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
Krikor Der-Hagopian, senior adviser to prime minister, seen as key interlocutor between Baghdad and Washington
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
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
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.
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
Turkey has historically denied genocide allegations against the Ottoman Empire’s conduct during World War I.
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
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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Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar moves to recognize Armenian Genocide…
URISHLEM (JERUSALEM) — Israel has taken what could become a historic step toward confronting one of the darkest chapters of the late Ottoman Empire, after Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar announced that he will bring a proposal before the Israeli government to officially recognize the 1915 Sayfo Genocide, while a prominent Israeli strategic adviser called for extending that recognition to include the Syriac (Aramean-Assyrian-Chaldean) and Greek genocides.
In August 2025, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu already offered his personal recognition of the 1915 Sayfo Genocide in an interview with PBD Podcast host Patrick Bet-David, who comes from a mixed Assyrian-Armenian family from Iran. Asked why Israel, founded in 19148, has not yet formally recognized the Sayfo Genocide while many other countries have and while Holocaust denial is punishable in several nations, Netanyahu responded, “I just did. Here you go.”
Moral and Historical Duty
In a statement published yesterday on his official X account, Gideon Sa’ar said he would present a government resolution recognizing the Sayfo Genocide committed during the final years of the Ottoman Empire. “It is a moral and historical duty to recognize the genocide committed against the Armenian people during the final period of the Ottoman Empire,” Sa’ar wrote in Hebrew. He added that Israel must also condemn “the denial, minimization, or distortion of the historical truth,” noting that the proposal would be submitted to the Knesset for approval.
The Foreign Minister’s announcement marks one of the strongest official signals yet that Israel may reconsider its longstanding reluctance to formally recognize the 1915 Sayfo Genocide, a position that for decades had been shaped by regional diplomatic considerations, particularly relations with Turkey.
Read Also: Netanyahu offers personal recognition of 1915 Sayfo Genocide, absent official recognition by State of Israel
Incomplete Recognition
Shay Gal, an Israeli senior strategic adviser, geopolitical analyst, and former Vice President of External Relations at Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), argued that recognition should not stop with the Armenian people but should encompass all Christian communities targeted during the mass atrocities carried out between the late nineteenth century and the early years of the Turkish Republic.
Writing on X, Gal welcomed Sa’ar’s initiative but described recognition limited to Armenia as “incomplete.”
“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,” he wrote.
Gal described the extermination of Syriac Christians, Armenians, and Pontic Greeks as “the Thirty-Year Genocide,” referring to the period stretching from the Hamidian massacres of the 1890s through the rule of the Young Turks and into the early years of the Republic of Turkey. According to Gal, the successive campaigns represented “one historical crime of extermination, dispossession and denial,” arguing that the changing political leadership did not alter what he described as a continuous policy of ethnic and religious persecution.
He further asserted that Israel, as the Jewish state, carries a unique moral responsibility to recognize all the communities that suffered under those campaigns. “No nation has the moral right to recognize only the part of this history that is easiest to name. Certainly not the Jewish state,” Gal wrote.
Shay Gal also referenced members of the Jewish Netzah Yisrael Lo Yeshaker (NILI) underground group who provided critical military intelligence to the British to help them defeat the Ottoman Empire, including Sarah Aaronsohn and Aaron Aaronsohn, arguing that they understood the implications of the Ottoman Empire’s treatment of Armenians and viewed it as a warning of what could eventually threaten other minorities, including Jews living in the Land of Israel.
The mass atrocities commonly known among Syriacs as the Sayfo (“the Sword”) reached their peak in 1915 and targeted the indigenous Syriac population alongside Armenians and Pontic Greeks. Hundreds of thousands were killed, while many others were forcibly displaced, subjected to mass deportations, forced conversions, and the destruction of churches, monasteries, and entire villages and towns across Anatolia and Upper Beth Nahrain (Mesopotamia). Historians have also documented the participation of local tribal forces allied with Ottoman authorities in many of the massacres.
While numerous countries and several international organizations have formally recognized the Armenian Genocide, recognition of the Syriac and Greek genocides has remained more limited and continues to be the subject of political and historical debate.
Should Israel proceed with formal recognition of the Armenian Genocide, calls such as Gal’s are likely to intensify, urging Israeli leaders to acknowledge the full scope of the atrocities that befell the Armenians, Syriacs, and Pontic Greeks during the final decades of the Ottoman Empire.
For many descendants of the victims, recognition is viewed not only as an act of historical justice but also as a reaffirmation that the suffering endured during the 1915 Sayfo Genocide and the broader campaign of mass violence against the region’s indigenous Christian peoples will not be forgotten.
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Ethiopian-Armenian Museum Debuts with High-Level Diaspora Dialogue
Photo by Anteneh Aklilu
In a major celebration of cross-cultural heritage, the Armenian Cultural Center in Addis Ababa officially opened the History Museum of the Ethiopian-Armenian community on June 20. The landmark event was paired with a high-level diaspora dialogue featuring Zareh Sinanyan, Armenia’s High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs.
Co-organized by the Embassy of Armenia in Ethiopia and the Executive Council of the Armenian Community of Ethiopia, the opening marks a significant milestone in documenting a unique, centuries-old bond between the two nations.
In his welcoming remarks, Sahak Sargsyan, the Armenian Ambassador to Ethiopia, praised the profound impact the small but vibrant Armenian community has historically made on Ethiopia’s modernization and development.
“The establishment of this History Museum is an important milestone toward preserving and popularizing the shared Armenian-Ethiopian heritage,” Ambassador Sargsyan noted, emphasizing the deep symbolic value of the new institution.
The Ambassador also welcomed High Commissioner Sinanyan, who traveled to Addis Ababa not only to engage with the local community but also to hold strategic meetings with counterparts at the Ethiopian Diaspora Service and the African Union.
Addressing the attendees, Commissioner Sinanyan highlighted the resilience and outsized influence of the local diaspora. Despite its relatively small numbers, Sinanyan stressed that the Armenian community has made an “invaluable and lasting contribution” to various sectors of Ethiopian society over the centuries, acting as a vital bridge between the two cultures while proudly maintaining its own national identity.
The museum’s creation is largely the result of years of dedication by community activist, author, and museum curator Vartkes Nalbandian. During the event, Nalbandian shared insights into the extensive, painstaking work involved in gathering archival materials, photographs, and historical artifacts to bring the exhibition hall to life.
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Israel to officially recognize Armenian Genocide in major diplomatic snub to T
Israeli Foreign Minister Sa’ar’s upcoming cabinet resolution breaks decades of strategic silence, aiming a direct blow at Ankara’s institutionalized denial campaign amid soaring regional tension
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar will submit a resolution proposal at the upcoming cabinet meeting calling for the government’s official recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
According to the text of the proposal, Israel will formally recognize the genocide committed against the Armenian people during the final years of the Ottoman Empire, framing the decision as both a moral and historical obligation. The resolution explicitly notes that any denial, minimization, or distortion of the historical truth surrounding these events must be firmly condemned.
The explanatory statement accompanying Foreign Minister Sa’ar’s proposal details the systematic nature of the atrocities, which began in April 1915 with the arrest, deportation, and execution of hundreds of Armenian intellectuals and leaders in Constantinople.
Following the removal of the community’s leadership, the Ottoman government executed a targeted campaign to eliminate the population: men were conscripted into forced labor and systematically murdered, while women, children, and the elderly were uprooted and sent on brutal death marches into the Syrian desert. These actions resulted in the deaths of approximately 1.5 million people and the near-total destruction of a millennia-old cultural heritage in the Anatolian region.
The resolution emphasizes that despite extensive and definitive historical documentation, the Armenian Genocide remains the target of an institutionalized campaign of minimization and denial, characterized largely by a manipulative rewriting of history books by Turkey.
While 32 countries have already formally recognized the Armenian Genocide through legislative acts, parliamentary resolutions, or executive declarations, Israel has historically hesitated to take this step due to complex, fluctuating strategic ties with Turkey.
Moving the resolution forward represents a major shift in Israel’s foreign policy calculus, prioritizing historical memory over diplomatic friction with Ankara. Following cabinet review, the resolution will be forwarded to the Knesset for final parliamentary approval.
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Armenia’s Constitutional Court begins hearings on challenges to election resul
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