Author: Garo Vardanian

UNICEF Office says Clark-Hattingh has left Armenia

Garo Vardanian

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 10:06, 11 March, 2021

YEREVAN, MARCH 11, ARMENPRESS. UNICEF Representative to Armenia Marianne Clark-Hattingh, whose duties were terminated by the Armenian government, has left Armenia, the UNICEF Armenia Communications Officer Zara Sargsyan told ARMENPRESS, a day after the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres’ spokesperson claimed otherwise.

“We are waiting for the interim representative,” she said, adding that the office continues working normally.

The Armenian foreign ministry had said that the government terminated Clark-Hattingh’s duties due to” failures in the implementation of her mandate and her uncooperative conduct.”

Afterwards, the news media began reporting allegations that the real reason of the termination was that the Armenian authorities found out about her involvement in espionage for Azerbaijan and the United Kingdom.

Then, the prosecution said they don’t have any information to back these allegations, but nevertheless said they are looking into them.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

Anti-Pashinyan protesters rally outside Armenian president’s residence

Garo Vardanian
Panorama, Armenia

Society 17:12 13/03/2021Armenia

Many opposition activists rallied outside the Armenian president’s residence on Saturday to obstruct a meeting of Armen Sarkissian and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

The protesters were chanting “Nikol the traitor!", "Armenia without a Turk", “Leave, land giver!”, etc.

Large police forces were deployed in the area. Addressing them, one of the protesters said: "Dear police officers, you just have to hold on a little bit, we will get rid of him soon. We know that you stand with us. Hold on!”

Later, it became clear that Pashinyan left the presidential residence bypassing Demirchyan Street, where participates of the rally organized by the Homeland Salvation Movement were waiting for him.

ARF member Gerasim Vardanyan and RPA Youth Organization head Hayk Mamijanyan said that they have succeeded in fulfilling their task, in particular, they prevented the “traitor” from moving around in Yerevan freely.

They said that today's protest is over, but they will continue the struggle for Pashinyan’s removal from office.

Earlier on Saturday, the opposition held a rally outside the Foreign Ministry building to impede the prime minister’s planned visit. 

CivilNet: The AMAA’s Mission to Help Artsakh’s Displaced

Garo Vardanian
CIVILNET.AM

10 Mar, 2021 06:03

As a result of the war in Artsakh, many houses and infrastructures lie destroyed or damaged. The Artsakh government and charitable organizations are helping people to deal with restoration works. The Armenian Missionary Association of America is one of these organizations, which aims to help Artsakh Armenians come back to their homes and resettle. The AMAA is renovating nearly 50 houses belonging to Artsakh Armenians. The house of Victoria is one of them. CivilNet’s team visited her to find out more. 

Asbarez: President Will Appeal Army Chief of Staff Matter to High Court

Garo Vardanian

March 9, 2021



President Armen Sarkissian

The office of President Armen Sarkissian said on Tuesday that he intends to apply to Armenia’s Constitutional Court to get legal clarity on the matter of dismissing the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Colonel-General Onik Gasparyan.

Late last month, Gasparyan, along with Armenia’s top military brass, called for the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who immediately fired him and sent the decree for approval by the president, who did not comply with the prime minister’s request saying that the request did not constitute a regular personnel shuffling. Last week, Pashinyan submitted a second request to fire Gasparyan last week and the president signaled that he would send the matter to the Constitutional Court.

Gasparyan’s announcement was hailed by the opposition, whose Homeland Salvation Movement has been demanding Pashinyan’s resignation and pledging its unequivocal support to the military. However, some opposition leaders criticized Sarkissian for not directing the matter to the country’s high court, citing a March 9 deadline for this submission.

In an announcement issued late Tuesday evening local time, the president’s office clarified there is no deadline for Sarkissian to apply to the Constitutional Court. The statement also admonished some political forces for “manipulating” the issue, which has created unnecessary confusion.

“Different political forces, figures and individuals have been making certain comments, clarifications and providing analysis on the terms of the President’s application to the Constitutional Court,” said the president’s office statement. “By manipulating this issue, a misconception has been formed that March 9 is the deadline to apply to the Constitutional Court.”

“Such opinions are unfounded. There is no deadline for applying to the Constitutional Court, and the President of the Republic will soon apply to the Constitutional Court with a request to decide on the compatibility of the Law on Military Status and Status of Serviceman, as announced earlier,” explained the President’s office.

“The President of the Republic once again calls for calm and restraint,” concluded the statement.

Member of Yezidi community in Armenia to (My Step) MP: Don’t speak on behalf of Yezidis

Garo Vardanian
news.am, Armenia
March 1 2021
Member of Yezidi community in Armenia to MP: Don't speak on behalf of Yezidis
20:26, 01.03.2021

The Armenian tricolor flag and the Yezidi flag symbolize the same thing for hundreds of thousands of Yezidis because Armenia is home for us Yezidis. This is what leader of the “Mala Yezdia-Home of Yezidis” initiative Ayser Isayan said during today’s rally held by the opposition Homeland Salvation Movement, waving the Yezidi flag.

“Whenever we Yezidis bury our children, we cover them with the Armenian tricolor flag and the Yezidi flag,” Isoyan said. He also asked Yezidi deputy of the My Step bloc of the National Assembly of Armenia Rustam Bakoyan to not speak on behalf of the Yezidis.

“He comes to parliament, and they say he is a deputy representing the Yezidi nation, but in reality, he is a deputy who performs the will of Nikol Pashinyan. I ask him not to speak on behalf of the nation ever again. He is the son of a dignified family, but today he is performing the will,” Ayser Isoyan added.

General Norat Ter-Grigoryants: I support the Chief of the General Staff and all command staff

Garo Vardanian
Panorama, Armenia
March 6 2021

Retired Soviet and Armenian lieutenant-general Norat Ter-Grigoryants, who played a leading role in developing the Armed Forces of Armenia in 1992–1995, has vowed his support to the General Staff of the Armed Staff and the its command staff. 

In an interview with Yerevan Today, Norat Ter-Grigoryants has said: "The matter is that the Armed Forces in either Russia or in Armenia are not supposed to implement political changes. They are not used to make revolutions. Yet, the General Staff of the Armed Forces came to conclusion that the future rule of the Armenian prime minister, especially in his capacity of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, will lead to collapse. As a result, Armenians may spread all over the world, like assyrians, leaving the territories to Turks. The General Staff made its statement being aware of this. As a military and a person who stood at the forefront of the establishment of the Armed Forces, I support the Chief of the General Staff and all command staff." 

CivilNet: Armenians Take to the Streets After Army Demands Prime Minister’s Resignation

Garo Vardanian
CIVILNET.AM

25 February, 2021 20:53

At 1 pm Yerevan time, thousands of Armenians gathered in the streets into two groups. From one side,they gathered in the Republic Square and are supporting Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. On the other side, they gathered in the Freedom square. They are demanding Pashinyan’s resignation. These protests are taking place after the Armed Forces General Staff released a statement demanding the government’s resignation.

Pashinyan’s opponents say he failed as a leader during the 2020 Artsakh War that signed Armenia’s defeat. 

Earlier, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Armenia has released a statement demanding the resignation of the Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and the government, raising fears of a military coup. 

The General Staff of the Armed Forces also expressed its “resolute protest” against the dismissal of Tiran Khachatryan, the First Deputy Chief of the General Staff, by the prime minister. 

After the release of the statement, Nikol Pashinyan also fired Onik Gasparyan, the Chief of the General Staff of the army.

General Staff issues new statement, reiterates stance

Garo Vardanian

 15:17, 25 February, 2021

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 25, ARMENPRESS. The General Staff of the Armed Forces has issued a new statement, reiterating its stance and demand for the prime minister to step down.

It said that the first statement calling for the resignation of Pashinyan “was not guided by anyone and was not made under any pressure from anyone.”

“It is the clear conviction and stance of the generals and officers, with one purpose – to serve for the salvation of our homeland at this critical moment. We are once again affirming our clear stance,” the General Staff said in the new statement.

When the General Staff had demanded the resignation of Pashinyan, the PM responded by saying that it amounts to an attempted military coup.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

Armenians and Georgians protest as political crises shake Caucasus states

Garo Vardanian
The Irish Times
Feb 26 2021

Government-military standoff in Yerevan continues after alleged ‘coup attempt’

Daniel McLaughlin
 

Thousands of Armenians and Georgians have taken to the streets of their capitals to demand that their governments step down and call snap elections, as political turmoil gripped the neighbouring states in the strategic Caucasus region.

Armenian prime minister Nikol Pashinyan continued to be at loggerheads with the country’s military general staff on Friday, a day after he accused them of attempting a coup by telling him to resign over a dispute with two high-ranking officers.

The most senior officer involved, general staff chief Onik Gasparyan, refused to leave his post on Mr Pashinyan’s order and joined other top brass in denouncing the government, which has been under huge pressure since Armenian forces ceded much of the Nagorno-Karabakh region to Azerbaijan in fighting last autumn.

“You think the army will easily agree that Pashinyan illegally removes their head? No. The army will rebel. I call on the army to rebel. The army shouldn’t carry out illegal orders,” opposition leader Vazgen Manukyan told protesters in Yerevan on Friday.

“The people must take to the streets and express their will to avoid a bloodbath and crisis,” he declared. “Either we get rid of them [the government], or we lose Armenia. ”

Allies

Another prominent opposition figure, Artur Vanetsyan, said he and his allies would meet Mr Pashinyan only “to discuss the question of his resignation. A meeting to discuss any other issue is pointless.”

Mr Pashinyan, who took power in 2018 after peaceful pro-reform protests, accuses some officers of trying to evade scrutiny over the Nagorno-Karabakh defeat and of doing the bidding of a political old guard long tainted by corruption scandals.

Armenian president Armen Sarkissian has pledged to seek a negotiated solution to the crisis, and held talks with leaders of the ruling and opposition parties, as well as with Col-Gen Gasparyan.

“France hopes that dialogue can be established in this country by relying on the legitimacy of the president and the prime minister,” said French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian. “The elements of Armenian democracy must hold out.”

Restraint

US state department spokesman Ned Price urged all sides to show “restraint and to avoid any escalatory or violent actions. We remind all parties of the bedrock democratic principle that states’ armed forces should not intervene in domestic politics.”

In Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, thousands marched on Friday for political change and the release of opposition leader Nika Melia, who police arrested at his party’s headquarters on Tuesday for refusing to pay an increased bail fee over charges dating back to a 2019 demonstration.

The government insists the authorities are simply upholding the rule of law, but Mr Melia’s United National Movement and other opposition parties accuse the ruling Georgian Dream party of using increasingly autocratic measures and of rigging last autumn’s parliamentary elections.

Stage being set up on Yerevan’s Baghramyan Avenue ahead of opposition rally

Garo Vardanian
Public Radio of Armenia
Feb 27 2021

Opposition activists demanding Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's resignation have blocked Baghramyan Avenue in central Yerevan for already three days.

Tents and wood-burning stoves have been set up in front of the National Assembly building on the avenue, as many citizens have spent the night there.

The opposition Homeland Salvation Movement on Friday said a new rally will be held at 3 p.m. today. At the moment, a stage is being set up on the avenue as part of the preparations for the protest.

Photos show citizens who took to the streets to demand Pashinyan's resignation cleaning the area from the garbage.