Thursday,
Tsarukian Ignores Summons For Interrogation
• Gayane Saribekian
Armenia -- Prosperous Armenia Party leader Gagik Tsarukian arrives for a
parliament session in Yerevan, May 29, 2019.
An Armenian law-enforcement agency on Thursday condemned Prosperous Armenia
Party (BHK) leader Gagik Tsarukian for ignoring a summons from its officials
investigating an arson attack reported ahead of a local election won by a
BHK-backed candidate.
The Investigative Committee planned to question Tsarukian as a witness in the
case on Wednesday evening. The wealthy businessman leading Armenia’s largest
parliamentary opposition force did not show up for the interrogation.
A spokeswoman for the committee, Naira Harutiunian, claimed that Tsarukian
ripped up the summons after it was handed to him by law-enforcement officials
on Tuesday.
“I think that as a member of the parliament Mr. Tsarukian had no right to
behave like that because his action was disrespectful towards law-enforcement
bodies,” she told RFE/RL’s Armenian service.
Harutiunian would not say whether the investigators will try to question
Tsarukian again and what they will do if he ignores another summons. She also
declined to explain why they want to talk to him in connection with the arson
attack reported one day before Sunday s tense mayoral election in Abovian, a
town just north of Yerevan that has long been the tycoon’s political stronghold.
Abovian’s pro-Tsarukian incumbent mayor, Vahagn Gevorgian, narrowly defeated
his main challenger representing Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian’s Civil
Contract party. The latter’s election campaign manager, Vahan Saribekian, said
his car and apartment door were set on fire early on Saturday. He blamed the
BHK for the attack.
The BHK denied any responsibility for it. Tsarukian and his associates
suggested that the incident was faked for political purposes.
“The prime minister must order [law-enforcement authorities] to solve that
case,” Tsarukian told reporters on Monday.
“We continue to suspect that what happened in Abovian was a stage-managed
show,” Naira Zohrabian, a senior BHK figure, said on Thursday. She challenged
the Armenian police to “dispel or confirm our concerns.”
Pashinian’s relations with Tsarukian have been tense since April. In May, the
pro-government majority in Armenia’s parliament implicitly threatened to strip
Tsarukian of his parliament seat, saying that his entrepreneurial activities
may be illegal. The BHK leader, who is one of Armenia’s richest men, insisted
that he complies with a constitutional provision that bars lawmakers from
directly engaging in business.
EU Boosts Aid To Armenia
BELGIUM -- Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanian (L) is welcomed by EU
Foreign Policy chief Federica Mogherini at the start of an EU-Armenia
Partnership Council meeting in Brussels, .
The European Union on Thursday announced 25 million euros ($28 million) in
additional assistance to Armenia and expressed its readiness to finance
large-scale infrastructure projects proposed by the Armenian government.
The EU foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, hailed “democratic reforms”
implemented in Armenia after chairing, together with Armenian Foreign Minister
Zohrab Mnatsakanian, a second session of the EU-Armenia Partnership Council.
The council is tasked with overseeing the implementation of the landmark
Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) signed by the two sides
in 2017.
The CEPA offers the South Caucasus state the prospect of a closer relationship
with the EU in return for major political and economic reforms. It commits
Yerevan to gradually “approximating” Armenian economic laws and regulations to
the EU’s legal framework.
“The implementation of our agreement is proceeding well,” Mogherini told a
joint news conference with Mnatsakanian in Brussels. “The dialogue, cooperation
and partnership we have on different issues … is excellent, and we also have
good plans for the future.”
“Based on the country’s performance, democratic reforms during the last year,
the EU will allocate an additional 25 million euros this year, bringing the
total allocation for this year to 65 million euros, to support Armenia in its
reforms and in implementing effectively our agreement,” Mogherini said.
She said the EU is also “identifying funding possibilities for the priority
projects that Armenia has recently presented to the European Commission.” They
relate to not only public infrastructures but also energy efficiency, police
reform and women’s rights, she added.
BELGIUM -- Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian (L) and the President of the
European Council Donald Tusk arrive for a joint statement to the media
following their meeting in Brussels, March 5, 2019
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian requested EU funding for his “mega projects”
when he visited Brussels in March. Pashinian said after that trip that the EU
is ready to support them provided that they are co-financed by the Armenian
government.
The head of the EU Delegation in Yerevan, Piotr Switalski, said last month that
some of these projects are “very costly and very complicated.” “But we are very
seriously considering how best to implement them,” he told RFE/RL’s Armenian
service.
According to Mogherini, the EU is also ready to provide “substantial support”
for sweeping judicial reforms planned by the Pashinian administration. “We
support the ongoing work aimed at a comprehensive judicial reform in Armenia in
line with the Armenian constitution and with international standards,” she
said. “An independent, efficient and accountable judiciary benefits all.”
Mnatsakanian described the Partnership Council meeting as “very productive.” He
reaffirmed Yerevan’s commitment to closer ties with the EU, saying that Armenia
and the 28-nation bloc share a “common civilizational heritage” and commitment
to democracy.
Pashinian has also repeatedly stressed the importance of closer ties with the
EU for Armenia. He has made clear at the same time that his country will remain
part of the Russian-led alliances of former Soviet republics.
Constitutional Court Nominee Vows Impartiality
• Astghik Bedevian
• Ruzanna Stepanian
Armenia -- Vahe Grigorian, a nominee to the Constitutional Court, talks to
journalists, Yerevan, .
President Armen Sarkissian’s latest nominee to the Constitutional Court said on
Thursday that his warm relations with members of Armenia’s new ruling elite
would not influence his judicial activities.
Sarkissian again nominated lawyer Vahe Grigorian for a vacant seat in the
country’s highest court late last month after the current Armenian parliament
rejected two other candidates chosen by him.
The head of state first proposed Grigorian’s candidacy last fall. The then
Armenian parliament dominated by supporters of the former government refused to
approve it.
Grigorian is believed to enjoy the backing of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian
and the ruling My Step alliance, which holds a two-thirds majority in the
current National Assembly. My Step representatives say, however, that the
parliament majority’s support for his appointment is not a forgone conclusion.
The parliament is due to debate and vote on the nomination next week.
Grigorian met with deputies from the opposition Bright Armenia Party (LHK) on
Wednesday. The LHK leader, Edmon Marukian, voiced misgivings about the nominee
after the meeting.
In particular, Marukian pointed to some lawyers’ belief that the Armenian
constitution does not allow the president to nominate the same person for a
second time. He also said that Grigorian’s “close ties with the authorities”
could “inhibit” the would-be judge.
Grigorian dismissed such concerns, while acknowledging his friendly rapport
with many members of Pashinian’s political team.
“Regarding those from the ruling majority who know me personally, I didn’t meet
them first at barbecue parties,” he told reporters after meeting with My Step
deputies on Thursday. “When I met them for the first time they didn’t hold any
state positions. I have worked with many people from all political circles, not
just My Step. I met with some of those people in prison. When I was in prison
they dealt with [Grigorian’s case.]”
“It’s very normal when a person trusts someone they know,” said Grigorian. “I
cannot castigate anyone for that.”
Grigorian went on to insist as a Constitutional Court judge he would not be
influenced by these relationships in any way. “Any decision will be my
decision,” he said. “I will never try to justify myself by saying that I was
under [government] pressure. As soon as I find myself under pressure I will
cease to be a judge, if I am elected a judge.”
Grigorian also made no secret of his readiness to become the Constitutional
Court’s new chairman. “It’s up to the judges to decide. I’m ready [for that
role,]” he said.
The current court chairman, Hrayr Tovmasian, is a former justice minister and
senior lawmaker who represented the former ruling Republican Party (HHK). The
HHK-controlled parliament named him to head the court in March 2018.
Another Armenian Judicial Official Resigns
Armenia -- The main meeting room of the Supreme Judicial Council, Yerevan,
April 10, 2019.
Yet another member of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), a state body
overseeing Armenia’s courts, stepped down on Thursday.
The official, Armen Khachatrian, gave no reason for the move in his letter of
resignation publicized by the SJC. Khachatrian said only that he will “continue
to support the process of judicial reforms” in his other capacity as chairman
of Armenia’s Bankruptcy Court.
Khachatrian was elected to the newly established SJC by an assembly of
Armenia’s judges in March 2018. He is the third member of the judicial watchdog
to resign in the last three weeks.
The SJC chairman, Gagik Harutiunian, tendered his resignation on May 24, citing
“ongoing developments relating to the judicial authority” and his “concerns
expressed in that regard.” His temporary replacement, Gevorg Danielian, quit on
June 7.
The concerns cited by Harutiunian followed Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian’s May
19 appeal to his supporters to block the entrances to all court buildings in
the country. The appeal came the day after a Yerevan court ordered former
President Robert Kocharian released from jail pending the outcome of his trial
on coup and corruption charges. The court’s decision angered many allies and
supporters of Pashinian.
Speaking at a May 20 meeting with senior state officials, Pashinian said that
Armenian courts remain linked to “the former corrupt system” and distrusted by
the population. He announced plans for a mandatory “vetting” of all judges.
Harutiunian was among the officials invited to the emergency meeting. However,
he did not attend it because of being unable to leave the SJC building in
downtown Yerevan blockaded by government loyalists.
Press Review
“Zhoghovurd” says it is only natural that pro-government parliamentarians
“protect the interests of the executive branch.” “State officials now need
support more than ever before because often times artificial tensions are
created towards state officials,” writes the paper. “On the other hand, we have
a situation where police officers can beat up a plainclothes man. What is
bewildering is that when a representative of the [opposition] Bright Armenia
party, Gevorg Gorgisian, reported the incident he was countered by [fellow
lawmaker] Nikolay Baghdasarian of the [ruling] My Step bloc. The latter
insisted that such things are not possible in the New Armenia. However, the
police did not deny the incident and an internal inquiry is now underway.”
“Aravot” continues to slam a minibus driver in Yerevan who was fired after
ignoring a commuter’s demand to stop smoking. The driver now wants to meet with
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and present his side of the story. The paper
says that the government should not bow to pressures from any citizens flouting
laws. It says Pashinian’s government already made a serious mistake when it
forgave thousands of car owners that had refused to pay fines imposed on them
for violations of traffic rules. Citizens must have no doubts that any
delinquent behavior will have serious consequences for them, concludes the
paper.
“Zhamanak” wonders whether former President Serzh Sarkisian’s visits to
Nagorno-Karabakh are meant to help ward off “external dangers” facing the
Armenians or “exert or generate pressure on the new Armenian authorities from
there.” The paper also speculates that “some Russian circles” are trying to
gain a foothold in Karabakh after being driven out of Armenia. “It is the same
circles that have been targeting the Armenian velvet revolution for quite a
while, gently blaming Serzh Sarkisian in the process for bringing things to
such a conclusion,” it says. “They are openly saying that the revolution would
not have happened had he not opted for a third term in office.”
(Lilit Harutiunian)
Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
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