Insights with Eric Hacopian – CIVILNET
In this episode of Insights, host Eric Hacopian focuses on Armenia’s conscription reforms, and asks if it’s the correct approach to solving the military’s many issues. Hacopian breaks down the key changes to the draft law, including new payment tiers to reduce service time and harsher penalties…
Insights with Eric Hacopian
Eric Hacopian, a political analyst, looks at the main events of the week in and around Armenia.
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Third Annual Yerevan International Ballet Festival
Insights with Eric Hacopian – CIVILNET Yerevan hosted the world-renowned Russian ballet companies for its third annual international ballet festival. The highly anticipated week-long event drew over 100,000 people to watch a myriad of pieces, including a special tribute to Armenia’s cultural heritage with a performance of Aram Khachaturian’s Sabre Dance.
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World Vision’s support for Armenia’s most vulnerable
Insights with Eric Hacopian – CIVILNET Eleanor Monbiot, OBE, Regional Director for the Middle East and Eastern Europe at World Vision, discusses the humanitarian organization’s evolving role in Armenia as it transitions to a locally led, self-funded model. She highlights World Vision’s decades of work with vulnerable children and families in fragile contexts, including recent support for over 16,000 displaced people from Nagorno-Karabakh. Monbiot emphasizes the importance of systemic change, social inclusion, and close collaboration with local institutions to ensure sustainable impact.
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The Gold That Inflated Armenia: How Windfall Russian Money Triggered
Insights with Eric Hacopian – CIVILNET By Arshaluis Mgdesyan Over the course of two years, Armenia suddenly transformed into a quiet haven for Russian gold. Amid sanctions, war, and Russia’s growing geopolitical isolation, Armenia became a major transit hub through which billions of dollars’ worth of precious metals flowed eastward — to Dubai, Hong Kong, and China. This gold rush quickly inflated the Armenian economy with speculative growth. But, as in the classic case of the “Dutch disease,” the sudden profits were not followed by institutional reforms or sustainable development. Moreover, the inflows of foreign capital, funneled through semi-legal schemes, […]
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Fact-Check: Did Armenian PM Buy a €3.1M Villa in France?
Insights with Eric Hacopian – CIVILNET Shushan Stepanyan, #CivilNetСheck On May 30, information circulated on Armenian social media and news outlets claiming that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had purchased a luxurious €3.1 million villa in Marseille, France. The source of the information was the “French” website “Info du Jour.” According to the article, “The 300 m² villa, purchased in May 2025, is located in the Château Gombert district of Marseille. It features four bedrooms, a swimming pool, a rooftop terrace, and a garage for three cars.” #CivilNetCheck investigated the claim and located the property. Through our partners, we obtained official […]
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Armenia condemns Israeli strikes on Iran
Insights with Eric Hacopian – CIVILNET By Alexander Pracht Armenia’s Foreign Ministry on Friday condemned Israel’s overnight airstrikes on Iran and urged all parties to immediately cease hostilities and respect international law. “The unilateral attack against Iran is a matter of serious concern, particularly given its timing on the eve of a new round of negotiations, which now face considerable risks,” the ministry said in a statement. Yerevan warned that such actions could endanger both regional stability and global peace. The statement followed a series of Israeli airstrikes reportedly targeting uranium enrichment facilities, missile bases, and major cities across Iran. […]
