Armenia

Armenia Elections 2026

All votes counted: Pashinyan's third victory

Armenia has once again elected Nikol Pashinyan and his Civil Contract party. While the Election Commission reported that all ballots have been opened, nearly 50% of the votes went to Civil Contract. Three parties entered parliament. The fourth-place party, Prosperous Armenia, narrowly missed the threshold with 3.996% of the vote against a 4% requirement.

Today 15:23

Armenia Elections 2026

Polls closed, counting begins with 59% turnout

In the Armenian parliamentary elections, where 18 political parties and alliances are competing, all eyes are now fixed on the first official votes to come from the electoral boards. The first unofficial results are expected to arrive starting from midnight. Voter turnout stands at 59%.

7 June 2026

CIVIL CONTRACT PARTY DEPUTIES OPTIMISTIC

“The opposition has no idea how to regulate our relations with our neighbors”

We met in Yerevan with Sarkis Khandanyan, Maria Karapetyan, and Hasmik Hagopyan, Members of Parliament from the Civil Contract Party, whose victory is viewed as nearly certain. Just hours before tomorrow's election, the MPs evaluated the pre-election landscape, Turkey-Armenia relations, and more from their perspective.

7 June 2026 Lusyen Kopar

NEW STEP IN THE NORMALIZATION PROCESS

Armenian and Turkish business leaders meet in Kars

As part of the Armenia–Turkey normalization process and with the support of both governments, representatives of the Armenian business community crossed the Armenia–Turkey land border on June 2 and traveled to Kars, where they met with representatives of the Turkish business community.

4 June 2026

Election in Armenia

Armenia’s June 7 test

4 June 2026 Ari K. Demircioğlu

ARMENIA TOWARDS THE ELECTION

Is the government's claim "If the opposition wins, war will break out" realistic?

As Armenia moves toward the 2026 parliamentary elections, the language of politics is sharpening noticeably. The ruling party's central propaganda message has become increasingly explicit in recent days: "If the opposition wins and, as it has promised, reopens for renegotiation the agreements that have secured the current peaceful environment, war will be inevitable."

6 April 2026 Ari K. Demircioğlu

"Digital Exiles" from Iran to Armenia

Yerevan is no stranger to the influx of first Russian, and now Iranian digital exiles. In 2022, the city became a primary destination for thousands of Russians fleeing the fallout of war and financial sanctions. However, the contrast between that wave and this new one from Iran is stark. While the Russian wave was largely a corporate process—where giants like Yandex relocated entire departments and banking systems—the Iranian influx is much quieter. It is composed of IT workers, small startups, students, and freelancers who depend on the internet for their daily work.

25 March 2026

ARMENIAN ELECTIONS JUNE 2026

A referendum of trust in the shadow of the undecided

The main reason the Civil Contract Party obtained the parliamentary majority in the 2021 election was that the undecided and angry masses who broke away from the government boycotted the ballot box by not voting for the opposition either.

23 March 2026 Ari K. Demircioğlu

NEW DRAFT CONSTITUTION IN ARMENIA

Eyes on the Declaration of Independence and Dual Citizenship Clauses

The new draft constitution prepared in Armenia will first be discussed by the ruling Civil Contract Party. The potential removal of the reference to the Declaration of Independence in the preamble and the dual citizenship restriction for high-level public officials constitute the main subjects of debate between the government and the opposition.

18 March 2026

ELECTIONS IN ARMENIA

Polls show Pashinyan's party at 24%, while 30% of voters remain undecided

According to a study regarding the elections to be held on June 7 in Armenia, 24% of voters stated they would support the Civil Contract Party, led by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, "if an election were held next Sunday." Undecided voters stand at 30%.

13 March 2026

THY makes its first flight to Yerevan

Turkish Airlines (THY) operated its first scheduled flight from Istanbul to Yerevan on Wednesday, March 11. The commencement of flights was first announced last September. It is planned that the daily flights will be increased starting in May.

13 March 2026

PASHINYAN AT THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

"The Only Guarantee of Peace is Peace Itself"

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, in a speech delivered to the Plenary Session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, detailed Yerevan’s vision for regional peace, its goals for European Union integration, and new strategies regarding transportation corridors. Touching upon a wide range of issues—from the crises in the Middle East and the situation of refugees from Karabakh to negotiations with Azerbaijan and domestic tensions with the Church—Pashinyan emphasized that their foreign policy now focuses on diplomatic and economic cooperation rather than military security.

11 March 2026

CHIEF ADVISOR TO THE ARMENIAN PM:

"We Were Transparent with Washington; Iran is a Crucial Neighbor for Us"

Following last year's agreement on the "Trump Route" in Washington and the recent visit of US Vice President J.D. Vance, the question of how Yerevan will balance its traditional ties with Tehran amidst the current crisis remains a major topic of debate. Lilit Makunts, Chief Advisor to the Armenian Prime Minister and former Ambassador to the US, detailed Yerevan's foreign policy strategy. Emphasizing the principle of transparency with allies, Makunts stated, "We clearly communicated to the US how important a neighbor Iran is for us."

4 March 2026

Armenia in talks with THY for direct Yerevan-Los Angeles flights

The President of the Tourism Committee of Armenia announced that negotiations have begun with Turkish Airlines to launch direct flights between Yerevan and Los Angeles.

24 February 2026

MIRZOYAN’S MESSAGE AT THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL

We chose the difficult path of reconciliation, but we have not forgotten that 19 Armenian captives remain in Baku

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, in his speech at the United Nations Human Rights Council, evaluated Yerevan's democratization goals and the peace process conducted with Azerbaijan. While emphasizing lasting peace and regional reconciliation, Mirzoyan highlighted that the issue of Armenian captives held in Baku and missing persons maintains its urgency. During the current session of the Human Rights Council, Mirzoyan announced that Armenia would once again submit the draft resolution titled "Prevention of Genocide."

23 February 2026

CHURCH-STATE CONFLICT DEEPENS

Criminal Case Launched Against the Catholikos

The Prosecutor General’s Office of Armenia has initiated criminal prosecution against Catholikos Karekin II, the Catholikos of All Armenians, and imposed a travel ban on him just days before a planned assembly of bishops in Austria. According to his lawyer, this step is an attempt to obstruct the Church’s international meeting.

16 February 2026

OPEN LETTER FROM THE DIASPORA ON THE GOVERNMENT-CHURCH CONFLICT

“You are causing more harm than even the Ottomans and Soviets could”

In an open letter co-authored by seven prominent figures of the Diaspora, they warned that the crisis between the Church and the State risks severing the ties of Armenians spread across the world with Armenia, and called for an end to this trajectory.

13 February 2026

ARMENIA-RUSSIA RELATIONS

Pashinyan: We Could Regain Control of the Railways from Russia

In an interview with Armenian Public Television, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that Armenia could take back control of its railways from Russia to maintain competitive advantages and establish an international route through the country.

13 February 2026

Azerbaijani NGO representatives arrive in Armenia via land border

A group of Azerbaijani civil society workers has arrived in Armenia via the designated land border to participate in the "Peace Bridge" meetings scheduled for February 13-14. This step is regarded as a significant and tangible development for establishing trust between the two countries.

13 February 2026

JD VANCE’S ARMENIA VISIT

Who posted the “Genocide” tweet, and who deleted it?

U.S. Vice President JD Vance deleted a post regarding the “Armenian Genocide” from his official account just one hour after it was shared.

11 February 2026

Subscribe!

You can support Agos by subscribing. Subscribe, gift a subscription, leave a suspended subscription.

US VICE PRESIDENT VANCE VISITS TSITSERNAKABERD

"We honor the resilience of the Armenian people"

US Vice President J.D. Vance and his wife, Usha Vance, visited the Tsitsernakaberd Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex in Yerevan. Signing the museum's guest book, Vance stated, "In memory of the lives lost, we honor the resilience and unwavering spirit of the Armenian people with gratitude."

10 February 2026

US VICE PRESIDENT VANCE IN ARMENIA

USA and Armenia sign a series of agreements

US Vice President J. D. Vance visited Armenia to conduct official meetings. Vance met with Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan. During the meeting, a series of agreements, primarily on nuclear technology, were signed. Pashinyan reminded that Vance is the first US Vice President to visit Armenia.

9 February 2026

Armenia:

US Vice President J.D. Vance in Yerevan for an official visit

US Vice President J.D. Vance is traveling to Armenia for an official visit on February 9-10, accompanied by his wife, Usha Vance. The Prime Minister's Office announced that Vance and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will meet in Yerevan this evening.

9 February 2026

CEREMONY IN ABU DHABI

Pashinyan and Aliyev Jointly Receive the Human Fraternity Award

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev jointly received the 2026 Zayed Award for Human Fraternity at a ceremony held in Abu Dhabi. Pashinyan emphasized that while the award was officially presented to the leaders of the two countries, it actually belongs to the peoples of Armenia and Azerbaijan.

4 February 2026

Yerevan: The City Where Art Breathes

“Yerevan possessed one of the most beautiful city centers I have seen among Middle Eastern and Caucasian cities. Unique stone structures, vast Soviet-style squares, boulevards, the aesthetics of street names and signs, parks, and statues… It gave the appearance of a city where art breathes. Walking along its wide avenues created the feeling of wandering through the streets of a European city, rather than being in the center of a country that shares a border with Turkey.”

2 February 2026

ARMENIAN DEPUTY MINISTER OF ECONOMY AT MARGARA

"Opening the border could increase investments by 20%"

Armenian Deputy Minister of Economy Anushik Avetyan visited the border crossing known as Alican by Turkey and Margara by Armenia. Avetyan emphasized that opening the border would lower logistics costs, increase the competitiveness of producers, and lead to a significant expected increase in investments in the region.

28 January 2026

Written by Laurence Broers:

Old habits die hard: The Strategic Ambiguity of Armenian-Azerbaijani Peace

"Gradualism may lead to a ‘thin’ peace manifested in state-mediated exchanges, trade and functional interactions, yet which is not supported and backed up by a ‘thicker’ peace of networked ties across different sectors, domains and social actors."

23 January 2026 Laurence Broers

PASHINYAN SIGNS

Armenia Becomes an Official Member of the Peace Council

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who was among those invited to the Peace Council an initiative Donald Trump claims to have established and will lead to end the war in Gaza has signed the membership agreement in Davos. The Council will be responsible for the implementation of the 20-point peace plan proposed by Trump to end the conflict in Gaza.

23 January 2026

Pashinyan: We must build bridges on the Türkiye-Armenia border

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, touching upon relations with Türkiye at a conference he attended yesterday, stated, "The situation we are currently in is truly incredible and almost unimaginably positive." Emphasizing "concrete steps," Pashinyan said that relations with Azerbaijan are also developing faster than even Azerbaijan expected.

17 January 2026

DOUBLE MESSAGE FROM PAPIKYAN

"We will not enter an arms race; we will encourage women to join the army"

Armenian Defense Minister Suren Papikyan emphasized that Yerevan does not aim to enter an arms race with Azerbaijan, though the modernization of the military will continue. Touching upon the role of women in the military, Papikyan stated that the biggest obstacles to participation are "pressure from fathers, husbands, and social circles."

13 January 2026

REFORM DECISION IN THE ARMENIAN CHURCH

Prime Minister Pashinyan and 10 Bishops Announce "Roadmap"

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and 10 bishops have signed a joint declaration initiating a comprehensive reform process within the Armenian Apostolic Church. The declaration, which criticizes the current church administration for serving political agendas, outlines a concrete "roadmap" and the establishment of a Coordination Council to return the church to its spiritual mission.

5 January 2026

FROM PASHINYAN TO ERDOĞAN

"We are at a stage where concrete steps, not symbolic ones, must be taken"

Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan evaluated President Erdogan's statements on December 16 regarding the Turkey-Armenia normalization process, in which he said, "We will take symbolic steps with Armenia next year." Pashinyan welcomed the statements, noting that "more comprehensive and concrete progress must now be implemented."

26 December 2025