Armenia: Political debates on investment and EAEU risks

In Armenia, political and legal developments are unfolding regarding economic comparisons and judicial definitions. Armen Hovasapyan, a member of the HHK council, criticized Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s claim that capital investment between 2018 and 2025 has exceeded the peak levels of the Soviet era (1981–1988). Hovasapyan argued that comparing raw investment figures ignores the industrial and scientific infrastructure developed during the 1980s.

Simultaneously, political analyst Armen Baghdasaryan warned that the risks of Armenia exiting the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) will become clearer in the coming months. He noted that potential Russian sanctions, particularly in the energy sector, could severely impact the Armenian economy and increase dependency on Azerbaijan.

On the legal front, the Cassation Court issued a landmark ruling regarding criminal subcultures. The court defined the “thieves' world” as a unified system with its own informal hierarchy and rules, rather than just individual groups. The ruling specifies that law enforcement is not required to prove the existence of this criminal system in every specific case, as its existence is a recognized fact.