Former ruling party MP becomes Constitutional Court judge in Armenia, NGOs war

Andranik Taslakhchian
JAM News
Mar 25 2026
  • JAMnews
  • Yerevan

Armenia’s parliament has approved the appointment of former ruling party MP Vladimir Vardanyan as a judge of the Constitutional Court. A total of 67 out of 107 MPs took part in the vote, all of whom supported his nomination.

Vardanyan resigned his parliamentary mandate a week earlier, after the country’s president nominated him for the post. He also left the Civil Contract party, although until recently he had been an active member of parliament. He previously chaired the parliamentary committee on state and legal affairs.

Representatives of Armenia’s civil society have warned that his appointment to the Constitutional Court could pose a risk to the court’s independence and impartiality.

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What the law provides

The law “On the Constitutional Court” sets out the requirements for a Constitutional Court judge.

Under the law, a Constitutional Court judge cannot:

  • be a member or founder of any political party,
  • hold a position within a party,
  • act on behalf of a party or engage in political activity in any other way.

“A judge of the Constitutional Court must demonstrate political restraint and neutrality in public statements and in all other circumstances,” the law states.

If a Constitutional Court judge engages in political activity, authorities can terminate their mandate. The current Constitution of Armenia also includes this provision.

Representatives of civil society stress that these rules apply after appointment. However, they aim to prevent links between a judge and political forces. As a result, they seek to ensure the court’s independence and impartiality.

“Ending political ties is not guaranteed”: NGO statement

“Although Vladimir Vardanyan resigned his parliamentary mandate and left the political force that holds the parliamentary majority, the fact that he spent more than seven years in politics and belonged to a party raises doubts about his ability to perform the duties of a Constitutional Court judge impartially,” representatives of more than a dozen NGOs said.

In their view, “political interconnectedness rules out the possibility of managing risks”.

NGOs published the joint statement before MPs began voting. They urged lawmakers “to refrain from voting for Vladimir Vardanyan’s candidacy”.

Civil society representatives stressed that an ideological link with the ruling party provides sufficient grounds to question Vardanyan’s independence and impartiality in the role:

“Resigning a parliamentary mandate or leaving a party cannot guarantee the end of political and party ties or political influence.”

Farewell to committee members ahead of appointment

A week before parliament debated the appointment of a Constitutional Court judge, Vladimir Vardanyan said goodbye to members of the committee he chaired.

“By tradition, I should say: dear colleagues, I apologise if anything was not right,” he said, thanking MPs for their active cooperation.

His remarks surprised even members of his own party.

“There was no need to rush to say goodbye,” said Civil Contract MP Arusyak Julhakyan.

Opposition figures argued that the farewell in advance showed the vote would be a formality. In their view, parliament would confirm an appointment rather than hold a genuine selection.

Kristine Vardanyan, an MP from the opposition Armenia faction, said the ruling party did not even seek to preserve a formal appearance of procedure, as the outcome was already clear:

“Everyone knows a candidate has been nominated. He will come, no matter what he says, what questions are asked, or how society reacts. An SMS will arrive, he will be elected, because that has already been decided, because the Constitutional Court must become even more compliant with them.”

https://jam-news.net/former-ruling-party-mp-becomes-constitutional-court-judge-in-armenia-ngos-warn-of-risks/

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Sports: Prep talk: AGBU basketball coach, players headed to Armenia for intern

Emil Lazarian
Los Angeles Times
May 25 2026
By Eric Sondheimer
Columnist

For Nareg Kopooshian, the basketball coach at AGBU High in Canoga Park, there’s a big summer ahead. He’s going to be the head coach for the U16 Armenian national team in the FIBA U16 EuroBasket competition July 4-12 in Yerevan.

It’s the first time Armenia is hosting the event.

Los Angeles has the largest Armenian community in the United States with as many as 700,000 people.

Players selected for the training camp in Armenia include Anthony Sarkesian (Chaminade), Anthony Karayan (Village Christian), Ethan Kazanjian (AGBU), Edward Gemjian (La Canada) and Jivan Dorian (AGBU).

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Alen Simonyan Says Armenia Faces Peace Versus War Divide, Criticizing Kocharya

Hambardsumian Paul
Caucasus Watch, Germany
Mar 25 2026
25 Mar 2026 | News, Politics, Armenia

On March 24, during a conversation with journalists in parliament, Alen Simonyan, the Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia, stated that Armenia’s political field is divided between two opposing agendas: peace and war. He linked this divide to Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s claim that losing power by the Civil Contract Party could lead to war in September.

“One concerns certain demands on neighbors, the other concerns establishing peace in the region. The agreement isn’t with Nikol Pashinyan; it’s about the agenda, the political vision, the political position,” Simonyan stated, adding that if the matter is personalized, “Nikol Pashinyan will be considered a symbol of peace.” Addressing remarks about the Prime Minister mentioning September as a possible timeline for war [against Azerbaijan], he emphasized that “politicians can also conduct political analysis and have the right to do so,” describing such statements as assessments. He also noted that opposition figures regularly raise similar warnings, often naming specific timeframes.

Simonyan argued that Armenia effectively has “two poles,” pointing to former President Robert Kocharyan as an example of a political line advocating demands toward neighbors. Referring to Kocharyan’s remarks that Armenia’s 29,743 square kilometer territory is “utopian,” Simonyan emphasized that such rhetoric reflects a confrontational approach. “We must build relations in the region such that neither side considers attacking the other,” he stated, stressing the need to avoid war. He criticized what he described as revanchist discourse, arguing that it risks making Armenia dependent on external powers and sustaining a cycle of conflict involving Russian peacekeepers.

Speaking about the current situation, Simonyan emphasized that Armenia is not engaged in processes leading to casualties, calling this a positive outcome. He contrasted this with the opposition’s stance, which he said promotes demands and confrontation. “Yes, the current government of the Republic of Armenia—the Civil Contract party—is the party of peace, while the main opposition players are the party of war,” he stated, adding that the 2026 elections would present a choice “between peace and possible war.”

On the issue of security guarantees, Simonyan noted that no absolute guarantees exist. He referred to Russia’s role, mentioning its military presence and peacekeeping mission in the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh, and recalled a warning attributed to Moscow: “leave carefully, so that nothing happens here.” Commenting on Armenia’s position during the Prague meeting, he emphasized that recognizing territorial realities was necessary, arguing that Armenia effectively affirmed its own borders. “In Prague, we didn’t recognize Azerbaijan’s territory – we recognized our own territory, because Armenia begins where Azerbaijan ends,” Simonyan stated.

Addressing terminology, Simonyan rejected the use of “Artsakh,” stating that such wording creates inconsistencies. When reminded that he had previously used the term, he replied, “I was mistaken,” adding that similar logic applies when foreign actors use alternative names for Armenian locations. “And Karabakh belongs to Azerbaijan,” he stated.

Turning to constitutional reforms, Simonyan emphasized that the adoption of a new Constitution is driven by Armenia’s national interests and not external pressure. “The Armenian Constitution and the planned amendments are being introduced in Armenia’s interests,” he stated, dismissing claims that the process is being carried out at Azerbaijan’s request. He underlined that negotiations with Baku do not include demands for constitutional changes.

Simonyan also stressed the importance of strengthening Armenia’s defense capabilities, noting that efforts are being made to ensure a well-equipped army capable of self-defense. At the same time, he rejected the idea of imposing demands on neighboring states, arguing that Armenia’s priority is to adopt a Constitution that will not be perceived as a threat in the region. “All of this is necessary for Armenia’s existence and future,” he emphasized.

https://caucasuswatch.de/en/news/alen-simonyan-says-armenia-faces-peace-versus-war-divide-criticizing-kocharyan-and-opposition.html

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Armenian Opposition Figures Criticize Government Over Church, Democracy and Se

Ani Basmajian
Caucasus Watch, Germany
Mar 25 2026
25 Mar 2026 | News, Politics, Armenia

In a tense political climate in Armenia, Narek Karapetyan accused Nikol Pashinyan of waging a campaign against the Church and consolidating power, highlighted the detention and ambitions of Samvel Karapetyan, while Robert Kocharyan denounced the erosion of democratic processes and government narratives surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh.

On March 24, in an interview with Mario Naval, Narek Karapetyan, a member of the Board of the Strong Armenia party, stated that the Armenian Church remains a core pillar of national identity and accused the country’s leadership of attempting to bring it under political control. He emphasized that since last year, the Prime Minister has, in his view, initiated a campaign against the Church and publicly targeted its head, despite the institution enjoying broad public support.

“At the same time, we haven’t heard a clear explanation as to why he’s doing this,” Karapetyan stated. He noted that Samvel Karapetyan publicly opposed these actions, calling them unacceptable and urging the Prime Minister to stop. According to him, this was followed by “three offensive posts” from the Prime Minister and the deployment of special forces to his uncle’s residence. Karapetyan emphasized that the businessman’s philanthropic reputation drew thousands of supporters to the scene, after which he was detained roughly ten hours later.

Karapetyan stated that Samvel Karapetyan spent six months in detention at the National Security Service under harsh conditions, without heating and without contact with his family. Following the arrest, protests were held in Yerevan with participants arriving from different regions. “We are confident that we are on the right path. We are confident that we are doing this for our values,” he emphasized, adding that the authorities allegedly seek to push Karapetyan out of politics in order to act freely in relation to the Church. “We must stop this process, as it will jeopardize our democracy,” he stated, warning of increasing political and economic control by the ruling authorities.

He further claimed that government influence extends into major sectors, pointing to appointments in key companies such as Haypost and Electric Networks of Armenia, where, according to him, leadership positions are held by members of the ruling party. Karapetyan stated that Samvel Karapetyan intends to run for Prime Minister, adding that public support is growing and that citizens seek new leadership focused on long-term peace, economic development, and broader international relations.

According to Karapetyan, the Prime Minister now faces a choice between tightening control or allowing a competitive electoral process. “He can either pursue a path of complete autocracy, or he can allow us to participate in the elections… and a change of power will occur,” he stated, expressing the view that both paths remain possible.

In the same interview, Karapetyan addressed historical issues, stating that the territory of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh had been transferred to Azerbaijan during the Soviet period under Joseph Stalin. He emphasized that following the events of September 2023, the Armenian population left the region. “This is classic ethnic cleansing. And this is happening in the 21st century,” he stated, adding that displaced residents face serious challenges rebuilding their lives.

Separately, Robert Kocharyan, the Second President of Armenia, criticized the current political climate, stating that the authorities are undermining the significance of elections. “Elections are meant to force discussions about serious issues… It seems the authorities are deliberately trying to completely devalue this process,” Kocharyan stated, arguing that meaningful debate has been replaced by what he described as a superficial and unserious environment.

He questioned the government’s ability to address key national issues, including the outcome in the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh, wartime losses, and broader security concerns. “Do you respect your people or not? Are you turning the elections into a circus?” he stated, adding that such developments reflect disregard toward the public and the state.

Kocharyan also sharply criticized the Prime Minister’s conduct in specific incidents, including an episode in the metro involving a displaced resident and another involving a motorcade accident. “He doesn’t even allow a doctor… to approach a pregnant woman,” he stated, using the example to question the leadership’s behavior.

Referring to the aftermath of the conflict, Kocharyan addressed statements made about residents leaving the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh. “He says, ‘You fled.’ He doesn’t say Azerbaijan carried out ethnic cleansing,” Kocharyan emphasized, adding that the shift in terminology—from “ethnic cleansing” to “forced displacement,” and later to references only to “Karabakh”—reflects a broader change in official discourse.


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Armenpress: Colombia military plane crash kills 66

Nahapetian Samvel
World09:51, 24 March 2026
Read the article in: ArmenianRussian:

A Colombian military plane crashed in a takeoff disaster on Monday, killing 66 people as rescuers shuttled dozens of survivors to nearby hospitals and searched for four ‌who were still missing, Reuters reported citing a senior official.

The Lockheed Martin-built Hercules C-130 transport plane was carrying 128 people, including 11 Air Force members, 115 army personnel and two national police officers, according to Hugo Alejandro Lopez, head of the nation’s armed forces.

The death toll was nearly double that of the previous figure given by authorities, who continued search and recovery efforts at the site of the deadly crash.

The accident occurred as the plane was taking off from Puerto Leguizamo, on the border with Peru, Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez said on X.

The plane was believed ⁠to have suffered an impact near the end of the runway as it was taking off, firefighter Eduardo San Juan Callejas told Caracol, with a wing of the plane later clipping a tree as it was plummeting, according to Reuters. 

The crash caused the plane to catch fire and detonate some sort of explosive devices on board, he added.

Residents of the remote area were the first to pull out survivors, with videos showing men speeding down a dirt road with wounded soldiers on the back of their motorcycles.

Military vehicles later arrived, though authorities said the crash site was difficult to reach, impeding rescue efforts.

Lopez said that 57 of the survivors had been hospitalized, with 30 of them in non-serious condition at a military clinic.

Read the article in: ArmenianRussian:

Published by Armenpress, original at 
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Syrian Army says base hit by rockets from Iraq

Emil Lazarian
Read the article in: ArmenianRussian:

The Syrian Army said that one of its military bases in Hasakah province in the country’s northeast was targeted by five rockets launched from territory of neighboring Iraq.

The Syrian SANA news agency reported citing the military that the base near al-Yarubiyeh in northeastern Hasakah province was struck by a missile attack on Monday, with forces put on full alert.

The army’s operations command said five missiles were launched from near Tal al-Hawa village, about 20 km (12 miles) inside Iraqi territory.

The command added that the army is coordinating with Iraqi authorities, where military forces have begun search operations to track down those responsible, according to SANA.

Published by Armenpress, original at 
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Israel’s military to occupy swathe of southern Lebanon, defence minister says

Emma Jilavian
Read the article in: FrançaisՀայերենRussian

Israel will occupy southern Lebanon up to the Litani River to create a “defensive buffer”, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Tuesday, spelling out for the first ‌time Israel’s intent to seize territory amounting to nearly a tenth of Lebanon, Reuters reported.

At a meeting with the military chief of staff, Katz said Israeli forces would “control the remaining bridges and the security zone up to the Litani,” a river that meets the Mediterranean about 30 km (20 miles) north of Israel’s border.

Senior Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah said any Israeli occupation south of the Litani would be met with resistance. “We have no choice but to confront this aggression and cling to the land,” he told Reuters.

Read the article in: FrançaisՀայերենRussian

Published by Armenpress, original at 
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IQAir’s 2025 World Air Quality Report finds only 14% of cities meet WHO air p

Emil Lazarian
World16:25, 24 March 2026
Read the article in: ArmenianRussian:

IQAir has announced the release of its 8th annual World Air Quality Report, offering a comprehensive analysis of global air pollution data from 2025 and highlighting persistent health risks, emerging regional trends and critical monitoring gaps worldwide.

For this year’s report, IQAir said it analyzed data from monitoring stations across 9,446 cities in 143 countries, regions and territories.

The report adds 12 countries and territories not included last year, seven of which appear in the dataset for the first time ever—marking continued expansion of global air quality monitoring coverage.

Comparing this year’s report to the previous year, 54 countries experienced increases in annual average PM2.5, 75 saw declines, two remained unchanged and 12 were newly represented in this year’s dataset.

Key findings from the 2025 World Air Quality Report published on the IQAir website:

Only 14% of global cities met the World Health Organization (WHO) annual PM2.5 guideline of 5 µg/m³, down from 17% the previous year. Only thirteen countries or territories met the WHO annual average PM2.5 guideline: French Polynesia, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Barbados, New Caledonia, Iceland, Bermuda, Réunion, Andorra, Australia, Grenada, Panama, and Estonia. 130 out of 143 countries or territories, representing 91%, exceeded the WHO annual average PM2.5 guideline value.

The five most polluted countries were Pakistan with 67.3 µg/m³, Bangladesh with 66.1 µg/m³, Tajikistan with 57.3 µg/m³, Chad with 53.6 µg/m³, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo with 50.2 µg/m³. Loni, India, was the most polluted city, recording an annual average PM2.5 concentration of 112.5 µg/m³, which is a nearly 23% increase from 2024 and more than 22 times the WHO guideline. Nieuwoudtville, South Africa, was the world’s cleanest city, with an annual average PM2.5 concentration of 1.0 µg/m³.

The world’s 25 most polluted cities were all located in India, Pakistan, and China, with India home to three of the four most polluted. The most polluted major U.S. city was El Paso, Texas. Southeast Los Angeles, California, was the most polluted region in the United States. Seattle, Washington, was the cleanest major U.S. city.

The year 2025 marked the second consecutive year in which no cities in East Asia met WHO PM2.5 guidelines. Pollution patterns in China indicated a westward shift in elevated concentrations. Europe saw mixed air pollution trends in 2025, with 23 countries recording higher PM2.5 concentrations and 18 seeing declines. Winter wood burning, summer smoke from Canadian wildfires, and Saharan dust worsened seasonal pollution in Europe.

In Latin America and the Caribbean, air quality trends were largely positive. 208 cities recorded decreases in annual average PM2.5 concentrations, 95 cities saw increases, nine remained unchanged, and 13 new cities were added to the monitoring network. Oceania remained one of the world’s cleanest regions, with 61% of cities meeting the WHO guideline, although record-breaking cold in New South Wales, Australia, in June 2025 led to seasonal PM2.5 spikes.

According to the report, wildfires, intensified by climate change, played a major role in degrading global air quality in 2025. Record biomass emissions from Europe and Canada contributed to approximately 1,380 megatons of carbon. Canada was the most polluted country in Northern America for just the second time in this report’s eight-year history, as its second-worst wildfire season on record affected air quality across Canada, the United States and parts of Europe.

In the United States, annual average PM2.5 levels increased to 7.3 µg/m³. Smoke from wildfires in both Canada and the U.S. raised averages across parts of the Great Lakes states in the summer and in the Pacific Northwest in the fall.

Read the article in: ArmenianRussian:

Published by Armenpress, original at 
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Armenia and United States discuss healthcare cooperation

Kanayan Tamar
External policy09:53, 24 March 2026
Read the article in: العربيةفارسیFrançaisՀայերենRussianTürkçe

Ambassador of Armenia to the United States Narek Mkrtchyan held a meeting in Washington, D.C. with Bethany Kozma, Director of the Office of Global Affairs of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to discuss prospects for the development of Armenia–U.S. cooperation in the field of healthcare, the embassy reported.

Julie Wallace, Deputy Assistant Secretary (Office of Global Affairs), also participated in the meeting.

According to a readout, the sides addressed the bilateral cooperation agenda, particularly emphasizing the importance of strengthening the institutional foundations of cooperation in the healthcare sector.

A number of issues were also discussed, including opportunities for cooperation in the areas of biosafety, development of laboratory capacities, medical education and training, as well as the application of innovative technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) in the healthcare sector.

The importance of expanding collaboration with relevant U.S. institutions and professional organizations was also underscored, with a view to enhancing professional capacities and promoting the exchange of expertise.

The parties agreed to continue the dialogue to ensure the practical implementation of the issues discussed.

Read the article in: العربيةفارسیFrançaisՀայերենRussianTürkçe

Published by Armenpress, original at 
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Authorities dismiss report on labor, health ministry merger

Antonian Lara
Armenia10:14, 24 March 2026
Read the article in: Armenian:

Authorities on Tuesday denied a media report claiming that the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs and the Ministry of Health would be merged into a single ministry.

Nver Kostanyan, spokesperson for Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Arsen Torosyan, branded the report as fake and said that no such plans exist.

“One of the media outlets has once again circulated false information, claiming that the issue of merging the Ministries of Labor and Social Affairs and Health is currently under discussion. Not limiting themselves to publishing entirely false information, the authors of the piece have gone on to weave conspiracies around their fabricated ‘news’ and to speak about supposed ‘discontent’ regarding a non-existent project. Dear colleagues, a project to merge the ministries has neither been discussed nor circulated at any time over the past eight years, and it is not being discussed now. I urge you, once and for all, to stop speculating on this topic,” Kostanyan said in a statement on social media.

Read the article in: Armenian:

Published by Armenpress, original at 
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