168 Hours sat down for an interview with Vice-Rector of MGIMO University (Moscow State Institute of International Relations) for Research, Doctor of Historical Sciences, historian and political scientist Evgeny Kozhokin.

The Artsakh’s military has commenced command-staff exercises on June 17, the country’s defense ministry reported. It said the drills have been initiated “in accordance with the 2019 training plan of the Artsakh Armed Forces”.

After the organizational changes, Business Armenia Foundation continuous its activities without the participation of the Government and direct financing of the state budget.

 Mayor of the French city of Bourg-lès-Valence Marlène Mourier announced that she is going to appeal the decision of the administrative court on cancelling the friendship declaration signed with Mayor of Shushi of Artsakh Artsvik Sargsyan in October 2014.  

Deputy Commander of Artsakh’s Defense Army Major General Vardan Balayan has retired.

Mayor of the French city of Arnouville Pascal Doll announced his plan to appeal the French court’s decision to cancel the Declaration of Friendship signed between Arnouville and Shekher town of Artsakh.

Former lawmaker Manvel Grigoryan, currently jailed in pre-trial detention on charges of embezzlement and grand theft, has again been taken to a civilian hospital in Yerevan.

Defense Minister Davit Tonoyan has visited a military base of the Armenian Armed Forces today, spokesperson Artsrun Hovhannisyan said on Facebook, without elaborating the location.

Over the past couple of months, the rhetoric about the Artsakh issue, particularly the rhetoric of Armenia’s pro-government personalities and media outlets has sharply changed, and this unequivocally sparks serious concerns. They regularly make calls and accusatory statements that will lead to a deadlock.

Armenia Airways has launched the Yerevan-Tehran roundtrip regular flights, with the maiden flight taking place today on June 15th.