National Assembly of Armenia in 2026 June elections, as it is already known, attracted the attention of not only the Armenian public, but also of various international actors and are widely characterized as “geopolitical elections” between different poles.

There is nothing surprising in that context. The geopolitical importance of the South Caucasus, which derives primarily from its geographical position and relief, constantly makes it an object of competition not only between regional but also global powers. There is no doubt that the Armenian elections will be essential for the future power balance and security architecture of the region and will affect all Eurasian processes. Therefore, almost all the forces with their interests in this region will be openly interested in the Armenian topic in the coming weeks.

Naturally, neighboring Turkey is not an exception to all of this, where the June parliamentary elections are being watched with great attention. One of the most vivid evidences of that attention could be witnessed in 2026. in January, when Turkish Foreign Minister H. Fidan announced on the air of one of the Turkish TV stations. “In June 2026, there will be elections in Armenia, which will be an important part of this process (the Armenian-Turkish and Armenian-Azerbaijani negotiation process – ed.). We see that the Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, is currently the leader in public opinion polls. We sincerely support the constructive role he is playing in this matter.

This approach, this will must continue” [1]. Although Fidan’s statement really referred to the Armenian elections and actually gave indirect support to Prime Minister Pashinyan, referring to sociological polls and stating that the latter is a “leader”, the wording in it can be characterized as cautious, therefore, giving rise to misinterpretation.

Considering the importance and sensitivity of the issue, Fidan’s statement became the reason for heated discussions regarding Turkey’s interventions against Armenia’s sovereignty, the core of which was the following question: can the Turkish diplomat’s statement be considered an external intervention by Turkey in the internal Armenian processes[2]? If we put aside the above-mentioned subject of discussion and the issue of predisposition to intervene, it is an indisputable fact that at the highest leadership level in Turkey, they are closely following the events taking place in Armenia, being well aware of the results of public opinion polls (it is not known whether public opinion polls served as the basis for the Turkish diplomat’s claims).

However, the Turkish Foreign Minister’s statement is not the only example that shows interest in the electoral and, in general, political processes in Armenia. Many other examples testifying to this (which are not always known to the Armenian public) can be found regularly in the Turkish media (it can also be assumed that their number will increase even more in the coming weeks).

From this point of view, three column articles published in well-known Turkish magazines in recent days, the authors of which are three Turkish diplomats who were on a private visit to Armenia at the end of April, are interesting.

“Understanding the pre-election atmosphere”

On April 26, three Turkish diplomats arrived in Yerevan: former ambassadors Omer Onhon, Hasan Gyoghush and Hasan Servet Octem. In the latter’s biography, in addition to the fact that he worked as the ambassador of Turkey in different countries, it is also mentioned that he was injured in 1984. During the revenge operation organized by “ASALA” on the Turkish embassy in Tehran. All three diplomats now carry out expert activities and are specialists of the “Ankara Politikalar Merkezi – APM” analytical center.

Despite the “private” nature of the visit, according to the diplomats, it provided an opportunity to “observe first-hand the situation in the country before the elections” and “meet with important persons of Armenia and understand the pre-election atmosphere”[3]. In their articles published as a result of their trip to Yerevan, Turkish diplomats, in addition to observations of a touristic nature and evaluations containing Turkish anti-Armenian propaganda, which has already become a classic, also address the political situation.

In this regard, they advance two main theses. The first thesis is that the policy pursued by the current RA government is correct. This is how Ambassador Gyoghush describes the political situation in Armenia and the position of Turkey. “Pashinyan, having made the right choice and refusing to talk about genocide claims on the international stage, is moving towards the normalization of relations with Turkey without preconditions. In a country where hostility towards Turks has been generated for 100 years, this is a very brave step for the leader who lost the war three years ago. … Many are convinced that support for Pashinyan from Turkey a month before the elections can have the opposite effect.” Gyoghush also refers to the demand to change the RA constitution. “Now the biggest obstacle to the regulation of relations in 1991 is the Armenian constitution (the Turkish diplomat probably means the 1990 Declaration of Independence – ed.). … Noting that those problematic articles of the constitution should be changed, Pashinyan has taken another brave step, but there is no possibility to do something like that before the elections.”

Ambassador Octem makes a similar assessment. “The political situation of Armenia can be briefly described as follows. We have been following with satisfaction the progress of Armenia in the direction of peace and regional cooperation in recent years. Armenia, leaving Russia and turning towards the West, is taking appropriate steps in the right direction. Together, we see that Prime Minister Pashinyan is on the verge of pulling the country out of the mud. … In order to sign the peace treaty, it is expected that the reference to the Declaration of Independence will be removed from the preamble of the Constitution. There is a certainty that Pashinyan will remove this last obstacle after the elections.”

 Embassy support

The second thesis of Turkish diplomats refers to the elections themselves. In them, there is undisguised support for the current ruling power in Armenia. Ambassador Octem, claiming that Pashinyan is the likely winner of the elections, sums up the significance of the elections in this way. “Armenian voters will go to the polls on June 7 and will decide the future of the country with their free will. If he wants peace, prosperity and democracy, Pashinyan’s party is the right address. Those who want Armenia to remain Russia’s backyard, let them vote for Samvel Karapetyan. Turkey is ready to extend a hand of friendship to its neighbor Armenia, which has signed a peace treaty with Azerbaijan, is ready to open its borders, start diplomatic relations, in short, settle relations. Under the leadership of Pashinyan… Armenia will have good relations with its neighbors. … It is up to the voters of Armenia to agree to this. We hope it will happen.”

At the same time, the author labels other political forces, characterizing the ARF as “War-fighting Armenian nationalists leading Armenia to disasters”, the Armenian Apostolic Church as “opponents of the peace policy”, and the force led by Samvel Karapetyan, actually linking it to Russia.

Turkologist Varuzhan Geghamyan

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An operational consultation was held on May 12, 2026 under the leadership of the General Prosecutor of the Republic of Armenia Anna Vardapetyan. This is reported by the prosecutor’s office.

RA Deputy Prosecutor General Aram Aramyan, Lilit Grigoryan, Edgar Arsenyan, Yeghiazar Avagyan, RA Deputy Prosecutor General, RA Military Prosecutor Grigor Elizbaryan, Yerevan City Prosecutor Rafael Manukyan, Heads of the General Prosecutor’s Office, Prosecutors of administrative districts, regions and garrisons of Yerevan participated in the consultation.

A number of issues related to supervision and control of criminal proceedings initiated by sensitive cases, as well as work organization and discipline were discussed.

In connection with the raised issues, the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Armenia gave strict instructions and set deadlines for their implementation.

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New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s statement on the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide has been actively circulated in our public sphere.

In a post on his X social network on April 23, he also referred to the events that took place in Artsakh.

After that, Mamdani became the target of Turkish-Azerbaijani informational and political attacks.

Ordered and paid for articles continue to be published against him in the American press. In the article of the newspaper “Daily Media” of New York, which was published about a week ago, the mayor is answered in, guess who’s words, of course, Aliyev’s candidate, Pashinyan.

The quote is: The RA Prime Minister said: “How is it that there was no Genocide agenda in 1939 and how did that agenda appear in 1950? How did that happen?”

When I say that every word and action of the current authorities is directed against us, this is exactly what I mean. Do you understand the extent of the danger of all this? If so, then definitely say NO to Aliyev’s candidate on June 7.

Azerbaijani scholar Tatevik Hayrapetyan

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On May 13, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., the gas supply to gas consumers in Alapars settlement of Kotayk marz will be stopped. “Gazprom Armenia” CJSC informs about this.

Gas supply will be stopped in order to carry out scheduled works.

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RA Ambassador Grigor Hakobyan visited the RA-IRI border crossing point Norduz, where he met with the governor of Julfa Yahya Dashti, the head of Norduz border crossing Mohammad Ebrahim Nushiranzadeh, as well as the consul general of Iran in Kapan, Morteza Abedin Varamin. This was reported by the RA Embassy in Iran.

During the meeting, the parties discussed issues related to the deepening of cooperation between the border checkpoints of the two countries, facilitation of truck transit, elimination of existing obstacles, and proper service to citizens.

Ambassador Hakobyan highlighted the activity of Meghri and Norduz border checkpoints during the military operations, which served many citizens without significant obstacles under the existing conditions.

The RA ambassador noted in his speech that the reconstruction of the Meghri border checkpoint and the construction of the second border bridge will provide an opportunity to increase the volumes of transport capacity and promote bilateral trade and economic relations.

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“Zhoghovurd” daily writes: “Ahead of the National Assembly elections to be held on June 7, 2026, ArmLur.am continues to present the biographies and property declarations of the leaders of the nominated political forces. This time, the spotlight is on Nikol Pashinyan, who is number one on the pre-election list of the “Civil Contract” party. It should be noted that the party participates in the elections under number 16.

What property does Nikol Pashinyan have?

According to the declaration of property, income, expenses and interests of 2024, Nikol Pashinyan, who has held the position of Prime Minister since May 8, 2018, has no real estate. However, the declaration states that he actually owned a private house in Yerevan for 90 days or more.

 

In Pashinyan’s declaration, there is also a loan of 49 million 350 thousand drams given to “Ijevanatun” CJSC. He had a bank deposit of 726,900 drams, and the balance of his bank accounts was around 477,000 drams. Cash funds amounted to 700 thousand drams and 500 dollars.

 

 

 

According to the statement, during 2024 Nikol Pashinyan’s total incomes amounted to more than 80 million 235 thousand drams. About 17 million drams of that amount were wages. He also declared a donation of 6 million drams from his wife, Anna Hakobyan.

 

Loans received from different banks are also mentioned in the declaration. As of the end of the year, the balance of the principal amount of loans and borrowings amounted to more than 48 million drams, of which 44 million 415 thousand drams is a liability received for the purpose of purchasing an apartment.

 

The Prime Minister also declared travel expenses and accommodation expenses for the purpose of recreation in the amount of more than 5 million drams.

Pashinyan also announced his participation in “Mer Tparan” company, where he has a 50 percent share. That participation was acquired back in 2009. Pashinyan is the chairman of the board of the “Civil Contract” party.

For comparison, in the 2021 declaration, Pashinyan’s bank deposits were about 3 million drams, bank account balances were 27 thousand 701 drams and 3.84 dollars, and cash funds were 790 thousand drams and 1800 dollars, and total income was about 13.6 million drams. At that time, the loan obligations amounted to about 1.2 million drams.

 

Nikol Pashinyan’s political and journalistic path

Nikol Pashinyan was born on June 1, 1975 in Ijevan. He studied at Yerevan State University, but was expelled in his final year due to political reasons.

Since the 1990s, he has been engaged in journalism, working in various newspapers, including “Lagir”, “Molorak” and other periodicals. In 1998, he founded the “Oragir” daily newspaper, which was later closed by the court’s decision. From 1999 to 2012, he was the chief editor of “Haykakan Zhamanak” daily newspaper.

His political activities were also accompanied by criminal prosecutions and imprisonment. In 1999, he was sentenced to one year in prison, but the sentence was postponed. After the events of March 1, 2008, he spent more than a year underground, and in 2009 he voluntarily presented himself to law enforcement and was sentenced to 7 years in prison. He was later released under amnesty.

In 2012, he was elected a member of the National Assembly on the list of the “Armenian National Congress” bloc. In 2013, he founded the “Civil Agreement” political association, which later became a party.

In 2017, he was again elected as a deputy and head of the parliamentary faction on the list of the “ELK” alliance. On March 31, 2018, the “My Step” movement started in Gyumri, which in April-May turned into a mass protest movement and led to a change of government.

On May 8, 2018, the National Assembly elected him as the Prime Minister. In December of the same year, he headed the list of the “My Step” bloc and received the support of the majority of voters in the elections. In 2021, amid the internal political crisis, he resigned in order to hold early elections, but after the elections on June 20 of the same year, the “Civil Agreement” party won again, and Nikol Pashinyan was reappointed as Prime Minister.

Thus, ahead of the 2026 elections, Nikol Pashinyan stands before the public not only as the head of the government for eight years, but also as a politician whose activities and decisions continue to be one of the most discussed and controversial topics in society. On the one hand, he presents himself as the leader of the “velvet revolution” and the author of systemic changes, on the other hand, the years of his rule have been accompanied by war, territorial losses, severe internal political crises and ongoing social divisions. Against this background, public interest in his property status, income and financial obligations only grows, especially in the conditions when the government continues to talk about transparency, anti-corruption fight and social justice.

Details in today’s issue of “Zhoghovurd” daily.

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“Hraparak” newspaper writes:

“Aragatsotn Marzpetaran has signed 5 contracts with “Shinexpert” LLC for monitoring the construction of kindergartens.

They were signed on the same day, on May 5, without a tender, through the purchase procedure from one person, with a total value of about 7 million drams.

“Shineexprt” company was founded in 2010 by architect Suren Abovyan, who has been the chief architect of Vanadzor since 2016. A year after assuming the position, in 2017, Abovyan left the management of the Shinexprt company, transferred 100 percent of the shares of the LLC to the company’s employees, but nothing happens in the company without his knowledge.

This company, especially during Pashinyan’s rule, carries out author control of the construction of kindergartens by order of Vanadzor Municipality. Now the company has expanded its geography and provides surveillance services in Aragatsotn region as well.

Let’s note that before the signing of the mentioned 5 large contracts, the regional administration did not sign any contract with this company.

Suren Abovyan’s Facebook page revealed his political views. He actively shares Facebook posts of KP governor Aren Mkrtchyan and materials posted by other KP members. He is also active, writing comments in support of CP under various posts.”

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“Prosperous Armenia Party” presents the main provisions of the cultural sphere within the framework of the “Offer to Armenia” program.

“Armenia’s greatest wealth is its inexhaustible cultural heritage, which has come to us as a priceless gift, overcoming the trials of millennia.

What are we adding to that wealth today, what kind of cultural layer is being created today?

Cultural heritage and modern art. Clinging to these two axes, today’s society resists the new trials that have come to it, and tomorrow’s Armenia is formed through them.

Let’s try to present our ideas about the cultural policy of Armenia as concisely as possible.

General Provisions

• Cultural policy should be both pragmatic and fueled by big dreams. The field of culture, the creative environment cannot make a choice between these two, they must be simultaneous and mutually conditioning.

• The effectiveness of cultural policy suffers due to the current model of unilaterally centralized management in the hands of the Ministry of Education and Culture. The vertical management model of the spheres of culture, art and creative industry is characteristic of totalitarian countries. Such a model in a country with a small and original culture and human resources like Armenia.

– leads to stagnation,

– collapses the autonomy, independence and therefore originality of creative units,

– restricts initiative,

– repels the free creator, forcing him to endlessly enter the offices of officials, and instead of free creativity, forces him to weave an undesirable conjuncture for the artist, with non-artistic, anti-cultural consequences arising from it.

• It is necessary to move from the vertical management of the culture and art sphere to the development of models that promote autonomy and individual responsibility, with the creation of separate specialized units operating independently of the state, but under the patronage of the state: cultural agencies, foundations (according to the branches of art and creative industries).

• The state should generously finance and technically support the cultural sphere, promoting art and individual creativity, but act not as a “feudal” to whom this “field belongs”, or as a dry controller, but as a caring partner for whom the result (including long-term) is important, and the field of art and creativity should be free from direct encroachment and the danger of bureaucracy and stagnation.

1. Cultural heritage. maintenance and flowering

Cultural policy implementers should approach this sphere with maximum responsibility, realizing that they are the guardians of the cultural wealth that has reached our days in just a short historical period.

This realization will help.

– To unite the forces of the best specialists in all fields, in Armenia and in the Diaspora, regardless of political and personal sympathies

– To create an effective, viable system of preservation of cultural heritage.

We are all guardians of our cultural heritage. we should try to spread this approach, starting from kindergarten. Preservation and care of cultural material and non-material wealth should be part of everyday knowledge and activities in Armenia and in the world. The most important condition for this is to recognize that wealth, for which various educational and entertainment projects should be created, of key figures and works of architecture, fine arts, literature, music and all other fields.

The Armenian Church is the chairman of the preservation of cultural heritage. The greatest partner of the state in the preservation of ancient treasures is the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church, with all its worldwide structures, its experience, its authority.

To pass the cultural heritage to the generations in a better condition than we received. this should be one of the most important tasks of the state and citizens. Bloom what you get, treating it with the utmost care and responsibility, but also with a creative approach, involving interesting and modern ideas, using innovative technologies, attracting more and more active public interest.

Searching for Armenian cultural wealth around the world with the help of creating a partnership and patronage network. Discovery of Armenian heritage works scattered around the world, care, if possible – return to Armenia, if impossible – creation of local guardian councils or involvement of individuals, cooperation with Armenian communities, philanthropists, church structures, scientific-museum institutions, etc.

Armenian culture is a natural part of world culture. with all its originality, it is important not to isolate the Armenian cultural heritage from the world, on the contrary, to constantly observe and popularize it as an active and viable element at all times. In this regard, cooperation with various cultural centers of the world, implementation of joint projects is important.

The cultural heritage of Artsakh is in the center of continuous attention. The search for ways to preserve and organize the possible care of Artsakh cultural and spiritual monuments should be continuous. With the involvement of international organizations, groups of cultural ambassadors, international groups of Christian pilgrims, international Christian structures and others, it is necessary to achieve that, so that visits become possible, at least for the purpose of recording and monitoring the situation.

At the same time, in Armenia, the greatest attention should be paid to the preservation of Artsakh’s non-cultural heritage: dialect, songs, folklore, dances and all other components. A separate extensive program is being prepared in this regard.

The ties with the Armenian Diaspora, the unity of the Armenian World should be the most important guarantee for the comprehensive protection and effective care of the Armenian cultural wealth around the world.

2. Contemporary art, creative industries

Modern art is first of all the creative individual. Every individual who creates in the territory of Armenia and enriches our current cultural layer with his unique creativity is the wealth of Armenia. Encouraging individual and group creativity should be emphasized not only in terms of creating a purely cultural product, but also in terms of the creative process itself. The needs of creative individuals and groups, the methods of their encouragement should be the constant and dynamic center of attention of the state and community culturally responsible circles.

– State-creator relations should be horizontal. The artist should not be in the role of asking the state for something. The state itself should create mechanisms to encourage the creative life of the artist.

– Employees of cultural institutions financed by state funds should not be considered as standard civil servants. People in the field of culture and art should enjoy enough freedom to create valuable creative works that express the spirit of the times. Censorship and the atmosphere that encourages self-censorship should be considered unacceptable in cultural institutions operating under the care of the state.

– The differences in the fields of art are also expressed by the difference in their needs. It is difficult to ensure access to creative resources for creative units in all sectors if there is no real understanding of their needs. In the conditions of today’s over-centralized ministry, there remains a very small field for real cooperation between a free artist and the state.

– It is necessary to distribute the funds allocated by the state to modern art in a targeted manner according to the sectors. The best way is independent cultural agencies or foundations, which will interact with their fields through professional councils, managing the funds allocated by the state according to the needs of the field. This will allow funds and programs to be delivered to a larger number of creators, will include creators and groups of diverse political views, and will create partnership, horizontal relationships.

– Encouraging creative unions should become one of the goals of the state cultural policy.

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Bagrat Archbishop Galstanyan defeated political scientist Harutyun Mkrtchyan in the defamation case. The case was examined in the court of general jurisdiction of the first instance of Armavir region, presided over by judge Hovhannes Melkonyan.

It should be noted that in one of his interviews given to “Armenian Time”, political scientist Harutyun Mkrtchyan questioned the statement of Bishop Bagrat to freeze the position of the head of the Diocese of Tavush, calling him a “self-frozen terter”, “deviant cleric”, “modern-day Osama bin Laden”, “Tasovchik” and so on. He also announced that the temporary suspension of the post of Bishop Bagrat means that the Catholicos justifies “murders of people”, “shooting under the walls”, “terrorist actions”, for which Archbishop Bagrat has now been charged.

“The court partially satisfied Bagrat Galstanyan’s claim against the defendant Harutyun Mkrtchyan. According to that, Mkrtchyan should compensate the reverend 600,000 drams, 300,000 drams each for defamation and insult episodes. With similar claims that we have applied to the court, all of them have been rejected, the courts did not dare to satisfy. We have appealed them to the appellate court. In this case, there is a final act, and if there is no appeal from the other side, it will enter into legal force,” lawyer Tatevik Soghoyan told Sputnik Armenia.

Let us add that Reverend Bagrat demanded from Harutyun Mkrtchyan to confiscate 3 million drams as compensation for non-material damages, of which 1.5 million for defamation and the other 1.5 million for insult.

To remind: Bagrat Archbishop Galstanyan was arrested in 2025. on the night of June 25-26. According to the RA Investigative Committee, the participants and leaders of the “Holy Struggle” movement had planned to carry out acts of terrorism and seizure of power in RA.

On August 21, according to the decision of judge Karen Farkhoyan, his detention period was extended by 3 months, on November 13 – by another three months, on April 23 – by 2 months.

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