Authorities announced on Friday that former MP Ruben Hakobyan was arrested earlier in the day on charges related to inciting hatred, discrimination, and hostility.

The Investigative Committee said in a press release that Hakobyan allegedly “used information and communication technologies to make statements inciting and promoting hatred, discrimination, intolerance, and hostility.”

He is charged under Article 329(2)(3) of the Criminal Code (public speech aimed at inciting or promoting hatred, discrimination, intolerance, or hostility, as well as the distribution of materials or objects for that purpose), in three counts.

The former MP has been detained, and prosecutors have requested that the court impose administrative supervision rather than pre-trial detention.

Hakobyan was an ARF member and served as a lawmaker in the early 1990s and early 2000s, and later served as an MP for the Heritage party in the 2010s.

The Strong Armenia alliance has submitted a motion to the Constitutional Court asking it to invalidate the results of the June 7 parliamentary elections, alleging that authorities orchestrated electoral violations.

Strong Armenia spokesperson and parliamentary candidate Marianna Ghahramanyan said in a statement that the bloc has requested that the high court either annul the results certified by the Central Electoral Commission or call for a second round of elections.

According to the Central Electoral Commission’s final results, the Civil Contract party won 49.7%, securing a majority in the next parliament, while Strong Armenia was the runner-up with 23.2%. The Armenia Alliance won 9.9%.

The ruling Civil Contract party, led by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, will hold 64 seats, while billionaire businessman Samvel Karapetyan’s Strong Armenia will have 29 seats. The Armenia Alliance, led by ex-President Robert Kocharyan, will have 12 seats.

The other parties running for office failed to pass the threshold. 

The authorities have denied any electoral violations on their part, emphasizing that the elections were free and transparent. They have also accused opposition forces – including Strong Armenia – of organizing such violations, particularly vote-buying.

Meanwhile, Strong Armenia itself has come under numerous criminal investigations related to alleged vote-buying schemes.

Hours after the opposition Strong Armenia bloc filed a motion with the Constitutional Court challenging the results of the June 7 parliamentary elections, four other political parties and blocs submitted similar requests, asking the court to annul the results.

The Prosperous Armenia Party, Wings of Unity Party, Democracy, Law and Order Party, as well as the Armenia Alliance, have requested that the high court invalidate the results of the parliamentary elections.

The Constitutional Court announced on Friday that it had received a motion submitted by the opposition Strong Armenia bloc.

The court said in a press release that it will first determine the admissibility of the appeal within two days of its submission. If accepted for consideration, a reporting judge will be appointed to prepare the case for review.

The Constitutional Court will then consider the case and issue a ruling no later than 15 days after the application is filed. Disputes concerning parliamentary election results are examined through oral proceedings.

Earlier on Friday, the Strong Armenia alliance submitted a motion to the Constitutional Court asking it to invalidate the results of the June 7 parliamentary elections, alleging that the authorities orchestrated electoral violations.

Strong Armenia spokesperson and parliamentary candidate Marianna Ghahramanyan said in a statement that the bloc has requested that the high court either annul the results certified by the Central Electoral Commission or call for a second round of elections.

According to the Central Electoral Commission’s final results, the Civil Contract party won 49.7% of the vote, securing a majority in the next parliament, while Strong Armenia was the runner-up with 23.2%. The Armenia Alliance won 9.9%.

The ruling Civil Contract party, led by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, will hold 64 seats, while billionaire businessman Samvel Karapetyan’s Strong Armenia bloc will hold 29 seats. The Armenia Alliance, led by former President Robert Kocharyan, will hold 12 seats.

The other parties that ran in the election failed to pass the electoral threshold.

The authorities have denied any involvement in electoral violations, emphasizing that the elections were free and transparent. They have also accused opposition forces—including Strong Armenia—of organizing such violations, particularly vote-buying.

Meanwhile, Strong Armenia itself has become the subject of numerous criminal investigations related to alleged vote-buying schemes.

Two more political forces that participated in Armenia’s June 7 parliamentary elections have filed applications with the Constitutional Court challenging the election results. The New Force Party and the For the Republic Alliance have appealed to the Constitutional Court seeking the annulment of the election results. As previously reported, the Strong Armenia Alliance, Prosperous Armenia Party, Wings of Unity Party, Democracy, Law and Discipline Party, as well as the Armenia Alliance, have also filed applications with the Constitutional Court seeking either the annulment of the election results or the holding of a second round of voting. The Constitutional Court has stated that, within two days of the submission of the applications, it will determine their admissibility during a procedural session. If the applications are accepted for consideration, a rapporteur judge will be appointed to prepare the cases for judicial review. Proceedings concerning disputes over the results of National Assembly elections are conducted under an oral procedure. The Constitutional Court is required to examine the case and issue a ruling no later than 15 days from the date the application is filed. Armenia’s Central Electoral Commission summarized the results of the June 7 parliamentary elections on June 14. According to the final results, three political forces secured seats in parliament: the Civil Contract Party (726,819 votes, 49.7456%), the Strong Armenia Alliance (340,006 votes, 23.2710%), and the Armenia Alliance (144,983 votes, 9.9231%). The Civil Contract Party will hold 64 seats in the newly elected parliament, while the Strong Armenia Alliance will receive 29 seats and the Armenia Alliance 12 seats.

The Constitutional Court announced on Friday that it had received a motion submitted by the opposition Strong Armenia bloc challenging the results of the June 7 parliamentary elections.

The high court said in a press release that it will first determine the admissibility of the appeal within two days of its submission. If accepted for consideration, a reporting judge will be appointed to prepare the case for review.

The Constitutional Court will then consider the case and issue a ruling no later than 15 days after the application is filed.

Disputes concerning parliamentary election results are examined through oral proceedings.

Earlier on Friday, the Strong Armenia alliance submitted a motion to the Constitutional Court asking it to invalidate the results of the June 7 parliamentary elections, alleging that the authorities orchestrated electoral violations.

Strong Armenia spokesperson and parliamentary candidate Marianna Ghahramanyan said in a statement that the bloc has requested that the high court either annul the results certified by the Central Electoral Commission or call for a second round of elections.

According to the Central Electoral Commission’s final results, the Civil Contract party won 49.7% of the vote, securing a majority in the next parliament, while Strong Armenia was the runner-up with 23.2%. The Armenia Alliance won 9.9%.

The ruling Civil Contract party, led by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, will hold 64 seats, while billionaire businessman Samvel Karapetyan’s Strong Armenia bloc will have 29 seats. The Armenia Alliance, led by former President Robert Kocharyan, will hold 12 seats.

The other parties that ran in the election failed to pass the electoral threshold.

The authorities have denied any involvement in electoral violations, emphasizing that the elections were free and transparent. They have also accused opposition forces—including Strong Armenia—of organizing such violations, particularly vote-buying.

Meanwhile, Strong Armenia itself has become the subject of numerous criminal investigations related to alleged vote-buying schemes.

A senior lawmaker representing the Civil Contract party has stated that the agenda for adopting a new Constitution will not be put on hold.

Civil Contract faction secretary, MP Artur Hovhannisyan, speaking at a press briefing in response to a question on whether agendas requiring a constitutional majority could be postponed or whether the ruling party would seek alternative legal pathways to implement them, said:

“Nothing will be put on hold. We will continue to move forward with our agendas,” Hovhannisyan said.

He noted that some difficulties have arisen, but the ruling party will continue working toward the implementation of its priorities.

He added that the agenda for adopting a new Constitution has been part of the Civil Contract party’s platform since 2019.

“We will not deviate from our agenda and will find legal solutions for it. I assure you that there are both legal and political solutions,” Hovhannisyan said.

He also noted that these solutions will become more visible after the formation of the new parliament.

Armenia has presented its preparations and priorities for hosting the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity in Yerevan during a high-level briefing at the UN Office in Vienna, highlighting its plans to advance global biodiversity commitments and international cooperation.

The high-level briefing was organized by the Permanent Mission of Armenia in Vienna.

Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Robert Abisoghomonyan delivered a keynote address.

According to the Foreign Ministry readout, the Deputy Foreign Minister presented the ongoing work and initiatives carried out under Armenia’s COP17 presidency, as well as organizational details of the conference. He emphasized Armenia’s readiness to ensure an inclusive and transparent conference with the full participation of all stakeholders.

The Deputy Foreign Minister noted that the conference will be a turning point for the first global review of progress in implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), assessing achievements, identifying gaps, and addressing challenges. It was also highlighted that discussions at the conference will focus on ways to advance the implementation of the global biodiversity framework in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

Abisoghomonyan also presented details of the upcoming Leaders’ Summit ahead of the conference, stressing the importance of providing strategic direction and political momentum at the highest level for biodiversity conservation issues. Attention was also drawn to the subsequent high-level ministerial segment, which will help advance decision-making during the conference.

The Deputy Foreign Minister emphasized the importance of ensuring the active engagement of international organizations based in Vienna in advancing the biodiversity agenda. In this context, he highlighted the importance of fully utilizing their sectoral expertise and professional potential, as well as implementing joint events and initiatives ahead of and during the conference.

In conclusion, Abisoghomonyan stated that the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity in Yerevan will serve as an important platform for the international community to move from commitments to implementation.

The briefing also featured remarks by Armenia’s Permanent Representative to Vienna, Andranik Hovhannisyan, as well as senior representatives of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

The event was attended by accredited ambassadors and permanent representatives in Vienna, diplomats, and representatives of international organizations. It was followed by a Q&A session, during which Armenia’s efforts to organize an effective and results-oriented conference were highly praised.

Armenian Minister of High-Tech Industry Mkhitar Hayrapetyan delivered a speech at the Eurosatory 2026 international exhibition in Paris.

In a speech titled “Defense Industrial Cooperation: Supply Chains, Talent, and the Role of Small States,” Hayrapetyan presented the conceptual approaches to the development of Armenia’s defense industry, the ministry said in a press release.

He emphasized that even small countries can remain competitive in the era of artificial intelligence and technological advancement due to their flexibility and targeted investments.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming a fundamental technology in modern defense systems. However, according to the minister, technology alone is not enough. The real competitive advantage, in his view, continues to be human capital. Armenia continues to make significant investments in engineering education, startup development, research institutions, and partnerships with leading global technology companies. The goal is clear: to create an environment where talent can develop, innovate, and scale products that contribute both to economic growth and national security.

The minister said that over the past 4–5 years, Armenia’s defense industry has experienced a qualitative leap. Through the state procurement system, 172 billion drams have been invested in the sector, and a decision has been made to sign additional long-term contracts worth 190 billion drams. As a result of this policy, the sector’s turnover in the domestic economy has reached around 70 billion drams, and Armenian military products are already being exported.

Thus, the future belongs not to isolated industrial bases, but to interconnected ecosystems capable of jointly paving the way for innovation. In the minister’s view, innovative ecosystems flourish when startups can rapidly experiment, fail, learn, and improve. Therefore, efforts are being made to simplify testing procedures and expand access to real operational environments.

To succeed in global competition, Armenia is developing its vision of an “AI Factory Garden,” which will enable Armenian defense companies to carry out complex engineering simulations and necessary testing, with the state providing essential resources and infrastructure.

The minister also emphasized Armenia’s readiness to promote international cooperation, noting that the government is consistently taking steps to simplify export licensing procedures, which will ensure the entry of Armenian technological solutions into global markets. Armenia is transforming from a consumer into a provider of high-tech solutions to the world, where scientific potential, energy capabilities, and computing power jointly serve national security and technological progress.

“Together we can build supply chains that are more resilient, develop technologies that are more efficient, and create a defense industrial ecosystem that is stronger because it is based on the capabilities of both large and small states,” Hayrapetyan concluded his speech.

Law enforcement agencies announced on Friday a new criminal investigation into alleged electoral violations involving a supporter of the Strong Armenia party.

The Anti-Corruption Committee said an investigation conducted jointly with the National Security Service revealed that a “supporter” of the Strong Armenia party breached pre-election campaign restrictions on charitable activities by donating livestock to residents across various provinces in Armenia ahead of the June 7 elections, in an effort to influence their votes.

The law enforcement agency said the suspect acted with accomplices and that, before providing this assistance, information about the adult members of the families was verified, and the provision of aid was effectively conditioned on the presence of potential voters in those households.

A criminal investigation is ongoing.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan attended the opening ceremony of the renovated Hakob Kojoyan Educational Complex in Yerevan.

Preserving the institution’s previous historical and cultural appearance, three sections of the school were rebuilt and one new building was constructed within the framework of the “300 Schools, 500 Kindergartens” program, the Prime Minister’s Office said in a press release.

The government allocated more than 2 billion drams for the construction works. The school has also been equipped with modern laboratories, computer technology, and equipment in line with current standards.

To ensure the effective organization of the educational process in the vocational program, the institution has been furnished with necessary equipment, including easels for art studios, shelving for fine arts, still-life tables and lighting, sculpture machines, design desks, and more. The school, which meets all modern educational requirements, is designed for 600 students.

Welcoming those present, Pashinyan congratulated everyone on the reopening of the school and recalled that the Civil Contract party’s manifesto includes a project to build 100 schools of arts and sports across the country.

The Prime Minister emphasized the addition of new components at each stage of school construction programs, stating:

“This is very important for the development of school construction in the Republic of Armenia, because construction is construction, but it has its own layers, and school and kindergarten construction are special directions.”

In this context, he highlighted the importance of playgrounds near schools and noted that cooperation would be established with municipal authorities on this issue.

Referring to the implemented works, Pashinyan said the improvement in quality is very significant and a matter of principle.

He noted that two years ago his administration began addressing the question of what the aesthetics of Real Armenia should be, referring to his Real Armenia doctrine.

“State policy strategies are sometimes not only not reflected in art and form, but very often have no connection with the reality of the state and law. This is also a problem we must think about. Here too, we must understand that we need time and patience, and we need not argument, but debate, to address all these issues.”

Expressing gratitude to the schoolteachers who have undergone voluntary certification, the Prime Minister stressed the importance of improving education.

“I have had the opportunity to say that there is no one who knows everything; therefore, everyone needs to learn something new. We must make this a way of life for all citizens of the Republic of Armenia, because that is the key to the country’s development,” he said.

Concluding his remarks, the Prime Minister again thanked all those working in Armenia who create results, pay legally required taxes, issue fiscal receipts, and request receipts.

“We must understand how all this is created. It is created through work, established taxation, the collection of state revenues, and the allocation of those revenues,” Pashinyan said, thanking all participants in the school construction program.