Armenia – CIVILNET
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British parliament members endorse Swiss-led Artsakh peace initiative
Armenia – CIVILNET In a significant show of international support, members of the United Kingdom Parliament have issued a joint statement endorsing the Swiss Peace Initiative on Nagorno-Karabakh. The statement, released by MP Jim Shannon (DUP) of the House of Commons and Lord David Alton of the House of Lords, reflects the views of more than 110 British parliamentarians who are part of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on International Freedom of Religion or Belief (APPG FoRB). The Swiss-led initiative, ratified by Switzerland’s parliament in March 2025, seeks to establish an international peace forum to facilitate open dialogue between Azerbaijan and […]
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Indian student recounts evacuating Iran through Armenia
Armenia – CIVILNET By Minahil Arif “I’ve always felt safe in Iran before the recent tensions started. In fact, I love Iran—after India, it feels like a second home to me,” Tamheed Ulislam, 24, told CivilNet. A student at the Urmia University of Medical Sciences, he is among dozens of Indian nationals who fled after crossing the Iran-Armenia border. As tensions reach a boiling point between Israel and Iran, foreign governments are seeking emergency exits for nationals stranded in both countries. The Armenia-Iran border has been crowded since the attacks, with the flow of hundreds of Iranian citizens arriving in […]
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The War on Iran and the famous “Weapons of Mass
Armenia – CIVILNET By Vicken Cheterian The article was initially published on Agos.com The war against Iran might not be for preventing nuclear weapons in Iran, as the war against Iraq was not about Saddam’s “weapons of mass destruction”. But the Israeli intention is clearly declared by Netanyahu: the destruction of the Islamic Republic, and its replacement with a decentralised entities something like Iraq or Syria today. If the US invasion of Iraq unleashed two decades of wars and disasters and led to the creation of a monster like Daesh the destruction of the Iranian state will be no less […]
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Countering Foreign Interference or Undermining Democratic Norms? The Case of
Armenia – CIVILNET By Tigran Grigoryan and Aram Tadevosyan On June 17, Russian-Armenian billionaire Samvel Karapetyan, number 928 on the Forbes list, criticized the Armenian government’s campaign against the church and stated: “Since I have always stood by the Armenian Church and the Armenian people, I will be directly involved. If the politicians fail, then we will participate in all of this in our own way.” His comments were immediately followed by a harsh response from Prime Minister Pashinyan, who wrote on Facebook: “Why have the licentious ‘clergymen’ and their licentious ‘philanthropists’ become so active? No worries—we’ll neutralize them again. […]
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Iranians Are Coming to Armenia
Armenia – CIVILNET The Armenian-Iranian border is crowded, with the flow of Iranian citizens to Armenia ongoing for multiple days now. They are worried about their relatives who remained in Iran. In conversations with CivilNet, Iranians share their concerns and describe their experiences.
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Armenia prepares contingency plans amid rising Iran-Israel tensions
Armenia – CIVILNET By Zhanna Avagyan Armenia is developing contingency plans to address potential social and economic consequences stemming from escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan said during a parliamentary Q&A session on June 18. “All potential issues are under daily monitoring,” Grigoryan noted. “Yes, we are considering refugee flows, logistical disruptions, and energy issues. These scenarios might be needed at a given moment—or not at all—but they must be ready.” He emphasized the importance of a coordinated and preemptive approach, including preparations for temporary housing, population movement, and social assistance frameworks. Grigoryan assured lawmakers […]
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Economists warn Armenia’s planned power grid nationalization threatens investment climate
Armenia – CIVILNET By Elen Muradyan Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s announcement that the government plans to nationalize the Electricity Networks of Armenia (ENA), is deeply concerning, say economists who warn the move could severely damage the country’s investment appeal and international reputation. The statement Wednesday targets ENA, Armenia’s main power distribution company and a strategic asset ultimately owned by Russian-based Armenian billionaire Samvel Karapetyan. The company was acquired in 2015 by Karapetyan’s Tashir Group from the Russian state-owned Inter RAO. Also read: Pashinyan calls to nationalize electricity network after arrest of billionaire critic The timing of the nationalization proposal, […]
