Welcome to the first edition of AliyevWatch, a new CivilNet segment that deconstructs the actions and statements of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. Today, CivilNet analyst and contributor Eric Hacopian looks at an international conference that took place in Baku in April. He discusses some of the lies and manipulations made during the event, as well as some of the actions and statements of conference guests, who represented various international universities, think tanks and political groups.
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Tatar festivities in the heart of Yerevan
In the wake of Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, a growing number of Tatars have made Armenia their home. But even far from their homeland on the Volga, traditions live on. This video captures Sabantui, the Tatar spring festival, as celebrated by Yerevan’s newcomers, blending ancient customs with new surroundings.
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Countering Foreign Interference or Undermining Democratic Norms? The Case of
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. This time, permanently.” […]
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Iranians Are Coming to Armenia
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
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 that the issue […]
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Economists warn Armenia’s planned power grid nationalization threatens investment climate
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, coming just a […]
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Pashinyan calls to nationalize electricity network after arrest of billionaire
By Alexander Pracht Armenian law enforcement arrested Russian-Armenian billionaire Samvel Karapetyan on Wednesday after searching his Yerevan home. He has been charged with making public calls to seize power, according to his lawyer Armen Feroyan. Meanwhile Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan publicly called for the nationalization of Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA), the country’s monopoly electricity distributor, which Karapetyan owns. The search at his home came shortly after Karapetyan publicly denounced the government’s ongoing conflict with the Armenian Apostolic Church. “Since I have always stood with the Armenian Church and the Armenian people, I will be directly involved,” he said in […]
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Pashinyan’s Ankara Visit: A Turning Point or a National Capitulation?
Op-ed by Vartan Oskanian, Armenia’s former foreign minister (1998-2008) On June 20, Nikol Pashinyan is expected to meet President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara—a meeting already being framed by Pashinyan’s allies as a “historic moment” or a “turning point.” But Armenians must not be misled. This visit is not a diplomatic milestone; it is the culmination of a six-year trajectory of national humiliation that began in 2018 and now threatens to become irreversible. What Pashinyan seeks in Ankara is political validation—and indulgence to ensure his political survival. The price he appears willing to pay is nothing less than the dignity […]
