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.

Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan participated in the high-level launch event of the Connectivity Agenda Platform initiated by the European Union.

According to Armenia’s Foreign Ministry, the event also brought together delegations from Türkiye, Ukraine, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, as well as representatives of international financial institutions and the European Commission.

The ministry said the platform was established to strengthen the connectivity agenda among the countries of the South Caucasus, the Black Sea region, Türkiye and Central Asia, and to advance interregional connectivity within the framework of the EU’s Global Gateway strategy.

As part of the conference, Kostanyan participated as a speaker in a panel discussion titled “Future Prospects of the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor in the Black Sea and South Caucasus Regions: Towards 2030”.

The panel also featured Moldova’s deputy prime minister, Türkiye’s minister of transport and infrastructure, Ukraine’s minister for communities and territorial development, a vice president of the World Bank, as well as the European Commission’s deputy director-general for mobility and transport and director for the Eastern Neighbourhood and Türkiye.

In his remarks, Kostanyan stressed the importance of developing regional connectivity and promoting dialogue with neighboring countries in that context, noting that initiatives in this area could help fully realize the potential of the South Caucasus as an important link between Europe and Asia.

In this regard, he also highlighted the importance of advancing Armenia-EU partnership, particularly in the fields of transport, energy and digital connectivity.

Addressing the development of regional communications, the deputy foreign minister presented the Armenian government’s Crossroads of Peace initiative. He emphasized that inclusive connectivity contributes to regional cooperation, economic development and confidence-building.

At the conclusion of the conference, letters of intent were signed between Armenia and the European Commission, as well as separately between Armenia and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Investment Bank (EIB), concerning feasibility studies for three Armenian border crossing points and two northern highways.

Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan held meetings with Simon Mordue, Chief Diplomatic Adviser to the President of the European Commission, and Maja Bakran, Deputy Director-General of the Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport, on the sidelines of the high-level launch event of the EU-initiated Connectivity Agenda Platform.

According to Armenia’s Foreign Ministry, during Kostanyan’s meeting with Simon Mordue, the parties emphasized the importance of continuing and deepening bilateral efforts aimed at expanding export opportunities for Armenian products amid existing trade and economic restrictions.

The sides also discussed the importance of financial assistance provided by the European Union to the Armenian government in the form of budget support.

The interlocutors stressed the importance of maintaining high-level contacts in the context of advancing the existing bilateral agenda.

During the meeting between Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan and Maja Bakran, Deputy Director-General of the Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport, the parties, among other issues, discussed the implementation of agreements reached at the Armenia-EU Summit held in Yerevan on May 5, particularly matters related to the implementation of the transport component of the Connectivity Partnership document.

The participants highlighted the importance of deepening Armenia-EU cooperation in the field of connectivity, developing sustainable transport infrastructure, and advancing projects of mutual interest.

The sides also discussed issues related to the process of removing Armenian air carriers from the European Union Air Safety List and cooperation in that direction.

Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan met with Gert Jan Koopman, Director-General for Enlargement and the Eastern Neighbourhood at the European Commission, on the sidelines of the high-level Connectivity Agenda Platform event held in Brussels on June 23.

According to Armenia’s Foreign Ministry, the interlocutors discussed agreed initiatives aimed at developing economic and transport connectivity, as well as other issues related to this area of Armenia-EU partnership.

In this context, both sides highlighted the importance of the Joint Declaration on the Armenia-EU Connectivity Partnership signed during the first Armenia-EU Summit.

The deputy foreign minister briefed his interlocutor on recent developments related to the situation created by economic restrictions imposed on products of Armenian origin and welcomed the support provided by the European Union and its member states.

The parties also outlined further steps to be taken in this direction.

The sides agreed to continue joint efforts aimed at strengthening Armenia’s economic resilience and identifying new markets for Armenian products.

A meeting of the Council for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence was held at the initiative of Armenia’s Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, during which participants discussed ongoing reforms and existing challenges in the healthcare sector related to efforts to combat domestic and family violence.

According to the ministry, Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Affairs Tatevik Stepanyan stressed the importance of systematic and continuous work in the field, noting that the prevention of violence requires close cooperation among state institutions, local self-government bodies and civil society organizations.

She highlighted the importance of ensuring access to support services for victims of domestic violence and strengthening the capacities of frontline professionals.

Deputy Health Minister Armen Gasparyan, in turn, noted that domestic and family violence is not only a social and legal issue but also an important public health concern that can have serious consequences for a person’s physical and mental well-being.

He emphasized the role of healthcare workers in the early identification of victims of violence, the provision of necessary medical assistance and referrals to relevant support services.

The meeting also addressed issues related to medical and psychological support for victims of violence, as well as the training of healthcare professionals.

Participants discussed opportunities to improve access to services and expand cooperation among relevant stakeholders.

Members of the council presented their observations and put forward a number of proposals.

The meeting was also attended by Deputy Justice Minister Anna Karapetyan, Head of the Armenia Office of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Lusine Sargsyan, as well as representatives of state institutions, sectoral civil society organizations and international organizations.

The session of the Council for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence was organized by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs in cooperation with the United Nations Population Fund and with funding from the European Union under the programme “Promoting Human Rights Protection and Strengthening National Institutions.”