Hetq

09/10/2026

YEREVAN — The Armenian National Assembly has approved the composition of a controversial new parliamentary inquiry commission tasked with examining what the government labels a "deep, systemic crisis" within the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church.

According to the official mandate, the commission is tasked with investigating a structural crisis "resulting from the activities of certain clergy members" and an alleged "failure of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church to fulfill its exceptional mission regarding the spiritual life of the Armenian people, the development of national culture, and the preservation of national identity."

The establishment of this ruling-party commission is the latest step in a multi-stage campaign by the Pashinyan administration to forcibly overhaul the centuries-old church institution:

09/10/2026

On the first day of the 2020 Artsakh War, conscript Grigor Adoyan sustained a devastating head injury in the frontline village of Mataghis. The blast left him in a coma for 11 days, completely paralyzed the right side of his body, and stripped away his ability to speak.

After surviving the trauma, he faced the arduous journey of relearning how to live from scratch.

The morning of September 27 began like any ordinary day at the unit. Suddenly, the surrounding mountains came under intense artillery fire, and fires ignited across the slopes. Even as the smoke rose, we initially assumed it was just a regular milita

09/10/2026

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan held a follow-up telephone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on October 8 to review their rapidly expanding bilateral agenda.

The phone call serves as a rapid follow-up to Mirzoyan’s official visit to Tehran on October 5, occurring amid critical regional shifts and economic negotiations:

09/10/2026

YEREVAN — The access road leading to Armenia's Anti-Corruption Court at 3/9 Tbilisyan Highway will remain dilapidated and unpaved, as the Yerevan Municipality confirmed it has no major renovation plans for the section through at least 2027.

The admission came in a delayed, single-sentence response issued by city authorities on October 7, completely dodging investigative queries regarding immediate maintenance or traffic mitigation.

The admission came in a delayed, single-sentence response issued by city authorities on October 7, completely dodging investigative queries regarding immediate maintenance or traffic mitigation.

09/10/2026

YEREVAN — Armenia’s Nature Protection and Subsoil Inspectorate has officially referred the environmental crisis in the Hrazdan Gorge to the Yerevan Municipality, refusing to clarify whether active construction next to the Meridian Expo Center violates environmental laws.

The construction site in question will serve as the venue for the high-profile United Nations COP17 Biological Diversity Summit to be held in Yerevan in late October 2026.

The decision, revealed in a response to investigative outlet Hetq, shifts the burden of law enforcement directly onto city planners while leaving the preservation of Yerevan's vital natural gorge in bureaucratic limbo.

08/10/2026

YEREVAN— The Armenian government has introduced a draft proposal to restructure state spending limits for hosting foreign delegations, a move estimated to require an additional AMD 100 million (approximately $276,000) from the state budget.

Drafted by the Ministry of Finance, the new regulations aim to replace rigid maximum spending caps established in 2009 with general expenditure criteria. This shift will grant state bodies greater flexibility to determine representational expenses—such as hotels, meals, gifts, translation, and transportation—based on current market rates and procurement contracts.

Drafted by the Ministry of Finance, the new regulations aim to replace rigid maximum spending caps established in 2009 with general expenditure criteria.

08/10/2026

YEREVAN - Artur Danielyan, founder of Armenia’s right-wing, Eurosceptic opposition Adekvat party, has been remanded in pre-trial custody for two months on charges stemming from his social media activity. Following his summons on October 7, 2026, a court approved his detention alongside strict communication and visitation restrictions.

Represented by lawyer Tigran Atanesyan, Danielyan faces charges under Article 297 (Part 2, Point 3) of the Armenian Criminal Code for ICT-based hooliganism across seven Facebook posts. He is also charged under Article 490 (Part 2) for allegedly discrediting the National Security Service (NSS).

08/10/2026

YEREVAN - Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan addressed several critical geopolitical and regional infrastructure issues during a press briefing on October 8, 2026, ahead of his departure for the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) summit in Turkmenistan.

Pashinyan outlined expectations for regional diplomacy, pushed back against hostile rhetoric from Russian officials, and detailed bilateral infrastructure updates.

Pashinyan outlined expectations for regional diplomacy, pushed back against hostile rhetoric from Russian officials, and detailed bilateral infrastructure updates.

08/10/2026

YEREVAN - Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan departed for Turkmenistan today on a two-day working visit and will attend the regular meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), hosted in the coastal city of Turkmenbashi.

The summit, taking place in the Avaza National Tourist Zone on October 8–9, is chaired by Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov as Turkmenistan holds the 2026 CIS presidency.

Marking the 35th anniversary of the organization, the high-level meeting brings together leaders from across the nine member states to coordinate on regional security

07/10/2026

The Vagharshapat Municipality has launched a massive social media campaign ahead of Etchmiadzin’s 2711th anniversary celebrations on October 8, though local authorities are keeping the official event budget secret.

Since September 16, the municipality has published near-daily videos showcasing scheduled festivities, including video invitations from featured musical acts. The city's main streets have already been decorated with municipal flags and festive banners in preparation for the milestone.

The Vagharshapat Municipality has launched a massive social media campaign ahead of Etchmiadzin’s 2711th anniversary celebrations on October 8, though local authorities are keeping the official event budget secret.