Upon the successful completion of the ongoing life-extension program of the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant, Armenia will be able to continue operating the facility until at least 2036, while simultaneously advancing plans for a new modular nuclear facility, Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure David Khudatyan has said.

He told lawmakers at a joint committee hearing on the government report that the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant is currently disconnected from the country’s energy system and is undergoing a life-extension program.

“During these days, the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant is disconnected from our energy system and is undergoing a life-extension program. We carry out this process every year; however, once every five years it takes longer, and the disconnection from the energy system lasts about three months,” Khudatyan said when asked by MP Sergey Bagratyan how long the Armenian nuclear power plant could be safely operated before the construction of a new one.

The minister noted that the work has already started and more than half of it has been completed.

“If the program is successfully completed—and we are doing everything to ensure its success—the plant’s operating life will be extended by another 10 years. That means it will remain connected to our energy system at least until 2036,” he said.

Khudatyan added that, alongside extending the life of the existing plant, the government is continuing work on building a new nuclear power plant.

“We have made the choice of model and type. The government has announced that we are moving toward the construction of a modular nuclear power plant,” he said.

Armenia has received proposals from various countries and is currently studying them from technical, safety, and financial perspectives, he said.

“We have proposals from different countries, and we are studying them in terms of technical, safety, and financial aspects. This technology is relatively new in the global energy sector, and we are not rushing,” Khudatyan said.

He noted that the financial component is especially important, as the cost of building a new nuclear plant could significantly affect electricity tariffs.

“The financial costs of proposals from different countries vary. We know that the construction of new nuclear power plants will have a significant impact on tariffs, and therefore one of our main conditions is to obtain the most affordable price possible,” the minister said.

Khudatyan added that, for this reason, the government is not in a hurry to make a final decision, and the decision is likely to be postponed to 2027.

“We are not rushing to make a decision. I think the decision will be postponed to 2027, because the life-extension program gives us flexibility,” he said.

He also noted that by then, several countries are expected to already have modular nuclear power plants connected to their energy systems, which will allow for a better assessment of the technology.

“By the end of 2026 and during 2027, several countries will already have such nuclear plants connected to their energy systems,” Khudatyan said.

Armenia has received proposals to build a modular nuclear power plant from five countries: the United States, France, Russia, China, and South Korea.

Former Defense Minister Vigen Sargsyan has been declared wanted by Armenian law enforcement agencies in a money laundering case, days after investigators indicted him along with other former officials.

The case involves large-scale corruption and money laundering linked to property worth over 200 million drams.

A court approved the investigator’s motion to order pre-trial detention in absentia for Sargsyan, who is currently abroad. Sargsyan was subsequently declared wanted, the Investigative Committee said. 

According to the Investigative Committee, former officials—including ex-Minister of Education and Science Armen Ashotyan, former Finance Minister Gagik Khachatryan, his son Artyom Khachatryan, ex–Defense Minister Vigen Sargsyan, and several former university and business officials—are accused of abuse of official powers. Former rector of Brusov State University Gayane Gasparyan, former vice-rector Artur Avagyan, and former deputy director of the “Yerevan Mall” shopping center Harutyun Tadevosyan are also facing charges.

Vigen Sargsyan served as Defense Minister from 2016 to 2018 and previously served as Chief of Staff in the administration of Serzh Sargsyan. He was chairman of the university’s governing board at the time the alleged scheme was carried out. Armen Ashotyan served as Minister of Education and Science from 2009 to 2016.

Gagik Khachatryan served as Chairman of the State Revenue Committee from 2008 to 2014 and as Minister of Finance from 2014 to 2016.

Arrest warrants have been issued for all suspects.

Ashotyan was taken into custody, and a court approved his pre-trial detention for one month. A court rejected the request for pre-trial detention for Gagik Khachatryan, and he was released but banned from leaving the country pending trial. Gasparyan and Avagyan are also banned from leaving the country.

A court has yet to rule on pre-trial detention in absentia for Artyom Khachatryan and Harutyun Tadevosyan, both of whom are abroad.

A court has approved a motion for pre-trial detention in absentia for another candidate who ran on the Strong Armenia ticket in the June 7 parliamentary election in connection with an ongoing vote-buying investigation.

The Investigative Committee said in a statement that the court granted the prosecution’s request to remand the suspect – Hayk Avagyan – in custody as a preventive measure. The individual remains at large.

The decision comes amid an ongoing investigation into alleged vote-buying and material inducement of voters involving members of the Strong Armenia bloc.

Earlier, two of the six candidates previously named in the case were detained after law enforcement agencies carried out arrests and the court ordered their pre-trial detention.

Arrest warrants for six members of the Strong Armenia bloc were issued on June 6 after the Electoral Commission approved prosecutors’ motion to bring charges as part of the investigation into alleged money laundering and vote-buying.

The investigation is ongoing.

A court has approved pre-trial detention in absentia for another candidate who ran on the Strong Armenia ticket in the June 7 parliamentary election, as part of an ongoing vote-buying investigation.

The Investigative Committee said in a statement that the court granted the investigators’ motion to remand Artur Abrahamyan in custody with no bail. The individual remains at large and is wanted.

This marks the latest in a series of similar rulings in the same case. Earlier the same day, a court ordered pre-trial detention in absentia for another Strong Armenia candidate.

The Strong Armenia Alliance will apply to Armenia’s Central Electoral Commission (CEC) seeking the annulment of the results of the parliamentary elections held in the country on June 7.

The announcement was made by Narek Karapetyan, the first candidate on the Strong Armenia Alliance’s electoral list.

Karapetyan claimed that, based on recounts currently being conducted following applications submitted by several political forces, the vote tally of the Civil Contract Party had allegedly decreased significantly, despite statements by Civil Contract representatives that the recount process had increased their vote total by more than 1,000 votes.

Karapetyan also alleged that military personnel were directed to participate in the vote and that employees of the state system were instructed to vote in favor of the Civil Contract Party.

“Taking all this into account, tomorrow we will apply to the Central Electoral Commission so that the commission invalidates the election results and reviews Civil Contract’s votes. If we do not receive a prompt response, we will apply to the Constitutional Court,” Karapetyan said.

According to the preliminary results of Armenia’s June 7 parliamentary elections, three political forces are set to enter parliament: the Civil Contract Party, the Strong Armenia Alliance, and the Armenia Alliance.

Preliminary figures show that the Civil Contract Party received 727,827 votes, or 49.825% of the vote. Based on these results, the party is expected to secure a parliamentary majority and form the government.

The Strong Armenia Alliance received 340,088 votes, or 23.281%, while the Armenia Alliance secured 145,113 votes, or 9.934%.

The Prosperous Armenia Party remains very close to the electoral threshold of 4%. According to preliminary results, the party received 3.996% of the vote, falling short of entering parliament by 0.004 percentage points.

Prosperous Armenia had earlier announced that it would apply to the CEC for recounts at a number of polling stations.

The vote recount process is currently underway, and the final election results are scheduled to be announced on June 14.

A court has ordered the arrest of Vahe Tavakalyan, a parliamentary candidate from the Strong Armenia Alliance, and a wanted notice has been issued for him as part of a criminal investigation into the alleged material inducement of numerous individuals during the election campaign and the laundering of particularly large amounts of money.

The information was provided by Armenia’s Investigative Committee.

Earlier, within the framework of the same criminal case, two other Strong Armenia Alliance parliamentary candidates, Sasun Badoyan and Vahe Yeghiazaryan, had been placed under arrest.

On June 11, arrest was also ordered as a preventive measure against two additional alliance parliamentary candidates, Hayk Avagyan and Artur Abrahamyan, who have likewise been placed on the wanted list.

It became known on June 7 that the Department for the Investigation of General and Electoral Crimes of the Main Department for the Investigation of Particularly Important Cases of the Investigative Committee was conducting a pre-trial investigation into allegations of material inducement of numerous individuals and money laundering on a particularly large scale.

As part of the proceedings, public criminal prosecution was initiated against six Strong Armenia Alliance parliamentary candidates: Hayk Avagyan, Sasun Badoyan, Artur Abrahamyan, Vahe Tavakalyan, Vahe Yeghiazaryan, and Ashot Sahakyan.

According to the Investigative Committee, the prosecutions were launched under Part 2 of Article 46-236 and Point 3 of Part 3 of Article 296 of Armenia’s Criminal Code.

Before public criminal prosecution was initiated against the candidates, the Central Electoral Commission had granted the consent requested by the Prosecutor General’s Office of Armenia.

Compulsory Enforcement Service press release 

June 11 marks the 19th World Day of Judicial Officers. This year it is marked under the “The Judicial Officer: At the Frontline of a Changing World” theme.

Siro Amirkhanyan, Chief Enforcement Officer of Armenia, released a statement on this occasion.

“Dear Colleagues,

Dear Staff Members,

Today, we celebrate the 19th World Day of Judicial Officers. This year’s observance is held under the timely theme: “The Judicial Officer: At the Frontline of a Changing World”.

The modern world demands speed, precision, and continuous improvement from all of us.

Within the framework of the Government of the Republic of Armenia’s 2021–2026 Action Program, a clear objective was set before us: to fundamentally reform the enforcement system.

Today, we can confidently state that the Compulsory Enforcement Service not only keeps pace with these changes but stands at their forefront, thanks to the comprehensive digitalization of the system and the introduction of advanced electronic tools.

On this festive occasion, I would like to express special gratitude to our international partners and personally to Marc Schmitz, of the President of International Union of Judicial Officers (UIHJ), for their constant support, willingness to share expertise, and commitment to cooperation. The localization of international best practices and our strong partnership with the Union greatly contribute to the modernization of Armenia’s enforcement system and its alignment with European standards.

The reforms we have implemented are aimed at one principal goal: enhancing the effectiveness of enforcement proceedings and ensuring the maximum protection of the rights of both citizens and the state. The successes we have achieved in this direction are already tangible.

Once again congratulating our partners in the International Union of Judicial Officers, I wish continued productive and effective cooperation.

Justice begins with the law and is carried out with the participation of the enforcement officer.”

ZCMC press release 

Zangezur Copper Molybdenum Combine (ZCMC) is pleased to announce it has joined the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative, bringing together thousands of companies committed to responsible business practices and sustainable development.

By becoming a participant in the UN Global Compact, ZCMC aligns its operations and business practices with the initiative’s Ten Principles covering human rights, labour, environmental stewardship, and anti-corruption, while contributing to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The decision reflects ZCMC’s commitment to strengthening its environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance and ensuring the continuous alignment of its activities with internationally recognized sustainability standards and best practices.

“Joining the United Nations Global Compact reflects our commitment to continuously improving the way we operate and to aligning our business with globally recognized principles of responsible corporate conduct. As Armenia’s leading mining company, we recognize our responsibility to create value not only through production, but also through strong governance, environmental stewardship, safe workplaces, and constructive engagement with our stakeholders.”said Roman Khudoliy, General Director of Zangezur Copper Molybdenum Combine.

As part of the initiative, ZCMC will annually publish its Communication on Progress (CoP), providing stakeholders with an account of the company’s progress in implementing the Ten Principles and enabling benchmarking against leading companies across the global mining and metals sector.

Joining the UN Global Compact marks another important milestone in ZCMC’s sustainability journey and its efforts to strengthen corporate governance, enhance accountability, and create long-term value for its stakeholders.

ZCMC would also like to take this opportunity to inform its stakeholders that the company has recently completed an assessment by one of the world’s leading ESG rating agencies for the year 2024. Over a two-year period, ZCMC improved its ESG score by 20 points, exceeding the global industry average for the metals and mining sector and reflecting significant progress in strengthening its sustainability performance and governance practices. While the results are not publicly disclosed, ZCMC intends to pursue a public ESG rating for the 2025 reporting year, with publication expected in 2026.

Armenia will send humanitarian aid to Lebanon. The decision was approved at a Cabinet meeting. The aid will be sent via Türkiye by land through the Margara checkpoint, which will be opened from June 12–22 for the shipment.

The route enables faster and more cost-effective delivery of the aid.

The Margara checkpoint has been closed since Türkiye unilaterally shut down the land border with Armenia in the early 1990s.

The checkpoint was briefly opened in 2023 when Armenia sent humanitarian aid to Türkiye in the aftermath of a devastating earthquake. It was also opened in 2025 for Armenian humanitarian aid shipments to Syria.