May 24, 2026
The musical instrument created by the Armenian master is 197 years old.
May 23 is celebrated around the world Accordion player’s birthday, but few people know that the author of the first accordion patent in the world is the Armenian craftsman Kiril Demyan. On this occasion, events are often organized in musical educational institutions and other centers of Armenia, where Armenian accordionists perform. And Armenia has traditionally had great masters of the accordion who shone on different stages of the world.
And so the author of the accordion, a maker of musical instruments is Armenian master Kirill Demyan (1772-1847). He was born in a town founded by Armenians who migrated to Romania in the 16th century after the fall of the Armenian kingdom of Cilicia. Armenopolis (present-day Gerla) city.
Kiril or Kyuregh Demyan was a master maker of musical instruments: pianos, organs, he had his own shop where he sold the parts he made for these instruments, as well as individual parts for keyboard and brass instruments. By the way, today the samples made by Kirill Demyan are exhibited at the Vienna House of Music.
Demyan has been thinking about creating his musical instrument for many years. He drew up blueprints, made calculations in an effort to create an improved instrument, and created the accordion with his sons Carl and Gwydon. Damian’s instrument had only five keys, designed for the left hand only. Each key corresponded to one chord, which gave rise to the instrument’s name, “accordion” (from the Latin “accordo”).
In 1829, Kirill Demyan completed the construction of the accordion. On May 6, 1829, it was patented in Vienna. 17 days later, on May 23, 1829, Demyan’s patent was officially recognized, after which, until today, May 23 is celebrated all over the world as the birthday of the accordion.
The accordion created by Demyan could play simple melodies in one key. However, this did not stop music lovers from purchasing the newly created instrument from music stores and accordion factories.
It is noteworthy that today the accordion, which is popular all over the world, includes features of various instruments. in its appearance it resembles the bayan instrument, in its technical structure it is related to the harmonica, in sound it is closer and “compatriot” to the organ, and in terms of keyboard and capabilities it is close to the piano. It can give the impression of an ensemble with its sound.
Since its creation, the accordion has undergone rigorous development and renewal, becoming more and more perfected, becoming an irreplaceable instrument in various types of orchestras. In the Soviet years, including in Armenia, the accordion was more applicable and accepted in folk instrument ensembles, but it should be emphasized that especially in Europe and around the world, the accordion is used in classical music works: Bach, Mozart, Vivaldi, Rossini, Verdi, Brahms, Liszt, Chopin, Rimsky-Korsakov, Rachmaninov, Schubert, Shostakovich, Aram Khachatryan and many others. and famous works of many other famous composers, as well as waltz, jazz, Argentine tango, folk and for reproduction of works of other genres.
After the advent of the accordion, the popularity of the harmonica began to fade in Central Europe. The accordion gained widespread recognition and popularity in the British Isles, and in the 1840s in the United States. Adolf Müller in his book “Accordion School” presented descriptions of different types of the instrument.
Once upon a time, decades ago, in Armenia, almost every family had to send a child to a music school in order to learn an instrument. Among those instruments, the accordion had its stable and stable place, which competed equally with both folk instruments and the most popular classical instruments: violin, piano, and guitar. The accordion was an integral part of every gathering. Today, it has significantly lost its spread among the people.
There are not many accordion masters in Armenia, but they exist and are highly respected among musicians. Just as there are few high-quality and expensive accordions with which Valery Kovtun, Nick Ariondo, Richard Galliano, Pasquale Coviello, Alexander Hrustevich and other world-famous accordionists have demonstrated their skills.
However, Armenian accordionists note one important feature of this instrument. many people are not familiar with this instrument, but there is not a single listener who hears the accordion’s magical sounds and does not fall in love with it. Maybe this very love will cause a new revival of the accordion in the homeland of Kiril Demyan’s ancestors. Who knows…
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Go to the polls and vote for the power that has a chance to pass to the National Assembly. there are 4 of them. V:
May 24, 2026
“Classes” in the program constitutionalist, political scientist, internationalist Vardan Poghosyan, among other issues, he also referred to the upcoming parliamentary elections.
According to him, the fate of Armenia will be decided in the June 7 elections.
“I want to emphasize very clearly that if we are going to have a Republic of Armenia, we can have the honor of bearing that name when we decide our own destiny. Today our fate is decided by a person who has nothing to do with Armenianness. Maybe he didn’t have it in 2018, but few people saw it,” he said.
The latter noticed: hThere are very simple formulas for June 7. the first is that you should go to the elections, because if you don’t go, you give an artificial advantage to Nikol Pashinyan, who possesses enormous resources, including administrative ones.
“If you don’t go, you contribute to her reproduction. It wouldn’t be elected in 2021 either, if people went to the polls. Going to the polls is necessary. If you want to get rid of Nicole, go to the polls. If you go to the elections, you should choose such a force that has a real chance to enter the Parliament. If you don’t do it, you give Nikol Pashinyan another chance. This is the second step.
There are 3-4 parties that have a real chance to enter the Parliament: the “Strong Armenia” bloc, the “Armenia” bloc, the “Prosperous Armenia” and the “Wings of Unity” parties. Only if we vote for any of these 4 forces will we have a chance to escape from the dusting of votes,” said Vardan Poghosyan.
Details in the video.
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They confiscated the phone of the President of Artsakh. lawyer
May 24, 2026
They seized the phone of the President of Artsakh. According to the General Directorate of Military Investigation, the interest is the events related to the gas station explosion on September 24, 2023, while the phone is of 2025 production. lawyer Roman Yeritsyan wrote.
“The former military commissar of Artsakh (1999-2011), former head of the combat training department of the Defense Army (1993-1998), member of the military council of the RA Ministry of Defense, former minister of environmental protection of Artsakh (2018-2023), head of the Artsakh CPA service sent a notice to vacate the 60 square meter service apartment allocated in 2008. (2013-2018), advisor to the President of Artsakh, with the rank of colonel in the military service since 1998, deputy of the first convocation of the National Assembly of the Republic of Artsakh and a great contributor to the formation of the state, recipient of the “Combat Cross” medal of the first degree, who lost his brother and father in the first war, Felix Gabrielyan, on the grounds that “the apartment was allocated illegally”. The mentioned apartment is the only place of residence of Felix Gabrielyan and his family members in RA.
The process mentioned in the second point was also initiated against the former Minister of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mikael Arzumanyan, but by the decision of the administrative court, the administration aimed at eviction from the apartment was suspended, and the claim was later satisfied, considering the action of eviction from the apartment illegal. In addition to the mentioned ones, according to my information, hundreds of such processes have been initiated. The factual basis of the violation was not cited in the notice, the legal grounds speak of a completely different situation, and the notice consisting of only 3 sentences has dozens of spelling and factual errors.
On May 22, 2026, the verdict on the claim of the prosecutor’s office to expropriate the property of the representative office building belonging to the Republic of Artsakh, located at 17/2 Nairi Zaryan, Yerevan, but the verdict has not been published until today,” he wrote.
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Be the brave guardian of our spiritual and national values and sanctities. Wow!
May 24, 2026
Episcopal ordination and consecration took place on May 24, during the Holy and Immortal Liturgy, in the Mother Cathedral of Miatsnaej.
By the hand of H.S.O.T.T. Karekin the Second Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians received the episcopate rank of the Bishop of Gegharkunyats Diocese. Reverend Isahak Poghosyan, Vicar of Masyatsotni Diocese, Reverend Fr. Reverend Ruben Zargaryan, Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Rev. Venerable Anania Tsaturyan and Director of the Mother See Preaching Center Hogetret Fr. Zakaria the Supreme Reverend Baghumyan.
Diocesan leaders of the Armenian Church, members of the Supreme Spiritual Council, benefactors of the Mother See, public figures, pilgrims from different dioceses of Armenia arrived in St. Etchmiadzin on the occasion of sacred ceremonies.
On the previous day, in the evening of the Mother Cathedral, in front of the Holy Table of the Descent, the consecration ceremony was performed. The priests of the episcopate, kneeling and reconfirming the oath of loyalty to the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church, the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and the Patriarch of All Armenians, signed their affidavits in the presence of the clergy.
The Holy Liturgy began with the solemn procession of the Patriarch, by which the Catholicos of All Armenians was led under the amphovani to the Mother Cathedral of Miatznaej.
Before the Holy Council, the examination of the orthodoxy of the faith of the donors was carried out at the altar of St. Stepanos Archdeacon of the Mother Cathedral. The representatives of the Armenian Church – scribes, demi-deacons, deacons, priests, bishops, as well as lay people representing the faithful people – testified before the Catholicos of All Armenians about the dignity of the priests, after which the Holy Liturgy continued in the High Altar of the Mother Cathedral.
His Holiness the Patriarch was served by the Director of the Administrative and Economic Department of the Mother See, His Grace T. Musegh Bishop Babayan and Gugarats Diocese leader His Grace Fr. Bishop Hakobyan of Hovna. The leader of the Armenian Diocese of Damascus, His Excellency Fr. Bishop Nalbandian of Armash.
During the sacred ceremony of the liturgy, under the singing of the hymn “Divine and heavenly grace”, the priests, kneeling and raising their hands, vowed again to offer their persons to the service of the Holy Apostolic Church, steadfastly following the sacred messages and the sacred canons of the Church.
After that, the leader of Artik Diocese His Eminence Bishop Narek Avagyan raised Holy Myron with a solemn procession to Holy Khora, with which His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, calling bishops Isaac, Reuben, Ananias and Zacharias to the bishopric, anointed their foreheads and the thumbs of their right hands. At the end of the ceremony, the symbols of their episcopal authority – the episcopal staff and the ring – were handed over to the newly consecrated bishops.
On the occasion of this memorable day, the Catholicos of All Armenians sent his patriarchal message to the newly-consecrated bishops and the faithful people, offering glory and thanks to God that the sacred ceremony of episcopal ordination and consecration is performed on the blessed feast of the Epiphany, when the Church and the faithful once again become communion with the council of the outpouring of the shining graces of the Holy Spirit, which began the victorious reign of the Church of Christ. to the mission.
“Beloved, today our joy is double, because four devoted, knowledgeable and diligent members of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin received episcopal ordination and consecration with the outpouring of heavenly graces.
…For centuries, by the sacred council of ordination, worthy cultivators have been ordained in the Armenian Church in order to enlighten the flock of believers entrusted to them with scriptural messages and lead them to Christ-given salvation,” said His Holiness the Patriarch, adding that bishops are the bearers and transmitters of the apostolic succession and are the guardians of the sanctity of faith, the order of the Church, and the souls of souls. the guardian, the defender of the rights of the Church and believers.
Referring to the repressions and persecutions against our country during the whirlwinds of atrocities against our country during the Genocide and the Stalinist dictatorship, His Holiness noted that after suffering many hardships, the clergy remained steadfast in their loyalty and love for Christ and, relying on God, faced all the difficulties.
“It is with pain that the ministers of the Armenian Church are being persecuted by the authorities in Armenia today, as well as imprisonment,” the Armenian Patriarch emphasized, expressing gratitude to God that the clergy in Armenia and the Diaspora are indomitable in spirit, unwavering in their loyalty to Saint Etchmiadzin and, unfaithful to their vows and vocations, zealously continue the mission of the Lord to make it a reality. visions of brightness of spiritual life, strengthening of statehood, construction and power of the motherland.
After that, the Catholicos of All Armenians, presenting the bishoprics and referring to their years of service to the church and nation, gave his blessing and best wishes to them on the occasion of episcopal ordination.
“The episcopal rank, as a high degree of priesthood, implies greater commitment and responsibility in the Church of Christ. The episcopate itself is a service cross, which the servant of the Lord undertakes by kneeling in front of the Holy Table of the Descent, in order to give his life to the service of unceasing dedication”, said His Holiness the Patriarch.
“In this difficult period, continue to encourage the children of our people to remain strong in the love of God and patriotism. Be the brave guardian of our spiritual and national values and sanctities, the just rights of our country and people and our Holy Church. Guide the believers entrusted to your care to God-pleasing ways, strengthen faith, indomitable will and spirit of courage in their hearts to get our country out of this difficult situation full of dangers and trials and build a prosperous and bright future of the motherland. With your high mission, spread the Lord’s love, honesty, kindness and justice everywhere”, His Holiness said, asking that the Lord with His Holy Right will always strengthen the newly anointed and grant new successes, for the glory of God, for the love of the nation, for the building and for the brightness of our Holy Apostolic Church.
Then during the “Greeting” the present churchmen went up to the Holy Altar and, led by the Catholicos of All Armenians, congratulated the newly ordained, kissing their right hands.
At the end of the Holy Liturgy, the faithful people also congratulated the newly consecrated Bishops on the occasion of being called to the episcopate.
In the coming days, the newly consecrated bishops will offer liturgies of the covenant in the Mother Cathedral.
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168: Why should we leave our country? go to the election so that the Turks go. bomb
May 24, 2026
“Lessons” program the guest Turkologist, candidate of historical sciences Varuzhan Geghamyan.
The main theses of the interview are below.
- It is hard to imagine a normal person who would normally consider Nikol Pashinyan’s statement, “Why did you die?” But when I heard that, the first thing I remembered was my students who died in Artsakh… I remembered the Yrablur boys. How can you tell the other person why you didn’t die? It’s not enough that people participated in the war, and now they say why you didn’t die. In other words, in his opinion, it is necessary to die in the war for the Motherland?
- If we go back to 2020, from some point the de facto government did not think about the front, but only about keeping its power. That’s why during the 44-day war they started to hide the reality, to invent the false slogan “We will win”… De facto government representatives really don’t like Artsakh, they don’t like the Armenian state, they think that it shouldn’t be resisting. In 2001, the de facto Prime Minister wrote in his newspaper that the Corridor is a good thing.
- This election campaign is not just an election campaign. It does not solve the problem of reproduction of the government, but for them, this is an opportunity for their pro-Turkish propaganda to be planted in people’s minds.
- Vulgar soviology even shows that the Armenian people love Artsakh, but Pashinyan does not miss the opportunity to introduce anti-Artsakh theses to the widest possible masses of people. Otherwise, his campaign speech would be the destruction of Artsakh’s cultural heritage, the inadmissibility of the presence of prisoners, the occupation of Armenian territories.:
- These are the people who, when an Armenian driver caused an accident with human casualties in Russia, and they humiliated him in Russia by bringing him to the court in a robe, they poured all kinds of loot towards Russia, but these same people do not hide their secrets today when the entire cultural heritage of Artsakh is being destroyed.
- I do not rule out that Armenian place names can be changed in Google. The important thing is not that, but the fact that this government is going to hand over to Azerbaijan the sacred territory of extremely important strategic importance, Tigranashen, but it denies not that it will not hand over Tigranashen and other territories, but says that those names have not been changed recently… Using Turkish place names for the sacred territories of Armenia is typical Turkish propaganda. That’s what the Turks did when they first changed the names of the Armenian settlements, because it erased the memory:
- There is an order of Aliyev that it is not allowed to use Armenian place names in Azerbaijan, not only in the territories under the control of Azerbaijan, but also in the territories in Armenia. When there was an explosion in the “Surmalu” shopping center and there were victims, when the Turks expressed their condolences to Armenia, the name of the shopping center was not mentioned because it is located in Western Armenia. This is a disaster. Tomorrow they will demand that two names be mentioned on our maps: Sevan/Gyoča.
- On the morning of June 8, if the de facto regime was re-elected, a demand will be made to present Tigranashen, which the Turks call Kyarki, to Azerbaijan as soon as possible. Tigranashen is of critical importance for the territorial integrity of Armenia. Tigranashen is located on the border of Nakhichevan and Vayots Dzor and Ararat. If Tigranashen is surrendered, a Turkish wedge will be driven into the territory of Armenia. Tigranashen is also located on the border of Central Northern Armenia and Southern Armenia. If Tigranashen is handed over, it will not be a village, but a large military base. Our geography does not allow us to have a normal way around that part let’s build To go from Masis to Yeghegnadzor, from Yerevan to Goris or from Vanadzor to Kapan, you will have to deal with Azerbaijanis in one way or another. To go from one part of Armenia to another, we will pass through the Azeri corridor. If Kyarky is an enclave, as they say, and Azerbaijan wants to have a presence there, there is no other way than to give a corridor to that land. It’s not enough, we will give that enclave, one more small corridor to get there. By handing over Tigranashen, Armenia is creating a slow-acting bomb in its territory, which will have access to the entire Ararat Valley. To go from Yerevan to Iran, whether you like it or not, you will pass through the Azerbaijani territory. It turns out, instead of unblocking, we get full blocking:
- The one who gave the order to drag the parents of the fallen servicemen on the steps of Yerablur is capable of anything.
- In Azerbaijan, the idea that the territory of Armenia is not Armenian, but Turkish, arose in the 1910s, from the time when the decision was made to create the quasi-state of Azerbaijan. Its active phase was during the rule of Heydar Aliyev, who actively spoke about “Western Azerbaijan”, using false historiographical claims from the USSR years. He said: it should be remembered, raised about it. He was sure that it would not happen during his time, but one day, God willing, it would happen. When in 2003 Ilham Aliyev came to power, he put the politics of that issue before him. “Western Azerbaijan” was declared not only a memory, but also a strategic goal and international publicity. Until 2018 it didn’t work because Armenia successfully countered it. Ilham Aliyev, unlike his father, added another component: “the right of Azerbaijanis to return to their ancestral Turkic lands.” He delegitimized the Armenian state. 2018 after the change of power, Aliyev not only started talking about “Western Azerbaijan” on a daily basis, but also saw an opportunity to implement it on the ground. You will not find a place where Aliyev declares that he recognizes the territorial integrity of Armenia with a specific number. 2021 Azerbaijani armed forces are stationed in the territory of 300-400 sq/km from the sovereign territory of Armenia:
- If you allowed Azerbaijanis to come and live in Armenia, there will be no Armenian government in Armenia. If they bring 10,000 Azerbaijanis here, they will force them to have a quota in the Parliament, realization of educational and cultural rights, security formats, etc. Bringing even one Azerbaijani into this logic is a bomb at the foundation of Armenia’s statehood. Ramilsafarovs, Mubarizbrahimovs, those who beheaded Kyaram Sloyan, those who destroy Armenian monuments in Artsakh, those who torture Armenian prisoners in Baku will come here.
- These elections are more than an internal Armenian political event. These are very important choices. Only the fact that Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan states that they follow the Armenian elections with polls and express support for a specific force means that they attach great importance to our elections. They indirectly support the CP by targeting other forces. In Azerbaijan and Turkey, there is an authoritarian system of government, the mass media are under the control of the state. and if we look at the Turkish-Azerbaijani media, we see undisguised support to the de facto authorities of Armenia.
- Let us warn our followers, dear citizens, be very careful. There are a large number of Turkish-Azerbaijani Armenian-language websites and pages on social networks, which either promote Nikol Pashinyan, or promote people not to go to the elections, anyway, everything is decided.
- If you have noticed, Azerbaijani President Aliyev’s rhetoric regarding Armenia has softened. This is done specifically to ensure the re-election of this government.
- Turkey is geographically the West for us, and in a geopolitical sense. Turkey is a member of NATO. In the South Caucasus, if they say “the West”, they should understand only one country, Turkey, which is part of the West from a military-political point of view. This thinking is also present in France, Washington and elsewhere. Whatever happens, Europe will not condemn Azerbaijan for anything, because Europe expects from Turkey the weakening of the Russian-Iranian layer and the strengthening of the Turkish layer in our region. That’s why Armenia, unfortunately, geographically has no chance to go to the West. Its West is Turkey:
- I have very good news. Due to its geographical position, Armenia is located in such an area that it will always be interesting for the major geopolitical forces in the adjacent zones. In this constantly changing region, in order for you to be able to eat, sleep, and go to a concert, you must understand what kind of region you live in, analyze it and take preventive actions for it.
- Iran has strategically changed the nature of the game in the region. He has a much tougher stance on the South Caucasus, including Armenia. Iran’s main filter is security. Armenia’s border has become extremely important for Iran. In this regard, the Iranian position will become more rigid towards TRIPP, which is the same Zangezur Corridor for Iran. I do not rule out that this issue is part of the Iran-US negotiations. That agreement will show what architecture will be in the region. That’s why neither side wants to quickly close the topic:
- From the point of view of pragmatic Armenian interests, a strong Iran means a strong Armenia. If the Armenian people go to the polls on June 7, stand up for the country, and not for this fictitious Turkish peace, the entire political calculation of the region will change. If people do not go to the polls, we will be deprived of the last instrument of influence. Dear citizens, please go to the polls. Why should we leave our country, you go to the election for the Turks to leave our country?
Details in the video.
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Pashinyan thanks Georgian and Turkish partners: Akhalkalaki-Kars railway now a
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Armenia opens historic rail trade route to Turkey via Georgia
May 24 2026
Armenia opens historic rail trade route to Turkey via Georgia
Mansour Al-Maswari
ALBAWABA- Armenia has gained new rail access to Turkey through Georgia, marking a significant shift in regional connectivity and a breakthrough in long-isolated trade routes, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced on Sunday.
The newly operational route uses the Akhalkalaki–Kars railway corridor, passing through Georgian territory and linking Armenian cargo to eastern Turkey. The line connects into the broader Baku–Tbilisi–Kars (BTK) rail network, enabling onward access to European and global markets.
Pashinyan described the development as “a major event in our country’s economic life,” thanking Turkey and Georgia for their cooperation in enabling the new trade pathway.
The opening of the route gives Armenia its first sustained rail access to Turkey in decades via Georgia, significantly easing long-standing transport constraints. The corridor is expected to reduce logistics costs and delivery times for Armenian exports and imports.
Key expected benefits include improved access to Turkish markets, expanded connectivity to the European Union through Turkish logistics hubs, and diversification of Armenia’s trade routes alongside existing links with Russia, Iran, and China.
Export sectors such as agriculture, mining, and manufacturing are expected to benefit most from improved freight efficiency and lower transport barriers.
The development comes amid gradual improvements in Armenia’s regional relations, including recent steps toward expanded transport connectivity and easing of trade restrictions between Armenia and Turkey earlier this year.
It also aligns with Armenia’s broader “Crossroads of Peace” initiative, which promotes regional integration and economic cooperation across the South Caucasus.
The shift follows major geopolitical changes in the region after the Second Nagorno-Karabakh war in 2020 and subsequent developments in 2023, which reshaped territorial control and intensified efforts toward normalization and infrastructure reopening.
The new rail link is being viewed as part of a wider “peace dividend,” aimed at restoring economic ties, improving regional mobility, and reducing the legacy of long-standing blockades.
Officials say further details on freight volumes, operational schedules, and commercial agreements are expected in the coming weeks as the corridor becomes fully integrated into regional logistics networks.
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Turkish Press: Armenia secures first rail access to Türkiye in decades via Geo
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced the development on Sunday, describing the operational route as “a major event in our country’s economic life.” The new link utilizes the Akhalkalaki–Kars railway corridor, connecting Armenian cargo directly to eastern Türkiye and integrating into the broader Baku–Tbilisi–Kars (BTK) rail network for onward access to European and international markets.
Pashinyan expressed gratitude to Türkiye and Georgia for their cooperation in making the route possible. The corridor gives Armenia its first sustained rail connection to Türkiye in decades, effectively bypassing long-standing transport barriers.
Officials anticipate the new route will substantially reduce logistics costs and delivery times for Armenian exports and imports. Key sectors such as agriculture, mining, and manufacturing are poised to benefit the most from improved freight efficiency and lower transportation expenses.
The link provides Armenian businesses with enhanced access to Turkish markets and, through Turkish logistics hubs, better connectivity to the European Union. It also diversifies Armenia’s trade options, complementing existing routes with Russia, Iran, and China.
The development aligns with Pashinyan’s “Crossroads of Peace” initiative, which seeks to promote economic integration and cooperation across the South Caucasus. It comes amid gradual normalization efforts between Armenia and Türkiye, including earlier steps this year to ease trade restrictions and expand transport links.
The rail opening is widely viewed as a tangible “peace dividend” following the major geopolitical shifts in the region after the 2020 Second Nagorno-Karabakh war and subsequent developments in 2023. These changes have accelerated efforts toward infrastructure reopening and economic normalization.
Further details regarding freight volumes, operational schedules, and commercial agreements are expected in the coming weeks as the corridor becomes fully integrated into regional logistics networks.
This development represents a notable step forward in Armenia’s efforts to break out of long-standing economic isolation and strengthen its position as a regional transit hub. (ILKHA)
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Divorce from Moscow in exchange for European visa-free travel. Armenia leaves
Armenia is preparing to receive a visa-free regime with the European Union in just two years, finally cementing its geopolitical pivot to the West. Russia, in response, is blocking Armenian exports and openly threatening Yerevan with a repeat of the Ukrainian scenario. However, the loss of Nagorno-Karabakh and the inaction of Moscow’s allies have taught Armenians that further stay in the imperial embrace costs significantly more than any economic losses.
Speaking to voters ahead of the parliamentary elections scheduled for June 7, 2026, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced an extremely optimistic timeline for European integration.
According to him, the issue of visa regime liberalization between Armenia and the European Union will be resolved no later than within two years. The head of government painted an attractive picture of the future, where flying from the local Shirak airport to Larnaca, Cyprus, will only require remembering your passport, and the ticket itself will cost pennies.
However, just before this speech, Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan was much more restrained in his predictions. The diplomat expected to conclude negotiations only by 2029, rightly reminding of the need for serious institutional reforms.
This discrepancy in dates between the politician on the podium and the official in the office reveals a classic pre-election fever, but the vector of movement itself no longer raises doubts.
Pashinyan explained the current giant queues for Schengen visas with simple statistics: from 2018 to 2025, the number of Armenians willing to travel to the EU increased sixfold, and European consulates simply cannot physically cope with the flow of applications.
Farewell to the Empire and Zelenskyy’s visit
The loss of Nagorno-Karabakh and the Russian invasion of Ukraine became the catalysts that forced Yerevan to finally reconsider its geopolitical orientations. The perception of Russia as a guarantor of security disappeared along with the inaction of Moscow’s peacekeepers. A logical step in early 2025 was the Armenian parliament’s approval of a bill to begin the procedure for joining the European Union.
The culmination of this pivot was May 2026, when Yerevan hosted two major high-level events: the European Political Community summit and the first ever Armenia — EU summit.
The list of guests eloquently testified to the new status of the Armenian capital in the eyes of the West. Leaders from Great Britain, France, Poland, and Canada flew to the South Caucasus.
However, the presence of Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Moldovan President Maia Sandu became a real blow to the Kremlin’s pride. The appearance of the Ukrainian leader caused undisguised fury in Moscow and a demand for immediate explanations.
Flowers, cognac, and the ghost of the Ukrainian scenario
Russia’s response was predictably asymmetrical and focused on economic pressure. Rosselkhoznadzor (Russian agricultural watchdog) immediately found violations to ban the supply of Armenian cognac, wine, mineral water, and even flowers. The standard scheme for punishing defiant neighbors through sanitary inspections has long become a calling card of Russian diplomacy.
But the alcohol trade turned out to be just a prelude to much more serious threats. Vladimir Putin openly advised Yerevan to remember Ukraine’s fate, cynically reminding that the war began precisely after Kyiv chose the European integration course.
The Russian leader also suggested that Armenia hold a referendum on withdrawal from the Eurasian Economic Union for the sake of a «soft, intelligent, and mutually beneficial divorce.» In the mouth of the head of a state that drowned a neighboring country in blood, words about an intelligent divorce sound exclusively like a direct threat of intervention.
Armenia is taking an extremely risky historical step, trying to break free from the sphere of influence of an empire that forgives no one for independence. Yerevan is putting its own economy and security at stake, counting on the support of European structures, which very often are late with real help.
However, the events of recent years have proven a very painful truth to Armenians: being Moscow’s ally in a critical moment means being left alone with your tragedy.
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Turkish Press: Türkiye says railway opening marks new step with Armenia
Serdar Kılıç, a former ambassador who serves as Türkiye’s special representative for normalizing ties with Armenia, hailed the opening of the Akhalkalaki-Kars railway line to Armenia’s imports and exports.
In a social media post on Sunday, Kılıç said it was a new step in trade relations between the two neighboring countries.
He was referring to Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s earlier announcement that the railway line had been opened to Armenia’s foreign trade.
Kılıç described the development as a new step in direct trade within the framework of the Türkiye-Armenia normalization process.
“I hope this new step, which will also improve quadruple cooperation among Türkiye, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia and make a significant contribution to regional peace and stability, will be beneficial for all these countries,” Kılıç said.
The Armenian premier described the move as a major development for Armenia’s economy and thanked partners in Türkiye and Georgia for their cooperation.
Pashinyan added that Armenia now has railway access to Russia through Georgia and Azerbaijan, and to China through Russia and Kazakhstan. He said that the railway route passing through Türkiye and Georgia would strengthen Armenia’s connection with the European Union, while rail links with Türkiye, Azerbaijan and Iran were also expected to be established in the near future.
Türkiye and Armenia have signed a deal for the joint restoration of the ancient Ani Bridge on the border during a visit earlier this month by Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz to Yerevan. Yılmaz was the highest-ranking official since former President Abdullah Gül to visit Armenia. His visit is more significant, though, as Yerevan and Ankara explore more ways to further cooperation and eventually, fully normalize their relations.
Since 2020, Türkiye and Armenia have held a string of talks at various levels to explore the way forward in relations. Most recently, delegations from the two sides met in Kars of eastern Türkiye to discuss the revival of a railway between the two neighbors. Earlier, direct passenger and cargo flights were launched mutually. Ankara and Yerevan also approved the opening of the Alican border crossing to citizens of third countries and diplomatic passport holders. Before Yılmaz’s visit, Pashinyan met President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan last June in Istanbul.
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