Author: Markos Nalchajian

 13:06,

YEREVAN, APRIL 10, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan expressed readiness to host the regular session of the Eurasian Inter-Governmental Council in Armenia in autumn, the PM said this during the Council’s video conference on April 10.

“Armenia is ready to host the regular session of the Inter-Governmental Council this autumn. We hope the pandemic will already be overcome before the session”, the PM said.

The session of the Eurasian Inter-Governmental Council, scheduled to take place in Minsk, is currently being held via a video conference due to the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases globally has surpassed 1,608.000. 95,837 people have died from the virus so far.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

 20:43, 6 April, 2020

YEREVAN, APRIL 6, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan holds the position that the elections in Artsakh reflect the existing power ration in Artsakh, ARMENPRESS reports PM Pashinyan said in a Facebook Live, answering a question of a citizen.

Speaking about the remarks that the elections were not fair in Artsakh, Nikol Pashinyan said, ''No one says that there were no frauds. The question is to what extent those frauds had an impact on the results of the elections. Let's look at numbers. If we are speaking about frauds some, one of the candidates, Arayik Harutyunyan, fall short of some hundreds votes to record victory in the 1st stage. If the elections are rigged, would any fraud machine stand in front of some hundreds votes? Opposition forces took the 2^nd and 3^rd places in the parliamentary elections. You would never see such a thing in Armenia when the elections were rigged here. If they do that, why do they do it in a way that the opposition, by the way I have to say a tough opposition, takes the 2nd and 3rd places? They would rig it in a way that forces loyal to the authorities would take at least the 2^nd place, and many issues would be solved by that’’.

Pashinyan noted that the elections in Artsakh were not ideal, and Armenia should continue supporting Artsakh in its future democratization.

Presidential and parliamentary elections took place in Artsakh on March 31. No candidate received over 50% votes and a second stage has been scheduled on April 14. The competition will be between President of «Free Motherland» party Arayik Harutyunyan and the current Foreign Minister Masis Mayilyan.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan

 16:54, 6 April, 2020

YEREVAN, APRIL 6, ARMENPRESS. Observation mission during the 2017 parliamentary elections in Armenia, arrest, visit to Artsakh: "Way Back Home" documentary, telling about renowned rock musician, System Of A Down’s soloist Serj Tankian, Canadian-Armenian film director and actress Arsinée Khanjian, is already available on the internet.

Arsinée Khanjian made on a note on Facebook on the online premiere of the movie. “On April 2, 2017, parliamentary elections were held in Armenia. Responding to the alarms of our compatriots who feared that the elections would be rigged, together with Serj Tankian, Atom Egoyan, Vahe Berberian and Eric Nazarian we formed the Justice Within Armenia initiative in Diaspora and arrived in Armenia on the eve of the elections to carry out an observation mission.

Back in 2016, when I witnessed the violence against peaceful protesters on Khorenatsi Street and was detained by the police, it became clear to me that it was our duty to stand by the citizens of the Republic of Armenia and make their voice heard. The observation mission was a big challenge for us. We had never taken such a civil step in our homeland. But it was also a great opportunity to participate in the changes taking place in our country.

It was very important for me to talk to the Armenians living in the village and in the city, to listen to their concerns, to understand their problems. We traveled to the regions of Armenia, met with the representatives of the civil society and recorded the realities we saw. Unfortunately, our disappointment was great on those days, there was no strength to analyze the events, and we continued our journey in Artsakh, where we found peace of mind and soul, alongside Artsakh artists and soldiers guarding the border”.

Seda Grigoryan's documentary "Way Back Home" tells about the visit of Serj Tankian, Atom Egoyan and Arsinée Khanjian to Artsakh, as well as the talk of the actress with the people.

The film has participated in a number of film festivals and won the Best Short Documentary Film Award at the Pomegranate Film Festival in Toronto, drawing attention to the human rights issues in Armenia in those days.

News.am, Armenia

April 3 2020

Armenia chess grandmaster Levon Aronian's wife is laid to rest (PHOTOS) Armenia chess grandmaster Levon Aronian's wife is laid to rest (PHOTOS)

 16:24, 2 April, 2020

YEREVAN, APRIL 2, ARMENPRESS. As a group of direct contacts of coronavirus cases were being released from a 14-day precautionary quarantine, the healthcare authorities in charge of the isolation facility in Aghavnadzor decided to surprise the group, namely the women, with flowers.

Healthcare manager Narek Vanesyan, who is in charge of the facility, said the group of citizens have tested negative and were being released. He posted a video online showing the health workers applauding and gifting flowers to those being discharged.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

Arminfo, Armenia