Armenian Directory & News – Page 977 – Armenian Business Directory & News

Asbarez: European Armenian Communities Issue Statement Ahead of EU Summit in Y

May 5, 2026May 5, 2026 Talar Tumanian

by Asbarez Staff

May 3, 2026

in Armenia, Artsakh, Featured Main, Latest, News, Top Stories

Representatives of Armenian communities across Europe issued a statement on Sunday calling for protection of Democratic norms, advancing the rights of Artsakh Armenians and release of Armenian prisoners being held captive in Azerbaijan.

The statement was directed at European leaders who will converge on Yerevan beginning Monday for the first-ever European Political Community Summit.

Below is the text of the statement.

We, the undersigned representatives of Armenian communities from across Europe, issue this statement ahead of the European Political Community Summit in Yerevan to raise concerns about the integrity of Armenia’s democratic environment in the run-up to the parliamentary elections on June 7 2026.

Democracy Must Be Protected Before, Not Only On, Election Day
Armenia is approaching a decisive electoral moment. Yet current conditions raise concerns about public confidence in the process. A highly polarized political environment, uneven conditions for political competition, and questions surrounding the broader pre-electoral framework risk undermining trust.

Free and fair elections are not defined solely by what happens on election day. They depend on the integrity of the entire process—equal access to media, fair competition, and the full protection of fundamental freedoms.

European Engagement Must Remain Strictly Neutral
We recognize the European Union’s role in supporting democratic resilience in Armenia, including efforts to counter disinformation.

However, this support must remain strictly neutral. Any perception that external actors are favoring one political force over another—whether accurate or not—can damage both the credibility of the electoral process and the standing of European partners.
Well-intentioned engagement must not unintentionally blur the line between support and interference.

Elections Cannot Take Place Under the Shadow of Threats
We are concerned by narratives suggesting the possibility of renewed conflict in the region.
We call on Azerbaijan to refrain from rhetoric or actions that could be interpreted as threats or coercion, including attempts to link regional stability to the outcome of Armenia’s democratic process.

Elections must take place free from pressure, intimidation, or the shadow of escalation.

The Rights of Armenians from Artsakh Must Not Be Overlooked
The rights of Armenians forcibly displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh remain a central issue. A sustainable peace must include respect for fundamental human rights, including dignity, security, and, where applicable, the right of return in accordance with international law. Humanitarian concerns must not be sidelined by geopolitical considerations.

A Moment of Responsibility
We call on all actors—within Armenia and internationally—to act responsibly and in full respect of democratic principles.

These elections are not only a national milestone. They are also a test of democratic credibility that resonates across Armenian communities in Europe and beyond.

Conclusion
Armenia’s electoral process must be protected from both internal distortions and external pressures.

A credible, transparent, and genuinely competitive election is essential—not only for Armenia’s democratic future, but for stability in the wider region.
We stand ready to support efforts that uphold these principles.
Signatories

Austria
Samuel Nahadedian – Armenian Committee of Austria

Belgium
Karen Tatevosian – President of the Assembly of the Armenians in Belgium

Bulgaria
Sahak Tchalekian – Co-President of the Association of the Armenian Unions of Bulgaria

Czech Republic
Aleksandr Sargsyan – President of the Armenian Apostolic Church Council of Czechia

Cyprus
Vahan Aynedjian – President of the President of the Diocesan Council of the Armenians in

Greece
Nazar Avakian – President of the Central Council of the Armenians in Greece

Italy
Baykar Szavlian – President of the Cultural Union of Armenians in Italy

France
Ara Toranian — Co-Chair, Conseil de Coordination des Organisations Armdniennes de France (CCAF)
Mourad Papazian — Co-Chair, Conseil de Coordination des Organisations Armdniennes de
France (CCAF)

Germany
Jonathan Spangenberg – President of the Central Council of Armenians in Germany

Netherlands
Noubar Vartanian – Representative of the Armenian Community of Almelo

Romania
Zareh Nazaryan – Vice-President of the Union of Armenians of Romania

Spain
Ararat Ghukasyan – Representative of the Armenian Community of Valencia

Sweden, Norway, Denmark
Anahit Avakian – Co-Moderator of the Scandinavian Armenian Union
Simon Der Sahakian – Co-Moderator of the Scandinavian Armenian Union

United Kingdom
Garen Arevian – President Armenian Community Council of the United Kingdom

Coordinator
Kaspar Karampetian – Belgium

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European Leaders Converge on Yerevan, Pledge Support for Armenia

May 5, 2026May 5, 2026 Emil Lazarian

by Asbarez Staff

May 4, 2026

in Armenia, Artsakh, Featured Main, Latest, News, Top Stories

European Union leaders, as well as high-level officials from member states converged on Yerevan on Monday to attend the European Political Community summit, which convened at the Karen Demirchyan sports complex on Monday.

President Emmanuel Macron of France, Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Great Britain, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of Italy, were joined by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine by Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. The prime ministers of Georgia, Spain and the Czech Republic were also in attendance.

Also attending were the EU Council President Antonio Costa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, EU’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and other high-level officials from the bloc.

Turkey was represented by its Vice-President Cevdet Yilmaz, while President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan addressed summit via video call and invited those gathered to Baku for the 2028 iteration of the gathering.

Hailing the summit as “historic,” Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan spoke about his administration’s efforts to negotiate peace in the region through talks with Azerbaijan and the documents signed last year at the White House that included the agreement for the establishment of the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity—TRIPP.

“Now we are on the way to implementing a very important project. It is the “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity,” which will contribute to peace by unblocking the routes of the region and creating new international routes from east to west, from south to north, which will significantly contribute to the stability of international supply chains,” Pashinyan told the summit in his welcoming remarks.

“Now we have peace with Azerbaijan,” Pashinyan said. “It has been two years since no one has suffered due to the exchange of fire with Azerbaijan, and these are unprecedented years since our independence.”

“We are now working closely with Azerbaijan to consolidate and institutionalize peace between our two countries. This is the first time that the President of Azerbaijan has participated in an event taking place in Armenia, albeit remotely. But I hope that I will have the opportunity to visit Azerbaijan in 2028, when the 12th Summit of the European Political Community will be held there. By the way, Armenia and Azerbaijan have mutually supported each other’s candidacies to host these summits,” the prime minister added.

Pashinyan also praised himself and his administration for efforts to normalize relations with Turkey, saying that his first-ever meeting with that country’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, took place on the sidelines of this very summit in the past.

Addressing its participants, EU Council President Costa said the gathering “places Armenia in the heart of Europe, which is exactly where it belongs.” He also said the choice of the summit venue was made by possible by Armenian-Azerbaijani peace agreements reached last year.

“The fact that Armenia is hosting this summit is a powerful illustration of the country’s courageous geopolitical path, a path that Armenia and the EU are walking together,” Costa told a news conference later in the day.

Kallas, the EU’s foreign policy chief, told reporters that the summit taking place in Armenia demonstrated the importance of the Caucasus, “especially now when there is a war in Iran as well. We are talking about connectivity, but also resilience to the threats that we are facing,” she said.

Yet the main agenda item for Monday’s summit were the challenges facing the EU and the world as the Ukraine war continues to rage on and the U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran have complicated security, economic and energy concerns for the bloc.

President Donald Trump’s decision to pull U.S. troops from Italy, Germany and other countries, caught European leaders off guard.

“There has been a talk about withdrawal [of] US troops for a long time from Europe. But of course, the timing of this announcement comes as a surprise. I think it shows that we have to really strengthen the European pillar in NATO, and we have to really do more. The American troops are not in Europe only for protecting the European interests, but also American interest,” Kallas said.

The summit will focus solely on EU-Armenian relations on Tuesday.

A draft of a statement expected to be adopted on Tuesday was reviewed by Azatutyun.am. According to the news service, the EU leaders will pledge to continue “bringing Armenia closer to the European Union” but stops short of promising Armenia eventual membership in the EU.

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Asbarez: Opposition Protests Draw Attention to Artsakh Rights, Lapse of Democr

May 5, 2026May 5, 2026 Boris Nahapetian

by Asbarez Staff

May 4, 2026

in Armenia, Artsakh, Featured Story, Latest, News, Top Stories

The opposition Armenia bloc holds a protest on the sidelines of EPC summit in Yerevan on May 4 (Azatutyun.am video grab)

As European and other world leaders attended the European Political Community summit in Yerevan on Monday, opposition groups stages demonstrations, drawing the attention of visiting dignitaries to the rights of Artsakh Armenians, the captives being held in Baku and the lapse in democratic norms in Armenia.

The opposition Armenia bloc supporters marched from the center of Yerevan to the Karen Demirchyan Sports Complex, where the summit was being held.

The Armenia bloc issued a statement on Sunday, saying the timing of the summit, which the group said signaled external support for the current administration ahead of the June 7 parliamentary elections.

Calling the EPC summit and the subsequent first-ever EU-Armenian summit “important events,” the Armenia bloc argued that Armenia was experiencing a “volatile” domestic atmosphere ahead of the elections.

“These are indeed important events, whose substantive significance for Armenia could have been much greater had the timing of these gatherings been taken into account. Holding such events in a tense domestic political environment, just weeks before nationwide elections, will inevitably be presented by the Armenian authorities as external support, while European political actors will effectively become directly involved in Armenia’s internal political processes,” the bloc said in its statement.

“The interest of Armenia’s authorities lies not in the substantive development of Armenia–EU relations, but in using European political actors within Armenia’s internal political processes. We regret to note that statements made by representatives of the European Union’s executive bodies only deepen our concerns that the manipulative actions of Armenia’s authorities appear to be receiving European backing,” the opposition group warned, while underscoring the importance of EU-Armenia relations as part of Armenia’s foreign policy.

“We reaffirm our commitment to promoting the continued development of Armenia–EU partnership, based on the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement, shared values, and historical experience. Armenia–EU relations must be kept free from both domestic political exploitation and geopolitical confrontation, in line with the principles of the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement,” the statement said.

“We call on high-level delegations visiting Armenia to approach the development of Armenia–EU relations based on the best interests of that relationship, rather than political expediency aimed at supporting a preferred government in Armenia. The restriction of democratic processes, violations of the rule of law, and limitations on political freedoms by Armenia’s authorities will increasingly make such ‘European protection’ more difficult to sustain. A passive stance toward these violations, driven by political calculations—including by European partners—has led to an unprecedented increase in the number of political prisoners in Armenia,” the statement added.

“European institutions have also failed to demonstrate appropriate political conduct by not condemning the unlawful campaign launched by the authorities against the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church,” the Armenia bloc said.

The Armenia bloc specifically focused on the EU’s pledge to send two missions to Armenia to counter what has been termed as “hybrid threats” to the elections, which Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said are emanating from Russia.

“We do not expect any external actor, including the European Union, to interfere in Armenia’s internal political processes. However, among Armenia’s external partners, the European Union is one of the few that holds contractual obligations to monitor the rule of law and democratic processes in the country. In this context, we expect that the second civilian mission to be deployed in Armenia will fully adhere to its mandate and be guided by the principle of political inclusivity, ensuring that opposition voices are heard,” the Armenia bloc emphasized.

“In any case, the high-level events planned in Armenia present a valuable opportunity to raise critical issues for our people and state, such as the release of our prisoners held in Baku and the de-occupation of Armenia’s territories,” the Armenia bloc added.

“In this context, we welcome certain provisions of the European Parliament resolution adopted on April 30 on ‘Supporting Armenia’s Democratic Resilience,’ particularly those addressing the right of return of Artsakh Armenians, the protection of Armenian cultural heritage in Artsakh, the release of Armenian prisoners, and the need to ensure equal and competitive conditions for all opposition actors in Armenia,” the statement stressed, adding that “we expect that this principled position of the European Parliament will serve as a guiding framework for the European Union’s executive bodies.”

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CC: How Nikol Plans to Win the June Election

May 5, 2026May 5, 2026 Ophelia Vardapetian

· MAY 4, 2026

By Jirair Tutunjian

While several polls have shown that he is ahead in popularity as the election gets nearer, Prime Minister Pashinyan wants to win by acclamation. With that in mind, he recently chaired a meeting with public relations man Gumpr Hachoghyan and veteran American publicist Jack Sanctimonian whose grandparents had settled in Fresno before the Genocide.

Nikol: Let’s hear it, Jack. How are you going to persuade people to vote for me?

Jack Sanctimonian: My grandmother used to say: “Dzoor nsdink, shidag khosink.” We will bribe the people, according to demographics. That’s how you will win decisively.

Gumpr Hachoghyan: Translation please.

JS: We will determine the different demographics of the electorate and bribe them according to their wants and needs.

NP: Go on.

JS: To get the youth vote, we will organize free rock concerts from Gyumri to Meghri. In addition to local talent, we will get, through the U.S State Department, American entertainers free of charge.

GH: Often rock concerts get wild. You should make sure everyone behaves. If there’s violence, we might lose votes.

JH: A well-behaved rock concert is an oxymoron, we say in English.

NP: Who is the moron?

GH: No one. It means “contradiction.”

NP: You mentioned Ararat brandy in your brief.

GH: As you know, Pernod Ricard of France owns Ararat brandy. I have been talking with their CEO in Paris to sell us 50,000 Ararat bottles at deep discount.

NP: What are you talking about?

JS: We will give a free 5-year-old Ararat to everyone who votes for you.

NP: What? What? You are going to ruin me. Where would I get that kind of money?

JS: Not to worry. Uncle Sam will take care of the bill.

NP: I like that. I know I am digressing. You know the only brandy manufactured in Cognac can be called “cognac.” Since Pernod Ricard owns Ararat, why don’t we push them to recognize Ararat as cognac? After all, we are buying 50,000 bottles of the stuff.

JS: Good idea, wrong time. Let’s get back to the election. We will give 5-year old Ararat to anyone who votes for you. If a whole family votes for you, each adult will get a 10-year-old Ararat. There’s more. If someone persuades his family and 20 other individuals to vote for you, he or she gets free vacation at the 7-star Ataturk Hotel in Antalya. Courtesy of Turkiye National Tourist Office and the Turkish Airlines. There will be vacations in Jermuck and Lake Seven for people who persuade five people.

GH: It’s Jermuk and Sevan. I think we should reward canvassers, poll takers…people who distribute pamphlets….I think we should offer them free dinner at the best Yerevan restaurants such as Artashi Mot.

NP: I know the restaurant. We can’t work with them because restaurant is on Kocharyan Street. I don’t want to see the name of that Russophile-Tashnag-Artsakh terrorist anywhere.

GH: It means Dolmama and Black Angus restaurants are also no-no because they are on Pushkin and Apovian streets…two notorious Russophiles.

NP: I like the speedy way you grasp an idea. Tavern Yerevan is also a no-no. It’s on Khorenatsi…named after the nationalist-fabulist Movses Khorenatsi.

JS: (To himself: “I can’t believe this conversation. Why did I take this job?”): Let’s talk about the election slogan. It should be brief and have punch, as we say on Madison Avenue.

GH: How about “Peace, Prosperity, Pashinyan”?

NP: I like it, but as a former journalist I have to reject it because it has no verb. We need action in the campaign slogan.

JS: How about: “Put your faith in Pashinyan”?

GH: It has no punch, as Americans say. The campaign slogan should be short. How about “Forget it!!!”

JS: I don’t understand. Forget what?

NP: No wonder Gumpr is my faithful, trusty, and perceptive friend. “Forget It!!!” means put your faith in the Real Armenia, in the Pashinyan Armenia… and forget the mythological Armenia and people like suicidal Kachn Vartan, lunatic Drtad III who behaved like a beast, and mythologist Movses KhoreNAZI. It means forget dreamlands called Cilicia and Western Armenia…you get the idea. One last thing: Gumper, make sure no troublemaking diaspora Armenian journalist is admitted to Armenia during the election campaign.

Thank you, gentlemen. It has been a good meeting. I am pressed for time: I have to rush to the South to inspect work progress on the Marvelous Trump Superhighway.

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Jewish GOP Lawmaker Faces Backlash From Armenian Americans Over ‘Racist Rant’

May 5, 2026May 5, 2026 Emil Lazarian

· MAY 4, 2026

By Adeola AdeosunNewsweek

Representative Randy Fine, a Florida

Republican, is facing backlash from an Armenian American advocacy group after telling a podcast host that “we don’t want Armenians to be able to serve in Congress“—a remark made during an attack on his GOP primary challenger Dan Bilzerian.

The congressman’s remarks arrive at a moment of heightened scrutiny over discriminatory rhetoric in Republican primary contests, and from a lawmaker who has been endorsed three times by President Donald Trump. How GOP leadership responds could shape whether the comments become a sustained political liability for Fine in the primary where he faces a challenger whose own platform openly includes antisemitic claims that the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has identified as conspiracy framing.

For Armenian Americans, who number an estimated 1.5 million in the United States and have a long history of public service, the comments touch a particularly raw nerve. The remarks come less than three years after Azerbaijan’s 2023 ethnic cleansing of more than 100,000 Armenian Christians from Nagorno-Karabakh—a campaign Fine has been criticized for indirectly supporting through legislation backing Azerbaijan, according to the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), the largest and most influential U.S.-based grassroots Armenian American advocacy organization.

Newsweek reached out to Fine’s office and Bilzerian’s campaign via email on Saturday for comment.

What Representative Randy Fine Said

Fine, who is Jewish, appeared Thursday on The Jenny Beth Show where he attacked Bilzerian and extended his criticism to Armenians as a group. His full statement on the show was:

“Israel just put out a list of the top 10 most dangerous antisemites in the world. And to my amazement, a guy I’d never even heard of until about three weeks ago was ranked number one. He’s got a very large social media following, not from Florida, he lives in Las Vegas when he’s not in his foreign country of Armenia. But you know, he’s just a terrible antisemite. I think what he’s trying to show is that this group of hate-filled lunatics and losers can take hold in the Republican Party.

“But look, my, constituents are smart. The little Armenian said, I think that President Trump was a pedophile rapist who should be impeached. That’s not a winning argument. It may work in Armenia, where he’s from [sic], but that’s not an argument. That’s not gonna work in the United States. So, it’s bad. We have to take it seriously because we don’t want this to take root in our party. We don’t want Armenians to be able to serve in Congress. But I’m not gonna lose too much sleep about it.”

The Israeli government list Fine referenced ranked Bilzerian first among “prominent influencers in the global anti-semitic and anti-Zionist arena in 2025.”

The list placed climate activist Greta Thunberg in second and white supremacist Nick Fuentes in eighth.

Representative Randy Fine, a Florida Republican

The Armenian National Committee of America Responds

The remarks drew immediate condemnation from the ANCA.

“The ANCA condemns this racist anti-Armenian rant by US Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL), cosponsor of a reckless Congressional resolution to ship US arms and aid to genocidal Azerbaijan,” the advocacy organization wrote on X on Friday.

Aram Hamparian, executive director of the ANCA, told The Armenian Report on Saturday Fine’s statement was bigoted and politically self-interested.

“Randy Fine’s racist rant targeting Armenians comes as no surprise—after all, he’s backing a bill to arm and abet Azerbaijan, a genocidal dictatorship fresh off its ethnic cleansing of 150,000 Armenian Christians,” Hamparian said. “This hate-filled bigot has no place in Congress.”

In addition, ANCA Advocacy Director Gev Iskajyan wrote on X on Friday: “This isn’t just racist—it’s disqualifying. Saying Armenians shouldn’t be allowed to serve in Congress is blatant bigotry. No elected official who traffics in this kind of hate should be running for office.”

Who Is Randy Fine?

Fine, 51, was elected to represent Florida’s 6th Congressional District in April 2025 in a special election to replace former Congressman Michael Waltz. He serves on the House Foreign Affairs and Education and Workforce Committees. A third-generation Floridian, Fine built a career as an entrepreneur in retail, technology and hospitality before entering politics.

Fine was elected to the Florida House in 2016 and served the maximum eight years before moving to the Florida Senate and then Congress. As the only Jewish Republican in the Florida Legislature, his colleagues nicknamed him “The Hebrew Hammer” for his work opposing antisemitism. He graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College and earned an MBA from Harvard Business School. Trump endorsed him for reelection in October, calling him a “MAGA Warrior” on Truth Social. Fine’s campaign has noted he is the only person Trump has endorsed three times in the past two years.

Fine has been a controversial figure throughout his political career. He has called Representative Ilhan Omar, a Michigan Democrat, a “Muslim terrorist,” compared New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani to former Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and said dropping nuclear weapons on Gaza would be a bad idea only because “the fallout would drift into Israel.”

Jenny Odasz and entrepreneur Dan Bilzerian attend Eight Cigar Lounge grand opening

Who Is Dan Bilzerian?

Bilzerian, 45, of Las Vegas, is a social media personality, professional poker player, and Ignite International Brands founder who filed to run for Congress in Florida’s 6th District in April as a Republican. Born in Tampa on December 7, 1980, he served in the U.S. Navy from 1999 to 2003 before attending the University of Florida and pursuing professional poker. He gained mass online following on Instagram and X and is also an Armenian citizen.

Bilzerian’s campaign platform—published on his official website—includes proposals to abolish the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Federal Reserve, end all foreign aid, prosecute politicians for “dual loyalty,” and what he calls ending “Jewish Supremacy.” The ADL classifies “Jewish supremacy” as an antisemitic conspiracy framing that plays into longstanding tropes alleging Jewish people are responsible for global tragedies.

Bilzerian has questioned the death toll of the Holocaust and claimed Jewish people were responsible for the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. He has called Fine a “fat Jew” and a “Jewish supremacist,” and told TMZ in April the term “antisemitic” is “made-up.” His campaign website states America “is being run into the ground by Jewish Special Interests,” among other antisemitic claims.

In an interview the same month with The Daytona Beach News-Journal, Bilzerian called Trump “a complete fraud, disaster, and a liar”—despite previously supporting him in 2016 and 2020. He told the outlet he believes the U.S. should “decouple from Israel completely” and called U.S. foreign aid to Israel “treason.”

Bilzerian said he would relocate to Florida if elected.

Marjorie Taylor Greene Weighs In

The dispute drew commentary from former GOP Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, who has faced accusations of antisemitism throughout her time in Congress, posted on X that Fine’s targeting of Armenians was directly tied to his primary race.

“This is the ‘Armenian’ that Randy Fine is talking about when he says Armenians should not be in Congress,” she wrote. “Dan Bilzerian is also primarying Zionist First Randy Fine so naturally Randy said Armenians are antisemitic [sic].” Greene noted Armenia is 94 percent Christian and adopted Christianity as its state religion in 301 AD.

The Broader Race

Florida’s 6th Congressional District covers a large swath of northeast and central Florida, including Palm Coast, Volusia County, and parts of Marion, Putnam, Lake, St. Johns and Flagler Counties. The Republican primary features Fine, Bilzerian, Palm Coast City Councilman Charles Gambaro, and Lake County contractor Aaron Baker. Democrats Robert Cooper II, Jennifer Jenkins, Ronnie Murchinson-Rivera, and Eric Yonce are also running.

What Happens Next

The Republican primary on August 18 will be the next major test for both candidates, with Fine holding Trump’s endorsement and the institutional support of the GOP, and Bilzerian running as a self-styled outsider against what he calls the establishment.

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Israeli desecrates Armenian Cathedral of Saint James in Jerusalem

May 5, 2026May 5, 2026 Bedik Zaminian

· MAY 4, 2026

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United States warns tourists not to travel to Azerbaijan

May 5, 2026May 5, 2026 Emil Lazarian

· MAY 4, 2026

Advisory summary and areas of increased risk were updated.

Reconsider Travel to Azerbaijan due to terrorism, armed conflict, and risk of landmines. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.

Do not travel to:

The southern border region due to risk of armed conflict (unless this is your best overland exit from Iran).
The border with Armenia due to risk of landmines.
The following territories due to landmines: Aghdam, Aghdara, Fuzuli, Gubadli, Jabrayil, Kalbajar, Khankendi, Khojaly, Khojavend, Lachın, Shusha, and Zangilan

Advisory Summary

Armed Conflict
Following the onset of hostilities between the United States and Iran on February 28, 2026, there has been an ongoing threat of drone and missile attacks from Iran. There was a March 5, 2026, drone strike on Nakhchivan International Airport. Commercial flights have also been seriously disrupted.

Terrorism
There is risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity in Azerbaijan. Visit the U.S. Department of State’s country reports on terrorism to learn more.

Terrorist groups continue to plan attacks and are a risk in Azerbaijan. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning. They may target:

Tourist locations
Transportation centers (airports)
Markets and shopping malls
Local government buildings
Hotels, clubs and restaurants
Places of worship
Parks
Major sporting and cultural events
Educational institutionsOther public areas
Other public areas

Risks in specific areas
Level 4 – Do not travel

Border with Iran
Do not travel to the southern border region due to risk of armed conflict (unless this is your best overland exit from Iran).

Following the onset of hostilities between the United States and Iran on February 28, 2026, there has been an ongoing threat of drone and missile attacks from Iran. U.S. citizens should avoid the southern border area unless this is your best overland exit from Iran.

Border with Armenia
Do not Travel to the border with Armenia due to the risk of landmines

Landmines and unexploded ordnance exist throughout this region. Many of them are not marked, so it can be hard to know where they are.

Exercise a high degree of caution on roads near the Azerbaijan-Armenia border:

Be aware that some portions of the road may cross international boundaries without notice.
Roads may be controlled by checkpoints or closed to travelers without notice.

The U.S. government is unable to provide immediate emergency assistance to U.S. citizens because U.S. government employees working in Azerbaijan are prohibited from non-official travel to the border region.

Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.

Landmine-contaminated regions in Azerbaijan

Do not travel to the following regions due to landmines: Aghdam, Aghdara, Fuzuli, Gubadli, Jabrayil, Kalbajar, Khankendi, Khojali, Khojavend, Lachın, Shusha, and Zangilan
Armed conflict has stopped in these regions, but landmines are still in the ground and remain dangerous.
Landmines and unexploded ordnance exist throughout this region. Many of them are not marked, so it can be hard to know where they are.
The U.S. government is unable to provide immediate emergency services to U.S. citizens in these regions because U.S. government employees need approval to travel there.

Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.

If you decide to travel to Azerbaijan:

Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to get important updates and alerts from the U.S. embassy or consulate. Enrolling helps the U.S. embassy or consulate contact you or your emergency contact in an emergency.
Review the Country Security Report for Azerbaijan.
Have a plan to leave in an emergency that does not depend on U.S. government help. Review our information on Crisis and Evacuations.
Review our information on Terrorism and Travel to High-Risk Areas.
Prepare a plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist.
Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel and return to the United States.
We highly recommend that you buy insurance before you travel. Check with your travel insurance provider about evacuation assistance, medical insurance, and trip cancelation coverage.

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CC: Where to Eat Khachapuri in Los Angeles

May 5, 2026May 5, 2026 Jhanna Virabian

· MAY 4, 2026

(Photo: Parilov/Shutterstock)

By Garrett Palm

mashed.com

Khachapuri is an indulgence. I’ll sometimes get the dish for breakfast to power me through a big hike in Angeles National Forest. While khachapuri is traditionally an anytime food, I usually start my morning with the Adjaruli version, which comes with a runny egg and butter in a central pool of molten cheese. To eat the dish, you rip off chunks of the thick, doughy crust to dip in the hot cheese and egg in the middle. Los Angeles has a strong khachapuri scene, so narrowing down my recommendations to these five options was tricky: Momed, Tony Khachapuri at Oui Melrose, Pink Orchid, Tun Lahmanjo, and a frozen version from Super King that you can heat up at home.

Originally from the country of Georgia, khachapuri is also popular in neighboring countries throughout the Caucasus, including Armenia. Los Angeles has a large Armenian population as well as many Armenian restaurants and bakeries. Throughout my time here, I’ve tried khachapuri from many different spots, both Armenian and Georgian. While I belong to neither of these groups, I am an appreciator of the dish.

Tony Khachapuri at Oui Melrose

Garrett Palm/Static Media

Operating out of the Oui Melrose shop, which specializes in donuts, cookies, burgers, sandwiches, and laffa wraps, Tony Khachapuri makes a delicious example of the Georgian dish. From the outside, the small storefront is easy to miss as you zoom down Melrose. I don’t often venture this far west, so I have yet to try the khachapuri with black truffles. I still went beyond a basic version, however, by adding za’atar to the crust. Other toppings include mushrooms, bacon and chives, and soujouk (a cured sausage common to the region).

The crust is fresh and warm, the cheese is hot and creamy, and the egg is runny and rich. The za’atar addition brings a fresh, herby, nutty taste. Adding za’atar (or either sesame or salt) to the crust is free, and the basic khachapuri costs $16.99. The cashier also gave me a free chocolate doughnut (presumably from the Oui Melrose side), which was deliciously fudgy and rich.

Pink Orchid in Glendale and Westwood

Garrett Palm/Static Media

Pink Orchid is where I first tried khachapuri. I still bring people here to try the dish, as this Armenian bakery makes a great version. The egg is baked in with the cheese instead of added to the melty center after the dish comes out of the oven. Fortunately, the yolk is still runny and nice for dipping the unadorned crust into. This crust is soft on the inside with a crisp exterior — Pink Orchid is a bakery, after all.

The menu of sandwiches, salads, pizzas, and breakfast items is large, supplemented by a case filled with cakes, baklava, and pastries. I’ve only sampled the honey cake, but it’s a favorite of mine. You’ll often see groups of older people here in the afternoon enjoying a slice of cake with a strong Armenian coffee or tea, which is honestly how I aspire to live my life. If you’re looking to try more coffee from Armenia, Lumen in Highland Park is a specialty Yerevan coffee shop that makes LA a unique place to wake up in.

Momed in Atwater Village

Garrett Palm/Static Media

Momed’s version of khachapuri comes with za’atar and Calabrian chili butter. The cheeses are akawi and smoked mozzarella. Akawi is a Palestinian cheese that’s popular throughout the Levant. It has a slight saltiness that helps approximate sulguni, the traditional khachapuri cheese. The smoked mozzarella adds a level of umami, while the Calabrian chili butter brings heat. This is a more complex version of a dish that’s beautiful in its simplicity — luckily, it works. The flavors all come together to make a delicious meal.

The restaurant only serves khachapuri for lunch and brunch. Elevated foods from around the Mediterranean comprise the rest of its menu. The flavors are fresh and unique with a wide range of influences. The avocado hummus with peanut salsa macha, muhammara, and wild mushroom manti are personal favorites of mine. I’ll often go during happy hour just to have some momo chips — thick-cut fried potatoes with a fluffy interior. Momed’s is secreted away in the Atwater Village neighborhood, and it’s a spot where I’ll take out-of-town guests when they visit LA.

Super King, various locations

Garrett Palm/Static Media

One of the big benefits of living in Los Angeles is its mix of cultures and their respective foods. One of my favorite grocery stores here in Southern California, Super King, embraces the region’s international aspect. Armenian-owned, Super Kings around the area focus on providing ingredients at low prices for whichever culture is locally prevalent. My local store is situated within a large Mexican, Armenian, and Levantine population, so that’s what it focuses on. I can get akawi cheese, tomatillos, matnakash bread covered with sesame seeds, tahini, dried beans, eight types of feta, wildly cheap cucumbers, Oaxaca cheese, and frozen khachapuri. All I have to do is brave the rows of little old ladies elbowing past me to get the pick of the produce.

The khachapuri in the freezer aisle here is BYOE (bring your own egg) but has the bread and cheese set. You bake it, pull it out to crack an egg on top, then put it back in the oven for a little longer. I haven’t perfected the baking process yet. My last khachapuri was overcooked and a little dry, but the lake of melted cheese and runny egg more than made up for the bread.

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168: While Pashinyan is “at war” against the image of Ararat, Ursula von ter Ley

May 5, 2026May 5, 2026 Toneyan Mark

May 4, 2026

President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, referring to her visit to the Republic of Armenia on her X page, attached a magnificent photo of Mount Ararat from the Armenian side to her post.
Next to the photo of Ararat, he wrote: “Landing in Yerevan, where the European political community will gather to address continental scale challenges. From security to energy and connectivity. We will also celebrate an important milestone, the Armenia-EU summit being held for the first time.”

The President of the European Commission made the note the day before, immediately after his arrival in Armenia.
The European official is probably not aware that Pashinyan’s government is doing everything to “delete” the image of Ararat, as it did in the case of the sketch of the new RA biometric passports, depicting the 3rd century monastery of Khor Virap from a point of view where Ararat is not visible.

Let’s add that in Yerevan, despite the bans of the RA authorities, protests are taking place, including against the hypocrisy, silence and double standards of the same Ursula von der Leyen.

One poster, for example, depicts Ursula von der Leyen in a coffin with the slogan “Welcome to the resting place of democracy”.

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Involve Canada’s senior hostage official in the release of Armenian prisoners

May 5, 2026May 5, 2026 Markos Nalchajian

May 4, 2026

The families of the Armenian prisoners held in Baku have written an open letter to the Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in Armenia, asking the senior Canadian official on hostage issues to involve in the release of the Armenian prisoners held in Baku and to support the efforts for their immediate and unconditional release.

The full text of the letter.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney
Yerevan, Armenia

Dear Mr. Prime Minister,

We, the members of the families of Armenian prisoners held in Baku, welcome your historic visit to Armenia on the occasion of participating in the 8th Summit of the European Political Community. We hope that your presence will strengthen Canada-Armenia relations and contribute to peace, security and stability in the region.

With this letter, we would like to draw your attention to an urgent humanitarian problem. our relatives, 19 Armenian prisoners continue to be illegally detained in Azerbaijan. Despite numerous calls from international bodies, including the European Parliament, for their immediate and unconditional release, Azerbaijan continues to illegally detain them, prolonging the suffering of their families and undermining confidence in the peace process.

Canada has shown principled leadership in the fight against arbitrary detention and hostage diplomacy. By establishing the Institute of Senior Hostage Officials and by pioneering the Declaration Against Arbitrary Detention in Interstate Relations, Canada has affirmed that people should not be used as political leverage in interstate relations. With all due respect, we note that what is being done with our relatives is fully consistent with the spirit and purpose of these commitments.

Our concerns are deepened by the conditions of their detention and the serious human rights violations reported by international actors. Their trials have been widely criticized as inconsistent with fair trial principles. Azerbaijani officials have announced that they have no intention of releasing the former officials of Nagorno Karabakh. The termination of the physical presence of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Azerbaijan deprived our families of the opportunity to receive regular and impartial information about their whereabouts.

Canada’s experience gives this call a special moral weight. Canada has gone through its own reconciliation process and realized that lasting peace can be built not on denial, silence or unhealed wounds, but on truth, recognition of rights, respect, cooperation and partnership. The same principle applies here. a peace that allows people to be arbitrarily detained and their families to suffer cannot be reliable, sustainable or just.

Dear Mr. Prime Minister, in your speech in Davos, you presented the principled and pragmatic vision of “value-based realism” based on human rights, sovereignty, territorial integrity and the rule of law. You mentioned Vaclav Havel’s warning about “living in a lie”. The ongoing detention of Armenian prisoners in Baku is just such a situation, which should be called by its real name and resolved.

With all due respect, we ask you to engage Canada’s senior hostage affairs official in the case of the Armenian prisoners held in Baku and support efforts for their immediate and unconditional release. We also ask Canada to use its voice, diplomatic channels and relations with the European Union, the United States and other parties to the Declaration Against Arbitrary Detention to coordinate pressure on Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan’s commitment to peace will not inspire confidence in the Armenian public as long as Armenian prisoners remain in captivity. Their release and repatriation are indispensable to any real peace process and a vital confidence-building measure.

Your visit to Yerevan is an important opportunity to demonstrate that Canada’s commitment to ending arbitrary detention is not just words, but also action. With the greatest respect, we call on you to meet with the families of the prisoners held in Baku, listen to us and raise the issue of Armenian prisoners in your meetings with the leaders of other countries. We strongly believe that Canada can play a fundamental and constructive role in ending the suffering of our families. We thank you for your attention to this urgent humanitarian issue and look forward to Canada’s support in securing the release and safe return of our loved ones.

Free Armenian Prisoners

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