Challenges within communities are often visible to all; however, their systematic analysis and the clear prioritization of needs are frequently lacking. To address this gap, the “Civil Youth Center” NGO organized a workshop in Armenia’s Tavush region, bringing together representatives from several local communities.

Representatives of the European Union Monitoring Mission in Armenia also took part in the workshop, presenting the mission’s mandate and key areas of activity. During the sessions, participants conducted a community-based problem mapping exercise, identifying social and infrastructural challenges, with particular emphasis on security and peacebuilding concerns. Group discussions led to the definition of priority areas and highlighted issues requiring urgent attention at the community level.

Participants underscored the importance of women’s engagement in security-related processes, emphasizing that their involvement in community development and long-term stability must be consistent and institutionalized.

Addressing local challenges begins within the communities themselves—through active civic participation, a strong sense of responsibility, and a shared commitment to collaborative action.

On December 15, Christos Sophianopoulos, Ambassador of Greece to Armenia, visited Tavush Province.

During the visit, the ambassador met with Tavush Regional Governor Hayk Ghalumyan. The sides discussed opportunities for bilateral cooperation between Armenia and Greece, particularly in the cultural, educational, and economic sectors, as well as prospects for expanding cooperation and implementing joint projects.

The ambassador then visited the Noyemberyan community, where he met with Community Head Arsen Aghababyan. He also met with representatives of the local Greek community, familiarized himself with their concerns, and discussed potential areas of cooperation.

As part of the visit to Noyemberyan, the ambassador toured several institutions, including the Tumo Technology Center, the Koghb Art School, and the newly opened sports hall.

The visit concluded with a stop at a memorial located in a garden established jointly by residents of Noyemberyan and the local Greek community.

Due to scheduled maintenance work at the “Ayrum” metering station, gas supply will be temporarily suspended from 9:00 a.m. on October 29 until 9:00 p.m. on October 30.

The interruption will affect gas consumers in the Tavush region, including the town of Noyemberyan and the villages of Ayrum, Koghb, Berdavan, Haghtanak, Zorakan, Dovegh, Lchkadzor, Bagratashen, Ptghavan, Deghdzavan, Debedavan, and Archis, as well as in the Lori region’s Shnogh and Teghut communities.

Gas supply will also be halted for several industrial and commercial consumers, including “Gazard,” “Zeus,” “Kaytson,” “Debet-1,” “Debet-2,” “Spets” LLCs, “Masis Tobacco” LLC, “Levon 2” LLC, “Hovsep-Narek” LLC, “South Caucasus Railway” CJSC, Bagratashen Customs House, “Platin” LLC, “Zeolite Pro” CJSC, “Tumanian CHS” OJSC, and several individual entrepreneurs and public institutions operating in the mentioned settlements.

Gas supply will be restored gradually upon completion of the maintenance work.

On October 17, at 00:07, the Crisis Management Center of the Tavush Regional Rescue Department received information that a road accident had occurred on the Noyemberyan–Jujevan highway, resulting in casualties and requiring the assistance of rescuers.

A firefighting-rescue crew from the Regional Rescue Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Rescue Service was dispatched to the scene.

It was determined that at the 6th km of the Noyemberyan–Jujevan highway, “VAZ” and “Mercedes-Benz” vehicles had collided.

Before the rescuers arrived, three injured persons had been pulled out of the vehicles and transported to a medical center.

Rescuers disconnected the vehicles’ power supply, shut off the gas cylinder valves, cordoned off the area, and extracted two passengers from the “VAZ” and “Mercedes-Benz” vehicles, transferring them to ambulances. These individuals were also hospitalized.

At the medical center, the death of a passenger of the “VAZ” vehicle was confirmed.

A festive gathering was held at the Ignat Mamyan Noyemberyan City Library, part of the Noyemberyan Cultural Center, in celebration of Librarian’s Day. The event brought together all the librarians of the community.

The meeting with the head of the Noyemberyan community focused on the value of books and knowledge, the role of culture, and opportunities to promote reading. The community leader congratulated the librarians on their professional holiday, highlighting their role in transmitting knowledge and preserving cultural values.

The librarians shared their concerns and suggestions, emphasizing the importance of experience exchange and deepening cooperation between community libraries as a key pathway for spreading knowledge and strengthening cultural ties.

Since 2004, October 7 has been celebrated as Librarian’s Day in the Republic of Armenia. The aim of the day is to acknowledge the profession of librarians and their role in shaping the educational environment and disseminating knowledge. The library is considered one of the fundamental institutions of a society’s spiritual and educational life. It has long ceased to be merely a repository of books. In modern society, the library functions as a multifunctional educational environment, a platform for public communication and knowledge exchange, and a center for organizing community cultural life and leisure.

The library is a space where classical values are combined with innovative solutions for their preservation. It provides opportunities for the creation, dissemination, and exchange of knowledge while fostering a multi-layered environment for public communication and the strengthening of socio-cultural connections. The development and modernization of libraries is one of the key directions of state cultural policy.

Librarians play an undeniable and significant role in fulfilling this important mission. In this context, the ministry places great importance on organizing continuous training for librarians, enhancing their professional skills, and promoting the exchange of international experience.

Photos by Hranush Ananyan, Tavush Media correspondent.

On September 20, at 09:24 AM, the Crisis Management Center of the Tavush Regional Rescue Department received a report of a traffic accident on the Ijevan–Noyemberyan highway, with injuries reported.

Two firefighting and rescue crews from the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ Rescue Service were dispatched to the scene.

It was determined that at approximately the 8th kilometer of the highway, an Infiniti vehicle had veered off the roadway and collided with a tree.

Before the rescue teams arrived, the driver and two passengers had been removed from the vehicle and transported to a medical center by bystanders.

Upon arrival, the rescue crews disconnected the vehicle’s power supply, shut off the gas cylinder valve, and extracted two injured individuals from the vehicle, who were then also hospitalized.

“The goal and the devotion are one — to be with culture, to live within culture, and to connect with people, the nation, and compatriots through the language of culture. That is divine… it’s an irreplaceable feeling,”
— said writer and poet Samvel Beglaryan.

The town of Noyemberyan marked the 75th anniversary of the celebrated author and poet.

By Hranush Ananyan

Based on the directives of G. Khachatryan, Head of the State Inspectorate for Urban Development, Technical and Fire Safety of the Republic of Armenia, experts from the Tavush Territorial Subdivision of the Inspectorate conducted fire-technical inspections at industrial hazardous facilities operating at the following locations in Noyemberyan community, Tavush region:

• A liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) filling station at 29 November Street, building 25/2
• A gasoline filling station and LPG filling station operated by “K.A.” individual entrepreneur located on the M-4 road in Noyemberyan.

This inspection aimed to assess compliance with technical and fire safety requirements.

During the fire-technical investigations, numerous violations of fire safety regulations were identified and recorded at these filling stations. These breaches posed an immediate and direct threat of fire hazards, as well as risks to human life, health, and safety.

Given the severity and risk level of these violations, the Head of the Inspectorate decided to completely suspend the operations of the mentioned filling stations.

Following joint efforts by the Inspectorate’s Technical and Fire Safety Department and experts from the Tavush Territorial Subdivision, the operators dismantled the LPG filling stations at their own expense.

According to the 2025 inspection program of the Environmental Protection and Mining Inspectorate, an inspection was carried out at the “Noyemberyan Forestry” branch of the “Hayantar” State Non-Commercial Organization, covering the period from October 2021 to August 2025.

The inspection revealed and recorded the illegal cutting of 236 trees of various species and diameters. The damage caused to the flora was estimated at 25,432,500 AMD, the Inspectorate reported.

In addition, lease agreements for land use were signed that do not comply with the forestry management plan, causing damage of 343,500 AMD to vegetation.

An area of 1,156 square meters of forest land was found to have been seized, where two buildings were constructed without proper construction permits, inflicting 365,120 AMD worth of damage to the flora.

Illegal use of mineral resources was also recorded in the forestry area, resulting in 7,492,500 AMD worth of damage to forest land resources.

Furthermore, the forestry management failed to comply with fire safety regulations.

Based on the results of the inspection, a report on an apparent crime was submitted to the Investigative Committee of Armenia.

On August 25, at 00:11 a.m., an emergency call was received at the Tavush Regional Crisis Management Center, reporting that a car was on fire on 4th Street in the village of Berdavan, Tavush Province.

A firefighting-rescue unit from the regional rescue department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Rescue Service was dispatched to the scene.

The fire was contained at 00:37 a.m. and extinguished at 00:47 a.m. A “VAZ” car was burned. No casualties were reported.