Author: Manouk Vasilian

Robert Kocharyan charged over 2008 March 1 case

Manouk Vasilian
  • 21:38 | July 26,2018 | Official
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Second President Robert Kocharyan  has been charged, the press service of the Special Investigative Service reported.

Based on the sufficient evidence acquired during the investigation over the 2008 March 1-2 events in Yerevan, Robert Kocharyan has been charged under the Article 300.1 part 1 of the Criminal Code for breaching the constitutional order of the Republic of Armenia with a preliminary agreement with other persons.

Motion has been filed to a Yerevan court requesting to remand Kocharyan in custody.

Asbarez: Pashinyan, Sarkissian Attend Homenetmen Centennial Celebration in Yerevan

Manouk Vasilian
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9 hours ago

From left, Homenetmen Central Executive chairman Karnig Mgrdichian, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and President Armen Sarkissian at the Homenetmen Centennial celebration in Yerevan

YEREVAN—The Homenetmen family, which has been celebrating the organization’s centennial in Armenia with various events, including a scouting jamboree and a parade of athletes and scouts at Republic Square, held a celebration event on Tuesday at the Alexander Spendaryan Opera and Ballet Theater with a capacity crowd in attendance that included Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and President Armen Sarkissian.

In his remarks at the celebration, Pashinyan congratulated the athletic and scouting organization and hailed the fact that centennial jubilee was being held in Armenia after the dramatic events, which ushered in a new era for Armenian around the world.

Homenetmen Centennial celebration has attracted thousands from the DIaspora to Armenia

“Allow me to say that the recent peaceful, velvet, democratic revolution in Armenia in fact brought to life Homenetmen’s motto of ‘elevate yourself and elevate other with you,” said Pashinyan referencing the organization traditional maxim.

“What happened in the Republic of Armenia?” asked Pashinyan. “The poor citizens rose up and elevated their homeland, their name and their status in their own homeland,” added Pashinyan, who was greeted with fervent applause and cheers by the participants of the event.

The crowds cheered President Armen Sarkissian and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan

“This is a very important achievement: but this is not all we want to achieve. We should continue… elevating our our homeland. We hope the citizens of Armenia will continue their path, will develop it, will take flight toward our national aspirations and dreams,” said Pashinyan.

“Today we are calling on everyone to come and collectively elevate [our homeland]. We are inviting our Diaspora businessmen to the Republic of Armenia to rise with their civic consciousness, the consciousness of their duty before the law and rise in terms of their personal and business achievements,” explained Pashinyan.

He stated that the Homenetmen has played a critical role in the history of the Armenian people and continues to do so.

“It’s symbolic that the 100th anniversary of the Homenetmen, founded in Istanbul, is being celebrated in Yerevan, the capital of independent and free Armenia. This also symbolizes our vision toward the future,” expressed.

“This is the mission that unites us, and we should definitely emerge victorious in this mission. Long live freedom, long live the Republic of Armenia, long live our children who live and will live in free and happy Armenia,” concluded Pashinyan.

Asbarez will provide detailed coverage of the Homenetmen Centennial events in Armenia in its future editions.

Balayan: Statement on conflicts in NATO summit declaration reflects Armenian side’s approach

Manouk Vasilian
Arminfo, Armenia
Balayan: Statement on conflicts in NATO summit declaration reflects Armenian side's approach

Yerevan July 16

Marianna Mkrtchyan. The Armenian Foreign Ministry is familiar with the various comments and assessments regarding the excerpts in the declaration of the latest NATO summit, the Armenian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Tigran Balayan stated at a briefing on July 16. At the same time he added that he do not want to conduct a linguistic analysis on this issue during the briefing. "One thing is clear: the 67th paragraph of the declaration of the latest NATO summit envisages that negotiations or conflicts should be settled in the current formats and on the basis of the principles of international law, in particular, on the basis of the UN Charter and the Helsinki Final Act." This is what we are talking about – based on international norms and in the current format, "Balayan summed up.

To note, the final declaration of the NATO summit in Brussels contains a call for the peaceful resolution of conflicts in the South Caucasus. In paragraph 67 of the Declaration, it is noted: " We continue to support the right of all our partners to make independent and sovereign choices on foreign and security policy, free from external pressure and coercion. We remain committed in our support for the territorial integrity, independence, and sovereignty of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and the Republic of Moldova. In this context, we continue to support efforts towards a peaceful settlement of the conflicts in the South Caucasus, as well as in the Republic of Moldova, based upon these principles and the norms of international law, the UN Charter, and the Helsinki Final Act. We urge all parties to engage constructively and with reinforced political will in peaceful conflict resolution, within the established negotiation frameworks''.


Sports: Celtic stars all aboard flight to Armenia to begin Champions League journey

Manouk Vasilian
The Scottish Sun, UK
July 8 2018
GREEN FLY

There was no sign of either Marvin Compper and Leigh Griffiths, who are both injury doubts for the tie after missing trip to Ireland

By Gary Taylor
8th July 2018, 3:56 pm

CELTIC flew out to Armenia today to face FC Alashkert as their journey towards the lucrative Champions League group stage begins.

Fresh off the back of a 7-0 win over Shamrock Rovers yesterday – which saw record signing Odsonne Edouard net a double – the Hoops players look relaxed ahead of their 2,500 mile jaunt.

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Celtic started a strong team against the Irish side in Dublin and it is expected that this side will start on Tuesday night.

James Forrest, Keiran Tierney, Odsonne Edouard and Kristoffer Ajer – who were all in the starting lineup – were pictured on the flight as were Ryan Christie, Kouassi Eboue and Calvin Miller.

Captain Scott Brown – who was hooked at the break against Shamrock Rovers – posted a video of the team arriving on the plane.

Scott Allan and Scott Sinclair were featured readying themselves for the flight. Both players climbed off the bench in Dublin to play their part in the Hoops win.

Marvin Compper and Leigh Griffiths are both injury doubts for Tuesday night’s clash and it hasn’t been confirmed whether either made the flight.

The duo did not travel to Ireland with the rest of the squad.

Brendan Rodgers gave an update on the fitness of Scott Brown, Marvin Compper and Leigh Griffiths ahead of the journey.

He said: “Scott is okay. He had a niggle when we were away in Austria.

“It flared up a little bit. It was similar to last year when he came off but he should – and hopefully will – be fine for Tuesday.

“It’s a little issue behind his knee. It’s nothing overly serious and it just stiffened up.

“At this point in the season I always say to the players we are here to develop our fitness so not to take any risk with injuries.

“In another game he would probably have played on but there was no point risking it.

“Leigh and Marvin were injured so they didn’t travel to Ireland. Hopefully they will come with us but we will see when we go back.”

"Cheerful, open person" – Prominent blogger Alexander Lapshin meets Armenian president in USA

Manouk Vasilian
ArmenPress, Armenia
"Cheerful, open person" – Prominent blogger Alexander Lapshin meets Armenian president in USA



YEREVAN, JUNE 27, ARMENPRESS. Travel blogger Alexander Lapshin, the Russian-Israeli who was arrested in 2016 by Belarus police and extradited to Azerbaijan after the latter issued an international arrest warrant for his visit to Artsakh – something many viewed to be a violation of human rights and international law – has met with Armenian President Armen Sarkissian in Washington D.C., USA.

Lapshin posted a photo with the Armenian president on Facebook.

“I met President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian in Washington. He is a surprisingly open, happy man, without the formalities typical to a country’s first figure”, the blogger said.

He also mocked Azerbaijani media, saying that his post will be likely misinterpreted by them.

The Armenian president is in the US for the annual Folklife Festival of the Smithsonian Institution, which will feature a presentation of Armenian culture.

President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian participated in a reception in honor of the 100th anniversary of the First Armenian Republic in the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington D.C. on June 26.

The Armenian president is on a three-day visit to the United States.

The event was organized jointly by the Armenian Embassy to the US, the ARF Eastern America Central Committee and the ANCA Washington Office, the president’ office said.

President Sarkissian delivered remarks at the event, namely touching upon the role and significance of the First Republic of Armenia, attaching importance to the friendly relations between Armenia and the United States and the need to deepen them. The president spoke about the need to have a powerful and developed country.

“Our today’s message is clear. We must win. Not only can we build a new Armenia, but also [an Armenia] with which all of us will be proud and will be proud of being Armenian,” he said.

A few hundred Armenian-Americans took part in the event, as well as members of the Congress and Senate, and government officials.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

Film: "Heretic" period thriller to be shot entirely in Armenia in 2019

Manouk Vasilian
PanArmenian, Armenia
– 11:03 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Arrow in the Head founder John Fallon ('American Muscle', 'The Shelter') is returning to the director’s chair with "Heretic", a period thriller that will star Paul Sloan (Nation’s Fire, Vigilante Diaries) and Mark Lawson (One Life to Live), Bloody Disgusting says.

Oscar Gold Productions’ Asko Akopyan is producing the film slated to shoot entirely in Armenia in 2019.

In the film, “When two Templars are sent home after losing the second Crusade, they are forced to battle a slew of varied enemies, the pity-less elements and their own inner demons while trying to elude a mysterious assassin who is hunting them down.”

"Heretic" was co-written by Fallon and Karim Cheriguene ('Horsehead'). Marc Natoli of Natoli Productions ('The Proposal') is co-producing alongside Fallon’s Bruise Productions banner and JoBlo Movie Productions.

Deputy Speaker of Parliament, HHK faction leader visit arrested lawmaker

Manouk Vasilian
| 22:38 | June 16 2018
Category
Politics

Republican Party (HHK) Vice President, chairman of the parliamentary committee of foreign affairs, says that the Deputy Speaker of Parliament and the HHK faction head are visiting arrestedMP Manvel Grigoryan.

“Deputy Speaker of Parliament Eduard Sharmazanov and HHK [Republican Party] faction leader Vahram Baghdasaryan are in the National Security Service at this moment to see Manvel Grigoryan”, Ashotyan said on Facebook.

Prosecutor General files motion to strip MP Manvel Grigoryan of immunity

Manouk Vasilian
| 12:05 | June 18 2018
Category
Society

Two days after the arrest of Member of Parliament Manvel Grigoryan in suspicion of illegal acquisition and possession of firearms, the Prosecutor General’s office has filed a motion on stripping the lawmaker of immunity, the Prosecutor General’s office said.

On June 17, Prosecutor General Arthur Davtyan transferred the investigation from the national security service to the special investigations service. He also tasked to form a task force from detectives of both services.

The Prosecutor General’s office said the investigation has revealed sufficient evidence implicating Manvel Grigoryan.

Thus, the Prosecutor General applied to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to request the parliament on behalf of the government to convene an extraordinary sitting to debate the motion.

Jirayr Sefilyan released on signature bond, sentence cut in half

Manouk Vasilian
| 15:13 | June 13 2018
Category
Society

A Yerevan court has overruled the verdict of Jirayr Sefilyan, the man who is convicted of illegally acquiring firearms and organizing riots.

Sefilyan’s initial sentence was 10 years and five months. The sentence was cut in half.

Today, the court examined the appeal of Sefilyan and the latter was released from the courthouse – on a signature bond. Sefilyan will serve the remainder of his sentence non-incarcerated, on a signature bond – taking into account the guarantees from certain lawmakers.

Nikol Pashinyan: The vector of our foreign policy remains the same as before the revolution

Manouk Vasilian
Arminfo, Armenia
Nikol Pashinyan: The vector of our foreign policy remains the same as before the revolution



Yerevan.May 30. ArmInfo, Naira Badalyan. What happened in Armenia can be described as the process of returning power to the people. This was stated by the Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan in an interview with DW.

According to the prime minister, this is a change of power by decision of the inhabitants of the country, as well as "velvet", the people's revolution without violence. "The process and my election to the post of prime minister were within the framework of the constitution and laws of Armenia," he said.

According to the head of the Armenian government, the events in Armenia cannot be called a "color" revolution. "It is understood that there is a great geopolitical context behind such a change of power, in our case it was an internal process in the Republic of Armenia by the decision of the Armenian people.For us it is a matter of national dignity and for me personal dignity, from outside, it does not matter who and where, should decide the internal political issues of Armenia, "he stressed.

According to Pashinyan, the revolutions that took place in other republics formerly part of the USSR were of a different nature. "After these revolutions, we saw changes in the foreign policy of these countries, and we said that in general we will continue the foreign policy of Armenia, develop relations in all directions, this concerns the Armenian-Russian relations and relations with the European Union, the US, Iran, with Georgia.The vector of our foreign policy remains the same as before the revolution, "said Nikol Pashinyan.