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CIVILNET

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A new brand of journalism about Armenia & the Caucasus.

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CIVILNET @civilnet.bsky.social · 2d

Proposing unprecedented sanctions on Azerbaijan’s ruling elite and energy institutions, the Peace Act aims to deter further aggression and reinforce Armenia’s sovereignty.

Holding Baku accountable with Inside the Peace Act

YouTube video by CIVILNET

CIVILNET @civilnet.bsky.social · 6d

CivilNet’s Eric Hacopian spoke with Anna Grigoryan, opposition MP from the Armenian Alliance, about her political journey from supporting the 2018 revolution to becoming one of the government’s sharpest critics.

Speaking Truth to Power: Anna Grigoryan on Armenia’s Opposition, War, and Justice - CIVILNET

CivilNet’s Eric Hacopian spoke with Anna Grigoryan, opposition MP from the Armenian Alliance, about her political journey from supporting the 2018 revolution to becoming one of the government’s sharpe...

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CIVILNET @civilnet.bsky.social · 8d

Few people outside the orbit of practitioners and scholars of international human rights law have heard of the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, or WGAD.

The Case of Ruben Vardanyan, a Travesty of Justice - CIVILNET

By Hasmik Egian The article was originally published on Passblue.com Few people outside the orbit of practitioners and scholars of international human rights law have heard of the United Nations Worki...

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CIVILNET @civilnet.bsky.social · 11d

This week on Insights, Eric Hacopian unpacks Armenia’s planned military budget cut, the ruling party’s strategy heading into 2026, and National Assembly Speaker Alen Simonyan’s controversial comments.
#CivilNet #ՍիվիլՆեթ #insightswitherichacopian

Armenia’s Military Budget Cut: Smart Strategy or Big Mistake?

YouTube video by CIVILNET

CIVILNET @civilnet.bsky.social · 13d

CivilNet sits down with Berj Apkarian, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Armenia in Fresno, to talk about his 15th medical mission to Armenia.

American doctors are forging lifelong ties with Armenia’s healthcare community

YouTube video by CIVILNET

CIVILNET @civilnet.bsky.social · 14d

In a rare diplomatic exchange, the foreign ministers of Armenia and Ukraine met in Poland on the sidelines of the Warsaw Security Forum.
#dailyarmenia

Pashinyan speaks on democracy and peace with Baku at PACE - CIVILNET

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CIVILNET @civilnet.bsky.social · 16d

On September 27, the fifth anniversary of the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war, no senior Armenian officials were publicly reported visiting Yerablur Military Pantheon in Yerevan, where thousands of fallen soldiers are buried.

Top Armenian officials absent from military cemetery on war’s fifth anniversary - CIVILNET

By Lia Avagyan On September 27, the fifth anniversary of the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war, no senior Armenian officials were publicly reported visiting Yerablur Military Pantheon in Yerevan, where thousa...

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CIVILNET @civilnet.bsky.social · 16d

On the second anniversary of Ruben Vardanyan’s detention in Baku, CivilNet’s Eric Hacopian speaks with his son David, who calls for urgent global action, U.S. involvement, and a united campaign to free the hostages.

Ruben Vardanyan's son calls on Armenians to unite for hostage release

YouTube video by CIVILNET

CIVILNET @civilnet.bsky.social · 19d

📍 In the approved draft law on the 2026 state budget, Armenia foresees a 15% decrease in defense spending, following last year’s 25% surge.
#dailyarmenia

Armenia’s government approves 15% defense spending cut

YouTube video by CIVILNET

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CIVILNET @civilnet.bsky.social · 19d

Armenia plans to allocate 560 billion drams ($1.44 billion) for defence in 2026, down 100 billion drams ($258 million), or about 15%, from 2025, according to the draft state budget approved by the government on Wednesday.

Armenia to cut defence spending by 15% in 2026 - CIVILNET

By Ani Grigoryan Armenia plans to allocate 560 billion drams ($1.44 billion) for defence in 2026, down 100 billion drams ($258 million), or about 15%, from 2025, according to the draft state budget ap...

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CIVILNET @civilnet.bsky.social · 20d

CivilNet speaks with Dr. Alveda King, the niece of Martin Luther King Jr., a renowned civil rights leader, author and faith leader, during her visit to Armenia.

Martin Luther King's niece and her message to the Armenian people - CIVILNET

CivilNet speaks with Dr. Alveda King, the niece of Martin Luther King Jr., a renowned civil rights leader, author and faith leader, during her visit to Armenia. In this interview, Dr. King reflects on...

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CIVILNET @civilnet.bsky.social · 20d

CivilNet spends a day with Finnish border officer Mika Kouri and German police officer Swantje Meinke on Armenia’s border with Azerbaijan. They are part of the EU Monitoring Mission conducting daily patrols to record ceasefire violations and refute disinformation in a tense area.

A day with EU Monitors on Armenia’s border

YouTube video by CIVILNET

CIVILNET @civilnet.bsky.social · 22d

Joining CivilNet today for an exclusive interview is Varsen Aghabekian, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the Palestinian National Authority.

Palestinian FM in exclusive interview on UN, statehood and Gaza - CIVILNET

Joining CivilNet today for an exclusive interview is Varsen Aghabekian, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the Palestinian National Authority. This conversation comes ahead of the UN G...

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CIVILNET @civilnet.bsky.social · 23d

In September, Armenians celebrate Independence Day and also mourn the anniversary of the ethnic cleansing of Artsakh.
CivilNet’s Eric Hacopian and historical sociologist Georgi Derluguian reflect on the loss of Artsakh on September 19, 2023.

Independence, fall of Artsakh & the “Third Republic” - CIVILNET

In September, Armenians celebrate Independence Day and also mourn the anniversary of the ethnic cleansing of Artsakh. CivilNet’s Eric Hacopian and historical sociologist Georgi Derluguian reflect on t...

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CIVILNET @civilnet.bsky.social · 26d

Al-Monitor’s Amberin Zaman spoke with CivilNet’s Eric Hakobyan about Trump’s surprise mediation between Pashinyan and Aliyev.
They touch on the Washington deal for the “Trump Road” through Syunik, how Trump’s pressure stopped a new Azerbaijani attack, and why a real peace treaty is unlikely.

How Trump saved Armenia from war with Azerbaijan & Russian hegemony

US President Donald Trump's diplomatic foray into the Caucasus is among his most successful so far, says analyst Eric Hacopian of Armenia's CivilNet.

www.al-monitor.com

CIVILNET @civilnet.bsky.social · 27d

In the past few years—particularly after the deployment of the EU monitoring mission to Armenia’s borders—the spread of disinformation about the European Union has intensified.

Armenia faces a surge in anti-EU disinformation

YouTube video by CIVILNET

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CIVILNET @civilnet.bsky.social · Sep 15

On September 8, Armenia’s political discourse sank to a new low when Artur Hovhannisyan, secretary of the ruling Civil Contract faction, launched a personal and sexist attack against opposition MP Taguhi Tovmasyan.
#democracywatch
@tigartsakh.bsky.social

Armenia’s ruling party’s sexism problem - CIVILNET

By Tigran Grigoryan and Tatev Ghazaryan On September 8, Armenia’s political discourse sank to a new low when Artur Hovhannisyan, secretary of the ruling Civil Contract faction, launched a personal and...

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CIVILNET @civilnet.bsky.social · Sep 9

Since Armenia’s loss in the 2020 Karabakh War, the issue of a road through Armenia’s southern Syunik region has been а subject of heated debate.

Credits: Ruptly

Explainer: The “Trump Route” Through Armenia - CIVILNET

Since Armenia’s loss in the 2020 Karabakh War, the issue of a road through Armenia’s southern Syunik region has been а subject of heated debate. The purpose of this road is to connect mainland Azerbai...

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CIVILNET @civilnet.bsky.social · Sep 8

Within the process of normalization of Armenia-Türkiye relations, a meeting of special representatives Ruben Rubinyan and Serdar Kılıç is planned in Armenia in the coming days.

CIVILNET @civilnet.bsky.social · Sep 5

Armenia’s Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinyan, has dismissed Liparit Drmeyan, the head of the Office of the Representative for International Legal Affairs.
#DemocracyWatch

‘I Am the Government’: Pashinyan’s One-Man Rule Threatens Democratic Consolidation - CIVILNET

By Tigran Grigoryan Armenia’s Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinyan, has dismissed Liparit Drmeyan, the head of the Office of the Representative for International Legal Affairs. This move follows a public s...

www.civilnet.am

CIVILNET @civilnet.bsky.social · Aug 22

By Karen Harutyunyan

Neither the Armenian nor the U.S. government has disclosed the full text of the three memoranda signed on August 8 in Washington D.C..

OPINION - The Trump Route: Peace Road or Corridor in Disguise? - CIVILNET

By Karen Harutyunyan Neither the Armenian nor the U.S. government has disclosed the full text of the three memoranda signed on August 8 in Washington D.C.. Among them, the most consequential is the so...

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CIVILNET @civilnet.bsky.social · Aug 20

In this comprehensive interview with CivilNet, European Union Ambassador to Armenia Vassilis Maragos discusses the dramatic expansion of EU engagement with Armenia, including a groundbreaking €2.5 billion investment commitment through 2027.

Economic Resilience, Visa Liberalization, and Rule of Law: Interview with EU Ambassador to Armenia - CIVILNET

In this comprehensive interview with CivilNet, European Union Ambassador to Armenia Vassilis Maragos discusses the dramatic expansion of EU engagement with Armenia, including a groundbreaking €2.5 bil...

www.civilnet.am

CIVILNET @civilnet.bsky.social · Aug 19

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on Monday that “peace has been established between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan” following the initialing of a peace agreement in Washington on August 8 under the auspices of U.S. President Donald Trump.

Pashinyan says Karabakh issue closed as Armenia and Azerbaijan ‘make peace’ - CIVILNET

By Siranush Adamyan Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on Monday that “peace has been established between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan” following the initialing of ...

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CIVILNET @civilnet.bsky.social · Aug 18

Armenia’s customs service will exercise full control over the so-called “Trump Route” linking Azerbaijan to its Nakhichevan exclave through Armenia’s Syunik province, the head of the country’s State Revenue Committee (SRC) told CivilNet in an interview on Friday.

Armenia to maintain customs control on “Trump Road” in Syunik, tax chief says - CIVILNET

By Arshaluis Mgdesyan Armenia’s customs service will exercise full control over the so-called “Trump Route” linking Azerbaijan to its Nakhichevan exclave through Armenia’s Syunik province, the head of...

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CIVILNET @civilnet.bsky.social · Aug 18

A US-brokered peace declaration between Armenia and Azerbaijan — brokered by Donald Trump — could mark a turning point in the region.

Armenia’s New Strategic Role: From Moscow’s Shadow to Washington’s Partner? - CIVILNET

A US-brokered peace declaration between Armenia and Azerbaijan — brokered by Donald Trump — could mark a turning point in the region. It grants Armenia full sovereignty over a new transit route, eleva...

www.civilnet.am