301🇦🇲

As an independent media outlet, the 301 team only recognizes and uses one map when reporting on Armenian news and that is the map of Armenia and Artsakh regardless of occupation status.

Metropolitan Nikoloz Pachuashvili of the Georgian Orthodox Church said that Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II will be unable to attend the funeral of Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II due to a travel ban, despite receiving an official invitation. Speaking to Georgia’s First Channel, Pachuashvili stated that Karekin II is not being permitted to leave Armenia as a result of the restriction. Ilia II died on March 17. His funeral is scheduled for March 22. The travel ban on Karekin II has reportedly been in place since February 14, against the backdrop of attacks by Nikol Pashinyan.

Aram Manukian re-established Armenian statehood. Without him, 1918 could have ended in oblivion. Not symbolism, reality. March 19 marks his birthday. A reminder that the First Republic was not gifted, but seized from chaos. As empires collapsed and Ottoman forces advanced on Yerevan, Manukian organized defense, unified scattered forces, and held the line when collapse was imminent. Sardarapat was not luck. It was a decision to fight, and that victory in May 1918 created the space for independence. He then governed under conditions most states would not survive: famine, refugees, and constant threat. There was no room for theory, only survival, structure, and action. He pushed for international recognition of the Armenian Genocide while laying the foundations of a democratic state. His time was short. His impact was lasting. His legacy is not in statues, but in the very existence of Armenia as a state when everything suggested it would not survive. We remember because forgetting costs sovereignty. Artsakh proved that. The struggle did not end in 1920. It continues.

A commemorative evening marking the 60th anniversary of writer and First Artsakh War participant Davit Sarapyan (Dev) was held at the Metro Theater in Yerevan. The event was organized by the “Davit Sarapyan” initiative through the efforts of writer and Sarapyan’s biographer, Evelina Melkumyan. Students from Secondary School No. 100, named after Davit Sarapyan, as well as a class bearing his name at John Kirakosyan Secondary School, performed musical and dance pieces and presented excerpts from Sarapyan’s literary works. Renowned singers Davit and Armine Amalyan, along with the Shushan Petrosyan, also performed during the evening. Manvel Serobyan, Chief of Staff of the “Tigran Mets” volunteer regiment and a reserve colonel, shared personal memories of Sarapyan. He noted that Sarapyan joined Leonid Azgaldyan’s “Independence Army” in 1990, later becoming part of the “Tigran Mets” volunteer unit, and continued his military service until December 10, 1991, when he was killed in action during the battles for the village of Todan in Artsakh’s Shahumyan region. At the conclusion of the event, teachers of the class named after Sarapyan were awarded symbolic cups by Evelina Melkumyan and the “Davit Sarapyan” initiative in recognition of their efforts to preserve his memory. 301 photojournalist: David Ghahramanyan

A final “peace agreement” between Armenia and Azerbaijan remains out of reach, according to the U.S. intelligence community’s latest annual threat assessment, despite recent diplomatic momentum. The report identifies persistent disagreements between the two sides, even after the August 8 summit produced a preliminary framework and plans to reopen regional transport links. Central to this proposal is a U.S.-backed route connecting Azerbaijan to its exclave of Nakhijevan through southern Armenia, which Washington views as a mechanism to increase regional trade and stability. At the same time, the assessment explicitly states that key conditions for a deal remain unresolved. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev continues to demand that Armenia amend its constitution to remove language he claims implies territorial claims over Artsakh, a step that would require a national referendum in Armenia, “the passage of which is not guaranteed.” This underscores both the political risk and uncertainty surrounding one of the core sticking points in the negotiations, despite a recent decline in ceasefire violations and limited confidence-building measures. Yet this framing diverges sharply from how the issue is being presented domestically. Speaking at a press conference today, Nikol Pashinyan described constitutional changes as an internal matter, effectively downplaying their role within the negotiation process: “The issue of the Declaration of Independence and our Constitution is our internal matter, part of our domestic agenda. It is necessary in order to properly position ourselves in the world. The Declaration of Independence is a declaration of conflict, and as a result, a declaration of dependence. In the near future, I may also demonstrate this through a textual analysis.” The gap between these positions highlights a central tension in the process: whether constitutional changes are being pursued as independent domestic reforms, or in practice align with longstanding Azerbaijani preconditions for a final agreement.

Through our song, Artsakh lives. Through our memory, we breathe with it. Through our longing, we remain unbroken. Through our struggle, we will return. Artsakh is our heart, our breath, our home.

Disclaimer: The audio in this clip was edited by the artist. While the notes correspond to Aram Khachaturian’s piece, the sound was most likely added later in a studio, as indicated by the clear presence of a piano in the recording.

A powerful moment of art and resilience. Lebanese cellist Mahdi Sahely performs Armenian composer Aram Khachaturian’s Andantino amid the ruins of southern Beirut—where music rises above destruction, and culture endures even in the aftermath.

On December 11, 2025, the Council of Europe’s Platform for the Protection of Journalism and Safety of Journalists issued an alert regarding the detention of journalists Narek Samsonyan and Vazgen Saghatelyan in Armenia. The alert was classified as Level 1—the most serious category—indicating a severe interference with media freedom. The Platform called on the Armenian government to: · Clarify the legal basis for applying hooliganism charges and for any alleged “threats” forming part of the case. · Reassess the legality and necessity of the detention of Saghatelyan and Samsonyan, with a view to ensuring their release in line with the ECHR. · Explain the seizure of Antifake.am’s journalistic equipment and return the equipment. - Provide updates on the criminal proceedings and the conditions of detention. The Armenian government was given a three-month deadline—until March 11 of this year—to submit а response. ❗According to the information on the Platform’s website, the deadline is missed and no reply has been received from the Armenian government to date. Platform's full statement fom.coe.int/en/alerte/deta… ACPR's statement on the new political persecution against Antifake.am's team drive.google.com/file/d/1b-kuEp…

A criminal case has been initiated against Hraparak daily’s editor, Armine Ohanyan, on suspicion of making public calls to violently seize power. Ohanyan, a vocal critic of Nikol Pashinyan and his government, was summoned to the Investigative Committee as a witness without prior clarification of the grounds. It was later revealed that the questioning relates to an editorial she authored approximately one year ago. The case has been opened under Article 422, the same provision previously used against Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan and businessman Samvel Karapetyan. Its repeated use in such cases raises questions about a broader pattern in how this article is being applied. Despite the editorial having been published around a year ago, Ohanyan was only recently notified of the proceedings. The delayed timing points to selective activation of the case rather than a standard legal process. Ohanyan stated that she refused to testify, invoking her constitutional right, and confirmed that she signed a non-disclosure agreement due to the secrecy of the preliminary investigation. The situation is further complicated by personal and political connections. Ohanyan is the former mother-in-law of Alen Simonyan, a member of Pashinyan’s party and Speaker of the National Assembly. In July 2025, Simonyan’s spokesperson confirmed that he and Ohanyan’s daughter had applied for divorce. Simonyan has also previously stated that it was Ohanyan who introduced him to Nikol Pashinyan. These developments come amid a pre-election period in Armenia, during which Pashinyan’s government has increasingly targeted opposition figures and critical voices. Taken together, the delayed timing, the selective application of charges, and the individuals involved suggest what appears to be politically motivated action by Nikol Pashinyan and his government rather than a routine legal process, raising concerns about pressure on critical media.

The friendly match between the United Arab Emirates and Armenia has been canceled, the Football Federation of Armenia (FFA) announced. In a statement, the FFA cited the “tense and unstable situation in the Middle East” as the reason for canceling the match, which had been scheduled for March 26. At the same time, the federation confirmed that Armenia’s friendly match against Belarus will go ahead as planned on March 29 at 18:00 at Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium in Yerevan. Ticket sales and media accreditation for the Armenia–Belarus match will open on March 19 at 11:00, the statement added.

His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, on behalf of the Supreme Spiritual Council of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church, the Brotherhood of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, and the faithful people, has sent a message of condolence on the passing of His Holiness Ilia II, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia. “The long years of pastoral service of His Holiness Ilia II, Catholicos-Patriarch, stood as a testament to steadfast faith and devoted spiritual leadership. His patriarchate was marked by a revival of spiritual life in Georgia, as well as the strengthening and revitalization of church life. In difficult times, the ever-memorable Patriarch guided his faithful flock with paternal wisdom and love, steadfastly preserving the mission of the Georgian Holy Church,” the Catholicos of All Armenians stated in his message of condolence. The Supreme Patriarch prayed for the comfort of the Almighty Lord for the clergy of the Georgian Orthodox Church and the grieving Georgian people, wishing that the memory of His Holiness may always remain bright in the hearts of his faithful children and serve as a source of inspiration for future generations.

The Committee for the Defense of the Fundamental Rights of the People of Artsakh, in cooperation with the Switzerland–Armenia Association, has filed a formal complaint in Switzerland against SOCAR Trading SA over its alleged role in enabling grave human rights violations. The complaint was submitted to the Swiss National Contact Point (SECO) under the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. The filing alleges that SOCAR Trading failed to meet international standards of responsible business conduct by financially supporting a state widely accused of ethnic cleansing against the Armenian population of Artsakh. According to the complainants, the company’s activities strengthened Azerbaijan’s economic capacity, triggering an obligation to conduct human rights due diligence. SOCAR Trading, a Switzerland-based subsidiary of Azerbaijan’s state oil company SOCAR, is a key channel of the country’s energy revenues. Following the September 2023 military offensive, around 150,000 Armenians were forcibly displaced from Artsakh, ending their centuries-old presence in the region. Karnig Kerkonian, an international lawyer and Committee member, described the displacement as one of the gravest humanitarian crises in the South Caucasus in recent decades, stressing that companies financially linked to such actions cannot ignore their obligations. At a press conference in Geneva, the complainants noted that both chambers of the Swiss Federal Assembly had mandated a peace forum between representatives of Azerbaijan and the people of Artsakh one year ago. The forum has yet to take place, and they called on Swiss authorities to act and play a more active role in advancing a just and lasting peace. Committee representatives are also participating in the current session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, raising concerns over the continued detention of Armenian prisoners in Baku, Azerbaijan’s non-compliance with the International Court of Justice’s November 17, 2023 order, and the destruction of Armenian cultural and religious heritage in Artsakh. The next steps will depend on the Swiss authorities’ review of the complaint and any subsequent action.

Archbishop Mikayel Ajapahyan, Primate of the Shirak Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church and a political prisoner, will remain under house arrest. The Criminal Court of Appeal rejected the defense’s motion to lift the preventive measure, despite arguments presented by both the defense and members of the faithful, who maintain that his detention infringes upon the community’s religious rights. At the same time, the court upheld the house arrest while allowing Ajapahyan to attend Sunday liturgies and receive Holy Communion, but prohibited him from officiating services. Ajapahyan has been deprived of liberty since June 28, 2025, and has been under house arrest since February 6. He was sentenced to two years in prison, a ruling that the defense and a number of legal experts describe as politically motivated. The case has also been brought before the European Court of Human Rights, citing unlawful detention and violations of fundamental rights.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran reserves the right to strike any country that allows its territory to be used by the United States or Israel for attacks against Iran, during a phone call with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov. According to the statement, Araghchi emphasized that under international law, no state has the right to provide its territory or facilities to other countries for the purpose of carrying out aggressive actions against a third country.

Tomorrow, March 18, a press conference on Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) and regional security will be held at the Geneva Press Club on the sidelines of the 61st session of the UN Human Rights Council, bringing together human rights advocates from Switzerland and abroad. The event is organized by Christian Solidarity International, l’Association Suisse Arménie, the Armenian Legal Defense Front, and the Committee for the Defense of the Fundamental Rights of the People of Nagorno Karabakh. Speakers include Karnig Kerkonian of the Armenian Legal Defense Front, Sarkis Shahinian of l’Association Suisse Arménie, and Joel Veldkamp of Christian Solidarity International. Participants will discuss the implementation of a Swiss parliamentary mandate adopted a year ago, which calls on the government to organize a peace forum aimed at facilitating the return of displaced Armenians to Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh). Organizers say the initiative has gained urgency amid renewed concerns over regional instability, including tensions involving Iran. Speakers are also expected to announce a new initiative seeking to hold Azerbaijan’s state oil company, SOCAR, accountable for alleged involvement in actions related to the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh. The event will take place at the Geneva Press Club in Pregny-Chambésy.

Pashinyan’s government and members of the ruling Civil Contract party have published multiple pieces of content featuring school-aged children in videos, photos, and public appearances that include elements commonly associated with political or campaign messaging. On March 13, content from Meghri showed children being transported by bus and filmed as part of an organized activity. On March 16, Civil Contract MP Sona Ghazaryan shared photos from Vayots Dzor that included children present during what appears to be campaign-related engagement. In a separate case, Nikol Pashinyan shared a video featuring children singing along to music associated with his “Varchaband,” accompanied by messaging that resembles what is expected to be the party’s slogan for the upcoming elections. These instances span multiple dates, locations, and officials. Under Article 14, Clause 3 of Armenia’s Law on Advertising, “the use of minors’ images, whether audiovisual or in any other form, in advertising is prohibited, unless it pertains to products intended for minors.” The materials in question are not related to goods or services intended for children. If such content is classified as promotional or campaign-related, the use of minors may fall under the scope of this restriction. Regarding timing, Central Electoral Commission Chairman Vahagn Hovakimyan has stated that campaigning itself is not restricted prior to the official campaign period, with legal limitations applying only once the official campaign begins. No public clarification has been issued by Pashinyan’s government regarding how the inclusion of children in these materials aligns with existing legislation.

@CSI_humanrights @kerkonian

Representatives of Christian Solidarity International (CSI) raised concerns at the United Nations on Monday over the displacement of Armenians from Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), bringing renewed attention to the issue of return rights in international forums. CSI said it submitted a report to the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights as part of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Azerbaijan, a process through which the human rights records of U.N. member states are assessed. In its submission, the organization stated that more than 120,000 ethnic Armenians were displaced in September 2023, when Azerbaijan took control of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh). It accused Baku of failing to comply with orders issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which called for measures to ensure the safe, voluntary, and unimpeded return of displaced persons. The report also cited alleged destruction of Armenian homes and cultural and religious heritage sites, and called on the U.N. Human Rights Council to appoint a special rapporteur to monitor developments related to the displaced population. The presentation at the United Nations proceeded despite objections from Azerbaijan, as well as criticism from Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, underscoring the political sensitivities surrounding the issue. Separately, Karnig Kerkonian said the right of return for displaced Armenians from Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) remains a matter of international law and should not be subject to political negotiation. He argued that the right belongs to the displaced population itself rather than any government, including Armenia, which has received many of those displaced. Kerkonian added that neither Armenia nor Azerbaijan has the authority to relinquish or override that right on behalf of the affected population. According to Kerkonian, preserving the right of return within international legal and diplomatic frameworks is essential to achieving a durable resolution. He said that any lasting peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan would need to address the issue, alongside guarantees of security, protection, and fundamental rights for those displaced. The status of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) and the future of its displaced Armenian population remain central issues in relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan following the events of 2023. The matter continues to be discussed in international forums, including the U.N. Human Rights Council.

A meeting of Armenia’s Security Council, chaired by Nikol Pashinyan, focused on regional developments, his office said. The session was attended by President Vahagn Khachaturyan, National Assembly Speaker Alen Simonyan, and other senior officials. Participants discussed the regional situation and ongoing developments, according to Press Secretary Nazeli Baghdasaryan.

The preventive measure imposed on Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan, Primate of the Aragatsotn Diocese and a political prisoner, has been changed, with house arrest replaced by administrative supervision and restrictions on his freedom of movement. Under the court’s decision, he is prohibited from communicating with participants in the case, as well as with clergy of the Aragatsotn Diocese, and from visiting the diocesan residence, effectively limiting his ability to carry out his ecclesiastical duties. Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan had been in detention since October 16, 2025, before being transferred to house arrest. He was charged with allegedly obstructing the exercise of electoral rights through the use of his official position, one of several cases brought against clergy in recent months. He is the nephew of Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II. His case comes amid a broader campaign by Pashinyan’s government targeting the Armenian Apostolic Church, including public attacks on its leadership, calls for the removal of the Catholicos, pressure on clergy, and criminal proceedings against multiple church figures. More than two dozen political prisoners are reported in this context, including senior members of the clergy, as tensions between the state and the Church continue to escalate.