CIVILNET
CivilNet is an independent online media platform covering culture, politics, and business, committed to advancing Armenia’s democratic and economic growth.
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Iran, Armenia discuss expanding energy and infrastructure ties
📍Iran has proposed expanding natural gas exports to Armenia as the two countries explore deeper energy ties and new transportation links. 📍Human rights lawyer says there are credible reports that some Armenians held in Azerbaijani prisons have suffered serious injuries, including fractures, raising concerns that some may have resulted from violence.#CivilNet #ՍիվիլՆեթ #dailyarmenia
US company acquires major Armenian mine: THIS WEEK IN BUSINESS
- A U.S. company linked to businessman Konstantin Sokolov acquired Armenia’s Teghut mine from Russia’s VTB bank. Sokolov is also involved in U.S.-backed efforts to develop a new transit route across the South Caucasus.- Armenia’s government advanced efforts to seize AraratCement, one of the country’s largest cement companies. It’s owned by prominent businessman Gagik Tsarukyan, who has been detain
Court places Ararat Cement under state management in Tsarukyan asset case
📍 The Armenian government takes control of Ararat Cement as authorities pursue asset forfeiture proceedings against businessman Gagik Tsarukyan.📍 Armenian lawyers criticize a proposal to ban HelpCourt.am, a website that allows lawyers to rate judges. 📍 The big ideas defining Armenia's political future- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwUL5tGEY1k #CivilNet #ՍիվիլՆեթ #DailyArmenia
Report says Israel dropped Armenian Genocide recognition due to Azerbaijani pressure
📍New reporting indicates Azerbaijan successfully pressured Israel to withdraw its Armenian Genocide recognition bill after direct intervention with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. 📍UN experts question Armenia’s use of terrorism charges against Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan and some of his supporters, while the government defends the case as a legitimate investigation into planned violence. 📍Form
The big ideas defining Armenia's political future
Insights host Eric Hacopian joins the CivilNet podcast to explain some of the concepts he uses on his show to describe Armenia’s current political situation. These include the country’s drift into “Finlandization”, as well as his rough equivalents for two competing political mindsets in Armenia's electorate: “Weimar Armenians,” a reference to interwar Germany’s reliance on concessions and subm
Tsarukyan’s business empire faces new pressure after arrest
📍 An Armenian court has placed Gagik Tsarukyan’s AraratCement under state management as prosecutors pursue a long-running illicit asset forfeiture case against the jailed opposition leader. 📍 Armenia sees an opportunity to purchase more U.S. defense technology as it strives to diversify its defense partners. 📍 EU Ambassador Maragos on von der Leyen’s Armenia visit and the future of relations- http
Armenia withholds comment on Israel’s recognition of 1915 genocide
📍 Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has commented for the first time on Israel's ongoing effort to formally recognize the Armenian Genocide, saying that he would not get involved in the matter. 📍 Armenia and Azerbaijan are creating a mechanism allowing the two countries to exchange information on missing persons and the burial sites of those killed in war. A similar instrument helped advance peac
Israel advances Armenian Genocide recognition to parliament amid backlash from Turkey, Azerbaijan
📍 Israel’s cabinet has unanimously approved a resolution to recognize the Armenian Genocide, prompting sharp backlash from Turkey and criticism from Azerbaijan as the measure now heads to the Knesset for final approval. 📍 Armenia’s Constitutional Court is set to rule this week on an opposition bid to annul the June 7 election over alleged fraud. 📍 This Week in Business- https://www.youtube.com/wat
Armenia economy resilient despite external risks, central bank says
📍 Armenia’s economy has remained stable following the parliamentary election earlier this month, as well as Russia’s extensive bans on Armenian goods, the country’s Central Bank Governor Martin Galstyan says.📍 A new internet transit agreement between Armenia's Telecom Armenia and Azerbaijan's AzerTelecom has sparked debate on social media due to fear about its potential security implicatio
Why Armenia lost the 2020 Karabakh War
The 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War exposed deep structural weaknesses in Armenia’s military and political decision-making. Political scientist Dr. Vicken Cheterian, lecturer in political science at the University of Geneva and director of the Diasporan Perspectives think tank at the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, joined the podcast to discuss these failures and why Armenia was not prepared for the con
EU moves to boost Middle Corridor with new platform, $2+ billion investment plan
📍 The European Commission today announced the launch of the Connectivity Agenda Platform and the signing of agreements with international financial institutions expected to mobilize more than $2 billion for strategic connectivity investments in the Black Sea region and the South Caucasus. 📍 Armenia’s Ministry of Infrastructure published a draft decision yesterday outlining plans to nationalize 100
Armenian, Azerbaijani telecom operators connect infrastructure
📍 Armenia’s Telecom Armenia and Azerbaijan’s Azertelecom have announced a deal that will allow for the transfer and provision of transit internet services across their infrastructures.📍 Russia has not commented on reports that Azerbaijani authorities destroyed a World War II memorial in Nagorno-Karabakh despite lashing out on Armenia over an act of vandalism at a similar memorial in Gyumri earlier
Election fraud & the Aliyev referendum
Following Armenia’s parliamentary election, Insights host Eric Hacopian examines the controversy surrounding the official vote total and what it means for the balance of power in parliament. He also explains what will likely become the defining political issue of the coming years: the proposed constitutional referendum demanded by Azerbaijan. Hacopian examines the political calculations behind the
Russia broadens restrictions on trade with Armenia: THIS WEEK IN BUSINESS
📍 Russia has broadened restrictions on trade with Armenia to cover most agricultural products as relations between the two countries continue to worsen.📍 Armenia’s Central Bank voted to keep interest rates unchanged at 6.5%.📍 Interview with Davtyan Farms’ Davit Davtyan (in Armenian): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YI_aavAzrgk#CivilNet #ՍիվիլՆեթ #civilnetbusiness
No rerun decision draws criticism from election monitors in Armenia
📍 An Armenian court yesterday ordered the seizure of a large land plot in the ski resort town of Tsaghkadzor from the country’s National Olympic Committee, which is headed by Gagik Tsarukyan, a business tycoon and opposition leader.📍 A coalition of election monitoring groups known as the Independent Observer has criticized Armenia’s Central Electoral Commission for refusing to hold a rerun of the
Media lessons for Armenia from Moldova & Ukraine
Independent journalists Viktoria Dumbrava of Moldova-based Agora and Yulia Hyra of Ukraine-Babel join CivilNet in Yerevan for a special edition of the Synergies on Air podcast series. The show is produced through the Seizing Synergies project, a journalism initiative linking independent media outlets across Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine. Drawing on their experiences in Moldova and Ukraine
Rethinking journalism across Eastern Europe and the South Caucasus
This special edition of the CivilNet Podcast is part of the “Synergy on Air” series, produced through the Seizing Synergies project, a cross-border journalism initiative connecting independent media outlets across Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine. CivilNet speaks with Markus Niedobitek, Project Manager at the Berlin-based Network for Cross-Border Journalism (n-ost), which coordinates the Sei
Special Report: Armenia Election Final Results Confirmed, Opposition Rejects Outcome
Armenia’s Central Electoral Commission has confirmed the final results of the June 7 parliamentary election after a week of recounts and legal disputes, with the ruling Civil Contract party retaining a parliamentary majority. The outcome has been rejected by several opposition parties, while attention also remains on its implications for Armenia’s constitutional agenda and peace process with Azerb
The two Armenian visions emerging from this election
Following Armenia’s parliamentary election, Insights host Eric Hacopian examines what ultimately decided the vote and the factors behind the ruling party’s victory. The episode also looks at why the opposition performed better than expected and what this reveals about the country’s evolving electorate. Finally, it explores the deeper political divide emerging from the election and what it signals
US approves creation of ‘Trump route’ company with Armenia: THIS WEEK IN BUSINESS
📍 The first phase of a major data center in Armenia is nearing completion, according to High-Tech Industry Minister Mkhitar Hayrapetyan. The mega-project is a public-private partnership of the Armenian government and Firebird, an Armenian-American startup.📍 A key U.S. government agency approved the formation of the TRIPP Development Company, an American-American joint venture, to oversee the devel
Government may bypass parliament to constitutional referendum
📍 Turkey may have changed the tone of its official statement on the outcome of Armenia’s parliamentary election following a trilateral meeting between Turkish, Georgian, and Azerbaijani officials.📍 Armenia’s justice minister has addressed the issue of Artur Osipyan, a former Karabakh resident who was detained last month after a heated exchange with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Justice Minister
Opposition party leader charged with alleged tax evasion
📍 Armenian authorities today filed charges of large-scale tax evasion against Gagik Tsarukyan, a business tycoon and leader of the Prosperous Armenia party which finished fourth in Sunday’s parliamentary election.📍 Armenia’s Central Election Commission has addressed reports of dozens of soldiers being allowed to vote in Sunday’s election after the polling stations had been already closed.📍 Armenia
Special Report: Armenia After the Vote
📍 Armenia’s Central Electoral Commission has confirmed a victory for Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s Civil Contract party in a parliamentary election marked by strong turnout, a reduced governing majority, and two opposition forces entering parliament. While election observers described the vote as largely orderly, the campaign and election day were shaped by allegations of irregularities, height
Armenia Votes 2026: Why Pashinyan's Win Falls Short
CivilNet political commentator Eric Hacopian examines the results of Armenia's 2026 parliamentary election, where Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's Civil Contract party retained power but underperformed expectations. The discussion examines why voter turnout reached its highest level in years, how opposition forces outperformed forecasts, and whether Pashinyan's conduct during the campa
The numbers behind Armenia's election results
Political analyst and election expert Tigran Mughnetsian joins CivilNet to break down the results of Armenia’s June 7 parliamentary election. He examines the record voter turnout, the performance of the major political forces, and how the final vote shares translate into parliamentary seats. Mughnetsian explains the impact of electoral thresholds and vote redistribution, the significance of Prospe
Armenia launches first AI factory: THIS WEEK IN BUSINESS
📍 As relations continue to worsen, Russia further tightened restrictions on trade with Armenia, most recently suspending imports of seafood.📍 Business delegations from Armenia and Turkey held talks in the city of Kars.📍 Armenia opened its first artificial intelligence factory, while also confirming the receipt of extremely high-quality computer chips for a major data center project.#CivilNet #Սիվի
The military parade and the polling war
With Armenia’s parliamentary election taking place this Sunday, Insights host Eric Hacopian examines recent polls and argues that major discrepancies suggest they may be intended to influence voter behavior rather than accurately measure public opinion. The episode also looks at Armenia’s newly unveiled military hardware from last week’s military parade, including Iranian air defense systems and C
EU signs off $58 mn aid package to offset Russia’s ban on Armenian imports
📍 In an effort to mitigate the economic impact of Russia’s recent restrictions on Armenian imports, the European Union has approved an assistance package of more than $58 million, and Yerevan announced subsidies for exporters.📍 Competing political parties in Sunday’s parliamentary election present sharply different foreign policy visions ranging from closer EU integration to renewed alignment with
Russia, the West and Armenia's election endgame
CivilNet’s political commentator Eric Hacopian explains how Armenia’s election race has evolved and where it stands at this point - just days before the vote. The discussion looks at concerns over foreign interference, competing narratives from Russia and the West, and how they try to influence the election’s information space. Among the domestic issues hanging over voters are allegations of abuse
Pashinyan, Putin call follows escalation over Armenia’s EU direction
📍 Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin amid escalating tensions over Yerevan’s foreign policy direction and Moscow’s recent export restrictions. 📍 Activist Gegham Ohanyan has launched a sit-in protest in central Yerevan. He is demanding the release of jailed Artsakh activist Artur Osipyan, whose hunger strike has entered a second week amid
David Ignatius recalls Ruben Vardanyan as “larger than life” on his birthday
Washington Post columnist and bestselling author David Ignatius joins CivilNet for a personal conversation about Ruben Vardanyan — businessman, philanthropist and former Artsakh state minister — who is marking another birthday behind bars in Baku.Ignatius reflects on how the two met, their work together on the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative, and the values that drove Vardanyan to stand with the pe
Rubio’s Armenia visit and the battle over democracy
As U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio visits Armenia ahead of the country’s parliamentary election, Insights host Eric Hacopian examines the growing internationalization of Armenia’s political landscape. He stresses that Armenia’s democracy was built by the Armenian people and can only be sustained by them. The episode also covers the government's planned May 28 military parade and new allega
Independent journalists gather in Yerevan for cross-border media project
Independent journalists from Armenia, Moldova, Ukraine, and Georgia met in Yerevan as part of the Seizing Synergies project by the Network for Border Crossing Journalism, also known as n-ost. The initiative focuses on cross-border collaboration to strengthen reporting and editorial exchange in an era of growing disinformation, political pressure, and shrinking resources.#CivilNet #ՍիվիլՆեթ #Seizin
Armenia, U.S. sign bilateral agreements as Marco Rubio visits Yerevan
📍 Armenia and the United States have initialed a framework agreement on strategic cooperation concerning the “Trump Route” while also signing a rare earths and minerals deal.📍 A total of 61% of Armenians believe the country is heading in the right direction, a survey by the International Republican Institute shows.📍 The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe's election monitoring
Turkey reopens Akhalkalaki-Kars rail line for Armenian trade through Georgia
📍 Armenia gains new rail access to Europe via the Akhalkalaki-Kars railway. 📍 A new poll shows 75% of Armenians support the county's possible accession to the European Union, though most still want to maintain friendly relations with Russia as well. 📍 Aliyev once again threatens Armenia with war- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LM5qNcu12oc#CivilNet #ՍիվիլՆեթ #dailyarmenia
Armenia approves new tax breaks for tech firms: THIS WEEK IN BUSINESS
📍 Armenia will consider legislation to introduce reverse mortgages for retirees.📍 Armenia approved changes to a law that grants tax breaks to tech companies.📍 Armenia announced plans to develop a new customs center in the Syunik region.#CivilNet #ՍիվիլՆեթ #civilnetbusiness
Pashinyan to skip Russia-led economic summit amid election campaign
📍 Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will miss an upcoming Russia-led economic summit as he campaigns for June 7 elections, amid renewed concerns in Moscow over Yerevan’s turn toward Europe. 📍 Armenia is currently hosting the prestigious Concours Mondial de Bruxelles wine competition, welcoming hundreds of wine experts. 📍 Voskevaz Winery and Armenia’s Wine Revolution- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I
Aliyev once again threatens Armenia with war
As Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev once again threatens Armenia with war while presenting himself internationally as a supporter of peace, Insights host Eric Hacopian examines why the threat of renewed conflict remains central to Baku’s political strategy. The episode also looks at Armenia’s increasingly volatile election campaign, including allegations of vote buying, intimidation, abuses of
New report exposes opposition leader Samvel Karapetyan’s links to Russian Intelligence
📍 A new report by the exiled Russian investigative outlet The Insider has revealed Moscow’s intelligence network in Armenia. Using leaked databases, they published what they describe as proof of opposition leader Samvel Karapetyan’s collusion with Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), the successor to the KGB.📍 Armenia's Investigative Committee has filed criminal charges against Samvel Kara
The politics behind Pashinyan’s public outbursts
With Armenia’s June 7 parliamentary election fast approaching, political commentator Eric Hacopian joins the CivilNet podcast to assess a race that looks markedly different from previous campaigns. The contest is being shaped by unprecedented levels of spending from frontrunners, while smaller parties compete for visibility through social media. Against the backdrop of Prime Minister Nikol Pashiny
Armenia admits it cannot be in both the EU and Russia’s Eurasian Union
📍 According to Azerbaijan’s ambassador to Turkey, Baku is urging the Turkish government to hold off on opening Turkey's border with Armenia. Armenia has previously accused Baku of hindering Yerevan’s normalization with Ankara.📍 Armenia’s foreign minister acknowledged that Yerevan cannot be a member of the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union and the European Union at the same time, responding t
Armed men issue threats against Pashinyan as campaign tensions escalate
📍 A video showing armed masked men threatening Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has triggered a criminal investigation and intensified political tensions. 📍 A man from Artashat, who had been in police custody for allegedly taking down an election poster, died by apparent suicide in a psychiatric ward. 📍 Pashinyan has proposed a controversial easing for Armenia’s drivers who lost their licen
U.S. firm begins site surveys for ‘Trump route’ in Armenia: THIS WEEK IN BUSINESS
📍 YouTube has launched monetization in Armenia, High-Tech Industry Minister Mkhitar Hayrapetyan announced.📍 U.S. infrastructure consulting firm Aecom started site surveys for a major new transit route planned in Armenia, Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan announced.📍 Turkey eased decades-old restrictions on trade with Armenia, amid continuing efforts to reopen the two countries’ long-shuttered b
How political distraction became campaign strategy
With less than a month until Armenia’s parliamentary election, the campaign has entered a volatile phase marked by escalating political rhetoric. On Insights, host Eric Hacopian identifies potential violations of campaign spending limits by the leading parties, and examines how the current government’s strategy may be to encourage voter disengagement. The episode also highlights Ruben Vardanyan’s
Schools in Armenia allegedly mobilized for ruling party campaign rally
📍 Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan says four school principals in Aragatsotn province offered resignations as authorities investigate allegations that teachers and students were mobilized to attend a ruling party campaign rally. 📍 Former Nagorno-Karabakh Foreign Minister David Babayan, currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan, says appeal documents filed by Armenian detainees have disappeared. 📍 Armenia,
Turkey lifts restrictions on trade with Armenia
📍 Turkey has lifted restrictions on direct trade with Armenia. Though it continues to keep the shared border closed, it is expected that the import costs of Turkish goods to Armenia will reduce.📍 The International Committee of the Red Cross says it continues visiting Armenian detainees in Azerbaijan from abroad despite the closure of its Baku office, amid concerns over prisoners’ treatment and lac
Armenia, United States continue TRIPP consultations
📍 Russia’s foreign ministry claims that unlike Moscow, the European Union has little to offer Armenia in terms of trade, security, and political representation.📍 Armenia and the United States held another round of consultations on the so-called ‘Trump Route,’ a proposed Washington-mediated transport link through Armenia’s southern 📍 Syunik region that would connect Azerbaijan to its exclave of Nak
Turkey in Focus: Autocratic Trajectory and Economic Crisis
In this CivilNet interview, political scientist Cengiz Aktar joins Eric Hacopian to examine Turkey’s deepening political and economic crisis under President Erdoğan. The discussion explores the country’s autocratic trajectory, declining living standards, strained EU relations, and the future of Kurdish rights. Aktar also addresses Armenia-Turkey normalization and the broader regional implications
Putin warns Armenia over EU path, citing war in Ukraine
📍 Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan rejects Russian President Vladimir Putin’s call for Armenia to choose between the EU and the Eurasian Economic Union, saying there is no immediate necessity to leave the bloc. 📍 Pashinyan faces backlash after questioning Armenia’s historical ties to Nagorno-Karabakh during a campaign speech in Syunik. 📍 Business Week Armenia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
The promises and limits of the Trump Route for Armenia
Can the proposed Trump Route (TRIPP) through Armenia’s south bring lasting peace and prosperity to the South Caucasus? Anahide Pilibossian, Vice President of the Yerevan-based APRI Institute, discusses the think tank’s new report on the route. She argues that TRIPP is a necessary but insufficient step toward regional stability without broader border openings between Armenia, Turkey, and Azerbaijan
Armenia, UK launch strategic partnership agreement
British Ambassador Alexandra Cole discusses the expanding relationship between the United Kingdom and Armenia following the first-ever visit of a UK prime minister to independent Armenia. She outlines the launch of a new strategic partnership between the two countries, as well as the UK’s growing economic interest in Armenia, expanding people-to-people ties, democratic cooperation, and developing
Ameriabank parent company joins major global stock index: THIS WEEK IN BUSINESS
📍 Central Bank chief Martin Galstyan secured a second six-year term. The Bank held interest rates steady at 6.5%, citing elevated global energy prices.📍 Major Russian online retailers Wildberries and Ozon have restricted Armenian producers from selling their goods in Russia, citing strengthened Russian customs rules.📍 Lion Finance Group, Ameriabank’s parent company, joined the London Stock Exchang
Inside the political significance of Armenia’s landmark EU summits
Armenia hosted the largest gathering of world leaders in its history this week as the European Political Community summit and EU–Armenia summit came to Yerevan. On Insights, host Eric Hacopian explains what Armenia has gained, why the deeper political significance may matter more than the official declarations, and how the summit could shape Armenia’s domestic political landscape ahead of election
Pashinyan declines to join Moscow Victory Day parade
📍 Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will not attend Saturday’s Victory Day parade in Moscow, despite having participated last year. 📍 From an Azerbaijani prison, former speaker of Artsakh parliament Davit Ishkhanyan has called on Armenia’s human rights ombudsperson to organize a visit to Armenian prisoners held in Baku and help secure access to their court documents. 📍 Strong Armenia party’s
Bringing energy independence to Armenia’s rural regions
Partner content. As Armenia works to strengthen energy independence and climate resilience, especially in rural areas, new efforts are targeting high energy costs and reliance on fossil fuels. In this episode of CivilNet Business, Olga Weigel of the SE4Resilience project, co-financed by the European Union and Germany’s Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, and implemented by GIZed, ex
Market Challenges: Breaking Into the Wine World with James Tufenkian
James Tufenkian, founder of the Tufenkian Foundation and a pioneer in Armenian hospitality, shares his journey from carpets to boutique hotels and now to winemaking. Filmed in one of his Yerevan hotels, he explains how wine, like carpets and local crafts, is a form of cultural expression — a way to share Armenia’s history, traditions, and excellence with the world.In this conversation with Paul Ka
Armenia and Turkey hold new talks on reopening railway
📍 Armenia and Turkey have discussed the possible restoration of the Kars–Gyumri railway as part of broader normalization efforts. 📍 A new analysis from APRI, a Yerevan-based think tank, argues that the TRIPP is a useful but insufficient step for South Caucasus connectivity, and that full regional prosperity depends on opening the Armenia–Azerbaijan and Armenia–Turkey borders. 📍 Business Week Armen
Russia bans Armenian Jermuk mineral water in latest trade restriction
📍 Moscow has temporarily banned the sale of Armenian Jermuk mineral water, as tensions grow over Yerevan’s deepening ties with the European Union. 📍 Armenia has denied unsourced media reports that it plans to hand over the border village of Jiliza to Georgia as part of ongoing demarcation talks. 📍 Armenia has unveiled a new biometric passport design aligned with EU standards, featuring updated cul
Pashinyan aide named in alleged media manipulation scheme
📍 Moscow has accused Armenia’s civil society of undermining bilateral relations with Russia.📍 The European Union is not backing Armenia’s ruling Civil Contract party in the parliamentary election scheduled for June, EU Ambassador to Armenia Vasilis Maragos told CivilNet. Full interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqCzkezi7Gs 📍 CivilNetCheck found that the name of a senior aide to Armenia’s pr
Voskevaz Winery and Armenia’s Wine Revolution
David Hovhannisyan, the founder of Voskevaz Winery shares how one of Armenia’s historic wineries blends tradition with modern winemaking. In this conversation with Paul Kalemkiarian, host of the podcast ‘Wine Talks with Paul K’, he discusses reviving karas (clay vessel) production, working with indigenous grape varieties, and staying true to an authentic Armenian wine identity.From Soviet-era root
Will Samvel Karapetyan’s party be banned before Armenia’s election?
Armenia’s election campaign heats up as arrests linked to Samvel Karapetyan’s campaign raise questions about whether Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is trying to shape the opposition field by sidelining his strongest rival. This episode of Insights examines what’s behind the crackdown and how it could impact the balance of power in parliament. Lastly, ahead of the 111th anniversary, Eric Hacopian b
Cost of Yerevan metro expansion rises: THIS WEEK IN BUSINESS
📍 The cost of the government’s planned expansion of the Yerevan metro has climbed to about $287 million, according to the latest projections.📍 Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan called the addition of another terminal at Armenia’s main airport a high priority.📍 Armenia improved its position in a yearly economic freedom index calculated by the Heritage Foundation, a prominent conservative think tank in
It Takes Generations: Keushguerians and the Wine Trade
From the roots of winemaking in the Armenian Highlands to the unique challenges of growing grapes at high altitude,Vahe and Aimee Keushguerian share their journey of preserving tradition while pushing the boundaries of Armenian wine on the international stage.This intimate conversation reveals the passion, heritage, and family bond at the heart of Keush Winery — Armenia’s first traditional method
In Vino - Risk & Resilience: Building Yerevan’s Wine Scene
Mariam Saghatelyan, co-founder of In Vino, Armenia’s first wine bar, shares how she helped build Armenia’s modern wine culture. In this conversation with Paul Kalemkiarian, she discusses the challenges of curating quality Armenian and international wines, educating staff and customers, and supporting a new generation of winemakers. In Vino has become a hub for wine lovers, fostering both appreciat
Inside Seroond, Armenia’s new AI-native school
Partner contentWith Armenia set to launch its first AI-native public school this fall, Founder & CEO of the Armenia Education Initiative Larisa Hovannisian discusses the thinking behind Seroond’s new education model for the AI era. She explains the need to move beyond traditional systems, the ways in which AI can support rather than replace experiential learning, and why Armenia is well positi
Armenian parliament to consider landmark investment bill: THIS WEEK IN BUSINESS
📍 Armenia’s parliament is set to consider a new bill to regulate investments.📍 Russia reopened a criminal probe connected to one of Armenia’s main mineral water producers.📍 More than half of Armenia’s population has been covered in the first 100 days of a mandatory health care insurance rollout, the country’s health minister said. Read more: https://civilnet.am/en/news/1011291#CivilNet #ՍիվիլՆեթ #
Why Pashinyan keeps echoing Aliyev’s narrative
A troubling pattern has emerged as the political language and agendas of Ilham Aliyev’s regime and Nikol Pashinyan’s government increasingly converge across key issues. From election rhetoric and peace narratives to international legal cases, diaspora relations, and constitutional changes, this episode of Insights breaks down how the messaging is shaping Armenia’s internal and external discourse.
France’s Europe Minister on strategic partnership with Armenia
Ahead of two major EU summits to be held in Armenia, France’s European Affairs Minister Benjamin Haddad outlines plans for a new strategic partnership between Yerevan and Paris. He highlights strong European solidarity with Armenia and stresses that it’s up to Armenians to decide their future trajectory, free from external pressure.À l’approche de deux grands sommets de l’Union européenne qui se t
EU to launch additional civilian mission in Armenia
📍 Armenia and France will sign a strategic partnership agreement during an upcoming visit by President Emmanuel Macron to Yerevan next month, a senior French official told CivilNet.📍 The European Union is preparing to deploy a new permanent civilian mission to Armenia to strengthen the country’s resilience against hybrid threats ahead of a crucial electoral cycle.📍 More than half of Armenia’s resi
453,000 tourists came to Armenia in first quarter of 2026: THIS WEEK IN BUSINESS
📍 Russia may restrict the ability of the Proshyan Brandy Factory, one of Armenia’s biggest producers, to do business in the country. Brandy is one of Armenia’s main exports.📍 Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said Armenia is not secretly holding any discussions on transferring the right to operate the country’s railway from Russia to a third country.📍 Armenia welcomed 453,000 tourists in the first qu
War on Iran exposes limits of US power
A meeting in Moscow between President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan last week revealed growing pressure on Armenia, as Russian officials issued warnings over Yerevan’s westward trajectory. Meanwhile, the Armenian election campaign continues to take shape, with Armenia’s international trajectory on the ballot. Eric closes with a review of the war on Iran, its sudden ceasefire, a
Retail giant Wildberries opens distribution hub in Armenia: THIS WEEK IN BUSINESS
📍 A group of six Armenian banks agreed to loan $300 million to a public-private, Armenian-American partnership that plans to develop the country’s first data center.📍 Russian e-commerce giant Wildberries opened a massive new distribution center in Yerevan, saying the 250,000-square-foot facility could help boost local entrepreneurs.📍 Armenia is in preliminary talks with Chinese tech giant Huawei o
Yerevan criticizes Baku over ‘1918 genocide’ narrative
📍 Yerevan has criticized Baku for accusing “radical Armenian groups” of committing what it called a “genocide of Azerbaijanis” in 1918, referring to the events known as the March Days during the Russian Civil War.📍 Armenia continues to import fodder wheat grain from Russia despite a reported mass outbreak of animal disease.#CivilNet #ՍիվիլՆեթ #dailyarmenia
Opposition force charged with vote buying
📍 Armenia’s Anti-Corruption Committee has launched a criminal investigation into alleged vote buying involving a campaign office of the opposition Strong Armenia party.📍 A Yerevan court has banned the screening and distribution of a film about Armenia’s independence movement, siding with a copyright lawsuit filed by the country’s public broadcaster.📍 The American University of Armenia has reopened
Three detained after attempted assault on Pashinyan in Yerevan church
📍 Three people were detained and a criminal case was launched after a man attempted to strike Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan during a Palm Sunday service at a Yerevan church. 📍 Iran’s foreign minister thanked Armenia for its humanitarian support and assistance to Iranian citizens amid the ongoing conflict. 📍 Armenia has reportedly spent around $400,000 promoting its Academic City project despite c
Armenia to roll out AI courses in schools: THIS WEEK IN BUSINESS
📍 Armenia plans to roll out courses in AI in most of the country’s schools by the end of the year, according to Education Minister Zhanna Andreasyan.📍 Armenia reached a deal with Chinese e-commerce giant Temu to allow Armenian companies to sell their products on the platform, Economy Minister Gevorg Papoyan said.📍 Lawmakers passed a bill to expand an existing ban on single-use plastic bags.#CivilN
Democracy Watch | Pashinyan and the Instrumentalization of Hate Speech Against Karabakh Refugees
In July 2025, when our think tank the Regional Center for Democracy and Security published a report on hate speech targeting refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh, we identified several important patterns related to this phenomenon. The first was that the volume of hate speech against refugees increases during periods of domestic political tension. In this regard, one of the main concerns ahead of the up
Pashinyan threatens voters with possibility of new war
As war continues in Iran, Armenia faces refugee flows, rising energy risks and inflationary pressures. At the same time, the election campaign is heating up, with defense and security dominating the debate and opposition parties challenging the ruling government’s record. On Insights, Eric Hacopian examines the regional consequences of the Iran conflict, the Armenian leadership’s politics of fear
Pashinyan pursues ‘just reality’ over ‘historical justice’ agenda
📍 Pashinyan said Armenia is updating its National Security Strategy, pursuing constitutional reform, and focusing on providing stability and improved conditions for displaced Nagorno-Karabakh residents. 📍 The Armenian government denied characterizations of a planned May 28 event to showcase military equipment in Yerevan’s Republic Square as a military parade, but instead said that it will be a “re
How Visa is supporting women entrepreneurs in Armenia
Sponsored contentVisa’s Diana Kiguradze speaks with CivilNet about the growth of the She's Next, Empowered by Visa initiative in Armenia and the milestone of its first national pitch contest. She explains how the program supports women entrepreneurs beyond financial grants and why partnerships are key to its success. Kiguradze also shares Visa’s broader vision for expanding opportunities for w
