Azerbaijan has violated the OSCE commitment by holding large-scale military drills without informing in advance, Armenian foreign ministry spokeswoman Anna Naghdalyan said during today’s press briefing.

Shortly after Arsenal confirmed the team won’t be taking Henrikh Mkhitaryan with them for the Europa League final in Baku, the Armenian international himself commented on the matter, expressing disappointment.

Armenian international, midfielder of Arsenal FC will not go to Baku for the Europa League Final where the Gunners face Chelsea.

“Listen, Armenians in Karabakh and Armenia are defending the territory that they want to keep under their control. On the one hand, when Pashinyan issued an order and dismissed the Minister of Defense of Karabakh from office, that was interference with the domestic affairs of Karabakh. On the other hand, Pashinyan states that Karabakh is a separate territory.

“Political stakeholders must refrain from actions and statements that could be perceived as exerting pressure on the judiciary,” said the co-rapporteurs of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) for the monitoring of Armenia, Yuliya Lovochkina (Ukraine, SOC) and Andrej Šircelj (Slovenia, EPP/CD), following the statement by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan calling on citizens to block the entrances and exits of courts, on 19 May. This call followed a judge’s decision to release former President Kocharyan from pre-trial detention.

Ardshinbank has launched savings account, allowing customers to put money into an interest-bearing account. Savings account can be opened in Armenian drams, interests are paid in case of minimum AMD 50,000 deposit. Interest rates on savings accounts, which are paid on a monthly basis, currently stand at 6 – 9,5% AIR, depending on the deposit term. The longer the deposit term and the higher the deposit amount, the higher the interest rate.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan attaches importance to the constant communication of scientific and expert community with the government.

The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs – Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, Stéphane Visconti of France, and Andrew Schofer of the United States of America, will visit the region in late May, Armenian foreign ministry spokeswoman Anna Naghdalyan told reporters during today’s press briefing.

Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi will visit Armenia May 25-26.

Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs Zohrab Mnatsakanyan will participate in the Foreign Ministerial Council Meeting of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) that will take place in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.