U.S. Rep. Mike Carey Raises Armenian POWs Held in Baku During Congressional Trade Hearing
U.S. Rep. Mike Carey raised the continued detention of Armenian POWs in Azerbaijan during a congressional hearing on trade and critical supply chains, bringing the issue before a House committee that oversees U.S. trade policy. Carey, an Ohio Republican, addressed the issue during a Sept. 2 House Ways and Means Committee hearing on strategic partnerships and access to critical resources. He began by pointing to Armenia’s Christian heritage. Armenia is widely recognized as the
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Arizona US Rep. Says Armenia, Azerbaijan Could Finalize Peace Deal Well Before Trump Leaves Office
U.S. Rep. Abraham Hamadeh says Armenia and Azerbaijan could reach a final peace agreement well before President Donald Trump leaves office, pointing to growing U.S. involvement and what he described as a strong commitment from both governments to end decades of conflict. “Oh, absolutely,” Hamadeh said when RFE/RL asked whether the agreement could be finalized during Trump’s current term. “I think you’re going to see it come a lot sooner rather than later.” The Arizona Republi
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Norwegian Watchdog Questions Armenian Government’s Campaign to Remove Catholicos Karekin II
A Norwegian religious freedom watchdog has raised concerns over the Armenian government’s campaign to replace the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, questioning whether the effort crosses legal boundaries protecting the church from state interference. Forum 18, a Norway-based human rights organization that monitors freedom of religion or belief, examined the government’s actions in a report published Sept. 9, as tensions between Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s administra
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Samvel Karapetyan Sues Pashinyan Over ‘Mushroom’ Remarks, Demands Facebook Live Apology
Armenian opposition leader Samvel Karapetyan has sued Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan over comments made during the parliamentary election campaign, seeking a public apology and 3 million drams, about $7,800, in damages. The lawsuit was filed Sept. 9, according to Armenia’s Datalex judicial database. Karapetyan, a billionaire businessman who now leads the country’s largest parliamentary opposition force, is currently under house arrest. The case centers on remarks Pashinyan ma
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Pashinyan, Macron Discuss New Export Markets for Armenia as Russian Trade Restrictions Disrupt Economy
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and French President Emmanuel Macron discussed Armenia’s drive to diversify its economy and export markets during talks at the Élysée Palace, as Yerevan looks for new trade opportunities following restrictions imposed by Russia. Pashinyan met Macron on Wednesday during a working visit to Paris, where he is attending the first International Space Summit at the French president’s invitation. The Armenian government said economic cooperati
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Pashinyan Party MP Says Armenia Should Avoid Damaging Azerbaijan’s Reputation Over Prisoners
A lawmaker from Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s ruling party said Armenia should avoid discussing Armenian prisoners held in Baku in ways that could damage Azerbaijan’s international reputation, arguing that a calmer approach would improve efforts to bring them home. The remarks drew a sharp response from former Armenian lawmaker Naira Zohrabyan. “What remarkable sensitivity toward cannibals. I haven’t noticed such tenderness toward her own compatriots,” Zohrabyan told Hrapa
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Armenia’s Tennis Stars Elina Avanesyan and Alina Charaeva Hit the Court With 200 Young Players in Tsaghkadzor
Armenian tennis players Elina Avanesyan and Alina Charaeva took to the court with about 200 children and young athletes in Tsaghkadzor on Sept. 5, offering them a chance to train alongside two of the country’s leading women’s players. The masterclass at the Tsaghkadzor Main Sports Complex was organized by the Keron Development Foundation and the Armenian Tennis Federation. Participants traveled from Yerevan and other parts of Armenia for training sessions, games and competiti
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Ruben Vardanyan’s Wife Offers to Travel to Baku — Azerbaijani Media Warns She Could Face 5 Years in Prison
An Azerbaijani media outlet says Veronika Zonabend, the wife of imprisoned Armenian philanthropist and former Artsakh State Minister Ruben Vardanyan, could face up to five years in prison if she travels to Baku, citing a 2022 visit she made to Nagorno-Karabakh. The report surfaced as Zonabend renewed her push for direct access to Armenian prisoners held in Azerbaijan. On Sept. 8, Zonabend wrote to Armenia’s National Security Council Secretary Alen Simonyan after learning of h
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POW Says Azerbaijan Blocks Armenian Detainees From Court Documents and Legal Representation
Davit Ishkhanyan, the former speaker of the Artsakh Parliament imprisoned in Azerbaijan, says Azerbaijani authorities have withheld court rulings from Armenian detainees and their lawyers, blocked efforts to authorize legal representation in Armenia and left prisoners with no practical way to contact the country’s human rights ombudswoman. In a message from prison, Ishkhanyan challenged recent statements by Azerbaijan’s Human Rights Commissioner Sabina Aliyeva about the treat
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Russians Who Relocated to Armenia Gather in Yerevan to Learn How to Build a Life There
Russians who have relocated to Armenia gathered in Yerevan on Tuesday for a practical discussion on how to navigate life in the country, from opening a bank account to securing residency and understanding immigration rules. The Armenian Report attended the gathering. The Sept. 8 gathering was organized by Kovcheg, a Russian emigrant support organization, as part of its “Kovcheg Talks” series. The meetings are designed to connect newer arrivals with Russians who have already g
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