Akoonk Media

Akoonk Media Uniting Armenians-from local headlines to homeland news, unbiased reporting,strong sense of community

Misha   has been named head coach of Armenia’s U19 national football team. Djorkaeff is the brother of former   internat...
06/02/2025

Misha has been named head coach of Armenia’s U19 national football team. Djorkaeff is the brother of former international Yuriy Djorkaeff.
ll

  Saint-Germain won the match 5–0 for their first     title, marking the second final   by a   club after Marseille in 1...
06/01/2025

Saint-Germain won the match 5–0 for their first title, marking the second final by a club after Marseille in 1993 at the Allianz Arena in Munich on Saturday.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan posted a series of messages on Facebook on May 30 targeting the Armenian Apostol...
05/30/2025

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan posted a series of messages on Facebook on May 30 targeting the Armenian Apostolic Church and its leadership, using explicit language in his criticism.

In his posts, Pashinyan called for greater government oversight of church affairs, stating: “The Republic of Armenia must have a decisive vote in the election of the Catholicos of All Armenians” and “The candidates for Catholicos must pass a check on good conduct. This issue must be resolved once and for all.”

The Prime Minister also questioned church officials’ adherence to religious vows, posting: “And is it necessary to address the question of how many of our bishops remain faithful to their vow of celibacy?”

Referencing criticism of his own unmarried status, Pashinyan wrote: “Some people are concerned that I am not officially married. Yet half of our spiritual elite are in the same situation, and these people show no concern about that.”

In another post, Pashinyan used explicit language directed at the Catholicos: “Your Holiness, go continue to bang your uncle’s wife, what business do you have with me?”

The dispute between the government and the Mother See dates back over four years to when the Catholicos of All Armenians called for Pashinyan’s resignation following the conclusion of the 44-day Nagorno-Karabakh war in 2020. The relationship has seen periodic tensions since then.

  celebrated a historic achievement at the European Adult Artistic   Championships held in  , with two athletes claiming...
05/30/2025

celebrated a historic achievement at the European Adult Artistic Championships held in , with two athletes claiming top honors on the podium.

Hamlet Manukyan captured the gold medal, becoming the European adult champion in artistic gymnastics. His teammate Mamikon Khachatryan secured the silver medal as vice-champion, making it a remarkable day for Armenian gymnastics.

  presented ambitious plans for new   academies in   during a special event held in  . The Italian football giant showca...
05/29/2025

presented ambitious plans for new academies in during a special event held in . The Italian football giant showcased designs for state-of-the-art training facilities that will meet high international standards, alongside plans for a new stadium compliant with UEFA’s second category requirements.

The presentation drew notable attendees including Juventus legend and Ambassador David Trezeguet, as well as Davide Fornacan, Coordinator of Juventus International Academies.

The new facilities are expected to provide young Armenian players with world-class training opportunities and help develop the country’s football talent pool.

Azerbaijani Armed Forces opened fire on the village of Khoznavar in Armenia’s Syunik Province early this morning, damagi...
05/29/2025

Azerbaijani Armed Forces opened fire on the village of Khoznavar in Armenia’s Syunik Province early this morning, damaging a residential house.

The shooting occurred between 1:00 and 1:15 a.m. on May 29. No casualties were reported in the incident.

Armenian authorities are calling on Azerbaijan to investigate the incident and provide a public explanation for the shelling of the civilian area.

The Sardarapat Memorial was built in 1968, exactly 50 years after the famous battle that took place here. This is where ...
05/28/2025

The Sardarapat Memorial was built in 1968, exactly 50 years after the famous battle that took place here. This is where Armenian forces managed to stop the Ottoman Turkish army in May 1918 – a victory that basically saved Armenia from disappearing completely.

The architect Rafael Israelyan designed the whole complex. He did a great job connecting the architecture with Armenian history and culture without making it feel forced or over the top.

When you visit, the first things you’ll notice are the huge stone eagles at the entrance. They’re meant to guard the site and honestly, they’re pretty impressive – you can spot them from really far away. There’s also a bell tower with 30 bells that ring for the people who died in the battle.

At the entrance, you’ll also see stone bulls. These represent strength and determination, and they’re based on symbols from ancient Armenian culture.

The memorial was built right where the actual battle happened, in the Ararat Valley. There’s also a museum on site that has real artifacts from the battles at Sardarapat, Bash-Aparan, and Gharakilisa – things like old photos, weapons, clothes, and personal stories from people who were there.

What makes Sardarapat special isn’t just that it marks a military victory. It’s become a symbol of what Armenians can do when they work together. The battle itself was won by regular people – farmers fighting alongside soldiers to protect their homes. That message still resonates today.

The French city of Clamart near Paris hosted its 10th annual “Armenia Day” festival from May 18-25, featuring a week-lon...
05/27/2025

The French city of Clamart near Paris hosted its 10th annual “Armenia Day” festival from May 18-25, featuring a week-long celebration of Armenian culture with unprecedented scale and grandeur.

The festival, which has become Clamart’s cultural signature event, included concerts, art exhibitions, panel discussions, and film screenings throughout the week. The celebration culminated on May 24 with a public fair in the square near Clamart City Hall.

The fair showcased Armenian cultural products including French-language publications on Armenian history and culture, children’s literature, traditional miniature paintings, folk crafts, Armenian wines, preserved foods, and authentic cuisine.

The festival highlights the strong cultural ties between Clamart and Armenia, with the French city maintaining a sister-city relationship with Artashat, Armenia. The Armenian Embassy in France noted the event’s growing significance in promoting Armenian heritage within the local community.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan firmly rejected Azerbaijan’s claims to “Western Azerbaijan” within Armenia’s sov...
05/26/2025

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan firmly rejected Azerbaijan’s claims to “Western Azerbaijan” within Armenia’s sovereign territory during the Yerevan Dialogue international forum. Speaking about the current state of Armenia-Azerbaijan peace negotiations, Pashinyan emphasized that there can be no Western Azerbaijan in the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia.

The Prime Minister revealed that both countries have finalized a draft peace agreement and that Armenia is ready to sign it. However, Azerbaijan is linking the signing to two conditions: the dissolution of the OSCE Minsk Group structures and addressing what it claims are territorial claims in Armenia’s Constitution against Azerbaijan.

Pashinyan proposed signing the peace agreement simultaneously with a joint application to dissolve the Minsk Group structures, calling this a constructive approach. Regarding constitutional claims, he noted that Armenia’s Constitutional Court had ruled the Almaty Declaration complies with the Armenian Constitution, which establishes that independent Armenia and Azerbaijan’s territories correspond to their former Soviet boundaries, effectively refuting any territorial claims against neighbors.

“Winter in March,” an Estonian/Armenian/French/Belgian animated co-production directed by Natalia Mirzoyan, won 3rd Priz...
05/23/2025

“Winter in March,” an Estonian/Armenian/French/Belgian animated co-production directed by Natalia Mirzoyan, won 3rd Prize at the la Cinef competition at Festival on May 22, 2025.

The tells the true story of a Russian couple from St. Petersburg who oppose the Ukraine war. It follows their journey during the first month of conflict and their subsequent move to Georgia, depicting how the ordeal leads to their separation.

The film was produced by ArtStep-studio ( ) and Rebel Frame (Estonia), with co-production from animation departments and studios in France and Belgium. It received support from Estonian and Armenian cultural institutions.

The la Cinef section featured 16 student films selected from 2,679 submissions worldwide. South Korea’s “First Summer” won first prize, while China’s “12 Moments Before the Flag-raising Ceremony” took second place.

  opened “La Bohème” Belvedere in   on the 101st   of Charles Aznavour’s birth, naming the viewpoint after the legendary...
05/23/2025

opened “La Bohème” Belvedere in on the 101st of Charles Aznavour’s birth, naming the viewpoint after the legendary singer’s famous song.

Armenian Ambassador to France Arman Khachatryan spoke at the ceremony, thanking Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo and the city council for the initiative. He highlighted how embodied both French culture and Armenian heritage, serving as Armenia’s official ambassador and national hero after independence.

The ceremony was attended by Aznavour’s son Misha, Paris deputy mayors, the 18th arrondissement mayor Eric Lejeune, and local residents and officials.

The tribute honors the world-renowned artist who became a bridge between France and Armenia throughout his career.

Nine     Deer were released into   Province forests near     on May 22, marking International Day for Biological Diversi...
05/23/2025

Nine Deer were released into Province forests near on May 22, marking International Day for Biological Diversity.

-Armenia and the Armenian Ministry of have been running a Red Deer reintroduction project since 2013, previously releasing 13 deer in Dilijan National Park. This marks the first reintroduction in Lori, where the species once roamed naturally.

The project is funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development through KfW Development Bank, with support from WWF-Germany and the Caucasus Nature Fund.

Address

Glendale, CA
91206

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Akoonk Media posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Share