On August 12, a youthful and creative mood reigned at the Noyemberyan Art School. International Youth Day was celebrated.
The event was opened by the director of the Art School, Lena Mehrabyan, emphasizing the role of youth in shaping the future of the country, developing the community, and enriching cultural life.
During the day, the young people drew, participated in a carpet weaving master class, and talented young people from the community presented their works.
The festive event was concluded by a moving speech by the poetess Armenuhi Tsaturyan, which filled the hall with the spirit of art and inspiration.
Photos by Shake Avagyan.
International Youth Day in Tavush Region
On August 12, educational, cultural, interactive and multi-faceted events dedicated to International Youth Day will be held throughout the republic. In Tavush Region, the programs will include sports and cultural events, intellectual game competitions, film screenings, theatrical performances and thematic discussions.
Noyemberyan – Open-air exhibition and discussion of youth issues (Art School, Koryun 6, 12:00-15:00).
Berd – Festive event with the participation of a DJ and the Festival of Colors (Children’s Park, 15:00).
Artsvaberd – Series of events (House of Culture, 11:00).
Paravakar – Hike to nature (from the yard of the House of Culture, 12:00).
Nerkin Karmiraghbyur – Yard Camp (Mayrik Park, 17:00).
“Youth Light in Getahovit” musical evening (18:00).
Hike to the sanctuary of Kotrts Yegts (Aygehovit, 11:00).
Meeting with the youth of Achajri and a master class in carpet weaving (House of Culture, 12:00).
The holiday will be accompanied by creative ideas from young people, community activism, and new opportunities for collaboration.
Diocesan pilgrimage to Nor Varagavank
On August 9, on the occasion of the feast of the 200 Patriarchs of the Holy Council of Ephesus (431), the entire clergy and faithful of the Tavush Diocese set out on a pilgrimage from the regional center of Ijevan to the Nor Varagavank monastery complex in the Berd community.
Fire in Berdavan village: wagon-house burned down
On August 10, at 16:54 an emergency call was received to Tavush Regional Crisis Management Center that a wagon-house was on fire in the village of Berdavan.
One fire unit from the Fire and Rescue Squad of the Regional Rescue Department of the Rescue Service of the MIA of RA dispatched to the scene.
It turned out that the fire had broken out in a wooden wagon-house (about 15 sq. m) located in the 2nd lane of 32nd Street, Berdavan village.
The fire was contained at 17:21 and extinguished at 17:30. The wagon-house was completely burned.
Construction works have started the Khashtarak village bridge.
On the night of May 27 to 28, 2024, the bridge pier in Khashtarak village was damaged and partially collapsed due to spring floods. A temporary bridge was built, which is currently used by the residents of Khashtarak and Lusahovit villages.
Now, the construction of the new Khashtarak bridge is actively underway. By the end of 2025, the village will have a modern metal bridge, Head of the Urban Development, Land Management and Infrastructure Department of the Tavush Regional Governor’s Office, Misak Melkumyan, told Tavush Media.
The construction works are being carried out by an Iranian company, which also built a bridge in the Lori Province’s Akhtala community in May 2024, after it was damaged by flooding.
It should be reminded that on the night of May 27 to 28, 2024, the bridge pier in Khashtarak village was damaged and partially collapsed due to flooding. In the following weeks, deformation of the bridge became noticeable. A temporary bridge was built, which was partially damaged again due to heavy rainfall at the end of July 2024 and subsequently restored.
Indian short film in Ijevan
Indian workers blocked the M4 interstate road in Ijevan
On the evening of August 6, a group of citizens of India working in one of the sewing factories of the city of Ijevan blocked the Ijevan–Yerevan interstate road.
According to the participants of the protest, they had not received their salaries for months, which became the reason for their discontent.
Police officers arrived at the scene, and as a result of explanatory work and negotiations, the road was reopened shortly after; a possible escalation of tensions was prevented.
Regarding the situation, Mher Mirzoyan, director of “IJ grant textile OPT” LLC, told Tavush Media that about 205 Indian workers are employed in the factory under three-year employment contracts.
According to him, the salaries of the workers who participated in the protest have been paid, and their demands are mainly for higher wages and reduced working hours.
“There are organizers among the Indian workers who initiated the protest action. We are waiting for our lawyer’s visit in order to clarify and resolve the issue within the legal framework,” said Mher Mirzoyan.
The textile factory in Ijevan has been operating since 2019.
Hunting uniforms are sewn here, which are mostly exported abroad.
The factory has about 400 employees from Ijevan and neighboring rural communities.
We will definitely keep you informed about the developments of the situation and the new plot twists of the Indian short film.
Our correspondents will also speak with the Indian workers who blocked the road.
Voskevan residents unite around village development programs
A group of Voskevan natives living outside the village have united around an important goal for their homeland. At their initiative, the “Voskevan Compatriots union” non-governmental organization has been established with the purpose of consolidating the capacities and resources of compatriots living outside the village, directing them toward the development of Voskevan. The Union’s programs include infrastructure improvement and modernization, as well as the implementation of social and cultural projects.
Following the Union’s inaugural meeting, a symbolic visit was made to the village’s Heroes’ Park to pay tribute to the memory of all Voskevan natives who sacrificed their lives at all times.
Through joint efforts, it is possible to develop the village and give a new impetus to the social and cultural life of the community. This vision lies at the core of the newly founded “Voskevan Compatriots Union.” Moreover, this example of unity promises to become the foundation for building a more prosperous, developed, and culturally vibrant borderland Voskevan.
Instructions were given on the prevention and prompt detection of illegal logging. The work of the Tavush region services of the Ministry of Internal Affairs was summarized for the first half of 2025.
On July 29, Minister of Internal Affairs Arpine Sargsyan visited Tavush region to summarize the first half of 2025 activities carried out by the Ministry’s services.
Present at the summary meeting of the Police’s activities were the Head of Police – Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Aram Ghazaryan, Secretary General of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Ara Fidanyan, as well as senior leadership of the Ministry and the Police.
The Head of the Tavush Regional Department of Criminal Police presented the work done over the past six months. In the overall picture of serious and particularly serious crimes within the scope of criminal police functions, there has been a decrease in residential burglaries and cyber fraud, and an increase in crimes against persons. There has also been an increase in the detection of illicit drug trafficking, which is positively assessed in the context of tackling latent crimes.
Out of 664 crimes registered at the Ijevan Division of the Community Police, 562 have been solved. Minor and medium-gravity crimes against persons have decreased, while crimes against public health have increased, also linked to the detection of illicit drug-related offenses.
In the Dilijan Division of the Community Police, 159 criminal cases were registered, 82 of which were solved. Crimes against persons and public order have decreased, while those against economic activity and property have increased.
In the service area of the Noyemberyan Division of the Community Police, crimes against persons have also decreased, while environmental crimes have increased. Of the 166 cases registered over the past six months, 138 have been solved.
Out of the 100 crimes registered in the Tavush Division of the Community Police, 68 have been solved. Crimes against property have decreased, while crimes against public health have increased, again associated with the detection of drug-related offenses.
The Tavush battalion of the Patrol Service responded to 2,921 calls during the reporting half-year — 365 more than in the same period last year. Based on various administrative offenses, Tavush patrol officers issued a total of 27,029 reports — an increase of 2,437 compared to the same period last year. In addition, they uncovered 171 crimes, including numerous cases of illegal logging and document forgery.
Addressing crimes against environmental safety, Arpine Sargsyan instructed that regular patrols be carried out and intensified monitoring be established in target areas — to prevent and promptly detect illegal logging and identify illegally operating charcoal production units — emphasizing the importance of coordinated action with the eco-patrol service.
In this context, Minister Sargsyan demanded that the staff, by applying tools provided by legislation, take measures to prevent the loss of evidence related to illegal logging cases, ensuring that illegal loggers do not evade criminal liability.
Regarding the effective detection of serious and particularly serious crimes against persons, Arpine Sargsyan instructed to intensify cooperation with prosecutorial and investigative bodies to ensure the establishment of sufficient evidentiary bases and the proper handling of charging the perpetrators.
The Minister also instructed the staff to maintain constant focus on locating wanted individuals and seizing illegally held weapons and ammunition, as their effective implementation is of a preventive nature.
Highlighting that Tavush is a tourism region, Arpine Sargsyan instructed that public-facing police services be organized and conducted in a manner that prevents violations of public order.
Expressing satisfaction with the work of the Patrol Service, the Minister demanded that the heads of the subdivisions conduct thorough staff briefings based on in-depth analysis of road incidents in the province, which will enable more effective service organization and help reduce road traffic accidents with severe consequences.
Among the Minister’s instructions to Police services were also matters related to the continuous development of theoretical knowledge and practical skills.
On the same day, Arpine Sargsyan, accompanied by the Director of the Rescue Service – Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Kamo Tsutsulyan, visited the Ijevan Fire and Rescue Squad, familiarized herself with the building and equipment conditions, and reviewed the technical and professional gear. The Minister expressed gratitude to the region’s firefighters and rescuers for their active efforts in forest fire prevention.
Later, the Minister, along with Deputy Minister Armen Ghazaryan and Head of the Migration and Citizenship Service Nelly Davtyan, visited the Ijevan Division of the Migration and Citizenship Service, got acquainted with the one-stop-shop service model, and spoke with citizens receiving services, inquiring about the quality of services provided.
The Minister also visited the Ijevan Registration and Examination Unit of the MIA Department of Registration, Examination, Permits, and Licensing, toured the premises with the Head of the Department Ararat Tevosyan, and interacted with citizens, who expressed satisfaction with the quality of services delivered.
New horizons of agriculture and innovation in the Berd community: The “Berd AgroFest” festival was held
In the Berd community, a two-day “Berd AgroFest 2025” festival took place, organized by the “Tsili Tsov: Local action group” territorial development NGO. The festival became a unique meeting place for agriculture and creative thinking, bringing together both local participants and those arriving from various regions of Armenia.
The first day of the festival was full of activity — from the symbolic corn maze to an agricultural machinery exhibition. Pavilions of local products and crafts presented entrepreneurs from Berd and the community’s settlements, while the community meal and culinary master classes gave visitors the opportunity to taste the flavors of Tavush cuisine.
Special attention was given to the panel discussion dedicated to the prospects of rural tourism and community development. Experts of the sector discussed how agricultural potential can be combined with tourism opportunities.
“Berd AgroFest” is not only a festival but also a platform for development, where the community recognizes its potential and prepares for new achievements. The festival marked a new beginning for phases of community cooperation and sustainable development in Tavush.
From august 6, the Dilijan tunnel will be closed at night
Starting from August 6, during nighttime hours (from 00:00 to 06:00), traffic through the Dilijan tunnel will be closed for all types of transport vehicles.
Medium repair works will be carried out on the roadway of the tunnel. At night, vehicles with a maximum permissible mass of up to 7 tons can bypass the Dilijan Tunnel through the settlement of Semenovka. For vehicles weighing more than 7 tons and vehicles with trailers, this road will be closed at night. This was reported by the “Road Department” Foundation.
During daytime hours, traffic through the tunnel is open. Additional information will be provided regarding the restoration of traffic through the Dilijan Tunnel at night.
