Armenian POWs Reportedly Suffer Fractures, Abuse and Rapid Health Decline in Azerbaijani Custody
INTERVIEW: Fresh reports from the families of Armenian hostages held in Azerbaijan suggest several detainees may have suffered serious injuries, including fractures, while others are facing a rapid decline in their health, raising new fears over their safety after years in Azerbaijani custody. Siranush Sahakyan, president of the International and Comparative Law Center and legal representative of Armenian prisoners before the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), told The Ar
UNESCO Adds Armenia’s Areni-1 Cave to World Heritage Tentative List, Taking Major Step Toward World Heritage Status
UNESCO has added the Areni-1 Cave: Prehistoric Life and Winemaking in the Arpa River Valley, one of Armenia’s most important archaeological sites, to its World Heritage Tentative List during the 48th session of the World Heritage Committee in Busan, South Korea, held July 19-29. The inclusion places the site on the path toward full World Heritage status and highlights its global significance as a rare window into prehistoric life and one of the earliest known centers of winem
Russia Says Armenian Dairy Products Fail Safety Standards, Imposes New Import Restrictions
Russia has imposed new restrictions on imports of Armenian dairy products, further escalating a series of trade barriers that have disrupted Armenian exports to one of their largest foreign markets. Russia’s Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) announced the measures, saying they are necessary to prevent the spread of infectious animal diseases and stop food products that fail to meet Russian safety standards from entering the marke
Rare 350-Year-Old Armenian Manuscript Returns to Matenadaran
A rare Armenian manuscript dating back more than 350 years has returned to one of the world’s leading centers of manuscript preservation after the Keron Development Foundation donated the collection to the Mesrop Mashtots Matenadaran, ensuring its long-term protection and public accessibility. The manuscript, created between approximately 1672 and 1676, was formally handed over during the opening of The Eternity of One Year: Matenadaran’s Manuscript Acquisitions, a new exhibi
2,600-Year-Old Painted Mural With Vivid Colors Discovered at Armenia’s Ancient Erebuni Fortress
A joint French-Armenian archaeological team has uncovered a rare painted mural fragment at Armenia’s ancient Erebuni Fortress, revealing artwork that has retained its vivid colors for more than 2,600 years. The discovery, announced by the French Embassy in Armenia, is considered unprecedented. Archaeologists believe the mural dates to the second half of the seventh century BC or the beginning of the sixth century BC, during the final centuries of the Kingdom of Urartu. The re
U.S. House Committee Calls for Immediate Release of Armenian Hostages Held by Azerbaijan
The U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to demand the immediate and unconditional release of Armenian prisoners of war and political prisoners held by Azerbaijan. Lawmakers approved the measure in a 44-7 vote as an amendment to H.R. 9086, the House Foreign Service Act, according to the Armenian National Committee of America. Rep. Brad Sherman, D-Calif., a vice chair of the Congressional Armenian Caucus, introduced the amendment with support fro
11-Year-Old’s Artsakh Painting Sells for $1,800 After School Removed It as ‘Anti-State’
An 11-year-old girl’s painting of Artsakh’s best-known monument has sold at auction for $1,800 after it was removed from a Yerevan school exhibition and allegedly described by an administrator as an “anti-state” work. Gayane Aghabekyan, an Artsakh native living in Moscow, bought Eva Danielyan’s painting when the auction closed at 10 p.m. Wednesday, organizer Vardan Hakobyan told Aravot.am. The sale follows public outrage over the treatment of Eva’s artwork at the Anushavan Te
Armenia to Send Under-17 Wrestling Team to Baku in First Sports Visit Since 2020 Artsakh War
Armenia will send its U17 national wrestling team to the World Championships in Baku later this month — the first time Armenian athletes have traveled to Azerbaijan for an international sporting event since the 2020 Artsakh War. The championship, scheduled for July 27 through Aug. 2, comes despite years of hostility between the two countries, the continued detention of Armenian prisoners in Azerbaijan and ongoing concerns over the safety of Armenians entering the country. Acc
Armenia’s Famous Round Zvartnots Airport Terminal Could Be Demolished Under Government Plan
The Armenian government has taken the first official step toward removing legal protections from the iconic old terminal at Yerevan's Zvartnots International Airport, a move that could ultimately lead to the demolition of one of the country's most recognizable architectural landmarks. A draft government decision published on Armenia's legal portal, e-draft.am, proposes removing the circular terminal—known for decades simply as the "round building"—from the state register of i
Endangered Caucasian Leopard Captured on Camera in Armenia's Khosrov Forest
Fresh camera trap footage from Armenia's Khosrov Forest State Reserve has captured the endangered Caucasian leopard, offering another rare glimpse of one of the country's most elusive wild animals and underscoring the importance of ongoing conservation efforts. Environment Minister Hambartsum Matevosyan released the footage on Tuesday, saying the sighting reflects the resilience of Armenia's protected ecosystems and the country's continued work to preserve its native wildlife
Armenian Prosecutors Charge Opposition Lawmaker-Elect Narek Karapetyan With Money Laundering
Armenian prosecutors have formally charged opposition lawmaker-elect Narek Karapetyan with money laundering and financially inducing people to attend political rallies, hours after the country’s Central Election Commission authorized criminal proceedings against him. Karapetyan, who led the Strong Armenia Alliance’s electoral list in the June 7 parliamentary elections, was charged under two provisions of Armenia’s Criminal Code. Prosecutors accuse him of materially incentiviz
Only in Armenia: A Free Symphony Concert With Thousands in Attendance
The Armenia State Symphony Orchestra celebrated the close of its 20th anniversary season Monday night with a free open-air gala that drew thousands of people to Yerevan’s iconic Cascade Complex for an evening of classical music, Armenian traditions and symphonic interpretations of modern hits. The performance took place at the Cafesjian Sculpture Garden, where the orchestra, led by Artistic Director and Chief Conductor Sergey Smbatyan, presented a program spanning centuries a
Armenian Prosecutors Drop One Charge Against Opposition Leader Gagik Tsarukyan as Criminal Case Continues
Photo Credit: Azatutyun.am Armenian prosecutors have dropped one of the criminal charges against jailed opposition leader and businessman Gagik Tsarukyan, easing part of the legal case that has unfolded during a broader government crackdown following the country's disputed parliamentary election. The charge of large-scale tax evasion was dismissed after prosecutors determined it had been brought unlawfully, according to Tsarukyan's attorney, Yerem Sargsyan. The Investigative
Armenia Makes Shooting History With Two World Champions and Six Medals
Armenia celebrated a breakthrough day at the ISSF World Championship Moving Target in Tallinn, Estonia, as Aida Azatyan won the junior women's world title and the national team collected six medals, including two individual golds. Azatyan claimed the gold medal in the junior women's moving target mixed runs event with a score of 379 points, becoming a world champion in one of the competition's most demanding disciplines. She later added a second medal, teaming up with Anahit
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