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.

Under an agreement signed yesterday between Telecom Armenia and AzerTelecom, the Armenian company will provide transit internet services on a commercial basis in the Nakhichevan-Azerbaijan direction. The arrangement is purely a business transaction and does not pose any national security risks.

Alexander Yesayan, co-founder and chairman of the board of Team Telecom Armenia, made the remarks while addressing public concerns in Armenia regarding the agreement.

– Which part of Azerbaijan is expected to receive internet traffic under the agreement, and what volume or capacity of traffic does it involve?

– We will provide traffic transit in the Nakhichevan-Azerbaijan direction. In other words, Team Telecom Armenia will sell internet traffic to Azerbaijan. It should be noted that international communication routes function as complementary pathways. In modern telecommunications networks, traffic can be transmitted through different routes depending on technical and operational conditions.

New connections expand available options and increase network flexibility. To provide transit services, networks must have physical interconnection at the level of equipment and cables.

This is not an internet service but a data transit service carried out on a point-to-point basis using DWDM technology. The Azerbaijani side will gain access to a cable with a capacity of 100 gigabits per second, not to any data.

– Does the agreement involve any national security risks?

– The internet operates in such a way that all nodes around the world are interconnected. This cooperation does not envisage any exchange of data between countries; it is simply an internet transit agreement.

Since the sale of internet traffic will mainly be carried out from Telecom Armenia, the potential risks are actually higher for the other side. Security requirements are always a priority in the design and operation of telecommunications infrastructure. The purpose of establishing new routes is to enhance network resilience and reduce dependence on individual directions, thereby ensuring a more diversified and stable infrastructure.

– Can it be said that this is purely a business transaction in which the Armenian side’s interest is exclusively financial?

– Yes, it is a business transaction and the agreement is based on commercial principles. At the same time, greater international bandwidth and additional routes contribute to improved service reliability, network stability and the quality of international connectivity.

– Can the agreement be viewed within the logic of TRIPP?

– No. This cooperation is exclusively an arrangement between two private companies and has no connection either with TRIPP or with any other interstate project.

Through this project, we are strengthening Armenia’s role as a transit country for internet traffic in the region by also selling traffic to Azerbaijan.

This is solely a telecommunications and infrastructure project aimed at increasing network stability, expanding international connectivity routes and creating additional opportunities for the development of Armenia’s digital economy.

We are already the largest provider of transit internet connectivity from Armenia to international destinations. With this project, we become one of the three largest providers of transit internet traffic in the Caucasus and the Middle East.

Within the framework of the agreement, we are simply expanding alternative opportunities to connect to global internet network hubs, while also beginning to provide services to Azerbaijan.

Telecom Armenia and AzerTelecom have signed a bilateral agreement providing for the transit and delivery of internet traffic through the territories of the two countries on a commercial basis.

Under the agreement, Telecom Armenia, as a leading transit operator in the region, is expanding both the number of countries and the geographical scope of its international internet traffic services by providing transit to Azerbaijan through its own infrastructure.

The agreement is intended to contribute to the diversification of regional connectivity routes, enhance the reliability of telecommunications networks and promote cooperation in the telecommunications sector.

A meeting of the working group established to discuss issues aimed at increasing border capacity between the Republic of Armenia and the Islamic Republic of Iran was held in Yerevan on June 23.

According to Armenia’s Ministry of Economy, the meeting was co-chaired by Deputy Minister of Economy Edgar Zakaryan and Deputy Minister of Roads and Urban Development of Iran Reza Akbari.

According to the ministry, agenda items included road tolls, the development of logistics infrastructure, and issues related to the operation of border crossing points.

Edgar Zakaryan stressed that the Ministry of Economy attaches importance to the continued deepening of trade and economic cooperation between Armenia and Iran, as well as to the diversification of logistics opportunities.

The deputy minister expressed hope that the modernization and upgrading of border infrastructure would provide an additional boost to the growth of bilateral trade turnover.

The meeting was also attended by Iran’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Armenia Khalil Shirgholami and Armenia’s trade attaché to Iran Hayk Nazaryan.

A total of 120 young Diaspora Armenians participated in the first phase of the “Step Towards Home” educational and cultural programme organized by the Office of the High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs of Armenia.

The Office of the High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs said the first phase of the programme began on June 12.

During the two-week programme, Armenian teenagers from Russia, Georgia, Spain and the United States had the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of Armenia’s historical and cultural heritage, improve their knowledge of the Armenian language, make new friends and strengthen their ties with their homeland.

According to the statement, participants in the first phase of the programme are returning to their countries of residence on June 23, taking with them new knowledge, valuable experiences, new friendships and a stronger connection to their homeland.

The second phase of the “Step Towards Home” programme will begin on June 26 and continue through July 8, bringing together a new group of participants from various countries around the world.

Armenian National Assembly Vice Speaker Ruben Rubinyan told the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) that Armenia’s June 7 parliamentary elections were marked by vote-buying schemes allegedly carried out by representatives of three opposition forces, foreign interference, and a foreign disinformation campaign targeting the ruling party.

The remarks were made during a speech at PACE, according to a video published on Rubinyan’s Facebook page.

Referring to the parliamentary elections held in Armenia on June 7, Rubinyan said they were notable for three particular reasons.

“The first reason was, oddly enough, a massive and systematic vote-buying scheme carried out by the three main opposition parties. Almost every day, the relevant Armenian authorities were publishing recordings of members or representatives of these parties discussing how they were giving money to people in exchange for their votes.

The second feature was a massive disinformation campaign launched against Armenia’s ruling party. Again, almost every day, certain fake stories were published in foreign countries and were then imported into and disseminated in Armenia by these opposition parties.

The third and main feature was foreign interference in Armenia’s politics and elections. There were even economic measures taken from abroad, and all of this was aimed at influencing the outcome of Armenia’s elections.

Fortunately, despite all these vote-buying schemes, foreign interference and disinformation campaigns, the people of Armenia made a clear choice, and that choice was peace and democracy. Armenia chose democracy, which means that Armenia will continue its path toward institutionalizing the peace we have achieved through the process of normalizing relations with Azerbaijan and Turkey, as well as through the continuation of democratic reforms, and, we hope, with the support of this organization,” Rubinyan said.

The vice speaker also stated that there is a public demand for justice in Armenia to hold accountable all those who coordinated and carried out the alleged vote-buying schemes.