CivilNet’s political commentator Eric Hacopian wraps up the year of 2020 with Georgi Derluguian, historical sociologist and professor of the New York University at Abu Dhabi.
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Unexplained Georgian customs delays disrupt Armenian alcohol exports
By Lia Avagyan A group of Armenian cognac producers and cargo transporters protested outside the Georgian Embassy in Yerevan on Tuesday, demanding clarity over what they describe as unjustified and disruptive customs checks imposed on shipments transiting through Georgia. The demonstrators, representing export and logistics companies, asked to meet the ambassador and questioned why their alcohol shipments, destined for Russia and the Baltic states, are being detained for laboratory testing in a country that serves merely as a transit corridor. “What is the point of testing goods that aren’t even sold in Georgia?” one protester asked, echoing a broader frustration […]
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Trapped in His Own Justifications: The Pashinyan Dilemma
Op-ed by Vartan Oskanian, Armenia’s former foreign minister (1998-2008) Today, as nearly all of us are focused on the goal of removing Nikol Pashinyan, regardless of the path by which that goal may be achieved—it is essential, both for ourselves and for the broader public, to clarify several key questions. These questions, in my view, remain unarticulated and are impeding progress toward that objective. Given the tragic, disastrous, and nightmarish situation Armenia currently faces, a wide range of interpretations about Pashinyan—ranging from accusations of treason and betrayal to claims of incompetence or naïveté—are not only understandable but deserve to be […]
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Armenia targets investment growth with new legal framework
By Alexander Pracht Armenia’s Economy Ministry unveiled a draft of a new investment law last Wednesday, aiming to overhaul the country’s outdated legal framework for investments. Published for public review, the proposed law seeks to establish a modern, transparent, and predictable legal environment for both local and foreign investors, replacing the 1994 law on foreign capital. The draft defines investment as capital with “entrepreneurial risk” intended for profit, and specifically excludes passive investments and loans without active management. It also introduces clear protections for investors, including the right to repatriate profits, safeguards against illegal expropriation, and the guarantee of fair […]
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Armenia proposes fee-based options to shorten military service
By Elen Muradyan Armenia’s ruling party has introduced a legislative proposal to reform the country’s conscription system, aiming to curb widespread draft evasion and boost military preparedness amid persistent security tensions with neighboring Azerbaijan. The bill, presented by Civil Contract party MP Hayk Sargsyan, proposes raising the upper age limit for mandatory military service from 27 to 37 years. It also seeks to significantly increase the financial penalty for those seeking to avoid conscription. Currently, Armenian men who reach age 27 without serving can pay a fee of approximately 15 million drams ($38,000) to avoid prosecution. Under the proposed reform, […]
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Armenia’s energy transition stalls amid grid challenges and underinvestment
Despite the government’s aspirations to increase the share of renewables in the energy sector, Armenia’s electric grid remains unprepared for rapid expansion, and authorities have done little to encourage Armenians to switch from fossil fuels to electric heating.
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Armenia shuts down public access to tax records used to
By Alexander Pracht A once-accessible public database that helped estimate the number of officially registered employees in Armenian companies is no longer functional, further limiting transparency into shadow employment and corruption in the country. The digital tool, hosted by the Insurance Foundation for Servicemen (IFS), known colloquially as Zinapah, had long allowed users, including investigative journalists, to check how much each company paid in mandatory stamp duties for its workers. These payments went toward compensations to families of fallen soldiers and, as they were required for all registered employees, gave a rough picture of how many staff members were officially […]
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Armenia joins Ashgabat Agreement on international transport corridor
By Alexander Pracht The Armenian government voted on Thursday to join the Ashgabat Agreement, a multinational pact establishing an international transport and transit corridor linking Central Asia to the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea. “Joining the Ashgabat Agreement will create new opportunities to integrate into a transport corridor connecting Central Asian countries with the ports of the Persian Gulf and to utilize the transit and transport potential of the member states,” the government’s justification said. The Ashgabat Agreement currently includes Iran, Oman, Qatar, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Armenia’s accession is expected to enhance freight and passenger transit across member states […]
