July 15, 2026
168TVof “Trigger” the guest of the program Gagik Harutyunyan is a political scientist, head of the Yerevan Network Research Institute.
During the conversation, the US-Iran-Israel conflict, the internal political situation of the United States, the confrontation between Republicans and Democrats, as well as the positions of Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu were discussed in detail.
The prospects of the upcoming elections in Israel, the possible consequences of the current crisis in the Middle East, the concept of the “Samson Option” and its connection with the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, as well as the possible change of Israel’s strategic plans were touched upon.
Special attention was paid to the risks of a possible confrontation between Turkey and Israel, the handing over of Nagorno Karabakh, the role of the world’s leading players – the USA, Russia, China and Israel – in shaping the modern geopolitical agenda. Topics related to the role of the Zionists in the Armenian Genocide issue were also discussed, as well as the threats and possible risks facing Armenia in the rapidly changing international situation.
Hayk Derzyan
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RFE/RL – Tsarukian Slams ‘Illegal’ Shutdowns Of His Firms
- Robert Zargarian
Businessman and opposition leader Gagik Tsarukian denounced the Armenian authorities on Wednesday for effectively shutting down dozens of his companies as part of a post-election crackdown promised by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian.
Law-enforcement authorities searched and sealed off their offices on July 6 as they demonstratively arrested Tsarukian on charges rejected by him as politically motivated. Only one of those companies, Armenia’s sole major cement plant, has since been allowed resume its operations. Thousands of people working for the other entities of Tsarukian’s Multi Group remain out of work.
“The most painful thing for me these days is that people in all the companies affiliated with me have been deprived of the opportunity to go to work and earn their daily bread,” Tsarukian said in a statement released from prison.
“It is clear to everyone that those enterprises were illegally halted to cause me pain. I want to express hope that reason will eventually be restored and they will stop hindering the work of those enterprises,” added the 69-year-old tycoon leading the opposition Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK).
Tsarukian is accused of defrauding Iranian business partners in 2022-2024. He argued that the accusations have “nothing to do” with the company shutdowns.
So far the authorities have explained only the forced closure of the cement plant and Multi Group’s large fitness center located in central Yerevan. The State Revenue Committee has accused both companies of tax evasion.
Armenia’s Investigative Committee, which plays the central role in the criminal proceedings, remained on Wednesday unwilling to say when the Multi Wellness center and other Tsarukian-owned firms will be able to resume their work. Scores of their employees have staged protests outside company premises in recent days.
“When will we be allowed to work?” said a woman working at the Multi Stone stone-cutting plant near Yerevan. “This plant is our sole source of income.”
Another, male employee warned that the protesters will take more drastic actions if the authorities continue to keep them out of work. “Our families stand with us and will definitely join us,” he told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service.
The BHK was one of the three main opposition groups that ran in Armenia’s June 7 parliamentary elections and accused Pashinian of rigging them. Pashinian pledged to imprison and “dispossess” their leaders even before the announcement of the official election results that gave victory to his party.
Tsarukian’s representatives say Pashinian’s statements prove that the investigators are acting on his politically motivated orders. According to them, Multi Group is now planning to challenge the shutdowns in local and international courts.
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Wife Fears For Armenian POW’s Life
- Ruzanna Stepanian
The wife of an Armenian prisoner of war who has been held in Azerbaijan for nearly six years expressed on Wednesday serious concern about what she described as a sharp deterioration of his health.
The 56-year-old Lyudvig Mkrtchian was taken prisoner by Azerbaijani during the 2020 war in Nagorno-Karabakh in which he fought as a volunteer. A year later, an Azerbaijani court sentenced him to 20 years in prison for war crimes allegedly committed during the first Armenian-Azerbaijani war in 1991-1994. He denied the accusations.
Mkrtchian is one of at least 19 Armenians, including eight former leaders of Karabakh, remaining in Azerbaijani captivity. They are allowed to speak with their families in Armenia by phone once in every one or two months.
According to Mkrtchian’s wife Hranush, during their phone conversations in recent months he has complained of his worsening condition and lack of adequate medical care in an Azerbaijani prison.
“He is in very poor health. He has shortness of breath, dizziness, headaches and problems with heart and lungs,” she told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service.
“Although he was told [by Azerbaijani prison officials] that he is alright, he said he is very unwell. He is short of breath when talking,” she said, adding that Mkrtchian did not have any health issues before his captivity.
Up until last year, the Azerbaijani authorities allowed representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to periodically visit the prisoners to inspect their detention conditions, inquire about their health and arrange phone calls between them and their families. The Red Cross lost that exclusive access after being forced to close its mission in Azerbaijan in September.
Siranush Sahakian, an Armenian lawyer representing the captives, said shortly afterwards that some of them claimed to have tried to commit suicide in phone calls with their relatives in Armena. Later in 2025, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ordered Azerbaijan to submit fresh information about their detention and health conditions.
Hranush Mkrtchian said that she is now waiting for the authorities in Baku to present the Strasbourg court with the results of a recent electrocardiogram of her husband’s heart conducted in the prison. She said prison medics did not show him those results.
The Armenian government maintains that it has been doing its best to try to secure the release of the 19 prisoners. The government’s critics dismiss these assurances and accuse it of being indifferent to the prisoners’ fate. Davit Ishkhanian, one of the former Karabakh leaders held in Azerbaijan, has gone farther, saying that Yerevan does not want Baku to free them.
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U.S. Businessman To Run ‘Trump Route’ Fund
- Heghine Buniatian
The U.S. State Department has appointed a Russian-born American entrepreneur as chairman of a $200 million fund tasked with facilitating the creation of a U.S.-run transit corridor passing through Armenia.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian pledged to give the United States exclusive rights to the corridor during talks with U.S. President Donald Trump and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev held at the White House last August. U.S. and Armenian officials subsequently worked out practical modalities of the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) that would run along Armenia’s border with Iran and connect Azerbaijan to its Nakhichevan exclave and Turkey.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance mentioned the establishment of the Tripp+ Enterprise Fund during a visit to Yerevan in February. Britain’s The Guardian daily reported on Tuesday that it will be headed by Konstantin Sokolov, a Russian-born private equity investor from Chicago.
Sokolov is one of 36 private donors who have reportedly contributed to Trump’s White House ballroom project. He has also donated more than $12 million to Republican Party campaigns and political groups during Trump’s second term.
Sokolov has business interests in Armenia, co-owning with another foreign investor one of the country’s three mobile phone operators. Earlier this year, he reportedly showed an interest in buying a major Armenian mining company that was owned by a leading Russian bank, VTB. Last month, VTB completed the company’s sale to an Armenian-registered firm owned by a still unknown entrepreneur.
The Guardian quoted a State Department spokesperson as saying that the $201 million Tripp+ fund is authorized to make loans, equity investments and grants promoting strategic private sector development not only in the South Caucasus but also Central Asia.
A U.S.-Armenian agreement signed last month calls for the creation of a joint venture that will manage for at least 49 years a railway, a road, energy supply lines and other infrastructure to be built along the corridor. The U.S. government will own 74 percent of the TRIPP Development Company (TDC) that will receive “exclusive land use rights, development rights, related permissions, and all other rights” necessary for the transit arrangement.
Iran remains opposed to the TRIPP, fearing that it could lead to U.S. security presence along the Armenian-Iranian border and undermine Armenian control of it. The Iranian ambassador to Armenia indicated on July 8 that the Armenian government has still not addressed Tehran’s “very legitimate and logical” concerns. Pashinian made clear the following day that he remains committed to implementing the TRIPP project “as soon as possible.”
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RFE/RL – No One Prosecuted Over Pre-Election Death In Armenia
- Gayane Saribekian
Armenian law-enforcement authorities have not prosecuted any of their officers in connection with the death of a man arrested two months ago for tearing down an election campaign poster of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian’s party.
The incident occurred in Nshavan, a village 20 kilometers south of Yerevan, three weeks before Armenia’s disputed parliamentary elections. The Investigative Committee moved to charge a local resident, Armen Hovannisian, with obstruction of the Civil Contract party’s election campaign following his arrest.
Hovannisian was transferred from a local police station to a psychiatric clinic in Yerevan after engaging what the Armenia Interior Ministry described as “mentally unbalanced behavior” the next morning. According to the ministry, Hovannisian hanged himself there several hours later.
The man’s death sparked an uproar from over a dozen Armenian civic groups. They said that he should not have been arrested in the first place because under Armenian law his action is punishable by a fine, rather than imprisonment. The Armenian police launched an internal inquiry into the arrest at the time.
A police spokesperson told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service on Wednesday that the inquiry was discontinued because of a criminal investigation conducted by another law-enforcement agency. Nobody has been arrested or charged in that investigation.
Zaruhi Hovannisian (no relation to the deceased man), a veteran human rights activist, said this fact shows that the security apparatus operates with impunity when it targets critics of the country’s current leadership. She suggested that the Nshavan man’s arrest was meant to “please the government.”
“If individuals are punished after making decisions to please the government, there is a danger that others will not make such decisions,” she said.
During and after the election campaign, the authorities detained hundreds of opposition members and supporters on mostly vote-buying charges denied by the Armenian opposition. They have been far more lenient towards Pashinian’s loyalists accused of assaulting opposition supporters.
One such incident occurred in Nor Kyurin, a village close to Nshavan, on June 2. A local council member affiliated with Civil Contract was caught on camera punching one of the supporters of the main opposition Strong Armenia bloc who campaigned in the community. The Investigative Committee confirmed on Wednesday that it has not prosecuted him.
Another video shot on election day in Lichk, a village in the eastern Gegharkunik province, showed several men led by the village chief, Sirakan Sirakanian, beating up a Strong Armenia proxy. The latter said he was assaulted after telling them not to interfere with the voting.
Sirakanian was never prosecuted. The authorities instead indicted but not arrested two other men.
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USTDA continues to work with Armenia on developing a number of projects, says
The United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) continues to work with Armenia on developing a number of projects, Karl Kress, USTDA Regional Director for Europe and Eurasia, said in response to a question about whether the agency is in talks with Armenia on the supply of small modular reactors (SMRs).
Kress addressed the issue during a press briefing while responding to a journalist’s question.
The journalist noted that Armenia’s nuclear programme had long been linked to Russia’s Rosatom and asked whether Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s election victory had changed the situation, and whether the U.S. Trade and Development Agency was negotiating with Armenia on the supply of small modular reactors.
“We have been working with Armenia for some time on developing a number of project concepts in the country. That work has continued after the elections in exactly the same way as it did before. At this stage, we at USTDA have not seen any changes in that regard or in the overall approach. As I mentioned, we have been cooperating with Armenia on the development of several projects for some time, and we hope to be able to announce some news on this front in the near future,” Kress said.
Armenia plans to extend the operational lifetime of the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant by another 10 years, until 2036. Before then, the government intends to build a new nuclear power plant.
The Armenian authorities have already announced that they have decided on the type of the new facility, which will be a modular nuclear power plant. Armenia is currently holding talks with five countries — the United States, France, China, Russia and South Korea — on the project.
Published by Armenpress, original at
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Armenia reaffirms readiness to work with partners to strengthen synergies
Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Robert Abisoghomonyan participated and delivered remarks at the side event titled “Bridging science, policy and practice to address the planetary triple crisis: Strengthening synergies for the SDGs and a sustainable future beyond 2030” held in New York on the sidelines of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development.
The Armenian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that, in his remarks, the deputy foreign minister stressed the need to address climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution through an integrated approach. In this context, he highlighted the importance of the joint declaration on synergies signed by the current and incoming presidencies of the Rio Conventions in Belém.
He added that COP17 could help further strengthen that political commitment and expand international support.
Addressing the effective response to the planetary triple crisis, Abisoghomonyan underscored the importance of an inclusive national approach and ensuring the full participation of all stakeholders.
He also presented the Armenian government’s efforts in this direction.
The deputy foreign minister reaffirmed Armenia’s readiness to cooperate with all partners to strengthen synergies and promote a sustainable future, including in its capacity as the incoming president of the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17).
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Sustainable development is a key pillar of Armenia’s long-term development str
Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Robert Abisoghomonyan participated and delivered remarks at the ministerial segment of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in New York, held under the theme “Transformative, just, innovative and coordinated action for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals for a sustainable future for all.”
The Armenian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that, in his remarks, Abisoghomonyan stressed that sustainable development is one of the key pillars of Armenia’s long-term development strategy. In this context, he presented the priorities of the Armenia-United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2026–2030, which are aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and aimed at advancing its implementation.
The deputy foreign minister also addressed recent regional developments, highlighting the importance of peace, connectivity and resilient infrastructure in achieving sustainable development. He presented the TRIPP initiative and the signing of the strategic cooperation framework agreement on the project as an important step towards promoting regional connectivity, trade and investment, as well as advancing peace, stability and prosperity.
He also referred to the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17), which will be held in Yerevan later this year, including the planned Leaders’ Summit and ministerial segment, underscoring the importance of ensuring high-level participation.
Concluding his remarks, Abisoghomonyan reaffirmed Armenia’s commitment to promoting peace, resilience and sustainable prosperity through cooperation with all partners for the benefit of present and future generations.
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Armenpress: Russia awaits agreement between Yerevan and Baku on the rotation o
Russia is awaiting agreement between Yerevan and Baku on the rotation for hosting future meetings of the foreign ministers of the participants in the 3+3 regional cooperation platform for the South Caucasus.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said this during her weekly briefing.
She recalled that the relevant understanding had been reached following the meeting held in Istanbul in October 2024.
“The participants in the first expert-level meeting of the 3+3 platform, held on 5 June 2026 on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, agreed that the focus should be placed on concrete mutually beneficial economic projects while avoiding the politicisation of the process. We fully share this approach,” Zakharova said.
She noted that the previous three meetings of the platform had been held in Moscow, Tehran and Istanbul, respectively.
The 3+3 format was established as a regional platform bringing together the three South Caucasus countries—Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia—and the three regional powers: Iran, Russia and Türkiye. Georgia has not participated in any meetings held within the framework of the platform.
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Verelq: Pashinyan on the top of Khustup. After Artsakh, an evil omen?
The Public Tribunal has written many times that the new geopolitical realities emerging in the South Caucasus pose serious challenges for Armenia. Moreover, it is not only about Baku’s demands or the so-called “peace agenda”. We are talking about much deeper processes in which regional and superpower interests are involved.
Today it is already obvious that Syunik has become one of the key points of the conflict of these interests. Transport communications, corridors, extraterritorial regimes, new security architecture – all these concepts have long gone beyond the scope of mere diplomatic vocabulary and have become instruments of political pressure.
Against this background, Nikol Pashinyan’s decision to spend his vacation in Syunik and climb Khustup was remarkable.
For Armenians, Khustup is not just a mountain. It is a peak whose name is inextricably intertwined with Garegin Nzhdeh, the defense of Syunik, heroic resistance and national dignity. This is the shrine where rests the remains of a man who, at a crucial moment in history, was able to do what seems almost impossible today: to defend his native land against the superior forces of the enemy and the indifference of the outside world.
And Nikol Pashinyan is climbing that mountain.
That step itself could be perceived as a tribute to the memory of a great national figure. If there were no significant circumstances. There is a gulf between Nzhdeh and Pashinyan, which is measured not only by the difference in their political views, but also by the historical consequences of their activities. One remained in history as a defender of Armenian lands. The other as a leader, as a result of whose conscious and purposeful actions, Armenia lost Artsakh.
In politics, especially when it comes to Nikol Pashinyan, often not only the action is important, but also the context in which it takes place. Perhaps that is why the footage from Khustup leaves such a heavy impression. They remind not of the continuation of the Nzhdeh case, but of its rejection.
What’s more, we have enough reasons to treat such symbolic steps with particular caution. In the spring and summer of 2020, Pashinyan and his wife visited Artsakh with the same showiness. Photos were published, declarations of confidence and victory were made, the impression was created that the situation was completely under control. However, just a few months later, the 44-day war began, the consequences of which continue to weigh on Armenia to this day. And three years later, Artsakh was depopulated.
Of course, it is not about mysticism or superstition. History is made by decisions, not symbols. But sometimes symbols start to live a life of their own. Especially when they are followed by events that change the fate of the entire nation.
It is enough to remember the famous photo published by Anna Hakobyan on social networks in July 2023, with a cover with the inscription “A refugee brings with him not only a bundle of things to a new country”. . Two months later, as a result of the ethnic cleansing of Artsakh, tens of thousands of Armenians became refugees.
And here today, in the summer of 2026, when Syunik has once again appeared at the center of international discussions and regional calculations, the Prime Minister of Armenia climbs Khustup, the mountain of Nzhdeh.
I repeat, no one seriously claims that history is governed by signs or coincidences. However, it is equally difficult to ignore the fact that during the last eight years, too many symbolic episodes later received a completely different, often tragic, meaning.
That is why today we look at the photos taken from Khustup with concern. Because Garegin Nzhdeh went up to Syunik to protect him. And Nikol Pashinyan ascends to Khustup at a time when the fate of Syunik has again become the subject of geopolitical negotiations.
God forbid that this comparison will never be justified.
But let’s be honest before the same God. Eight years ago, few would have believed that Armenia would lose Artsakh. Five years ago, few would have believed that tens of thousands of Artsakh Armenians would become refugees. And if those seemingly unbelievable events are already history today, then no one has the right to say that the concerns about Syunik are exaggerated.
Nothing can be ruled out.
Armenian Public Tribunal
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