Authorities said on Tuesday that there is no full shortage of liquefied gas in the country, but some individual filling stations could experience temporary supply interruptions due to logistical issues affecting imports.

The Ministry of Economy issued a statement regarding media reports about the situation, amid a 50% increase in liquefied gas prices over the past couple of weeks.

“Due to congestion at the Lars checkpoint and temporary logistical difficulties, the entry of some trucks transporting liquefied gas into Armenia has been delayed, affecting the normal rhythm of market supply. This is not a full shortage, but temporary supply disruptions may occur at certain filling stations,” the Ministry of Economy said in a statement.

Upper Lars, or simply the Lars checkpoint, is a crossing point on the Russia–Georgia border used extensively by Armenian shippers for transit.

The ministry said the government is taking measures to address the issue and stabilize prices.

“Relevant state bodies are in constant contact with importing companies and partner organizations to resolve the situation as quickly as possible and restore normal market supply,” it said.

“Prices may be affected not only by logistical difficulties but also by fluctuations in international markets driven by regional developments. At the same time, the market is under continuous monitoring, and the authorities are tracking the situation to prevent unjustified price increases and possible speculative behavior. Citizens are urged not to engage in panic buying and to rely only on official information. Efforts to stabilize the situation are underway.”

The Government of Armenia, with support from Germany and Switzerland, has launched a new initiative to expand youth engagement in participatory budgeting and other civic decision-making processes.

Within the framework of the newly launched program, it is planned to promote meaningful and impactful youth participation in governance and decision-making processes, including participatory budgeting and other civic engagement mechanisms.

The event marking the launch of the project was attended by Arayik Harutyunyan, Chief of Staff of the Prime Minister’s Office; Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Davit Khudatyan; Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Arthur Martirosyan; Deputy Head of Mission at the German Embassy in Armenia Lars Hennig; and other officials.

Addressing the young participants at the event, Harutyunyan said that significant work had been done toward the implementation of the program and that the Government of Armenia places great importance on it.

“We often speak about reforms, but we must admit that they do not always deliver the results citizens expect. Why is that? Because changing laws is easy, but changing mentality, culture, and behavior is much more difficult. We have understood an important fact: without real public participation and engagement, even the best program can remain only on paper. This is where your role, dear young people, becomes crucial and decisive. We do not see you as the workforce of tomorrow—you are the active participants of today. Your education, innovative thinking, and even your critical perspective are what the state system needs to become more effective and goal-oriented. And it is precisely participatory governance mechanisms that can turn this potential into concrete results,” Harutyunyan said.

According to Harutyunyan, the program gives citizens the opportunity to become real participants in decision-making processes, while enabling state bodies to respond more accurately to public needs.

“In communities, we have succeeded in implementing participatory budgeting, which I believe is one of our best achievements in recent years, and it is not merely a financial tool. It is a bridge of trust between the citizen and the state. When you take part in decision-making, you become the owner of that decision. We want to create an Armenia where you do not just witness change, but are the very authors of that change,” said Harutyunyan, calling on young people to make use of the platform.

Minister Khudatyan also noted that, for example, in 2021, Armenian citizens—particularly young people—showed relatively little interest in governance processes, and he highlighted the significant changes that have taken place since.

“Five years later, I can see that we have been able to ensure significant changes in terms of citizen participation, including participation in local self-government activities. Initially, Armenian communities implemented participatory budgeting programs without financial support from the government, and in the first year, this line was included only in community budgets. When we realized that the program was progressing successfully, the Government of Armenia allocated 500 million drams in the first year for four communities, later 1 billion drams, then 2 billion drams, and now we have dozens of communities involved in this process,” said Davit Khudatyan.

He emphasized that, by instruction of Prime Minister Pashinyan, the participatory budgeting program should become one of the largest initiatives aimed at developing community infrastructure.

“We are planning in the near future to gradually direct the main financial component from the Government to the participatory budgeting program, based on the simple logic that this is a targeted program. In other words, it implements specific infrastructure development measures selected by citizens and of public interest. The Government of Armenia is interested in the successful implementation of the program and in promoting youth participation. In the near future, we will also be able to implement larger programs with a wider geographic scope,” noted the Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure.

Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Arthur Martirosyan also emphasized the importance of implementing the program and youth participation in decision-making.

“The Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport will unequivocally support increasing participation, and I believe that the network of youth centers established across Armenia will become a platform for bringing these programs to life and leading them forward,” he said.

Germany’s Deputy Head of Mission Lars Hennig also delivered remarks, noting that, in general, a significant number of young people worldwide feel that they are operating without authority, seeing themselves as highly individualistic and not responsible to society. According to him, this is not a specifically Armenian phenomenon, but one that exists across the Western world, including Germany.

“Democratic systems must address this challenge. I believe the best place to start is with budgetary processes at the local level. Such inclusion can build trust and responsibility that is sometimes lacking. I believe this cooperation highlights that our shared responsibility is to encourage civic engagement and promote citizen participation in decision-making, as well as to overcome the challenge I mentioned,” he said.

The aim of the launch meeting was to form a general understanding of the goals, scope, and expected outcomes of the initiative. The program is being launched by the Office of the Prime Minister of Armenia in cooperation with the GIZ. 

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan convened a meeting of the country’s diplomatic representatives in Europe in Paris on Sunday to discuss Armenia’s relations with the European Union, regional developments, and upcoming high-level international events.

During the meeting, Mirzoyan announced that in one week Armenia and France will sign a long-negotiated new cooperation agreement.

“The last time we all met, of course in a broader format, was at the end of August. Since then, many developments have taken place, particularly in Europe and in Armenia’s relations with the European Union and individual countries. Strategic cooperation is being discussed with many states. In a week, we will also see the signing of a long-negotiated document with France.

Prior to that, in recent months, this has already taken place with several countries, for example Germany. Of course, the names of the documents differ slightly from one to another: in some cases it is the establishment of a strategic partnership, in others it is a strategic agenda for cooperation. For example, with the European Union we signed a ‘Strategic Agenda for Partnership,’ and so on,” he said.

Minister Mirzoyan also spoke about the high-level events scheduled to take place in Yerevan on May 4–6, including the European Political Community summit, the first-ever EU–Armenia summit, and the “Yerevan Dialogue” forum.

Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan, who coordinates relations with European countries, presented the main agenda items of the EPC and EU–Armenia summits, as well as the documents expected to be signed.

Foreign Ministry Secretary General Davit Karapetyan briefed the ambassadors on the preparatory work for the “Yerevan Dialogue” and its main areas of discussion.

During the ambassadorial meeting, discussions focused on Armenia–EU partnership, efforts to deepen bilateral cooperation with European countries, ongoing programs, and future prospects.

Minister Mirzoyan also presented updates on the implementation of regional connectivity projects involving Armenia, as well as ongoing work with international partners on the development of economic and transport infrastructure networks.

The meeting also addressed processes related to the normalization and development of relations with neighboring countries, including steps toward the institutionalization of peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The diplomats exchanged views on regional and international developments and existing challenges.

The discussion also covered initiatives aimed at improving diplomatic service, including proposed amendments to the Law on Diplomatic Service of the Republic of Armenia.

IDBank press release 

Recently, Armenia has seen the resurgence of one of the most psychologically stressful fraud schemes. Despite its long history, the legend of a “relative in danger” has reached a new peak in the country, exploiting the most vulnerable feelings—love for close ones and fear for their safety.

The Mechanics of Deception: A Scenario That Paralyzes the Will

Scammers rely on your shock and panic. The call can come through either a mobile or a landline. The caller pretends to be a doctor, investigator, or police officer and delivers tragic news: your loved one has been involved in a serious accident, is in intensive care, or has been detained for a serious offense.

To increase the effect, scammers often imitate the voice of your relative, with crying, background noise, or unclear calls for help. Immediately afterward, the “official” offers a solution: urgently transfer a large sum of cash to a courier or make a payment to “resolve the case” or cover an emergency operation. The main tool here is artificial time pressure. The victim is not allowed to hang up and is literally forced to act in a state of emotional distress.

This scheme is especially dangerous for elderly people. Scammers play on guilt and the urgent desire to “save” a loved one, leaving no time for fact-checking.

The Legal Trap:

The danger of this method lies in the way money is transferred. When funds are handed to a courier in cash or sent via transfer to an unknown card or electronic wallet, legal mechanisms for recovery almost cease to function. The bank cannot cancel a transaction carried out by the account owner under emotional pressure, and the “couriers” in this chain often vanish without a trace.

IDBank Recommends:

Your willingness to help loved ones is a wonderful quality—but it should never be exploited by criminals. To protect yourself and your family, remember:

Don’t give in to panic. Pause, take a deep breath, and say: “I will call back.” Verify the information immediately.Call your relative yourself, and if they don’t answer, contact other close family members. No money to couriers. Real government officials or hospital staff never send intermediaries to collect cash. This is a clear legal violation and a sure sign of fraud. Check the story. Ask a question that only your real relative could answer. A scammer will immediately end the conversation. Inform the police. Even if you recognize the scam in time, report the call to law enforcement. Your report can help block the scammers’ numbers and protect those who may be less vigilant.

Remember: This scheme relies on surprise and trust. Your money is safe as long as you do not voluntarily transfer it to scammers under emotional pressure.

IDBANK IS SUPERVISED BY THE CBA

The opening of Matenadaran’s new Laboratory for the Study and Restoration of Arabic-script manuscripts was one of the highlights of the launch of the 15th international seminar, “Faces of Memory: Newest Technologies for Preservation and Restoration of Manuscript and Printed Heritage,” which brings together global experts to discuss modern approaches to safeguarding written heritage.

The seminar was officially opened at the Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts (Matenadaran) in Yerevan, gathering specialists from around the world.

Matenadaran Director Ara Khzmalyan said during the ceremony that the “Faces of Memory” seminar, launched 15 years ago, has become a dynamic and highly in-demand international platform.

He noted that the seminar has engaged around 145 institutions, including restoration centers, libraries, museums, and archives, covering a wide geographical scope spanning the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia, South America, as well as India, China, Japan, and Russia.

Khzmalyan emphasized that the seminar addresses a broad range of topics, from the physical and biochemical challenges of manuscript preservation to digitization, laser restoration, advanced conservation technologies, and the development of professional networks and long-term partnerships.

“This can be summarized in one phrase: shared responsibility for the world’s written heritage,” he said.

Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, and Chair of the Matenadaran Board of Trustees Zhanna Andreasyan, also noted that the seminar has developed into a broad international network involving institutions from over 40 countries.

She stressed that leading institutions in the field of written heritage have been involved in the seminar, turning it into an important platform for discussing key challenges and solutions in preservation and restoration.

During the event, Andreasyan awarded the Ministry’s Gold Medal to Tamara Ohanian, a specialist at the Library of Congress of the United States, in recognition of long-standing cooperation.

Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia, Ambassador Vassilis Maragos, welcomed the initiative, describing it as an important platform created by Matenadaran for coordinated international work on manuscript heritage.

He also highlighted ongoing European Union support for the preservation of Armenia’s cultural heritage and cooperation with Matenadaran in this field.

The event concluded with the cancellation ceremony of the “Armenian Miniature Art” postage stamp.

The Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney, will participate as a guest in the European Political Community summit to be held in Yerevan, Armenia, on May 4, the European Council said in a press release. This will be the first time a non-European country participates in the meeting.

The summit will be co-chaired by Nikol Pashinyan, Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, and António Costa, President of the European Council.

The meeting will take place ahead of the first-ever EU–Armenia bilateral summit.

Forty-eight heads of state and government have been invited to take part in this eighth meeting of the European Political Community.

Aside from host Armenia, the invited participants include the 27 EU member states, as well as Albania, Andorra, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Georgia, Iceland, Kosovo, Liechtenstein, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, San Marino, Serbia, Switzerland, Türkiye, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom.

Based on the agreements reached within the Armenia-Türkiye Normalization Process, the meeting of the Armenia-Türkiye Joint Working Group on rehabilitation and operationalization of the Gyumri-Kars railway was held in Kars on 28 April 2026.

The Armenian Foreign Ministry said in a press release that the parties emphasized the significance of the early operation of the Gyumri-Kars railway in the context of enhancing regional transport communications.

A magnitude 3.9 earthquake that hit eastern Türkiye on April 28 was felt across northwestern Armenia, according to the country’s seismic agency.

The Seismic Protection Territorial Service of the Armenian Ministry of Internal Affairs placed the epicenter some 43 km north of the city of Kars in Türkiye, at a depth of 10 km.

The quake was felt in the city of Gyumri in Armenia’s Shirak Province, as well as in the villages of Amasia, Zarishat, Vahramaberd, and Marmashen, at a weak intensity of 2–3 on the MSK scale. No damage was reported by Armenian authorities.

Vice Speaker of the Parliament of Armenia, Hakob Arshakyan, held a meeting in Yerevan with an Estonian parliamentary delegation comprising members of the Estonia–Armenia Friendship Group in the Riigikogu, the Baltic country’s legislature.

According to a press release from the parliament’s press service, Arshakyan said that Armenia highly values its close and reliable relationship with Estonia and considers it a key component in strengthening partnership with the EU.

The meeting took place on April 28, with the participation of the head of the Armenia–Latvia–Lithuania–Estonia Friendship Group, MP Arusyak Julhakyan, as well as the Ambassador of Estonia to Armenia, Marge Mardisalu-Kahar.

Hakob Arshakyan noted that Armenia attaches importance to efforts aimed at the continuous development of political dialogue between the two countries, emphasizing the need for reciprocal visits. He expressed confidence that the establishment of a resident Estonian embassy in Yerevan would play an important role in further expanding comprehensive cooperation.

He added that Armenia places particular importance on parliamentary diplomacy and the development of interparliamentary cooperation with Estonia. In his view, this area has significant potential, and the friendship groups in the parliaments of the two countries will continue their work to consistently strengthen bilateral ties based on long-standing traditions of friendship and mutual respect.

Armenia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs has released the preliminary voter lists for the upcoming parliamentary elections, making them available for both search and download.

 The ministry announced that the lists for the 7 June National Assembly elections are now accessible on its dedicated electoral platform at elections.mia.gov.am. Voters can search for their details by entering their first and last names to locate the polling station where they are registered to vote. For a more precise result, they may also enter their date of birth. The lists are also available for download, organised by community and polling station.

The ministry said eligible voters can access their information either by visiting the “National Assembly Elections” section of elections.mia.gov.am or by navigating to the “By Polling Stations” tab to download the full lists.