CIVILNET

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has intensified his battle with the Armenian Church, charging archbishops and even Catholicos Karekin II with obstruction of justice. But in pushing this fight aggressively, is he endangering his own political standing? Eric Hacopian examines the national and electoral stakes, and why Pashinyan’s focus on the Church could backfire as Armenia heads toward June’s parli...

📍 Russia rejected Prime Minister Pashinyan’s proposal to transfer Armenia’s railway concession to a third country. Yerevan argues that Moscow’s control and years of underinvestment are discouraging transit partners.📍 A new U.S.-Armenia agreement seeks to replace Metsamor nuclear plant with small modular reactors, though experts note the transition will take 10-15 years. 📍 Rural Armenia and the...

On February 14, a criminal case was initiated against Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II. The case centers on allegations of obstructing the enforcement of a court decision to temporarily reinstate Arman (Gevorg) Saroyan as Primate of the Massyatsotn (Masis) Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church. On January 10, Catholicos Karekin II  removed  Bishop Gevorg Saroyan from his position as dioce...

U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance’s historic visit to Armenia brought major investment announcements and fresh momentum to U.S.-Armenia economic ties. In this interview, Dr. Hovsep Patvakanyan, Head of the Investment Council of Armenia, discusses the implications for Armenia’s tech sector. He also explains the significance of the Trump Route initiative (TRIPP) and what a potential opening of the Turk...

📍 The European Union has appointed Finnish police officer Satu Koivu as the new head of its monitoring mission in Armenia.📍 Armenia continues to tighten regulations on cryptocurrency businesses, requiring them to obtain a license from the Central Bank and banning exchanges between crypto and cash.📍 This Week in Business: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4SgdqI2YUc Credits: Ruptly#CivilNet #Սիվի...

Armenia and the United States agreed to expand ties in technology and trade, as J.D. Vance paid a historic visit to Armenia, the first by a sitting U.S. vice president.#CivilNet #ՍիվիլՆեթ #civilnetbusiness

What did U.S. Vice President JD Vance’s historic trip bring to Armenia and what comes next? That's what host Eric Hacopian covers this week on Insights. He reveals the most likely outcomes of the trip, and asks whether Armenia’s government will take the right lessons heading into the June parliamentary elections. #CivilNet #ՍիվիլՆեթ #insightswitherichacopian

📍 Armenia and Iran intend to sign a strategic partnership agreement later this year. 📍 Jailed billionaire Samvel Karapetyan will be the Strong Armenia party’s candidate for prime minister. However Karapetyan, as a dual Russian and Armenian citizen, is currently barred by the constitution from holding office. 📍 Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant’s life might be extended through 2046, as Armenia active...

#DemocracyWatch – In a previous  Democracy Watch report , we examined how protests by Iranian residents in Yerevan—and the Iranian ambassador’s criticism that Armenia was allowing “anti-Iranian forces” to mobilize—were followed by a ban on a planned march and the summoning of several protesters by Armenian law enforcement. At the time, we warned that perceived external pressure influencing domesti...

📍 Ruben Vardanyan, the last of the known Armenian prisoners in Azerbaijan yet to be sentenced, has delivered the closing statement of his trial in a Baku court.📍 Armenia’s parliament today adopted a law eliminating criminal liability for men who skipped mandatory military service, allowing them to either serve instead of facing jail time, pay a fee of up to $40,000 to avoid conscription altogeth...

During a historic visit to Armenia, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance held talks with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and announced major agreements on nuclear energy, advanced technology, and defense cooperation.#CivilNet #ՍիվիլՆեթ

US Vice President J.D. Vance has visited Armenia, holding talks with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and announcing major agreements on nuclear energy, advanced technology, and defense cooperation.#CivilNet #ՍիվիլՆեթ

📍 U.S. Vice President JD Vance met Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Yerevan today. 📍 An investigation by the Armenian outlet Infocom found that dozens of business figures whose companies received customs duty exemptions from the government later made donations to the ruling Civil Contract party. 📍 Business Weekly: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGEBo_zhR7k #CivilNet #ՍիվիլՆեթ #dailyarmenia

# DemocracyWatch  – A couple of months ago, I was invited to a working lunch with a foreign delegation, together with several other colleagues representing Armenia’s civil society and think tank community. As the discussion turned to Armenia’s domestic dynamics, I pointed out the anti-constitutional and anti-democratic nature of some of the domestic processes initiated by Armenia’s ruling party–na...

📍 Trump administration official Dr. Mehmet Oz faces backlash for allegedly targeting Armenian-American businesses in a social media video about medical fraud. 📍 Former President Robert Kocharyan criticizes the U.S.-backed TRIPP project, warning that Armenia faces new risks amid great power rivalries. 📍 The European Union has approved $24 million in non-lethal military assistance to Armenia afte...

Yerevan State University has launched Armenia’s first AI supercomputing center, as the government moves forward with a $500 million AI data center project powered by NVIDIA chips. CivilNet examines how these initiatives could strengthen Armenia’s national AI capacity, and what is still needed to turn major investments into a competitive role in the global AI ecosystem.#CivilNet #ՍիվիլՆեթ

📍 Armenia agreed to extend a deal that grants control of Zvartnots International Airport to Eduardo Eurnekian’s Corporacion America Airports to 2067, in exchange for a $425 million investment package.📍 Armenia welcomed 2.26 million tourists in 2025, according to official figures, marking a 2.5% year-over-year increase.📍 The ratings agency Fitch upgraded Armenia’s outlook to “positive,” while af...

📍 Armenia became a founding member of the newly-launched Board of Peace at the invitation of U.S. President Donald Trump, while questions remain over the body's operations and scope months after it was announced as part of Trump’s peace plan for Gaza.📍 Armenia and Azerbaijan intend to connect their energy systems under the U.S.-backed Trump Route initiative. 📍 US, Armenia announce terms of...

Against the backdrop of escalating domestic tensions and widespread protests in Iran, Yerevan has also emerged as a venue for political mobilization by Iranians living in Armenia. In recent days, dozens of Iranian residents have rallied to condemn the Iranian authorities’ crackdown on nationwide protests triggered by soaring inflation and the sharp devaluation of the national currency. Some demons...

📍 The Armenian finance minister has addressed criticism over large bonuses for government officials and concerns over public debt. 📍 The presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan spoke about the normalization between their countries at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said goods of Armenian origin will soon be allowed to transit through Azerbaijan.#CivilNet...

📍 Armenia expects hybrid threats and foreign interference to intensify this year, particularly in the run-up to the country’s general elections in 2026, the Foreign Intelligence Service says.📍 Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has accepted an invitation to join the Board of Peace, a U.S.-led intergovernmental organization proposed by President Donald Trump.📍 Armenia has established Januar...

📍 A senior Armenian official refused to speculate on reports that a Turkish border checkpoint is preparing to open later this month. 📍 Armenia plans to tighten student military deferments after data shows most graduates who studied abroad did not return to serve or work in the country. 📍 Armenia’s escalating conflict between the government and the Armenian Apostolic Church tests the limits of s...

📍 The United States and Armenia revealed major new details on the corporate and financial arrangements behind the ‘Trump route’ planned for southern Armenia.📍 Yerevan called on Moscow to speed up a possible decision on restoring key sections of Armenia’s aging rail network that would connect the country with Turkey and Azerbaijan.#CivilNet #ՍիվիլՆեթ #civilnetbusiness

📍 Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said Armenia will respect democratic freedoms while taking steps to address Iran’s concerns about protests at the Iranian embassy in Yerevan. 📍 Pashinyan urged Russia to quickly restore Armenia’s key railway sections, linking the move to the new U.S.-backed Trump Route initiatives and signaling impatience with delayed Russian investment. 📍 Where is Iran’s nation...

In this episode of the CivilNet podcast, commentator Eric Hacopian examines where the unrest in Iran may be headed and which outcomes are realistically possible. He discusses how the Iranian instability could impact Armenia, and what the intentions of the U.S. and Israel might be. Finally, he analyzes the new prisoner swap between Armenia and Azerbaijan. 0:00- What’s happening with the Iranian pro...