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Class of 2026 graduate of the Holy Martyrs Ferrahian High School, Natelle Ezadjian climbed Mount Ararat reaching its summit, where she flew the school flag, as well as a flag of Artsakh in a proud moment.

In photos and videos posted to the school’s social media platforms, the school voiced its pride, calling Ezadjian’s achievement a proud moment for the school.

“It’s hard to put into words what this moment means to the entire Ferrahian family,” the school’s social media post said.

The school added that on graduation day, Ezadjian spoke through tears about how Ferrahian High School was where “she found herself, discovered her purpose, and learned what she wanted to stand for and fight for.”

Asbarez will have more on Ezadjian’s ascent, conquering 16,854 feet and reaching the peak of the iconic mountain.

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Armenia’s Declaration of Independence adopted on August 23, 1990

A senior lawmaker from the ruling Civil Contract party announced that the draft constitution would not include a reference to Armenia’s Declaration of Independence, the removal of which has been a precondition set forth by Azerbaijan’s president for signing a peace deal with Armenia.

Azerbaijan claims that the mention of Armenia’s Declaration of Independence in the preamble of the current constitution signals territorial claims from Azerbaijan, since the declaration contains a provision calling for the reunification of Armenia and Artsakh.

Arusyak Julhakyan, a member of the ruling Civil Contract party who is nominated to lead the new parliament’s committee on legal affairs, announced on Tuesday that the new draft of the constitution will not include a reference to the declaration of independence and will be publicized by the end of this year.

While Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has rejected Baku’s claims, he has called the declaration of independence “a declaration of war” saying that a new constitution must not make reference to Armenia’s finding document, seemingly echoing Baku’s demands.

“Has the reference to the Declaration of Independence been removed from the text of the Constitution? Nothing has been removed from the text of the Constitution, because we are writing a new Constitution. It is not that we have taken the Constitution and deleted some provisions from it or added new things. We have taken a blank sheet of paper and started writing the text of a new. Does the preamble, which is supposed to be included in the draft, contain a reference to the Declaration of Independence? No, and it should not have, and Aliyev has nothing to do with it,” Julhakyan said.

With that statement, Julhakyan was directly responding to a question and statement by Armenia Alliance lawmaker Anna Grigoryan, who insisted that the new constitution is being drafted to appease Baku, pledging that her bloc could not possibly approve such a document, given the pressures from Azerbaijan.

The draft of the constitution, which was completed in the spring, has to be approved by at least two-thirds of the parliament members before being put on a referendum. Pashinyan’s party fell short of such a majority in the elections held on June 7. Pashinyan has yet to clarify just how he is planning to overcome this hurdle.

Julhakyan indicated in this regard that Civil Contract hopes to win over some opposition lawmakers through public discussions planned after the release of the draft at the end of the year.

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Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin

Russia stepped up its demands from Yerevan to call a referendum on Armenia’s ambitions to join the European Union, setting a deadline for December of this year, when the leaders of the Eurasian Economic Union are set to meet.

“Armenia must decide on holding a nationwide referendum on whether to join the European Union or to remain in the Eurasian Economic Union by December 2026, when the meeting of the heads of the EEU member states will discuss possible further steps toward Yerevan,” Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin said in an interview with state-run Tass news agency on Tuesday.

“It is obvious that if a referendum is not called by that time, the [EEU] leaders will take this fact into consideration when deciding on further appropriate joint steps [regarding Armenia],” Galuzin added.

Pashinyan initiated a call with President Vladimir Putin of Russia late last month to discuss the increasing obstacles and sanctions being imposed by Moscow on goods imported to Russia from Armenia.

During that call, Putin urged Pashinyan to hold the referendum, the idea of which stems from a joint statement by the leaders of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan, adopted on May 29, regarding Armenia’s aspirations to join the EU. That announcement also called for a nationwide referendum to take place in Armenia “in the shortest possible time” to determine whether Armenian citizens want to Armenia to join the EU or remain part of the Russia-led EEU.

“At the same time, it has already been noted that this issue will be discussed again at the meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council to be held in December, when the heads of state will be presented with a report on the possible consequences of suspending the functioning of the EEU treaty of May 29, 2014 with respect to Armenia,” Galuzin added.

According to Pashinyan, he told Putin that the referendum would be practically possible only after Armenia officially submits an application for EU membership, making the issue a concrete matter for consideration.

Galuzin also told Tass that according to Armenia’s Constitution, membership in international organizations required a referendum, something that did not happen when Armenia joined the EEU.

The Russian official took note of Pashinyan’s recent statements that the result of the June 7 elections, in which his Civil Contract party received the most votes, signaled that the majority of the Armenian population is in agreement with the government’s policies, including seeking membership in the EU.

“And now we hear that the results of the June elections in Armenia supposedly already indicate nationwide support for the pro-European path, for the further introduction of European norms and rules in the country, therefore there is no need for a referendum again,” Galuzin said.

“Let me recall that during the election campaign, Pashinyan sometimes was making diametrically opposed and confusing statements. Moreover, sometimes he was also quite openly admitting that no one has invited Armenia to the EU yet, and that it may never become a member of it,” Galuzin added. “A lot has already been said, but it does not add clarity at all.”

According to the senior Russian diplomat, this is precisely why the leaders of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan have stated that it is necessary to know what the people of Armenia really think about this issue.

Galuzin also said that the matter of depriving Armenia of its voting rights in the Collective Security Treaty Organization may be discussed at the organization’s summit on November 11.

Yerevan froze its participation in the Russia-led security organization. Pashinyan claimed that the CSTO did not properly defend its member-state when Armenia appealed to the group after Azerbaijan invaded and seized territories in Armenia in 2021 and 2022.

“Any decision regarding the possible application of restrictive measures against one of the organization’s members fully falls within the purview of the [CSTO] Collective Security Council—which includes the heads of the CSTO member states—which is authorized to make such decisions on the basis of the provisions of the organization’s charter—the applicable norms in relation to your question are contained, in particular, in its Articles 20 and 25,” Galuzin noted, in response to a question about the application of the relevant article of the CSTO charter regarding non-fulfillment of obligations.

According to him, the CSTO charter is an international treaty and must be fulfilled in good faith by all its parties, including the obligation of each member state to fund the activities of the CSTO bodies.

“Yerevan’s refusal to participate in the organization’s work and failure to sign annual decisions on its budget only means non-use of its right, but does not suspend Armenia’s obligations to transfer its national contribution [to the CSTO] on time,” the high-ranking Russian diplomat noted.

“Based on the principle of maintaining institutional efficiency, in any international organization there are procedures for such cases provided for by fundamental documents. The CSTO is no exception,” Galuzin added.

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Catholicos Karekin II appears in court on Aug. 7 (Video screen grab)

A new judge has been assigned to preside over the criminal case against Catholicos Karekin II and six other bishops, after another judge recused himself from the case during the first scheduled hearing on August 7.

According to DataLex, an online legal directory in Armenia, Serzh Rushanyan from the Armavir Province has been assigned as the new justice overseeing the case. The 29-year-old Rushanyan has not yet set a new hearing date.

Rushanyan was appointed a judge in 2023, before that he worked at the Justice Ministry, and, from 2017 to 2020, he was the president of the “Justice and Rule of Law” civic organization.

Catholicos Karekin II and five of the six bishops indicted in the case appeared in court on August 7. The presiding judge, Hakop Manukyan, recused himself from the case, citing a conflict of interest. The court adjourned minutes after the session convened.

Datalex also published a statement explaining Judge Manukyan’s decision to recuse himself.

Manukyan explained that in 2021 he studied at National Law Academy and, during that time, the attorney representing the Catholicos in this case, Ara Zohrabyan, was the President of the Chamber of Advocates and the Chairman of the Qualification Commission of the Chamber of Advocates. Manukyan added that Zohrabyan, himself, issued his attorney’s license following an oral examination.

“The stated factual circumstances in their entirety may raise reasonable doubts among an impartial and unbiased observer about my impartiality in this case, and accordingly, both the objectivity of the examination of the case and the fairness of the judicial acts to be made may be questioned. Therefore, in the interests of justice, I found it necessary to recuse myself from this case,” Manukyan wrote on DataLex.

The Catholicos and six high ranking Etchmiadzin bishops are accused of obstructing the execution of a judicial ruling, which involves a court decision compelling the church to reappoint a dismissed cleric.

The case is centered around Archbishop Gevorg Saroyan, one of 10 bishops who joined Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s campaign against the Catholicos and the Armenian Church.

Last year, the Catholicos dismissed him, and the court ordered the pontiff to reinstate the archbishop. The Mother See, however, did not reinstate him and defrocked him, declaring that these matters were not within the jurisdiction of the court, saying the court ruling interfered in the autonomy of the church. The Investigative Committee considered this obstruction of a justice and prosecutors indicted the Catholicos and six others.

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From l to r: Jack Hadjinian; Marita Medzachian, educational presenter; Levon Baronian; Vaughn Melkonian, AYF Camp Counselor; Mike Keleshian

WRIGHTWOOD, Calif. — A delegation representing the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Western United States visited AYF Camp Big Pines on Wednesday, August 5, meeting with camp leadership and touring the facilities during the 2026 summer camp season.

The delegation included ARF Western U.S. Central Committee Representative Levon Baronian, Central Committee Co-Chair Mike Keleshian, and ARF Montebello Dro Gomideh Chair Jack Hadjinian.

During the visit, the delegation received a tour of the campground and reviewed recent improvements and renovation projects undertaken at the facility. AYF Camp has carried out significant upgrades to Camp Big Pines as part of a broader effort to modernize and improve its facilities. The improvements have included renovations to the camp lodge and infrastructure, while additional upgrades have been supported through $2 million in funding secured from the State of California for improvements at AYF Camp’s Big Pines and Twin Valleys properties.

AYF Camp has served generations of Armenian youth in the Western United States. The camp program was established on the West Coast in 1969, and the Big Pines property was acquired in 1977. Each summer, the camp brings together Armenian youth for cultural, educational, athletic and social activities designed to strengthen Armenian identity, community ties and lifelong friendships.

The Armenian Youth Federation, founded in 1933 through the initiative of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, serves as the youth organization of the ARF and has played a central role in educating and developing generations of Armenian-American community members and leaders.

The visit underscored the continued importance the ARF Western United States places on supporting the AYF and institutions such as AYF Camp, which remain central to the education, engagement and development of future generations of Armenian youth.

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