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Transforming lives of children with special needs in Armenia
By Vartan Esenyan In a world that often overlooks the silent struggles of children with special needs, there are few non-governmental organizations that stand out as a beacon of hope to Armenian families who are able to overcome their hurdles. One of such facilities is nestled in the heart of Ararat region. It’s not just a place of care, but a sanctuary where miracles unfold daily. Recent statistics indicate that 30,000 children were among 100,000 refugees who fled the ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh. This significant influx has placed additional pressure on Armenia’s resources and infrastructure, especially for children with special […]
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EU mission head in Armenia says they are waiting on
By Paul Vartan Sookiasian Markus Ritter, the head of the European Union’s monitoring mission in Armenia, told CivilNet last week his observers are not currently patrolling sections of the border with Azerbaijan that are under delimitation, but plan to do so in the future. They also intend to go to areas they did not previously have access to, in light of this month’s withdrawal of Russian troops from Armenia’s border with Azerbaijan. The EU first deployed unarmed civilian monitors to Armenia in the aftermath of Azerbaijan’s massive attack in September 2022. They have an initial mandate of two years, which […]
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Democracy Watch: ANIF Dissolution Raises Questions on Investments and Governance
By Tigran Grigoryan and Karena Avedissian The Armenian National Interests Fund (ANIF) is set to be dissolved, with its management transitioning to the State Property Management Committee. ANIF is a governmental organization established in 2019, with a mandate “to consolidate and effectively manage the ownership of Armenian state-owned enterprises, to promote export growth and investments in Armenia by providing co-financing in large-scale projects at their initial stage of development.” Initiated during a meeting chaired by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on March 14, the dissolution process of ANIF raises questions about the rationale behind this decision and the fate of […]
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Galstanyan, outspoken archbishop, bids to become Armenia’s prime minister
By Mark Dovich Bagrat Galstanyan, the charismatic and outspoken clergyman who emerged last month as the leader of a growing anti-government movement in Armenia, was named Sunday as the opposition’s preferred candidate to replace Nikol Pashinyan as prime minister. It was not immediately clear how to square Galstanyan’s leadership bid with the fact that Armenia’s constitution bars dual citizens from serving as prime minister. Galstanyan, who serves as archbishop for Armenia’s northeastern Tavush region, also holds a Canadian passport. Gurgen Melikyan, a former dean at Yerevan State University and a well-known public intellectual, announced the news to tens of thousands […]
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3 dead as severe floods leave trail of destruction across
By Mark Dovich At least three people died and two others went missing Sunday after days of strong rainstorms caused rivers in northern Armenia to overflow their banks, sweeping away bridges and roads and inundating nearby communities. At least 265 people in Armenia’s Lori and Tavush regions have been evacuated so far. As of 7:30 p.m., search and rescue workers continued to comb through the destruction, the result of Armenia’s worst flooding in decades. Over the weekend, Lori and Tavush received 40-60% of the precipitation they normally get in a month, Armenia’s Environment Ministry said. That caused rivers in the […]
