In this week’s episode of Insights, host Eric Hacopian delves into Azerbaijan’s recent release of 32 Armenian POWs and ongoing negotiations between Armenia, Azerbaijan, and the United States. Hacopian explores the strategic motives and objectives behind these developments while also providing an end-of-year review of Armenia’s economic performance in 2023.
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Armenia, Russia may lose $6bn in mutual trade by year-end,
By Alexander Pracht Russia and Armenia could lose around $6 billion in mutual trade turnover by the end of 2025, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk warned on Friday, speaking at the International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg. Overchuk said the decline reflects an ongoing sharp drop in economic ties between the two countries. “By the most conservative estimates, we lost about $2 billion last year. This year, the drop so far is $3 billion. Clearly, we are looking at a total loss of about $6 billion by the end of the year. These are serious figures,” Overchuk said. In […]
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Indian student recounts evacuating Iran through Armenia
By Minahil Arif “I’ve always felt safe in Iran before the recent tensions started. In fact, I love Iran—after India, it feels like a second home to me,” Tamheed Ulislam, 24, told CivilNet. A student at the Urmia University of Medical Sciences, he is among dozens of Indian nationals who fled after crossing the Iran-Armenia border. As tensions reach a boiling point between Israel and Iran, foreign governments are seeking emergency exits for nationals stranded in both countries. The Armenia-Iran border has been crowded since the attacks, with the flow of hundreds of Iranian citizens arriving in Armenia. As many […]
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Who wants Iran destroyed & why?
In this episode of Insights, host Eric Hacopian covers the geopolitical shock of Israel’s attack on Iran, and what the unfolding war means for Armenia. Hacopian outlines the key developments, including the purported use of Azerbaijani territory for Israeli drone strikes, the likely goals behind the attacks, and the potential for a wider regional conflict. He also examines how Iran’s instability could affect Armenia’s security, economy, and border situation, raising concerns about delayed imports, possible refugee flows, and increased threats from Azerbaijan.
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Armenia-Iran Border: Iranians Speak About War and Their Families
“We have complicated this simple life.” The flow of Iranian citizens to Armenia continues. Uncertainty, loved ones left on the other side of the border, and an emptying Tehran: this is how Iranians who have crossed the Agarak checkpoint describe the situation. Some, despite obstacles, are going in the other direction- returning to Iran to be with their relatives.
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Pashinyan’s Vendetta: The Weaponization of State Power
Op-ed by Karen Harutyunyan, editor-in-chief Today, shortly after midnight, the Armenian court ordered the two-month pre-trial detention of Russian-Armenian businessman Samvel Karapetyan. The search of his home, his arrest, and the subsequent detention all took place in less than 48 hours, effectively under the direct guidance of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. How it unfolded On Tuesday morning, Karapetyan gave an interview expressing support for the Armenian Apostolic Church and the Catholicos, whom Prime Minister Pashinyan has effectively declared war on and seeks to dethrone. “If the politicians fail, then we will intervene in our own way,” Karapetyan said. Pashinyan’s fury […]
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Armenia lodges diplomatic protest over Russian TV broadcast attacking its
By Alexander Pracht Armenia has sent an official diplomatic note to Russia expressing concern over what it calls “direct interference” in its internal affairs after a broadcast on Russian TV covered the arrest of Russian-Armenian businessman Samvel Karapetyan. Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said on Wednesday that the note specifically addressed critical coverage by Russian state media and statements by Russian lawmakers. “We, the Republic of Armenia, consider this not only to be conflicting with traditional Armenia-Russia relations, but also a direct and open interference in Armenia’s internal affairs and an attack on our sovereignty and democracy,” Mirzoyan said, adding that […]
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Relatives of missing persons block major Yerevan street protesting security
By Alexander Pracht Since Wednesday afternoon, relatives of persons missing due to hostilities with Azerbaijan have blocked Yerevan’s Baghramyan Avenue in both directions, voicing alarm over the dismissal of National Security Service (NSS) Director Armen Abazyan, who had been directly involved in their cases. The former NSS chief, who led the agency since 2020 and also chaired the government commission on missing persons, was dismissed Wednesday morning. Protesters say he had promised to stand by them “until the end” and fear his removal will stall progress on identifying the fate of the missing. The families are now calling for a […]
