While the internal political life of Armenia was focused on a rather heated election campaign, the main foreign political topic is the new, complex realities created in Armenian-Russian relations. The Russian elite brought the topic of Armenia’s foreign policy choice to the public official agenda, demanding the RA authorities to decide whether to remain in the EAEU or to abandon the political goal of EU membership.

Recently, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Armenia’s plans to join the European Union “require special consideration”. According to him, the Russian Federation will support everything that is beneficial to the Armenian people. Regarding the topic, he proposed holding a referendum and giving the Armenian people the opportunity to decide the issue. Putin also noted that the trade turnover with Armenia has decreased, last year, it was much more than the year before, but still 7 billion dollars in 2025.

“If we take into account that the country’s GDP is 29 billion, it is a serious amount, and Armenia receives significant advantages within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union,” Putin said.

According to him, it would be right to take a decision as soon as possible, regarding the population and citizens of Armenia, or regarding the Russian Federation as the main economic partner.

He also said that he proposed to discuss Armenia’s plans related to the European Union at the next EAEU summit. However, Pashinyan announced that he will not participate in the meeting of the Supreme Council of EAEU to be held on May 28-29 in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan. He explained it with the campaign. Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan will replace Pashinyan at the session.

The RA authorities respond to the calls to take a stand on the issue of the EU and the EAEU, claiming that they are not going to “negotiate” with Russia, and they have no plans to leave the EAEU at the moment. However, it is also obvious that Russia will try to put pressure on Armenia through all member states of the EAEU platform or even raise the issue of withdrawing Armenia from the EAEU, which will probably be an extreme measure.

However, here too, it seems that the RA authorities have prepared for certain scenarios and are pinning their hopes on the fact that the EAEU decisions are made on the basis of consensus, therefore, even if RA opposes such a decision, the issue cannot be resolved. However, it is difficult to imagine that in case of desire and consensus in EAEU, it is not possible to create problems for Armenia in any format, as the RA authorities did by “freezing” the participation of Armenia in the CSTO.

This situation foreshadows a stage of economic and political “Zugtswang” for Armenia within the framework of EAEU, where the principle of consensus can turn into a double-edged sword. While Yerevan hopes to use its veto power to stop collective decisions against it, Moscow and similar organizations in this situation possess tools that allow them to bypass formal procedures.

From diplomatic circles 168.amtold that the first manifestation of the crisis may not be the institutional withdrawal, but the actual isolation of Armenia from the economic agenda, when strategic projects, customs privileges and investment programs begin to be implemented in the “minus one” format, leaving Armenia in the status of a static member of the Union.

In the second dimension, according to our source, the crisis may continue and deepen in the field of technical and sanitary regulations, which is often used in the EAEU toolkit as a means of political pressure, and taking into account the high dependence of Armenia’s economy on the Russian market and energy sources, Moscow may initiate “regulation wars”, justifying them with Armenia’s possible rapprochement with the EU and inconsistency of standards, which Russian high-ranking officials are already talking about. This will create a situation where Armenia, while remaining a de jure member of the Union, will de facto be deprived of its economic advantages, which may raise a wave of internal political discontent, considering the pre-election hot atmosphere and the importance of economic indicators.

Finally, the worst scenario is related to the fact that the lack of consensus can bring the structure to a state of paralysis, under which member states can make different decisions and develop new legal mechanisms.

In order to face this crisis, Armenia can adopt and, as can be seen from the official statements, tactics of resistance, making the most of the EAEU legal treaty opportunities and the new ties and arrangements being formed with Kazakhstan. Taking advantage of the principle of consensus, RA has the opportunity to suspend initiatives that are against its interests and to make any obstacle a subject of discussion in other EAEU structures.

However, in the end, the effectiveness of the struggle of the RA authorities will depend on the speed of reducing economic dependence, and experts note that it is not possible to quickly reduce economic dependence on the Russian Federation in the near future. Diversification of export destinations and energy sovereignty could help neutralize the consequences of possible isolation in the EAEU, but none of them is a visible prospect today and in the near future. Therefore, in the absence of economic alternatives, Yerevan will have to make light diplomatic concessions and maneuvers in an attempt to avoid a crisis related to Armenia in the EAEU, which may lead to unpredictable socio-economic upheavals.

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29 million 139,400 drams, about 78,000 dollars. this year, this much will be spent for the “RA Prime Minister’s Cup” team steeplechase for schoolchildren, the stages of which have been started since May.

The Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports made the corresponding allocation in the form of a grant at the beginning of last month. The money is intended for two stages of the event and “Pezzo” was chosen as the supplier company.

And “Pezzo” in state purchases and for KGSMN not new. this LLC is affiliated with “Gevorgian Concern”, and the concern, with its various LLCs, has quite active experience in public procurement and especially with the Ministry of KGMS.

This year alone, around 10 contracts worth millions of drams were signed with “Pezzo” with different purchase procedures, including one-person purchase and a grant option.

By the way, the last large grant was again allocated by the Ministry of Education and Culture in March, delegating 39 million 439 300 drams for the holding of the “RA Prime Minister’s Cup” off-road cycling tournament.

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If 65 percent or more of RA citizens with the right to vote participate in the June 7 National Assembly elections, Nikol Pashinyan is defeated. About this 168 TVof Revue predicts on the air of the program Gagik Minasyan, member of the RPA Executive Bodytalking about the possible results of the upcoming elections and their importance.

The politician emphasizes his main message to the voters and the public: these are not ordinary elections between the government and the opposition, this election is about the existence or non-existence of Armenia.

“We really need to understand what we are choosing on that day. to a political force that has one orientation or to another political force that has another orientation? However, the essence of the question is higher than that: do we choose Armenia or do we choose “Armenia”?

If we choose the power that is still in power in Armenia, then we choose “Armenia”, and all the losses we have had since 2018 will continue, and we will reach the situation in which our Artsakh is today: calm, peaceful, there is no shooting and there are no Armenians. If we vote for him, the power of evil, Armenia will become “Armenia” as a province of Turkey, just as Artsakh is a province of Azerbaijan today.

If we choose the opposite pole, then we choose Armenia and slowly, not quickly, return to a state with the status of a powerful Armenia in the South Caucasus, which will be in demand for all political centers, in particular, for our natural allies – the Russian Federation and the Islamic Republic of Iran, for China, for the United States, and for that same Europe,” said Gagik Minasyan.

The former deputy of the National Assembly also emphasizes. “This choice is not between good and bad. God has given us that opportunity several times, we have always chosen badly. now we must choose between living and dying»։

Talking about the data of opinion polls and the possibilities of the main opposition forces in the elections, “Strong Armenia”, “Armenia” alliance, PAP and the question of how many percent will the CP and the opposition forces collect in the results of the 2026 NA elections, the former NA deputy clarifies that Nikol Pashinyan and the CP led by him have a very specific and stable electorate, which conditionally can make up, let’s say, 25 percent of the citizens, which will go and will vote for him, and under these conditions, Pashinyan’s main task is to make sure that as few people as possible participate in the elections, that the number of citizens participating in the elections is smaller, so that his conditional 25 percent will increase and reach 50 or 60 percent according to the results of the elections.

In other words, Pashinyan is betting not on increasing the number of his voters, but on preventing the increase of the number of opposition voters. From this point of view, Gagik Minasyan predicts that if 65 percent or more of the eligible voters vote in the elections, then Nikol Pashinyan will lose. According to Gagik Minasyan, “this is really a war”.

“This is the first war. This is really a war. this is a war about what kind of participation we will have. If our participation is 65 percent or more, Nikol is defeated at once, Nikol and this evil are defeated. It depends on you, Armenian citizen, Armenian voter… In other words, the main task is to take our citizen to the polling station, because those who should vote for Nikol will definitely go. The main way to increase the number of people’s participation is to talk with our citizens,” said Gagik Minasyan.

Referring to Pashinyan’s targeting of the leaders of the opposition forces, and in particular to yesterday’s aggressive statements against Gagik Tsarukyan, “Tsarukyan Gagik, your tongue has grown…” etc., Gagik Minasyan believes that Nikol Pashinyan is “falling into shocks” because he has very dangerous numbers on his table and he sees how the people treat him.

“What we all saw yesterday means that there is no trace of statehood here, there is a dictator who decides what the rest of the state institutions do. This is not a state, this is a dictatorship… This man has no sanctity in his obsession to blacken everything,” added Gagik Minasyan.

Full interview in the video.

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In the “Pressing” program Satik Seyranyan the guest is Arman Tatoyan, the Prime Minister candidate of the Wings of Unity party is 

Our first question to Arman Tatoyan was the following: how would he feel as the prime ministerial candidate of the “Wings of Unity” party, if an election billboard with his photo was placed in Baku, like, for example, Nikol Pashinyan is advertised in the central streets of Baku?

“Let’s go, let’s die again… what should we feel… You can’t say anything more when you see that Pashinyan’s picture has appeared on billboards in Baku.” he replied.

The main theses of the interview are below.

• For Pashinyan, a citizen, a person has no value. Man is just a tool to maintain his power. For a pathological liar and coward like Nikol Pashinyan, it is a pathological syndrome to blame everyone. Everyone is to blame for their every failure: the former, the Russians, everyone, except them and Azerbaijan… We have a NA president who sees a citizen, spits, and declares that Azerbaijan is the guarantor of our security. Azerbaijan is personally the guarantor of their security:

• Our citizens understand very well that they are dealing with a pathological deceiver. People understand everything very well. That’s why they do everything to keep people away from the elections, so that there is little participation. They are terribly afraid of citizens, that’s why they do everything to prevent people from going to the elections.

• In Azerbaijan, they are now making statements at the highest state level that everything should be done so that KP and Pashinyan are re-elected and remain in power. Ես դրա կոնկրետ ապացույցներն ունեմ ու դրանք ներկայացնելու եմ ԵՄ դեսպանին: Ես սա անվանում եմ տասովշիկություն: Նիկոլ Փաշինյանը հայտնվել է ամերիկյան իրականությանը բնորոշ waterboy-ի դերում: 

• It’s just a shame, we have never had such a leader in our history. How much have you failed our security system, that you are scaring the Armenian people with the war and with Aliyev? Are you bringing us a boy? Our people will answer it with their vote. I can’t imagine that any country can have such a leader:

• Azerbaijan, whose plan is to destroy you, does not allow our country to develop its army. How can we protect ourselves, our country? Instead of rearming and developing the army, one more thing, if the enemy allows something, let’s remove the eye so that it knows its place, we are told that you cannot develop the army.…

• We pay 621 million drams from all of our pockets for 4 families living in government private houses. And this number is increasing with progression. Հիշո՞ւմ եք, որ 2024թ. he said at the government meeting: “It’s cold, we’re getting cold.” After that, the costs of the mansion increased by 18 million. You write yourself so many bonuses in millions, what do you do with that money, do you throw it back? Instead, as an election bribe, they increased the pensions of our pensioners by 10,000 drams, and they pay it back every day. people or see how much favor we have done for you…

• When I think about who is making decisions for the fate of me, my children, my friends, my relatives, I am going crazy… We must not allow this nightmare to happen again one day… 

• I have worked in the state apparatus for a long time. There are many conscientious servants in the middle and lower echelons, decent professionals whose salaries are significantly lower than those of the elite. We have tasib, honorable people working in the state apparatus, who remain in the shadows in the background. If someone tries to deviate from their line, show honor, tasib, Armenianness, at the same second they will be punished, fired, etc… this is unacceptable…

• The army’s criminal proceedings related to the 44-day war were entirely political. The main motivation of this government was to clean the crime from them. They feel like a dog that if the government suddenly changes, all proceedings will be investigated to the end, everyone’s scope of responsibility will become known.

• The European summit was an important event, expensive but not giving us anything. We did not receive any tangible benefit from the event. And Pashinyan’s behavior during Aliyev’s speech was shameful. What was your situation, you are so obsessed with this alibi, how are you humiliating an entire people? Aliyev’s speech was completely a speech of hatred, not only for Artsakh, but also for the entire Armenian people. And after that, Pashinyan says that the Artsakh movement was a fatal mistake. The people of Artsakh exercised their right to self-determination. The first Artsakh war was about that, we avoided genocide with it. But after losing the 44-day war, Pashinyan opened a new door for genocide. Artsakh is my homeland, part of my Armenian identity. This is my belief. There should not be any discrimination against the people of Artsakh, we are the same people, the same flesh and blood. The return of the people of Artsakh to their homeland is for justice, for the security of Armenia. This is a solvable issue. All my life I have dealt with international law, issues like that. The issue of the return of Artsakh citizens is a solvable issue, but for this, the head of the state must be a smart, professional person.:

• They receive 2 buckets of wheat and 2 canisters of gasoline from Azerbaijan, clean Aliyev all over the world, present Azerbaijan as a humanist state. They don’t even know the location of Armenia on a map, they express such thoughts in interviews, you are amazed. There is a female deputy, she says that this wheat comes from Azerbaijan at once. They still don’t know how to make Aliyev like them. 

• I have no doubt that Azerbaijan will ensure the safe life of CP after being deprived of power. 

• Such a government will be established in Armenia, where there will be rule of law and a fully functioning independent judicial system. During all the years of this government’s rule, any episode that appears to involve criminality should be fully investigated.

• Let me say another scheme of criminal activity: the elimination of national identity.

• CP community heads, gather your heads. Who have you been in your life to terrorize people in places? We will protect our people. Those who lived the life of Abizhnik got power, and now they are making fun of our citizens, scaring our citizens. Governors directly participate in repression. This is a criminal scheme to retain power:

• Our people, Pashinyan, are not afraid of threats of war. On the contrary, he wants a strong army. He created a bubble of peace, Aliyev is blackmailing the people. There is no political force participating in the elections in Armenia that wants war. This is Pashinyan’s trap. 

• Pashinyan, what about the security system? Being in power for 8 years, you have destroyed the country’s security system in such a way that another country threatens us with war, and you say: if it is not me, there will be a war… This is his concept of peace. Look at the level of cunning and dishonesty in this. In order to be able to talk about peace today, he found out about the Azerbaijani invasions of 2025 and hid them in order to deceive our people. Who are you anyway to cover up the issues concerning my country and people? 

• They say that border demarcation will solve the issue of Azerbaijani invasion. are you serious, how many brothers are you like this? So, Azerbaijan has come so far, strengthened, deepened to come out with a piece of paper? The fact that Azerbaijanis are sitting in your borders is not the real Armenia you say? Gayane Abgaryan, who was tortured in Jermuk, was not tortured in your real Armenia, you pathological liar? They care only about their personal safety:

• Until now, Sona Mnatsakanyan’s case has not been revealed, the perpetrators have not been punished. A pregnant woman was killed by Pashinyan’s convoy. Why were the radio communication devices destroyed, why were they not submitted for examination? Do we all have the right to doubt that if they were taken, Nikol Pashinyan’s guilt and role would be revealed? What are you doing with our people? 

• I always say to our people: I come to you with an open front. My whole life and activities have been before your eyes. Our country really needs fair-minded, intelligent, Motherland-loving leaders.

• We must consistently develop relations with European countries. This is not discussed. We should also develop relations with the European Union, but go on a separate path. The government is deceiving our people. Their European values ​​are alien, theirs is Azerbaijan. Apart from that, going to the EU today is not realistic, we are not expected in Europe today. What is your connection with Europe? You have a president of the republic who only takes selfies with dead people next to the coffin and is an associate of CP and Nikol Pashinyan.

• He has brought the state bodies under him, he imagines himself as the director of the National Security Service, an operational inspector, an investigator, a prosecutor, a judge, a door guard. All this has nothing to do with democracy. That’s why today our officials are not protected:

• If you are not deceiving our people, tell me when exactly visa liberalization will take place. Until the end of the year…When… What have you done for 8 years, have you failed at everything? You have failed to implement CEPA. This was the important document with which we should have approached Europe, but nothing was done to implement it. Yes, I repeat, we should develop relations with Europe and the USA, but never act against Russia. “Either Russia or Europe” policy is wrong. Imagine if we wake up tomorrow and find out that the price of gas has increased, what will happen? This government deepened economic dependence on Russia. Are you speaking from Russia? from dependence, but no government in Armenia has ever made us so dependent on Russia. The interests of Armenia require not to be enmity with any country under any circumstances:

• What is this whiner doing? It’s a shame, aren’t you a boy, what are you doing? But he does it to show that he is not Aliyev’s man, so that he will not be asked about the promises he made and did not fulfill. 

• He said that in 2050, the population of Armenia will be 5 million. Instead, they have made us an aging society…

• Is the liar the person who calls out the number of 5,000 victims of the war, or the person who belittles the victims of two wars, disrespects the sacrifices of all families, the blood that was shed, our martyrs? It does not suit us to have such a head of a country. People should know by name: who are the victims, who are those who gave their lives for this country, who did not think about their lives, but gave their young lives to the Motherland. They don’t publish the names of our victims, instead they tell us to compile the lists of Genocide victims, which is one of the most important Turkish theses to reject the Genocide.:

• I was a human rights defender under this government, I went through a lot of things. They told me: don’t go to the border areas, don’t make unfavorable statements for us, so that the people don’t think that we are a weak government. What is important to me is the interest of my country, do I really care if you will keep your position or not? For that, they took the cars from the HRD structure.

• Nikol Pashinyan made the summit of the European Political Community part of his campaign. If there is a national government, there should be a different content for that summit. Azerbaijan’s candidate in the Armenian elections is Nikol Pashinyan. We need to have a consensus here. He is nobody’s man. there is a person whose candidate is Nikol Pashinyan. It is Azerbaijan.

• I am not dependent on any geopolitical center and I do not represent anyone’s interest. I have always promoted and will promote exclusively the interests of Armenia:

• I will be there, if it is possible to hold a high-level representative event in my country, I will do it, but I will manage all the risks. When Zelensky from your country gives a thumbs up to Russia, you become a platform from which a conflict is provoked. The Armenian side is provoking a conflict between the countries that are already at war, moreover, the countries in which Armenians live in both. What did it give us?

• Relations with Russia are complicated, I myself have questions for the Russian authorities. It is obvious that these authorities are the cause of this, but we should sit and discuss. But that does not mean that you should make your country a platform for conflict.

• Zelensky was in Azerbaijan 9 days before coming to our country, signed 6 agreements with Azerbaijan. Let him make his statements against Russia from there, why didn’t he do it?:

• If you are the head of the country, should there be such a high-level event in your country, would you not raise a single question about border delimitation, ethnic cleansing in Artsakh, and other crimes of Azerbaijan?

• This government is capable of anything for the sake of position and power. I want to ask our people to keep this in mind and definitely go to the elections. Dear people, they will not be able to control, go and elect an opposition candidate. Losing power is a nightmare for CP. I want to ask our state bodies, it is a shame for our country to have such a leader. I want to appeal to our law enforcement agencies, guys, who is this person to play you, to use you for his own interests? We have many dignified servants, do not pay tribute to illegal orders. We have a mission to save this country. We have nowhere else to go. This is our homeland. me I am absolutely against violence, I guarantee the supremacy of law for Pashinyan as well. We have all the scenarios for all situations, including the post-election street fight, we have thought of everything, because, I repeat, these are capable of anything. We will not give country to Aliyev’s candidate. Don’t we want a leadership for which we don’t fall to the ground in shame? We don’t need a leader who goes to international meetings, eats apples, rips the curtains, then takes a picture and posts it on Facebook. We paid a heavy price, but I want this vicious cycle to be a lesson so that we never have such a government again. 

• The school in Davit-Bek village of Syunik, where Aram Manukyan studied, is being closed. Instead of keeping them as the light of an eye, they take the children away, show them, they lock them up. 

Details in the video.

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