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An Armenian Story Reaches the British Royal Family

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By Wally Sarkeesian

Sometimes history appears in the most unexpected places.

The recent engagement of Samuel Chatto, the grandson of Princess Margaret and great-nephew of King Charles III, to British-Armenian artist Eleanor Ekserdjian is more than just another royal engagement. For Armenians around the world, it is also a reminder that our heritage continues to inspire and flourish across generations and borders.

Eleanor Ekserdjian has never hidden her Armenian roots. Instead, she has embraced them through her work as an artist and filmmaker. After visiting Armenia, she created works inspired by the country’s landscapes, history, and culture. Her exhibition, We Are Our Mountains, carries the name of one of the most recognizable symbols of Armenian identity and reflects themes of memory, homeland, and the enduring spirit of the Armenian people.

In a world where Armenian history is too often overlooked, it is encouraging to see a young artist proudly celebrating her heritage through creativity rather than politics. Her work reminds us that identity is preserved not only by governments and institutions, but also by artists, writers, musicians, and ordinary families who pass their traditions from one generation to the next.

The engagement has also drawn attention for another reason. Samuel Chatto, himself a ceramic artist, proposed with a porcelain engagement ring that he crafted by hand. In an age of luxury brands and extravagance, the handmade ring symbolizes something far more meaningful: love, dedication, and personal craftsmanship

For Armenians everywhere, this happy occasion is worth celebrating. Eleanor Ekserdjian represents a generation that carries Armenian culture into the future with confidence, talent, and pride. Her success demonstrates that Armenian heritage continues to enrich the cultural life of the world while remaining deeply connected to its roots.

We wish Samuel Chatto and Eleanor Ekserdjian a lifetime of happiness, health, and success as they begin this new chapter together. May their future be filled with love, creativity, and the same appreciation for history and culture that has already brought so much beauty to their work.

Congratulations to the happy couple!

Editor’s Note: Eleanor Ekserdjian is a British-Armenian artist whose work has explored Armenian history, culture, and identity. We congratulate the happy couple and wish them every happiness in their future together.

Pashinyan & Company, greedy, evil, all-hating & all-powerful people clinging to their chairs…

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A group of greedy, evil, all-hating, and all-powerful people clinging to their chairs…

Picture by Wally SArkeesian

Picture by Wally Sarkeesian

Every normal person should be able to accept their failures and defeats. If you don’t accept them, but instead try to constantly inspire and convince people that you did everything right, that defeat is a victory, handing over the country to the enemy is a great success, denying your own history is a manifestation of courage, the result will be what we have in Armenia today…

Chaos, confusion, an upside-down reality… a group of greedy, evil, all-hating and all-powerful people clinging to their chairs… a confused society that doesn’t know what is good and what is bad, what to believe in, what to fear, whom to love and whom to hate…

From the moment he took office in 2018, Nikol Pashinyan began to make mistakes. At first, they were not big, they were not systematic, they were not noticeable to everyone. But they gradually grew, became terrible, turned into a real disaster and a big monstrous program…

When the time came for a great “defeat” and global failures, instead of admitting that he had completely failed, and the country was already losing, so it was time to leave, he put into practice the skills of a great manipulator, PR guy and began to convince (fool) the public that it was not a defeat, that failures were successes, that sovereignty was built at the cost of victims and losses…

Then he announced that the losses were actually achievements: “we lost Artsakh, we found Armenia”, besides, “how was Artsakh Armenian?” Then he tried to present the transfer of lands from Artsakh and Armenia as an inevitable regularity. Then he got entangled in the nonsense and lies he had told. We hand over one thing, so that there will be no war, so that there will be peace, and we hand over another, so that they will also be our

Source: Hraparak Daily”

Why Diaspora Armenian Must Begin Discussing a Government in Exile?

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By Wally Sarkeesian

The idea of an Armenian government in exile is not new. It has been discussed by many people over the years. The question is whether the Armenian nation has the will and the infrastructure to make such an idea meaningful if circumstances ever require it.

After the Armenian Genocide, Armenians throughout the diaspora built churches, schools, cultural organizations, charities, and community institutions. But we always looked to the Republic of Armenia as our homeland and the center of our national life. That is natural. The challenge is that we never developed enough independent, global infrastructure that could continue to represent Armenian national interests if the government in Yerevan failed to do so.

My greatest concern is that a nation should never become completely dependent on a single government or a single political leader. If the future of an entire nation can be altered by the decisions of one individual, then that nation has a structural weakness that must be addressed.

It should never take just one person to place an entire nation at risk. Whether that person comes to power through elections or any other means, no country’s institutions should be so fragile that one leader can fundamentally reshape its destiny. Our national institutions must be strong enough to protect Armenia regardless of who occupies the prime minister’s office.

Individuals can easily be corrupted or influenced by foreign governments – especially hostile ones. For years, Turkey and Azerbaijan have actively worked to recruit people who can advance their agendas. While we cannot be 100% certain, Prime Minister Pashinyan’s actions strongly suggest this kind of influence. Over the past eight years, he has systematically dismantled Armenia’s position in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), undermined the constitution, and weakened key state institutions. This pattern is extremely dangerous.

No country should depend so heavily on a single leader. People are also highly susceptible to being brainwashed, turning political support into something resembling a cult of personality. This makes the situation even riskier.

That is why Armenian urgently needs an independent structure – such as an Armenian Government in Exile—to monitor developments inside the country, continue diplomatic and lobbying efforts, and serve as a safeguard for national interests.

Foreign governments, particularly adversaries, invest billions in intelligence operations whose primary task is to identify, recruit, and influence key figures. It should therefore come as no surprise if Pashinyan has been compromised by Turkey. His policies -ceding Artsakh, dismantling constitutional protections, building a massive loyal police force, and bringing the Constitutional Court under his direct control – have left him with almost unlimited power and no real institutional checks. Judges appear unable or unwilling to stand against him.

Arthur Khachikian holds a Ph.D. in International Relations from Stanford University. His dissertation and research focused on great power politics and intervention in the international system as well as international history

In such circumstances, Armenia cannot rely solely on internal mechanisms. An independent outside organization is essential to protect the state and its future.

That is why some people discuss the concept of a government in exile – not necessarily as a replacement for Armenia, but as a potential institution to preserve national interests, advocate internationally, and coordinate the diaspora during times of crisis.

Of course, this would require enormous effort. It would need capable leadership, financial support, legal expertise, and, perhaps most importantly, a country willing to host such an institution. Without those elements, it would remain only an idea.

Most importantly, it would require dedicated people willing to devote years of their lives to building institutions instead of simply reacting to events. In my experience, I’ve often seen remarkable dedication from Armenian women in community organizations. They frequently become the people who keep institutions running and get things done. Ultimately, however, success would require the commitment and cooperation of both women and men.

These are questions worth discussing now, because if a nation waits until a crisis has fully unfolded, the opportunity to prepare may already have passed.

Israel recognized Armenian Genocide, Pashinyan in Panic

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By Wally Sarkeesian

Breaking News: Nikol Pashinyan / Նիկոլ Փաշինյան in Panic

Israel’s reported move toward official recognition of the Armenian Genocide has sparked significant discussion. If the Knesset ultimately approves such recognition, it would mark an important development in Israeli-Armenian relations.

Today, the major Turkish newspapers are framing Israel’s move in noticeably different ways depending on their editorial stance.

Hürriyet Daily News (mainstream)

Hürriyet presents the story largely as a diplomatic development. It reports that Israel’s cabinet has approved a proposal to recognize the Armenian Genocide and emphasizes that the move still requires approval by the Knesset. The paper also reiterates Turkey’s longstanding position that the 1915 events occurred during wartime and should not be classified as genocide.

Sabah (pro-government)

Sabah’s coverage focuses on the geopolitical angle. It portrays Israel’s initiative as a political response to deteriorating Israel-Turkey relations rather than a new historical assessment. The paper argues that Israel avoided recognition for decades when relations with Ankara were good and is now using the issue as diplomatic leverage.

Yeni Şafak (strongly pro-government)

Yeni Şafak has taken the strongest line. Its commentary argues that Israel is “politicizing history” and using the Armenian issue to pressure Turkey. Articles also link the move to current tensions over Gaza and broader regional rivalries rather than focusing on the historical debate itself.

Cumhuriyet (opposition, secular)

Cumhuriyet’s reporting is generally more analytical and less nationalistic. While it notes the diplomatic implications for Turkey, it tends to devote more attention to Israel’s political calculations and the historical significance of the decision than pro-government newspapers. It does not abandon Turkey’s official position, but its tone is less confrontational.

Sözcü (opposition nationalist)

Sözcü has emphasized the foreign-policy consequences for Turkey and criticized Israel’s timing. Like most Turkish newspapers, it questions why Israel chose to pursue recognition now after decades of refraining from doing so, suggesting the decision is closely tied to the current breakdown in bilateral relations.

Common themes across most Turkish media

Despite their political differences, several themes appear consistently:

  • The move is presented as a consequence of the collapse in Israel-Turkey relations.
  • Israel is accused of using the issue for political or diplomatic purposes.
  • Turkey’s official position—that the 1915 events do not constitute genocide—is restated.
  • Many outlets warn that recognition could further damage relations between Ankara and Jerusalem.

Pashinyan Toys: Some of the weapons on display turned out not to be weapons at all

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Today, a festive military parade dedicated to the 108th anniversary of the First Republic took place in Yerevan’s Republic Square. As part of the parade, 3 cannon shots were fired, and the RA Armed Forces aviation also flew.

It seems that Nikol Pashinyan had planned this parade for political purposes for a long time, in order to use it for his own political PR exactly ten days before the elections.

Former ambassador and politician Edgar Ghazaryan also went to Republic Square for the parade. Speaking to us about the parade, he shared his impressions: “We will discuss the parameters and quality of the weapons that were shown in more detail later, military experts should talk about this in particular. Some of the weapons shown there, it turned out, are not weapons at all. For example, the French “Bastion” armored personnel carrier is an ordinary passenger car for transporting military personnel. It cannot be presented as a weapon. Or the robot dogs that were shown looked like toys, I have a hard time imagining what combat tasks they can solve. What are they useful for and why were they created, or, let’s say, they bought guns, I wonder if they were also able to buy shells or not, because I have information that India cannot sell Indian artillery, shells, because they do not have such a right. This is reminiscent of the story of the same SUs, which could not be used in practice. As surprising as it may seem, the SUs that were purchased before the 44-day war were also displayed at the military parade, but they were not suitable for solving combat problems. It was a pointless display of toys. The interesting thing was that a person who committed a crime during military service reported to someone who did not serve in the army about the military parade.

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The Imperative of Preserving the Statehood of Artsakh:

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By Aram Mkrtchyan

The Imperative of Preserving Artsakh’s Statehood: Reaffirming Hereditary Rights and Historical-Legal Foundations Since May 2025,

the Republic of Artsakh has been functioning de jure without an elected president. The institution of the President serves as the primary legal guarantor of statehood, constitutional order, and the inalienable rights of the people. Today, the issue of restoring and exercising Artsakh’s legal-political subjectivity and hereditary rights has once again returned to the forefront of the political agenda. As a reminder, the office of the President of the Republic of Artsakh has remained vacant since May 2025, following the end of Samvel Shahramanyan’s term in office. Since then, the Chairman of the National Assembly, Ashot Danielyan, has also been performing the duties of the President of the Republic of Artsakh. Currently, the National Assembly of the Republic of Artsakh aims to initiate a new presidential election process. According to reliable sources, the most likely and viable candidate at this moment is Anastas Israelyan, the founder of the “Reviving Artsakh” movement. He is one of those exceptional figures who returned to the homeland as early as 2020, unconditionally dedicating his entire work and potential to resolving the challenges facing Artsakh’s statehood,

preserving its Armenian identity, and protecting national interests. We view this step by the National Assembly to elect a president as a crucial milestone in preserving the de jure statehood structures of Artsakh, reaffirming its historical heritage, and continuing the subsequent legal struggle in international tribunals. The preservation of Artsakh’s subjectivity today relies not only on the principles of modern international law but also on centuries-old, well-established hereditary rights. The historical, economic, and legal heritage of the Armenians of Artsakh is not a recent phenomenon; it has been recognized and respected for centuries by the major powers of the region:

The Persian and Ottoman Empires: Since the Middle Ages, special decrees (firmans) by Persian Shahs and Ottoman legal acts officially recognized the sovereignty of the Armenian Melikdoms (principalities) of Artsakh and their hereditary rights to their lands. The Russian Empire: Through the 1813 Treaty of Gulistan and subsequent Russian imperial legal acts, Russia likewise reaffirmed the legitimacy and hereditary rights of the Armenian population over their domains in Artsakh. Based on the legal foundations and historical documents of these three empires, an area of 4,161 square kilometers—including all its subsoil, natural resources, and material-cultural values—was recognized as the inalienable heritage of the Armenians of Artsakh. This signifies that the right to these territories belongs exclusively to the Armenian people of Artsakh by historical succession, and no political or military occupation can nullify this de jure right. The public-legal governance system of Artsakh has deep historical roots, and the modern institution of the presidency has evolved along the following steady path: Early 1990s: Dictated by wartime conditions, the country was governed by the Supreme Council and the State Defense Committee (SDC). 1994: The presidential system of governance was introduced as the next logical step toward strengthening independent statehood.

Robert Kocharyan was elected as the first President. Subsequent Years: Through democratic nationwide elections, the institution of the presidency (under Arkadi Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, and Arayik Harutyunyan) became the cornerstone of Artsakh’s sovereignty and a legitimate body for engaging with the outside world. International facts also bear witness to this legitimacy: OSCE Minsk Group: The co-chairing countries (USA, Russia, and France) consistently took into account the elected authorities of Artsakh across various de facto and legal platforms, viewing Artsakh as a subject of the conflict. Recognition by US States: Around ten states of the United States of America (including California, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, and others) have adopted official resolutions recognizing the independence of the Republic of Artsakh and its people’s right to self-determination. We call upon the authorities of the Republic of Artsakh to act strictly within the framework of law and to derive all future steps and political actions solely from the historical and inalienable hereditary rights of the Armenian people of Artsakh. This is the only path to preserving the legal foundations of statehood and preventing the final loss of Artsakh’s subjectivity. United Armenian Senate A. Mkrtchyan

If Pashinyan is re-elected, Armenia will become a “gubernia” of several countries

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Russian President Vladimir Putin also touched upon relations with Armenia during his speech on May 9, Victory Day in the Patriotic War.

Putin suggested holding a rally to find out whether the Armenian people want to join the European Union or stay in the Eurasian Economic Union, and if it turns out that the Armenian people want to join the EU, they will offer a civilized “de-escalation” option.

Political scientist Stepan Danielyan, referring to Putin’s statement, notes that the Russian president hinted that they could leave the region and that it should be the decision of the Armenian people. However, to understand what will follow, one does not need to go far, one simply needs to look at history. “Who will fill the geopolitically empty region? We just need to remember what happened before the Russians came.

Since the 16th century, the current territory of Armenia and Azerbaijan has been a place of competition between the Ottoman Empire and Persia, and the main wars were fought for the Yerevan fortress, which was built for this very purpose. The main victims and material for the deportations in those wars were Armenians. This will happen again, and for the West, Armenians will share the fate of the Kurds, who are used and exploited, exploited and exploited,” Danielyan notes.

Political scientist Hakob Badalyan also believes that Putin’s statements mean one thing: Nikol Pashinyan will pay a very high price to Russia for his re-election, but at the expense of Armenia. “Putin makes these harsh statements publicly for two reasons, firstly, to raise the price when he sees that other power centers have also set a high price and come after it. The second reason is so that the Armenian public can also “witness” this process. The purpose of this is probably so that Nikol Pashinyan does not have a large field for informational and propaganda manipulation later. At the same time, with these statements, the Russian president, on the one hand, raising the price and on the other hand, reducing Pashinyan’s field of maneuver, simultaneously gives him “carte blanche” to play the anti-Russian component of the pre-election campaign, Badalyan emphasizes.

The political scientist warns that with such developments, if Nikol Pashinyan retains his power after the 2026 parliamentary elections, it will turn Armenia into a “gubernia” and not only of Russia, but also of the USA, Europe, Turkey, China, Iran, that is, Armenia will become a country where decisions will be made by a number of strong players, with all the consequences arising from this: intersecting interests, conflicting interests, etc.

“When holding power becomes an end in itself, in a state like Armenia, the fate I mentioned above becomes inevitable for the state. And in order not to turn Armenia into a “gubernia” or a “geopolitical consortium”, Armenia needs at least a change of government, based on which a qualitative change in the situation will also occur. The electoral process is an opportunity to do this, which can be unforgivable to miss. I repeat, there is absolutely no emotional component here. This is the political situation from which they are trying to divert public attention with emotional-declarative rhetoric about sovereignty, “real Armenia”, “peace”, etc.,” emphasized Hakob Badalyan.

You can read the full article at this address: https://hraparak.am/am/post/4fef2d74288a64ba58a34728d0c66899?fbclid=IwY2xjawRvS6pleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETF5dW9OS08zTVRNc1ZPN2pyc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHq-_3F3wBvjLtFQMrQXUDYwkOAkzKKoPI71rZuBOxA-7FxmzOEXaXEDBxM4X_aem_duvT4IlsZDA4MMgpNxp3yw

© 2008 – 2026 “Hraparak Daily”

Mr. Karapetyan laid out the failures he inherited from the current government-and presented a clear, decisive plan

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By Wally Sarkeesian

We are taking on a great responsibility.

We must work together to ensure the continued development of our country. But before we speak about development, let us clearly define what we have inherited from the previous incompetent authorities.

We have inherited:
a lost second homeland.
Occupied territories within the sovereign borders of Armenia by Azerbaijan.
The consequences of a bloody war, with severe human and territorial losses.

We have inherited a failure in foreign policy—
because of speaking to our key allies in the language of blackmail,
we have lost their trust.

Today, Armenia has become a center of geopolitical conflict.

We have inherited:
our best compatriots imprisoned in Baku.

In the economy, we have inherited:
a collapsed system,
21% poverty,
a society drowning in debt,
and a national debt approaching $15 billion.

The potential of the diaspora has been pushed out of Armenia’s economic life.
Domestic investors have become completely indifferent due to pressure from law enforcement bodies.

But we are here to change this reality.

What are we going to do?

First, we will work 24 hours a day.
We will build a united and strong society.
We will restore the role and place of the Church in our national life.

Justice, rule of law, and humanity will become the foundation of our state.

And as we promised,
we will deliver real, guaranteed peace.
I personally guarantee it.

Now, I would like to give the floor to Narek Karapetyan, who will present our economic plans.

Thank you.

Our next steps are clear.

Within the next two weeks, a law will be submitted to the National Assembly that will exempt small businesses from turnover tax.
This will create at least 50,000 new jobs over the next five years.

At the same time, we aim to create up to 300,000 jobs for our people.

Second,
we will create competitive economic conditions for both medium and large businesses, making Armenia one of the most attractive countries in the region for investment.

We will implement programs to:
develop local production,
reduce imports,
and strengthen domestic manufacturing.

To rebuild Armenia, we need major foreign investments,
and we will ensure their rapid inflow in a very short time.

In the coming meetings, we will present new economic development programs,
which, in my view, will be revolutionary for Armenia.

Anna Hakobyan Join Pashinyan, holding a motorcade rally sign of desperation…

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Do you know why he is holding a motorcade? Because he does not dare to hold a rally.

He has no hope that at least a more-or-less crowded rally will turn out. And forming a column of 10-20-30 cars is not difficult, and that column already gives the impression of being crowded… well, and the people hidden in the cars are both providing a service to the authorities and not very visible to others.

Don’t be surprised if some of those people also appear at the opposition rallies tomorrow. And don’t forget that at this stage of the “life-or-death” struggle, they have put all their administrative resources into action – with community leaders, law enforcement officers… and even “heavy artillery” – Anna joined her ex-husband today… perhaps the situation is really difficult – the last bullets are being fired.

Do you know why in recent years he has been organizing shows, governors, Jennifer Lopez, concerts, New Year’s celebrations, and today there will be another concert in Gyumri… so that people tired of the stress and psychological terror he has caused himself can involuntarily participate in them to relieve themselves a little and pretend that this is his electorate, that so many people accept and elect him…

And the meaning of these titanic efforts and cunning is one thing: to inspire the public that they have already “carried” the defeat of all normal Armenians in the June 7 elections…

But people should clearly realize that if this time he managed to deceive, fool the public and repeat the history of 21, in one of his next speeches he will already explain why Armenians do not have the right to have a state and how he himself made the choice between “saving” the lives of 2 million people and becoming a province of Azerbaijan, and what a great “courage” he is to demonstrate in making that difficult decision, and some mentally retarded people will propose to erect his statue in Republic Square…

Pashinyan’s dirty election games have just started.

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Source Hraparak Daily,

Since early morning, the head of state has been sending another order to the heavy artillery of the CP via WhatsApp. This time, the order was to maximally discredit the two women of the “Strong Armenia” party who were detained yesterday and to create an atmosphere of fear. The notorious CP members, without waiting for each other, go live and post in the style of “we will put everyone in jail”, “catch them, they are rigging the election”.

Members of the same force that have repeatedly falsified and distorted similar recordings are now using the recording, which does not contain any criminally punishable elements, as a banner to try to convince the public that Gohar Ghumashyan, who has a newborn child, rigged the election and let the country down.

Social Minister Arsen Torosyan convinces live that Pashinyan is not providing individual assistance to people who approach him, but is solving systemic problems, but he does not mention how finding a person a good job can be a solution to a systemic problem. We all remember how Pashinyan instructed the young man who approached him to find a “good job.”

MP, head of the CP faction Hayk Kojoryan is predicting that the opposition will shoot several more protesters in the street next or sacrifice the state, forgetting to mention that the only force that has sacrificed the Armenian state to date is their CP.

Ruben Rubinyan warns people associated with “Strong Armenia” that they will be arrested, regardless of gender, age, and whether they have a newborn, if they decide that they have distributed electoral bribes. Even though there was no mention of bribery in the recording they attached.

The heaviest “artilleryman”, Arayik Harutyunyan, also believes that the purpose of the joint opposition rally is to exert pressure so that the opposition is not arrested on charges of electoral bribery. This person is either fooling us or himself. In his opinion, is there no other reason to hold a rally against the government that has brought the country to this state?

It is clear that the reason for this CP “rally” is the fear of the rally announced by Ishkhan Saghatelyan last night. The large number of people at the previous rally suggests that the next one may be more influential and the CP leader is terrified of it.