CivilNet host and analyst Eric Hacopian discusses the larger context of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, as well as how Armenia fits into it. Eric also talks about the recent tensions in Nagorno-Karabakh and the motives of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.
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Karabakh parliament in exile extends presidential term via constitutional amendment
By Hayk Ghazaryan On April 15, the National Assembly of Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh), currently operating in exile in Yerevan, adopted a constitutional amendment aimed at preserving the office of the president. The move seeks to ensure institutional continuity following the near-total collapse of local governance in the wake of Azerbaijan’s military takeover of the region in September 2023. The amendment was confirmed to CivilNet by Sevak Aghajanyan, chair of the Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs and a member of the “United Homeland” faction. He said the change modifies Article 168 of the Artsakh Constitution, which had previously been amended […]
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Newly elected Gyumri mayor vows to cooperate with central government
By Elen Muradyan Vardan Ghukasyan, Gyumri’s newly elected mayor, has pledged to work with Armenia’s central government despite his previous criticism of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. In an exclusive interview with CivilNet following his election, Ghukasyan outlined his plans for Armenia’s second-largest city while addressing the strained relationship with the ruling administration. Ghukasyan, a candidate nominated by the Armenian Communist Party, was elected mayor on Wednesday after receiving support from 18 out of 33 city council members during the inaugural session, which the ruling Civil Contract party boycotted. His appointment came after complex negotiations among opposition forces following the March […]
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Iran, Turkey, and Azerbaijan’s opposing paths on political Islam
In this in-depth interview, internationally renowned expert on the Middle East, Gilles Kepel, explores the complex dynamics of political Islam. He evaluates the future of Iran’s regime in the face of internal struggles and international pressure, and considers what might be a fracture in the close alliance between Turkey and Azerbaijan amid their diverging political-religious paths.
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Armenia must adopt a balanced approach between political realities and
By Gurgen Petrossian The Republic of Armenia constantly faces both threats of aggression and accusations of aggression. The periodic allegations from Azerbaijan claiming that Armenia is preparing for aggression effectively serve as propaganda tools to preemptively justify their own military actions against Armenian territory. In this situation, it is evident that Armenia has not only the right but also the obligation to ensure its legal protection in international forums, regardless of the highly political consequences that may ensue. Political compromise does not imply legal silence Even if Armenia’s current government has adopted a conciliatory approach by avoiding appeals and demands […]
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OPINION | Armenian-Iranian drills send strategic signal amid regional volatility
By Eduard Arakelyan On April 9–10, 2025, Armenia and Iran conducted what appears to be their first-ever joint military exercise along their shared 44-kilometer border. Billed as a counter-terrorism drill, the maneuver simulated attacks by fictional armed groups on border checkpoints, with each side operating strictly within its own territory. While limited in scale and largely symbolic, the exercise carries important geopolitical weight and signals a new phase in Armenia-Iran relations. Unlike previous Iranian drills with Azerbaijan, held in 2024 with real joint planning, troop exchanges, and integrated command structures, this exercise was more restrained. Yet in its political message, […]
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Karabakh war report faces further delays despite promises of release
By Elen Muradyan The long-awaited report on the 2020 44-day Nagorno-Karabakh war faces yet another postponement, as commission chairman Andranik Kocharyan vaguely promises it “must be released this year” without specifying a concrete timeline. “We must definitely release it this year because there needs to be proper understanding when confronting these facts. We should avoid political manipulation and focus on learning lessons,” Kocharyan said during an interview broadcast Tuesday evening on Public Television. The investigative commission announced the completion of its work in September 2024. Kocharyan stated at the time he would request a closed parliamentary session in October to […]
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Opposition candidate elected mayor of Gyumri amid ruling party boycott
By Alexander Pracht Vardan Ghukasyan, a mayoral candidate nominated by the Armenian Communist Party, was elected mayor of Gyumri on Wednesday, receiving the support of 18 out of 33 members of the newly elected city council. His appointment came during the council’s inaugural session, which was boycotted by the ruling Civil Contract party. In a statement on social media, Civil Contract’s candidate Sarik Minasyan, who led the March 30 municipal election with 37% of the vote, accused rival political forces of “stealing the votes of Gyumri residents” and handing them over to others. “We will not participate in a process […]
