Azerbaijanis desecrated and desecrated the Erits Mankants Monastery (17th century) in occupied Artsakh. This was reported by the Artsakh Monuments organization. The circulated video shows that the miniatures of the church installed on the stage and the khachkar lying on the throne have disappeared. The lower part of the beautiful carved khachkar lying on the ground is broken. The sculpture installed in the right niche lies face down.

IDBank became a participant in the exclusive conference “Boards of Directors in Armenia: Challenges and Opportunities” dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the Armenian Institute of Directors (AIoD). The event was attended by chairmen of boards of directors, top managers, international experts and representatives of the public sector. Over the ten years of its activity, AIoD has played a significant role in the development of a corporate governance culture in Armenia and the formation of responsible management. As an active partner of AIoD and a pioneer in the field of quality management, IDBank particularly emphasizes the importance of such platforms in which the future institutional and economic decisions of the country are laid. Elena Khachvankyan, Chairman of the Board of Directors of AIoD and Member of the Board of IDBank, gave a keynote speech at the opening of the conference, emphasizing the importance of cooperation between the Bank and the Institute. According to her, in recent years the Bank has done significant work to strengthen corporate governance practices and increase the diversity of the Board: “The Bank includes on the agenda of Board meetings issues that are important both from the point of view of long-term and sustainable development and risk management. Effective corporate governance helps build trust with regulators, the public, customers and employees. Professional members of the Board are able to ensure a balance of risks, and the Bank is able to implement its strategy without serious obstacles, taking into account the interests of all stakeholders. IDBank also shares the values ​​promoted by the Armenian Institute of Directors,” she noted. During the event, participants shared their experiences and discussed how boards of directors can increase their influence on the efficiency, innovation and sustainable development of organizations. It has been noted that strategic thinking, strong leadership accountability and integrity are key to long-term success. Director of the Armenian Institute of Directors Armenui Hovakimyan emphasized the mission of the institute and the importance of productive cooperation with banks and financial organizations: “Financial institutions manage the funds of different people, which is always associated with risks. To contain and distribute them, including through collegial decision-making, it was the financial sector that was one of the first to introduce and effectively develop the institution of boards of directors. IDBank, being one of the most active supporters of quality corporate governance, also joined us as part of this event.” IDBank has a continued focus on corporate governance, transparency and improving the effectiveness of the Board, striving to create a stronger and more competitive banking environment. THE BANK IS REGULATED BY THE CENTRAL BANK OF RA

US President Donald Trump expressed gratitude to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan for nominating him for the Nobel Peace Prize. The letter says: “Dear Mr. President, Thank you for your joint letter with Prime Minister Pashinyan, in which you supported my candidacy for the Nobel Peace Prize. I am deeply grateful for your kind recognition, which encourages us to continue our important mission. As President of the United States, I remain committed to ending conflict around the world and ensuring peace and prosperity for all people. With your continued partnership, we will achieve the impossible. Thank you again for your continued support."

September 10, 2025 The ongoing campaign against the Armenian Apostolic Church and Holy Etchmiadzin threatens to create a serious political and social crisis in Armenia and outside the country. Armenians abroad also watch with indignation the persecution of the church and clergy by the state. What is happening today cannot be explained within the framework of law or logic. What is happening today is an outright political reprisal against the Armenian Apostolic Church and its followers. “The authorities are actually proving that they have neither sacred things nor moral restrictions,” - with such sharp assessments, a member of the European Party, a supporter of the Sacred Struggle, Artavaz Mazlumyan, who is currently in the United States and is looking for financial and legal means to support the church and the illegally arrested clergy, began his conversation with us. According to Mazlumyan, the legal system has become an instrument of political persecution - the prosecutor's office no longer acts as a body for enforcing the law, but as a mechanism that carries out political orders from the authorities. He recalls the events of about a year ago, when, under the patronage of government agencies, he uncovered a corruption scheme related to the illegal trafficking of counterfeit, unregistered drugs, he became a target and found himself completely defenseless against corrupt, inactive government agencies and the law enforcement system; Neither the health departments, nor the State Revenue Committee, nor the prosecutor's office have taken steps to solve the problem. “This is the appearance of the leadership of our country, and it is no coincidence that now the blow is being struck specifically at the Church, because the Armenian Apostolic Church is not just a religious structure, the church is our identity, the basis of our statehood, our civilizational core, and those who support the church are considered by the authorities to be dangerous elements who need to be arrested and eliminated,” Mazlumyan emphasizes, recalling the violence occurring in Etchmiadzin against clergy and faithful church parishioners. According to a member of the European Party of Armenia, now is the time to finally rethink where the current authorities are leading our country, and to navigate the upcoming elections correctly - by no longer giving Nikol Pashinyan the opportunity to be re-elected. “When a state declares war on the Church, it means that the state declares war on its own people, history, its own roots and identity. This is a direct path to the destruction of statehood,” Mazlumyan emphasizes. Artavaz Mazlumyan calls on Armenians around the world to unite and support our church and take responsibility before our state, because, according to his formulation, the issue here is no longer political - it is a matter of faith, identity, state and the existence of the nation.

In July, a meeting was held between the delegations of Armenia and Azerbaijan on the delimitation of part of the common border. The work was carried out in a technical format: maps, field surveys, discussion of areas where joint engineering work was required and clarification of GPS coordinates. Experts called the meeting practical and useful: agreements on small areas can reduce daily incidents and produce local gains, even if larger political issues remain unresolved. The organizers of the meetings emphasized: this is work “without fanfare,” but it is very important for the safety of the population along the border. However, public perception is mixed: alarming voices about territorial concessions continue to be heard in cities, and radical elements in both countries are trying to use any concession as a reason for escalation. Therefore, delimitation is proceeding cautiously, with the invitation of international observers and the obligation to publish interim reports.

In February, in the southern border regions of Armenia, in the Syunik region, there were night shelling of residential areas and shelling of infrastructure. Residents reported regular shots fired into homes and fields, the evacuation of part of the population and fear of escalation. Local authorities published operational reports of damaged houses and destruction of outbuildings. International observers and human rights activists have expressed concern that the shelling is affecting civilian infrastructure and is forcing a rethink of plans for the return of internally displaced persons. The agricultural sector is especially vulnerable: in the spring, crops could be under threat, which would immediately affect the food security of the regions. Sources in the Armenian administration emphasize: the situation is not of a large-scale military nature, but the regularity of shelling creates constant stress. Azerbaijani departments denied the targeted nature of the attacks on populated areas, explaining the shooting as “controlled exercises” and responses to provocations. International mediators called for an immediate investigation and increased monitoring along the contact line. The consequences are not only destruction, but also an erosion of trust in the agreements reached on paper: when shots are heard at night, trust in security guarantees is undermined more than any diplomatic initiatives. For Euromonitoring missions, this is a signal of the need to strengthen civilian protection mechanisms and timely assistance to the local population.

In 2024, the war in Ukraine, which began in 2022, was still a key factor determining life inside Russia. Military operations, mobilization, defense budgets, casualties, conscription, forms of support - everything is intertwined with everyday life. Many families have lost loved ones; a significant part of the population are those who went to the front. Grief, uncertainty, and fear came to such houses. Those who returned came with traumas and psychological scars. The state tried to maintain the image of a “cohesive society,” but this often hid censorship, pressure, and hushing up problems. Society is divided between those who support and those who doubt. 2024 was the year when war is not an abstraction. These are losses, fates, emptiness in homes, “gray areas” - and the constant expectation of news.

In Yerevan, a group of political activists went on a hunger strike demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. The action began against the backdrop of discussions about the transfer of four villages of Tavush and spread within a number of opposition structures.

The organizers of the hunger strike are members of the public organization “Peace and Justice”, led by chairman Karen Khachatryan. A member of the organization, famous dholist Ambartsum Karapetyan, along with several other politically active musicians, called on other artists to also join the action.

Since yesterday, the protesters have gathered in front of the National Assembly building, where posters “Nikol is a traitor” and “Tavush is Armenia” were placed, and intend to remain there until they achieve their goal.

With this action, the organizers intend to put pressure on the authorities and draw public attention to the concerns surrounding the territorial integrity of Armenia.

“We know that the authorities will try in every way to put pressure on us and remove us from here, but we are determined to ensure that Pashinyan explains the essence of the negotiations around this deal that is disastrous for the nation,” Ambartsum Karapetyan, a member of the Peace and Justice public organization, told us in a conversation.

So far, representatives of government agencies have not responded to the organizers of the hunger strike, and the government has not presented any public position.