Armenpress
Armenpress is Armenia’s principal state news agency. It was founded in 1918 under the name Armenian Telegraph Agency and renamed Armenpress in 1972. The agency has operated continuously since then, serving as the country’s main official news service. In addition to its newswire, Armenpress historically managed Hayastani Hanrapetutyun, the official newspaper of Armenia, launched in 1990 by the Armenian parliament. The newspaper was dissolved in June 2023 due to financial constraints, leaving Armenpress as the sole surviving state news operation of this structure.
Media assets
News agency: Armenpress
State Media Matrix Typology
Ownership and governance
Armenpress is a state-owned entity. Its leadership is appointed by the Armenian government. While Hayastani Hanrapetutyun was legally organized as a joint-stock company with shares distributed among the President’s Office, Parliament, the Government, and the Department of Information, local journalists reported in 2024 that the newspaper was effectively run by Armenpress until its closure.
In 2025, Armenpress continues to be led by Narine Nazaryan, who remains Director and regularly represents the agency in new partnership agreements and international forums. The newsroom is overseen by Shant Khlghatyan, who has served as Editor-in-Chief since 2022.
Source of funding and budget
Armenpress does not publish financial information. According to Armenian media experts interviewed for this report in June 2024, the agency relies almost entirely on state funding to sustain its operations.
Editorial independence
As an official state media outlet, Armenpress is expected to follow government-mandated norms and regulations in its coverage. No domestic statute or independent mechanism exists to safeguard or verify its editorial independence.
August 2025