The work of hundreds of opposition figures has been capitalized by both forces. Whether it’s good or bad is another question…

Today, the Central Electoral Commission distributed the mandates of the political forces that passed the National Assembly.

Thus, three factions will be represented in the National Assembly of the ninth convocation: “Civil Pact”, “Strong Armenia” and “Armenia” Alliance.

At this moment, I consider it important to record a circumstance. In the last three years, the work invested by many political figures and forces that have been active in the opposition was finally capitalized by the three political forces that entered the parliament. And after the mandates of “Prosperous Armenia” were actually stolen, that political capital was concentrated in the hands of only two opposition forces. Whether it is good or bad is a separate topic for discussion.

Under these conditions, the opposition forces represented in the National Assembly should realize that every opposition political force, as well as every individual who supports the opposition, has the right and even the duty to demand accountability from them, to ask questions, to present proposals and to voice constructive criticism.

It is the legitimate right of everyone. The exercise of that right should never be presented as “disruptive” or “harmful” activity.

Edmon Marukyan, chairman of “Lusavore Armenia” party

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Today, Ukrainian drones hit the logistics centers of Russia’s largest online trading platform, Wildberries, in Krasnodar and Nevinnomyssk, Stavropol Region. Large fires broke out in the warehouses of the company.

Tatiana Kim, founder of Wildberries, confirmed the attack. He wrote in Telegram that evacuation was carried out from the centers, there are injured people, but he did not specify their number.

Russian state media, citing local authorities, report that three people were injured in Krasnodar and five in Nevinnomyssk.

Ukrainian and Russian Telegram-channels have published videos and photos shot by eyewitnesses, in which large fires in warehouses can be seen.

This is the third attack on Wildberries’ infrastructure in recent days. On July 18 and 20, Ukraine’s defense forces also attacked the company’s warehouses in Moscow and Tambov regions with drones.

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A soldier died. This was reported by the RA Investigative Committee.

Criminal proceedings have been initiated in connection with the death of a serviceman of the N military unit of the Ministry of Defense recorded on July 21.

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“Zhoghovurd” newspaper writes.

“According to the exclusive information of “Zhoghovurd” daily, it is planned to appoint Davit Hambaryan as the head of staff of the National Assembly. Who is he? Hambaryan has experience in public administration, local self-government, education and management in the private sector.

His career began in 2002 in the protocol department of the RA President’s office as a first-class specialist. Then, in 2004-2007, he worked as a leading specialist in the Foreign Relations Department of the President’s Office.

In 2005-2011, he taught at the Faculty of International Relations of Yerevan State University.

In 2008-2009, he held the position of head of public relations and communication service of “Haypost” company, and in 2009-2016, he worked at “Orange Armenia” company, first as a consultant, then as the head of the advertising, marketing strategy and planning team.

In 2015-2016, he managed the process of merging “Orange Armenia” and “Yucom”, and in 2016-2017, he managed the marketing and communication processes of “Yucom”.

In 2017-2020, he was the director of recruitment and selection of “Teacher Armenia” educational foundation.

He returned to the state administration system in 2020, being appointed the temporary acting secretary general of the Yerevan Municipality staff, and then the general secretary.

In 2022, he was appointed Deputy Minister of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Armenia, and from January 9, 2023, he holds the position of Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Armenia.

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Gagik Tsarukyan is again brought to the SRC Investigative Committee for questioning. His supporters gathered near the Investigative Committee building.

Let’s remind that on July 6, searches were carried out in the private house of the leader of the “Prosperous Armenia” party, philanthropist and businessman Gagik Tsarukyan, as well as in a number of companies belonging to him.

According to the report of the Investigative Committee, Gagik Tsarukyan was charged with the organization of particularly large-scale fraud and money laundering. Another person was arrested within the framework of the same criminal proceedings, who was detained for two months by the court’s decision.

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In the case of Ruben Vardanyan, a complaint was submitted to the European Court of Human Rights. We learn about this from the statement of Siranush Sahakyan, lawyer, head of the Center for International and Comparative Law, representative of the interests of Armenian prisoners at the ECHR, in which, in particular, it is said:

“S. year On July 19, I submitted an official complaint to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) regarding the case of Ruben Vardanyan, a citizen of Armenia, who is currently being held in the Umbak Penitentiary Complex of Azerbaijan. I will defend the interests of Ruben Vardanyan at the ECHR.

The complaint details the violations of eight articles of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (the Convention) and provides justifications for them.

The verdict in the case of Ruben Vardanyan was published by the Baku military court on February 17, 2026, sentencing him to 20 years in prison. The court did not read the verdict in its entirety.

Later, from the verdict made available through the family, it became clear that Vardanyan was found “guilty” on 41 counts based on 21 articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

In the verdict, Vardanyan’s individual guilt was not substantiated by facts or evidence. Instead, the court concluded that a “criminal community,” the unrecognized administration of Artsakh, had been operating in Nagorno-Karabakh since 1988, and that Vardanyan joined that “community” in December 2020, even though he was living in Moscow at the time.

The court assessed Vardanyan’s acceptance of a civil administrative position as a forcible usurpation of power, his commercial and charitable activities as illegal entrepreneurship and financing of terrorism, and entering Nagorno Karabakh through the Lachin Corridor as illegally crossing the state border of Azerbaijan.

Vardanyan did not appeal the verdict, because he considered that the trial was staged and predetermined, and all domestic measures were ineffective.

In fact, it is impossible to protect rights in a system that denies the right to a fair trial from the start. Therefore, Ruben Vardanyan decided to continue the fight for justice through international legal mechanisms.”

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“FLYONE ARMENIA” airline Flights on the Yerevan – Tashkent – Yerevan route will start from July 26.

Flights will be operated with a frequency of 2 flights per week, every Wednesday and Sunday.

For flight ticket availability, purchase and other details, please visit the airline’s website: flyone.am or contact local travel agencies.

“Armenia International Airports” CJSC

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There is a holiday calm in Armenia and especially in the local political life. At the moment, the most political issue is the opening of the National Assembly (which, by and large, if current trends and practices are maintained, will not have a significant impact on the processes outside the parliament building).

Meanwhile, the political vacation is exclusively in Armenia. And important processes, including those affecting us, are taking place around our country at an unprecedented speed.

Here are three news that remained in the shadow of the “mandate fight”.

The renewed war between the USA and Iran (and did it ever stop) is entering a new phase, where the parties have left themselves with only one tool: the continuous escalation of the situation. Only one number is enough to imagine the extent of the tension. at the moment, more than 50 thousand people are directly and indirectly involved in the war on the part of the USA. And this, it seems, is only the beginning.

Aliyev consistently works with the EU to increase the weight of Azerbaijan. Moreover, he positions himself as a regional mediator (the latest news (https://www.dw.com/ru/aliev-kosvenno-podtverdil-kontakty-politikov-frg-i-rf-v-baku/a-78055386) about the meeting of representatives of Russia and Germany in Baku is very telling). When reading this situation, you should keep the following formula in mind: strong Azerbaijan = greater pressure on Armenia in all matters, from the corridor to the reduction of the Armenian army.

The NATO summit took place in Turkey, in which the relations between the two sides were strengthened. Turkey, as in the Cold War years, is now considered by the collective West as the most important defense zone, which should be helped and “whims” tolerated.

This is just a small extract from the news.

But that is enough to understand that the political processes going on around us are more than mandates.

It is necessary to look and analyze the internal life of Armenia only with that big prism. Therefore, prepare to face them for the sake of a developing and safe state.

Turkic scholar Varuzhan Geghamyan

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On August 2-8, for the fourth year in a row, under the auspices of the RA Prime Minister, annual army games will be held between the power structures.

This was reported by the Ministry of Defense.

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