What is opposed to what? A significant part of our society survives from the Russian Federation

Jagharian Tania

June: 27, 2026

Nikol Pashinyan mentioned the other day that Russia’s restrictions on imports from Armenia, as well as on the export of Armenian goods through its territory to other EAEU countries, will cause at least very serious concern in a number of EAEU member states.

According to him, the Eurasian Economic Union should clearly answer the question whether it exists or not.

“We say that there is, and we, as a participating state, consider that some misunderstanding happened. If the Eurasian Economic Union says: you know what, I’m gone, well, if they’re gone, what can we do? We exist, we are in the Eurasian Economic Union and we work there. Now the Eurasian Economic Union must say whether it exists or not. If he directly or indirectly says that there is none, then what should we do?” he added.

Could this situation be a sign that anything is possible – go further than the limitations of the moment? 168․amanswered this question economist Hayk Farmanyan.

Read also

  • Last time they paid a fine of several billions from the state budget due to unjustified deprivation of the license. What to expect this time?
  • A new stage of the security crisis. Deadlock in US-Iran dialogue
  • EU voyages in the South Caucasus. After the elections held in Armenia, Brussels is becoming more active

“The problem is very serious, we can face very serious consequences, and our authorities do not realize all this, do not understand that the economy of our country can collapse in the true sense of the word… A significant part of our society, in the truest sense of the word, survives at the expense of money transfers received from the Russian Federation, which amounts to about 4 billion dollars annually.

What is opposed to what? When they say that we are going to Europe, they do not understand that they can be members of the European Union in one case, when at least 40 percent of the country’s exports go to the European Union countries, and only 7 percent of your exports go to them at the moment,” added the economist.

He noticed that even though the authorities are trying to settle the situation with peasant “scrupulosity”, there is no prospect of settlement.

“Russia has not yet applied the sanctions of 2 heavy artillery. the first is the ban on money transfers and the increase in gas prices. I consider these to be the heavy artillery that can happen,” explained the specialist.

Hayk Farmanyan responded to the observation, and in this case, can Azerbaijan and Turkey consider an alternative and a way out, with which the authorities are trying to regulate relations, and we see, for example, cargoes coming through the territory of Azerbaijan.

“If there is any Armenian who sees Azerbaijan as an alternative, I have nothing to say, that is the solution to the issue. I have nothing to say, Azerbaijan is also solving the issue, Turkey is also solving the issue. If there is any intelligent Armenian who can see it as an alternative.”

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168: A new stage of the security crisis. Deadlock in US-Iran dialogue

Parkev Tvankchian

June: 27, 2026

The US-Iran memorandum of understanding signed recently was violated for the first time since its signing. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said that on June 26, US forces struck Iranian missile and drone storage facilities, as well as coastal radar sites.

Washington said it was a response to an Iranian attack on a merchant ship in the Strait of Hormuz, so it was necessary to protect freedom of navigation.

On the evening of June 26, US President Donald Trump announced that Iran fired at least four drones at ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, one of which hit the upper deck of a cargo ship.

For its part, the Iranian Tasnim agency reported on the attacks on American military facilities in the region. US Vice President JD Vance stated that Washington “will respond to violence with violence”.

Read also

  • What is opposed to what? A significant part of our society survives at the expense of remittances from the Russian Federation
  • Counting months to go
  • EU voyages in the South Caucasus. After the elections held in Armenia, Brussels is becoming more active

The IRGC claimed to have repelled an attack by US forces and warned that the US action “will not go unanswered”, promising a “crushing blow”. The statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran states that last night’s airstrikes by the US Army on several coast guard facilities on the southern coast of Iran are a clear violation of the UN Charter, as well as the first point of the Memorandum of Understanding signed between Iran and the United States.

“Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemns the airstrikes carried out by the US military last night on the facilities on the southern coast of Iran. “Iran considers the strikes on several coast guard facilities as a clear violation of Article 2, Clause 4 of the UN Charter, as well as the first clause of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding signed between Iran and the United States on the cessation of hostilities,” the statement said.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry emphasizes that at the same time Israel’s attack on Lebanon, which was coordinated with the US, is a clear violation of the first point of the memorandum of understanding.

“Iran, in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter, will defend its sovereignty, security and national interests with all its might. Defensive strikes by Iranian armed forces against US positions also took place within those frameworks. “It is obvious that the responsibility for the created situation lies with the USA and those parties that in some way participate in the attacks against Iran,” the statement said.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that Iran calls on the countries in the southern part of the Persian Gulf to observe the norms of international law and the principle of neighborliness in relation to not allowing the use of their territories to carry out attacks on Iran.

Russian orientalist Viktor Nadein-Raevsky 168.amtold that the recent incidents in the Strait of Hormuz between the United States and Iran finally eliminated the optimistic expectations formed after the recently signed memorandum of understanding.

According to him, as predicted by many, this escalation shows that diplomatic agreements have not become a security mechanism, and the level of trust between the conflicting parties remains low.

“What happened shows that the fundamental contradictions between the two states continue to prevail over the negotiation process.

It is not difficult to predict that the situation in the Middle East predetermines a phase of instability, where any technical or careless incident can turn into a full-scale military conflict. An increase in tensions in the Persian Gulf basin can be expected, with all its consequences, including an impact on global energy supply chains. There is no news here for the neighboring regions, Iran will continue to focus on the issue of increasing the influence of Israel or the USA in the South Caucasus, while simultaneously thinking about border security. This positioning of Iran will be maintained in the near future, as long as there is no stability in the deals with the USA,” said Victor Nadein-Raevsky.

According to him, it should be noted that the US-Iran negotiations are entering a deadlock, where it is still too early to talk about a “final agreement”.

“The memorandum has become only a diplomatic protocol without real mechanisms. Therefore, global actors should be prepared for prolonged uncertainty,” the analyst said.

Let’s remind that the delegation led by Iran’s Vice President Seyed Hamid Pourmohammadi was in Armenia. The Vice President of Iran met with Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan in RA, during the meeting, Grigoryan and Pourmohammadi discussed issues related to the modernization of the border checkpoint and increasing the border crossing capacity. They also referred to the progress of cooperation in transport, energy, trade and economic relations and other areas of mutual interest. Pourmohammadi also met with Nikol Pashinyan.

“The interlocutors discussed the implementation of projects aimed at the development of Armenia-Iran border infrastructures. In particular, issues related to the construction of the second bridge and the new terminal, consistent development of cooperation in the customs sector and customs procedures. Both sides emphasized the development of cooperation in the field of energy carriers.

Reference was made to the joint road construction projects, as well as the steps aimed at the further development of cooperation in agriculture, mining, infrastructure and other fields.

Thoughts were also exchanged on the processes of unblocking regional channels and new opportunities,” the message said.

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Fwd: If 5 years remain, RA will become a small Republic of Yerevan. Raffi Hov

Tambiyan Samvel

If 5 years remain, RA will become a small Republic of Yerevan


Raffi
Hovhannisyan strongly criticizes the current authorities:
naming them Henchmen of Baku, who consistently concede
are state interests. According to the speaker, the last elections took place forged,
and the country’s leadership does not have the people’s mandate to close the Artsakh issue or to open a new one territorial
concessions to goHovhannisyan
warns that if this policy continues, Armenia will turn into Yerevan
formed around a small, independent of satrapy: He is a call
makes the opposition stand united, with a re-party front,
in order to prevent the ultimate destruction of the state. Highlighting in the interview
is also Azerbaijanincreasing aggression and:
ambitions to the sovereign territories of Armenia through the distortion of history
the presentation

 

Details in the video.

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Armenia putting more distance between itself and Russia

Tambiyan Samvel
Eurasianet

June 25 2026

EU seems ready to throw Yerevan economic lifeline.

Jun 25, 2026

Fresh off a convincing victory in a fiercely contested parliamentary election, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is wasting no time in trying to integrate Armenia firmly into the West’s security and economic architecture. 

Pashinyan announced during a cabinet meeting on June 25 that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen would soon visit Yerevan for talks focusing on expanding Armenian agricultural exports to EU member states. As part of a Russian pressure campaign to undermine Pashinyan’s re-election chances, Moscow threatened import bans on a wide variety of Armenian food products. The Kremlin followed through on its threat after Pashinyan’s Civil Contract party achieved a decisive electoral victory.

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan recently traveled to Brussels to lay the groundwork for a deal in which the EU would pick up the agricultural export slack created by the Russian ban.

“There is a possibility that Armenia will have exceptional opportunities in this regard,” the official Armenpress news agency quoted Pashinyan as saying, referring to a pending agricultural export deal. “I hope that we will manage to finalize the relevant project with the President of the European Commission, and during her visit to Yerevan.”

The June 7 parliamentary election was widely seen as a referendum on Armenia’s future geopolitical orientation: Pashinyan since 2023 has steered the country westward, putting increasing distance between Armenia and its longtime strategic ally Russia; his main election opponents all held pro-Russian positions. 

In the security realm, a clear sign of Armenia’s affinity for Western integration is a rapidly improving relationship with Ukraine. Pashinyan met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Yerevan on the sidelines of an EU meeting in May. And on June 25, Armen Grigoryan, the secretary of Armenia’s National Security Council, was among the participants at an international gathering in the Polish city of Gdansk dedicated to promoting Ukraine’s recovery from its ongoing war with Russia.

Yerevan’s engagement with Ukraine has touched a raw nerve in the Kremlin. Yuriy Ushakov, an aide to Russian leader Vladimir Putin, denounced what he described as “Armenia’s political and foreign economic mischief,” as posing a threat to Russian-led economic and security organizations, specifically the Eurasian Economic Union and the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). Russia’s refusal to uphold its CSTO treaty obligations to come to the defense of Armenia during its conflict with Azerbaijan is widely seen as sparking Pashinyan’s efforts to change Armenia’s geopolitical orientation.

Glossing over this fact, Ushakov tacitly threatened Armenia, suggesting that Yerevan could share the same fate as Ukraine, which withstood a Russian blitz in 2022 and has ground down the Kremlin’s military machine since then.

“Looking at the situation around Ukraine, it is clear that all this can lead to a tragedy,” the Interfax news agency quoted Ushakov as saying, hinting that Russia could potentially use its troops stationed in Armenia to try to halt Yerevan’s westward shift.

Emboldened by a strong showing in the June 7 election, the Armenian government shows no signs of bowing to Russian pressure. Armenian and French officials on June 25 discussed deepening bilateral trade and strategic ties, Armenpress reported. Earlier, Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan said Armenia expects to fully normalize relations with Turkey and Azerbaijan by 2030, enabling the South Caucasus to become “a key connecting link between Europe and Central Asia” in trade routes that bypass Russia.


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Russia Orders Total Ban on Fish Imports From Armenia

Emil Lazarian
The Moscow Times

June 26, 2026

Russia has suspended all seafood imports from Armenia after imposing a partial ban earlier this month, the state-run news agency TASS reported Friday, citing Russia’s agricultural safety agency.

Rosselkhoznadzor restricted seafood imports from all but two of Armenia’s fish processing plants on June 1 after the facilities allegedly refused to undergo health and safety inspections.

In a statement on Friday, the agency said it uncovered safety violations at those two plants — MF Export and Invest Plus — and moved to ban the import of their seafood products as well.

“A decision was made to temporarily suspend product certification for these remaining enterprises,” TASS quoted Rosselkhoznadzor as saying.

The move follows previous Russian restrictions on the import and transit of most Armenian food, seeds, flowers, wood and fertilizer due to what officials identified as the “systematic detection” of pests. Russia has also restricted the sale and import of Armenian mineral water and alcoholic products over various alleged health and safety violations.

While Moscow maintains that its mounting trade restrictions are based strictly on sanitary concerns, the measures increasingly resemble an economic pressure campaign targeting Yerevan as it pursues closer ties with the European Union.

Sergei Dankvert, the head of Rosselkhoznadzor, has denied claims that the trade bans are politically motivated.

Armenia’s central bank estimates that Russia’s import ban affects roughly 2% of the South Caucasus country’s GDP. The resulting oversupply of goods redirected away from Russia could cause local prices in Armenia to decrease by 0.6%, policymakers said.

Friction between traditional allies Russia and Armenia has grown since Azerbaijan regained control of the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh in 2023. Armenia accused Russia and its peacekeeping forces of failing to deter Baku’s military offensive and, in 2024, froze its participation in a Moscow-led regional security bloc.


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Iraq nominates first Christian Armenian as envoy to Washington

Emma Nadirian
The National

June 25 2026

Krikor Der-Hagopian, senior adviser to prime minister, seen as key interlocutor between Baghdad and Washington


Mina Aldroubi

June 25, 2026

Iraq has appointed a Christian Armenian as its new ambassador to the US, a position that is generally held by a member of the country’s Muslim majority, officials told The National on Thursday.

Krikor Der-Hagopian, 49, was an adviser on international relations to former prime minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani and has close ties with current Prime Minister Ali Al Zaidi.

He will replace veteran diplomat Nizar Al Khairallah, who served as deputy foreign minister before being posted to Washington. Baghdad has submitted Mr Der-Hagopian’s papers to Washington and “we are awaiting the response from the American side”, an Iraqi official told The National.

Mr Der-Hagopian served as head of the Directorate of International Relations under Mr Al Sudani’s government from 2022 to 2026. He has built relationships with the majority of Iraq’s political actors and has extensive knowledge of the country’s diverse groups.

He is a “competent and able person, and the new prime minister has no prejudices and has Iraq’s interest in mind”, the Iraqi official said.

It is not clear when the new ambassador will assume his post. “It is in the hands of the American side now as to how soon they give him the go-ahead,” the official said.

Iraq is facing mounting pressure from the US to strengthen ties with Washington while distancing itself from Iran and acting against Tehran-aligned Iraqi armed factions.

Renad Mansour, director of the Iraq Initiative at London’s Chatham House, told The National that Mr Der-Hagopian is seen as a key interlocutor between Baghdad and Washington.

Iraq-US relations are at a particularly fragile moment, with recent sanctions and threats contributing to what officials fear could be one of its lowest points. Mr Al Zaidi’s choice of ambassador could be seen as a way to “please the US”, Mr Mansour said.

Mr Der-Hagopian has held senior roles in Iraq’s presidency and prime minister’s office and worked on US relations during Mr Al Sudani’s administration, providing continuity as the new Prime Minister navigates complex external pressures, he said.

The Armenian community is one of the smallest in Iraq. Armenians began arriving from Iran several centuries ago and settled between Baghdad and Mosul.

There are no reliable statistics, but about 25,000 Armenians were believed to be living in Iraq before the US-led invasion of 2003. Since then, many have sought safety in Europe, with some returning to Armenia.

Iraq’s Armenian community tends to keep a low profile. Culturally, they consider themselves part of Iraq but maintain ties with Armenia.


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Chris Bohjalian Launching New Novel at Armenian Museum of America with Author

Adrine Hakobian
Watertown News, MA

June 26, 2026

The following announcement was provided by the Armenian Museum of America:

The Armenian Museum of America is pleased to announce an evening of conversation with bestselling novelist Chris Bohjalian and acclaimed author Nancy Kricorian in celebration of the launch of Bohjalian’s highly anticipated new novel, “The Amateur.”

The event will take place on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, at 7 p.m. at the Armenian Museum of America in Watertown. Bohjalian and Kricorian will engage in a thought-provoking discussion exploring literature, history, storytelling, and the creative process.

Recently named a New York Times Book Review “Novel Everyone Will Be Talking About in 2026” and an Oprah Daily Best Book of Summer 2026, The Amateur has already garnered widespread critical acclaim.

Set in 1978, “The Amateur” follows Mira, a teenage golf prodigy whose life is irrevocably altered after a tragic accident on a golf course. What begins as a devastating moment unfolds into a compelling story of heartbreak, resilience, class divisions, hidden secrets, and the far-reaching consequences of a single event. Combining literary suspense, coming-of-age storytelling, and courtroom drama, “The Amateur” has been hailed as one of the most anticipated novels of the year.

Publishers Weekly, in a starred review, called the novel “a masterpiece,” while Kirkus Reviews praised it as “irresistible” and “a perfect novel.” Library Journal described it as “an engrossing read that will offer much discussion for book clubs,” and bestselling author Clare Leslie Hall called it “a joyous novel with an unforgettable narrator who will break your heart.”

Chris Bohjalian is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 25 books, including “The Flight Attendant,” “The Sandcastle Girls,” “Hour of the Witch,” and “The Lioness.” His novels have been translated into more than 30 languages and have earned numerous literary awards and distinctions. Known for his meticulous research and compelling storytelling, Bohjalian frequently explores themes of history, identity, justice, and human resilience.

Joining him in conversation will be Nancy Kricorian, an acclaimed novelist, essayist, and educator whose work examines the Armenian Diaspora, memory, displacement, and intergenerational storytelling. She is the author of “Zabelle,” “Dreams of Bread and Fire,” “All the Light There Was,” and “The Burning Heart of the World.” A respected voice in Armenian-American literature, Kricorian has taught at institutions including Columbia University and has been recognized for her significant contributions to contemporary Armenian literature and culture.

“This special evening brings together two extraordinary literary voices whose work explores themes of identity, history, memory, and the human experience,” said Executive Director Jason Sohigian. “We are delighted to welcome Chris Bohjalian back to the Museum for the Boston area launch of his 26th novel!”

This is a ticketed event and space is limited. Tickets are $35 for current museum members and $50 for non-members, and both tiers include a signed hardcover copy of “The Amateur.” For tickets and additional information, contact the Museum at 617-926-2562 x102 or visit
www.armenianmuseum.org/rsvp.

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Armenia arrests opposition figure for ‘inciting’ foreign officials to ensure

Emil Lazarian
OC Media

June 25, 2026
by Yousef Bardouka

The Armenian authorities have arrested opposition figure Avetik Chalabyan for allegedly traveling and meeting with officials of an unnamed state to ‘incite them to ensure the victory of their preferred political force’.

Chalabyan, who is a member of the Armenian Referendum civil society group, was arrested on Wednesday, according to Armenia’s Investigative Committee.

According to Armenpress, Chalabyan was remanded to two months of pre-trial detention. The outlet cited the Investigative Committee as saying the reason behind his arrest were visits Chalabyan had conducted abroad in May 2026, where he met with ‘officials of another country’.

‘[He] persuaded them and incited them to use their official and governmental powers and their influence to hinder the free exercise of electoral rights of Armenian citizens’, the agency said, according to Armenpress.

Independent news outlet Civilnet cited the committee as saying that Chalabyan had reached an agreement with foreign officials to ‘force Armenian employees of that country’ to come to Armenia and vote for the Strong Armenia Alliance — an opposition group recently founded by Russian–Armenian tycoon Samvel Karapetyan.

While the country which Chalabyan had allegedly visited was not specified, Armenian officials and local watchdogs repeatedly warned prior to the 7 June elections of potential Russian interference.

Is the Armenian election really about the West vs Russia?

Russia, a long-time traditional ally of Armenia, has yet to congratulate Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on his Civil Contract party’s victory.

On Wednesday, prominent Russian propagandist Margarita Simonyan suggested that Armenians who voted for Pashinyan should not be allowed into Russia, claiming that those who supported him ‘support Russophobia’ and ‘hate Russia’.

‘I’m a pure-blooded Armenian and I speak out so that those who support Pashinyan, those who hate Russia, ungrateful creatures who vote for him — entry for them into my native country Russia is forever forbidden’, Simonyan said.

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Sa’ar to advance resolution recognizing Armenian Genocide

Jane Topchian
JNS

June 27 2026

Turkey has historically denied genocide allegations against the Ottoman Empire’s conduct during World War I.

(June 27, 2026 / JNS) 

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar announced on Thursday night that he will propose a resolution in the next Cabinet meeting to officially recognize the Armenian Genocide.

“Recognizing the genocide perpetrated against the Armenian people in the final years of the Ottoman Empire is both a moral and historical duty,” he wrote on X.

“We must also firmly condemn any denial, minimization, or distortion of the historical truth. The resolution will subsequently be brought before the Knesset for a vote,” added Israel’s top diplomat.

Israel’s next Cabinet meeting is scheduled for June 28.

Israeli relations with Turkey have taken a nosedive ever since Recep Tayyip Erdoğan assumed the presidency in 2014. The Turkish leader has repeatedly expressed vehement anti-Israel views and has prohibited commercial ties with the Jewish state.

During World War I, the Ottoman Empire killed roughly 1 million Armenians through mass deportations and death marches into the Syrian Desert, while forcibly converting others to Islam.

To date, 34 countries, including the United States and Greece, have formally recognized the Armenian Genocide. Israel would be the 35th.

Sa’ar’s proposal comes on the backdrop of growing Turkish influence in the region and the U.S. administration weighing an arms delivery to Ankara that could enhance its air force stealth capabilities.

U.S. President Donald Trump hinted on Wednesday that Washington is looking to move ahead with the sale of military equipment to Turkey.

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Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar Pushes for Official Recognition of Arme

Ophelia Vardapetian
Greek City Times
June 27 2026

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar Pushes for Official Recognition of Armenian Genocide

by Athens Bureau

Greek City Times | June 27, 2026

In a significant development that could reshape Israel’s stance on Ottoman-era atrocities, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar has announced he will submit a government resolution for the official recognition of the Armenian Genocide. The move comes amid growing calls in Israel to also acknowledge the suffering of Pontic Greeks and Assyrian (Syriac) communities during the same period of mass violence.

Sa’ar stated on his official X account that recognizing the genocide against the Armenian people in the final years of the Ottoman Empire is both a “moral and historical duty.” He emphasized that Israel must firmly condemn any denial, minimization, or distortion of these events. The proposal will be presented to the government and subsequently brought before the Knesset for approval.

This initiative builds on statements made by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in August 2025. During an interview on the PBD Podcast with host Patrick Bet-David (of mixed Assyrian-Armenian descent), Netanyahu personally acknowledged the 1915 atrocities against Armenians, Assyrians, and Greeks.

Broader Recognition Advocated

Israeli strategic adviser Shay Gal, a geopolitical analyst and former senior executive at Israel Aerospace Industries, welcomed Sa’ar’s proposal but argued that limiting recognition to the Armenian Genocide would be incomplete. Gal described the events as part of a continuous “Thirty-Year Genocide” targeting Christian populations — including Syriac (Aramean-Assyrian-Chaldean) communities and Pontic Greeks — from the Hamidian massacres through the Young Turk era and into the early Turkish Republic.

“The Armenian Genocide was not an isolated tragedy. The Assyrian Genocide was not an appendix. The Greek Genocide, including the Greeks of Pontus, was not a footnote,” Gal wrote. He stressed that Israel, as the Jewish state, has a special moral responsibility to recognize the full scope of these crimes against humanity.

Gal also referenced the Jewish NILI underground network during World War I, which gathered intelligence against the Ottomans and witnessed the plight of Armenian and other Christian minorities, viewing it as a warning for other groups, including Jews in the region.

Historical Context

The mass atrocities of 1915, known as the Sayfo (“Sword”) among Syriac Christians, resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Armenians, Assyrians, and Greeks. Entire communities were uprooted, churches destroyed, and survivors faced forced conversions and deportations across Anatolia and Mesopotamia.

While many countries have recognized the Armenian Genocide, formal acknowledgment of the Assyrian and Greek dimensions remains more limited. Should Israel proceed with official recognition, pressure is expected to mount for a comprehensive approach that honors all affected Christian peoples.

This potential policy shift marks a notable departure from Israel’s historically cautious position, long influenced by strategic relations with Turkey. It is likely to draw strong reactions from Ankara, which continues to reject the genocide label.

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