Nikol Pashinyan opened a vicious, ugly and immoral series with the words “why didn’t you die?”, “why did you die?”, and his teammates repeat this inhumane and cruel thesis.

This is unforgivable, this is anti-human, this is not permissible. The representatives of the public, regardless of their political preferences, should give a clear response and demand to stop the further development of this anti-human and dangerous speech.

This is toxic for the state. How could someone with the surname “Yan” say such a thing to another person with the surname “Yan”? Did you graduate from Aliyev’s school of Armenian hatred? I don’t understand. On the one hand, he wants many Armenians to die, and on the other hand, you want to see how I see it…

Azerbaijanologist Tatev Hayrapetyan

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As part of the organization of the military parade to be held on May 28, on May 21 at around 14:00, 1 cannon shot will be fired in Lusakert, and in Yerevan (6th mass of Nor Nork: Military Academy named after Defense Minister Vazgen Sargsyan, Hrazdan Stadium) on May 22 at 10:00.

We ask the population to take note.

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The phrase “everyone is the same” is only about one thing: “let Nikol Pashinyan stay”. Dear holders of the position of “everyone is the same”, it is naturally your right, but exercise that right more honestly and declare that you prefer the continuation of Nikol Pashinyan’s rule, and just honestly go and assume your share of responsibility for that rule with your vote.

I repeat, it is a standard situation in Armenia, it is not a matter of choosing between effective and ineffective forces, between good and bad promises. In Armenia, it is a matter of interrupting the policy of demoralizing and devaluing the national and state profile, turning Armenia into a subservient entity to Azerbaijan.

Do you think that whatever force will win? Prove it with action. In other words, vote for the force with the greatest chance of winning, let that force form the government, and if it continues the same policy, if nothing changes, then you will tell everyone: “Did you see what we said?” And then your argument “everyone is the same” will become stronger, more convincing, simply objective.

After all, in the opposite case, if Pashinyan’s government remains, what is still continues. And if, according to your approach, the replacement will continue the same, therefore, by changing, you not only lose nothing, but also gain a weighty opportunity to objectively argue your position.

Therefore, act rationally from the point of view of the logic of your own position and to prove that “everyone is the same”, go and vote for the force or any of the forces with a high chance of winning. Vote and then “prove” that “everyone is the same”.

I repeat, I think, I am convinced that you have minimal rationality to imagine that there is no other option in the current situation: either the same government remains, or that government is changed through the forces with the leading opportunities of the opposition. Any other third option is just “theoretical romance”.

I think in the case of following politics more or less, it is obvious that the competition is between systems, institutions, networks. Like it or not, that’s how it is everywhere. Therefore, it is a “fight against windmills” to think that it is enough to speak intelligently, it is enough to tell people wise things, and that is a guarantee of victory in political competition.

Ultimately, it is also disrespectful to the voter. A voter is rational in all respects. He evaluates the systemic, network, institutional potential. He can like someone too much, listen to him and consider him the smartest, but in order to entrust that person with the steering wheel of management, he will consider the systemic-institutional potential and trajectory behind that person.

The opposite happens exclusively in revolutionary situations. Meanwhile, systems, networks, and institutions are needed to mature a revolutionary situation.

Any group, any force, that aspires to really win the public’s vote of confidence as a government, must either be able to mature a revolutionary situation in any way, or must appear for election with a system, with some systemic, institutional trajectory.

Accordingly, the formation of a political alternative requires the formation of a step-by-step system. If this is not the case, then either there is complete political naivety and, therefore, a problem of political equivalence, or there is an obvious ingenuity in the political process to solve small problems under big and lofty goals.

Analyst Hakob Badalyan

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On May 20, Johannes Luchner, Deputy Director General of Migration and Internal Affairs of the European Commission, was in Armenia. Within the framework of the visit, under the coordination of Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Armen Ghazaryan and the involvement of representatives of state bodies, the European Commission’s first progress report of Armenia and its recommendations on the implementation of the RA-EU Visa Liberalization Action Plan (VLAP) were discussed. 

During the discussion, the parties thoroughly reflected on the implementation of the benchmarks in the four main directions defined by the Action Plan, in the context of the reforms implemented in the fields of document security, complex border management, public order protection and protection of fundamental human rights.

The Armenian side presented the institutional and operational changes aimed at the complex management of migration risks and borders, the prevention of illegal migration and the effective implementation of readmission agreements. As part of the process of introducing biometric passports and identification cards, the project implementation stages, data management mechanisms, and deadlines were specified.

As part of the modernization of the educational system, Armen Ghazaryan noted that in the educational complex of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, along with the specialization of policemen and rescuers, it is planned to introduce specialized educational programs for border guards, using international best practices and modern methodologies. According to him, the development of professional capabilities is an important prerequisite for the effectiveness of border management.

Reference was also made to the process of implementation of benchmarks related to public order and security. Measures to prevent and combat organized crime were presented, including the development of a crime prevention strategy and action plan, the introduction of an intelligence-based policing model, as well as the development of a national serious and organized crime threat assessment system. Within the framework of cooperation with Europol, the steps implemented in the direction of exchange of operational information through the SIENA system, formation of interdepartmental operational groups, creation of an asset recovery office, development of capabilities to fight against cybercrime, and creation of a cyber laboratory were also discussed.

Reference was also made to the implementation of the action plan of the 2025-2027 strategy against non-medical use and illegal trafficking of narcotics and psychotropic substances. The European side has taken an interest in a number of directions in the specific dates for the implementation of the planned measures and the schedule for ensuring the expected results.

The European side highly appreciated the recorded progress and highlighted Armenia’s commitment to ensuring the continuity of reforms. Armen Ghazaryan reaffirmed the willingness of the Ministry of Internal Affairs to continue the effective implementation of the visa liberalization action plan in close cooperation with European partners.

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The Ministry of Economy of Armenia announced the readiness of local producers to enter the Western markets. According to the head of the department, Gevorg Papoyan, the quality of the products of modern Armenian greenhouses fully meets strict international standards, which opens prospects for successfully competing in Europe and the United States.

In a briefing with journalists after the government session on May 21, the minister emphasized the technological advantage of some of the Armenian greenhouses over similar economies of other countries of the Eurasian Economic Union. Papoyan noted that roses grown with the latest technologies have already been sold on the world’s largest platforms, such as specialized flower auctions in the Netherlands.

In this regard, the government of the republic is currently developing state support mechanisms for exporters. We are talking about the partial reimbursement of logistics costs and intellectual property rights fees, which is a mandatory condition for the sale of patented flower varieties in the territory of the European Union.
Directly referring to the decision of “Rosselkhoznadzor” to stop the import of flowers from Armenia from May 22 due to alleged violations of phytosanitary norms, Papoyan clarified that the sectoral control is exclusively within the jurisdiction of the Food Safety Inspection Body, while the Ministry of Economy acts as the coordinator of the processes.

Earlier, the Russian agency justified its move with the need to ensure phytosanitary safety, citing that a significant number of quarantine objects were found in a large batch of Armenian flowers last year, which made up the vast majority of the total number of similar incidents. The restrictions will be in effect until the completion of inspections of Armenian greenhouses and a detailed analysis of the results.

Despite the trade obstacles, the Minister of Economy categorically denied the rumors about the political crisis between the two states. He assured that bilateral relations with Russia maintain a stable partnership character, and the tension circulating in the mass media is highly exaggerated and does not reflect the true picture of interstate cooperation at all.

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