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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Samvel Karapetyan counter-sues Pashinyan in ‘shrooms’ defamation case
📍 Opposition politician and Russian-Armenian billionaire Samvel Karapetyan has sued Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan for defamation in a months-long dispute over alleged hallucinogenic mushroom use.📍 During a working visit to France, Pashinyan met with President Emmanuel Macron.#CivilNet #ՍիվիլՆեթ #dailyarmenia
What survives once the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace deal fails
The future of the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace agreement remains uncertain, but some elements of the process are likely to outlast it. CivilNet political commentator Eric Hacopian explains how TRIPP and other regional transport links could move forward even without a final agreement. Yet Hacopian says Baku’s “Western Azerbaijan” campaign exposes Aliyev’s true intentions, calling it a “declaration of w
What survives once the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace deal fails
The future of the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace agreement remains uncertain, but some elements of the process are likely to outlast it. CivilNet political commentator Eric Hacopian explains how TRIPP and other regional transport links could move forward even without a final agreement. Yet Hacopian says Baku’s “Western Azerbaijan” campaign exposes Aliyev’s true intentions, calling it a “declaration of w
Yerevan proposes 2-year residency for ethnic Armenians to get citizenship
📍 Armenia’s government has proposed major amendments to the country’s citizenship law, introducing a two-year residence requirement for ethnic Armenians who wish to become citizens.📍 Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov repeated calls for Armenia to amend its constitution, but said that when this happens is Armenia’s own business.#CivilNet #ՍիվիլՆեթ #dailyarmenia
Armenia continues efforts for visa free travel to EU
📍 Armenia will have completed about 40% of the work required for visa-free travel to the European Union by November 1, Interior Minister Arpine Sargsyan told CivilNet.📍 Armenia has appealed Russia’s trade restrictions through institutions of the Eurasian Economic Union.#CivilNet #ՍիվիլՆեթ #dailyarmenia
How Russia is making Armenia’s EU pivot easier
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan says Armenia will soon apply for EU membership, while relations with Russia continue to deteriorate. What does Armenia’s move toward Europe actually entail, and how much further can Russia pressure the Armenian economy? CivilNet political commentator Eric Hacopian joins the podcast to discuss these and other major issues of the day, including the arrest of former Pre
Russia accuses Western countries of ‘blackmailing Armenia’
📍 Armenia’s Anti-Corruption Court has ordered former president Robert Kocharyan into pre-trial detention in a criminal case involving charges of abuse of authority, large-scale bribery, and money laundering.📍 Moscow has accused Armenia of cracking down on Kocharyan and other pro-Russian politicians, describing the charges as “repressions.” It has also claimed that the Armenian government’s calls o
SPECIAL REPORT: Former presidents Robert Kocharyan and Serzh Sargsyan face new charges
Armenian authorities have leveled new criminal charges against the country’s former presidents Robert Kocharyan and Serzh Sargsyan. Both are accused of abusing public authority, while Kocharyan also faces charges of embezzlement, bribery, and money laundering.#CivilNet #ՍիվիլՆեթ #dailyarmenia
Armenia unveils government agenda through 2031
📍 Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has unveiled his government’s priorities through 2031, which focuses on normalizing relations with Azerbaijan, and is a stark departure from the Russia- and Karabakh-centered priorities of the previous 2021 plan. 📍 TRIPP’s unresolved risks for Armenia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRtxG0BnVKU#CivilNet #ՍիվիլՆեթ #dailyarmenia
How wasted wool could unlock economic possibilities while reducing reliance on synthetics
In this episode of the CivilNet podcast, Timothy Straight, founder of Arm.wool, and Kirk Wallace, a social investor and consultant at Arm.wool, discuss Arm.wool - a venture which aims to end wool waste, transforming a discarded material into a viable alternative to plastic. The discussion covers how ethos and economics intersect, the challenges of aligning national, international, and private effo
TRIPP’s unresolved risks for Armenia
One year after the Washington Summit, what has the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) actually achieved so far? Sergey Melkonian, Research Fellow at the Yerevan-based think tank APRI Armenia,joins CivilNet to discuss TRIPP’s geopolitical goals as well as the risk that it could enable a new form of blockade on Armenia. Melkonian notes how the project fits into Azerbaijan’s r
Baku does not obstruct TRIPP, Armenia’s ambassador to U.S. says
📍 Narek Mkrtchyan, Armenia’s ambassador to the United States, has downplayed Azerbaijani obstructions to the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity. 📍 Davit Babayan, Nagorno-Karabakh’s former foreign minister, says he will appeal the life sentence Azerbaijan handed to him in an international court.📍 Surviving Russian import bans: https://youtu.be/8USjhtaRmAc?si=5iMyBqbCiWHmRATs #Civil
U.S. Congressman arrives in Yerevan
📍 U.S. Representative Abraham Hamadeh met with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in Yerevan today. He is known for co-authoring the bill that seeks to repeal Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act, which restricts U.S. assistance to Azerbaijan.📍 The AI factory that opened in the Armenian town of Hrazdan last month does not pose an environmental threat because it d
Pashinyan orders military shake-up after latest serviceman death
📍 Alen Simonyan has been appointed Armenia’s new Security Council secretary, replacing Armen Grigoryan after eight years in the position. 📍 Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has ordered personnel changes in Armenia’s Military Police and Defense Ministry as scrutiny grows over a series of non-combat military deaths. 📍 Pashinyan says Armenia is preparing for rising energy demand from its growi
Armenians need to own their future
Armenia today is a country of contrasts: rapid technological and economic development alongside a deep crisis of confidence following the wars and losses of recent years. On Insights, host Eric Hacopian examines this contradiction, from the launch of Firebird’s AI computing center in Hrazdan to the failure to adequately advocate for Armenian hostages held in Azerbaijan. He argues that with the sta
Aliyev suggests Armenia could use TRIPP to source Azerbaijani energy
📍 Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has raised the prospect of broader Yerevan-Baku cooperation on regional infrastructure and energy as part of the Trump Route project.📍 A new report from the European Union argues that Armenia continues to advance its human rights reform agenda, but raises concerns around judicial independence, police abuses, and the speed of reforms.#CivilNet #ՍիվիլՆեթ #dailyar
Russia sets deadline for Armenia to plan EAEU referendum
📍 A senior Russian diplomat has insisted that Armenia must announce a referendum deciding its future in the Moscow-led Eurasian Economic Union by the end of this year.📍 Armenia may use a planned gas pipeline through Syunik to diversify its fuel supplies with Azerbaijani natural gas if Russia raises its gas price, a ruling party lawmaker said.📍 Armenia’s new constitution will not reference the coun
Firebird launches first phase of AI factory in Armenia
📍 Firebird has opened the first $500 million phase of its planned $4 billion AI project in the central Armenian town of Hrazdan, with the facility expected to expand into a major regional computing hub. 📍 One year after the Washington summit, the U.S. is touting progress in Armenia-Azerbaijan peace efforts and the TRIPP project, even as the peace treaty remains unsigned. 📍 This week in business- h
The real story behind Israel's Armenian Genocide reversal
Israel’s decision to cancel a parliamentary vote recognizing the Armenian Genocide has raised questions about Azerbaijan’s influence and the political calculations behind the reversal. Insights host Eric Hacopian examines what this reveals about regional politics and why the issue extends beyond recognition itself. He also discusses Armenia’s efforts to expand gas-for-electricity cooperation with
Pashinyan arrives in Kyrgyzstan for EAEU summit
📍Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is in Kyrgyzstan for a Eurasian Economic Union meeting amid growing trade tensions with Russia over restrictions on Armenian exports. 📍U.S. official Aryeh Lightstone clarifies that funding for the TRIPP transit project remains at $201 million, after a U.S. government website showed a $402 million figure that appears to have resulted from an accounting change rather
How the war with Iran is rewriting the Middle East’s energy future
The war with Iran has transformed the Middle East’s energy landscape, raising questions about oil markets, gas supplies, and regional alliances. Laury Haytayan, Middle East and North Africa Director at the Natural Resource Governance Institute, joined CivilNet to discuss the changing landscape of energy geopolitics and Armenia’s place within it. 0:00- How energy markets adapted to the war on Iran
Armenia’s inflation remains above desired level
📍Hikmet Hajiyev, the foreign policy advisor to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, has confirmed that Azerbaijani pressure had been a driving force behind the Israeli parliament sidelining a motion to recognize the Armenian genocide last month.📍Annual inflation in Armenia stood at 5.1% in June, well above the Central Bank's 3% target. However, the regulator has decided not to adjust its policy
Russia expands restrictions on Armenian mineral water
📍Russia is seeking to take steps toward Armenia’s potential expulsion from the Collective Security Treaty Organization, a military alliance it leads. Moscow’s representative in the bloc has announced that Yerevan may be stripped of its voting rights as soon as this November.📍Moscow has moved to ban additional brands of Armenian mineral water, including Bjni, following extensive sanctions against A
Russia bans Armenian dairy products as trade restrictions widen: THIS WEEK IN BUSINESS
📍Armenia has agreed to expand its existing gas-for-electricity swap deal with Iran, a senior official has confirmed. Additional details weren’t immediately available.📍Russia broadened its existing trade restrictions with Armenia, adding dairy products to the list of banned goods. It now covers most agricultural goods.📍Armenia’s 1,000 biggest companies paid more than $3 billion in taxes in the firs
Court to hear criminal case against Catholicos Karekin II
📍A criminal case against Catholicos Karekin II and five senior Armenian Apostolic Church clerics has been sent to court. 📍The World Bank says Armenia’s economic boom is slowing, warning that long-term growth will depend on higher productivity, skilled workers, and innovation. #CivilNet #ՍիվիլՆեթ #DailyArmenia
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
