Society should choose not out of fear, but for the sake of our statehood

Aram Torosian Leave a comment

A new case of Azerbaijani interference in the Armenian elections was recorded in favor of the re-election of Nikol Pashinyan and CP. Arman Tatoyan, the prime ministerial candidate of the “Wings of Unity” party, announced this on his Facebook page.


In particular, he noted: “After the President of Azerbaijan announced just a few days ago that Armenians need psychiatrists, psychologists and doctors, and there was no response from Armenia, the Prime Minister of Armenia did not give any response, widespread publications began in Azerbaijan and one of their deputies, Musa Urod, published threatening articles, made threatening statements that Armenians should finally come to their senses, the President of Azerbaijan was right, he called us a stupid society, and then he said that Armenian society needs before the elections is to show that the power is in place and the iron fist is in place.


This is an obvious interference, I will send this to the European Union ambassador and delegation today.


If, based on the government’s statement, the EU is fighting against Russian interference (which is good), then Azerbaijani interference should be equally prevented.


Our society should choose not out of fear, but for the sake of our statehood and our people.”

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Pashinyan will surrender everything from villages to Yerevan under the influence of fear

Arbi Tashjian Leave a comment

In case of his re-election, the current Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will hand over not only the territories he has already announced, but also much more. This was announced by the leader of the “Strong Armenia” party, businessman and philanthropist Samvel Karapetyan.


He noted that today Pashinyan uses the Azerbaijani names of the so-called “unslaves”, and tomorrow he will use the Azerbaijani place names, talking about Yerevan, Syunik or Sevan.


According to Karapetyan, this person is doing everything in parallel, and in case of his re-election, we should expect not only territorial concessions, but also mass resettlement of Azerbaijanis in Armenia, and this process may not be limited to 300 thousand. It could be 500 thousand or even one million, Karapetyan is sure.


“Once that process starts, who will stop it?” he stated, adding that he considers what happened to be pre-planned. Karapetyan hinted that the “boss” sent his deputy to Armenia a week before that, after which, according to him, all the instructions were distributed and preparations for the implementation of the “scenario” began.


Responding to the accusations of espionage by the representatives of the ruling power, Karapetyan noted. “If I am a spy, then I am the spy of the Armenian people.” According to him, the prime minister is irritated by the fact that every week the opposition exposes the illegal steps of the authorities and shows the weak sides of the government to the public.


Karapetyan also emphasized that you don’t need to be a detective to understand what is happening in the country. According to him, anyone spending just one hour is able to see both Pashinyan’s “illegal actions” and the foreign and domestic political problems that, according to the politician, the prime minister has brought to the country in eight years.


Karapetyan called on Pashinyan to decide for himself “how many countries he is spying on”, adding that, in his opinion, it refers to “at least two unfriendly states towards Armenia”.

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An employee of the Spitak municipality came to the CP campaign during working hours

Andranik Taslakhchian Leave a comment

Azganush Frankyan, secretary of the staff of the enlarged Spitak community, took part in the meeting with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan during the pre-election campaign of the ruling “Civil Agreement” party in Lori Marz.


As NEWS.am reports, Frankyan stated that he is not on vacation, but took a leave of absence from work in order to attend the meeting with Pashinyan. “I am not on vacation, we have come to the meeting with Nikol Pashinyan. It’s just not every day that the prime minister comes to our city,” he said.


To the clarifying question whether other employees of the community hall were also present at the event, Frankyan answered that not all his colleagues came. According to the employee of the municipality, he officially formalized his absence. “I just took permission and left. This is not propaganda, it is not every day that the Prime Minister comes. I left with an absence sheet,” he said.

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The return of Armenian prisoners from Baku is possible within a reasonable period of time. Kocharian

Dabaghian Diana Leave a comment

The second president of Armenia, the leader of the “Armenia” alliance, Robert Kocharian, has stated that he considers the return of Armenian prisoners from Baku possible within a reasonable period of time, but he is convinced that the current authorities of Armenia are not properly dealing with this issue.


According to him, the representatives of the government insist that they prefer not to talk publicly about the issue of prisoners, calling it “delicate”, and they try to solve the issue “without noise”, but the recent remarks of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to the people of Artsakh prove that the problem is not only inaction. According to him, the authorities are not interested in the return of the Armenians in Baku, fearing the appearance of authoritative figures in Armenia who can unite those forcibly displaced from Artsakh around certain goals.


He called the fact that in the so-called “peace” agreement, which will not lead to real peace, there is no mention of prisoners. Kocharyan believes that the Armenian side should have made it a condition of the negotiations and, for example, before signing the documents in Washington, demanded the release of at least a few people, because even after the territorial concessions, Armenia did not receive anything in return.


Kocharyan emphasized that the release of prisoners should become a mandatory part of the future negotiations on the peace treaty. At the same time, he refused to specify specific dates for a possible solution to the issue, saying that he cannot promise a release in two, three or five months, but he is sure that the problem can be solved in a reasonable time, and he sees real opportunities for it.

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71 violations were registered on the eve of parliamentary elections in Armenia

Badalian Vardan Leave a comment

The “Fair Voting” observation mission recorded 71 violations on the eve of the parliamentary elections in Armenia. The head of the mission, Sonya Hambardzumyan, said this at a meeting with journalists on May 19.


According to him, the observation mission organized by the youth non-governmental organization “Federation of Youth Clubs” discovered 16 cases of abuse of official position, as well as use of administrative and state resources for pre-election purposes.


Another 12 violations, as Hambardzumyan noted, are related to manifestations of hatred, humiliation and political intolerance. In addition, 7 cases of involvement of children and minors in electoral processes were registered.


The head of the mission emphasized that all the listed violations were discovered only in the last 7-8 days.

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Verelq: The public should be united, not deepen the contradictions. Child

Jirair Kafian Leave a comment

The next destination of pre-election meetings is Syunik region. We had very warm and direct meetings with the residents of Sisian and Goris.

People talk about their daily problems, concerns and expectations.

At the core of the “Offer to Armenia” program is the solution of these problems: ensuring social justice, raising people’s living standards and creating decent living conditions.

We are convinced that under the conditions of effective and responsible management, it is possible not only to solve the accumulated problems, but also to restore people’s trust and hope for the future.

The public should be united, listen to people and find solutions together, instead of deepening contradictions and people’s disappointment.

In the course of my life and activity, I have always tried to do what the people can be proud of. Years ago, the victorious Armenian tricolor waved in Baku was a victory for all of us, a symbol of our unity and strength.

Even today, we must restore the dignity and national pride of our people for the sake of a safe and prosperous Armenia.


Gagik Tsarukyan, chairman of the “Prosperous Armenia” party




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California Courier Online, May 18, 2026

Ani Kharatian Leave a comment
California
Courier Online, May 18, 2026

1- Will Nikol Pashinyan Remain in Office

After June 7 Parliamentary Elections?
By Harut
Sassounian
http://www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com

2- Armenia to send humanitarian aid to Lebanon
3- Korean Blogger Exposes Artsakh Under Azerbaijani Occupation, Revealing Empty Cities, Tourist Scams & Erasure of Centruries of Indigenous Armenian Identity
4- Pashinyan Threatened to Jail his Political Rival’s Son, After Requesting his Extradition from Belarus
5- Armenian businesses must be prepared to compete with Turkey when borders open
6- Irish failure to recognise Armenian genocide creates awkward moment for Martin in Yerevan
7- Defrocked Armenian cleric withdrew 15 million drams from diocese accounts

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1- Will Nikol Pashinyan Remain in Office

After June 7 Parliamentary Elections?

By Harut Sassounian
www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com

Armenians around the world are closely following Armenia’s parliamentary election campaign to see whether Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s party will retain its majority in parliament, allowing him to remain in office for another five years.

These elections could have two major consequences: One for Armenia’s future and the other for Pashinyan himself.

1)    Consequences for Armenia

Given Pashinyan’s disastrous record over the past eight years, many Armenians fear that if he remains in power, Armenia’s very survival could be at risk. Here are some of his major failures:

a) Mismanaging the 2020 war with Azerbaijan which resulted in the loss of most of Artsakh and the deaths of thousands of Armenian soldiers;

b) Allowing the Azeri army to invade and continue occupying parts of the territory of the Republic of Armenia since 2021 and 2022;

c) Declaring in 2022 that Artsakh is part of Azerbaijan, despite previously proclaiming that “Artsakh is Armenia, period”;

d) Failing in 2023 to prevent the forced displacement of 120,000 Armenians from Artsakh;

e) Treating the Artsakh issue as closed and referring to Artsakh refugees as “escapees”;

f) Claiming that surrendering Artsakh strengthened Armenia’s independence;

g) Interfering in the internal affairs of the Armenian Apostolic Church in violation of the Constitution and imprisoning several senior clergymen;

h) Failing to secure the release of Armenian detainees and Artsakh leaders held in Baku;

i) Repeatedly complying with Pres. Ilham Aliyev’s demands for concessions on major Armenian issues.

2)    Consequences for Pashinyan personally 

Pashinyan’s future may depend entirely on the outcome of these elections. Because of his violations of Armenia’s laws and Constitution, he could face arrest and persecution if he loses power. For that reason, he will do everything possible — legally or otherwise — to secure victory in the June 7 elections and avoid imprisonment.

Despite, widespread dissatisfaction, Pashinyan may still remain in office because incumbents typically benefit from extensive resources of the state during election campaigns. In addition, because of the concessions he had made, he has gained support from Azerbaijan, Turkey, the European Union, and the United States. They understand that if the opposition forces win, many of Pashinyan’s policies and concessions could be reversed.

Nevertheless, Pashinyan’s political standing has declined dramatically. His approval rating, which stood at 82% in 2018, has fallen to slightly over 10% in 2026. This sharp decline could create an opportunity for opposition parties to take power.

However, the opposition faces several serious obstacles. 

Fragmented Opposition

1) Armenia, despite its small size, has an astonishing 123 registered political parties, many consisting of little more than a founder and a small circle of followers. Fortunately, not all of them are participating in the June 7 elections. Still, 19 political entities have officially registered: 17 individual parties and 2 coalitions. This fragmentation benefits the ruling party because the opposition becomes divided among numerous competing groups.

Coalition Possibilities

If opposition parties collectively secure slightly more than 50% of the vote and successfully form a coalition in parliament, they would have the power to nominate their Prime Minister and remove Pashinyan from office.

Armenia’s Complex Electoral System

Armenia’s electoral system combines elements of Israeli-style proportional representation, German-style stability mechanism, and post-Soviet Eastern European reforms.

Under current law:

1)    A political party must receive at least 4% of the vote to enter parliament.

2)    Coalitions of two or three parties must receive at least 8%.

3)    Coalitions of more than three parties must receive at least 10%.

Votes cast for parties that fail to meet these thresholds are redistributed proportionally among the successful parties.

The Opposition’s Biggest Problem

The most controversial aspect of this system is that if Pashinyan’s party receives the largest share of the vote, it will also receive a significant portion of the redistributed votes from failed opposition parties. Ironically, voters casting ballots against Pashinyan could unintentionally help strengthen his parliamentary majority. For that reason, many smaller parties with little realistic chance of crossing the threshold should not have entered the race. By doing so, they risk splitting the anti-Pashinyan vote and indirectly benefiting the ruling party.

One Unusual Safeguard

One unusual feature of Armenia’s electoral system is that parliament must contain at least three political parties. Therefore, if only one party crosses the required threshold, the next two highest-performing parties may still receive representation even if they failed to reach 4%. In such a case, those additional parties collectively would receive one-third of the parliamentary seats regardless of their actual vote totals.

What the Opposition Must Do

If opposition parties want to improve their chances, they should focus less on persuading loyal Pashinyan supporters to switch sides. Many government supporters benefit from state employment, large bonuses, and privileged contracts and are therefore unlikely to abandon the ruling party. Instead, opposition groups should concentrate on mobilizing the large number of eligible voters who currently say they do not plan to vote.

If opposition forces succeed in gaining a parliamentary majority, one of their first priorities should be reforming Armenia’s electoral laws and replacing the current system with a more conventional voting structure similar to those used in many other countries.

In the meantime, every registered Armenian voter should participate in the June 7 elections to avoid leaving the country’s future in the hands of others.

Armenian citizens living abroad who retain voting rights should also make every effort to travel to Armenia and cast their ballots. Those unable to travel should encourage their relatives and friends in Armenia to vote on June 7.

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2- Armenia to send humanitarian aid to Lebanon

Armenpress

Armenia will send aid to Lebanon to help the country amid the humanitarian crisis resulting from ongoing hostilities.

The decision to send humanitarian assistance, consisting of food and medicines, was approved at a Cabinet meeting on Thursday.

Armenia plans to provide targeted humanitarian assistance by ensuring the supply of essential food and sanitary and hygienic goods, as well as medicines, needed to meet the basic needs of the affected population.

The list of necessary items was presented to the Cabinet by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

AMD 60 million was allocated from the reserve fund to purchase the supplies..

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3- Korean Blogger Exposes Artsakh Under Azerbaijani Occupation, Revealing Empty Cities, Tourist Scams & Erasure of Centruries of Indigenous Armenian Identity

ZM
YoungMin Skies, Korean travel blogger, has shared a rare recent video documenting his journey through Artsakh, offering one of the few firsthand looks into the region under Azerbaijani temporary occupation following the 2023 genocide of its indigenous Armenian population. Traveling through Shushi, Askeran, and Stepanakert, YoungMin Skies captures empty streets, damaged landmarks, and what he describes as a systematic effort to erase Armenian traces and reshape the identity of occupied region.

His trip into Artsakh was part of a group tour, after attempts to obtain an individual permit proved nearly impossible. Visitors were not allowed to leave the van at any point, and access to sites was strictly controlled, shaping the narrative presented during the visit.

The blogger also drew personal parallels between his family history in North Korea and the Armenians who have been cut off from their historical lands, highlighting a shared experience of displacement and loss.

He described his drive through largely deserted territory as haunting. Upon reaching Stepanakert, the capital city of Artsakh, his first impressions were stark: “Tragedy, sadness. Everywhere you go, it’s just empty houses.”

At the city’s entrance, he noted the heavy presence of Azerbaijani state symbols, including flags and music blasting through the streets. “Not enough Azerbaijani flags and blasting Azeri music. I get it, we’re in ‘Azerbaijan’,” he said.

The blogger highlighted widespread abandonment and damage across the city. Many Armenian landmarks had been destroyed, remodeled, or repurposed. Yet the iconic “We Are Our Mountains” monument, also known as “Grandma and Grandpa,” remained intact. He interpreted this as a political decision: although the authorities appear intent on erasing the Armenian heritage, the monument was left as a carefully controlled symbol to show that the government dictates which elements of the past are allowed to remain.

“It is the only Armenian symbol standing here, because the government says it stays, despite wanting everything Armenian to be gone,” he said.

Repeated requests to visit Armenian cultural and religious landmarks were blocked or redirected. Notably, he was denied proper access to the Holy Mother of God Cathedral in Stepanakert, one of the city’s most significant religious and cultural sites.

“I wanted to see the main cultural icon here, which is the church, but they kept shutting us down… which made me suspicious about what they’re doing to it,” he said.

According to the blogger, the group repeatedly asked to be shown more about Armenian history in the region, but they were repeatedly told they were running late. Ultimately, they were not shown much and received little information about the Armenian origin of city.

He also documented the destruction of Artsakh’s governmental and educational buildings. The Artsakh Parliament’s building had reportedly been demolished and replaced with a “victory park,” while the Artsakh State University headquarters had been renamed and remodeled after the occupation to reflect a new identity.

“It is completely unrecognizable,” he said, reflecting on the city’s cultural and administrative landmarks.

Throughout the visit, the guide consistently emphasized Azerbaijani narratives, leaving little room for independent exploration. By the end, the blogger said frustration had set in.

“Stepanakert was supposed to be the highlight… but instead, we did not step foot in the city. The controlled narrative was getting tiresome.”

Beyond the tours and cultural restrictions, the blogger also reported being scammed by local hotels. He described poor service, hidden charges, and deceptive practices, estimating that the incidents cost him around $2,400 in total damages.

He also noted the stark contrast between the Azerbaijan’s display of oil wealth and the lack of real substance behind that carefully curated image.

The video is one of the rare recent first-hand accounts from an outside traveler, sharing footage and observations from Artsakh. It shows the Armenian country of Artsakh undergoing heavy destruction, where Armenian cultural traces are being systematically erased and the region’s identity is being tightly controlled and reshaped.

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5- Armenian businesses must be prepared to compete with Turkey when borders open

YEREVAN /ARKA/ — Armenian businesses must prepare in advance for new competitive conditions in the event of the opening of regional communications and the Armenian-Turkish border. This was stated by Arsen Ghazaryan, Chairman of the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Armenia (UIEA), during an expanded meeting of the organization’s Board.

Regarding the future of entrepreneurship in the context of geopolitical changes, the opening of regional communications routes, the establishment of Armenian-Turkish relations, and new contacts with neighboring countries, Ghazaryan urged businesses to analyze and prepare in advance for the positive and negative challenges of the competitive environment.

According to the UIEA Chairman, the expected opening of borders requires changes to existing market marketing and the entire import policy.

It was noted that Turkey is a hub for large transnational corporations and is more technologically advanced than it was 10-20 years ago, particularly in the trade sector. In particular, he noted, importers of electrical equipment and machinery will inevitably work with this market, for which they must be prepared.

“The educational level of management in the neighboring country is incomparably higher. Although we have repeatedly documented the success of Armenian entrepreneurship, there is still a risk of absorption and displacement,” Kazaryan emphasized.

On May 13 of this year, Ankara announced the completion of preparations for the launch of direct trade between Turkey and Armenia. Yerevan noted that direct trade between Armenia and Turkey, in the customs sense, has become possible—without the need for new formalities.

On the Armenian-Turkish Dialogue

Armenia and Turkey have not had diplomatic relations since 1991, and the border between the two countries has been closed since 1993 at Ankara’s initiative. Key issues included recognition of the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

In December 2021, Deputy Speaker of the Armenian National Assembly Ruben Rubinyan and former Turkish Ambassador to the United States Serdar Kılıç were appointed special representatives for the normalization of relations.

Direct cargo air travel between the countries became possible on January 1, 2023.

On September 24, 2024, in New York, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan confirmed their readiness to continue normalization without preconditions.

On April 12, 2025, the foreign ministers of the two countries discussed the bilateral agenda on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomatic Forum. On September 12, 2025, Rubinyan and Kılıç agreed to expedite the implementation of agreements on opening the land border to third-country nationals and persons with diplomatic passports, as well as on the railway project, the Gyumri-Kars power line, and increasing the number of flights.

On April 28, 2026, a joint working group of the two countries met in Kars to restore and launch the Gyumri-Kars railway line. On May 4, 2026, Pashinyan announced the signing of an Armenian-Turkish protocol on the joint reconstruction of the historic Ani Bridge.

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6- Irish failure to recognise Armenian genocide creates awkward moment for Martin in Yerevan

Inconsistency between Government reluctance to formally acknowledge Armenian genocide and clear stance on Gaza


Jack Power
Irish Times

On hilltop looking out over the Armenian capital, Yerevan, are a dozen towering grey granite pillars, built leaning towards each other in a circle. 

In the ground below there’s a burning flame that commemorates the more than one million Armenian people who were exterminated a century ago.  

A summit of nearly 50 European leaders in Yerevan was staged five minutes walk away, in a futuristic looking event centre built during the later years of Soviet rule in the south Caucasus country.

Micheál Martin wasn’t able to take the short stroll to the genocide memorial after the summit wrapped up. Ireland has not formally recognised the Armenian genocide, so Martin would have created an awkward situation on the diplomatic front had he stopped to pay his respects in an official capacity. 

More than a million Armenians living under Ottoman rule were estimated to have been killed by the Turk-led regime, in a campaign of ethnic persecution that began during the first World War.

Paranoid the Armenian minority posed a threat to the stability of the empire, Ottoman authorities set about forcibly clearing the Christian communities from large swathes of the empire’s territory in 1915. 

The plan was preceded by early defeats for the Ottoman army in the war, which were blamed on the Armenian minority. 

A massive deportation campaign forced the Armenian population on long marches to the Syrian desert. Food and water was scarce and huge numbers died. Brutal violence, abuse and killings were also common. Those who survived were imprisoned in concentration camps where many more starved to death.

The Armenian state has said the plan was a clear attempt to wipe out the population and constituted a genocide.

Turkey has always pushed back against classing the deportation and mass deaths as genocide, saying, rather, the “mandatory transfer” was a chaotic, wartime act of an empire on the verge of collapse and not a premeditated plan to exterminate the Armenian population. 

“What happened in 1915, it is classic genocide,” said Hrachia Tashchian, acting director of the Armenian genocide memorial museum and institute. 

More than half of the states in the European Union recognise the Armenian genocide. In total 31 countries or parliaments have done so worldwide. 

“I believe that countries that have not recognised yet the genocide, they did it for political reasons,” Tashchian said. 

The persecution of the Armenians “completely corresponds” to the criteria set out in the United Nations’ genocide convention of 1948. “Intentional destruction, intentional elimination,” he said. 

There is a tradition that visiting dignitaries plant a fir tree on the grounds of the Yerevan memorial, known as Tsitsernakaberd.

You can gauge how long it took different countries to mark the genocide by the height of the fir tree beside each plaque marking the visit. Trees planted by Russian and French politicians decades ago are huge now.

That’s not surprising. Armenia has historically been deeply wedded to Moscow and there is a huge Armenian diaspora in France, the largest in western Europe. Newer trees planted in recent years are only a metre high.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has resisted formally classing what happened to the Armenians as a genocide. 

Then-minister for foreign affairs Simon Coveney told the Dáil in 2019 that the Republic would not be joining others who had done so.

There was “no international consensus” on the subject. “Ireland follows the practice of recognising genocide only where this has been established by a judgment of an international court, or where there is international consensus on the matter,” he said.in new window

However, that position is at odds with the Government’s response to Israel’s actions in Gaza, where it has publicly called out the bombardment and starvation of Palestinians as genocidal. 

Responding to questions in the Dáil last May, Martin said Israel was “committing genocide in Gaza right now. Let us call a spade a spade.”

South Africa, joined by Ireland and others, has taken a case to the International Court of Justice, though the UN court has yet to rule on whether Israel breached the genocide convention. 

The Department of Foreign Affairs did not respond to questions about the differing standards used when considering Armenia’s claims of genocide. 

Ireland of course accepts the Holocaust of Europe’s Jews by the Nazis as a genocide. 

Tashchian, who was previously a diplomat and adviser to the prime minister Nikol Pashinyan, said the Armenian debate was caught up in geopolitical calculations. 

Turkey is a powerful player internationally and a key regional partner for many western governments. 

“Turkey wants to move this issue to the political field … There is no question was it genocide, there is no question for us,” Tashchian said. Turkey had “written their own history” playing down what happened to the Armenians, he said.

The president of the Belgian parliament is due soon and so Tashchian needs to source a small fir tree for a planting ceremony in the memorial garden. “No Irish tree there yet; I hope there will be soon in the foreseeable future,” he said.

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7- Defrocked Armenian cleric withdrew 15 million drams from diocese accounts

Panorama.am

Armenian lawyer Ara Zohrabyan on Monday accused defrocked cleric Arman Saroyan of unlawfully withdrawing more than 15 million drams ($39,000) from diocesan bank accounts despite lacking legal authority to manage them.

Speaking at a news conference, Zohrabyan said judge Edgar Hovhannisyan, who also serves as a member of Armenia’s Supreme Judicial Council, had repeatedly demonstrated bias in favor of Saroyan by upholding interim court measures that allowed him continued access to the accounts of the Masyatsotn (Masis) Diocese.

“The court has created a very serious situation for the Armenian Apostolic Church,” Zohrabyan said. “Arman Saroyan, who is no longer a cleric and has been defrocked, is carrying out banking transactions on the basis of a court ruling and what we consider an arbitrary interpretation by the law enforcement officer.”

Saroyan was removed from his post as head of the Masyatsotn Diocese by a decree of Catholicos Karekin II. According to Zohrabyan, the church leader also terminated Saroyan’s banking authority following his dismissal.

However, Saroyan later challenged his removal in court. Zohrabyan said the court granted interim relief prohibiting the Armenian Apostolic Church and related parties from taking actions that could obstruct Saroyan’s exercise of authority as diocesan leader, including access to financial accounts.

Zohrabyan criticized Armenia’s Compulsory Enforcement Service, alleging it had acted improperly and effectively served Saroyan’s personal interests during the dispute.

“The enforcement officers have acted as though they are Saroyan’s personal employees,” he said, accusing them of sending threatening letters to clergy members and representatives of the diocese, including acting diocesan administrator Fr. Ruben Vardapet Zargaryan.

According to Zohrabyan, law enforcement authorities empowered Saroyan to conduct banking operations despite the church’s decision to revoke his authority, a move he said exceeded their legal powers.

“As of April 1, more than 15 million drams had already been withdrawn from the accounts,” Zohrabyan said. “Significant sums remain in those accounts and we are concerned the funds could be depleted.”

He added that requests to lift the interim court measures had been rejected.

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to read daily updated Armenian news and commentary,

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—

A Spirit of Renewed Hope Animates Diocesan Assembly Gala Banquet

Emil Karabekian Leave a comment
PRESS OFFICE

Diocese of the Armenian
Church of America (Eastern)

630 Second Avenue, New
York, NY 10016

Contact: Chris Zakian

Tel: (212) 686-0710

E-mail: [email protected]

Website: www.armenianchurch.us

 

May 17, 2026

___________________

 

ATTENTION EDITOR: Three photos
attached, with captions below. Additional photos may be downloaded here:

 

 

HEADLINE:

A Spirit of Renewed Hope
Animates Diocesan Assembly Gala Banquet

 

The crown jewel of a
memorable week in Milwaukee, WI, was the 124th Diocesan Assembly Gala Banquet, held
in the grand Imperial Ballroom of the Pfister Hotel on Friday, May 1.

 

The host parish,
Milwaukee’s St. John the Baptist Armenian Church, ensured that the banquet was
an elegant stage on which to honor church leaders for their contributions to
the life of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America.

 

Primate Bishop Mesrop
Parsamyan presided over the evening. Diocesan Legate Archbishop Vicken Aykazian
delivered the invocation. Words of welcome were given by parish council chair
Lyle Dadian, and Diocesan Assembly chair Herman Purutyan offered a toast. Host
parish Assembly Committee chair Harold Aghjian delivered warm remarks to the
assembled guests and dignitaries.

 

Remarks by the host parish
pastor, Fr. Guregh Hambardzumyan, connected listeners to the parish’s deep
Milwaukee roots. He spoke of the construction of the community’s first sanctuary in the 1940s, and its
consecration by Archbishop Karekin Hovsepian—the great churchman who would
later become Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia. This historical link has
served the parish as a powerful reminder of its strength and continuity.

 

The evening’s celebratory
atmosphere was enhanced by a stunning musical program, featuring a melodic
performance on the traditional Armenian instrument, the Qanun, played by
sisters Lilia and Alexandria
Yaralian, accompanied by Dimitri Glarus on the piano.

 

The highlight of the
evening was the presentation of Diocesan awards to three distinguished honorees:
“Armenian Church Members of the Year” Ara Cherchian and John Kaishian, and
“Friend of the Armenians” Dr. Robin Darling Young.

 

Ara Cherchian was honored for his immense generosity and
dedication to the St. Vartan Cathedral Renovation Project and numerous vital
projects in Armenia. In his gracious remarks, Mr. Cherchian reflected on his
upbringing in Iran, and his arrival in America to pursue education at Rensselaer
Polytechnic Institute and the University of Chicago—which eventually led Ara
and his wife Valerie to Milwaukee, beginning their deep and abiding devotion to
the city’s Armenian community. He extolled the church for preserving Armenian
identity and the virtues that have allowed Armenians to prosper in the U.S.

 

John Kaishian was celebrated for his visionary gift providing his property for over
30 years to host Hye Camp, the foundation upon which generations of Armenian
youth in the Midwest have built their identity. John Kaishian’s son, Fr. Sahak
Kaishian, accepted the award on behalf of both his parents, recalling the
foundational role several generations of his family have played in the life of
the Milwaukee Armenian Church community, and thanking the Diocese for
recognizing his father with the award.

(NOTE: In the days following
the assembly, the Diocese received the sorrowful news that John Kaishian passed
away, on May 14, 2026. We extend our deep sympathies and prayers to the
Kaishian family.)

* A Beacon of Faith

 

The distinguished scholar
from Washington, DC, Dr. Robin Darling Young, was honored as this year’s
“Friend of the Armenians” for her profound contributions to the study of
Classical Armenian and Armenian theology. In her remarks, Dr. Young recalled
the moment in her life when she first encountered the writings of Movses Khorenatsi,
and was introduced “to a civilization as compelling as it was fascinating.” She
thanked the Diocese and the entire Armenian community for welcoming her and
embracing her scholarship, and looked forward to continuing a lifetime of
study, bringing the intellectual and spiritual treasures of the Armenian
heritage to the global audience.

 

As the banquet concluded,
Diocesan Primate Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan shared a poignant closing reflection.
Inspired by a visit to Milwaukee’s North Point Lighthouse, Bishop Mesrop noted
its unique status as a beacon situated on land rather than at the sea’s edge.
He drew a powerful connection to the Assembly’s theme, “Renewed in Hope,”
stating that the church serves as an “inland lighthouse” a steadfast guide that
leads the faithful through life’s uncertainties while remaining anchored in the
firm ground of tradition.

 

The Primate went on to
praise Fr. Guregh and Yn. Silva, the host parish committee leaders and
volunteers, and all the parishioners for extending their warmth and hospitality
to the visitors from across the Diocese.

 

The spiritual energy of the
event spilled out into the city itself, as Milwaukee’s iconic Hoan Bridge was
illuminated in the Red, Blue, and Orange colors of the Armenian flag throughout
the evening hours of May 1, as a tribute saints, martyrs, and survivors of the
Armenian Genocide. As the bridge glowed against the city skyline, it stood as a
symbol of a community that remains a radiant and unshakeable source of light in
the world.

 

St. John Church’s Diocesan
Assembly executive committee, under the presidency of pastor Fr. Guregh
Hambardzumyan, included Harry Aghjian (Chair), Maritza Armagan (Vice Chair),
and Gary Seabrook (Treasurer). Subcommittees were led by Mary Keutelian
(Website & Social Media; Commemorative Booklet), Yn. Diana Keutelian
(Registration), Yn. Silva Hakopyan (Yeretzgins’ Breakfast),
Laurie Dadian (Welcome Desk), Nancy Seabrook (Gala Banquet), Ramelann Kalagian
(Badarak Luncheon), David Luhrssen (Publicity), Donald Rask
(Photography), and Larry Dadian (Transportation).

 

Organizing Committee
Members included Casey Aghjian, Alina Atayan, Joanie Baylerian, Michelle
Baylerian, Marissa Baylerian, Lisa Boyadjian, Bryan Boyadjian, Lyle Dadian,
Nicole Dadian, Sandy Densmore, Knarik Fasulyan, Kristina Faryants, Larisa
Feriyans, Jan Gred-Hammer, Kerrie Kashian, Russell Kashian, Sue Kashian, Noubar
Kazazian, Rev. Fr. Nareg Keutelian, DeAnn Kokott, Jan Kopatich, Inna Petrosyan,
Donald W. Rask, Anastasia Vasilyeva, EvaSophia Vasilyeva, Angelina Weitzer, and
Arpik Weitzer.

  

—5/14/26

 

***

 

PHOTO CAPTION 1:

The 124th Assembly of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian
Church of America convened April 30 to May 2, 2026, in Milwaukee, WI, hosted by
the city’s St. John the Baptist Armenian Church. The gala banquet at the city’s
historic Pfister Hotel was an elegant stage on which to honor church leaders for
their contributions to the life of the Eastern Diocese. Pictured here, the
distinguished scholar Dr. Robin Darling Young is honored as this year’s
“Friend of the Armenians” for her contributions to the study of Armenian
theology. She is shown here with Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan, Fr. Guregh
Hambardzumyan, and Diocesan Primate Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan.

 

PHOTO CAPTION 2:

Ara Cherchian was honored as one
of two recipients of the Eastern Diocese’s “Armenian church Member of the Year”
award, for his generosity to the St. Vartan Cathedral Renovation Project and
numerous vital projects in Armenia. Here, Mr. Cherchian accepts his award flanked
by Diocesan Primate Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan and host parish pastor Fr. Guregh
Hambardzumyan.

 

PHOTO CAPTION 3:

The second recipient
of the Eastern Diocese’s “Armenian Church Member of the Year” award was John Kaishian, honored for his longtime leadership
of the Milwaukee community, and his visionary founding of the Diocese’s Hye
Camp, where generations of Armenian youth in the Midwest have built their
identity. Here, Mr. Kaishian is congratulated by Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan during
the Diocesan Assembly’s concluding liturgy. Sadly, Mr. Kaishian passed away shortly
after the Diocesan Assembly, on May 14, 2026.


# # #



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Armenpress: WHO keeps evaluation of hantavirus as ‘low risk’

Anna Tamamian Leave a comment
World09:59, 18 May 2026
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The World Health Organization (WHO) said Sunday, May 17, it was maintaining its assessment of the hantavirus outbreak as “low risk” as the cruise ship where the outbreak originated approached the Netherlands.

“The public health risk has been reassessed with the most current information available, and the global risk remains low. The risk for passengers and crew who were onboard the cruise ship remains moderate, as individuals exposed prior to the implementation of control measures may still develop illness during the incubation period and should therefore be closely monitored. While additional cases may still occur among passengers and crew members exposed before containment measures were implemented, the risk of onward transmission is expected to be reduced following disembarkation and the implementation of control measures,” WHO said in a statement on X.

The MV Hondius is expected to dock in the Dutch port of Rotterdam between 10:00 a.m. (0800 GMT) and midday on Monday, AFP reported, citing officials, before disembarking the 27 remaining people on board: 25 crew members and two medical staff. The ship, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, made headlines after three passengers died from hantavirus.

After arriving in the Canary Islands on May 10, more than 120 passengers and crew members were evacuated from the ship. WHO reported last week that hantavirus had been confirmed in eight patients. Another patient in Canada has provisionally tested positive but is not exhibiting symptoms, and the test remains to be confirmed.

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Published by Armenpress, original at 
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UAE reports strike near Abu Dhabi nuclear power plant

Karakhanian Suren Leave a comment
Near East10:09, 18 May 2026
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The United Arab Emirates said a drone strike had triggered a fire near its nuclear power station on Sunday, calling the incident a “dangerous escalation”.

Officials are investigating the source of the strike, according to the BBC.

The country’s defense ministry said three drones had entered the UAE from the “western border direction”.

While two were intercepted, the third drone struck an electrical generator “outside the inner perimeter” of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in Abu Dhabi, sparking a fire.

No injuries were reported and there was no impact on radiological safety levels, the BBC quoted local authorities as saying.

The UAE’s foreign ministry called the strike an “unacceptable act of aggression” and said it had the right to respond to any hostilities.

It added that “the targeting of peaceful nuclear energy facilities is a flagrant violation of international law, the UN charter, and the principles of humanitarian law”.

Officials have not said from where the drone was launched.

The UAE has previously accused Iran of being behind attacks on its energy and economic infrastructure since war broke out in the region in February.

The UN’s nuclear watchdog said it was monitoring the situation closely and that its director general Rafael Grossi expressed “grave concern” about the incident.

Grossi said “military activity that threatens nuclear safety is unacceptable”, according to a statement shared by the International Atomic Energy Agency on X, and called for “maximum military restraint”.

Also on Sunday, Saudi Arabia’s defense ministry said it had intercepted and destroyed three drones which had entered its airspace from Iraq.

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Published by Armenpress, original at 
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