EU commissioner says steady progress made towards visa liberalisation with Arm

Chalian Meline

Armenia19:24, 12 March 2026
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EU Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner said on Thursday in Yerevan that Armenia and the European Union have been making steady progress towards visa liberalisation since the launch of the Visa Liberalisation Action Plan (VLAP).

He noted that Armenia is currently the only country in the world with which the EU has a visa liberalisation dialogue, calling it an impressive development that demonstrates the priority given to strengthening EU-Armenia ties.

Brunner said the sides have been moving forward at a steady pace since the opening of the Action Plan last year and have taken additional constructive steps.

According to him, both sides expressed political will to implement the plan. He said Armenian authorities are responding to the first benchmarks outlined in the roadmap, including in the areas of document security and migration management.

Brunner noted that biometric passports and new identification cards will soon become available to Armenians, describing them as a prerequisite for visa-free travel within the EU. He added that the country continues to advance other reforms, many of which are already underway.

He said the EU would support Armenia at every stage of the process and noted that Frontex is ready to assist the Armenian Border Guard Service.

Brunner expressed gratitude to the Armenian authorities for their commitment, saying the progress would not have been possible without it.

He also referred to technical assistance provided by several countries, including Lithuania, Finland, Latvia and Sweden, saying this demonstrates the willingness at all levels to bring Armenia closer to the EU.

At the same time, Brunner said further work is still needed and there is always room for improvement.

He added that the EU aims to see a large number of high-quality applications for Schengen visas, stressing that the quality of applications is important.

Brunner said that there are currently backlogs in visa processing, with some applicants waiting longer and some consulates in Yerevan taking too much time to process applications.

He said the EU takes the issue seriously and is working to improve the situation, adding that improvements are already becoming visible.

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Armenia-EU visa liberalization dialogue to lead to “democratization of travel”

Khoyetsian Rose

Armenia21:13, 12 March 2026
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The Armenia-EU visa liberalization dialogue will ultimately lead to the democratization of travel for Armenian citizens if visa-free travel is introduced, Deputy Interior Minister Armen Ghazaryan said.

Ghazaryan made the remarks at a panel discussion on the path to visa liberalization and EU-Armenia cooperation.

“In the end, we will have the democratization of travel. For years, traveling in Armenia was perceived as an elite phenomenon, as few could afford it due to financial capabilities and bureaucratic restrictions. Visa liberalization will give that opportunity to many,” he said.

According to Ghazaryan, the democratization of travel also reflects the shared values of Armenia and the European Union. ‘’It is about democracy,” he said.

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Armenia to appoint liaison officer at Europol

Jhanna Virabian

Armenia18:29, 12 March 2026
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Armenia will appoint a liaison officer at Europol in the coming days to strengthen cooperation with the EU law enforcement agency, Interior Minister Arpine Sargsyan said.

Speaking at a joint press conference with EU Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner, Sargsyan said appointing a liaison officer at Europol would help ensure a higher level of institutional cooperation with the agency.

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Iran is upping the ante

Jhanna Virabian

In strategic studies, there is the concept of “dominance in escalation”.


It means that one of the parties is able to control all levels of escalation of the conflict and add greater tension to it at each stage.


In the war against Iran, despite the superiority of the US and Israel’s military capabilities, Tehran itself was also able to raise and manage the degree of tension, in fact, maintaining the even and asymmetrical balance in the tension.


Iran manages to do this because of the huge number of already hit and potential targets in the entire Persian Gulf region.


In simpler terms, if any Iranian airport is targeted by the US or Israel in order to gain dominance in the tension, then Iran will retaliate against one of the airports in the Persian Gulf region and so on.


In this regard, in some cases, even Iran dictates dominance in the tension, for example, by attacking the Kurdish forces stationed in Iraq or the military base in Cyprus.


In this context, the “strange” attack by UAVs on the Nakhichevan airport should also be considered.


Iranologist Vardan Voskanyan




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The Ministry of Internal Affairs has accelerated the process of issuing driver’s licenses

Hovik Karapetian

Good news for citizens applying for a driver’s license. The Ministry of Internal Affairs informs that important changes have been made on the instructions of the Minister of Internal Affairs in order to organize services for citizens faster and more conveniently.


All Saturdays in the month of March have been designated as working days in the registration-examination units.


“New technical solutions have been implemented in the queuing system, which have already given their results. queues have decreased significantly.


We continue to work so that citizens receive better quality services,” the Ministry of Internal Affairs reports.

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The condition of RA roads and operational data about Lars

Babken Chilingarian

The rescue service informs that the roads in the territory of RA are mostly passable.


The highways leading from “Amberd” high mountain meteorological station to Amberd Castle and Kari Lake in Aragatsotn Marz are closed.


Chambarak-Berd (there is ice in places), Gyumri-Ashotsk, Ltsen-Tatev, Kapan-Sisian highways are closed for vehicles with trailers.


Drivers are urged to drive exclusively with winter tires.


According to the information received from the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia and the Crisis Management Center of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs of North Ossetia, the Stepantsminda-Lars highway is open for all types of vehicles.

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Pashinyan’s opponents are justified. and will history justify Pashinya?

Hovhannisian John

And so another bubble of power burst. The leader of the “Prosperous Armenia” party was found not guilty in the election bribery case. That too on the eve of the elections.

Let us recall the statement that started another political persecution six years ago.


“One of the most important cases in the history of the Third Republic is being investigated because, after all, a systematic institution of seizing the will of the people is revealed,” Nikol Pashinyan stated in 2020, when PAP leader Gagik Tsarukyan was charged.

Yesterday, the Anti-Corruption Court published the verdict in the case of Gagik Tsarukyan, in which he was accused of paying 90 million drams in electoral bribes to his party during the 2017 parliamentary elections. Pashinyan insisted that it was Tsarukyan’s money, the latter did not accept the blame. Many times Pashinyan has used this groundless fact, which was confirmed by the court yesterday, to throw stones at the opposition and make a show in front of his electorate.

The most remarkable thing in this story is that the case was initiated by Gagik Tsarukyan in parallel with the process of demanding the resignation of the Government, that is, it was another attempt of the government to silence the opposition. They worked with already known and concrete methods. first, there was a search in Tsarukyan’s private house, then the National Security Service summoned him for questioning, then charged him with election bribery and arrested him. Tsarukyan spent about a month in prison, from September 25 to October 22, 2020, the hottest days of the 44-day war…

Many were surprised by the fact that the court acquitted Tsarukyan before the elections and, in fact, few believe that a fair trial is possible under this government. And taking into account the fact that Gagik Tsarukyan is going to the elections, unpleasant surprises from this government are unfortunately not excluded…

By the way, yesterday, another criminal case pending since 2020 was put to an end, which the lawyer described as pointless. A representative of the General Assembly of the ARF Armenia, a member of the National Assembly “Armenia” faction was also acquitted Prince Saghatelyan հայրը՝ Vachik Saghatelyan. The latter in 2016-2020. He was the head of Geghamavan community in Gegharkunik marz and was accused of official negligence.

“However, the unfoundedness of the accusation was confirmed in the court, an acquittal verdict was passed, against which the appeal filed by the prosecutor’s office was rejected, and the court of cassation, as we learned today, refused to accept the prosecutor’s appeal and the acquittal verdict entered into legal force.

And what was left as a result? On the one hand, a pointlessly wasted state resource, on the other hand, a vicious propaganda trail that harms the honor and good reputation of individuals…” stated the lawyer. Yervand Varosyan:

This is the face of the justice system of these authorities, a stark example of the fact that every person can and is ready to be criminally accused, prosecuted, detained, kept in prison for months or years, play with his name and good reputation, for years to tear up baseless cases that were condemned from the beginning and in the end acquitted. And since the active pre-election phase is about to start, there will be many more similar cases, the opposition field is actively preparing for the elections. How many years later they will be justified, it is not important for Pashinyan’s government, who gives his soul for the sake of “here and now”, the important thing is that he will speak now. to have material to accuse, to shame the oppositionists and the church from international pulpits.


Pashinyan’s opponents are justified. And will history justify Pashinyan and all the puppets of his self-serving justice system…


Lia Khojoyan




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Two large ideological constituencies are forming in Armenia

Kanayan Tamar

After Nikol’s speech yesterday, a serious change is taking place in pre-election Armenia.


By and large, two major ideological constituencies are forming in Armenia.
 
a. Those who are ready to thank Aliyev following Pashinyan’s example
b. Those who do not.
 
This is what the June 7 elections are about. The simplest (most important) task of the opposition is not to blur and complicate this naturally formed election.
 
The voter should not be given false opportunities to maneuver and hide. By asking a simple question, every citizen, every voter should be forced to answer this very question. Let’s help our society to make choices. Simple questions are the most effective. The regular NA elections are actually civilized elections this time. Are you ready to thank Aliyev with Pashinyan or not?
 
With this simple question, we will quickly simplify the pre-election atmosphere. After that, programmatic discussions, disputes, proposals will have much greater effectiveness.


If you vote for the current government, you say thank you to Aliyev.


If you don’t say thank you, then vote for one of the forces that don’t say thank you, according to program preferences.
 
Vahe Hovhannisyan Alternative projects group




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The cause of Armenia’s national disasters is the diplomatic ignorance of the authorities

Liana Toganian

To all those who still have doubts that both the war and the post-war disasters, the depopulation of Artsakh, the occupation of the sovereign territories of Armenia and the submissive agreement to all conditions of Azerbaijan could have been avoided if the person at the helm of the state had any idea of ​​what diplomacy, foreign policy and the value of words are, I simply recommend listening to just one part of Pashinyan’s speech.


The man went from the podium of the European Parliament and said that the bishops of the Armenian Apostolic Church violated some spiritual rules known to him, are agents of influence and want to disturb his “peace”.


If you cannot imagine what an absurd, at best, ridiculous, and at worst, respectable impression such a speech can leave on those sitting in the hall, I will not be able to describe it in words.


And if you imagine, then it is also not difficult to understand that since 2018, neither in the Artsakh negotiation process, nor before the war, nor during it, nor after it, nor until today, has he understood exactly what can be said, what cannot be said, what is expected of you, what nobody cares about, and what betrays your weakness, ignorance, fears and simple insanity.


Why Armenia has found itself in this situation, the answer to the question lies in this simple reality.


Former RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan




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KGMSN about final exams of 9th and 12th grades

Baghdasarian Karlen

At the end of the 2025-2026 academic year, the process of the 9th grade final exams is regulated by the 2012 Decree of the Minister of Education and Science. In accordance with the requirements of the order of May 3 N 388-N: st1yle=”box-sizing:border-box;padding:0px;margin:0px;border:0px”>

According to the schedule established by the order of the Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, the graduates of the 9th grade will take final exams in the following subjects:


• Joint essay of “Literature” and “History of Armenia” subjects
examination in science subjects in the form of a test or a study project
• “Armenian language” (written): test
• “Mathematics” (written): test
• “Foreign language” (from the foreign languages ​​taught at the given institution, chosen by the learner): oral
• “Physical education” – test
Students of classes taught in Russian also take an exam in the subject “Russian Literature” (oral).
• Students of ethnic minority classes also take an exam in their native language and literature (oral).


The final exams of the 9th grade will be organized in educational institutions.


At the end of the 2025-2026 school year, the final exam in the subjects “Literature” and “History of Armenia” in the 9th grade will be carried out in the format of an essay, through a written work integrating the content of both subjects. The need to introduce the essay format stems from the requirement for the formation of abilities defined by the State Standard of General Education and envisages the development of students’ analytical and critical thinking, the ability to see cause-and-effect relationships, the ability to constructively formulate their own thoughts in writing, as well as the ability to apply interdisciplinary connections.


Learners present their position on a topic based on studied literary works and historical events, which allows them to assess their comprehensive thinking and ability to make connections between different disciplines, which is an important component of modern education.


The learner will complete one integrated written work, which will be evaluated by relevant specialists, teachers of literature and history, with a separate 20-point system. The averaged score of the two assessments will be considered the student’s final score in the integrated exam, providing an assessment of the work from the professional perspective of both subjects and forming a more accurate picture of the student’s overall preparation.


In the text of the exam essay, there is no separate check of grammar or spelling knowledge of the Armenian language, considering that a mandatory test is scheduled for the same student. During the essay check, the student’s ability to understand the content of the topic, to present facts and ideas about it, to compare and analyze literary and historical materials is emphasized. Essay exam topics are developed by responsible education professionals and provided to schools for examination purposes.


Starting from the 2025-2026 academic year, all students of the 9th grade of RA public schools can take the final exam of science subjects also in the format of an educational project, while maintaining the test method of the exam. The process is regulated by the 2012 Decree of the Minister of Education and Science. in accordance with the procedure established by the order No. 388-N of May 3.


The approach of passing an exam through project work was introduced, taking into account that in grades 1-11 of public schools, new curricula based on the state standard of General Education are already implemented, which prioritize the provision of the end results defined by the standard in the field of science education, the applied nature of the acquired knowledge, the development of research thinking and the formation of interdisciplinary connections.


This approach allows students to apply the knowledge and skills acquired in various science disciplines, promotes the implementation of research work, data collection and analysis, the formulation of justified conclusions, as well as the identification and application of substantive connections between different subject areas, ensuring the formation of the capabilities envisaged by the standard.


The project work can be carried out in the subjects “Physics”, “Chemistry”, “Biology” or “Geography” according to the student’s choice. The project must include a combination of at least two science subjects and correspond to the content of the curricula of grades 7-9.


The list of project topics is published by the “National Center for Education Development and Innovations” Foundation. In schools, teachers and students together choose the topic, make the project plan and submit it for approval in the prescribed manner.


Implementation of projects in schools begins in March, and defense of projects is organized in the last week of May. During the defense, students present their work, research results and conclusions.


The project is evaluated on a 20-point system based on several components designed by the project-based learning concept. The evaluation is carried out by the teachers who participated in the implementation of the project, and the average result of their evaluations is considered the final evaluation of the student.


If desired, the learner can refuse the project work and participate in the final exam of the same subject in a test format. He also has the opportunity to participate in the test exam in order to get a higher result. in this case, the highest obtained score will be considered the final grade of the student’s final exam.


In the 2025-2026 academic year, the graduates of the 12th grade of RA schools will pass the state final exams according to the logic and content of the previous years’ exams. no new approach is defined. The only exception is the schools of Tavush marz, where for the second year already, students take state final exams 3 times: in January and June, with the content of the old standard, and in July, with the new content of the National Academic Standard.


In the 2026-2027 school year, graduates who have already completed the 12th grade will take final and joint exams in accordance with the requirements of the new state standard of general education, as well as subject standards and programs approved by the orders of the Minister of Education and Culture.

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