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By KRIKOR KHODANIAN The parliamentary “Armenia” alliance has decided to participate in the 2026 National Assembly elections in the same format, with Robert Kocharyan as its candidate for prime minister. Kocharyan and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation have chosen to continue their cooperation, joined as well by the “Aradj” Party. On this occasion, it is worth revisiting Kocharyan’s personal and political biography, the core of which is defined by the appropriation of the country’s wealth by himself and his inner circle, as well as the establishment of an authoritarian system. Arriving in Armenia from Artsakh, Kocharyan twice assumed the presidency—first in…

By KRIKOR KOHODANIAN The parliamentary election campaign in Armenia, scheduled for June 7, is drawing to a close. In just a few days, citizens will head to the ballot box to determine the future of their country for at least the next five years. In recent days, interest in these elections has increased significantly, not only within Armenia but also abroad. International media outlets are closely following the electoral developments in the small Caucasian republic, portraying them as yet another manifestation of the broader confrontation between the West and Russia. Moscow and Brussels have accused one another of interfering in…

By KRIKOR KHODANIAN With Armenia’s parliamentary elections fast approaching, various organizations are publishing public opinion polls. Not all of these surveys are credible, considering the inaccuracies of their previous forecasts. One such organization is the Armenian “Gallup” company, which has no connection to the well-known American Gallup organization. All of the Armenian Gallup’s past predictions have proven incorrect, yet opposition media outlets and political circles continue to rely on its findings in an effort to influence public opinion. The most reliable public opinion research in Armenia is conducted by the International Republican Institute (IRI), an American organization. The IRI not…

By KRIKOR KHODANIAN The campaign for what may become the most consequential election in Armenia’s recent history is approaching its final stage, at the end of which the country’s future for the coming decades will likely be decided. The struggle is not merely between political parties, but between two competing geopolitical visions. One seeks a return to the former criminal-oligarchic system and to tie Armenia’s fate once again to its “northern ally,” while the other aims to open the country toward the West and move along the path of prosperity and democracy. Based on the outlines emerging throughout the campaign,…

By KRIKOR KHODANIAN As elections approach, Russia’s political, economic, and disinformation campaigns against Armenia are becoming increasingly intense. On the political front, warnings directed at Yerevan had already been issued for some time at the highest levels, but they never came directly from the President of Russia. That responsibility was left to others—Zakharova, Peskov, Overchuk, and Galuzin—who had turned their criticism of Yerevan into a daily routine. Now, President Vladimir Putin has personally joined them and is publicly urging the Armenian government to make a swift decision and choose between the Eurasian Economic Union, led by Russia, and the European…

By  KRIKOR KHODANIAN Last week, Armenia experienced historic days. Around 50 European heads of state, prime ministers, high-ranking representatives, leaders of European institutions, and 400 journalists and media workers arrived in Yerevan to participate in the 8th summit of the European Political Community, which was being held for the first time at the farthest edge of the continent—in the Caucasus. On this occasion, the homeland of the Armenian people, the cradle of civilization, became the beating heart of Europe. As French President Emmanuel Macron declared, a meeting of such magnitude would not have been possible eight years ago, alluding to…

By KRIKOR KHODANIAN In recent days, global attention has been focused on the parliamentary elections in Hungary. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán was fighting for his political life in a contest that would bring an end to his 16-year rule. The pre-election polls proved accurate: Orbán’s party suffered a major defeat at the hands of the force led by his former ally, Péter Magyar. Orbán’s defeat was also a setback for Russia and for President Trump’s administration. Moscow lost its main ally within the European Union, while Trump lost an ideological partner, despite the Vice President J.D. Vance personally attending  Orbán’s…

By KRIKOR KHODANIAN At the beginning of meetings between heads of state, it is customary to allow journalists a brief opportunity to approach and take photos. On such occasions, the leaders exchange a few polite remarks before proceeding to a closed-door discussion. However, what took place during the meeting in Moscow between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Russian President Vladimir Putin was quite unusual and caused surprise in both political and public circles. The Russian president, speaking at length about Armenia’s upcoming parliamentary elections, stated that there are pro-Russian forces in Armenia and that Moscow would like those forces…