CIVILNET

A new brand of journalism about Armenia & the Caucasus.
Լրատվության նոր տեսակ` ոչ միայն ԻՆՉ, այլ նաև ԻՆՉՈՒ:

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Armenia’s economy has grown in recent years, but the country still faces major challenges. How can it sustain this growth, attract more investment and make sure ordinary Armenians benefit from economic development?

https://t.co/OSZIHY92oz

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Andrei Kortunov, former academic director of the Russian International Affairs Council; Anatol Lieven of the Quincy Institute; and former Indian ambassador Rakesh Sood discuss the challenges shaping Central Asia’s future.

https://t.co/HUWltqFQLj

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#DailyArmenia
📍 Armenia’s law enforcement has arrested Arsen Gevorgyan, the opposition Strong Armenia party's mayoral candidate in the northern town of Stepanavan.

https://t.co/rXWsbwiM3Q

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Dr. Adil Najam from WWF: “Things Are Not Happening Fast Enough”

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💰 $201 million U.S.-backed fund: Russian-born businessman Konstantin Sokolov heads the Trans-Caspian Enterprise Fund, established to support the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) and wider Trans-Caspian trade.

⚖️ Conflict of interest: Six ethics experts told Reuters that Sokolov’s major business interests in Armenia create a conflict of interest, as his position gives him control over government money that could potentially benefit his companies.

📱 Major investments in Armenia: Sokolov and Chinese businessman Zhe Zhang acquired control of Viva Armenia in January 2024. Earlier this year, Sokolov also purchased Armenia’s second-largest copper and molybdenum mine.

🇺🇸 U.S. authorization for mine acquisition: Sokolov’s company said it received special authorization from the U.S. Treasury Department to purchase the Teghout mine from sanctioned Russian state-owned VTB Bank.

🌍 Expanding regional mandate: Initially presented as the TRIPP+ Enterprise Fund, the investment vehicle now covers eight countries across the South Caucasus and Central Asia, with critical minerals, energy and railway infrastructure among its investment priorities.

🇷🇺 Russian connections under scrutiny: Sokolov’s past business ties to Russia have raised questions among ethics experts. His representatives deny any current ties to the Russian government, while Reuters could not independently confirm that he no longer holds Russian citizenship.

🏛️ Political donations: Sokolov has donated approximately $13 million to Republican political groups. The Washington Post also reported that he contributed $1 million to President Donald Trump’s White House ballroom project.

🔍 No wrongdoing established: The investigation found no indication of wrongdoing by Sokolov. His representatives said the fund is prohibited from investing in his businesses, while the U.S. State Department said it would comply with reporting, auditing and applicable conflict-of-interest requirements.

🔗 Read the full CivilNet article: https://t.co/ppYSiEVsHu

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Dominic Lieven, a historian of Russia, examines how monarchy, social inequality and great-power competition shaped Russia’s history, from imperial expansion to revolution and the Soviet collapse.
The lecture was delivered in Tbilisi on June 30, 2026.
https://t.co/Nt5eu6gD3Y

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Environmental risks at Amulsar ‘very small,’ says minister

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📈 Salary increases of up to 140%: Some of the largest raises would go to senior political and administrative officials, according to a study by economist and former Finance Minister Vache Gabrielyan.

👔 Senior officials benefit most: Some top positions would receive raises of 102%, 117%, 120% or even 140%, while lower- and middle-ranking public employees would generally see smaller percentage increases.

💵 Nearly $97 million annually: The proposed reform could cost Armenia’s state budget an additional 35 billion drams ($97 mn) each year.

⚖️ Public vs. private salaries: Gabrielyan finds that many civil servants already earn more than comparable private-sector employees. The private sector generally pays better only at the highest salary levels.

🏦 Questions over spending efficiency: Under one modeled scenario, roughly half the additional spending could go to positions where public-sector salaries are already competitive with or higher than private-sector pay.

🎯 New performance payments: The reform would cap the bonus fund at 2% of payroll but introduce performance-related supplements of up to 60% of employees’ salaries. The rules for distributing these payments remain unclear.

🔍 Concerns over transparency: The study warns that the reform could increase discretion in salary decisions and weaken existing safeguards, even as it addresses some longstanding problems.

🔗 Read the full CivilNet article: https://t.co/QqO0XDzpqX

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🇪🇺 Zero tariffs for two years: The EU has suspended import duties on goods accounting for around 80% of Armenia’s exports to the bloc. The new regime took effect on October 10, with annual quotas applying to eight agricultural products.
🇷🇺 Russia tightens restrictions: Moscow has imposed new restrictions on Armenian products since May, citing sanitary and other violations. Many in Armenia consider the measures politically motivated, increasing pressure on exporters to find alternative markets.
🚛 Transport barriers: Armenian fish producer Max Fish attempted to reach European markets through Turkey, but unresolved transit permits forced shipments to return.
🐟 Tough European competition: Armenian producers must compete with established exporters such as Norway. Industry representatives see better opportunities in processed fish and other distinctive products.
🍑 Armenian products need recognition: Producers say Armenian dried fruits, preserves and sweets have potential in Europe, but building consumer awareness and stable demand will take years.
📋 EU standards are essential: EU Ambassador Vassilis Maragos says tariff relief alone is insufficient. Exporters must meet European quality and safety standards, ensure reliable supply volumes and establish long-term partnerships.
🏭 Small producers face a scale problem: European buyers often require large, regular shipments. Armenian officials say smaller businesses may need to cooperate or export through larger companies.
⏳ A two-year window, a longer challenge: One producer estimates that establishing substantial exports to Europe could take four to five years, while the EU preferences expire after just two.
🔗 Read the full CivilNet article: https://t.co/edkg8GTxjL

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Foreign leaders arrive in Yerevan for @COP17_Arm2026

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📍 Armenia’s controversial Amulsar gold mine officially launched operations, marking the end to years of delays over the project. It’s expected to generate $120-$130 million per year in taxes
#civilnetbusiness

https://t.co/zLiIFSleiS

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How Armenia can become a model for small countries

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Armenia’s possible choice of Russia to build its next nuclear power plant would raise questions about Yerevan’s stated policy of diversifying away from excessive dependence on any single country, political analyst Alexander Iskandaryan said in a CivilNet interview published on October 15.

Iskandaryan, director of the Caucasus Institute, said Armenia appeared to be seriously considering a new plant built by Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom. He stressed that he had no inside information and was drawing conclusions from public statements by Armenian officials, including Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

If Armenia accepts a Russian proposal, Russia would continue to dominate the country’s energy sector, Iskandaryan said, posing an obvious question about how such a decision would fit with the government’s diversification policy.

Pashinyan’s position on the size of Armenia’s future nuclear plant has shifted in recent weeks. Armenian officials had previously emphasized relatively small generating capacity and considered small modular reactors, or SMRs, among the possible options. But on October 1, Pashinyan said a 1,000-megawatt plant could be the most logical choice because Armenia’s projected electricity needs were growing, including due to artificial intelligence projects.

CivilNet reported that Pashinyan had also said in September that Armenia had never ruled out Russian participation and would select a partner based on price, quality and construction timelines. He argued that diversification should not mean excluding Russia, but avoiding disproportionate dependence on any single country.

Read more on https://t.co/c15YwXERpW

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AI’s Energy Problem and Armenia’s Green Potential

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Honoring the past while shaping the future

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The 2020 War: Who was really behind Azerbaijan?
@molon_labe97

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Will we interact with AI like we do with humans?

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Armenia between Rosatom and Westinghouse
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#insightswitherichacopian

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In today’s episode of Insights, Eric examines Armenia’s nuclear energy plans following a visit to Yerevan by representatives of Rosatom, Russia’s State Atomic Energy Corporation.
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@molon_labe97

https://t.co/fQpGjOTYhn

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Pashinyan wants peace treaty with Azerbaijan ratified before 2031