MassisPost

YEREVAN — “Did anyone acquit Gagik Tsarukyan for free? All corrupt judges will be arrested and prosecuted,” Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said during a Cabinet meeting, issuing a sharp warning. “The names will be published according to criminal cases, if such criminal cases exist,” the prime minister said. Referring to alleged cases of vote-buying by opposition forces ahead of the parliamentary elections, Pashinyan said that those “caught” for electoral bribery in these elections should remain in prison until the results of the 2031 elections are finalized. Otherwise, he said, the judicial and legal system is acting against the state, and…

“As a result of one of the government’s decisions, a number of goods — particularly greenhouse products — were approved at the previous Cabinet meeting. The government will cover their customs duties and a significant portion of transportation costs. As a result, we already have exports to Georgia, Greece, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and other countries,” Armenian Minister of Economy Gevorg Papoyan said during a joint session of the National Assembly’s standing committees. According to the minister, the process is ongoing. “We expect much larger volumes. In essence, there is no limit here. The more they export, the more we will support…

YEREVAN — Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Davit Khudatyan has assured citizens that there is currently no reason to be concerned about an increase in gas prices. “There is no possible change in the gas price because we have a contract, the term of which expires after the winter,” the minister said during a briefing at the National Assembly. According to Khudatyan, Russia has no grounds to unilaterally terminate its gas supply agreement with Armenia. “Grounds are required to terminate the contract unilaterally. We are working normally. We are receiving gas at the same price as before and in…

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has sent a congratulatory message to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on the victory of the Civil Contract Party in Armenia’s parliamentary elections. The message reads: “On behalf of my people and myself, I sincerely congratulate you on the success achieved by the Civil Contract Party, which you lead, in the parliamentary elections held in the Republic of Armenia on June 7, 2026, and I wish you success in forming a government for the third time. I am fully confident that your strategic vision for establishing lasting peace and stability in the region, as well as…

FRESNO — The Society for Armenian Studies is pleased to announce the recipients of its Spring 2026 Graduate Research and Conference Grants. The recipients are Armen Manuk-Khaloyan, for his paper on “Whose Empire? Late Ottoman Armenian and Greek Cultural Discourses and the Reshaping of Empire,” presented at the 6th Mid-Atlantic Ottomanist conference held at Rutgers University in April 2026 and Diana Yayloyan, for her archival and library research for her dissertation, “Fugitive Ecologies in the Ottoman Borderlands: 1870-late 1930.” Each of the winning recipients will receive a $1,000 grant awarded by the Society. SAS President Barlow Der Mugrdechian congratulated each…

YEREVAN – HIKEArmenia unveils one of the country’s most ambitious long-term tourism and regional development initiatives: the Armenian National Trail (ANT),  a nearly 1,000-kilometer village-to-village hiking route stretching across Armenia from north to south. Starting today, the newly launched Armenian National Trail website [https://www.armeniannationaltrail.org/], available in English and Armenian, gives hikers access to the first available trail sections in the Lori and Tavush regions, with maps, route information, insights, and practical tools to plan hikes across Armenia. Developed by HIKEArmenia, funded by the H. Hovnanian Family Foundation, and strengthened through memorandums of understanding with the Tourism Committee of Armenia and…

GLENDALE – The Armenian American Museum and Cultural Center of California hosted its 1st Annual Golf Classic, bringing together supporters, community leaders, business professionals, and golf enthusiasts for a memorable day of competition, camaraderie, and philanthropy at La Cañada Flintridge Country Club. Through sponsorship support and tournament registration fees, the inaugural event raised approximately $90,000 to advance the museum’s mission and ongoing development. The 1st Annual Golf Classic celebrated the power of community while introducing the Armenian American Museum to new supporters and audiences. Filled with friendly competition, networking opportunities, exciting prizes, and shared purpose, the event brought together partners,…

MISSION HILLS — Ararat Home welcomed Trustees and Members to its Annual Membership Meeting on April 26, 2026, where attendees received comprehensive reports on the organization’s accomplishments over the past year, its current state, and strategic priorities for the year ahead. Board Chair Joseph Kanimian, Esq., and CEO Derik Ghookasian presented reports highlighting Ararat Home’s continued commitment to providing exceptional care and services to its residents while advancing the organization’s mission across its various facilities and projects. Facility administrators shared updates on operations, resident care, and key initiatives, while the Director of the Ararat-Eskijian Museum and Research Center reported on…

WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. President Donald Trump has congratulated Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on the victory of the Civil Contract Party in Armenia’s parliamentary elections. In his message, Trump stated: “Congratulations to Nikol Pashinyan on his decisive victory in Armenia’s national elections. I am very proud to have supported his re-election, and I have no doubt that, under his leadership, the beautiful nation of Armenia will reach new levels of greatness and success that exceed even the most ambitious expectations.”

The Central Committee of the Social Democrat Hunchakian Party congratulates all citizens of the Republic of Armenia on the occasion of another free, fair, and transparent election. Despite unprecedented and overt external interference, as well as the widespread use of vote-buying and other improper methods by a number of opposition forces, the citizens of Armenia, through the power of their vote, chose sovereignty over subjugation, peaceful coexistence with neighboring countries over perpetual hostility, and economic diversification over dependence on a single market. On this occasion, we congratulate Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and his entire political team on their impressive victory…

GLENDALE  — On June 1st, International Children’s Day, programs supported by Lorik Humanitarian Fund brought together local children, displaced Artsakh families, and the children of fallen Armenian soldiers for a day of learning, creativity, and community. As part of these efforts, Lorik Humanitarian Fund recently provided a grant of 1,000,000 AMD (approximately $2,740) to the Hayorti Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting the children of fallen Armenian soldiers. A portion of the grant helped make possible a Children’s Day event honoring children whose fathers were killed during the September 2023 war in Artsakh. The event included games, entertainment, activities, and…

YEREVAN — Joint preliminary discussions on the implementation of Armenia’s 2025 state budget began during a meeting of the parliamentary committees on defense, security, finance, and budgetary affairs. Deputy Interior Minister Armen Mkrtchyan presented updated data regarding citizenship applications submitted by Armenians displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh. “A total of 39,650 displaced persons from Nagorno-Karabakh have obtained Armenian citizenship, including 27,296 individuals who were granted citizenship by presidential decree. There have been no cases of rejection,” he said. According to Mkrtchyan, since the launch of a new digital citizenship management system on January 1, there has been a notable increase in applications…

BRUSSELS — The European Union congratulated the citizens of Armenia for exercising their sovereign democratic right to vote in the parliamentary elections and praised the high level of civic participation. “The vote demonstrates Armenia’s unwavering commitment to democracy, peace, regional cooperation, and closer ties with Europe. According to the preliminary findings of the OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission, despite a highly polarized campaign, the elections were administered inclusively, offered clear political alternatives, and were well organized under a strong legal framework. The campaign and voting took place amid unprecedented interference, pressure, and ongoing hybrid attacks by Russia, including through economic coercion…

YEREVAN — International election observation missions have presented their joint assessment of Armenia’s June 7 parliamentary elections. The preliminary findings and conclusions were issued jointly by delegations from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the European Parliament, and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights. “The June 7, 2026 parliamentary elections provided citizens of the Republic of Armenia with a genuine opportunity to choose among political alternatives. The electoral process was well organized,” the statement said. International observers emphasized the importance of continued efforts to strengthen democratic institutions, protect fundamental freedoms, and…

YEREVAN — The History Museum of Armenia has opened a new exhibition titled “Armineh Johannes: Moments of Armenia’s Independence,” featuring more than 100 photographs by Armenian Diaspora photographer Armineh Johannes, taken across Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh during the late 1980s and early 1990s. The exhibition, dedicated to the 35th anniversary of Armenia’s independence, presents a unique visual chronicle of the country’s path to statehood and everyday life during a transformative period in its modern history. Johannes’ photographs are displayed alongside a selection of symbolic artifacts from the museum’s collection. The collection is being exhibited in Armenia for the first time and…

The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation Board of Directors has approved $2.5 billion in new strategic investments, including an initiative tied to the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity, known as TRIPP. The approval places Armenia and the South Caucasus within a broader U.S. strategy to strengthen infrastructure, expand connectivity, secure supply chains, and advance regional peace. Among the approved projects is the creation of the TRIPP Development Company, a U.S.–Armenia joint venture intended to support trade, transport, and economic development across Armenian territory. The initiative builds on the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace declaration and TRIPP Framework Agreement, with the goal…

NEW YORK — The Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) extends its congratulations to Prime Minister-elect Nikol Pashinyan and the Civil Contract party on their electoral victory on June 7, 2026. This election stands as a testament to the Armenian citizens’ commitment to civic participation and exercising their fundamental right to choose their leadership through a free and fair electoral process and the strength of Armenia’s democratic institutions under the Rule of Law. AGBU expresses its hope for an era of lasting peace and stability in the region—an opportunity that allows Armenia to channel its human capital toward innovation, technological advancement,…