CIVILNET

By Tigran GrigoryanIn recent days, the confrontation between Armenia’s ruling party and the Armenian Apostolic Church has reached a new level of escalation. On December 17, a group of bishops–who had earlier publicly demanded the resignation of Catholicos Karekin II and had also met with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan–issued a statement calling on the public to gather the following day, December 18, at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin to demand the Catholicos’s resignation.Shortly thereafter, the Aragatsotn Diocese, which has remained loyal to Catholicos Karekin II, announced that the joint prayer service scheduled for December 18 would no longer take place at St. Hovhannes Church in Byurakan. Instead, it would be held at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin at 5:00 PM. The diocese called on the faithful to attend and pray together for “imprisoned clergy, detained and captive compatriots, and for the steadfastness of the Armenian Apostolic Church.” It soon became known that Catholicos Karekin II himself would attend the service.At the same time, major actors in Armenia’s opposition issued their own calls, urging supporters to be present at the Mother Cathedral of Etchmiadzin on December 18 at 5:00 PM.As a result, two distinct groups gathered near the cathedral the following day. The first–and significantly larger–consisted of supporters of the Catholicos, including members and sympathizers of various opposition forces. The second group comprised those demanding the Catholicos’s resignation, including representatives of the ruling camp and their supporters.During the prayer service, Catholicos Karekin II was present inside the Mother Cathedral. Outside, opposing chants from the two groups were heard. Attempts by some protesters opposing the Catholicos’s entry into the cathedral were blocked.

An estimated 8-10 million Armenians live in over 100 countries across the world, spanning different time zones, political systems, languages and cultural traditions. This diversity brings richness, but also, a multiplicity of beliefs, attitudes and perspectives, especially when it comes to the place that’s become a unifying point for all - the Republic of Armenia. From its political and social direction to its economy and global alliances, the question of Armenia’s development and the role the diaspora will play in its evolution remains a pressing question. #CivilNet #ՍիվիլՆեթ

📍 Armenian and U.S. officials launched talks to establish a joint venture to oversee the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity, a major new transit proposal.📍 U.S. ambassador talks ‘Trump route’ and border security: https://shorturl.at/R2Q6l📍 Azerbaijan sent a fuel shipment to Armenia via Georgia, the first in decades.📍 Armenia lowered interest rates to 6.5%, after holding steady for several months.#CivilNet #ՍիվիլՆեթ #civilnetbusiness

📍 Azerbaijan has launched gasoline shipments to Armenia via Georgia, reviving debate over rail connectivity, transit politics, and strategic dependence.📍 Authorities and church leaders urged calm ahead of planned gatherings at Holy Etchmiadzin of Catholicos with both opponents and supporters. 📍 Armenia at the Oscars: What does it take?- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZgUIe-53iU#CivilNet #ՍիվիլՆեթ #dailyarmenia

In this episode of Insights, host Eric Hacopian breaks down Turkey’s repeated insistence on linking normalization with Armenia to the signing of an Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty, and explains why Ankara’s long-standing promises to open the border are unlikely to be kept. He also reviews Armenia’s 2026 state budget and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s problematic response to Baku’s renewed “Western Azerbaijan” narrative.#CivilNet #ՍիվիլՆեթ #insightswitherichacopian

📍 There is no organized ethnic Armenian crime in Europe, a fact acknowledged by the European Union, Deputy Interior Minister Armen Ghazaryan said. This is expected to ease Armenia’s path toward a visa-free regime under the EU visa liberalization action plan unveiled last month.📍 Armenia has signed a strategic partnership declaration with Luxembourg, following similar agreements with Germany and the EU earlier this month.#CivilNet #ՍիվիլՆեթ #dailyarmenia

On the occasion of TUMO’s 15th anniversary, CivilNet’s Eric Hacopian speaks with Pegor Papazian, Chief Development Officer at TUMO, about the evolution and global reach of Armenia’s flagship education initiative. They cover TUMO’s expansion to more than a dozen countries, its role in shaping “Brand Armenia,” and its focus on intrinsic motivation and soft skills. Papazian also reflects on how AI is reshaping education and why TUMO’s model may be particularly relevant in the post-AI era.#CivilNet #ՍիվիլՆեթ

Claire Mouradian, director of research at the French National Center for Scientific Research in Paris, examines some of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s most controversial statements about Armenia’s history and regional conflicts. She provides historical context on Karabakh, the formation of Azerbaijani identity, and the use of the Armenian Genocide in politics. Mouradian’s insights help separate historical fact from political narrative and better understand the debates shaping Armenia today. 0:00- A historian’s take on contemporary political context 0:57- Pashinyan’s claim that Armenian-Azerbaijani animosity stems from KGB manipulations 3:18- Pashinyan on questioning the use of the Armenian Genocide by the Russians 6:45- Did the Soviets construct the concept of Azerbaijani statehood? 13:21- Reasons behind Aliyev’s use of the “Western Azerbaijan” narrative 19:01- Closest analogies of the Karabakh movement to other liberation struggles 24:00- What kind of damage can political historical revisionism do to a nation? #CivilNet #ՍիվիլՆեթ

Armenia’s domestic political life continues to be dominated by the ruling party’s confrontation with the Church leadership. In its attempt to dethrone Catholicos Garegin II, Prime Minister Pashinyan has adopted a two-fold approach in recent months. On the one hand, he has sought to create cleavages within the Church by finding loyalists willing either to speak out publicly against the Catholicos or to defy his authority by serving liturgies attended by the prime minister. The second element of this approach is the instrumentalization of law-enforcement bodies against Church figures who publicly oppose the prime minister’s policies, as well as the direct intervention of security agencies in the internal procedures and functioning of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

📍 Armenia’s standoff between government and church deepened as Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan unveiled a controversial roadmap to restructure the Apostolic Church. Leading Armenian clerics abroad have expressed solidarity with Catholicos Karekin II, the prime minister’s main target. 📍 Georgia has agreed to provide the first transit of Azerbaijani fuel to Armenia free of charge. 📍 Inside Armenia’s breakthrough moment in global tech- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAlI0sn0XAc#CivilNet #ՍիվիլՆեթ #dailyarmenia

📍 The International Monetary Fund approved a new $175 million credit line for Armenia.📍 The industrial city of Hrazdan was named as the home for Armenia’s first data center.📍 Inside Armenia’s breakthrough moment in global tech: https://shorturl.at/gY2yb#CivilNet #ՍիվիլՆեթ #civilnetbusiness

📍 Armenia’s Prime Minister Pashinyan refuses to attend liturgies that mention Catholicos Karekin II and implies he is a foreign operative. 📍 Armenia’s Justice Minister calls for fewer pre-trial detentions, but critics warn structural judicial practices continue to fuel public distrust. 📍 Armenia’s parliament has advanced a plan for mandatory universal health insurance, despite expert warnings that the system may overwhelm clinics and limit patient choice.📍 “A Winter’s Song”: Armenia’s first Christmas rom-com- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Q5woTLGzM8#CivilNet #ՍիվիլՆեթ #dailyarmenia

This week’s episode of Insights tracks two stories with major implications: Armenia’s global tech developments and civil society engagement with Azerbaijan. Host Eric Hacopian explains why the Firebird supercomputer project’s approval, a new partnership with Dell, and recent high-level Silicon Valley meetings could mark a turning point for Armenia’s economic and security capacity. He also comments on the recent visit of Armenian civil society figures to Baku, questioning the purpose and impact of the trip.#CivilNet #ՍիվիլՆեթ #insightswitherichacopian

📍 Turkey is considering reopening its land border with Armenia within the next six months, Bloomberg reported, citing Armenian-American analyst Richard Giragosian.📍 Billionaire and former lawmaker Gagik Tsarukyan has been charged with violating a court order, allegedly selling off frozen assets.📍 The making of Azerbaijan’s political dynasty: https://youtu.be/OcWbu0HgJJ8?si=vl7BpLbOLIJHx2WL #CivilNet #ՍիվիլՆեթ #dailyarmenia

CivilNet traces the rise and consolidation of Azerbaijan’s ruling dynasty, from Heydar Aliyev’s Soviet-era leadership to Ilham Aliyev’s rule today. Through archival footage, expert commentary, and eyewitness accounts, the film explores how power was passed from father to son, how oil wealth and nationalism sustained the regime, and how dissent was gradually silenced. Two decades after Ilham’s first election, Azerbaijan stands as a state shaped by one family’s pursuit of control, and by the enduring consequences of that legacy.#CivilNet #ՍիվիլՆեթ

📍 Pope Leo XIV’s visit to the Armenian Patriarchate in Istanbul signaled support for Christian unity while subtly reinforcing efforts toward Turkey–Armenia reconciliation.📍 Numerous regional leaders of the Armenian Apostolic Church, including bishops and archbishops, issued a joint statement calling for the resignation of Catholicos Karekin II.📍 A group of activists held a rally in central Yerevan, marching to City Hall to demand urgent action from municipal authorities to address dangerous air pollution levels. 📍 2026 Elections: Who Will Lead Armenia Next?- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iShL4FXjaYk #CivilNet #ՍիվիլՆեթ #dailyarmenia

On November 22, Yerevan hosted the first conference of Armenia’s state administration representatives, an event attended by more than 7,000 state and municipal employees. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan delivered a keynote speech packed with political and ideological messages – many of which are expected to form the backbone of the ruling party’s upcoming electoral campaign. Notably, the event was held on a non-working day (Saturday).The participation of thousands of state employees on a weekend has raised serious concerns about the politicization of the public administration and potential misuse of administrative resources. Ruling party MP Vahagn Aleksanyan denied that employees were pressured to attend but admitted that the internal state communication system “most likely circulated” information about the event.The episode underscores a broader issue: no other political force in Armenia has the capacity to assemble thousands of public employees for a political-leaning event. As the country effectively enters a pre-electoral period, the ruling party’s structural advantages – and its willingness to use them – are becoming more visible.

📍 Armenia’s ambassador to the United States held a series of meetings with senior representatives of major U.S. technology companies, just days after Washington approved the export of advanced chips to Yerevan.📍 Meet the visionaries behind Armenia’s AI supercomputer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5j_x4LHLMpA📍 Armenia would prefer to run the country’s main power distributor as a state-owned company, but could also consider giving control to a foreign buyer if that proves too costly, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said.#CivilNet #ՍիվիլՆեթ #civilnetbusiness

📍 An unconfirmed document published on the ruling party’s website, attributed to 13 bishops, calls for the removal of Catholicos Karekin II. 📍 Turkey’s National Security Council discussed the Armenia–Azerbaijan normalization process and possibility of bilateral cooperation. 📍 Education Minister Zhanna Andreasyan says the new “Real Armenia Aesthetic Localization and Support” concept aims to strengthen national identity and statehood, not impose censorship on cultural matters. #CivilNet #ՍիվիլՆեթ #dailyarmenia

In this episode of the CivilNet podcast, commentator Eric Hacopian surveys the political field ahead of the 2025 Armenian parliamentary elections, which are shaping up to be crowded, uncertain, and highly consequential. He outlines the names currently expected to run and assesses which figures are real contenders versus those who have more visibility than viability. Hacopian also considers the role of foreign influence, what each side must do to win, and the under-discussed issues that could ultimately decide the outcome.#CivilNet #ՍիվիլՆեթ