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Armenian Church Leaders in Lebanon, Jerusalem and U.S. Condemn Criminal Case Against Catholicos Karekin II
Senior Armenian Apostolic Church leaders in Lebanon, Jerusalem and the United States condemned the criminal case against Catholicos Karekin II on Friday, rallying behind the Church’s spiritual leader as he was due to appear in court as a defendant. Catholicos Aram I, head of the Armenian Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia in Lebanon, called Karekin II’s summons to court “unacceptable and condemnable.” He said he had personally urged the Catholicos not to attend the h
Armenia Honors TUMO Co-Founder Sam Simonian With First Class Order for Services to the Homeland
Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan has awarded Armenian-American entrepreneur and philanthropist Sam Simonian one of the country’s highest state honors, recognizing his decades of work in education, technology, culture and economic development. Simonian, president of the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU), received the First Class Order for Services to the Homeland during a meeting with Khachaturyan in Yerevan. The honor was granted in connection with Armenia’s Repu
Judge Withdraws From Criminal Case Against Catholicos Karekin II Minutes Into First Hearing
A judge withdrew Friday from the criminal case against Catholicos Karekin II just minutes after the first hearing began, delaying proceedings against the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church and six senior clerics. Judge Hakob Manukyan recused himself after initially closing the hearing to the public. A new hearing will be scheduled once another judge is assigned to the case, defense attorney Ara Zohrabyan told reporters outside the courthouse. The case charges Karekin II wi
Israeli Airstrikes Shake Southern Lebanon as U.S.-Brokered Talks Continue in Rome
INTERVIEW: A new round of Israeli airstrikes struck southern Lebanon, testing already fragile ceasefire negotiations as diplomats from Lebanon and Israel continued U.S.-mediated talks in Rome. According to regional media, Israeli strikes hit areas near Kfar Shouba, Majdal Zoun and Al-Khaniyah. Earlier in the day, an airstrike on a residential building in the town of Tebnin killed one person and injured 11 others. The attacks come weeks after a June 26 framework agreement reac
Subway Considers Major Expansion Into Armenia With Plans for More Than 60 Locations
Subway is weighing a major investment in Armenia that could bring more than 60 restaurants to the country — one of the largest potential expansions by an international fast-food franchise in the Armenian market. The proposal was discussed Wednesday during a meeting between Armenian Economy Minister Gevorg Papoyan, Subway Regional Director Efe Celik, and Armenian investor Levon Hayrapetyan, the Ministry of Economy said. According to the ministry, each restaurant would require
Baku Appeals Court Upholds Life Sentences for Former Artsakh Leaders and Other Armenian Prisoners
A court in Azerbaijan has upheld the convictions and prison sentences of former Artsakh leaders and other Armenian prisoners, rejecting their appeals and leaving in place the harsh penalties imposed earlier this year. According to Azerbaijani media, the Baku Court of Appeals ruled on Aug. 6 to uphold the Feb. 5 verdicts issued by the Baku Military Court. The appeals filed by former Artsakh President Arayik Harutyunyan, former Presidents Arkadi Ghukasyan and Bako Sahakyan, Par
Armenian Architecture Group Warns Against Removing Protected Status of Zvartnots Terminal
Armenia's leading organization dedicated to protecting modern architectural heritage is warning that government plans to strip the old terminal at Zvartnots International Airport of its protected status could pave the way for the loss of one of the country's most recognizable 20th-century landmarks. Docomomo Armenia, the Armenian chapter of the International Committee for Documentation and Conservation of Buildings, Sites and Neighborhoods of the Modern Movement, issued a sta
“The Verdict Was Decided Long Ago”: POW Davit Ishkhanyan Says Baku Appeal Was a Political Trial
Davit Ishkhanyan, the former speaker of Artsakh’s National Assembly who is being held in Baku, said the outcome of his appeal had been decided before the judges began deliberations, describing the case as a political prosecution rather than a legitimate judicial process. In a message released after the latest court hearing, Ishkhanyan said Azerbaijan’s Court of Appeal had formally withdrawn to consider its ruling, but argued that the panel had no real role in determining the
Armenian-American Edmen Shahbazyan to Face Brunno Ferreira at UFC 331 in Los Angeles
Armenian-American middleweight Edmen Shahbazyan will return to the Octagon on Sept. 19 when he faces Brazil's Brunno Ferreira at UFC 331 in Los Angeles. The fight, first reported by MMA Fighting, will take place at Crypto.com Arena. The promotion has not yet announced the card's main event. For Shahbazyan, the matchup represents another opportunity to reestablish himself as a contender in the UFC's competitive middleweight division. The 28-year-old enters the fight with a 16-
Arman Tsarukyan to Face Mauricio Ruffy After Charles Oliveira Withdraws From UFC Fight
Armenian UFC contender Arman Tsarukyan will face Brazil’s Mauricio Ruffy instead of former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira after Oliveira withdrew from their scheduled bout for personal reasons, setting up a pivotal fight that could determine the next challenger for the UFC lightweight title. The matchup gives Tsarukyan another chance to prove he belongs at the top of one of the UFC’s deepest divisions. A victory would likely move the Armenian closer to the championship
VOMA Announces 10-Day Mountain Training Camp for Participants From Homeland and Diaspora
VOMA, an Armenian organization that provides voluntary defense training, will hold a 10-day mountain training camp in northern Armenia later this month, offering participants from Armenia and the Armenian diaspora an opportunity to take part in intensive field exercises focused on survival, tactical movement and mountain operations. The camp is scheduled for Aug. 14-23 in the village of Athan in Lori Province. According to the organization, the program is open to Armenians of
Senior U.S. Officials Meet Pashinyan in Yerevan to Advance TRIPP Corridor Project
U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff's Senior Adviser Aryeh Lightstone met with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Yerevan on Wednesday to discuss progress on the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) project. Also present at the meeting were Konstantin Sokolov, head of the U.S.-backed TRIPP investment fund, and Ambassador of the United States to Armenia David Allen. According to the Armenian government, the discussions focused on implementing the U.S
Armenia to Add $320 Million in New Loans as Public Debt Reaches Record Levels
Armenia's government is set to approve $320 million in new foreign borrowing on Thursday, adding to a public debt that has more than doubled since Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan came to power in 2018. The financing package includes two long-term loans from the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank. According to the government, the money will help finance this year's state budget deficit, projected at 536 billion drams, or about $1.47 billion. Officials expect the deficit
Armenian-Arabic Journalist Raffi Boghosian Elected President of Golden Globe Foundation
Armenian-Arabic producer and journalist Raffi Boghosian has been elected president of the Golden Globe Foundation's Board of Directors, taking the top leadership role at the nonprofit organization that funds film education, journalism initiatives and preservation projects around the world. Boghosian announced his election in a social media post, calling it an honor to lead the foundation. "I'm honored to share that I have been elected President of the Golden Globe Foundation,
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