In this edition of the CivilNet podcast, commentator Eric Hacopian breaks down the latest text of the Armenia and Azerbaijan normalization treaty. With Baku delaying the signing of the agreement until Armenia changes its constitution – a process that could take years – Hacopian argues that Azerbaijan has no intention to sign as it continues to seek excuses for more war. Meanwhile, as key issues like the ethnic cleansing of Artsakh, Armenian territory occupied by Azerbaijan, and international court cases are left unresolved, Eric asks what kind of peace can emerge when justice is denied.
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Armenia’s largest mine acquires 100% stake at country’s sole domestic
By Alexander Pracht Armenia’s only domestic passenger airline, NovAir, has come under new ownership after its acquisition by the country’s largest mining company, investigative publication Hetq reported on Wednesday. Since last month, the sole owner of NovAir has been the charity fund of the Zangezur Copper and Molybdenum Combine (ZCMC), which previously owned only 50% of the shares. The airline, founded in 2020, was previously owned by affiliates of Aram Marutyan, the Honorary Consul of Austria in Armenia. The Zangezur mine also holds a 50% stake in the Kapan Airport, which is located in the southern Syunik region and acts […]
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Ambitious Academic City project raises concerns over feasibility and vision
By Alexander Pracht For over a century, Yerevan has been Armenia’s higher education hub, following a model common in former Soviet states. The privately owned and centrally located trade schools of the imperial era were reclassified as universities under Bolshevik rule and evolved without distinct campuses, embedded in the city’s core. That may soon change. The government announced plans to build a vast suburban campus on Yerevan’s northwestern edge about four years ago, relocating all Yerevan-based universities. Though the site is within city limits, it remains mostly undeveloped. Critics cite the absence of a feasibility study, lack of public input, […]
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Rare meeting in Tbilisi brings together deputy foreign ministers of
By Alexander Pracht In a rare diplomatic move, the deputy foreign ministers of Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan met in Tbilisi on Thursday to outline their visions for potential areas of regional cooperation, according to a joint statement released by the three countries’ foreign ministries. “The meeting aimed to advance trilateral cooperation in areas of common interest, contributing to sustainable development and prosperity in the region,” the joint press release said, stressing that such cooperation could help address shared challenges and foster long-term stability in the South Caucasus. This marked the first-ever trilateral meeting at the deputy foreign minister level between […]
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Aliyev’s constitutional referendum & the war on Artsakh Armenians
In this episode of Insights, host Eric Hacopian dedicates the entire show to the sharp reduction in state support for Artsakh refugees and examines what appears to be a politically motivated campaign against them. He breaks down the cuts in financial aid, the housing crisis, and the barriers to integration faced by displaced families and former servicemen. Eric also discusses the rise in hate speech campaigns against them- which he links to the government’s push for a controversial constitutional referendum.
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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 […]
