CIVILNET

Washington Post columnist and bestselling author David Ignatius joins CivilNet for a personal conversation about Ruben Vardanyan — businessman, philanthropist and former Artsakh state minister — who is marking another birthday behind bars in Baku.Ignatius reflects on how the two met, their work together on the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative, and the values that drove Vardanyan to stand with the people of Artsakh during their darkest days. The conversation goes beyond politics, exploring Vardanyan’s vision of Armenian identity, his commitment to humanitarianism, and why Ignatius believes he is "the last person who deserves to be in prison.#civilnet #ՍիվիլՆեթ

As U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio visits Armenia ahead of the country’s parliamentary election, Insights host Eric Hacopian examines the growing internationalization of Armenia’s political landscape. He stresses that Armenia’s democracy was built by the Armenian people and can only be sustained by them. The episode also covers the government's planned May 28 military parade and new allegations linking Samvel Karapetyan to Russian influence operations in the country. #CivilNet #ՍիվիլՆեթ #insightswitherichacopian

Independent journalists from Armenia, Moldova, Ukraine, and Georgia met in Yerevan as part of the Seizing Synergies project by the Network for Border Crossing Journalism, also known as n-ost. The initiative focuses on cross-border collaboration to strengthen reporting and editorial exchange in an era of growing disinformation, political pressure, and shrinking resources.#CivilNet #ՍիվիլՆեթ #SeizingSynergies

📍 Armenia and the United States have initialed a framework agreement on strategic cooperation concerning the “Trump Route” while also signing a rare earths and minerals deal.📍 A total of 61% of Armenians believe the country is heading in the right direction, a survey by the International Republican Institute shows.📍 The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe's election monitoring body has warned that Armenia’s June 7 parliamentary election is going to take place in a highly polarized political environment, shaped by ongoing regional and domestic tensions. #CivilNet #ՍիվիլՆեթ #dailyarmenia

📍 Armenia gains new rail access to Europe via the Akhalkalaki-Kars railway. 📍 A new poll shows 75% of Armenians support the county's possible accession to the European Union, though most still want to maintain friendly relations with Russia as well. 📍 Aliyev once again threatens Armenia with war- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LM5qNcu12oc#CivilNet #ՍիվիլՆեթ #dailyarmenia

📍 Armenia will consider legislation to introduce reverse mortgages for retirees.📍 Armenia approved changes to a law that grants tax breaks to tech companies.📍 Armenia announced plans to develop a new customs center in the Syunik region.#CivilNet #ՍիվիլՆեթ #civilnetbusiness

📍 Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will miss an upcoming Russia-led economic summit as he campaigns for June 7 elections, amid renewed concerns in Moscow over Yerevan’s turn toward Europe. 📍 Armenia is currently hosting the prestigious Concours Mondial de Bruxelles wine competition, welcoming hundreds of wine experts. 📍 Voskevaz Winery and Armenia’s Wine Revolution- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILkLqam97t4#CivilNet #ՍիվիլՆեթ #dailyarmenia

As Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev once again threatens Armenia with war while presenting himself internationally as a supporter of peace, Insights host Eric Hacopian examines why the threat of renewed conflict remains central to Baku’s political strategy. The episode also looks at Armenia’s increasingly volatile election campaign, including allegations of vote buying, intimidation, abuses of state resources, and how political divisions are dominating the campaign environment. #CivilNet #ՍիվիլՆեթ #insightswitherichacopian

📍 A new report by the exiled Russian investigative outlet The Insider has revealed Moscow’s intelligence network in Armenia. Using leaked databases, they published what they describe as proof of opposition leader Samvel Karapetyan’s collusion with Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), the successor to the KGB.📍 Armenia's Investigative Committee has filed criminal charges against Samvel Karapetyan's nephew Narek, who leads Strong Armenia's election list, for allegedly concealing his Russian citizenship – a status that would have barred him from running in the June 7 election.📍 Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has announced that the government would soon seize the Ararat Cement factory, a major employer in the country, from billionaire opposition politician Gagik Tsarukyan.📍 INSIGHTS: How political distraction became campaign strategy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeGQPjDR8NA #CivilNet #ՍիվիլՆեթ #dailyarmenia

With Armenia’s June 7 parliamentary election fast approaching, political commentator Eric Hacopian joins the CivilNet podcast to assess a race that looks markedly different from previous campaigns. The contest is being shaped by unprecedented levels of spending from frontrunners, while smaller parties compete for visibility through social media. Against the backdrop of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s campaign trail outbursts and an increasingly heated political atmosphere, the discussion turns to whether voters are truly limited to choices between the current leadership and the old political establishment. Hacopian argues that viable alternatives do exist if voters know where to look.0:00- May 18 masked men video 1:33- Pashinyan's multiple confrontations on the campaign trail 5:12- Why has civil society been silent? 7:56- Changing styles of campaigning 10:17- What is polling telling us? 15:17- Are there viable alternatives to the main contenders? 18:43- The issue of thresholds 20:42- Half the parties don't have public platforms 21:43- What figures might be shaping politics a decade from now? #CivilNet #ՍիվիլՆեթ