In this episode of the CivilNet podcast, Eric Hacopian and Patrick Elliott tackle prevalent myths about living in Armenia, offering a reality check for the diaspora. The discussion delves into various aspects of life in the country, including the economy, the security situation, and cultural nuances.
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Is the Iran-Israel “worst case scenario” at hand?
In this episode of the CivilNet podcast, Sergei Melkonian, a Middle East specialist and a research fellow at the Yerevan-based think tank APRI Armenia, sheds light on the fast-moving conflict between Iran and Israel and what it means for Armenia. Recorded on day five of the crisis, the conversation explores what Melkonian warns could be a worst-case scenario, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pursuing regime change with the intention of assassinating Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei. Meanwhile, the United States appears poised to enter the conflict, based on new warnings from President Donald Trump. Melkonian analyzes the risks of […]
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Pashinyan targets billionaire Samvel Karapetyan following Church defense (updated)
By Lia Avagyan Armenia’s National Security Service carried out a search at the Yerevan residence of billionaire businessman Samvel Karapetyan on Tuesday, just hours after he publicly criticized Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s attacks on the Armenian Apostolic Church and pledged to intervene if political leaders failed to act. Karapetyan, who resides in Russia and owns the Tashir Group conglomerate—including major assets in Armenia such as the Electric Networks of Armenia, Dalma Garden Mall, and the Tashir Pizza chain—is one of the country’s most powerful businessmen. He is also a major benefactor of the Church, having funded the recent renovation of […]
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Pashinyan to pay historic visit to Turkey at Erdoğan’s invitation
By Alexander Pracht Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will visit Turkey in the coming days, at the invitation of its president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the country’s parliamentary speaker announced on Tuesday. “The Prime Minister’s visit to Turkey is historic, because it is the first time that the head of Armenia will make a visit of such a level,” Alen Simonyan told reporters. This follows a visit to Ankara by Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan, who met with his Turkish counterpart Berris Ekinci on Monday to discuss regional issues and bilateral relations as part of the ongoing Armenia–Turkey normalization process. […]
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Pashinyan’s wife’s campaign funded by public money via secret procurement
By Elen Muradyan A campaign titled “Education Is Fashionable,” led by Anna Hakobyan, the wife of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, has been funded with public money through a government procurement process that remains shielded from public oversight. In response to a formal inquiry by CivilNet, the Prime Minister’s Office confirmed that the initiative “Education Is Fashionable” was funded under the framework of official state events. The office stated that the procurement fell under a specific clause regulating “the organization of the procurement process” for protocol-related services. According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the initiative’s expenses were incorporated into the […]
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Armenian deputy FM’s visit to Ankara part of normalization talks,
By Lia Avagyan Deputy Speaker of Armenia’s Parliament and special envoy for the normalization of ties with Turkey, Ruben Rubinyan, confirmed on Tuesday that Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan’s recent visit to Ankara was conducted within the framework of the ongoing Armenia–Turkey normalization process. “Not only do I engage with Turkey’s special representative, but there are also contacts at the level of the Foreign Ministry and among various ministers,” Rubinyan told reporters in parliament, describing the visit as part of broader diplomatic engagement between the two countries. Kostanyan met with Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Berris Ekinci in Ankara on Monday, […]
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World-renowned pianist Martha Argerich to headline Kapan Music Festival
By Lia Avagyan The Kapan International Music Festival will return to the southern Armenian town of Kapan for its third annual edition this summer, featuring a star-studded international lineup and a series of cultural premieres from July 4 to 15. The headline act of this year’s festival is the legendary pianist Martha Argerich, who received the Kennedy Center Honors in 2016 and will be performing in Armenia for the first time. She joins a roster of distinguished musicians, including Marian Petrescu, Arturo Solar, Theodosia Ntokou, Francesco Vila, Dong-Hyek Lim, and Iddo Bar-Shai, among others. Expanding its artistic reach, the festival […]
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Armenia’s raise of cement tariffs draws fire over favoritism
By Gevorg Tosunyan Armenia’s parliament approved a government-backed bill last month, quadrupling the state import duty on cement, while keeping the import duty on clinker, the raw material used to produce cement, at zero. The move has since raised questions over possible business advantages for a company co-owned by the son of a prominent political figure allied with the ruling party. The National Assembly passed amendments to the Law on State Duties on May 29, raising the import fee on cement from roughly $5 to $20 AMD per 100 tons. The country’s Economy Ministry argued the measure was necessary to […]
