It was all smiles when the new Armenian leader met the Russian president in Sochi on Monday (!4 May) on the margins of the summit of the Eurasian Economic Union

The incident allegedly happened around 22.35 on Sunday evening (13 May) when the sergeant was on duty at an undisclosed military outpost. Azerbaijan has not reported the incident but says Armenia violated the cease fire 98 times during the last 24 hours

Participants hailed the importance and symbolism of the first republics and how they inspired the regaining of independence in 1991.

The former prime minister has assumed the role of Chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream party in a move that has been welcomed by his supporters and some of his critics

In a telephone conversation on Tuesday, Morgherini and Pashinyan agreed on the importance of the partnership between the European Union and Armenia and looked forward to meeting in person at the earliest opportunity

"For two decades, until yesterday, Armenia has been ruled by persons who originally hailed from Karabakh - Robert Kocharian and Serzh Sargsyan". "One needs to see what new dynamic will emerge in the relationship between Yerevan and Stepanakert" under Pashinyam's leadership, said commonspace.eu political editor in a comment.

The UK, France and Germany urged the US not to obstruct its implementation. They said they would work with the other signatories to the 2015 deal - Russia and China - which have stressed continuing support for the deal.

Pashinyan was supported by 59 votes against 42 in a vote in the country's parliament. The vote was received with loud cheers and chants by tens of thousands of people who crowded on Yerevan's Republic Square awaiting the result

The Russian president travelled to the inauguration ceremony of his fourth term in a newly developed Russian car. But his prime minister, most of his ministers and his policies remain largely the same.

Recent popular protests in Armenia may not necessarily amount to a revolution, and this may be for the best. In any case Nikol Pashinyan is more a Vaclav Havel than a Leon Trotsky, and he has already indicated what are his priorities for change in the country, argues Dennis Sammut