Sputnik Armenia 🇦🇲

🇦🇲 Strong Armenia MP David Ghazinyan said electricity tariffs will either rise or require additional funding. He claims 12 billion drams were allocated to Armenia’s nuclear power plant to prevent price increases ahead of elections.

🇦🇲 Three hearings are taking place simultaneously at Armenia’s Anti-Corruption Court: one involving Strong Armenia leader Samvel Karapetyan, another former minister Gagik Khachatryan, and a third Gyumri Mayor Vardan Ghukasyan.

❗️🇦🇲🇦🇿 Ruben Vardanyan’s wife Veronika Zonabend said Armenian authorities and Azerbaijan’s ombudsman have not responded to requests for a humanitarian visit to Armenian captives in Baku. The international women’s delegation awaits security guarantees to proceed.

🇦🇲🇷🇺 Armenia’s energy regulator warned that higher Russian gas prices would also increase electricity tariffs. A 30% gas price hike could add 1.4 drams per kWh, while a 69% increase could add 3.3 drams.

🇦🇲 Armenia’s Cadastre Committee head Suren Tovmasyan could not recall whether village of Tigranashen is officially listed as Armenian territory. He referred to a 2009 law but said the village’s legal status requires further examination.

🇦🇲 Gallup reports 50.7% of Armenians support snap parliamentary elections. Civil Contract leads with 24.3%, followed by Strong Armenia (8.5%) and Armenia bloc (6.7%). The Armenian Apostolic Church enjoys the highest institutional trust at 59.1%.

🇦🇲 Former ruling Civil Contract MP Vladimir Vardanyan was elected head of Armenia’s Constitutional Court, defeating Edgar Shatiryan in the second round. Hraparak previously claimed authorities pressured Shatiryan to withdraw his candidacy.

🇦🇲 Armenian Economy Minister Gevorg Papoyan said: “If Armenians had focused on exporting 10 more tons of Armenian goods to other countries instead of erecting khachkars abroad and passing resolutions, Armenia might not have faced the problems it faces today.”

🇦🇲 Armenian Economy Minister Gevorg Papoyan disputed a report predicting a 15.6% GDP decline ($4.6 billion) if Armenia leaves the EAEU, estimating the drop at just 1.5%, though economic growth could slow to 5%.

🇦🇲🇹🇷 Pashinyan said Armenia has no issue recognizing Turkey’s territorial integrity. Speaking at the third Global Armenian Summit, he expressed confidence that diplomatic relations would eventually be established with mutual recognition of territorial integrity and borders.

🇦🇲 The hearing involving Catholicos Garegin II and six bishops was postponed again because prosecutors failed to attend. Lawyer Ara Zohrabyan accused the prosecution of deliberately delaying the high-profile case. The next hearing is scheduled for December 4.

🇦🇲🇷🇺 Economist Karen Adonts warned that higher Russian gas prices could seriously harm Armenia’s economy. He urged restructuring an economy reliant on construction, services, relocated residents and growing foreign debt, while developing manufacturing to reduce external risks.

🇦🇲🇮🇷🇺🇸 Iranian adviser Ali Akbar Velayati wrote in Ettelaat that Tehran still considers TRIPP a red line. He said he warned Armenia’s ambassador that Trump and his allies would “have their legs broken” if they crossed it.

🇷🇺🇦🇲 Russia’s Maria Zakharova said no alternative security architecture was emerging in the South Caucasus and said Western countries would not ensure stability. "Armenia could resume full CSTO participation or withdraw through charter procedures after settling its obligations."

🇷🇺🇦🇲🇪🇺 Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova accused Pashinyan of verbal gymnastics and misleading Armenians over choosing between the EAEU and EU. She said Yerevan had left partners’ questions unanswered and should consult citizens before taking action.

🇦🇲🇪🇺 Republican Party deputy chairman Armen Ashotyan claimed Pashinyan would delay Armenia’s EU application because of his earlier referendum pledge and the political and economic costs of choosing between EU and EAEU membership.

🇦🇲 A prosecutor requested testimony from former army chief Onik Gasparyan in the March 1 case against ex-president Robert Kocharyan and others, accused of using troops to suppress 2008 post-election protests. Gasparyan then served as an army corps’ chief of staff.

🇦🇲 Pashinyan said Armenia no longer has any interest in the CSTO. Secretary General Talatbek Masadykov previously said its November 11 summit could consider suspending Armenia’s voting and nomination rights over membership dues unpaid for more than two years.

🇦🇲🇹🇷 Turkey will tender the reconstruction of Ani Bridge over the Akhuryan River, Pashinyan said. Armenia agreed to avoid procedural complications arising from absent diplomatic ties and will also sign a contract with the winning company. Work should begin soon.

🇦🇲🇪🇺 Pashinyan said Armenia has not begun preparing to leave the EAEU but is pursuing EU membership to give citizens an alternative. He said Armenia could apply to begin the process toward full EU membership in 2027-2028.