RFE/RL Armenian Report – 09/25/2018

                                        Tuesday, 

Police General Risks Criminal Charges

        • Naira Bulghadarian

Armenia - General Levon Yeranosian, the commander of Armenian interior troops, 
21 June 2014.

General Levon Yeranosian, the controversial former commander of Armenian 
interior troops, could be prosecuted over the use of force against 
anti-government protests in Yerevan last spring, it emerged on Tuesday.

A spokeswoman for the Special Investigative Service (SIS), Marina Ohanjanian, 
told RFE/RL’s Armenian service (Azatutyun.am) that the law-enforcement agency 
has summoned Yeranosian for questioning. She gave no details.

Yeranosian’s lawyer, Tigran Safarian, said his client is suspected of ordering 
riot police to use excessive force against the protesters led by Nikol 
Pashinian on April 16 and April 22. He has signed a formal pledge not to leave 
Armenia pending investigation, said Safarian.

In the April 16 incident, Pashinian and hundreds of his supporters tried to get 
through a police cordon and approach the parliament building in Yerevan in a 
bid to prevent the country’s longtime leader, Serzh Sarkisian, from holding on 
to power. Security forces used stun grenades and batons to stop the crowd. 
Pashinian and several other individuals were injured in the clash.


Armenia - Opposition supporters clash with riot police near the parliament 
building in Yerevan, 16 April 2018.

Pashinian and his top associates were detained on April 22 as they led an 
anti-government demonstration elsewhere in Yerevan. The nationwide protests 
only intensified in the following hours, leading Sarkisian to resign on April 
23. His resignation was announced shortly before the release of the detained 
oppositionists.

Pashinian fired Yeranosian just days after being elected prime minister on May 
8. Armenian human rights groups and media had for years accused the general of 
serious human rights violations.




Democracy Key To Regional Peace, Says Pashinian

        • Sargis Harutyunyan

U.S. - Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau talks to his Armenian counterpart 
Nikol Pashinian at the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit in New York, 24 September 
2018.

Democratization is essential for peace and stability in the South Caucasus, 
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian said during the Nelson Mandela Peace 
Summit held at the UN headquarters in New York on Monday.

“I come from a region where unfortunately bloody conflicts, corrupt system of 
governance, animosity between people overshadow wisdom and the need for 
peaceful coexistence,” Pashinian told the summit attended by dozens of world 
leaders.

“Democracies are not supposed to wage wars against each other,” he said. “I 
hope that one day our region’s democratic development will rule out the risks 
of hostilities, wars and hatred. Armenia has firmly embarked on this path and 
strongly stands for regional peace, stability and reconciliation.”

Pashinian swept to power in May after weeks of massive anti-government protests 
organized by him. He has repeatedly described the protest movement as a “velvet 
revolution” that will turn Armenia into a democratic state.

Addressing the UN summit dedicated to Nelson Mandela, the 43-year-old former 
journalist described the late South African president as a role model who 
inspired his own political activities.

“Having been a political prisoner myself, I closely followed the political path 
and life story of this most famous political prisoner who would change his own 
country and indeed the aspirations of millions worldwide,” said Pashinian.

“Mandela’s walk, the long walk to freedom was with me during my imprisonment, 
and to a great extent influenced my conscience and motivated me to embark on my 
own ‘long walk to freedom’ through prison and persecution, through struggle 
against injustice across the towns and villages of my country,” he declared.

“In the true spirit of Mandela’s ideas, our movement became known to the world 
as Armenian non-violent velvet revolution of love and solidarity and now, 
months after my people’s success, I stand here at the high rostrum of this 
summit as the head of modern Armenian government to celebrate the legacy of 
this great person whose courage and determination served as an example for 
others around the globe,” added the Armenian premier.

Pashinian met with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres earlier on Monday. In 
a live Facebook interview aired over the weekend, Guterres described the 
Pashinian-led movement as a “fantastic example” of democratic change effected 
by young people.




Press Review



“Zhoghovurd” says that the margin of victory of Prime Minister Nikol 
Pashinian’s My Step alliance in the September 23 municipal elections in Yerevan 
was unexpectedly huge. “Hardly anyone believed that it will get over 81 percent 
of the vote,” writes the paper. “By the same token, nobody believed early this 
year that Nikol Pashinian will succeed in carrying out a velvet revolution in 
Armenia by forcing Serzh Sarkisian to step down and ousting his HHK from power. 
My Step won as a result of absolutely free and fair elections. There were no 
incidents, no fraud, no vote bribes, no use of administrative resources in the 
September 23 elections and all election contenders accepted their official 
results.”

“The people thus voiced support for Pashinian’s government,” continues 
“Zhoghovurd.” “At the same time they gave him the carte blanche to dissolve the 
parliament and hold fresh elections of the National Assembly.” The paper says 
that the incoming Yerevan mayor, Hayk Marutian, should use this massive popular 
support with “great care.” “He must work very hard in order not to disappoint 
people.”

“Zhamanak” reports that former President Robert Kocharian has filed a libel 
suit against Pashinian. The paper says that it is not yet clear which statement 
made by Pashinian is considered slanderous by Pashinian. It notes that news of 
the libel suit was announced immediately after the municipal elections in 
Yerevan and Pashinian’s decision to start discussions with political forces on 
snap general elections.The paper says that Kocharian may be trying to cheer up 
the HHK and possibly other parliamentary parties opposed to the elections.

(Lilit Harutiunian)



Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2018 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
www.rferl.org


F18News: Azerbaijan – Second 2018 conscientious objector conviction

FORUM 18 NEWS SERVICE, Oslo, Norway
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.forum18.org_&d=DwIBaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=Y41Xf2kVKMy0x5ztfFUIk88rTbheYRo1OSXpeQr-xVI&s=CFNkW8nC1ho4KY0g7x18EMJFO0B4NlnQP40-oBjNpks&e=

The right to believe, to worship and witness
The right to change one's belief or religion
The right to join together and express one's belief

=================================================

Tuesday 
AZERBAIJAN: SECOND 2018 CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR CONVICTION

On 6 September, a court in western Azerbaijan handed a criminal conviction
to a second Jehovah's Witness conscientious objector. Vahid Abilov received
a one-year suspended prison term and will be under probation for one year.
He is planning to appeal. Three more similar cases might follow.

AZERBAIJAN: SECOND 2018 CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR CONVICTION
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.forum18.org_archive.php-3Farticle-5Fid-3D2415&d=DwIBaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=Y41Xf2kVKMy0x5ztfFUIk88rTbheYRo1OSXpeQr-xVI&s=bCCfqbaIoQMoYLhLj4zQaIMVsRPV1417-Zrzdar1uQ8&e=
By Felix Corley, Forum 18

For the second time in 2018, an Azerbaijani court has given a young
conscientious objector a criminal conviction for refusing to perform
compulsory military service. Agdam District Court handed 19-year-old Vahid
Abilov a one-year suspended prison term on 6 September, and he will be
under probation for one year. He is planning to appeal against his
conviction.

"This is the second decision during the last two months according to which
Jehovah's Witnesses in Azerbaijan are criminally prosecuted as
conscientious objectors," Jehovah's Witnesses complained to Forum 18. "Even
though we are happy that Vahid Abilov was not arrested, however, with the
verdict of Agdam District Court he was still found guilty because of his
religious convictions."

Abilov's conviction came exactly two months after another court in western
Azerbaijan convicted another conscientious objector Emil Mehdiyev. He too
was given a one-year suspended prison term and will have to live under
probation for one year. His appeal against his conviction is due to be
heard at Ganca Appeal Court on 24 September (see below).

The cases of three other Jehovah's Witness young men who similarly refused
military service on grounds of conscience have been handed to prosecutors
or are being considered. A Prosecutor's Office in Qakh insisted that it
will not launch a criminal case against the conscientious objector there
(see below).

The Office of the government's Human Rights Ombudsperson claimed to Forum
18 that she has urged the "speeding up" of the adoption of an alternative
to military service. However, she does not appear to have taken up the
cases of Abilov or Mehdiyev (see below).

In May, Jehovah's Witnesses discussed with a senior official of the State
Committee for Work with Religious Organisations in Baku the plight of their
young men who cannot perform military service on grounds of conscience.
However, the discussion did not resolve the problem (see below).

International obligation ignored

Ahead of its accession in January 2001 to the Council of Europe, Azerbaijan
formally promised "to adopt, within two years of accession, a law on
alternative service in compliance with European standards and, in the
meantime, to pardon all conscientious objectors presently serving prison
terms or serving in disciplinary battalions, allowing them instead to
choose (when the law on alternative service has come into force) to perform
non-armed military service or alternative civilian service".

Azerbaijan has never adopted such a law or introduced any civilian
alternative to military service, despite calls by the Council of Europe and
the United Nations. Five Jehovah's Witnesses punished through the courts
between 2007 and 2013 for refusing compulsory military service are awaiting
decisions in their appeals to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) in
Strasbourg. Azerbaijan is subject to the ECtHR's decisions as a member of
the Council of Europe (see F18News 29 August 2018
<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.forum18.org_archive.php-3Farticle-5Fid-3D2408&d=DwIBaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=Y41Xf2kVKMy0x5ztfFUIk88rTbheYRo1OSXpeQr-xVI&s=Bg8IFYHPTW20O5-5gQHI6OocuW3JEr7aTfrQD5hkeFk&e=>).

With no alternative to compulsory military service for young men,
conscientious objectors face prosecution under Criminal Code Article 321.1.
This states: "Evasion without lawful grounds of call-up to military service
or of mobilisation, with the purpose of evading serving in the military, is
punishable by imprisonment for up to two years [in peacetime]" (see Forum
18's Azerbaijan religious freedom survey
<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.forum18.org_archive.php-3Farticle-5Fid-3D2081&d=DwIBaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=Y41Xf2kVKMy0x5ztfFUIk88rTbheYRo1OSXpeQr-xVI&s=monxYxE52bfHKVVlcgpXsWEjY-X2COpw3eYF32NDNi4&e=>).

Government's Human Rights Ombudsperson "proposed speeding up" of
alternative service?

The Office of the government's Human Rights Ombudsperson claimed to Forum
18 on 5 September that in her annual reports, Elmira Suleymanova had
"proposed speeding up the adoption of the relevant law" to allow for an
alternative to military service.

Asked what Ombudsperson Suleymanova had done to defend the rights of those
prosecuted for refusing military service on grounds of conscience, such as
Emil Mehdiyev, the Ombudsperson's Office responded that it was unable to
take up cases which were still pending before a court. It stressed that
Mehdiyev had been given a suspended sentence and had not been jailed.

The response did not explain why Mehdiyev should have faced prosecution at
all for exercising his internationally-recognised right to opt out of
military service on grounds of conscience.

On 12 September, Forum 18 mentioned to the Ombudsperson's Office the
criminal conviction of Vahid Abilov. It received no response.

In 2018 the Sub-Committee on Accreditation of the Global Alliance of
National Human Rights Institutions downgraded the Azerbaijani
Ombudsperson's Office to B status because it "has not adequately spoken out
in a manner that effectively promotes protection for all human rights,
including in response to credible allegations of human rights violations
having been committed by government authorities" (see F18News 29 August
2018 
<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.forum18.org_archive.php-3Farticle-5Fid-3D2408&d=DwIBaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=Y41Xf2kVKMy0x5ztfFUIk88rTbheYRo1OSXpeQr-xVI&s=Bg8IFYHPTW20O5-5gQHI6OocuW3JEr7aTfrQD5hkeFk&e=>).

A local and two visiting foreign Jehovah's Witnesses raised the lack of an
alternative civilian service and the prosecution of conscientious objectors
at a meeting in Baku on 3 May with Sayavush Heydarov, one of the Deputy
Heads of the State Committee for Work with Religious Organisations. The
State Committee account of the meeting on its website the same day made no
mention of the Jehovah's Witness concerns over the lack of alternative
civilian service and the prosecutions.

Another conscientious objector's criminal conviction

Jehovah's Witness Vahid Gunduz oglu Abilov (born 2 May 1999) was called up
for compulsory military service in 2017, when he reached the age of 18.

On 31 May 2017, Abilov reported to Agdam District Conscription Office and
presented a written statement explaining his conscientious objection to
military service. On 10 January 2018, he was called again to the
Conscription Office and wrote another statement.

As requested, on 12 March, Abilov reported to Investigator Rashad
Gulmammadli from the Prosecutor's Office and explained his reasons for
refusing military service based on his religious beliefs.

Abilov was later notified that a criminal case had been initiated against
him. On 9 July, he was indicted under the charge of evading military
service under Criminal Code Article 321.1. His case was handed to Agdam
District Court. The court is in the town of Quzanli, as the town of Agdam
itself is controlled by the unrecognised region of Nagorno-Karabakh. This
is a frontline area which sees intermittent fighting.

At his trial on 6 September, Abilov's lawyer filed a motion to terminate
the criminal proceedings. However, Judge Mahir Niftaliyev rejected the
motion. That same day, the Judge convicted Abilov under Criminal Code
Article 321.1 and handed him a one-year suspended prison term, and required
that he live under probation for one year.

"During the whole time Abilov repeatedly verbally and in written form
explained his religious position," Jehovah's Witnesses told Forum 18.
"Vahid Abilov is going to file an appeal against the unlawful verdict of
Agdam District Court." Any appeal would be heard at Ganca Appeal Court. 

Telephones at Agdam District Court went unanswered each time Forum 18
called on 18 September. Ganca Appeal Court told Forum 18 on 18 September
that it has received no appeal from Abilov.

Forum 18 tried to reach Investigator Gulmammadli at Agdam Prosecutor's
Office or its head, Rafayil Zeynalov. However, officials said on 17
September that both were out of the office, Gulmammadli on a work trip and
Zeynalov at a meeting.

24 September appeal against criminal conviction

The first conscientious objector given a criminal conviction in 2018 is
awaiting his appeal against his conviction. Judge Alizamin Abdullayev of
Ganca Appeal Court is due to hear the appeal by 18-year-old Emil Mehdiyev
on the morning of 24 September, Jehovah's Witnesses told Forum 18.

At the final hearing on 6 July, Barda District Court convicted Jehovah's
Witness Emil Vilayat oglu Mehdiyev (born 12 December 1999) under Criminal
Code Article 321.1. The Judge handed him a one-year suspended prison term,
and required that he live under probation for one year (see F18News 29
August 2018 
<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.forum18.org_archive.php-3Farticle-5Fid-3D2408&d=DwIBaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=Y41Xf2kVKMy0x5ztfFUIk88rTbheYRo1OSXpeQr-xVI&s=Bg8IFYHPTW20O5-5gQHI6OocuW3JEr7aTfrQD5hkeFk&e=>).

After his call-up for military service in December 2017, Mehdiyev
repeatedly told the Conscription Office he could not perform military
service on grounds of conscience and was willing to perform an alternative
civilian service.

Will other prosecutions reach court?

On 7 January 2015, Baku-based Jehovah's Witness Emin Tahmazov sent his
statement to Baku's Khatai District Conscription Office explaining his
conscientious objection to military service. He provided another statement
on 10 January 2018 that explained his beliefs in more detail. In response
to a summons, he met Chief Mehman Qurbanov on 14 June, Jehovah's Witnesses
told Forum 18.

Qurbanov told Tahmazov that his statement had been considered, that the
judgments of the ECtHR in Strasbourg did not apply to him and that he must
perform military service.

On 21 June, Tahmazov filed his statement to the Conscription Office again.
On 25 June, officials told him he had been assigned to a military unit.
Tahmazov provided his written statement for the fourth time on 9 July and
again requested alternative civilian service. Officials told him that his
case would be sent to the Prosecutor's Office.

The official who answered the phone at Khatai District Conscription Office
on 18 September said Qurbanov was not in the office. He refused to put
Forum 18 through to anyone else.

On 29 June, Qakh-based Jehovah's Witness Levani Otarashvili hand-delivered
to officials at Qakh District Conscription Office a statement explaining
his conscientious objection to military service.

On 2 July, Otarashvili reported to the Conscription Office, as required by
the call-up notice he had received. The Deputy Chief told him that reports
from his medical examination were not complete and that he would be
contacted later. On 9 July, the Conscription Office called Otarashvili and
asked him to report the following morning, Jehovah's Witnesses told Forum
18. On 10 July, he duly reported to the Conscription Office, where
officials gave him an official letter stating that alternative civilian
service was not available.

On 24 July, Otarashvili returned to the Conscription Office and met the
Deputy Chief. He confirmed that his religious position had not changed and
wrote another statement. On 25 July, Otarashvili again went to the
Conscription Office, reaffirmed that his position had not changed and
repeated his request for alternative service. The chief said he had no
choice but to refer the case to the Prosecutor's Office.

An inspector of Qakh District Conscription Office - who did not give his
name - confirmed to Forum 18 on 18 September that Otarashvili's case had
been handed to Qakh District Prosecutor's Office. Asked why, given that
Otarashvili had repeatedly declared his readiness to do alternative
civilian service, the inspector responded: "Because he doesn't want to
serve [in the army]. We don't have alternative service."

An official of Qakh District Prosecutor's Office confirmed to Forum 18 on
18 September that it had received materials about Otarashvili from the
Conscription Office. However, the official - who did not give his name -
stressed that no investigation was underway. "Don't worry, we'll deal with
this objectively," the official told Forum 18. "There won't be a criminal
case."

On 5 June, Khachmaz-based Jehovah's Witness Fuad Hasanaliyev reported to
Khachmaz District Conscription Office for a medical examination. He
returned to the Conscription Office on 28 June and was given a Draft Notice
for 23 July. He refused to sign the document. The Conscription Office Chief
shouted at him and threatened to send his case to the Prosecutor's Office.

On 10 July, Hasanaliyev sent the Conscription Office a statement explaining
his religious beliefs and requesting alternative civilian service. On 23
July, he returned to the Conscription Office and met the Chief and the
Deputy Chief. Both officials stated that they would contact headquarters
and asked him to return the next day.

On 24 July, Hasanaliyev returned to the Conscription Office and met the
Chief, who offered him non-combat duties in the military. Hasanaliyev
refused and requested alternative civilian service instead. The Chief
replied that there is no provision for this in Azerbaijan and that he would
transfer Hasanaliyev's case to higher officials for consideration. (END)

For background information see Forum 18's Azerbaijan religious freedom
survey at 
<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.forum18.org_archive.php-3Farticle-5Fid-3D2081&d=DwIBaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=Y41Xf2kVKMy0x5ztfFUIk88rTbheYRo1OSXpeQr-xVI&s=monxYxE52bfHKVVlcgpXsWEjY-X2COpw3eYF32NDNi4&e=>.

More coverage of freedom of thought, conscience and belief in Azerbaijan is
at 
<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.forum18.org_Archive.php-3Fquery-3D-26religion-3Dall-26country-3D23&d=DwIBaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=Y41Xf2kVKMy0x5ztfFUIk88rTbheYRo1OSXpeQr-xVI&s=_5h_9JJr7dAvl9Xi96RS1s1dnSC-UwbuYasvQ927LI4&e=>.

A compilation of Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe
(OSCE) freedom of religion or belief commitments can be found at
<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.forum18.org_Archive.php-3Farticle-5Fid-3D1351&d=DwIBaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=Y41Xf2kVKMy0x5ztfFUIk88rTbheYRo1OSXpeQr-xVI&s=cq0wDNRevG8wMn-_OvWdxvI0SqkNeYAQVpo6mryyrKc&e=>.

For a personal commentary, by an Azeri Protestant, on how the international
community can help establish religious freedom in Azerbaijan, see
<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.forum18.org_Archive.php-3Farticle-5Fid-3D482&d=DwIBaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=Y41Xf2kVKMy0x5ztfFUIk88rTbheYRo1OSXpeQr-xVI&s=sq9U586HOQpVZ9LqubyCeP0krhzCKUoQG4XooJKhZ3E&e=>.

A printer-friendly map of Azerbaijan is available at
<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__nationalgeographic.org_education_mapping_outline-2Dmap_-3Fmap-3DAzerbaijan&d=DwIBaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=Y41Xf2kVKMy0x5ztfFUIk88rTbheYRo1OSXpeQr-xVI&s=zWp2RCLNBI2FSMcDFR3vFHXLJ-IOIZtjbMAU8CI7E0s&e=>.

Twitter @Forum_18

Follow us on Facebook @Forum18NewsService

All Forum 18 News Service material may be referred to, quoted from, or
republished in full, if Forum 18 <www.forum18.org> is credited as the
source.

© Forum 18 News Service. All rights reserved. ISSN 1504-2855.

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Erdogan: Turkey will not improve relations with Armenia

News.am, Armenia
Sept 15 2018
Erdogan: Turkey will not improve relations with Armenia Erdogan: Turkey will not improve relations with Armenia

22:15, 15.09.2018
                  

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday said solution to the Upper Karabakh resident Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Saturday a solution in Azerbaijan's occupied Karabakh region is the absolute precondition for Turkey to improve ties with Armenia, Daily Sabah reported.

Addressing top Azerbaijani officials including his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev and other attendees of a ceremony held for the 100th anniversary of the liberation of Baku in Azatliq Square, Erdoğan said: "We want good relations with our neighbors but solving the Karabakh problem is the absolute precondition for Turkey to improve ties with Armenia."

Top military official says army wasn’t ordered to open fire during March 1 events

Category
Politics

The army wasn’t ordered to open gunfire in the March 1 events, claims Chief of the General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces Artak Davtyan.

Davtyan served as head of the tactical department of the defense ministry during the events in 2008.

“The army wasn’t given an order to shoot on March 1. The army did not shoot, if shots were fired then it was fired by individual servicemen. They haven’t been ordered to shoot,” he said.

He also said that the border activities of the armed forces during those days proceeded normally.

“The frontline wasn’t depleted. Combat work was ordinary. The border wasn’t weakened during the March 1 days,” he said.

Earlier the head of the Special Investigative Service Sasun Khachatryan said that the probe into the case has revealed that not only has the army taken part in the March 1 events, but it has also opened fire in the direction of civilians.

Հանդիպման կոչ Երեւանի քաղաքապետի բոլոր թեկնածուներին

Հանդիպման կոչ Երեւանի քաղաքապետի բոլոր թեկնածուներին
Արտակ Ավետիսյան, «Ռեֆորմիստների» կուսակցություն
Մանուել Գասպարյան, «Ժողովրդավարական ուղի» կուսակցություն
Անահիտ Թարխանյան, «Երեւանի հանրություն» դաշինք
Արտակ Զեյնալյան, «Լույս» դաշինք
Նաիրա Զոհրաբյան, «Բարգավաճ Հայաստան» կուսակցություն
Արարատ Զուրաբյան, «Երեւանցիներ» դաշինք
Գեւորգ Հովսեփյան, «Հայք» (Հայկազուններ) կուսակցություն
Միքայել Մանուկյան, «Հայ Յեղափոխական Դաշնակցութիւն» կուսակցություն
Հայկ Մարության, «Իմ քայլը» դաշինք
Մհեր Շահգելդյան, «Օրինաց Երկիր» կուսակցություն
Գեւորգ Սանդալյան, «Հայաստանի Ժողովրդավարական ազատական միություն» կուսակցություն
Զարուհի Փոստանջյան, «Երկիր Ծիրանի» կուսակցություն
Հարգելի բարեկամներ,
Բոլորս լիահույս ենք, որ Երեւանի ավագանու առաջիկա ընտրությունները պետք է դառնան ամենաազատը, ամենաարդարն ու ամենաթափանցիկը Հայաստանի Հանրապետության վերջին գրեթե քառորդդարյա պատմության մեջ: Դրան զուգահեռ շատ կարեւոր է, որպեսզի ընտրություններն անցնեն դրական միջավայրում՝ սիրո եւ համերաշխության հեղափոխության ոգուն ու Նոր Հայաստանի մասին ՀՀ քաղաքացիների՝ հատկապես երեւանցիների պատկերացումներին հարիր:
Կոչ եմ անում Երեւանի ավագանու ընտրություններին մասնակցող բոլոր ուժերի ցուցակները գլխավորող անձանց՝ այս չորեքշաբթի օրը՝ սեպտեմբերի 5-ին, հանդիպել Ռազմավարական եւ ազգային հետազոտական կենտրոնի նիստերի դահլիճում (հասցե՝ Երզնկյան 75, Երեւան) եւ հրապարակավ՝ մամուլի ներկայությամբ, քննարկել ու ընհանուր հայտարարի գալ առաջիկա ընտրությունները հավասարության, քաղաքավարության եւ փոխադարձ հարգանքի արժանապատիվ մթնոլորտում անցկացնելու սկզբունքների շուրջ: 
Համաձայնության դեպքում՝ խնդրում եմ արձագանքել հեռախոսով՝ (010-27-16-00) կամ (093)-66-80-30, կամ էլ. փոստով՝ [email protected] :
Ժպտա՛նք մեր համաքաղաքացիների հետ միասին: 
                                        
Րաֆֆի Կ.  Հովհաննիսյան, «Ժառանգություն»                                                                          
3 սեպտեմբերի 2018թ.             
Երեւան

New free economic zone to be established in Armenia’s Hrazdan

Panorama, Armenia
Aug 30 2018

Armenia will establish a new free economic zone in the city of Hrazdan in Kotayk Province, with ECOS company named as its organizer, according to a decision adopted at today’s Cabinet meeting.

The move confirms Armenia’s policy toward basing its economy on high technological innovations, Minister of Economic Development and Investments Artsvik Minasyan said at the meeting.

He detailed the investment program presented by the company eyes involvement of some 50 operators by 2021 and 200 by 2043 in the zone. ECOS will open 22 new jobs, with some 200 new jobs set to be opened by the operators, the minister added. 

Moreover, according to Minasyan, the company plans to invest up to $4 million in the program, while the operators are expected to make $15 million investment by 2021 and another $30 million in the future.

The minister says that the free economic zone will have two main territories – the production area (4,3 ha) in Hrazdan and its office in Yerevan.

This will be Armenia’s fourth free economic zone, he added.

Alashkert and Artsakh miss their opportunity

The first two games of the 6th round of the championship of Armenian national football team ended in a draw.

Gyumri’s Shirak team measured competed with the country’s champion Yerevan’s Alashkert. The game ended in a draw without a goal (0:0). It is worth mentioning that the Alashkert residents were nearer to success.

Thus, Shirak ended the game in a drew for the fifth time and occupy the 7th place with 5 points. Alashkert is now on the 4th place with 7 points.

The newcomer of the championship,  Artsakh national football team , drew levels with Gandzasar-Kapan with the score of 2:2. Artsakh have scored 5 points in 5 games and now occupy the 5th place. Gandzasar-Kapan team have ended in a drew for the third time and occupy the last place in the tournament table with 3 points.

168: Investigative Committee releases details over armed assault on house of former president of Court of Cassation

Category
Society

The Investigative Committee has launched a criminal case over the armed assault on the house of former president of the Court of Cassation Arman Mkrtumyan, the Investigative Committee reported

On August 28, at 22:00, three masked gunmen entered into the house of Arman Mkrtumyan: one of the gunmen has been arrested, the others managed to escape. Arman Mkrtumyan and his family members were in the house at the time of the incident.

All necessary actions are being taken to clarify all details of the incident.

Investigation continues.

What happens in Armenia now is violent populism – Robert Kocharyan

Aysor, Armenia
Aug 28 2018
Read Aysor.am inTelegram

The situation in Armenia may be described as violent populism, Armenia’s second President Robert Kocharyan said in interview to Russian “NTV” channel.

“The situation is quite interesting and to say that the authorities do not have any experience means to say nothing. At recent rally it was stated that new state management system has been created and the revolutionary square was declared the highest authoritative body. I am not joking, it is a quote,” Kocharyan said.

In his words the new authorities do not understand what is the state management mechanism.

“They declare that the government is to report to the square about its activities, but I naively thought that the government is to report to the National Assembly. What currently happens in Armenia is violent populism the consequences of which will hinder the development of the country for a long time,” the second president said.