Sputnik Armenia 🇦🇲

🇦🇲🇮🇷Armenian High-Tech Industry Minister David Tadevosyan and Iranian Ambassador Khalil Shirgholami discussed expanding bilateral IT cooperation. Shirgholami invited Tadevosyan to visit Iran to explore the country’s technological achievements, particularly in nanotechnology.

Armenia’s Justice Ministry initiated disciplinary proceedings against Judge Hakob Manukyan, reportedly over his recusal from the case involving the Catholicos Garegin II and six Armenian Apostolic Church hierarchs. The hearing is scheduled for November 16.

A Jewish radical spat at the entrance to St. James (Hakobyants) Monastery in Jerusalem’s Armenian Quarter and insulted a guard who confronted him, according to the report. Israel-based Armenian journalist Gegham Balyan posted footage of the incident on social media.

ARF Dashnaktsutyun representatives Ishkhan Saghatelyan, Armen Rustamyan and Sevan Nshanyan met leaders of United Russia and A Just Russia in Moscow to discuss the current state of bilateral relations and cooperation, Saghatelyan reported on social media.

Catholicos Garegin II met Hugo Slim, director of Oxford’s Las Casas Institute, to discuss protecting displaced Artsakh Armenians’ rights and Armenian spiritual and cultural heritage. They emphasized cooperation among Christian churches, academics and humanitarian organizations.

🇦🇿🇹🇷Azerbaijani President Aliyev will skip the October 29-30 Organization of Turkic States summit in Turkey, officially citing a busy schedule. Azerbaijani media report he will attend an U-15 football awards ceremony instead.

Pashinyan threatened public pressure to secure a new constitution, suggesting he could guarantee peace if it passes and portray opposition resistance as supporting war. He also floated snap elections if certain the current opposition would lose all its parliamentary seats.

Strong Armenia MP Edgar Ghazaryan called for Ruben Rubinyan to resign as parliament speaker after today’s incident, citing poor leadership. He alleged Pashinyan orchestrated events remotely and said Vahagn Aleksanyan, who threw a chair toward an MP, had acted similarly before.

Armenian PM Pashinyan backed Civil Contract’s actions in a parliamentary brawl, including Vice Speaker Aleksanyan throwing a chair toward opposition members, calling them proportionate and justified. Pashinyan blamed the opposition entirely for the incident.

🇦🇲 “If they hit us, they'll get beaten,” said Civil Contract secretary Vladimir Hakobyan, defending retaliation after Vice Speaker Vahagn Aleksanyan threw a chair at an opposition MP. Faction leader Arusyak Manavazyan also defended the ruling party’s actions.

🇦🇲 Armenia’s parliament resumed after the mass brawl. Vice Speaker Ruben Rubinyan blamed opposition lawmakers for the tensions, defended ruling-party MP Taron Chakhoyan’s remarks, and allowed him to finish his interrupted speech.

🇦🇲 Former ruling Civil Contract MP Lilit Stepanyan has been appointed governor of Armenia’s Kotayk region following a party board decision.

🇦🇲 Armenia plans to restore military service exemptions for police and rescue personnel who graduate from specialized academies and complete 10 consecutive years of service, aiming to address recruitment shortages.

❗️🇦🇲 New footage from Armenia’s parliament shows Vice Speaker Vahagn Aleksanyan throwing a chair at opposition MP Garnik Davtyan during the mass brawl, while the session chair hesitated to suspend proceedings.

🇦🇲 A mass brawl erupted in Armenia’s parliament after ruling-party MP Taron Chakhoyan clashed verbally with Strong Armenia leader Narek Karapetyan. Vice Speaker Ruben Rubinyan initially refused to suspend proceedings, but adjourned after punches were thrown.

🇦🇲 Hraparak reports that businessman Samvel Aleksanyan could lose his Megamall shopping center after an anti-corruption investigation found privatization irregularities. The newspaper suggests possible political pressure and a connection to former President Serzh Sargsyan.

🇦🇲🇷🇺 Artur Varzhapetyan, co-founder of Luding, a Russian alcohol importer and distributor, was briefly detained at Yerevan’s Zvartnots Airport, then released. Pashinyan earlier promised to investigate claims that Luding pressured Armenian brandy exporters.

🇦🇲🇷🇺 Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zakharova condemned Shirak’s governor for disparaging Soviet soldiers as “Ivans,” calling his remarks insulting to both nations. 'Those very “Ivans” were commanded by Marshal Hovhannes Baghramyan, a two-time Hero of the Soviet Union.'

🇦🇲🇦🇿 Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said Armenia asked partner countries to visit Armenian captives in Baku, but Azerbaijan refused, telling them not to interfere. He acknowledged that efforts to secure access have produced no results.

🇦🇲🇦🇿 Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said Armenia asked partner countries to visit Armenian captives in Baku, but Azerbaijan refused, telling them not to interfere. He acknowledged that efforts to secure access have produced no results.