Thursday, December 24, 2020
Former Culture Minister Wanted On Corruption Charges
December 24, 2020
Armenia -- Culture Minister Hasmik Poghosian at a press conference in Yerevan,
July 29, 2015.
An Armenian law-enforcement agency has brought corruption charges against former
Culture Minister Hasmik Poghosian and a prominent diplomat.
The Investigative Committee said on Thursday that Poghosian had abused her
position to misappropriate a state-owned historic building in downtown Yerevan
and land occupied by it.
The property, worth an estimated 201 million drams ($383,000) in the early
2000s, housed a non-governmental cultural organization of which Poghosian was
the deputy chairperson.
The Investigative Committee claimed that shortly after being appointed as
culture minister in 2006 she illegally privatized the property before selling it
to an offshore-registered company owned by one of her relatives. The company
paid only $550 for it, the committee added in a statement.
The statement also said that the complex fraud scheme was facilitated by Armen
Smbatian, who headed the NGO in question and was Armenia’s ambassador to Russia
at the time.
Poghosian, who served as culture minister from 2006-2016, has been charged with
abuse of power and money laundering. According to the statement, law-enforcement
bodies will try to track down and arrest her, suggesting that she may not be in
Armenia at present.
Smbatian stands accused of assisting in the alleged abuse of power. The
Investigative Committee said he posted bail and was not arrested. It was not
clear if he will plead guilty to the accusation.
Smbatian most recently served as Armenia’s ambassador to Israel. The Armenian
government recalled him shortly after the outbreak of the war in
Nagorno-Karabakh on September 27 in protest against continuing Israeli arms
supplies to Azerbaijan.
Court Blocks Arrest Of Anti-Pashinian Mayor
December 24, 2020
• Ruzanna Stepanian
Armenia -- Goris Mayor Arush Arushanian.
An Armenian court refused on Thursday to allow investigators to arrest the mayor
of the town of Goris who was prosecuted after calling for civil disobedience
against Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian.
The 29-year-old mayor, Arus Arushanian, was among the heads of more than a dozen
communities in Armenia’s southeastern Syunik province who issued earlier this
month statements condemning Pashinian’s handling of the war with Azerbaijan and
demanding his resignation.
Arushanian urged Goris residents late on Sunday to block a regional highway and
not allow Pashinian to visit Syunik. He was arrested several hours later for
organizing what the Investigative Committee considers an illegal protest. A
Yerevan court of first instance ordered the committee to free Arushanian on
Tuesday.
Shortly after the order the law-enforcement agency indicted Arushanian on a
string of charges, including abuse of power, illegal entrepreneurship and
assault. It also requested a court permission to arrest him again.
A Yerevan judge refused to grant such permission. According to Arushanian’s
lawyer, Armen Melkonian, the judge found no legal grounds for the mayor’s
pre-trial detention.
Melkonian told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service that his client was again summoned to
the Investigative Committee for questioning later on Thursday. Arushanian
rejects the accusations as politically motivated.
On Wednesday, the committee indicted and moved to arrest the mayor of another
Syunik town who has called for Pashinian’s resignation. Manvel Paramazian, who
has run the town of Kajaran since 2016, was charged with kidnapping and
assaulting another man in April this year.
Russia Vows Continued Relief Aid To Karabakh
December 24, 2020
Nagorno-Karabakh -- Local residents repair a roof with construction materials
supplied by Russia as humanitarian aid, November 25, 2020.
Russian Emergencies Minister Yevgeny Zinichev has visited Armenia and Azerbaijan
to discuss Moscow’s continuing humanitarian assistance to Nagorno-Karabakh.
Zinichev held talks on Wednesday with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian
and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev as well as his Armenian and Azerbaijani
counterparts.
According to Russia’s Ministry of Civil Defense and Emergencies, he “expressed
readiness to conduct an additional assessment of the humanitarian needs” of
civilian areas in Karabakh gravely affected by the recent war and to provide
them with more aid.
“The main objective of the ongoing humanitarian operation is a quick restoration
of peaceful life in the region,” a ministry statement quoted Zinichev as saying.
In another statement issued on Thursday, the ministry said a fresh batch of
Russian aid was delivered to Karabakh on Wednesday. It included construction
materials, heaters and other household appliances.
RUSSIA - Personnel and equipment of a Russian Emergencies Ministry unit is
examined at the Noginsk Rescue Center before being sent to Nagorno-Karabakh on
humanitarian mission, November 23, 2020.
Russia deployed about 2,000 peacekeeping troops in Karabakh shortly after
brokering the Armenian-Azerbaijani ceasefire agreement that stopped the six-week
war on November 10. It also opened in Stepanakert a “center for humanitarian
reaction.”
The center coordinates ongoing Russian-led demining operations in Karabakh and
is also tasked with helping to rebuild homes and public infrastructure destroyed
or seriously damaged during the hostilities.
Zinichev’s ministry claims to have sent a total of 1,500 tons of relief supplies
to Karabakh so far. Pashinian thanked Moscow for this assistance when he met
with Zinichev in Yerevan.
The war displaced an estimated 90,000 ethnic Armenian residents of Karabakh
making up 60 percent of the disputed territory’s population. Most of them fled
to Armenia. Officials say that at least 42,000 refugees have returned to
Karabakh since the start of the Russian peacekeeping operation.
Pashinian Seeks To Allay Concerns Over Armenian Border Region
December 24, 2020
• Sargis Harutyunyan
Armenia -- An opposition protester stands against the backdrop of riot police
protecting the main Armenian government building in Yerevan, December 24, 2020.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian insisted on Thursday that the latest Armenian
troop withdrawals resulting from the Russian-brokered ceasefire in the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone did not endanger the security of Armenia’s
southeastern Syunik province.
Pashinian again sought to reassure Syunik’s population amid continuing street
protests in Yerevan staged by opposition parties demanding his resignation.
Syunik borders the Zangelan and Kubatli districts southwest of Karabakh which
were mostly recaptured by Azerbaijan during the recent war. Armenian army units
and local militias completed late last week their withdrawal from parts of the
districts close to the provincial capital Kapan and many other communities.
Many local residents are now seriously concerned about their security as well as
the safety of the main provincial highway running along a 20-kilometer stretch
of the Soviet-era Armenian-Azerbaijani border. Hundreds of them blocked another
section of the highway on Monday to bar Pashinian from visiting the mountainous
region. The prime minister cut short his visit as a result.
Speaking at a weekly cabinet meeting in Yerevan, Pashinian reiterated that “not
a single inch” of Armenia’s internationally recognized territory has been ceded
to Azerbaijan.
“What is happening at this stage is a geolocation of some border sections the
operational purpose of which is to ensure security … Our position is that with
these actions we are enhancing security guarantees for Syunik and creating a new
security system of Armenia,” he said.
Pashinian admitted at the same time that this process could result in “painful
situations” for two Syunik villages. He implied that some of their houses and
agricultural lands could end up under Azerbaijani control.
Armenia -- Riot police clash with opposition protesters outside the main
Armenian government building in Yerevan, December 24, 2020.
As Pashinian addressed his ministers several hundred opposition supporters
demonstrated outside the main government building and tried to disrupt the
weekly cabinet meeting. Some of them clashed with security forces deployed in
and around the building. Several protesters were detained on the spot.
“Our country will be increasingly unprotected as long as Nikol Pashinian remains
prime minister,” Gegham Manukian, a leader of the opposition Armenian
Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun), told the angry crowd.
Dashnaktsutyun is a key member of a coalition of more than a dozen opposition
groups holding demonstrations in a bid to force Pashinian to resign. They blame
him for the Armenian side’s defeat in the war with Azerbaijan and want him to
hand over power to an interim government that would hold snap parliamentary
elections within a year. Pashinian and his political allies reject these demands
Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2020 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
Author: Garnik Tadevosian
Armenian government donates ambulances to Artsakh
11:21, 24 December, 2020
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 24, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian government will donate 5 ambulances to Artsakh.
The respective decision has been approved today at the Cabinet meeting.
Armenia’s healthcare ministry has purchased 30 ambulances and has received 12 more as a donation.
According to the current decision, it is proposed to donate 5 from these vehicles to Artsakh.
Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
Sports: Henrikh Mkhitaryan named Armenia’s 2020 Player of the Year
Panorama, Armenia
Dec 25 2020
Armenian national football team captain Henrikh Mkhitaryan has been named Armenia's Player of the Year for 2020 – the 10th time he has won the award.
The AS Roma midfielder collected 133 points to win the title, the Football Federation of Armenia said on Friday, unveiling the voting results.
FC Astana midfielder Tigran Barseghyan came in second with 79 points.
MSK Zilina midfielder Vahan Bichakhchyan took the third place with 25 points.
Separately, Joaquin Caparros has been named Coach of the Year with 134 points.
FC Ararat head coach Vardan Bichakhchyan took the second place with 50 points.
Head coach of the Armenian U-21 team and CSKA Rafael Nazaryan came in third with 48 points.
Russia contributes 2mln Swiss francs to ICRC to address humanitarian needs in Nagorno-Karabakh
Panorama, Armenia
Dec 25 2020
Russia has made a contribution of two million Swiss francs ($2.25mln) to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to tackle humanitarian issues in Nagorno-Karabakh, TASS reported, citing the Russian Foreign Ministry.
"In accordance with the decision of the government of the Russian Federation, a voluntary contribution worth two million Swiss francs was made to the ICRC to finance the costs related to the measures taken to offset the humanitarian impact of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Friday.
The Russian Foreign Ministry pointed out that the field was one of the priorities in "fruitful cooperation of the Russian Federation with the ICRC."
"Our country is taking extensive efforts to help the civilian population and to restore civilian infrastructure in the region," the ministry said adding that Moscow is open to cooperation with the ICRC in the future and hopes that the committee’s efficient work will be continued.
Central Bank of Armenia: exchange rates and prices of precious metals – 22-12-20
17:42,
YEREVAN, 22 DECEMBER, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 22 December, USD exchange rate up by 0.31 drams to 521.97 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 2.10 drams to 637.06 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.04 drams to 6.91 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 10.06 drams to 699.49 drams.
The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.
Gold price up by 22.93 drams to 31549.64 drams. Silver price up by 5.97 drams to 438.93 drams. Platinum price down by 811.96 drams to 16597.12 drams.
President of Artsakh to address video message
15:29, 15 December, 2020
STEPANAKERT, DECEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS. President of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan will address a video message on December 16, he said on social media.
“Dear compatriots, tomorrow, on December 16, at 12:00, I will address a video message on the current situation, the expected developments and our vision on the future”, the Artsakh President said.
Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
European Union disburses € 9 million in grants to support justice reforms in Armenia
11:14, 16 December, 2020
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. The European Union (EU) informed the Government of Armenia about the disbursement of € 9 million in grants to support Justice Reforms in Armenia, the EU Delegation in Armenia told Armenpress.
The EU's decision follows a positive assessment on progress in the implementation of the Judicial & Anticorruption Strategies, macroeconomic stability, public financial management and state budget transparency.
In line with the EU-Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement CEPA standards and associated EU-Armenia Strategic Policy Dialogue on Justice Reform, this assistance package will contribute to strengthening the integrity and accountability in the justice system, improving access to modern and quality judicial services and establishing a specialized Anticorruption Court in Armenia.
This direct financial contribution recognizes and supports the Government commendable efforts to advance important, comprehensive legislative and institutional reforms in the judiciary and therefore also improve the overall business environment. This EU assistance announced today is complementary to other instruments of technical assistance and capacity building support such as with the German Foundation for International Legal Cooperation IRZ, as well as in the Eastern Partnership region with the EU-Council of Europe Partnership for Good Governance and various EU4Integrity projects.
H.E. Andrea Wiktorin, EU Head of Delegation, said: “I welcome today’s announcement on this very important budget support disbursement for Armenia. Once again, both EU and Armenia peoples and institutions come together to deliver on good governance and rule of law reforms. The European Union and its Member States are contributing to increase accountability of the judiciary and prosecutorial bodies and push for zero tolerance towards corruption in Armenia. We share the challenge and we can only succeed together”.
Rustam Badasyan Minister of Justice, said: “First, I want to highlight that this disbursement of 9 MEUR is the first tranche of the Justice reforms budget support program with overall amount of 30 MEUR. It is important to reaffirm that the Judicial and Anti-Corruption Reforms remain the priority directions for our Government and we are happy to state that the good progress achieved during this one year has also gained appreciation of our European partners. We are thankful to the European Union for continuous support and effective cooperation in Justice sector.”
60-man military unit “highly likely” taken captive by Azerbaijan, says Artsakh Ombudsman
13:52, 16 December, 2020
STEPANAKERT, DECEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. The Human Rights Defender of Artsakh Artak Beglaryan says he contacted several organizations and servicemen on the ground regarding the information on the troops who went missing in Khtsaberd village. “According to the information that I gathered, a military unit consisting of around 60 servicemen went missing during these days in the direction of the village of Khtsaberd in Hadrut region, and it is highly likely that the video published by the Azerbaijani side shows this very unit,” he said.
“This incident is totally unacceptable and it must be quickly and strictly investigated by law enforcement agencies to determine all circumstances and the circle of those guilty. The authorities of Artsakh and Armenia are obliged to take immediate actions to repatriate all our prisoners of war as soon as possible. In addition, it is necessary to provide clear information to the families of the prisoners of war and conduct maximally transparent public communication to avoid disinformation and unnecessary tensions,” Beglaryan said.
Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
President Harutyunyan says Artsakh and Russian troops thwart many Azeri provocations amid new POWs
14:14, 16 December, 2020
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. The President of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan has confirmed that “several dozens” of troops were taken captive by Azerbaijani armed forces in the direction of the village of Khtsaberd.
In an address to the nation on December 16, the President said that Azerbaijan continues its constant provocative behavior, with actions in Khtsaberd and Berdadzor being one of the latest.
“The Defense Army servicemen and the Russian peacekeepers thwarted various provocations by Azerbaijani troops, and yesterday evening they were repelled from the outskirts of the Hin Shen village of Shushi. These days no one was hurt in the direction of Berdadzor, and the adversary wasn’t allowed to enter any settlement. Unfortunately, several dozens of our troops were taken captive by the Azerbaijani side in the direction of Khtsaberd, and now the defense ministry is determining all circumstances. I will personally be coherent in bringing those guilty for this incident to legal accountability. Their quick and safe repatriation must be the focus of our efforts, and we are already taking steps in this direction,” Harutyunyan said.
Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
Russia makes all efforts for peace in Nagorno Karabakh
19:15, 16 December, 2020
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 16, YEREVAN. The Russian Federation is doing everything possible to establish peace in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, ARMENPRESS reports official representative of the MFA Russia Maria Zakharova said.
"Russia is doing everything possible to establish peace in the region. We assume that the parties to the conflict are also interested in that goal," Zakharova said.