Pashinyan appoints Alen Simonyan as Security Council secretary

On August 13, 2026, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced the appointment of Alen Simonyan as Secretary of the Security Council, according to a press briefing. Simonyan, who previously served as Speaker of Parliament, replaces Armen Grigoryan in the role. Grigoryan declined a job offer from Pashinyan, though details of the offer were not disclosed. The appointment comes amid regional developments, including a congratulatory message from Turkmenistan's president on Pashinyan's reelection and a proposal from Azerbaijan's president to supply electricity to Armenia.