Author: Maral Takmazian

ANN/Armenian News – Week in Review – 12/20/2020

Maral Takmazian

Armenian News Network / Armenian News

Armenian News: Week in Review

ANN/Armenian News

December 20, 2020


Guests

  • Asbed Kotchikian

  • Irina Safaryan

  • Emil Sanamyan

  • Hovik Manucharyan

  • Asbed Bedrossian

Hello, and welcome to the Armenian News Network, Armenian News, Week in Review for Sunday December 20, 2020. We’ll be talking to our guests about the following major topics:

  • Life in Artsakh

  • Update on Hin Tagher & Khtsaberd

  • Internal Political Situation in Yerevan

  • Kapan Border Tension

To talk about these issues, we have with us:

Dr. Asbed Kotchikian, who is a senior lecturer of political science and international relations at Bentley University in Massachusetts where he teaches courses on the Middle East and former Soviet space.

Irina Safaryan, who is originally from Hadrut, living in Stepanakert. Irina is a social activist, initiative member of the #ArtsakhsVoiceMatters movement, and co-founder and coordinator of Stepanakert Wikipedia Club.

and

Emil Sanamyan, who is a senior research fellow at USC’s Institute of Armenian Studies specializing in politics in the Caucasus, with a special focus on Azerbaijan. 

This episode was recorded on Sunday, December 20, 2020

Irina Safaryan gives us an overview of the way daily life in Stepanakert is developing, the top challenges and issues facing people every day.

Where are Hadrutsis currently living? When did they have to evacuate their city? Who’s caring for them?

Around 10 days ago the Azeri army initiated new actions against Armenians to take over the villages of Hin Tagher and Khtsaberd. These towns formed a peninsula extending out of the Armenian controlled areas of Artsakh and were difficult to defend, and after quick negotiations, Russians decided that if Armenian forces could defend it, then they could keep it, otherwise it was not worth defending. So this area was ceded to Azerbaijan following a minor skirmish.

The alliance of over 17 opposition parties now named Salvation of the Homeland is continuing to hold daily protests demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Pahinyan. They have aligned behind Vazgen Maanukyan as their choice of an interim prime minister for a provisional government tasked with leading the country out of this political crisis and hold new elections within 6-12 months. Among these parties only the BHK – Prosperous Armenia Party – is represented in parliament. Another party represented in the parliament, Bright Armenia, led by Edmon Marukyan, also demands the resignation of PM Pashinyan, but with Marukyan taking the prime ministership.

Where is the crisis headed?

While villages in Armenia have not been ceded to Azerbaijan, many heights very near border towns are now occupied by enemy forces. What is the security situation in Kapa region, and the M12 highway?

That concludes our program for this week’s Armenian News Week in Review. We hope it has helped your understanding of some of the current issues. We look forward to your feedback, and even your suggestions for issues to cover in greater depth. Contact us on our website, at groong.org, or on our Facebook Page “ANN – Armenian News”, or in our Facebook Group “Armenian News – Armenian News  Network”.

Special thanks to Laura Osborn for providing the music for our podcast. On behalf of everyone in this episode, we wish you a good week. Thank you for listening and we’ll talk to you next week.

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Armenia, Karabakh, Artsakh, Azerbaijan, Russia, Hin Tagher, Khtsaberd, Edmon Marukyan, Vazgen Manukyan, Yerevan, Nikol Pashinyan

Azerbaijani forces indiscriminately targeted journalists during the Karabakh war – Report

Maral Takmazian
Panorama, Armenia
Dec 25 2020
Society 14:34 25/12/2020NKR

The Ombudsmen of the Republic of Artsakh and Armenia published on December 18 a joint ad hoc report on the attacks of journalists by Azerbaijan, covering the hostilities in Artsakh, the Human Rights Defender's Office reported. 

In parallel with the targeting of the civilian population and infrastructures of Artsakh, journalists and their service vehicles were also targeted deliberately and indiscriminately as a result of which 7 journalists (5 foreigners and 2 Armenians) were injured and one person convoying the journalistic group was killed. According to the source, deliberate targeting is testified by the fact that journalists were wearing uniforms and distinctive signs that were also present on their cars. 

Besides, some evidence suggests that Azerbaijani reconnaissance UAVs were flying at the scene before and during the strikes which means that the journalists were fully visible and distinct by the Azerbaijani armed forces. 


Political analyst draws parallels between Pashinyan’s, Lukashenko’s methods to struggle against opposition

Maral Takmazian
Panorama, Armenia

Dec 23 2020

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan can rely on own patience only in the struggle against opposition, the head of "Kassad" information-analytical center,  publicist Boris Rozhin tells an interview to Riafan media outlet. 

The political analyst reflects on the ongoing protests in Armenia and the opposition's tactics of blocking major streets and highways to urge Pashinyan to step down for signing what they call 'a disgraceful statement' which ended the war in Karabakh war. The opposition has suggested Vazgen Manukyan's candidacy as an alternative for the post of Armenia's prime minister for an interim period. 

"The nationwide strikes of Armenian enterprises started on December 16, the operation of some of those enterprises have fully stopped, while their employees participate in the opposition rallies in downtown Yerevan. We are witnessing a situation similar to the one which brought Pashinyan to power in 2018, when his predecessor Serzh Sargsyan resigned," Rozhin notes. 

"Reports about Pashinyan's upcoming resignation are not verified at the official level. Pashinyan is not going to transfer his power to any conditional Vazgen Manukyan. In general, the country needs snap elections to overcome the ongoing political crisis, however, I am sure the Armenian prime minister is far from the idea of holding snap elections either," Rozhin stresses, adding Pashinyan's tactic is to wait until the protests are weakened and the tense situation calms down itself. 

"This path is clear to all. Alexandr Lukashenko acted in a similar way and as it appears he had some success in his tactics. Emanuel Macron was another leader who overcame the crisis with the Yellow Jacket movement. Thus, the Armenian prime minister has several successful examples of fighting the opposition. Moreover, his opponents struggle to make the vast majority of the population take to the streets. Furthermore, there are serious demands toward the leader of opposition," says the political analyst, pointing to the 'unpleasant dilemma' the Armenian people face to choose between Pashinyan from one hand and the opposition from the other. 

"Nevertheless, a decision should be made, as the longer the ongoing crisis continues, the more serious consequences will arise for the country. The political structure of Armenia may not simply hold up under the strain and pressure," Rozhin concludes. 



Protests in Syunik: Authorities came to power through blocking roads, they maintain power with same method

Maral Takmazian
Panorama, Armenia

Dec 21 2020

Numerous Syunik residents are protesting on Monday against PM Nikol Pashinyan's visit to the province. "When we learnt about the plans of the traitor to visit the province, we joined Syunik residents with our raid response group. Our aim is not about allowing or not Pashinyan's entry to the province, but to show that Nikol will never can freely walk in Armenia. The traitors have no place in our country," Vahagn Ter-Nakalyan, member of Adekvat initiative told reporters. 

Ter-Nakalyan reminded that the current leadership came to power through blocking the roads and now they try to maintain their power, using the same method. 

"This comes to prove that hey have no power in this country. There can be no cooperation with Nikol. Even shaking his hand would be a betrayal."

"Nikol, you are a traitor," "Nikol, you are Turk," the protesters, who have blocked the road, are chanting.

One of the participants told reporters that he would prefer to lose his job and salary rather than the lands. The participants also called on not to yield to possible provocations, given massive police busses have arrived in Syunik. 

The participants of the rally also called for releasing Goris Mayor Arushanyan who was arrested after appealing to the locals to prevent the entry of the prime minister, 'who gave away the Armenian lands and disrupted the inviolability of Syunik.' 



Pashinyan honors fallen troops at Yerablur military cemetery as protesters try to block entrance

Maral Takmazian

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 15:42,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 19, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and other government officials reached the Yerablur military cemetery after leading a memorial march from Yerevan’s central plaza with their supporters.

The entrance of the cemetery was blocked as a sign of protest by anti-Pashinyan protesters, war veterans and family members of fallen troops. However, police opened the entrance.

Pashinyan paid tribute to the fallen troops at the pantheon.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

AFP: Tensions In Armenia As Thousands Mourn Karabakh Victims

Maral Takmazian
BARRON'S
Dec 19 2020
 
 
 
Tensions In Armenia As Thousands Mourn Karabakh Victims
 
________________________________
Mariam HARUTYUNYAN
AFP
 
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Saturday led thousands in a march in memory of those killed in a six-week war with Azerbaijan as the Caucasus country began three days of mourning.
 
Pashinyan has been under huge pressure from the opposition to step down after nearly 3,000 Armenians were killed in the clashes with Azerbaijan over the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh.
 
As Armenia began its period of mourning for the Karabakh war, the opposition kept up pressure on Pashinyan to resign over the handling of the conflict and what they say is a humiliating peace deal with Azerbaijan.
 
Accompanied by top officials, Pashinyan led a thousands-strong procession to a memorial complex in the capital Yerevan where victims of the conflict are buried.
 
"The entire nation has been through and is going through a nightmare," Pashinyan said in a video address ahead of the memorial march.
 
"Sometimes it seems that all of our dreams have been dashed and our optimism destroyed," he said.
 
The opposition has called the 45-year-old leader a "traitor" for agreeing to end the war on Azerbaijan's terms.
 
Pashinyan, whose wife and son were at the front during the conflict, has said he has no plans to quit and the peace deal was Armenia's only option, ensuring Karabakh's survival.
 
The war ended in November with a Moscow-brokered peace agreement that saw the Armenians cede swathes of territory to Azerbaijan which has been backed by close ally Turkey.
 
Beg for forgiveness
 
Many critics said on Saturday the leader should stay away from the memorial cemetery.
 
"He must not desecrate the graves of our children," Misak Avetisyan, who lost a son in the war, told reporters.
 
The grief-stricken father said the prime minister should get down on his knees and "beg for forgiveness".
 
Many critics chanted "Nikol the traitor" as authorities dramatically beefed up security at the cemetery.
 
Later Saturday several thousands of opposition supporters gathered for a memorial rally in Yerevan's Freedom Square.
 
"This war did not have to happen," said former prime minister Vazgen Manukyan who the opposition says should replace Pashinyan.
 
He said Armenia under Pashinyan had lost "all allies."
 
Pashinyan's critics have called on supporters to stage a national strike from December 22.
 
A member of the Pashinyan-led procession said the prime minister should not be blamed for the mistakes of previous leaders.
 
"He is not guilty of anything," said Karo Sargsyan.
 
Pashinyan, a former newspaper editor, was propelled to power in 2018 after he channelled widespread desire for change into a broad protest movement against corrupt post-Soviet elites.
 
But after the war with Azerbaijan, many now say Pashinyan has betrayed Armenia's interests.
 
Numerous public figures including the influential head of Armenia's Apostolic Church, Catholicos Garegin, have called for Pashinyan's resignation.
 
As part of the peace deal Russia deployed nearly 2,000 peacekeeping troops to Karabakh.
 
More than 5,000 people including civilians were killed during the fighting between the ex-Soviet rivals, who also fought a war in the 1990s over the mountainous region.
 

 

First TUMO Box opens in Armenia’s Gavar

Maral Takmazian
Public Radio of Armenia
Dec 18 2020

Today, on December 18th, thanks to the cooperation between the TUMO Center for Creative Technologies and dot818, the first TUMO Box has opened in Gavar, a program aimed at the educational development of small towns and villages.

The event was attended by TUMO and dot818, the sponsor of Gavar TUMO Box, the Minister of Education and Science, Vahram Dumanyan, Deputy Minister Zhanna Andreasyan, the Deputy Minister of Transport and Communication, Victoria Poghosyan, the Governor of Gegharkunik region, Gnel Sanosyan, the Mayor of Gavar, Gurgen Martirosyan, as well as representatives of local self-government bodies, TUMO alumni and prospective Gavar TUMOians.

Welcoming those present, TUMO CEO Marie Lou Papazian stated, “TUMO’s regional expansion is gaining momentum with the opening of the Gavar TUMO Box. In a few days, a TUMO box will be opened in the border town of Berd, located in Tavush province. This process is ongoing, and we reaffirm our mission to make the TUMO curriculum accessible to young people in even the smallest communities in Armenia and Artsakh.”

Gnel Sanosyan, the governor of Gegharkunik Province, stressed the importance of the initiative. “I’m thankful to our partners for making the project happen during such difficult times. The regional government and our communities are willing to support TUMO in opening new Boxes in the region. Another one is slated to open in Sevan soon. It is very important to decentralize our educational and development efforts, and to fully realize the potential of even our smallest communities. With an initiative like this, students are free to get the most innovative education right in their hometown.”

David Tonoyan, the founder of dot818, sent his thoughts about the cooperation and potential of the project from the US, noting, “dot818 is very excited and proud of the implementation of the Gavar TUMO Box project. Cultivating Armenian youth is a guarantee to our success in the fields of handicrafts, art, construction, culture and science. I wish the best to the children of Gavar and the TUMO team. Until our next project in Armenia!”

At the event, the first registered students of the Gavar Box learned more about the program and met with experienced TUMO alumni. Gavar TUMOians Yegor, Hayk and Larisa were the first ones to try out robotics, drawing and programming.

The goal of the TUMO Box project is to make the TUMO curriculum accessible to young people in small communities. It is a small but technically equipped mini TUMO. Students will begin in the self-study phase of the TUMO curriculum in the Box, and will then move onto TUMO Dilijan for workshops and labs. Each TUMO box will provide the opportunity to educate over 300 young people a year in the fields of technology and design. In addition to TUMO’s main program, the Box can be used in the morning for other educational programs.

Dot818 is an American marketing solutions company based in Glendale, California, founded in 2011. It specializes in publisher solutions, advertising solutions and lead distribution. In addition to its headquarters in California, dot818 also operates an office in Charlotte, North Carolina and the United Kingdom. TUMO Box’s next location will be in Berd, located in Tavush province, slated to open this December.


‘March of dignity’ for Pashinyan’s resignation to start from Tumo park in Yerevan

Maral Takmazian
Panorama, Armenia

Dec 17 2020
Society 11:10 17/12/2020Armenia

A “march of dignity” demanding the resignation of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will be held in Yerevan, Armenia on Thursday evening.

The march, organized by the Homeland Salvation Movement created by 17 opposition political parties

‘March-dignity-Pashinyan’s-resignation-Yerevan/2421517

Armenian President: We must acknowledge we are in a deep crisis

Maral Takmazian
MediaMax, Armenia
Dec 10 2020

At the meeting with the staff of “Alternative” research center, President Sarkissian has stressed the importance of systemic solutions and institutions, noting that individuals are not able to overcome such difficulties alone.

“There are no saviors. We need a vision, a strategy, and a plan for development. We must build our state institutions through consistent and hard work and discipline. That is why we must first acknowledge that we are experiencing a deep crisis, and not one but several at that. We must refuse to present what we want as reality, refrain from lying and falsifying, throwing mud at each other with false statements. Ultimately, we must have the courage to accept the bitter reality, evaluate our mistakes and move forward with effective steps.”