prosperous Armenia, is one of the most pro-Russian parties in the Armenian parliamentary elections. The “Caucasian Knot” has prepared a report “2026 Elections to the National Assembly (Parliament) of Armenia”.

Over the past 24 hours, the themes of security, peaceful settlement, state sovereignty, and national identity have dominated the election campaigns of Armenian parties, according to politicians’ posts on their Facebook pages*.

“Civil Contract”: Security, Development, and Defense of the Government’s Course

The ruling party concluded its campaign day with a rally of thousands in Ijevan after meetings with voters in Getahovit, Achajur, Sevkar, Koghba, Berdavan, and other settlements in the Tavush region.

One of the central themes of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s speeches was strengthening the country’s defense capability.

“We will continue developing the army at the same pace,” Nikol Pashinyan stated.

The Prime Minister also emphasized the government’s successes in the economic and social spheres.

“280,000 jobs have been created in Armenia since 2018,” Pashinyan said during a meeting with voters.

Special attention was paid to the development of border settlements.

“More than 200 houses are being built in Berdavan under a 16 million ruble project. “The border villages will not be deserted; they are being replenished,” the Prime Minister noted.

A separate area of campaigning was the defense of the TRIPP project.

“The Republic of Armenia retains full jurisdiction, sovereignty, and territorial integrity over all areas of the TRIPP project implementation,” Pashinyan emphasized.

Another 10, 20, or 30 years of bleeding Armenia dry would still not resolve the issue.

On the Karabakh settlement, the head of government once again explained the need to abandon previous approaches.

“Another 10, 20, or 30 years of bleeding Armenia dry would still not resolve the issue,” Nikol stated. Pashinyan.

The Prime Minister also emphasized the democratic nature of the elections.

“The free will of the people is expressed through the election results, and it will be recorded,” he stated.

Criticism of opponents occupied a prominent place in the Civil Contract campaign.

Statements by Health Minister Anahit Avanesyan addressed to Armenia’s second president, Robert Kocharyan, were published on the party’s Facebook page*.

“No thoughts, no ideas about the world, the present, or the future.” “A bitter old man, living with the false illusions of a former ‘chief governor, the only man,'” stated Anahit Avanesyan.

“Alliance Armenia” focused on criticizing foreign policy

Armenia’s second president, Robert Kocharyan, built his campaign around the need for a change of power and a revision of the country’s current leadership’s policies.

“Our goal is not simply a change of power. Our goal is to create a high-quality Armenian state. We will do this,” stated Robert Kocharyan.

These eight years have been years of shame for all of us. We must close this page and restore the dignity of Armenia and the Armenian people.

One of the main themes of his speeches was criticism of the results of Pashinyan’s team’s eight-year rule.

“These eight years have been years of shame for all of us. “We must close this chapter and restore the dignity of Armenia and the Armenian people,” the bloc’s leader declared.

The issue of Nagorno-Karabakh occupied a significant place in the campaign.

“Artsakh people. “The people have self-determined, and recognition of their self-determination continues,” Kocharyan stated.

At the same time, he placed responsibility for the outcome of the Karabakh settlement on the current prime minister.

“Nikol Pashinyan failed the negotiation process by legitimizing Azerbaijan’s attack,” the former president stated.

Foreign policy, in particular relations with Russia, became another important topic.

“What Nikol Pashinyan is doing in foreign relations today is a carbon copy of the Saakashvili.< "He also fueled conflicts with Russia and tried to find support in the West," Kocharyan said.

The economic consequences of foreign policy decisions were also used as an argument against the government.

“Did Pashinyan consult with the people? Are the people ready to pay double for gasoline?” “This is simply another irresponsible statement, and the burden of his mistakes will once again fall on the people,” he stated.

Pashinyan’s conflict with the church and future relations with Azerbaijan were exploited in the “Strong Armenia” bloc’s campaign rhetoric.

The “Strong Armenia” bloc campaigned in Gyumri, Maralik, and Artik.

Party leader Samvel Karapetyan made the protection of traditional values and the Armenian Apostolic Church one of the key themes.

“If we don’t have culture, we will quickly forget to look at Mount Ararat and the church, which Pashinyan is trying to erase,” Samvel Karapetyan stated. These words were published on the party’s Facebook page*.

The conflict between the Armenian authorities and the Armenian Apostolic Church has been ongoing since 2018, when Pashinyan came to power. This conflict became apparent against the backdrop of the 2020 Karabakh War and the authorities’ desire to improve relations with Turkey, according to analysts interviewed by the “Caucasian Knot.”

The party also used mobilization slogans designed to increase voter turnout.

“If you don’t come to vote, the Azerbaijanis will,” the party stated in a Facebook post*.

Azerbaijani citizens should not have the right to buy land, housing, or even receive real estate in Armenia as a gift.

Party representatives paid special attention to issues of property ownership and the possible opening of borders after the conclusion of a peace agreement.

“The Minister of Territorial Administration announced that a new auction website has been launched, through which Azerbaijani citizens will be able to make purchases in Armenia after the signing of the Peace Agreement. We believe that citizens of Azerbaijan should not have the right to buy land, housing, or even receive real estate as a gift in Armenia. “In addition, Azerbaijani citizens should not have the right to stay in Armenia for more than ten days,” said party council member Narek Karapetyan.

“Prosperous Armenia”: social problems and quality of life

The Prosperous Armenia Party held rallies in Spitak and Stepanavan.

The main focus of the party leader Gagik Tsarukyan’s speech was on the socio-economic agenda.

“There are many problems that people face: high property taxes, rising tuition fees, social difficulties, and many daily problems that need to be addressed,” Gagik Tsarukyan said on his social media page.

He called security and stability the main demand of society.

“The greatest expectation of our “Citizens need a peaceful, secure, and dignified life, where every person has the opportunity to work, create, and build the future of their family in their country,” the party leader emphasized.

Translated automatically via Google translate from class=”gmail_default” st1yle=”font-size:small”>

Source: Caucasian Knot

—

Putin warns Armenia of a “Ukrainian scenario” over its push toward the EU

Emil Lazarian
Euromaidan
May 30 2026
Speaking after a Eurasian Economic Union summit in Astana on 29 May, the Russian leader also vowed to destroy any state attacking Kaliningrad.

byMaria Tril

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that Armenia could face a “Ukrainian scenario” over its European integration ambitions, speaking at a press conference after the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) summit in Astana on 29 May, The Moscow Times reported.

During the press conference, Putin also responded to Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys, who had said that NATO would be capable of completely destroying Russian bases in Kaliningrad Oblast in the event of a conflict. The Russian leader replied that Moscow would raze to the ground anyone who attempted such a strike.

Commenting on Yerevan’s EU aspirations, the Kremlin leader drew a parallel with Ukraine, claiming that “the crisis in Ukraine began with attempts by Ukraine to join the EU” and that Moscow had not objected at the time.

Years of strain between Moscow and Yerevan

Relations between Russia and Armenia have been in deep crisis. Yerevan has accused Moscow of failing to meet its security obligations and has moved noticeably closer to the West, effectively freezing its participation in the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization. At an earlier press conference in May, Putin had already pressed Armenia to hold a referendum choosing between the EAEU and the EU, framing a split as a “soft, intelligent and mutually beneficial divorce” — a characterization Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan rejected, saying Armenia had no plans for such a vote. Pashinyan skipped the Astana summit, delegating Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan and citing the parliamentary election campaign.

Washington steps in

The warnings land as the United States deepens its ties with Yerevan. On 26 May, Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited the Armenian capital and signed a strategic partnership charter, a memorandum on critical minerals, and a framework on the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) with Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan. The corridor would run a roughly 43-kilometer road and rail route through southern Armenia, linking Azerbaijan to its Nakhchivan exclave and opening a transit path for US energy companies toward Central Asia; under the framework, a US-backed company would hold a 74% stake for an initial 49-year term, with Armenia retaining full sovereignty over the project areas. Days later, President Donald Trump endorsed Pashinyan ahead of the 7 June parliamentary election in a Truth Social post, calling him “a great friend and Leader” and pledging to break ground on the corridor.

Moscow has criticized Armenia’s westward course, while Yerevan maintains that its foreign policy is not directed against Russia. The 7 June vote is widely viewed as a test of Pashinyan’s pro-Western direction.

—

168: Will it be possible to curb the banks’ appetite? The Central Bank is concerned

Emil Lazarian

May 31, 2026

The credit policy implemented in Armenia has led to the fact that the population is widely burdened with loans. It may be normal to take a loan, but it is not normal that the growth of the credit burden is ahead of the income.

It turned out that Armenia has found itself in a situation where the population’s credit burden has grown disproportionately faster than income in recent years. This has created risks for both households and other participants in the financial system.

The disproportionate increase in the credit burden of households has started to concern the Central Bank.

Households’ burden of both debt and debt service has increased.

Read also

  • The velvet millions. What did Tigran Avinyan have before 2018 and what does he have now?
  • Poverty was eliminated only in their own pockets
  • What did Lilit Makunts declare? Was the 1 billion+ annual revenue a bug?

“Our concern is that loans are growing faster than incomes are growing. Therefore, we expect our commercial bank partners to be very careful and sensitive in providing new loans.

In particular, in the lending process, the borrower’s debt burden and the proper assessment of its serviceability are considered important, which will include not only the assessment of the current macro environment, but also the assessment of the risks arising from the assumed pessimistic scenario,” stated the Central Bank President the other day, presenting the Central Bank’s report on financial stability.

The Central Bank was especially concerned about the growth of consumer loans. It is believed that these concerns have increased, especially due to the slowing down of the economic growth rate.

Let’s remind that in the first quarter of this year, the economic growth in Armenia was only 4 percent, which is the lowest in the last 5 years or 2021. then it is the lowest index recorded for the given period.

The Central Bank is concerned that this will lead to a slowdown in the growth of the population’s income.

A significant weakening of the growth rate of the average salary is already noticeable. In the first quarter, the average salary increased by only 2.9 percent, which is significantly lower than the recorded inflation.

“In that case, if the loans continue to grow at the same pace, we will have higher figures of the gap. Therefore, our partners in commercial banks should be vigilant,” warns the president of the Central Bank.

In recent years, there has been an unprecedented increase in the credit burden of the population in Armenia. But not only the government and commercial banks, but also the Central Bank have their share of guilt in this. The control of the financial market and the provision of financial stability in general is placed on the Central Bank. The Central Bank is obliged to take timely measures to prevent the credit market from heating up.

Although certain steps have been taken in that regard, the concerns voiced by the Central Bank prove that they were not enough, that adequate measures were not taken to curb the banks’ appetite. Although, in the conditions of widespread and often unjustified lending, experts have repeatedly raised concerns about the accumulated credit risks.

The increase in the population’s credit burden took place through the increase of both mortgage and consumer loans. Especially consumer loans have increased sharply in recent years.

In just 3 years, the portfolio of consumer loans of banks has more than doubled. If in 2023 in March it was only 928 billion drams, in March of this year it reached 1 trillion 909 billion drams.

Only from this sector, the credit burden of citizens increased by 981 billion drams in 3 years. If we convert it into foreign currency, it will be more than 2.6 billion dollars.

That burden has increased without the cheapening of loans. Although there was a gradual reduction of the policy interest rate during that time, the banks almost did not reduce the interest rates on consumer loans. Instead, they eased lending conditions in a number of directions, thus stimulating demand and ensuring high interest incomes.

During three years, citizens have accumulated an additional credit burden of 2.6 billion dollars only in terms of consumer loans. Naturally, it did not happen in 1 day, 1 month, or even 1 year, and the Central Bank was obliged to take timely measures to prevent this credit fever. Or did they not know at that time that the credit burden of citizens is growing disproportionately faster than their incomes? Even if they did not know, they should have realized that that time will also come. And it is still a question of how far it will be possible to get out from under this without shocks in case of further escalations.

It should be noted that last year there was an increase in the weight of consumer loans classified as non-performing and monitored. Such was 6 percent of consumer loans, which, judging by the existing risks, will continue to grow in the near future.

Today, citizens’ credit burden exceeds 5.1 billion dollars only in terms of consumer loans. But the problem is that the credit burden of citizens is not limited only to consumer loans. No less big burden has been accumulated in the mortgage line.

Citizens’ mortgage loans reach 1.7 trillion drams, which is equivalent to 4.9 billion dollars.

In recent years, the burden of citizens’ mortgage loans has also increased at a high rate. Only during the previous 3 years, they increased by 806 trillion drams or by more than 87 percent. It is true that at the moment the Central Bank’s concerns are mainly related to consumer loans, but in the near future the same concerns may also arise in the case of mortgage loans.

The credit burden of citizens, which comes from consumer and mortgage loans, has reached 10 billion dollars. This is a huge burden on the population, however disproportionately it is distributed across groups of citizens. Concerns related to consumer loans are even greater, because they very often have a purely social meaning and in the conditions of the deterioration of the economic situation in the country, they increase the risks related to insolvency.

HAKOB KOCHARYAN




—