Pashinyan has identified two candidates to replace the Catholicos of All Armenians

Armenian media reports that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has identified two potential candidates to replace the current Catholicos of All Armenians. The Zhoghovurd newspaper, citing its own sources, lists Archbishop Terteryan, Primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church in the United States, and Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I, as the main contenders. The newspaper suggests that the government expects loyalty from the future Catholicos, especially given the changing political situation.

Previously, Pashinyan initiated a plan to remove Catholicos Garegin II from office. He also claimed that the Catholicos was planning a military coup in the country. In early July, the head of state publicly appealed to the clergy, demanding that Garegin II be removed from office. The prime minister accused him and the Armenian clergy of working for Russia.

Последние новости
On Putin’s birthday, Kadyrov speaks of the
Politics
On Putin’s birthday, Kadyrov speaks of the "special significance" of his name for Chechnya
7 October 2026

Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov congratulated Vladimir Putin on his birthday and stated that the Russian president's name holds "special significance" for the Chechen people. According to Kadyrov, the region will "never forget" the support Putin extended to his father—Chechnya’s first president, Akhmat-Khadzhi Kadyrov—"at a time when the future of the Chechen Republic depended on the decisions being made."

Russia urged to prosecute those who ordered Anna Politkovskaya’s murder
Human rights
Russia urged to prosecute those who ordered Anna Politkovskaya’s murder
7 October 2026

On the 20th anniversary of the murder of Novaya Gazeta journalist Anna Politkovskaya, representatives of 32 countries called on the Russian authorities to identify everyone involved in the crime and end pressure on independent media.

The statement was issued by the Media Freedom Coalition. It was signed by representatives of the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Canada, Ukraine, Australia, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Chile, Japan, Spain and other countries.

Aliyev: Armenia Must Reveal the Fates of Missing Azerbaijanis
Politics
Aliyev: Armenia Must Reveal the Fates of Missing Azerbaijanis
7 October 2026

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev considers determining the fates of missing persons to be one of the state's most important issues. He stated this in an address to participants of the 4th International Conference on Missing Persons, currently taking place in Baku.

20th Anniversary of Anna Politkovskaya’s Murder: The Person Who Ordered the Crime Remains Unidentified
Human rights
20th Anniversary of Anna Politkovskaya’s Murder: The Person Who Ordered the Crime Remains Unidentified
7 October 2026

October 7 marks the 20th anniversary of the murder of *Novaya Gazeta* journalist Anna Politkovskaya. While the courts have identified the perpetrators and organizers of the crime, the person who ordered the killing has never been named. The statute of limitations for the case expired in 2021—fifteen years after the murder took place.