Pashinyan Vows to Strip Kocharyan, Sargsyan and Tsarukyan of Allegedly Illicit Wealth, Says They Should Live on Pensions and Lawful Income
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said Thursday that former Presidents Robert Kocharyan and Serzh Sargsyan, along with businessman Gagik Tsarukyan, should be left to live on their pensions and lawful income while any property obtained illegally is returned to the Armenian state. Pashinyan made the remarks to reporters after a government meeting, a day after a court ordered Kocharyan held in pretrial detention in a bribery and money laundering case. “The political issue is this:
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Armenia Opens AI-Powered Greenhouse Using Robots to Grow 20 Tons of Tomatoes a Day for International Markets
A new high-tech greenhouse in Armenia is using artificial intelligence and robotics to monitor thousands of tomato plants, detect disease and pests, and track crops before they are harvested and shipped to international markets. The greenhouse complex officially opened in Nor Yedesia, a village in Armenia’s Aragatsotn Province. The facility currently produces about 18 to 20 tons of tomatoes a day, with exports going to Latvia, Bulgaria, Romania, the United Arab Emirates and o
55 minutes ago
Turkish Weightlifter Refuses Handshake With Armenian Competitor, Later Returns to Apologize and Hug Him
A Turkish weightlifter declined to shake hands with Armenia’s Artur Petrosyan during a medal ceremony at the European Youth Weightlifting Championships, but later returned to apologize and embrace the Armenian athlete. Footage from the ceremony shows Petrosyan reaching out to shake the Turkish athlete’s hand as the medalists stood together on the podium. As Petrosyan extended his hand, the Turkish competitor pulled his own hand back and moved on without acknowledging the gest
1 hour ago
Armenian Court Orders Former President Robert Kocharyan Detained for Two Months in Corruption Case
Armenia’s Anti-Corruption Court ordered former President Robert Kocharyan held in pretrial detention for two months early Thursday, Aug. 27, in a corruption case involving allegations of bribery, money laundering and the acquisition of state property while he was in office. The decision came after a hearing that began Wednesday evening and continued for hours. Judge S. Dadoyan granted investigators’ request to detain Kocharyan, according to the Anti-Corruption Committee. Koch
2 hours ago
Ararat-Armenia Makes History as First Armenian Club to Reach Europa League Main Stage
Ararat-Armenia made history in Yerevan on Thursday, defeating Romania’s Universitatea Craiova 2-1 to become the first Armenian club to reach the main stage of the UEFA Europa League. The Armenian champions secured the breakthrough at Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium after the first leg ended in a 1-1 draw. The result sends Ararat-Armenia into the Europa League league phase, marking a first for Armenian club football in the competition. Portuguese head coach Manuel Tulipa na
2 hours ago
Armenian, Azerbaijani Officials Meet in Lachin to Discuss Electricity Trade and Connecting Power Grids at the Border
Armenian and Azerbaijani officials met in Lachin on Aug. 25 to discuss electricity trade and connecting the two countries’ power infrastructure at the state border, a day after Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said transmission lines could become the first infrastructure launched under the TRIPP project. The working meeting included representatives of Armenia’s Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure and the Electric Power System Operator, as well as officials
2 days ago
Robert Kocharyan Detained Hours After Pashinyan Vows Family’s Wealth ‘Must Be Returned’
Armenia’s former President Robert Kocharyan and his eldest son, Sedrak Kocharyan, were detained Tuesday in a sweeping corruption investigation, less than 24 hours after Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stood in parliament and publicly challenged the source of the Kocharyan family’s wealth. The timing puts one of Armenia’s most prominent political families at the center of a case involving allegations of bribery, the acquisition of state property at below-market prices and finan
2 days ago
Armenian General Imprisoned in Baku Confronts Pashinyan Through Audio Message Played in Parliament
An audio message from Gen. Davit Manukyan, who is imprisoned in Baku, was played for Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on the floor of Armenia’s parliament Monday, bringing the words of an Armenian detainee directly into a debate over the government’s 2026-2031 program. In the recording, Manukyan challenged Pashinyan to publicly address charges brought against him in Azerbaijan over the 2020 war and asked Armenia’s government to clarify its position on the status of Armenians he
3 days ago
S&P Keeps Armenia’s Credit Rating at ‘BB-’ With Positive Outlook, Possible Upgrade Ahead
S&P Global Ratings has kept Armenia’s sovereign credit rating at “BB-” with a positive outlook, leaving the door open to an upgrade as the country builds record foreign currency reserves and seeks to reduce geopolitical risks through a peace deal with Azerbaijan. The agency affirmed Armenia’s long-term foreign and local currency ratings at “BB-” and its short-term ratings at “B” in an assessment published Aug. 21. S&P said an upgrade could follow if Armenia continues to stren
3 days ago
Armenia’s Tigran Avetisyan Wins European U15 Weightlifting Championship
Armenian weightlifter Tigran Avetisyan swept all three gold medals in the 75-kilogram division to become European U15 champion in Pristina, Kosovo. Avetisyan went three-for-three in the snatch, lifting 112, 119 and 122 kilograms. His 122-kilogram final attempt secured the snatch gold. He added another gold in the clean and jerk after successful lifts of 140 and 146 kilograms. With a 268-kilogram total, Avetisyan claimed the overall European title, completing a three-gold perf
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