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Regional Center for Democracy and Security

An independent think tank in Armenia that informs policymakers and the public about regional developments, Armenia’s foreign policy, security environment, and democratic trajectory, fostering evidence-based research and collaboration.

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Latest RCDS news and events

RCDS Discussion: Results and Challenges of Housing Programs for People Forcibly Displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh

On August 20, the Regional Center for Democracy and Security held a discussion on the interim results of housing programs for persons forcibly displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh. The speakers were Gayane Gharagyozyan, an adviser coordinating specific functions within the structural subdivisions of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, and lawyer Anush Shahramanyan. The discussion was […]

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RCDS Public Discussion: “Armenia’s Democratic Trajectory After the Elections.”

On July 31, the Regional Center for Democracy and Security (RCDS) hosted a public discussion titled “Armenia’s Democratic Trajectory After the Elections.” The discussion brought together RCDS Director Tigran Grigoryan, CivilNet Editor-in-Chief Karen Harutyunyan, and Narek Sukiasyan, a researcher at the Center for Civilization and Cultural Studies. The discussion was moderated by RCDS expert Hayk […]

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RCDS Calls on International Partners to Impose Visa Restrictions on Individuals Promoting Hate Speech Against Nagorno-Karabakh Refugees

On July 15, the Regional Center for Democracy and Security (RCDS) submitted a letter to the Heads of Diplomatic Missions of the European Union Member States, other Schengen Area countries, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada accredited to Armenia, calling for targeted sanctions, including visa restrictions, against individuals who have systematically promoted hate […]

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RCDS Research Visit to Syunik

Experts from the Regional Center for Democracy and Security visited Syunik from June 15–18, 2026. During the visit, they met with various population groups and local self-government representatives to discuss the process initiated by the Washington documents on August 8, 2025, as well as the potential challenges and opportunities related to the TRIP route. Discussions […]

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Latest Publications
Articles

Housing Provision for Displaced Persons: Government Target Is Half the Actual Need

By Hayk Khanumyan Armenia’s government stated in its 2026–2031 five-year action plan, under the section “Ensuring Equal Opportunities,” that it will “continue the housing provision program for 10,000 families displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh.” This raises a straightforward question: does the government’s target cover the actual housing needs of the forcibly displaced population? To answer it, we […]

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Research

New RCDS Report: Towards an Asymmetric Defense Model – Building a Layered Drone Capability in Armenia

The Regional Center for Democracy and Security (RCDS) has published a new report by Louis-Mathieu Tartinville  and Eduard Arakelyan, Towards an Asymmetric Defense Model: Building a Layered Drone Capability in Armenia. The report examines Armenia’s military transformation and argues that, given the country’s structural disadvantage vis-à-vis Azerbaijan, conventional military parity is neither realistic nor sustainable. […]

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Democracy Watch

Why Armenia’s ‘spiritual security’ policy raises constitutional concerns

By Tigran Grigoryan #DemocracyWatch – Armenia’s newly re-elected government introduced “spiritual security” as a new policy priority, framing reform of the Armenian Apostolic Church as a national security issue. The agenda is included in its draft five-year action plan, published on August 20, and goes as far as envisaging the removal of Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin […]

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Articles

Armenia’s New Military Uniform: The Parade Is Over, the Testing Continues 

By Eduard Arakelyan The issue of a new uniform for the Armed Forces of Armenia has been under discussion for several years now. A detailed analysis of the protracted process was published in October 2025, optimistically suggesting that the transition to a new uniform would not take place before the fall of 2026 or early […]

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