Lt Colonel Glen Grant has witnessed militaries transformed by war. The veteran British Army officer is a featured speaker at the 2023 Yerevan Security Summit now, and advises Ukraine in countering Russian aggression. In this exclusive discussion with CivilNet, host Patrick Elliott talks to Lt. Grant about his hard-earned insights on how Armenia can strengthen defense through reforms mirroring those that bolstered Ukraine. Key lessons on rapid adoption, low-cost force multipliers, and resilient defense strategies are covered.
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Armenia’s budget underspent by $620 mln in Q1, report finds
By Elen Muradyan Armenia’s industrial output shrank by a staggering 18.5% in the first quarter of 2025, the sharpest contraction in recent years, raising red flags about the government’s ability to manage the economy and implement key public programs, according to a new report by the Luys Foundation. Luys, a think tank affiliated with the opposition Republican Party of Armenia, released its critique of the state budget’s Q1 execution on May 23. The analysis points to broad underperformance in both macroeconomic growth and budgetary spending, and argues that “systemic management failures” are worsening Armenia’s vulnerability to external shocks. According to […]
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From the Abraham Accords to India: Armenia’s Headlines Explained
In this episode of the CivilNet podcast, political analyst Eric Hacopian covers some of the major developments in Armenia this week. He addresses speculation around Yerevan’s potential inclusion in the U.S.-brokered Abraham Accords and explores how the Trump administration may use the platform to reshape the South Caucasus. Hacopian also examines renewed efforts by Russia to reassert influence in Armenia, the political scuffles positioning former president Robert Kocharyan and his son Levon as the face of the opposition, and how rising tensions between India and Pakistan could have unexpected effects on Armenia.
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France, Russia delayed in opening Syunik consulates
By Alexander Pracht In September 2023, French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna announced that the country would open a consulate in Syunik province, Armenia’s southernmost province. Speaking before the French parliament, she did not specify the exact location of the future mission but framed the decision as part of France’s broader support for Armenia’s territorial integrity. However, the scope of France’s diplomatic presence in Syunik turned out to be more limited than initially suggested. In response to an inquiry from CivilNet, the French embassy in Yerevan clarified last week that it plans to open a consular agency, not a full consulate […]
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Support of ruling party declines as more Armenians feel unrepresented,
By Alexander Pracht Most Armenians do not feel represented by any political force, according to the latest Caucasus Barometer survey published on Wednesday. Additionally, public trust in state institutions and the press remains low: only a small fraction of respondents said they trust the government, and even fewer expressed confidence in the country’s media. The data is based on a nationwide household survey conducted by the Caucasus Research Resource Center (CRRC) in both rural and urban areas of Armenia, involving over 1,500 respondents between July and October last year. Domestic issues The results reveal a major void in the country’s […]
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Armenian government approves pay-to-avoid-service bill, triggering public backlash
By Lia Avagyan Armenia’s government approved a controversial reform proposal on Wednesday that would allow young men to pay to significantly shorten their mandatory military service, sparking fresh concerns about social inequality and systemic favoritism in the conscription system. The draft bill, introduced by ruling Civil Contract party MP Hayk Sargsyan and endorsed during the May 22 Cabinet session, sets new financial terms and service options aimed at modernizing Armenia’s conscription framework amid ongoing security threats. Under the revised version, a one-month symbolic service will require a payment of $62,000, up from the earlier proposed $52,000. A four-month option would […]
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Alleged Armenian crime syndicate members arrested in California, Florida
Thirteen alleged members and associates of Armenian organized crime syndicates were arrested in California and Florida on Tuesday amid a power struggle between groups operating out of Los Angeles County. Federal authorities charged the individuals with a range of crimes, including attempted murder, kidnapping, weapons offenses, and cargo theft, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California. Among those arrested are Ara Artuni, 41, of Porter Ranch, charged with attempted murder in aid of racketeering, and Robert Amiryan, 46, of Hollywood, charged with kidnapping. Authorities allege both men are avtoritet, or criminal […]
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Armenia and the Abraham Accords: Strategic Opportunity or Diplomatic Trap?
By Hrair Balian and Raffy Ardhaldjian The article was originally published on Asbarez.com The Abraham Accords, launched in 2020 under the Trump administration (first term), marked a major shift in Middle East diplomacy. Named after the shared patriarch of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, the Accords aimed to enable normalization between Israel and Arab states—including the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan—without resolving the Palestinian conflict, actually at the expense of the Palestinian quest for self-determination. They led to diplomatic openings, trade agreements, tourism flows, and defense cooperation among the signatories. At their core, the Accords offer economic, political, and strategic incentives […]
