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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

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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Articles

Employment of Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians in Armenia: Data and Policy Recommendations

By Hayk Khanumyan According to official statistics from Nagorno-Karabakh, as of the pre-war period in 2019, the number of people of working age in Nagorno-Karabakh exceeded 105,000. The working-age population included people aged 16–63. The economically active population—the number of employed people and those seeking employment—was approximately 72,000. The distribution of the labour force across […]

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Articles

Military Management and the Hidden Problems of Armenia’s Army

By Eduard Araqelyan A recent Hetq publication, based on the testimony of a participant in a 25-day military training exercise, has once again brought long-standing problems within the Armenian Armed Forces into the public spotlight. The significance of the article lies not so much in its description of conditions at a single combat position, but […]

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Articles

Why Iran Is Reconsidering the Caspian Convention After Eight Years

By Eduard Arakelyan The Iranian government has approved a bill on the ratification of the 2018 Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea and submitted it to parliament. The bill was approved under an “urgent procedure,” meaning it will undergo expedited review in the relevant parliamentary committees. In addition, an upcoming Caspian summit […]

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