Seven people were injured in a road accident in the town of Kapan on Tuesday and were taken to Kapan Medical Center, Armenia’s Interior Ministry said.

According to preliminary information, a HOWO truck collided with a parked GAZelle minibus serving the Syunik village–Kapan route in Kapan’s Baghaberd district.

The injured individuals were reported to be in moderately serious condition.

Police officers were dispatched to the scene.

The circumstances of the accident are being investigated.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has congratulated Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on his Civil Contract party’s victory in Armenia’s parliamentary elections.

The letter, published by the Armenian Prime Minister’s Office, reads:

“Your Excellency,

On behalf of the government and people of Australia, I warmly congratulate you and the Civil Contract party on your success in Armenia’s parliamentary elections held on June 7, 2026.

Australia welcomes the participation of the Armenian people in this democratic process and recognizes the significance of these elections for Armenia’s future.

Australia highly values the historic progress made toward achieving comprehensive and lasting peace with Azerbaijan. I encourage continued efforts to reach a signed and ratified agreement.

I also welcome Armenia’s continued efforts toward reform and cooperation with international partners in support of economic prosperity, democratic governance and sovereignty.

Australia values its relationship with Armenia, which has been enriched by the Armenian community in Australia and its contribution to our multicultural society. I look forward to strengthening cooperation between our two countries in the coming years.

I wish you and your government every success in your important work.”

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan spoke by phone with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.

The Ukrainian foreign minister congratulated Mirzoyan on his reappointment as Armenia’s foreign minister, according to a readout.

The foreign ministers discussed issues related to the bilateral agenda between Armenia and Ukraine.

They also exchanged views on the regional situation and recent developments.

A ruling Civil Contract party lawmaker has said Armenia sees no way back to the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), having frozen its participation in the alliance several years ago.

Civil Contract MP Sargis Khandanyan made the remarks during a press briefing, commenting on Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin’s statement that the CSTO could discuss suspending Armenia’s voting rights at its November 11 summit.

“There is no reason or circumstance that could force us to activate our participation in the CSTO. You know what issues led Armenia to freeze its participation, and those issues have not been resolved to this day. We have not even seen a political-level statement condemning what happened to Armenia’s sovereign territory in 2022-2023,” Khandanyan said, referring to Azerbaijan’s repeated attacks on Armenia’s sovereign territory during that period.

Armenia has frozen its participation in the CSTO’s activities since February 2024. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said the CSTO had failed to fulfill its security commitments to Armenia.

A lawmaker representing the ruling Civil Contract party said on Tuesday that Armenia and Iran have a “mutual understanding” regarding the TRIPP connectivity project, which Yerevan is advancing with Washington. 

MP Sargis Khandanyan said at a press briefing that strained U.S.-Iran relations cannot affect the implementation of the project.

“There is a mutual understanding between Armenia and Iran regarding TRIPP, and I do not think anyone should be concerned that the tense relations between Iran and the United States could affect the implementation of this program,” Khandanyan said.

According to him, Armenia’s interest is in establishing peace in the region as soon as possible.

“As for Iran-U.S. relations, of course, our interest is for peace to be established as soon as possible. We had high hopes for the negotiations and agreements that took place between Iran and the United States several months ago, and it seemed that a peace plan had been developed. Let us hope that this plan will be implemented,” Khandanyan said.

Speaking about the planned construction of a railway under TRIPP in the context of strained U.S.-Iran relations, Khandanyan emphasized that the railway project does not depend on relations between Washington and Tehran.

“The railway project is on the agenda. At present, the site and its feasibility are being studied, and once the studies and technical assessments are completed, construction will begin. I see no political obstacle here,” Khandanyan said.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan held a meeting on Tuesday with the ambassadors of Arab states accredited to Armenia.

According to a readout issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, Pashinyan emphasized the importance of developing relations and deepening cooperation with Arab states, noting that Armenia and Arab countries have strong historical and cultural ties. In particular, Pashinyan said the Armenian government is interested in advancing new initiatives aimed at deepening political, diplomatic and economic ties.

The Armenian prime minister and the ambassadors also discussed efforts to ensure peace and stability in the region. In this context, they emphasized the importance of the peace established between Armenia and Azerbaijan as a result of the August 8, 2025, summit in Washington.

The ambassadors thanked Pashinyan for organizing the meeting in this format, noting that it would contribute to effective dialogue and discussions on issues of mutual interest.

They also exchanged views on steps aimed at unblocking regional transport links, including efforts to implement the TRIPP project.

The discussion also covered the Seventeenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17), which will be held in Armenia in October this year. The prime minister emphasized the importance of active participation by delegations from Arab states in the planned events.

Modern mining is difficult to imagine without digital technologies, data, and innovative solutions. However, simply adopting new technologies does not necessarily lead to effective digitalization. What matters is how these technologies are integrated into a mine’s overall operating system and how the data collected is transformed into actionable insights that support decision-making.

Lydian Armenia aims to establish Amulsar as a fully integrated and connected digital mining operation from the very start of operation. The Club of Economic Journalists spoke with the company’s General Manager, Connor Chard, about Amulsar’s digital strategy, data management, the challenges of digital transformation in the mining industry, and the foundations required to unlock the potential of artificial intelligence.

– Mr. Chard, as a new mining project, what opportunities does Amulsar offer from a digitalization perspective?

– As you know, Amulsar is the first and, to date, the only metal deposit discovered in Armenia since independence that is now approaching the start of operations. From a digitalization perspective, this gives us a significant advantage.

In existing mining operations, new technologies often need to be adapted to infrastructure, systems, and workflows established years ago. At Amulsar, we have the opportunity to design the digital environment from the outset and embed it as an integral part of the mine’s operating model.

In other words, we have the opportunity to build Amulsar’s “digital backbone” from the ground up, creating the foundation for a fully integrated digital ecosystem.

– What is Lydian Armenia’s digital vision for Amulsar?

– The full digitalization of Amulsar is a key priority for us. We are already actively working toward this goal so that, from the start of operations, the mine can function as a fully integrated and connected digital operation.

For us, a digital mine is much more than a collection of individual technologies or software solutions. Our goal is to connect the entire mining value chain within a single digital environment—from equipment and field operations to planning, management, and decision-making.

This approach enables us to turn data and technology into practical tools that improve operational efficiency and support faster, data-driven decision-making.

– You mentioned an “integrated digital system.” What does this mean in practice?

– Our approach is built around four core principles.

The first is system integration, ensuring that different functions are connected rather than operating in isolation.

The second is to automate workflows and capture data directly at the source—whether from equipment, sensors, employees, or operational systems.

The third is establishing clear accountability and consistent standards. There must be clarity around who is responsible for the data, how it is managed, and what standards it must meet.

And the fourth is turning reliable data into actionable insights.

Together, these four principles will provide our team with reliable, actionable information to improve production, manage impacts and costs, and enable data-driven decision-making.

Our team also brings extensive international experience. Many of our specialists have previously worked in similar operating environments and with comparable technologies, and we are now applying that expertise at Amulsar.

– What are the main challenges mining companies face on their digital transformation journey?

– Throughout my career, I have seen mining companies introduce new technologies into systems and operating environments that were never designed to accommodate them.

Companies can invest significant resources and deploy numerous systems and software solutions while generating vast amounts of data. But having more technology and more data does not, in itself, translate into greater operational efficiency or better decision-making.

The underlying challenges are often fundamental: inadequate infrastructure, incomplete or unreliable data, siloed systems, limited integration, and unclear accountability.

Under these conditions, even the most advanced technological solution may fail to deliver the expected results.

Technology creates real value only when it is properly integrated into the broader operating system, aligned with actual workflows, and enables people to make faster, more accurate, and data-driven decisions.

– How important is data within this system, and how will it be collected, managed, and used?

– Data is the foundation of the entire system. Data collection begins at the source—whether that source is equipment, a person, a sensor, or an operational system.

The data then moves through a controlled process into a single, governed platform, where it can be validated, integrated, and made accessible to the people who need it.

Our goal is to transform raw operational data into consistent, reliable, and actionable information.

This enables better decision-making today while also creating the foundation for advanced analytics and AI-driven predictive capabilities in the future.

– Artificial intelligence is now a key part of the digital agenda across nearly every industry. What role do you see it playing in the future of mining and, specifically, at Amulsar?

– Despite significant investment in recent years, the mining industry still has considerable work ahead on its digital transformation journey. Data quality remains a persistent challenge, while many technology investments have yet to deliver the results originally expected.

At the same time, mining companies are preparing to significantly increase their investment in artificial intelligence. AI undoubtedly has enormous potential, but without a strong digital foundation, it cannot deliver meaningful value.

If systems are not connected and the underlying data is incomplete or unreliable, AI will simply generate answers faster based on poor-quality information.

That is why, before focusing on the potential of AI, we need to make sure the right digital foundations are in place. This is exactly where our efforts at Amulsar are focused today.

– Once Amulsar becomes operational, how will this digitalization translate into the mine’s day-to-day operations?

– Technology itself is not the end goal. The goal is to make the mine more efficient, predictable, and effective in its day-to-day operations.

When people have timely access to reliable information, systems are connected, and workflows are streamlined and automated wherever possible, we can gain a clearer, real-time understanding of what is happening across the operation and make faster, better-informed decisions.

This should help us manage production and costs more effectively, respond more quickly to changing conditions, and ultimately improve the quality of decision-making across the operation.

Our goal is for Amulsar’s digital system to go beyond simply showing us what has already happened. Over time, it should help us better understand what is happening now and anticipate what is likely to happen next.

That is where the real value of digitalization lies.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has appointed Roza Babayan as Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Affairs.

Prior to her appointment, she served as Advisor to the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, providing legal consultation, from February to August 2026. She previously served as Director of the UNAIDS Country Office in Armenia (2020–2025) and held senior legal and human rights positions with UNAIDS.

Babayan has also worked as an expert for organizations including the WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, Asian Development Bank, and Council of Europe, focusing on healthcare, human rights, legislation, and social-sector reforms.

She holds a Law degree from the Moscow Law Institute and a degree in Veterinary Medicine and Sanitary Examination from the Armenian Agricultural Academy. She completed an Executive Course in Global Health Diplomacy at the University of Toronto, the Leading for Transformational Change course at the UN Staff College, and an Executive MBA in Institutional Management at Yerevan State Medical University. She is also pursuing a PhD in Constitutional Law, focusing on the constitutional and legal regulation of patients’ rights in Armenia.

The interagency commission responsible for organizing the “Tour d’Arménie” international professional cycling race has held a session chaired by Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Zhanna Andreasyan.

The race is expected to take place in Armenia from September 10 to 13.

According to a ministry readout, Minister Andreasyan thanked the members of the interagency commission for the work being carried out, emphasizing that the proper organization and successful conduct of an international tournament of such scale for the first time is possible only through close and coordinated cooperation among all relevant organizations.

The importance of daily oversight of the preparatory work, operational communication among agencies, and the need to respond quickly to emerging issues were emphasized.

Minister Andreasyan emphasized that, beyond its sporting significance, the “Tour d’Arménie” is an important platform for raising Armenia’s visibility and promoting the country’s tourism potential.

The race routes will provide an opportunity to showcase Armenia’s natural landscapes, historical and cultural heritage, and the distinctive features of various communities to an international audience.

The race’s role in presenting Armenia as an attractive and competitive venue for major international sporting events was also emphasized.

During the meeting, issues related to the race schedule, organizational work, and finalization of the race routes were discussed. The race will be held in four stages, covering the Gegharkunik, Tavush, and Lori provinces, as well as Yerevan.

Race schedule:

September 10: Gavar–Mets Masrik — 135 km September 11: Kirants–Stepanavan — 176 km September 12: Martuni–Dilijan (Parz Lake) — 162 km September 13: Yerevan — 113 km, with 10 laps.

Organizational, infrastructure, and technical issues related to the race were discussed, particularly regarding road improvements, the installation of road signs, and ensuring the safety of the routes. The proper equipping and preparation of the race routes were emphasized to ensure the safety of participants and compliance with the requirements of an international tournament.

The race’s branding and public awareness efforts were also addressed. Particular attention was drawn to increasing public awareness, especially among residents of the communities through which the cyclists will pass. It was noted that the race’s official website will be launched soon and will include information on the routes, schedule, participants, and other necessary information related to the race.

It is planned that 18 teams, each consisting of six cyclists, will participate in the “Tour d’Arménie” international professional multi-stage cycling race. The participants will include teams and athletes from various countries, including Japan and China. The Armenian team will also participate in the race.

Overall, more than 300 delegates are expected to arrive in Armenia, including athletes, team representatives, referees, and other specialists involved in the organization and conduct of the race.

Armenia’s Speaker of Parliament Ruben Rubinyan has rejected opposition claims that Armenia’s territory has shrunk, saying the country’s territory has always been 29,743 square kilometers and that the previously cited figure of 29,800 square kilometers was simply a rounded estimate.

Rubinyan made the remarks during a parliamentary session in response to a speech by Artur Khachatryan, a member of the opposition Hayastan (Armenia) faction. Khachatryan, who is also a member of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF), said that they had been taught at school that Armenia’s territory was 29,800 square kilometers, whereas the government now cites a different figure.

“29,743, when rounded, becomes 29,700, so a legitimate question arises: where did the 57 square kilometers of the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia go?” Khachatryan said.

Rubinyan specifically referred to a 2005 report on the availability and distribution of Armenia’s land resources.

“First of all, it has always been 29,743. The encyclopedia may have used the rounded figure in the heading, and then given the exact figure below,” the Speaker said.

Rubinyan said that in 2005, when the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF/Dashnaktsutyun) was part of the ruling coalition, a report on the country’s land resources approved by the Armenian government stated that Armenia’s territory was 2,974,300 hectares, which corresponds to 29,743 square kilometers.

Rubinyan added that the same figure was also given in the corresponding documents from 2010 and 2015.

The Speaker also addressed the Alma-Ata Declaration, noting that, following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the administrative borders that had existed between the former Soviet republics became interstate borders.

“It is written there in black and white that the existing inter-republican borders become interstate borders. This means that whatever borders existed between the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic and the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic at that time became interstate borders,” Rubinyan said.

According to him, recognition of Armenia’s territory as 29,743 square kilometers also follows from this logic.

Rubinyan also pointed to what he described as a contradiction in the opposition MP’s positions. On the one hand, the opposition argues that Armenia’s ratification of the Alma-Ata Declaration in 1991 should not be considered a step toward recognizing Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan. On the other hand, it portrays the 2022 Prague Statement—in which the parties reaffirmed their recognition of each other’s territorial integrity on the basis of the Alma-Ata Declaration—as a change in Armenia’s policy.

“Now decide: does the recognition of each other’s territorial integrity under the Alma-Ata Declaration mean recognition of the borders of the former Soviet republics, or does it not?” the Speaker said.