The Central Electoral Commission of the Republic of Armenia on Tuesday hosted a delegation led by Scott Mastic, Vice President of the International Republican Institute.

The CEC said it had earlier decided to invite a foreign non-governmental organization to conduct an observation mission for the June 7, 2026 parliamentary elections.

CEC Chairman Vahagn Hovakimyan welcomed the delegation and answered their questions regarding the legislation.

Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Robert Abisoghomonyan had a meeting with Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, the Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the foreign ministry said in a readout.

The interlocutors commended the robust cooperation established between Armenia and ESCAP. Views were exchanged on the further deepening of the partnership, including in the fields of transport and digital connectivity. In this vein, the Deputy Foreign Minister emphasized the vital importance of knowledge-sharing, expertise exchange and capacity building.

The Deputy Foreign Minister drew the attention of the Executive Secretary of ESCAP to the priorities of Armenia regarding the promotion of regional connectivity as a cornerstone for ensuring peace and stability, fostering economic growth, strengthening resilience and advancing social development. Within the framework of leveraging the untapped transit and logistical potential of the South Caucasus, Robert Abisoghomonyan highlighted the importance of implementing the “TRIPP” project.

During the meeting, views were exchanged on the prospects for cooperation and joint initiatives between Armenia and ESCAP in the lead-up to and within the margins of the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17).

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan received Kevin Hamilton, the NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia, the foreign ministry said in a readout.

The sides discussed the active dynamics of political dialogue between NATO and Armenia, including projects aimed at expanding the partnership. An important component of this cooperation is support for reforms and democratic development in Armenia.

Mirzoyan presented the latest regional developments, as well as steps being taken to normalize relations with neighboring countries and further institutionalize peace.

Touching upon regional connectivity, the interlocutors emphasized that, in the current context, the South Caucasus could serve as a connecting bridge, as reflected in Armenia’s “Crossroads of Peace” initiative.

They also exchanged views on issues related to international security and cooperation on multilateral platforms.

Armenia has welcomed the decision of the EU Foreign Affairs Council to deploy a new EU civilian mission to the Republic of Armenia, aimed at supporting the strengthening of Armenia’s democratic resilience, addressing hybrid threats, including efforts to counter disinformation, cyberattacks, and illicit financial flows, the  Armenian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. 

“The mission will be deployed for an initial period of two years and through its activities will contribute to the development of institutional capacities in the aforementioned areas, as well as to enhancing the resilience of Armenian society in the face of current challenges.”

”The decision on the deployment of the civilian mission, adopted upon the request of the Republic of Armenia, ahead of the first Armenia-EU Summit scheduled for May 5, is one of the joint initiatives stemming from the strategic agenda of Armenia-EU partnership,” it reads.

A discussion on hybrid threats facing Armenia ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections was held at the European Parliament.

According to an Armenpress correspondent in Brussels, the event, titled “Hybrid Threats and Disinformation: The Role of Civil Society in the Armenian Elections,” brought together European officials and representatives of Armenian civil society. Participants noted that Armenia remains an important, yet still vulnerable, example of democratic development in the region.

Miriam Lexmann, European Parliament’s Standing Rapporteur on Armenia, MEP Miriam Lexmann, said EU-Armenia relations are currently closer and that Armenia stands out as a positive example in the region. At the same time, she warned of Russian interference and various threats to democracy.

Participants noted that Russian influence is manifested through disinformation, emotional manipulation, anti-peace narratives, and efforts to undermine trust in electoral processes.

According to Daniel Ioannisyan, head of the “Union of Informed Citizens” organization, sufficient mechanisms are in place in Armenia to safeguard elections, but pro-Russian groups are attempting to create a perception among the public that the elections will be rigged.

Lawyer Lusine Hakobyan emphasized that Armenian civil society operates in a highly polarized environment, where some actors defend democratic processes, while others promote pro-Russian narratives.

At the end of the discussion, participants stressed that the 2026 elections will be crucial for Armenia’s democratic future and that greater support from the European Union could play an important role in strengthening the country’s resilience and democratic institutions.

The Council of the European Union has provided details on the new EU civilian mission in Armenia.The Council of the European Union has announced that the new EU Partnership Mission in Armenia (EUPM Armenia), established under the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), will contribute to enhancing Armenia’s democratic resilience and strengthening its crisis management capacity, the Council said in a statement.

It is noted that the mission will support Armenia in addressing multi-layered threats such as foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI), cyber-attacks, and illicit financial flows.

 “EUPM Armenia will provide strategic advice and capacity building to various ministries and national institutions on the development of policies to address threats faced by society and national institutions, and support the development of a horizontal, whole-of-government approach. It will also provide operational advice and feature a project cell responsible for identifying and implementing concrete actions in the areas covered by the mandate of the mission, in close coordination with like-minded partners,’’ it reads.

“Armenians are facing massive disinformation campaigns and cyber-attacks. Over the next years, a new EU civilian mission will provide expert advice, capacity building for government departments and a team monitoring areas for urgent action. When Armenians go to the polls in June, they alone should choose their country’s future. The EU helps to protect Armenia’s resilience,” Kaja Kallas, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, was quoted as saying.

“The EU Partnership Mission in Armenia will have an initial mandate of two years, and its Operational Headquarters will be in Armenia. The Managing Director of the Civilian Operations Headquarters  within the European External Action Service – Stefano Tomat – will be the Civilian Operation Commander. He will exercise command and control of EUPM Armenia at the strategic level under the political control and strategic direction of the Council’s Political and Security Committee, and the overall authority of the High Representative. A Head of Mission responsible for leading operations on the ground will be appointed shortly.”

According to the statement, on 2 December 2025, the EU-Armenia Partnership Council endorsed a new Strategic Agenda for the EU-Armenia Partnership. Building on the foundations of the EU-Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement, the Strategic Agenda marks a significant step forward in deepening relations across a wide range of areas, including security and defence.EUPM is being deployed at the request of the Armenian authorities.EUPM is the second civilian CSDP mission to Armenia, separate from the EU Mission in Armenia (EUMA), established in 2023 and tasked with observing and reporting on the situation on the ground, contributing to confidence-building and human security in conflict-affected areas.

The Honorary Consulate of the Kingdom of Spain has officially opened in Yerevan.

Ashot Parsyan, who also serves as Guatemala’s honorary consul in Armenia, said the consulate’s mission is to support Spanish citizens, strengthen economic and cultural ties between Armenia and Spain.

He noted that the consulate will act as an active bridge between the two countries, building on more than two decades of work by the Spanish Center in Armenia, which he founded. The center, along with a Spanish cultural space and restaurant, already operating at the same location and regularly hosts cultural events and exhibitions promoting Spanish heritage.

Parsyan emphasized that visa liberalization would boost Armenia’s economy, facilitate travel, and encourage business activity. He added that growing interest from Spanish investors is already evident, citing a recent visit by a large delegation of Spanish business representatives exploring Armenia’s economic potential.

Spain’s Ambassador to Armenia, Ricardo Martinez Vazquez, described the opening as an honor and highlighted the strong relations between the two countries, based on shared values in culture and education.

He also praised Parsyan’s long-standing efforts to deepen Armenian-Spanish ties, particularly through the Spanish Center, where free language education has been offered for years.

The ambassador noted increasing interest among Armenians in visiting Spain and announced a new direct flight between Yerevan and Alicante to be launched this summer, expressing confidence that it will further strengthen bilateral relations.

Armenian weightlifter Gor Sahakyan has won a silver medal at the European Weightlifting Championship held in Batumi.

Competing in the 71 kg category, the two-time European champion lifted 146 kg and 150 kg in the snatch, securing a gold medal in that discipline.

In the clean and jerk, Sahakyan lifted 180 kg, finishing third. With a combined total of 330 kg, he was crowned vice-champion of the tournament.

Earlier, Garnik Cholakyan and Alexandra Grigoryan also won silver medals for Armenia at the championship.