The statement issued by the Ministry of Defence of Azerbaijan, claiming that on April 2, between 1:55 p.m. and 2:05 p.m., the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia opened fire on Azerbaijani combat positions in the southeastern section of the border, does not correspond to reality.

On April 2, the President of Artsakh, Samvel Shahramanyan, accompanied by several members of the National Assembly of Artsakh, visited the Yerablur Military Pantheon. They laid flowers at the graves of fallen soldiers. On April 2, 2016, Azerbaijan launched large-scale military operations in the direction of Artsakh. The fighting lasted for four days, resulting in 93 casualties on the Armenian side, with the opposing side suffering greater losses.

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Today marks the 9th anniversary of the April Four-Day War. The courage and sacrifice of the heroes at the legendary 116th position in Martakert, who stood fearlessly in defense of their homeland, remain a lasting source of inspiration for future generations. Eternal glory to all Armenian servicemen and volunteers who fought and gave their lives in all four Artsakh Wars, defending Artsakh and Armenia with unwavering devotion.

During the April War in 2016, on April 2, Azerbaijani saboteurs bypassed Armenian positions and infiltrated Talish village in Martakert, where they tortured and killed 3 elderly civilians. Soon after, Artsakh Defense Army special forces discovered and eliminated Azerbaijanis. https://t.co/p1Lm6cIoV7

On the night of April 1 to 2, 2016, Azerbaijan launched a large-scale offensive along the entire line of contact with Artsakh. The fiercest clashes occurred in the regions of Hadrut and Martakert. During the assault, Azerbaijani forces employed a range of heavy-caliber weaponry, including helicopters and drones. Under the leadership of then Presidents Serzh Sargsyan and Bako Sahakyan, alongside Defense Minister Levon Mnatsakanyan, the Armenian forces mounted a valiant defense, ultimately repelling the offensive and forcing the Azerbaijani troops to retreat. After suffering heavy losses, Azerbaijan appealed to Russia to mediate a ceasefire, which was brokered just four days later, on April 5. The Armenian side endured the loss of 75 servicemen, with an additional 120 wounded. Although Azerbaijan concealed the extent of its casualties, independent estimates placed their losses at over 1,000 servicemen, along with tens of millions of dollars in destroyed equipment. This defeat was particularly humiliating for Azerbaijan, especially in light of its prior aggressive rhetoric. Eternal glory to the Armenian heroes who gave their lives in defense of the homeland.

His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, has appealed to the President of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, to address key humanitarian and cultural concerns related to the Armenian people during his upcoming visit to Baku. During President Steinmeier’s visit to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, His Holiness raised the urgent need to advocate for the just rights of the people of Artsakh, the immediate release of Armenian hostages held in Azerbaijan, and the preservation of Armenian spiritual and cultural heritage in the region. The meeting between Catholicos Karekin II and President Steinmeier, accompanied by the First Lady of Germany, took place as part of the German president’s official visit to Armenia.

Pope Francis to Canonize Armenian Genocide Martyr Blessed Ignatius Maloyan By the decision of Pope Francis, Blessed Ignatius Maloyan, a martyr of the Armenian Genocide, will be canonized, according to the Vatican’s official news site. Blessed Ignatius Maloyan was born on April 19, 1869, in the city of Mardin. At the age of 14, he joined the clerical community of the Monastery of Bzommar in Lebanon and was ordained in 1896, receiving the name Ignatius. In 1910, he was appointed Archbishop of Mardin for the Armenian Catholic Church. During the Armenian Genocide in 1915, Maloyan and hundreds of Armenian Christians were arrested by Ottoman authorities. Despite brutal torture, he refused to convert to Islam or renounce his faith. On June 11, 1915, he was executed along with over 400 members of his community. Witnesses recounted that before his death, he forgave his persecutors and proclaimed, “I have full confidence in God; I am innocent.” Maloyan was beatified by Pope John Paul II on October 7, 2001, recognizing his martyrdom in odium fidei — in hatred of the faith. His upcoming canonization marks a significant moment for the Armenian Catholic Church and the global Armenian community, honoring his enduring legacy of faith, courage, and sacrifice.

The Anti-Corruption Court has decided to extend the house arrest of Armen Ashotyan, vice-president of the Republican Party of Armenia and political prisoner, by another 3 months. The case was examined under the presidency of Judge Vahe Dolmazian. At the same time, the court ruled that Ashotyan may receive visits from members of the Republican Party at his house. Armen Ashotyan was arrested on June 16, 2023, and on September 10, 2024, the court changed his preventive measure to house arrest.

The statement issued by the Ministry of Defence of Azerbaijan, alleging that units of the Armenian Armed Forces opened fire on Azerbaijani combat positions in the eastern and southeastern sectors of the border between 5:00 p.m. on March 31 and 4:45 a.m. on April 1, does not correspond to reality.

German President Removes Artsakh Flag Post After Azerbaijani Backlash During his visit to Yerevan on March 30, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier posted a photo featuring the Artsakh flag, highlighting the region’s historical Armenian population. The post sparked immediate backlash from Azerbaijan, which summoned the German ambassador in protest. Shortly after, the post was removed from Steinmeier’s social media.

The Ministry of Defense of Armenia has once again denied allegations made by Azerbaijan, marking the second such denial issued today. According to a statement released by the Armenian side, claims by Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Defense that Armenian armed forces opened fire toward Azerbaijani positions in the southeastern section of the border around 11:10 a.m. on March 31 are false and do not reflect reality.

Martun Grigoryan, the mayoral candidate of the “Our City” alliance in Gyumri, has reaffirmed his stance on the ruling Civil Contract party. “Dear citizens of Gyumri, I once again confirm what I’ve said before: Civil Contract will not have a mayor in Gyumri—that is certain,” Grigoryan stated. However, he did not clarify whether he is considering potential cooperation with Vardan Ghukasyan. Notably, both the “Mother Armenia” alliance and the “My Strong Community” party had previously announced their support for Ghukasyan’s candidacy.

Four years ago, on March 31, 2021, Arkady Ter-Tadevosyan, a great son and warrior of the Armenian people, passed away. Throughout his life, Komandos demonstrated an outstanding model of how Armenians should serve their nation. Eternal memory Hero. https://t.co/3ZW30FfzyE

As part of his regional visit to Armenia, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has shared a photo on his official social media platforms featuring the flag of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh). In the accompanying caption, the German leader addressed the issue of the Armenian population of the region. President Steinmeier noted that Artsakh was predominantly inhabited by Armenians, drawing attention to the ongoing humanitarian and political concerns surrounding the displaced Armenian population of Artsakh.

Forcibly displaced residents of Artsakh gathered today in front of Government Building No. 3 in Yerevan, staging a protest to defend their rights and demand the reinstatement of a key social assistance program. The demonstrators expressed strong opposition to the suspension of the “40+10” support scheme, a financial aid package that has provided vital assistance to families displaced from Artsakh.

BREAKING: The Armenian Ministry of Defense reported that on March 31, at around 12:50 AM, Azerbaijani forces opened fire on the village of Khnatsakh in Syunik Province. As a result of the shelling, a residential house was damaged. Fortunately, there were no casualties. Notably, the Armenian Defense Ministry had previously denied reports of shelling in Armenian villages, despite numerous accounts from local residents and media coverage. The Ministry also denied a statement by Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Defense, which alleged that between 10:30 PM on March 30 and 4:35 AM on March 31, Armenian units had opened fire on Azerbaijani positions along the eastern and southeastern sections of the border. The Armenian side dismissed this claim as false.

Dear Gyumri Residents, Thank you for standing by my side during this crucial period. Your support means the world to me, and every vote I received from you is invaluable. As the mayoral candidate of the “My Strong Community” party in Gyumri’s municipal elections, I hereby declare: I am ready, alongside our elected council members, to vote—without any preconditions or aspirations for office—for the opposition candidate Vardan Ghukasyan, who received the most votes from Gyumri residents. This is in line with the commitment I made when I entered the race: if not elected, I would support the opposition candidate who secured the most votes. I take pride in having played a role in ensuring that this disastrous ruling force did not win in Gyumri. I firmly believe that their downfall has begun. Wishing wisdom to us all and a bright morning for my beloved city. Ruben Mkhitaryan

BREAKING: Vote Count Completed in Gyumri: Opposition Leads with 50.36%. The vote count has concluded in Gyumri. According to preliminary results, opposition forces collectively secured 50.36% of the vote, while the ruling Civil Contract party received 36.39%. Based on early figures, the Gyumri municipal council seats are expected to be distributed as follows: • Sarik Minasyan (Civil Contract Party) – 14 seats • Vardan Ghukasyan (Armenian Communist Party) – 8 seats • Martun Grigoryan (Our City Alliance) – 6 seats • Ruben Mkhitaryan (My Strong Community Party) – 3 seats • Karen Simonyan (Mother Armenia Alliance) – 2 seats Compared to previous elections, voter turnout in Gyumri was significantly higher. A total of 47,454 citizens with voting rights participated, accounting for 42.66% of eligible voters. Independent observation missions reported numerous serious violations during the election process. During the vote count, an entire section of the city experienced a power outage. Several individuals were detained, including opposition council candidates and local residents — among them elderly women.

In the 2025 local elections, the opposition “Unity” alliance won in Parakar, defeating the ruling Civil Contract party. Preliminary results show Unity’s candidate, Volodya Grigoryan, receiving about 58% of the vote. Voter turnout was 55%, indicating strong public engagement. The victory was met with celebrations in the community, including fireworks and street gatherings. Final results are expected by March 31.