The nuclear power plant in Metsamor, 30 kilometres from the capital Yerevan, suspended operations last week for scheduled preventive maintenance.

Russia’s troop build-up on Ukraine’s border and the threat of a broad full-scale incursion sent alarmed chancelleries scurrying to make calls for Moscow to step back from the brink.

Azerbaijan and Armenia remained in a deadlock as the two antagonists inched forward with the tedious process of demarcating their borders. At the heart of the matter is restoring long-closed trade routes.