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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
The Armenian Report Team
Aug 24
Armenia’s Parliament Speaker Calls Return of Artsakh Armenians a ‘Conflict-Generating’ Goal, Says Armenia Must Accept ‘Current Reality’ for 100 Years of Peace
Armenia should not make the return of displaced Armenians to Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) an official state goal because it could reopen the logic of conflict with Azerbaijan, National Assembly Speaker Ruben Rubinyan said during a parliamentary debate. Rubinyan made the remarks while responding to opposition lawmakers who argued that recent agreements with Azerbaijan do not address the roots of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict. He said the conflict should not be viewed as begi
The Armenian Report Team
Aug 13
Armenian Parliament Erupts After Opposition Lawmaker Blames Pashinyan Government for War and Thousands of Deaths
A heated confrontation broke out in Armenia’s parliament Thursday after an opposition lawmaker blamed Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s government for the war over Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), thousands of Armenian deaths and the displacement of the region’s indigenous Armenian population. The dispute began during remarks by Edgar Ghazaryan, a lawmaker from the opposition Strong Armenia faction, who delivered a sharp attack on Pashinyan and the ruling Civil Contract party. Ghaz
The Armenian Report Team
Aug 13
Armenia’s Chief Turkey Negotiator Ruben Rubinyan Elected Parliament Speaker
Ruben Rubinyan, Armenia's chief negotiator in talks to normalize relations with Turkey, was elected speaker of the country's newly formed 9th National Assembly on Monday, moving from the front lines of diplomacy to one of the nation's most powerful political posts. Lawmakers from the ruling Civil Contract party nominated Rubinyan for the position. He secured 63 votes in favor and 28 against. A total of 91 of the parliament's 105 deputies took part in the vote, while the oppos
Armenia’s Catholicos Absent From Parliament Opening After Not Receiving Invitation, a First Since Independence
For the first time since Armenia declared independence, the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church was absent from the opening of a newly elected parliament after authorities failed to send him an invitation. Catholicos Karekin II’s absence from the National Assembly’s inaugural session on Sunday immediately drew objections from opposition lawmakers and deepened the public confrontation between Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s government and the church. After President Vahagn
World’s First Christian Nation Breaks Tradition, Excludes Catholicos From Blessing New Parliament for First Time Since Independence
For the first time since Armenia regained independence, Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II has not been invited to attend the opening session of the country’s newly elected parliament, breaking with the longstanding tradition of the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church offering a prayer and blessing for each newly formed government. The unprecedented exclusion reflects a deepening confrontation between the government and the Armenian Apostolic Church in a country that ta
The Armenian Report Team
Jul 29
Alen Simonyan Declines Seat in Armenia’s New Parliament After Losing Speaker Nomination
Alen Simonyan, who has served as speaker of Armenia’s National Assembly, said Thursday that he will not take the parliamentary seat he won in the recent election, ending his time in the legislature after the ruling Civil Contract party chose another lawmaker to lead the new parliament. Speaking to reporters, Simonyan said he had discussed the decision with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and decided not to accept his mandate. “I discussed the matter with the prime minister. I
Prosperous Armenia Says Recounts Added 140 Votes, Boosting Chances of Entering Parliament
Armenia’s opposition Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK), led by businessman and former parliamentarian Gagik Tsarukyan, says recounts conducted over the past two days have added 140 votes to its election tally, a development the party argues strengthens its case for entering the country’s next parliament. The announcement was made by BHK spokeswoman Iveta Tonoyan, who said the recount process remains ongoing in several polling stations and is being carried out in cooperation with
The Armenian Report Team
Jun 10
How Just 50 Votes Could Affect Armenia’s Parliament and Pashinyan’s Ability to Pass Key Laws
Armenia’s parliamentary election may have delivered a clear victory for Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s ruling Civil Contract party, but the final composition of the next National Assembly — and the government’s ability to pursue key institutional reforms — could hinge on just a few dozen votes. Preliminary results from the June 7 election show Civil Contract winning 49.8% of the vote, followed by the Strong Armenia Alliance with 23.28% and the Armenia Alliance with 9.93%. T
Armenia Charges Former Officials, Raids Opposition-Leaning Media Days Before Key Parliamentary Vote
Armenian authorities on Friday announced criminal charges against several prominent figures linked to the country's pre-2018 political establishment and conducted searches at the offices of an opposition-leaning news outlet, moves that have intensified scrutiny of the political climate just two days before a closely watched parliamentary election. Among those charged is former Yerevan mayor and transport minister Gagik Beglaryan, who faces accusations of money laundering and
Armenian Parliamentary Elections Officially Scheduled for June 7: Keep or Remove Pashinyan
President Vahagn Khachaturyan has signed a decree officially setting Armenia’s next regular National Assembly elections for June 7. This is the formal start of the election timeline and confirms earlier public statements by government officials about when the vote would take place. The decree was published on the President’s official website and will take legal effect the day after its publication. With this step, the country has entered the final months before voters choose
Without the October 27 Parliament Attack, Would Armenia Have Taken Another Political Path?
Today marks 26 years since one of the darkest days in Armenia’s modern history — the October 27, 1999 terrorist attack inside the National Assembly. On that day, a group of armed men entered the parliament during a government question-and-answer session and opened fire. As a result, eight top Armenian officials were killed, including National Assembly Speaker Karen Demirchyan, Prime Minister Vazgen Sargsyan, Deputy Speakers Yuri Bakhshyan and Ruben Miroyan, MPs Armenak Armena
The Armenian Report Team
Oct 27, 2025
Parliament Committee Rejects Opposition Bill Criminalizing Genocide Denial
The Armenian opposition is once again fighting to strengthen laws that punish denial of the Armenian Genocide, after Prime Minister Nikol...
The Armenian Report Team
Sep 4, 2025
Armenia Faces Serious Humanitarian and Security Challenges, Says Parliament Speaker
The Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia, Alen Simonyan, addressed the 19th Plenary Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the...
The Armenian Report Team
Feb 21, 2025
EXCLUSIVE: Survivor of 1999 Armenian Parliament Shooting Shares Her Story
In an exclusive interview, veteran Armenian journalist Anna Israyelyan shared her vivid memories of the tragic day in 1999 when gunmen...
The Armenian Report Team
Oct 27, 2024
According to Alen Simonyan, Artsakh No Longer Exists as a Legal Entity
The political and legal status of Nagorno-Karabakh has been a deeply contested issue for years, but Armenia’s government no longer...
The Armenian Report Team
Sep 9, 2024
Speaker Alen Simonyan's Hefty Bonuses Spark Controversy in Armenian Parliament
Armenian Speaker of Parliament Alen Simonyan has ignited fresh controversy by awarding substantial bonuses to parliament members and...
The Armenian Report Team
Jul 8, 2024
Pro-Government Deputies Boycott Armenian Parliament Session Amid Calls for PM Pashinyan's Resignation
On Monday, pro-government deputies boycotted a session of the Armenian parliament to prevent a debate on opposition demands for Prime...
The Armenian Report Team
Jun 17, 2024
Armenia Honors Yezidi Genocide Victims: Designates August 3 as Day of Commemoration
Armenia, a nation with a deep historical understanding of the horrors of genocide, has taken a significant step in honoring the victims...
The Armenian Report Team
Apr 16, 2024
Opposition Calls for Parliament Debate on Land Transfer to Azerbaijan from Armenia’s Tavush Province
The opposition Hayastan alliance has intensified its stance against Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's controversial plans to transfer...
The Armenian Report Team
Apr 2, 2024
