The Armenian government has preliminarily approved an initiative for a new system of mandatory conscription, developed by a ruling party MP and presented by Armenia’s Minister of Defense at a regular cabinet meeting. According to the minister, young men of conscription age can opt out of the two-year military service by paying a sum of […]
Armenia’s defeat in the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war, followed by Azerbaijani offensives on Armenian territory and Nagorno-Karabakh in 2022 and 2023, marked a turning point in the country’s defence strategy. These conflicts exposed critical weaknesses in the Armenian army, which remained largely reliant on outdated Soviet and Russian weaponry. This dependence on Russian arms and logistical […]
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The article by Eduard Arakelyan and Karina Avetisyan, analysts at the Regional Center for Democracy and Security (RCDS), was published in the May issue of European Security & Defence—a leading military publication covering defense policy and strategic security issues in Europe and neighboring regions. In the article, titled “Diversifying Armenia’s defence: Shifting Alliances and military […]
By Aram Tadevosyan The use of divisive and offensive language by political actors is one of the main problems of Armenia’s political culture. Democracy Watch regularly addresses the use of targeted and insulting rhetoric by both the opposition and the government. Debates over any issue often shift to the personal realm, where mutual accusations begin, […]
India and Pakistan Announce Ceasefire After Three Days of Clashes Involving Airstrikes, Precision Weapons, Drones, and Artillery A new wave of escalation began following a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, India, which killed 26 people and injured many civilians. The Pakistan-based Islamist group Lashkar-e-Taiba claimed responsibility for the attack. This incident triggered Indian strikes on terrorist […]
Second President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan, speaking recently to students and faculty at the “Armenian University,” questioned the feasibility of conducting large-scale military reforms and criticized the transition of Armenian artillery to new standards. At first glance, Kocharyan’s criticism of army reforms seems logical. However, his arguments against switching to new artillery calibers bring the […]
In recent years, Azerbaijan has increasingly shifted from a policy of restrained support to active involvement in the affairs of the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), viewing this direction as part of its long-term strategy for regional leadership. Its diplomatic and political efforts regarding the TRNC—the occupied part of the Republic of Cyprus […]
The publication is available only in Armenian.
