On July 27-30, at the invitation of the head of the border guard police of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, Davit Tamazashvili, the delegation led by the commander of the border guard troops of the Republic of Armenia, colonel Garik Muradyan, was on an official visit to Georgia.

This is reported by the National Security Service.

Within the framework of the visit, a meeting was held with Davit Tamazashvili, head of the border guard police of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, during which the Georgian side presented the structure, main functions and priority directions of the border guard police. During the meeting, issues related to ensuring border security and cooperation between border agencies were discussed, as well as the willingness to continuously develop cooperation was reaffirmed.

The delegation also had a meeting with Levan Maisuradze, director of the Patrol Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia. During the meeting, the main directions of patrol police activities were presented, as well as the problems related to queues at the border crossing points of the Republic of Armenia and Georgia were discussed.

The delegation also visited the Public Security and Police Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, the structure of the academy, the features of the organization of the educational process, modern educational infrastructures and training opportunities were presented, where border guards are also trained.

During the visit, the delegation of border guard troops of the RA NSS also visited the 112 Public Security Management Center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia.

At the end of the visit, the commander of the border guard troops of the RA NSS, colonel Garik Muradyan, thanked Davit Tamazashvili, the head of the border guard police of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, for the invitation, warm reception, productive meetings and constructive discussions aimed at the further development of bilateral cooperation.

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Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, referring to Moody’s Ratings international rating agency’s assessment of Armenia’s sovereign rating at the government meeting on July 30, stated: “Moody’s revised Armenia’s rating outlook from “stable” to “positive” and reconfirmed the long-term sovereign rating at Ba3 level.”

Referring to the improvement of the rating perspective and the maintenance of the sovereign rating at the Ba3 level, the Prime Minister presented the positive changes recorded in the agency’s assessment, pointing out the reduction of political and geopolitical risks, the improvement of economic growth prospects and the strengthening of the structural potential of the economy.

The “Fact Checking Platform” compared the statements made at the government meeting with the full decision of Moody’s Ratings and noted that the prime minister’s official presentation did not include a number of key risks and reservations pointed out by the agency. FIP writes about this.

Risks not presented at the Cabinet meeting

The uncertainty of concluding a peace treaty

Among the reasons for the improvement of the outlook, Moody’s indeed mentions the weakening of geopolitical and political risks caused by the decrease in the probability of a large-scale military conflict with Azerbaijan. At the same time, however, the agency warns that the conclusion of a full peace agreement is still unlikely.

“Conclusion of a full peace treaty is unlikely in the foreseeable future, as Azerbaijan continues to demand that Armenia change its Constitution, which remains a politically sensitive and domestically difficult issue for Yerevan,” the decision states.

Economic risks arising from relations with Russia

The agency also referred to the changing foreign policy orientation of Armenia and the ongoing uncertainty surrounding relations with Russia. According to Moody’s assessment, in the conditions of close economic relations between the two countries, this uncertainty may affect the economic security of Armenia.

“Although geopolitical risks have decreased, uncertainties surrounding Armenia’s changing foreign orientation and relations with Russia continue to create risks for Armenia’s economic security, given the two countries’ close economic ties,” the decision states.

Economic risks and double-digit unemployment

Looking at the structure, the positive impact of high economic growth indicators on the large-scale improvement of economic fundamentals is not yet evident. The impact on labor market indicators is apparently weak. The unemployment rate has declined but remains in double digits, partly reflecting a narrow base of growth, concentrated in a few sectors, as well as structural constraints such as skills mismatches and high shadowing.

Domestic savings have also remained low, hampered by underdeveloped domestic capital markets and shadowing, which limits the mobilization of household savings.

As a result, Armenia continues to run a significant current account deficit, largely financed by foreign capital inflows, and foreign direct investment (FDI) contributions remain modest at around 2% of GDP. The low level of domestic savings in turn leads to a relatively high cost of domestic borrowing.

Demographic challenges and emigration of highly qualified professionals

In its assessment, Moody’s also highlights Armenia’s socio-demographic risks, which may limit the country’s long-term economic growth potential.

Among the main challenges, the agency mentions the small number and aging of the population, the high level of unemployment among young people and the emigration of highly educated Armenians.

According to Moody’s assessment, emigration contributes to the inflow of remittances, mitigating its negative consequences to some extent, but on the other hand, it exacerbates demographic problems.

According to the agency, a shift to higher productivity service sectors, including information technology, can help mitigate these risks.

The structure also referred to the points that can contribute to the further increase of Armenia’s rating.

Moody’s noted that consistent reforms in the directions of promoting exports, improving the business environment and expanding employment can contribute to the improvement of Armenia’s rating. The strengthening of regional stability, the progress of normalization of relations with Azerbaijan and Turkey, the implementation of projects expanding Armenia’s connectivity and trade opportunities with the support of the EU and the US, and greater clarity regarding relations with Russia can also have a positive impact.

The agency also emphasized the improvement of labor market indicators and the development of domestic capital markets, which can reduce the cost of borrowing and strengthen the ability to service public debt.

Thus, at the government meeting, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan presented to the public only the positive factors behind Moody’s decision. Meanwhile, the agency’s report also points out a number of risks: the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the peace treaty, economic risks arising from relations with Russia, double-digit unemployment, low levels of foreign direct investment and demographic challenges.

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By the order of the Deputy Speaker of the RA National Assembly, Acting NA Speaker Ruben Rubinyan, Chief of Staff of the RA National Assembly, Chief Secretary Davit Arakelyan was awarded with the medal of honor of the RA National Assembly for his significant contribution, merit and outstanding services in the field of state activity.

This was reported by the press service of the RA National Assembly.

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Sofia Hovsepyan, a former deputy of the National Assembly, filed a lawsuit against Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in the Yerevan Civil Court on July 14. She informed that the court accepted the lawsuit.

“Dear compatriots,

As I previously informed, I filed a lawsuit against the RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan regarding his statement made on June 11 of this year. He announced that all the voters of the opposition, without exception, voted with electoral bribes, and the votes received by the “Civil Agreement” party were organic.

The court accepted the claim, and today I received the relevant decision.

To be continued…”

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The first court hearing in the case of the attack against the Armenian Saint Karapet cemetery in Istanbul was scheduled for August 20.

As reported by Armenian Akos in Istanbul, 55-year-old Muharem Kyun, the only accused in the case, admitted his guilt and stated that he regrets the act. He claimed that he acted independently and was not directed by anyone.

It should be noted that on the night of July 7 of this year, the person or persons who entered the Armenian St. Karapet Church in Istanbul broke 6 tombstones and one memorial fountain.

A criminal case was initiated based on the complaint of the Armenian community.

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As a result of the prosecutor’s intervention, a community-owned pasture with an area of ​​5.03766 ha was returned to the Amasia community of Shirak marz. RA General Prosecutor’s Office informs.

In particular, the Shirak Marz Prosecutor’s Office, within the framework of the authority to protect state (community) interests, after examining the evidence obtained in the criminal proceedings examined by the Investigative Committee, according to which JH, the head of the Amasia community of Shirak marz, violated the requirements of the Land Code, on October 20, 2020, on October 20, 2020, he expropriated the 5.03766 ha agricultural pasture located in the Bandivan settlement of the Amasia community. an individual, addressed a petition to the head of the Amasia community, demanding to take measures to return the said land to the Amasia community and stop its illegal possession.

As a result of the measures taken on the basis of the petition, on July 30, 2026, the property right of the Amasia community was registered in the Cadastre Committee over the 5.03766 ha of agricultural pasture in the Bandivan settlement.

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On July 15, the delegation of the Artsakh Union met with the member of the European Parliament, Marina Mezyur, to present the crimes committed against the forcibly displaced people of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) and the main priorities for the restoration of rights. These include the immediate and unconditional release of the Armenian hostages held in Baku, the protection of Artsakh’s spiritual and cultural heritage, and the realization of the right of safe, dignified and collective return of around 150,000 people forcibly expelled from their homeland. Let them know from the union.

The organization was presented by Artak Beglaryan, the president of the Artsakh Union, and Armine Aleksanyan, a member of the executive board, head of the foreign relations working group. The delegation conveyed to Ms. Mezyur first-hand evidence of the 2023 Azerbaijani aggression and subsequent mass forced displacement, as well as other violations of the fundamental rights of the people of Artsakh.

The delegation stated that Azerbaijan continues to illegally keep a group of representatives of the former military-political leadership of the Artsakh Republic and other Armenian prisoners in prison. They face sham trials, which the European Parliament, Amnesty International and independent observers have consistently condemned as politically motivated and lacking any fair trial standards.

“These persons are hostages, not accused. Europe should consider their release as a mandatory precondition for relations with Baku, not a secondary issue pushed in the shadow of energy interests,” Armine Aleksanyan emphasized during the meeting.

During the meeting, a special reference was made to the fate of the Armenian cultural and religious heritage throughout the territory of Artsakh. Centuries-old churches, monasteries, khachkars and cemeteries are now under the control of Azerbaijan. They are subject not only to physical destruction, but also to systematic state-sponsored falsification to falsify genealogy. The Artsakh Union warned Mrs. Mezyur that this cultural genocide is inseparable from the continuous policy of ethnic cleansing of the people. every destroyed church and falsified record is intended to completely exclude any possibility of the native people’s return.

The delegation expressed serious concern about the so-called “peace agenda” promoted by the RA authorities and international mediators, pointing out the flagrant disregard for the protection of the rights and interests of the displaced people of Artsakh.

“The negotiation documents do not contain any provision regarding the collective return of Artsakh citizens and the protection of their rights, which is a direct result of the inaction of the Armenian government,” said Artsakh Union President Artak Beglaryan. “Any settlement built on the neglect and silence of the fundamental rights of the people of Artsakh cannot bring stable and fair peace in the region. We reaffirm our determination to return and realize other fundamental rights and achieve justice using all available legal and political avenues.”

During the meeting, Marina Mezyur emphasized her continuous concern for the rights of the people of Artsakh, promising to use all possible mechanisms in order to raise the raised issues and implement relevant resolutions of the Council of Ministers. He emphasized that the ethnic cleansing of the people of Artsakh cannot be tolerated by civilized Europe, and Azerbaijan must be held accountable for it.

As a result of the meeting, Mrs. Mezyur sent a written request to the European Commission, demanding the implementation of the right of safe and unimpeded return of the displaced Armenians, based on the binding decision of the UN International Court of Justice of November 17, 2023. He also raised the question of what role this fundamental obligation of human rights should play in the EU’s political and economic relations with Azerbaijan. Ms. Mezyur later posted this written request on her official social media platforms to spread awareness about the issue.

The Artsakh Union highly appreciates Ms. Mezyur’s prompt response and sincere commitment to protect the rights of the forcibly displaced population. The organization is committed to continuing to provide Ms. Mezyur’s office with documented evidence and legal analysis of cultural vandalism and ethnic cleansing to ensure that European institutions are guided not by false assurances from Baku, but by established facts and norms of international law.

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Romanos Petrosyan, the temporary manager of HEC, wrote on his “Facebook” page that in the morning, Narek Karapetyan, the former chairman of the board of directors of HEC, made some rather STRONG LIES about HEC and stated that he will address the details in the coming days in a separate interview format.

“At this moment, I will only present the two most significant of them, in response.

STRONG LIE 1. He claims that even now there are allegedly additions in the HEC, and they fired 40-50 people within 6 months, in the case of 30 people, there was an official investigation, and not a word about any criminal assessment.

FACT 1: The total number of dismissals in the National Economic and Social Committee made up more than 1150 people during the one year period of the temporary administration, of which about 700 employees were dismissed as a result of various violations (mostly oversubscriptions/undersubscriptions).

About 30 criminal proceedings have been initiated based on the facts of the discovered violations. there are many arrestees and arrest warrants.

STRONG LIE 2. He claims that the additions in their area were made without the knowledge of the owners of HEC (ie, also the top management), and explains allegedly. “One was under-registered, the other was over-registered. The HEC did not have any benefit from it…”

FACT 2: Additions and under-subscriptions were generally made to artificially reduce the number of energy losses in the network, which had increased significantly due to illegal connections (stealing) and shadow sales; that is, another citizen, state and community institution, business unit paid for the electricity consumed by someone else.

And the under-registrations were made mainly on the amounts of electricity produced by autonomous energy producers (solar plants) and sent back to the grid, so that the National Electric Power Company does not pay the citizen in return and balance the “stolen” volumes with that product.

Based on the above, we can claim that the monetization of huge amounts of electricity generated as a result of all these machinations (that is, frauds) in the “best” case remained in the accounts of the National Energy Agency, in the worst case, it went directly into the pockets of various criminal circles (naturally, not random persons).

Accordingly. a rhetorical question: how did it happen that in the first weeks of the temporary administration of the National Economic and Social Committee, we became aware of dozens or more facts of over-subscriptions and under-subscriptions, which were immediately followed by dismissals, criminal proceedings and arrests, and the owners themselves, during the nearly 10-year administration, were unaware and uncommunicated about these reprehensible and criminal mechanisms…

Below are the facts of about two dozen “most telling” additions revealed during the temporary administration of the National Security Agency, with which criminal proceedings have been initiated and some people have been detained.

1. Military unit No. N of the RA Defense Ministry,

2. Military curfew of RA NSS,

3. RA NSS X city department building,

4. N military unit of the Department of State Security of the Russian Federation in RA,

5. “Yeghegnadzor Polyclinic” CJSC,

6. “Yeghegnadzor Street Lighting” JSC,

7. “Masis Street Lighting” JSC,

8. “Armavir” JOE,

9. “Artashat” JOE,

10. “Shirak” JOE,

11. Ghazanchi pumping station,

12. Tegenik village administration,

13. Halidzor village administration,

14. “Khoi Medical Outpatient Clinic” JSC,

15. Sevan Community Hall,

16. Yeghegis Community Hall,

17. Yeghegnadzor Community Hall,

18. House of Culture of Vardadzor,

19. Shambi Secondary School,

20. Gandzak Kindergarten,

21. Vardashen secondary school,

22. Aparan Primary School No. 2…

P.S. This is such STRONG management,” wrote Romanos Petrosyan.

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As a result of the investigation and operational activities carried out during the preliminary investigation of the criminal proceedings of the RA Investigative Committee for Human Trafficking, Minor Sexual Immunity and Drug Trafficking Crimes Investigation Department, as well as operative-investigative measures undertaken by RA NSS employees, it appears that factual information was obtained that S.P. traveled with his relative H.P. via Telegram with a preliminary agreement. the place indicated by the user engaged in the sale of drugs and took 10 kg of marijuana-type drug from the hiding place, however, in circumstances beyond their will, they did not complete the crime, because they were arrested by the RA NSS officers. This is reported by the Central Committee.

During the preliminary investigation, the search of S.P.’s apartment revealed illegal marijuana-type drugs, electronic scales, self-adhesive tapes and plastic bags, which were confiscated.

According to the decision of the supervising prosecutor, a public prosecution was initiated against S.P. under Article 44-393, Part 3, Clause 2 of the Criminal Code (in particular, large-scale illegal drug trafficking or the attempt to sell them illegally), Article 393, Part 1 (for the purpose of illegal drug trafficking or their illegal sale), and against H.P., under Article 44-393 with point 2 of part 3 (especially the attempt to illegally traffic in large quantities of narcotics or to sell them illegally).

Arrest was applied to them as a preventive measure.

The criminal proceedings with the indictment were sent to the supervising prosecutor with a request to confirm it and send it to the court.

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In November 2024, Shushan Aleksanyan, the wife of the head of the “Civil Contract” faction of the National Assembly, Hayk Konjoryan, became the director of the national postal operator “Haypost” CJSC.

“Haypost” is a completely state company. According to Shushan Aleksanyan’s declaration submitted to the Corruption Prevention Commission, Aleksanyan’s annual salary in this position exceeds 118 thousand dollars, according to which the wife of the ruling deputy receives more than 3.6 million drams or about 10 thousand dollars monthly salary from the state company. In parallel with this, it is clear from the 2025 report of “Haypost” that the company’s situation in some financial directions worsened last year.

Since 2006, the Armenian postal communication operator was entrusted to the trust management company of Argentinian-Armenian businessman Eduardo Ernekyan. In 2020, the period of fiduciary management ended, and it was transferred to state management.

The director of “Haypost” is appointed by the supervisory board of the company in a competitive manner. “Azatutyun” appealed to “Haypost” and the Ministry of High-tech Industry, which manages the company, with a request to provide all the minutes of the tender sessions, and also asked to inform how many people and who participated in the competition for the vacant position of the director of “Haypost”. Neither the company nor the ministry answered these questions. And who are the members of the supervisory board of “Haypost”? This information about the management staff of the state-owned company was not provided to “Azat” either. according to “Haypost”, these are personal data.

In fact, from the answers of “Haypost” and the ministry that manages it, it is not possible to understand to what extent the competition for the director of the company was impartial and competitive, and for what managerial merits Hayk Konjoryan’s wife was appointed to that position.

The official sources also refused to detail how the salary of the director of “Haypost” was generated, which according to the declaration submitted to the Corruption Prevention Commission exceeds 3.6 million drams. That salary is determined by the company’s shareholders, that is, the Government in the form of the Ministry of High-tech Industry. By what formula is the salary of the director of “Haypost” formed, “Azatutyun” inquired from the ministry, from which they replied: “There is no separate formula for the formation of the salary of the chief executive officer of “Haypost”, there are no standards and separate principles.

The Ministry of High-tech Industry also refused to provide the minutes of the decisions taken at the shareholders’ meeting of “Haypost”, considering it a trade secret.  The ministry also refused to provide information regarding the salary of the director of “Haypost” and its dynamics over the past 6 years.

The deputy directors of “Haypost” are Arman Abrahamyan and Artak Ghulyan. Information about the salary of the latter is also unavailable. However, from the company’s 2025 financial report, it can be seen that the salary fund for the main management personnel of the company increased by more than 28 percent in 2025, from 176.7 million to 227.2 million drams.

The 2025 financial report of the postal operator shows that the company’s revenue has decreased by about 7 percent, from 9.8 billion to 9.1 billion drams. Moreover, this decrease occurred in the directions of postal delivery services, commissions for payment of pension and benefits, and sales of goods. The gross profit of “Haypost” also decreased, from 1 billion 475 million to 1 billion 27 million AMD, as well as the taxes paid. The company paid 3.4 billion drams in taxes to the budget in 2025, more than 300 million less than it paid in 2024.

Parallel to this, the state company’s credit obligations have increased many times. Compared to 2024, in particular, the company’s loans have increased nearly 6 times, from 58 million to 396 million drams. 200 million are loans taken from banks, which the company refused to disclose the purpose of taking and the details of the property pledged against them. The other 196 million drams are financial lease obligations.

In “Haypost”, the main positive dynamic of last year is the reduction of the company’s losses. the net loss decreased almost twice, from 1.4 billion to 523 million drams. However, the company’s loss may decrease not because of managerial success, but, for example, as a result of reducing the company’s expenses, due to exchange rate differences, and a decrease in the cost of profit tax.

“Haypost” has 4 subsidiary companies, one of which is the American branch of the postal company, the other is engaged in retail trade and related services, the third, “Innovation” is engaged in software and IT solutions, and “HP Logistics” CJSC is engaged in transportation services. The last time, according to the official news, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan held a consultation on the development strategy of “Haypost” 2.5 years ago.

Leaving a number of questions about the selection of the director of Haypost, the formation of his salary, the appropriateness of credit funds unanswered, the company told “Azatutyun” that if there is a financial deterioration as a result of the year, it will not affect the director’s salary.

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