Armenian Economy Minister Gevorg Papoyan met with Russian Minister of Industry and Trade Anton Alikhanov during his visit to Russia.

The Armenian Ministry of Economy announced the meeting in a statement.

The sides discussed current developments in bilateral trade and economic relations, as well as issues related to expanding industrial ties and promoting investment projects.

They also exchanged views on a number of other issues of mutual interest.

The two sides reaffirmed their readiness to continue constructive dialogue with a view to further developing bilateral trade and economic relations and cooperation in the industrial sector.

Russia has proposed building a nuclear power plant with one or two power units in Armenia.

Alexey Likhachev, Director General of Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom, made the announcement in remarks to the Vesti news agency.

He noted that nuclear energy currently accounts for 30% of Armenia’s electricity generation, but demand is growing and could lead to a shortage of generating capacity in the coming decades.

“We need to prepare for that. Our proposal is to build a large- or medium-capacity nuclear power plant with one or two power units that will meet the anticipated energy shortfall for decades to come. We are also firmly convinced that maintaining expertise in nuclear energy is itself a hallmark of a modern economy and a developed industrial sector,” Likhachev said.

He also recalled that, following the latest phase of the Armenian nuclear power plant’s modernisation, the facility’s generating capacity had been increased by about 10%.

Armenia is currently extending the operational lifespan of its existing nuclear power plant by another 10 years, after which it plans to build a new facility.

The Armenian government has decided that the new plant should be modular and is holding negotiations with five countries — France, the United States, Russia, China and South Korea — on the project.

Armenia’s Investigative Committee said simultaneous searches are being carried out at more than 70 locations as part of more than a dozen criminal proceedings involving Prosperous Armenia party leader Gagik Tsarukyan.

The committee made the statement in response to reports about searches conducted since the morning of July 6 at the residence of Tsarukyan and at a number of companies owned by him.

“Simultaneous searches are being carried out at more than 70 locations as part of more than a dozen criminal proceedings under investigation by the Investigative Committee,” the committee said.

Earlier, Iveta Tonoyan, spokesperson for Prosperous Armenia leader Gagik Tsarukyan, announced that investigators were conducting a search at Tsarukyan’s residence.

The Investigative Committee subsequently confirmed the information, stating that the necessary investigative and procedural actions were being carried out within the framework of the criminal proceedings.

Businessman and Prosperous Armenia Party leader Gagik Tsarukyan has been detained on charges of organising large-scale fraud and money laundering.

The Armenian Investigative Committee announced the development in a statement.

According to the Investigative Committee, evidence obtained in one of the criminal proceedings being investigated by its Main Department for the Investigation of Economic Crimes and Smuggling indicates that, between 2022 and 2024, several individuals allegedly committed large-scale fraud and large-scale money laundering under the organisation of Gagik Tsarukyan.

According to the investigation, members of the alleged criminal group organised and led by Tsarukyan reached agreements with Iranian citizens to develop Iran-Armenia trade relations and established joint legal entities for that purpose.

The statement alleges that, under the guise of establishing a logistics and freight transport link between Iran and Armenia, the group fraudulently imported 52 vehicles, machinery, fuel and various other goods from companies owned by Iranian entrepreneurs. It further alleges that the suspects falsified customs import declarations and other official documents to conceal the imports and misappropriated property worth about 8.127 billion drams (equivalent to approximately $21.073 million).

Investigators further allege that the group laundered the proceeds by falsifying import documents, transferring part of the goods using forged documentation, selling the assets and mixing the proceeds with legitimate business income in order to conceal the criminal origin of the property and funds.

The Investigative Committee also alleges that Tsarukyan, as the beneficial owner of a limited liability company registered in Armenia, conspired with R.K., who is engaged in fuel imports and sales, to fraudulently obtain $934,465 from an Iranian citizen identified as Y.I. in connection with a fuel import transaction. According to investigators, those funds were subsequently integrated into the lawful turnover of the company to conceal their alleged criminal origin.

Based on the evidence obtained, criminal charges have been brought against Tsarukyan for allegedly organising two counts of large-scale fraud and two counts of large-scale money laundering. Charges have also been filed against two other alleged members of the group.

As part of the investigation into more than 10 criminal cases involving alleged large-scale fraud, money laundering and tax evasion, law enforcement officers from the National Security Service, the State Revenue Committee and the Ministry of Internal Affairs conducted simultaneous searches at more than 70 locations. According to the Investigative Committee, investigators seized documents, evidence relevant to the proceedings and some of the allegedly misappropriated vehicles.

Tsarukyan and another alleged member of the criminal group have been detained pending their appearance before a court, while a detention order has been issued for another suspect.

The Investigative Committee said decisions had been adopted to detain the accused for the purpose of bringing them before the court.

Notice: A person charged with a criminal offence is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a final court verdict that has entered into legal force, in accordance with the Criminal Procedure Code.

Lions kept at the residence of businessman and Prosperous Armenia Party leader Gagik Tsarukyan have been transferred to Yerevan Zoo.

The announcement was made by Prosperous Armenia Party spokesperson Iveta Tonoyan.

She said that during searches conducted at Tsarukyan’s reception residence, the animals kept there were sedated and transferred to the zoo. According to the spokesperson, the animals had been kept in the best possible conditions. She added that the animals were sedated by employees of the Environmental Protection and Mining Inspectorate.

Yerevan Municipality also issued a statement on the matter, saying that, at the municipality’s proposal, the animals kept at the private residence were transferred to Yerevan Zoo during the investigative actions.

According to the municipality, the animals will remain under the supervision and care of specialists.

The municipality also released a video showing that the transferred animals were lions.

Law enforcement authorities began searches early on July 6 at Tsarukyan’s residence and about 70 other premises linked to him. Later, the Investigative Committee announced that Tsarukyan had been detained on charges of large-scale fraud and money laundering.

The Armenia Alliance has announced that it will take up the parliamentary seats it won in Armenia’s June 7 parliamentary elections.

In a statement, the alliance said it considered it necessary to outline its position on the next stage of its political strategy following the Constitutional Court’s ruling on the election results.

“A parliamentary mandate is a weapon, and voluntarily giving it up would be irresponsible toward our state and our voters,” the statement said.

The alliance said it views parliamentary representation not as a position of office or personal comfort, but as an additional legal and political instrument for daily political engagement.

It added that representation in parliament would serve as a platform to protect citizens’ rights, raise public concerns, propose solutions, and strengthen engagement with both domestic and international stakeholders.

“Recognizing our responsibility to our homeland and our voters, the Armenia Alliance will send to parliament a principled and steadfast political team ready to assume its share of responsibility on the front line of political resistance,” the statement said.

Earlier on July 6, Narek Karapetyan, a representative of the Strong Armenia Alliance, announced that the alliance had also decided to take up the parliamentary seats it secured in the June 7 elections.

Following the June 7 parliamentary elections, three political forces won seats in Armenia’s National Assembly. The ruling Civil Contract party secured 64 seats, the Strong Armenia Alliance won 29 seats, and the Armenia Alliance obtained 12 seats.

On July 3, 2026, Armenia’s Anti-Corruption Court partially granted the Prosecutor General’s Office’s lawsuit seeking the confiscation of allegedly illicit assets from Armenia’s third president, Serzh Sargsyan, and persons associated with him.

According to the Prosecutor General’s Office, once the ruling enters into legal force, the following assets will be confiscated in favour of the Republic of Armenia:

* One parking space on Teryan Street in Yerevan’s Kentron district in its entirety;

* One parking space on Teryan Street in Yerevan’s Kentron district in its entirety;

* A 38% share of another parking space on Teryan Street in Yerevan’s Kentron district;

* Bank deposits totalling 202.998 million drams;

* Interest accrued on those deposits amounting to 74.716 million drams, as well as any additional interest accrued until the court ruling is fully enforced;

* 352.438 million drams.

The growing number of passenger cars remains the main cause of traffic congestion in Yerevan, while giving greater priority to public transport remains the city’s main strategy for addressing the problem, Mayor Tigran Avinyan said.

Speaking at a municipal planning meeting, Avinyan said Yerevan City Hall will regularly publish data collected by the city’s Traffic Management Center and provide updates on ongoing and planned transport projects.

“Residents should be informed not only about the changes already being implemented, but also about the large-scale projects aimed at improving traffic management and reducing congestion in the capital. We will present the public with specific measures and projects designed to ease traffic,” the mayor said.

Among the city’s immediate priorities are changes to traffic management at selected intersections, while the main focus remains on improving the public transport system.

Avinyan also stressed the importance of regularly publishing data collected by the Traffic Management Center to give residents a clearer picture of traffic conditions in the capital.

According to the mayor, the continued increase in the number of passenger cars is the main driver of congestion and is also affecting the efficiency of public transport. Without systemic reforms, he said, the growing number of vehicles is likely to worsen traffic congestion further, making gradual and well-planned solutions essential.

The city’s transport development plans include the introduction of AI-powered traffic lights and the expansion of dedicated bus lanes.

At the same time, Avinyan said any discussion of new traffic restrictions should take place only after residents are provided with effective alternatives.

“Before introducing any new regulation or restriction, we must ensure that public transport is faster and more efficient than travelling by private car. At the same time, we also need to develop park-and-ride facilities at the city’s entrances so that people have the option of changing the way they travel,” he said.

Armenian National Assembly Vice Speaker Ruben Rubinyan met with EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia Magdalena Grono on July 6.

According to the Armenian parliament, the two exchanged views on issues related to regional security and stability.

They also discussed regional transport and logistics opportunities, as well as the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process.