Yerevan is preparing a major overhaul of its public transport system, with plans to transition toward a fully electric fleet in the coming years.

Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan, speaking at a City Council meeting on Tuesday, said that after the replacement of “Higer” brand buses, no other type of transport will be purchased for Yerevan’s public transport system except electric transport.

He said that new trolleybuses have a special place in the new public transport reform strategy. The city plans to acquire more than 20 additional trolleybuses.

The only remaining old rolling stock in the public transport system are the purple “Higer” buses, which will also soon be replaced.

Avinyan added that the purchase of electric buses is also being planned, and at the moment one of the issues under discussion by the government’s Investment Committee concerns electric buses.

“There are two proposals: the first is to purchase 250 electric buses of 18 meters in length. The second is, based on a new analysis, to buy 12-meter electric buses instead of 18-meter ones, but we will finalize all analyses later.

We will replace the ‘Higer’ buses, but not with non-electric transport. However, after that, Yerevan will not purchase any other type of public transport except electric vehicles. Our strategy is that, in the future, Yerevan should fully transition to electric transport,” the mayor said.

The Yerevan City Council, during the meeting, also approved a decision under the 2026 “Transport System Modernization” program to transfer 45 newly purchased Yutong ZK6128BEVG trolleybuses to the “Yerevan Electric Transport” CJSC without payment.

In procedural terms, this means the vehicles—valued at 4.326 billion AMD—are being formally donated by the municipality to the operating public transport company responsible for running the city’s trolleybus network.

A street in Sofia’s Peyo Yavorov neighborhood has been officially named “Armenia Alley” following a unanimous decision by the Sofia City Council, marking a gesture of friendship between Armenia and Bulgaria.

The decision was adopted with 33 votes in favor, 0 against, and 0 abstentions.

“This unanimous support is an important _expression_ of friendship and mutual respect, reflecting the centuries-old ties and strong relationship between the Armenian and Bulgarian peoples,” the Armenian Embassy in Bulgaria said in a press release.

“We extend our sincere gratitude to the Sofia City Council and the Sredets district administration for their dedication and consistent efforts, which made this initiative a reality, turning it into a lasting symbol of Armenian-Bulgarian historical friendship, as well as an _expression_ of appreciation for the Armenian presence in Bulgaria and the contributions of the Armenian community,” the embassy said, adding that the official inauguration date will be announced later.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is preparing to travel to Armenia next week, POLITICO reported citing three people familiar with the plans.

The EU delegation, which will also include Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos, will visit Armenia in a high-profile show of support for Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan after his Civil Contract party’s decisive victory in the June 7 parliamentary election, according to POLITICO.

Commissioner Marta Kos announced earlier this month that she would travel to Armenia on July 5, but the new report says the trip led by President Ursula von der Leyen will likely take place on July 1.

The July 1 visit, the plans for which have not yet been finalized, comes as Pashinyan seeks to “cement Armenia’s shift away from Moscow” and deepen ties with the European Union following a vote widely viewed as a referendum on the country’s “geopolitical future”, the newspaper reported.

“We have seen the country under intense and consistent pressure from Russia; a visit would send a strong signal of support, following on from the concrete support already delivered,” said one EU official working on the prospective trip, granted anonymity by POLITICO to speak frankly, as were the other people with knowledge of the planned trip.

They added it would send the message that “Europe is here for you.”

The trip has other repercussions for Brussels, as the College of Commissioners meeting scheduled for July 1 has been canceled, according to two of the officials. As a result, several legislative proposals that had been due for adoption have been delayed or otherwise affected. Among them are the Commission’s Public Procurement Act, a planned overhaul of EU tendering rules, as well as initiatives on the defense single market, innovation and livestock farming, as POLITICO first reported. The Commission has not yet announced a new date for these files.

Next week’s trip will be von der Leyen’s second to Armenia in less than two months. The Commission president was in Yerevan in May for the European Political Community summit, which Armenia hosted, before taking part in the inaugural EU-Armenia summit.

Last week, the EU disbursed €34 million to help offset the impact of new Russian restrictions on Armenian exports and support efforts to diversify trade toward European markets. 

Another shipment from Russia to Armenia via Azerbaijan’s transit route was carried out today, according to the Azerbaijani APA news agency.

A 408-ton fertilizer shipment consisting of six railway wagons was dispatched from Bilajari station toward the Boyuk Kesik direction.

The cargo is passing through Georgian territory because the direct railway between Armenia and Azerbaijan has not yet been restored.

According to figures released by APA, to date, more than 33,000 tons of grain, over 7,000 tons of fertilizer, 133 tons of aluminum, 68 tons of buckwheat, and 414 tons of anthracite have been transported from Russia to Armenia via Azerbaijan’s transit route.

Alongside transit shipments, petroleum products are being exported from Azerbaijan to Armenia. To date, more than 14,000 tons of diesel fuel and over 4,000 tons of AI-92 and AI-95 gasoline have been exported from Azerbaijan to Armenia, according to APA.

10 railway wagons of wheat are being shipped from Russia to Armenia through Azerbaijani territory on June 23, according to the Azerbaijani APA news agency.

Another shipment (408 tons of fertilizer) from Russia to Armenia via Azerbaijan’s transit route was carried out earlier today.

DW’s 19th Global Media Forum (GMF26) brings together more than 1,400 participants from over 100 countries at the World Conference Center Bonn (WCCB) in Bonn, Germany.

As AI reshapes the flow of information and public discourse, the forum examines how media, policy and technology leaders can respond to the challenges and opportunities it presents.

“Our theme this year is ‘Journalism out loud.’ Because journalism needs to remain audible in a world that is becoming increasingly noisy,” Deutsche Welle (DW) Director General Barbara Massing said.

She emphasized: “The good news is that established media brands remain the most widely used sources of information, even in Social Media and AI, which people use most to inform themselves. That gives us a strong foundation. Credibility, factual accuracy, context, and long-term journalistic commitment pay off. […] Digital platforms and AI systems benefit enormously from journalistic content – content created by others; something we would never accept in other areas. That is why we need sustainable business models that reward quality journalism and ensure that content creators share in the value they generate. This is how we can get the most out of technological innovation and journalistic expertise in the service of democracy and security.”

She stressed the importance of independent journalism in safeguarding democratic societies and ensuring that citizens have access to reliable information.

Today, DW Akademie published the meta-study “The Value of Journalism” at the GMF, which demonstrates that independent journalism generates significant public value for society. “The study shows that every U.S. dollar invested in independent journalism can generate more than one hundred dollars in public value through recovered funds, better public services and reduced corruption. By contrast, disinformation is estimated to cost societies worldwide between 350 and 500 billion dollars each year,” said Massing.

North Rhine-Westphalia’s Minister for Federal, European and Media Affairs Nathanael Liminski highlighted the importance of supporting journalism and maintaining economically sustainable media organizations in his welcome remarks: “Those who create diversity of information and opinion are finding it increasingly difficult to finance their work in Europe, in Germany, not just around the world, but also here. That is why we must continue to value journalistic work. And media companies must remain economically viable. Otherwise, we risk losing media diversity and diversity of perspectives. And with that we would weaken one of the very foundations of our democracies.”  

He added: “Platforms that earn good money in Europe should also contribute fairly to the media ecosystem, from which they benefit.”

The annual DW Global Media Forum provides a unique interdisciplinary platform for media professionals and decision-makers from politics, civil society, culture, education, business, and science worldwide to exchange ideas and learn from each other. The Global Media Forum is supported by the German Federal Foreign Office, the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, the Foundation for International Dialogue of the Sparkasse in Bonn, the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, the Commissioner of the Federal Government for Culture and Media, and the City of Bonn, according to DW. 

Over two days, participants will examine questions at the heart of today’s media landscape: how to withstand political pressure and censorship, stay relevant in the face of AI and Big Tech, protect trusted information, engage new audiences and strengthen investigative reporting in a fragmented media landscape.

The Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the Republic of Armenia, Zhanna Andreasyan, received a delegation from the international digital platform OpenAI, which arrived in Armenia to present the ChatGPT Edu tool.

At the start of the new academic year, Armenia’s educational, engineering, and research communities will receive around 50,000 free subscriptions as a result of cooperation between the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, OpenAI, and Firebird companies, the ministry said in a press release.

By September, the necessary preparatory work and training courses are expected to be carried out to ensure the launch of the process for the new academic year.

The meeting was attended by Harutyun Sargsyan, Deputy Chairman of the Higher Education and Science Committee of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, Alina Leon-Kozenko, OpenAI’s liaison responsible for cooperation with the ministry, and other members of the delegation.

Welcoming the guests, Andreasyan noted that in recent years Armenia’s education system has been consistently expanding initiatives aimed at the application of AI and the development of AI literacy.

This partnership, she said, is of significant importance for Armenia’s education system, as a solid foundation for the development of AI education and application has already been formed in the country. In general education schools, the “Generation AI” and “STEP.ai” educational programs are being successfully implemented, contributing to students’ foundational AI knowledge, creative thinking, and technological skills, as well as the safe, responsible, and effective use of AI tools.

Minister Andreasyan emphasized that the “Generation AI” program, implemented in cooperation with the FAST Foundation, has already achieved tangible results and received international recognition. Several participants in the program have achieved success and won awards in various international competitions, which demonstrates the effectiveness of the initiative.

AI educational programs are also being introduced at the vocational and higher education levels. Starting in September 2026, a new bachelor’s program in AI will be introduced at Yerevan State University.

Referring to the development prospects of the sector, Minister Andreasyan noted that major AI initiatives in Armenia are creating new opportunities for deepening cooperation between education, science, and the economy, contributing to the country’s engagement in international technological processes. In her view, these developments significantly expand the capabilities of the education system and create favorable conditions for the development of international ties.

The minister expressed confidence that the success of any technological initiative depends on the development of human potential. In this regard, the development of the educational community’s capacities, professional training, and continuous support are particularly important, as they enable the full use of AI tools for improving the quality of education.

Alina Leon-Kozenko, OpenAI’s cooperation representative, emphasized the importance of partnership with Armenia, noting that the main directions of cooperation include promoting the responsible and safe use of artificial intelligence in the education system, as well as developing the capacities of teachers and students to effectively use technological tools.

Summarizing the meeting, Andreasyan noted that the ChatGPT Edu platform intended for educational institutions will become an effective tool both in higher education—for lecturers and students—and in general education—for teachers and high school students. She stressed not only the importance of introducing the technology, but also the need to form a comprehensive policy around it, including regulations, risk management mechanisms, and principles for safe use.

It was also reported that in the initial phase of the initiative, during the 2026–2027 academic year, access to the ChatGPT Edu platform will be financed by the Firebird company. After evaluating the program’s effectiveness and its impact on educational outcomes, the possibility of state funding will be considered, with the aim of integrating it into the national education system as a stable and long-term component.

Other issues of mutual interest were also discussed during the meeting.

Turkish Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu has said that work is ongoing toward the reactivation of previously used railway and road communications with Armenia, and that the two sides are gradually deepening their cooperation.

During a media briefing held on the sidelines of the high-level launch event of the “Connectivity Agenda Platform” in Brussels, Uraloğlu noted that he has recently held several meetings with Armenia’s Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, David Khudatyan.

He said meetings have taken place in Türkiye, Georgia, and most recently in Brussels, during the Connectivity Agenda Platform launch event. 

“We have railway and road crossings that were actively used in the past. We are expanding our cooperation day by day in order to reactivate them as quickly as possible. Some repair and maintenance work was required for the railway and road infrastructure. On our side, we have already started this work. The Armenian side has also stated that preparatory processes are being carried out in this direction, tenders have been held, and the works are at the stage of commencement,” Anadolu News Agency quoted the Turkish minister as saying.

Uraloğlu also referred to the restoration project of the historic Ani Bridge, recalling that a relevant agreement was signed during Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz’s visit to Yerevan last month.

“Preliminary discussions have already been held on this issue. We want to hold a second meeting and immediately proceed to the tender process. In fact, this is a project that symbolizes the historical ties between the two countries,” he noted.

The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 23 June, USD exchange rate up by 0.01 drams to 368.08 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 1.94 drams to 419.65 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.0499 drams to 4.9314 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 0.42 drams to 486.68 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price up by 546 drams to 49667 drams. 

The Investigative Committee of Armenia has completed the preliminary investigation into criminal proceedings concerning an alleged attempt by three individuals to illegally sell a particularly large quantity of narcotics.

According to a statement issued by the Investigative Committee, extensive measures carried out during the preliminary investigation by officers of the Investigative Committee and the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ police revealed that Armenian citizens S.H., N.M. and S.H. had allegedly agreed in advance in December 2025 to acquire for the purpose of sale approximately 5.5 kilograms of marijuana that had been smuggled into Armenia.

According to the investigation, a foreign national transported the narcotics across the border via the Araks River and concealed them in Armenia. Following an arrangement reached with S.H. and N.M., information on the location of the hidden narcotics was provided to one of them. However, the Armenian citizen was identified and detained by police officers while attempting to retrieve the drugs.

Public criminal prosecution has been initiated against S.H., N.M. and S.H. under Article 44-393, Part 3, Clause 2 of the Criminal Code, concerning the attempted illegal sale of narcotic drugs in a particularly large quantity.

House arrest has been imposed on the three individuals as a preventive measure.

The criminal case against the three defendants has been forwarded to the supervising prosecutor with an indictment for approval and subsequent referral to court for consideration.

Notice: A person charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty in accordance with the procedure established by the Criminal Procedure Code and by a court verdict that has entered into legal force.