The official pre-election campaign for the June 7, 2026, parliamentary elections in Armenia begins on May 8, 2026, 30 days prior to election day, and concludes at midnight on June 6. While the regulated campaign starts then, active campaigning and voter outreach have been ongoing since before that date, as permitted by the Armenian Central Electoral Commission. Nineteen parties have been registered to take part in the upcoming election. The list of the parties vying for power is listed below.
The principal parties vying for power are already known. The question whether the rest of the parties, some with comical names, are vying for power or they are there to disrupt the election process, is anyone’s guess.
Haygaganeh badvagan eh – The Armenian is venerable – is a phrase I have not heard a long while. It was said more in amusement that veneration. That phrase came to my mind as I translated this long list of parties taking part in the upcoming election.
Parties participating in the June 7, 2026
Election in Armenia
1. "Reformists" Party
1. «Ռեֆորմիստներ» կուսակցություն
2. "I am against everyone" Party
2. «Բոլորին դեմ եմ» կուսակցություն
3. "Strong Armenia" Alliance
3 . «Ուժեղ Հայաստան» դաշինք
4. "Meritocracy" Party
4. «Շնորհապետական» կուսակցություն
5. "New Force" Party
5. «Նոր ուժ» կուսակցություն
6. "Wings of Unity" Party
6. «Միասնության թևեր» կուսակցություն
7. "Prosperous Armenia" Party
7. «Բարգավաճ Հայաստան» կուսակցություն
8. "National Democratic Pole" Party
8. «Ազգային ժողովրդավարական բևեռ» կուսակցություն
9. "Kocharian National Revival and Awakening of the Nation" Party
9. «Քոչարի ազգային վերածնունդ և ազգի զարթոնք» կուսակցություն
PM Nikol Pashinyan and Interior Minister Arpine Sargsyan presenting the new passport
On April 28, 2026, PM Nikol Pashinyan and Interior Minister Arpine Sargsyan presented to the public the new Armenian biometric passport. Apparently, the government official who had a significant input in the implementation of the new Armenian biometric passport is Interior Minister Arpine Sargsyan..
I was under the impression that the passport fell under the jurisdiction of the foreign ministry. But apparently, it is under the jurisdiction of Interior Minister Arpine Sargsyan. That may be because the new Armenian passport is not a mere անՑագիր, a document to cross Armenia’s boarder. The passport is also an անՁագիր, a document for personal identification.
The term biometric passport was a new term for me. Obviously, the term is a compound word, consisting of bio (living) and metric (measure). It would not surprise me that sooner than later, features such as voice, eyes, along with fingertips, will part of biometric identification with the standard measures of height, weight, eye and hair color and of course other birth related statistics.
The citizens of Armenia will be required to have biometric identifications starting the end of the year. I am not sure if the requirement is in addition to the biometric passport, or the latter may fulfill the requirement of the law with no other identification card required.
The Government of the Republic of Armenia site, presents a detailed biography of the members of the government. There, it is noted that Arpine Sargsyan is born on April 1, 1994, in Verdi city in Armenia. That makes her a member of the independence generation, those born after September 21, 1991, 36 years ago, when Armenia declared itself free and independent.
Interior Minister Arpine Sargsyan holds a Bachelor and Master of Law degrees, from the Yerevan State University, where she also is continuing her PHD education. She was appointed the Minister of Internal Affair on November 20, 2024. She is non-partisan and has no party affiliation and is married.
It was pleasure for me to hear her presenting the new passport with the PM. Some of the new features of the new passport are there by law to comply with international standard. But the artistry in the passport, in way of choosing historical and cultural milestones, surely was a discretionary decision. It is natural to surmise that the interior minister had a significant input. In the almost an hour long presentation of the new passport, she came across knowledgeable of our history and appreciative of the nuances for presenting the Armenian passport visually focused only on its territory. Much thought had gone into presenting Khor Virab viewed in a way that depicted Armenia. After all it is the Republic of Armenia passport.
Most of these depictions that are presented as illustrated photographs are based on actual photographs. Understandably artistry has played a role in the presentation of some of the photo-illustrations, such as conceptualization of the Erepuni Fortress, the baking of Lavash bread and the pastural scene with some toiling on feudal fields delineated by the border markers of King Ardashes.
The following is also noteworthy. Some of the historical presentations were purposely chosen to depict sites that are not commonly seen and even known, to stir the imagination of the passport holder and to promote sites that are well beyond the regular touristic sitings.
Behind these careful considerations also stood the young Minister of Interior Arpine Sargsyan, inspiring hope the upcoming generation will carve, in that dangerous part of the world, a prosperous Armenia in peace with its neighbors and with itself.
The following are the photo-illustrations in the passport, that follow the listing of the Armenian Alphabet as devised by Saint Mesrob Mashdots.
On April 28, 2026, the PM Nikol Pashinyan and the Interior Minister Arpine Sargsyan presented to the public the new Armenian passport, page by page. Surely, a lot of work has gone into the conceptualization of the passport design. I was under the impression that the passport fell under the jurisdiction of the foreign minister. Apparently, it is the young Interior Minister Arpine who has a significant input in design of the passport, some of which are by law, but some of it is the artistry, in way of imparting Armenian character to the passport by choosing the cultural and historical milestones presented in the passport as illustrated photographs.
“The Government of the Republic of Armenia” site, presents a detailed biography of the members of the government. It is noted that Arpine Sargsyan is born on April 1, 1994, in Verdi city in Armenia. She holds a Bachelor and Masterof Law degrees, from the Yerevan State University, where she also is continuing her PHD education. She was appointed the Minister of Internal Affair on November 20, 2024. She is non-partisan and has no party affiliation and is married. It was pleasure for me to hear comment on the passport, along with the PM. What is noteworthy was the following. Some of the historical presentations were purposely chosen to depict sites that are not commonly seen and even known, to stir the imagination of the passport holder and to promote sites that are well beyond the regular touristic sitings. The other consideration has been to have these illustrations focus on Armenia for the obvious reason that is the Armenian passport.
According to records I jotted down, hearing their presentation, the new passport has 20 photographic illustrations, which are artistic presentations of actual photographs or are basic on actual photographs with artistic rendering. The first illustration is the Armenian Alphabet. Four fortresses and a historical border marking are included among these illustrations. They are the following as they appear in the passport. I have jotted a few words about each one of them I gathered from the Internet.
Erepuni Fortress
Erebuni Fortress (Armenian: Էրեբունի ամրոց) is an Urartian fortified city, located on the Arin Berd hill in modern-day Yerevan, Armenia. Often cited as the "birth certificate" of Yerevan. This 8th-century BC military stronghold served as a major political and administrative center, featuring palaces, temples, and vivid frescoes. In the autumn of 1950, an archaeological expedition led by Konstantine Hovhannisyan discovered an inscription at Arin Berd dedicated to the city's founding, which is depicted in the photographic illustration.
Erepuni Fortress conceptualized with inscription
Historical border marking
The historical border markings are limestone markers by King Artashes I (c. 189–160 BC). They are rectangular shaped boundary stones, often shaped as three-pronged spears, featuring Aramaic inscriptions to define territories of feudal lords in ancient Armenia. Over a dozen found in the Lake Sevan region, they signify the unification of Armenian lands, land reform, and Artashes' legitimacy as the monarch.
Three prongs boarder marking depicting toiling on feudal lands.
Lake Sevan Fortress
The fortress at lake Sevan is Berdkunk Fortress, known as “The Ishkhanats Berd.” It a historic castle in Berdkunk village, standing at an elevation of 1920 meters, dating back over two millennia. Historically, Berdkunk Fortress played a vital role in guarding the southern approach to Lake Sevan serving as a key component of the region’s defense system. The photographic illustrations also show small recreational boats.
Fortress at Lake Sevan with recreational boats on the lake.
Lori Fortress
Lori Fortress (Armenian: Լոռի բերդ), is an 11th-century Armenian fortress located near the Lori Berd village in Lori Province, Armenia. As of 2024 there are restoration works going on to preserve the fortress. It is estimated to be finished after the several years. There were once approximately 10.000 inhabitants living in the fortress Fortress walls. Two bath houses and a civic building which once served as a church are planned to be restored.
Lori Fortress with the triocolor Armenian flag at boarder
Syunik Fortress
The Fortress of Gaban (Kapan) in the Syuni province featured as one of the illustrative images inside the Armenian passport, is Baghaberd (also known as the Fortress of Davit Bek). it is a 4th–12th century Armenian fortress located near Kapan in the Syunik Province. This formerly impregnable stronghold served as the capital of the Kingdom of Syunik. Access to it is reporte dto be challenging and requires a steep hike. It is often described as a "hidden gem". It is reported that there are other historical sites such as Vahanavank Monastery, 6 km away; Halidzor Fortress: 9 km away.
Մեր՝ դպրոցականի օրերուն, անհամբեր կը սպասէինք 24 Ապրիլին, ո՚չ որովհետեւ արձակուրդ էր, այլեւ առիթ էր, - մանաւանդ երկրոդական վերին դասարանի տարիներուն,- մեր ցասումը, խոր ցաւը եւ վրէժի զգացումները դրսեւորելու եւ արտայայտելու։
24-ի ամբողջ շաբաթուան ընթացքին, տան մէջ, դպրոցը կամ նոյնիսկ փողոցը՝ խօսակցութեան նիւթը Հայոց Ցեղասպանութիւնը կ՚ըլլար։
Մենք՝ երիտասարդութեան սեմին կանգնողներս, կը լրջանայինք. մեր միջեւ քէն-քինախնդրութիւն կը դադրէր, մեր դասընկերուհիներուն հետ կը վարուէինք եղբայր-քրոջ նման ( քան թէ...), ուսուցիչներու հանդէպ բացասական մտածումները կը պակսէին:
Ներկայիս՝ երբ 24 Ապրիլը կարգ մը մարդոց կողմէ, - կրօնական եւ կուսակցական - շահարկումի օրուան վերածուած է, յուշ եւ խոկում դարձած են վաճառքի եւ շահու առարկայ, կ՚ուզեմ՝ կը փափաքիմ որ Ապրիլի վերջին շաբաթը վայրկեան առաջ անցնի եւ հեռանայ եւ հասնի Մայիսը, որպէսզի խօսքի վաճառականները լռեն։ ( Ա՚յո, Մայիս ամսուն ալ հռետորաբանութեամբ զբաղողները պիտի շարունակեն իրենց բերնի եւ գրչի աղբը դուրս տալ, այս անգամ «Մայիսեան յաղթանակը» իւրացուցած)։
Յաղթանակը շահոյթի վերածելը նուազ դատապարտելի կը թուայ, քան՝ պարտութիւնը։
***
Պուրճ Համուտի փոքրացած, թւային իմաստով զգալիօրէն նոսրացած հայ համայնքը կը շարունակէ իր գոյութենական պայքարը մղել ի հեճուկս անունով «հայկական» քաղաքապետութեան եւ կուսակցութեան կողմէ « սփիւռքի հզօրացում»-ը ջատագովող մեծխօսիկ խորհրդաժողովներուն եւ յայտարարութիւններուն։
Հայ հաւաքականութեան համար Պուրճ Համուտի ժողովրդագրական կարմիր գիծը շատոնց, - եւ անվերադարձ,- յատուած է։
Հակառակ այս տխուր իրողութեան Պուրճ Համուտցիք կ՚ապրին ու կը գործեն արժանապատիւ կեանքով։
Այս թաղերը բնակող հայուհին, իր բնակած խեղճացած եւ աւերակի տեսք ունեցող բնակարանի մուտքէն երբ դուրս կու գայ, այլեւս տարբեր անձ է կարծէք։ Վերջին ծայր վայելուչ զգեստաւորուած, հիանալի շպարումով, ձեռքին այժմէական թանկ պայուսակ ( շատ հաւանաբար կեղծ վաճառանիշով), ձեռքին Starbucks-ի սուրճի գաւաթ, կը գալէ այնպէ՜ս, ձգելով այն տպաւորութիւնը, որ զբօսաշրջիկ մըն է, կամ Պէյրութի հարուստներու թաղամասէ մը գնումի համար Պուրճ Համուտ հասած ինքնահաճ ու հաւակնոտ օրիորդ/տիկին մը։
Շաբաթավերջերուն, շունի մը վիզին կապուած պարանը բռնած, կը գալէ այնպէ՜ս, կարծէք թէ Փարիզի, Լոնտոնի, Նիւ Եօրքի փողոցներու մշտական հետիոտներէն է։
Պուրճ Համուտցի հայուհին ո՚չ մէկ ձեւով այպանելի է։ Ան ամէն իրաւունք ունի արժանապատիւ եւ մարդավայել կեանք ապրելու՝ մաքուր եւ շքեղ միջավայր, բնակարան եւ թաղամաս ունենալու։
Անարժանը եւ դատապարտելին այն դատարկապորտ, մեծամիտ եւ մեծխօսիկ արարածներն են, որոնք Պուրճ Համուտը մատնեցին այս վիճակին։
***
Հայերու՝ Հայաստանի բնակիչ հայերու եւ սփիւռքահայերու կողմէ աչքերը յառել եւ սեւեռել Հայաստանի հարեւան երկիրներու տարածք՝ նման է դրացիի գեղեցիկ կնկան աչք տնկել եւ անոր շարժումներուն հետեւիլ, որու հետեւանքը լաւ աւարտ չունենար։ Նայողին քիթը-բերանը մէկ կ՚ըլլայ, աչքը տեղէն կը հանուի եւ կը հասնի գերեզման, լաւագոյն պարագային՝ հիւանդանոցի icu ( intensive care unit)
Բարեկամ մը կը պատմէր, թէ Ամերիկայի Նիու Ճըրսի նահանգին մէջ հայկական ՝ Սուրբ Խաչ եկեղեցիի հիմնարկէքին համար դիմում կը կատարէ Թուրքիոյ հիւպատոսին, թէ արդեօք կարելի՞ է Աղթամարի Ս. Խաչ եկեղեցիի շրջակայքէն քիչ մը հող բերել։
Հիւպատոսին պատասխանը կ՚ըլլայ.
— Եթէ ձեր միջոցներով տոպրակ մը կամ աւելի հող բերէք, ազատ էք, ո՚չ մէկ արգելք կամ անպատեհութիւն։ Սակայն եթէ Թրքական կառավարութենէն հող պահանջէք,- ի՜նչ ալ ըլլայ առիթը ,- ձեզի ոչ իսկ հիւլէ մը հող կը տրուի։
Արարատ շաբաթերթը, Ապրիլ 23, եւ Ապրիլ 30, 2026,յաջորդական թիւեորւն մէջ՝ զետեղած էր, Յարութիւն Իսկահատեանէն յօդուած մը Անդրանիկ Չելեպեանին մասին։ Ներփակ կցած եմ յօդուածաշարքը։ Վահէ Յ Աբէլեան
Left: The Armenian Alphabets Right: Top to Botton: Khor Virab, Etchmiadzin, Baling Lavash Bread
Armenia is launching new brick red-colored, high-security biometric passports this year which will meet the requirements for international standards. The biometric passport is designed to reflect Armenian identity by depicting historic and cultural milestones.
The visual depictions on each page are actual photographs presented as a drawing, commonly referred to as a photo-drawing or a photo-illustration. The photographs are presented as drawn lines, sketches, to artisticize the original photo.
Yesterday the PM Nikol Pashinyan met the interior minister Arpine Sargsyan and both presented to the public the new red brick colored passport, which is also a veritable pictorial depiction of Armenian identity shaped throughout its history and culture.
The first pictorial presentation is the Armenian Alphabet.
The Armenian alphabet was created in 405 AD by the scholar-monk Mesrop Mashtots. It was designed to bolster Christian faith among the Armenians in their own language, following Armenia’s 301 AD conversion to Christianity. It consisted of 36 phonetic letters. It is said that it started with the letter A (Ա) to depict the first letter of the word Asdvads - ԱՍՏՈՒԱԾ – God in Armenian. The seventh letter was purposely set to be E (Է), which is seen high on the altar of the Armenian Apostolic churches representing divinity. Mesrob Mashots’s alphabet ended with Ք, for the Armenian word Christ, Քրիստոս. Three more letters were added centuries later.
The 36 letters of the Armenian alphabet in the passport are noted in the same order but with different sizes. The page also contains the first biblical passage, tradition claims, Mesrob Mashdots and his companion translators, translated from the bible as their first translation onto their own Armenian language, henceforth written. The passage is the second verse of Proverb 1 that reads: "To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding" (King James Version). In Armenian - Ճանաչել զիմաստութիւն եւ զխրատ, իմանալ զբանս հանճարոյ. It is claimed that King Solomon, son of King David, in his old age wrote the Proverbs and the Ecclesiastes.
PM Nikol Pashinyan and the Interior Minister Arpine Sargsyan
Upon the request of the Minister of Interior Affair, Arpine Sargsyan, the PM elaborated on the letters that were depicted in larger size. These letters he said were picked to signify the direction Armenia is pursuing.
These letters are the following and according to the PM they were picked to represent the following words.
Ա, representing the Armenian words forFREEDOM, Azadoutyun- Ազատութիւն, and the Armenian word INDEPENDENCE, Angakhoutyoun-Անկախութիւն.
Ե, representing the Armenian word for HAPPINESS, Yerchangoutyoun – Երջանկութիւն.
Է,as tradition claims, the Armenian letter Է pronounced "eh" is the seventh letter of the alphabet, representing, the Divine ("I Am"), God. As noted earlier the letter stands placed high on the altar of the Armenian Apostolic church.
Ժ, representing the Armenian word for PEOPLE, Joghovourt – ժողովուրդ.
Ի,representing the Armenian word for SOVEREIGNTY, Inkneshkhanoutyoun – Ինքնիշխանութիւն.
Խ, representing word for PEACE, Khaghaghoutyoun – Խաղաղութիւն.
Կ,representing for LIFE Gyank – կեանք .
Հ, representing ARMENIA, Haiastan -Հայաստան.
Ջ,representing the Armenian word for WATER, djour – Ջուր.
Մ, representing the Armenian word for HUMAN BEING, mart, - Մարդ.
Ո,representing the Armenian word ՕՐԷՆՔ, law, given the letter Օ, was added much later.
Պ,representing the Armenian word for STATE, Bedoutyoun – Պետութիւն
Ս, representing the Armenian word for LOVE, Sehr – Սէր։
Ք, representing the Armenian word for CHRIST, Kristos-Քրիստոս։
This passport is a well-studied booklet. The total illustrations in the passport are the following: The map of Armenia, where Yerevan is noted in Armenian, the Armenian Alphabet, Erepouni – Yerevan Fortress, King Ardashes inscribed border stones, Etchmiadzin, President’s seat, the Government Building, the National Assembly Building, tje Cascade, Mount Arakats with its four peaks of, Khor Virab, Lavash Bread baking, Lake Sevan, Temple of Garni, Fortress at Lori, Gyumri, Fortress at Gaban in Syunik province, historical bridge at Tavoush province, the Fall at Jermoug in the Vayots Tsor, and finally the map of Armenia where Yerevan is written in Latin Characters.
The passport is a treasure trove of what makes the holder a proud citizen of Armenia in peace with its neighbors. I hope that the un-officialized passport booklet may be purchased for keepsake. I think every Armenian should have one, should it become available as a keepsake.
At the intersection of Weygand and Allenby streets in down town Beirut, I used to see an Armenian blind man, with his wife by his side, weaving straw chair seats. Today I read Silva Iskiian Mahserejian's (Սիլվա Իսկիկեան-Մահսէրէճեան) account of her friend Sonig's parental family. She had posted, her beautifully narrated in first person, heartwarming story in the April 24, 2026 issue of Aztag Daily, titling it Blind Love (Կոյր Սէրը). But for my translation, I chose to include instead a sentence from her text.Vaհe H Apelian
I do not consent marrying my daughter to a sightless man. It is impossible…
– Father, I liked Garabed and love him, and am willing to marry him. Yes, he is blind, but I believe that eyes are not necessary to love. The heart is enough.
I am Sonig (Սոնիկ), the daughter of the sightless Garabed Bekjijian (Կարապետ Պեքճիճեան) and the kind-hearted Louisa Gitzinian (Լուիզա Կիտցինեան). I believe that my mother’s insistence on marrying my father was the result of divine intervention. I summon as a witness our peaceful and harmonious family nest, which was endowed with the constant presence and blessing of God.
The joy and peace of our home had aroused the curiosity and the “envy” of our neighbor, Tamam Nene (Grandma Tamam). One day she had turned to my father and aked: “Garabed, what is your secret? There are five of you in the house, and I have never heard a single sound of a commotion or a quarrel, while in our house, there are two of us and we fight all the time, and our voices are carried throughout the world.”
My father was the most beloved and precious being in the world to me. Resting my head on his chest and feeling the caress of his gentle fingers was an indescribable pleasure. Singing and music were my father’s inseparable companions. He would slide the bow on his violin and fill the atmosphere of our house with sweet-sounding music and songs. I would watch the expressions on his face, the rising and falling of his eyelashes and eyelids with admiration, feeling the bright and kind world behind his closed eyes.
My father was not blind from birth. He told me that he had enjoyed a happy childhood in the beautiful nature of his birthplace, Behesnil (Պէհէսնիլ). He loved collecting colorful flowers and would pin a flower in each button-hole of his shirt, then go home and dedicate the flowers he had collected to his dear mother. My father’s happiness turned to tragedy when, in 1915, at the age of eight, he lost his family members in the horrors of deportation and, left alone and homeless, found himself among a group of many orphans.
The orphanage in the village of Ghazir in Lebanon became my father’s second “home.” The conditions in the orphanage were pitiful. My father often attempted satisfy his hunger by eating the grass from the surrounding forests. Diseases struck and spread in the orphanage. Many of the poor orphans, including my father, lost the light in one or both eyes. Others lost their hearing, and some became immobile and disabled.
My father, despite the misfortunes he experienced, never became bitter about life and fate. On the contrary, he was a surprisingly content, kind, positive-minded, hard-working, and cheerful man. I do not remember him complaining or grumbling. He even kept secret from us what he had seen and experienced during the days of the Genocide, so as not to disturb our childish souls. Only some of his notes and admonitions at the dinner table revealed the hunger and deprivation he experienced.
– My children, do not complain about the type of food, do not complain about the quality of the bread. Always give glory to God and taste what your mother cooked with love. I have often missed bread and survived on forest grasses.
My father did not tolerate the idea of skipping meals. He would give us the fresh, warm and crisp loaves, while he ate the old dry pieces of bread. He would not allow us to start our meal without praying. For my father, the dinner table was sacred and a gift from God.
My father learned to weave baskets and household furniture with straw threads in the Ghazir orphanage. This was a special craft for the blind, through which they had to work and make a livelihood. After the Ghazir orphanage, my father, confident in his craft and the ability to keep a home, moved to the Sis neighborhood of Beirut. He married my loving mother, Louisa, and by the grace of God, the Bekjijian family was blessed with three children: a boy and two daughters.
I consider the sweetest period of my life to be the period when my father worked in the home for the blind near our house. Every morning at half past six, my mother would accompany him there, and at noon it was my duty to accompany my father to our house. I preferred to go to the home for the blind immediately after breakfast and spend time with the elderly and blind people there, my father’s spiritual brothers and sisters. The atmosphere there was both mysterious and dear to me. I enjoyed listening to the performances of the blind choir on holidays, in which my father stood out with his sweet tenor voice and violin playing. I was very impressed by the songs Joy to the World (Ծափ, Ծափ, Աշխարհ), Silent Night (Լուռ Գիշեր), and Cilicia (Կիլիկեա).
I loved ringing the brass bell calling for dinner in the home for the blind, then sitting down to dinner with the elderly and blind people and tasting the dishes prepared by Mrs. Gulizar and her daughter.
There was a jasmine tree in the courtyard of the orphanage, from which I would gather the fallen flowers and, attaching them to a needle and thread, make fragrant necklaces for my “aunts and uncles.” I would be very happy when I saw a smile on their frowning faces. A smile was a rare occurrence in those days, and for my young soul, it was the best reward.
Today, when I look back at my father and his extended family, I realize that blindness was not their only pain. Later, I learned that they were also survivors and had “tasted” the grim reality of our history, witnessing the bitter images of the Genocide, traversing the terrifying paths of deportation, overcoming post-genocide epidemics and the struggle for survival, facing the countless challenges of new worlds.
I feel contentment when I recall my warm connection, respect, and care for our blind and elderly survivors. I probably inherited that trait from my mother’s lineage. I bow to the memory of my sweet mother, recalling her kind words. "Father, eyes are not needed to love, The heart is enough."
