Author: Suren Karakhanian

Armenia reports six fatalities after clashes with Azerbaijan on November 16

Suren Karakhanian
TASS, Russia
Nov 19 2021
On November 16, violent clashes between the armed forces of Armenia and Azerbaijan broke out at their border

YEREVAN, November 19. / TASS /. Some six Armenian servicemen have been killed during the hostilities with the Azerbaijani armed forces on the eastern border on November 16, the Defense Ministry stated on Friday.

"During the clashes that erupted on November 16 in the east of Armenia following the attack by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, according to the latest data, some six people have been killed," the defense ministry noted.

As the ministry reported, "a search for the missing servicemen is currently underway with the mediation of the Russian side, while the talks on the return of prisoners of war are also being held." "As of 10:00 a.m. (09:00 a.m. Moscow Time) on November 19, the situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border remains relatively stable and controlled by the Armenian armed forces," the defense ministry said.

On November 16, violent clashes between the armed forces of Armenia and Azerbaijan broke out at their border. Yerevan said the Azeri military began advancing into Armenian territory, threatening the highway that connects the Armenian capital with the country’s southern regions and Iran. Baku pinned the blame on Yerevan, saying the Armenian armed forces had staged a provocation by attacking Azeri positions.

Later that day, Putin held talks by phone with Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to discuss the situation. Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu held phone talks with his counterparts in Armenia and Azerbaijan. The situation later returned to normal after Azerbaijan and Armenia sought to stabilize it, Russia’s Defense Ministry said. At the same time, the sides continue to report some sporadic shootings at the border.


https://tass.com/world/1363605


Read also
https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/6-armenian-soldiers-killed-in-clashes-with-azeri-forces-on-nov-16-ministry-685469 

https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2021-11-19/armenia-says-six-of-its-soldiers-killed-in-nov-16-clashes-with-azerbaijan-ifax
https://www.dw.com/en/armenia-reports-6-soldiers-killed-in-clashes-with-azerbaijan/a-59872381  
 

‘Armenian enemy’ uttered in every paragraph of Azerbaijan president’s address

Suren Karakhanian
News.am, Armenia
Nov 8 2021
17:04, 08.11.2021

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has made another militaristic speech—and this time on the one-year anniversary of the cessation of his country’s 44-day military aggression against Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) and Armenia.

As expected, the address was delivered in Artsakh’s currently Azerbaijani-occupied Armenian city of Shushi where the Azerbaijani president had arrived in military uniform—and accompanied by his wife, Mehriban Aliyeva.

The essence of the speech, which was carefully being listened to by several dozen Azerbaijani servicemen, was to personally praise him and the Azerbaijani army.

But the rhetoric of the president of Azerbaijan is noteworthy, as it has not changed at all in the context of the proposal of the "3 + 3" formula approved by the country. Also, the phrase "Armenian enemy" was uttered in every paragraph of the speech of the Azerbaijani president.

Aliyev even confirmed that it was Azerbaijan that had unleashed the aforementioned military aggression against Nagorno-Karabakh.

"When I was first elected to the office of president in 2003, I said in my message addressed to the Azerbaijani people that we would return our historic lands at all costs—whether peacefully or militarily. And so it happened. The years of peace talks did not yield any results. On the contrary, the enemy [i.e., Armenians] became even more impudent. If in the first years of the [Armenian] occupation the Azerbaijani people and I still had certain hopes in connection with the negotiation process, those hopes completely disappeared in recent times," he said.

Thus, the Azerbaijani leadership continues its policy of Armenophobia and sowing hatred towards Armenians. It should be recalled that, according to a statement by the office of the ombudsman of Armenia, the words by the Azerbaijan president and other high-ranking officials are used by the Azerbaijani military in the videos of the killings and torture of captured Armenians.

French, Russian FMs to discuss joint efforts within OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship

Suren Karakhanian

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 11:16, 10 November, 2021

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 10, ARMENPRESS. French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will hold a meeting in Paris on November 12 on the sidelines of the international conference on Libya, the French foreign ministry reports.

The meeting will also be attended by the defense ministers of France and Russia.

The sides will discuss the joint efforts being made within the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship, as well as the political and military aspects of regional and international crises.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Prelate Hosts Celebration Dinner Honoring Arch. Moushegh Mardirossian

Suren Karakhanian
 by Contributor

 

 

 

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Western Prelate Bishop Torkom Donoyan presents a memento to Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian

An evening honoring Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian’s 25 years of service as Prelate of the Western Prelacy was held on Friday, November 5 at the Glendale Hilton. Western Prelate Bishop Torkom Donoyan presided over the dinner celebration that was initiated by the Western Prelacy Executive and Religious Councils and organized by a special committee.

Leaders representing the other Armenian religious demonimantions included Western Diocese Primate Archbishop Hovnan Derderian; Fr. Armenag Bedrossian, representing the Armenian Catholic Eparchy of the U.S. and Canada; Rev. Hendrik Shanazarian Interim Minister to the Armenian Evangelical Union of North America.

Also attending were Armenia’s Consul General to Los Angeles, Ambassador Dr. Armen Baibourtian; Armenia’s Honorary Consul in Fresno and Executive Council member Berj Apkarian; Armenia’s Honorary Consul in Las Vegas Adroushan Armenian; as well as members of the Cilician Catholicosate’s Central Executive Council, Executive Council members, representatives of boards or trustees, principals and directors of Prelacy Schools, benefactors, friends and guests.

The evening’s Master of Ceremonies Rev. Karekin Bedourian, welcomed guests and highlighted Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian’s religious leadership positions both outside and within the Western Prelacy throughout the years.

Ambassador Baibourtian, Apkarian and Primate Derderian all praised Archbishop Mardirossian’s spiritual, human and leadership qualities that have distinguished his 25 years of tireless service in the Western Prelacy. Underscoring his national and community accomplishments, they detailed and shared personal accounts and heartfelt sentiments.

Archbishop Derderian presented a memento to the Archbishop Mardirossian that depicts the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple, likening the actions of Archbishop Mardirossian’s parents, who led their son to the Church at a young age, to those of Jesus.

The head table at the celebration dinner

Very Rev. Dajad Ashekian then read an encyclical from His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great See of Cilicia, which conveyed blessings and appreciation to Archbishop Moushegh Mardirosian, highlighting his merits and life of service to the Church.

Archbishop Mardirossian expressed gratitude to His Holiness Aram I for the commendation, thanked Prelate Donoyan, Religious and Executive Councils, and the organizing committee for arranging the evening of tribute, and speakers for their homage to his service. He recalled his now deceased parents, especially his mother who instilled traditional Armenian values in him, at an early age.

Talking about his religious service, he thanked former prelates, clergy, peers, benefactors, friends and circumstances that have played a crucial role in advancing activities and accomplishments during his spiritual service, spanning from 25 years as prelate to those before, as clergy.

Prelate Bishop Torkom Donoyan began the evening’s closing remarks by thanking those gathered and conveyed gratitude Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian.

“When we talk about Archbishop Mardirossian, we are inevitably talking about the national, spiritual, and cultural history of Armenians of the West Coast—about the organizations and individuals who have worked effectively, with the guidance of his paternal spirit,” said Prelate Donoyan.

Reflecting on the advancements in the past 25-years, the Prelate stressed that Archbishop Mardirossian’s presence is evident in them because, in his capacity as Prelate, he worked tirelessly to nurture institutions of the Western Prelacy.

“I am sure that many of you have personally accompanied—or been present in various corners of the West Coast, when the Archbishop has laid the foundation for a new church, school, or national institution with his prayer and presence. We pay tribute today to H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, a member of the brotherhood of the Catholicosate of the Holy See of Cilicia, who dedicated his life to service and became—and remains—a singular example of initiative, diligence, dedication, persistence and perseverance,” said the Prelate.

He wished for Divine blessings and grace for the Archbishop, saying: “Wherever he turns, may blessings abound; wherever he looks, let there be goodness, let rivers flow, fields bloom, clouds disappear; let tears turn to laughter, fog lift and Godly rainbow appear, the sun shine again and the heavenly light reflect from Archbishop Mardirossian towards our individual and collective lives.”

Prelate Donoyan closed the evening by presenting Archbishop Mardirossian a memento symbolizing peace, then offered closing prayer.

Musical entertainment during the social hour and dinner was provided by The Hosharian Quartet featuring Greg Hosharian on piano, Angela Amirian on Violin, George Bilezikjian on drums, and Suzanne Susan Winsberg on flute.

https://asbarez.com/prelate-hosts-celebration-dinner-honoring-arch-moushegh-mardirossian/?fbclid=IwAR3N_ClQE_TNsNVsz-zw-P7RHSp-pY8-EPn2UIbeIAxvsaIBP3bIpVwdjgU

RFE/RL Armenian Report – 11/01/2021

Suren Karakhanian 
                                        Monday, November 1, 2021


Azeri-Controlled Road ‘Safe For Armenians’
November 01, 2021
        • Naira Nalbandian

An Azerbaijani checkpoint set up at on the main road conneting Armeia to Iran, 
September 14, 2021.


Armenians can safely use an Azerbaijani-controlled section of the main highway 
that connects Armenia to Iran, a senior security official in Yerevan insisted on 
Monday.

The 21-kilometer section is part of contested border areas along Armenia’s 
Syunik province which were controversially handed over to Azerbaijan following 
last year’s war in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Azerbaijani forces set up a checkpoint there on September 12 to tax Iranian 
commercial trucks transporting cargo to and from Armenia. The move caused 
serious disruptions in Armenian-Iranian trade operations and raised tensions in 
Baku’s relations with Tehran.

Officials in Syunik accused Azerbaijani officers of bullying some Armenian 
drivers and their passengers at the same section of the road that also connects 
the Syunik towns of Goris and Kapan. Later in September, Russian and Armenian 
border guards reportedly began escorting Armenian vehicles driving through it.

“It is safe,” said Aram Hakobian, a deputy head of Armenia’s National Security 
Service (NSS). “I was there yesterday, it’s very safe.”

“True, representatives of the neighboring state [Azerbaijan] are standing there 
but they don’t stop Armenian citizens,” he told reporters.

Commenting on incidents that are still periodically reported from the 
Goris-Kapan highway, Hakobian said: “I have no such information.”

The Azerbaijani roadblock left the Armenian government scrambling to speed up 
the reconstruction of an alternative Syunik highway bypassing the border area. 
The government has assured senior Iranian officials that it will be essentially 
completed by the end of November.



Armenians Ignore COVID-19 Mask Rule
November 01, 2021
        • Marine Khachatrian

Armenia - Passengers on a commuter bus in Yerevan, March 12, 2021.


Few Armenians wore masks outdoors on Monday despite being legally required to do 
so following a surge in coronavirus cases that have killed more than 1,000 
people in the country of about 3 million over the past month.

The Armenian government decided to impose the rule, effective from October 1, in 
a bid to contain the latest wave of infections. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian 
said the measure will make it easier for authorities to enforce mask wearing on 
public transport and inside shops and other enclosed areas.

An RFE/RL correspondent saw very few people with face coverings in the center 
and outskirts of Yerevan. Residents of other parts of Armenia have been even 
more reluctant to put on masks throughout the pandemic.

There were also no police officers in sight fining people or warning them to 
comply with the new legal requirement.

Critics questioned the effectiveness of the requirement in the absence of strict 
enforcement of physical distancing rules in public areas.

Armenian bars, restaurants and other leisure and cultural facilities have 
operated with few sanitary restrictions since the summer of 2020. Nor have the 
authorities banned or restricted mass events in recent months.


Armenia - An official from the Food Safety Inspectorate inspects a grocery store 
in Yerevan, September 3, 2021.

Davit Melik-Nubarian, a public health expert, said the government should shorten 
the work hours of leisure venues and consider introducing a mandatory 
coronavirus health pass for entry to them if it is to slow the spread of 
COVID-19.

The Armenian Ministry of Health registered 55 more coronavirus-related deaths on 
Sunday, raising the official death toll from the disease to 6,379. The figure 
does not include almost 1,300 other infected people who the ministry says have 
died as a result of other, chronic conditions.

Pashinian made clear last Thursday that the government has no plans to impose 
lockdown restrictions. It will instead step up its vaccination campaign and push 
for greater mask wearing, he said.

Nearly seven months after the launch of the campaign, less than 10 percent of 
Armenia’s population has been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus, the 
lowest immunization rate in wider Europe.


Armenia - A crowded cafe downtown Yerevan, May 14, 2020.

Vaccinations have accelerated over the past month after the authorities began 
requiring all public and private sector employees to get inoculated or take 
coronavirus tests twice a month at their own expense. But there are growing 
complaints about poor and unsafe organization of the process mainly carried 
inside state-run policlinics across the country.

Gohar Abrahamian, a Yerevan resident, feared contracting the coronavirus when 
she stood in long waiting lines to get vaccinated late last week.

Abrahamian said she first waited at the entrance to a policlinic together with 
about 40 other people, some of whom had possible COVID-19 symptoms and wanted to 
see a doctor. Once inside the building, she had to join an even longer line of 
citizens crammed into a narrow corridor and waiting outside a single vaccination 
room.

“I kept looking around to see who is sneezing and who is not,” the woman told 
RFE/RL’s Armenian Service. “Social distancing was out of the question in those 
circumstances.”



New Gyumri Mayor Elected After Deal With Ruling Party
November 01, 2021
        • Satenik Kaghzvantsian

Armenia - Vardges Samsonian attends a public discussion in Gyumri, October 15, 
2019.


A leader of the political force that won the October 17 municipal election in 
Gyumri became the mayor of Armenia’s second largest city on Monday after 
striking a power-sharing deal with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian’s party.

Gyumri has been run by Samvel Balasanian, a local businessman, for the last nine 
years. Although Balasanian decided not to seek another term in office, a newly 
created bloc bearing his name joined the mayoral race.

The Balasanian Bloc garnered 36.6 percent of the vote, earning it 14 seats in 
the 33-member city council empowered to elect the mayor. In a serious setback 
for Pashinian, the ruling Civil Contract party finished second with 11 seats. 
The remaining eight seats were distributed among three opposition parties.

The new council elected Balasanian Bloc’s mayoral candidate, Vardges Samsonian, 
by 24 votes to 8.

Samsonian, who previously headed a municipal agency providing utility services, 
pledged to strive to turn Gyumri into a “well-maintained, green, tranquil, 
consolidated, clean and developing city looking to its future with confidence.”


Armenia - The Mayor's Office in Gyumri.

He was backed by council members representing his bloc and Pashinian’s party in 
line with a “memorandum of cooperation” signed by the two political forces on 
Saturday.

A senior Civil Contract member who signed the deal said they agreed to share 
“responsibility for governing the city” and pursue a “coordinated staffing 
policy.” The deal entitles Civil Contract to naming Gyumri’s deputy mayors, she 
said.

It was signed two days after two senior municipal officials affiliated with the 
Balasanian Bloc were arrested by Armenia’s National Security Service on 
corruption charges. The bloc did not publicly allege political reasons behind 
the arrests.

Some Armenian outlets reported earlier in October that the Balasanian Bloc is 
facing strong pressure from the central government to reach a power-sharing deal 
with Pashinian’s party and even cede the post of mayor to it. Senior party 
figures denied such pressure.

Civil Contract’s list of candidates in the Gyumri election was topped by 
Hovannes Harutiunian, the governor of surrounding Shirak province. Harutiunian 
is now widely expected to be sacked and replaced by a pro-government member of 
the Armenian parliament, Nazeli Baghdasarian. The latter will be the fourth 
provincial governor handpicked by Pashinian in the last three and a half years.


Armenia -- A street in the center of Gyumri, August 25, 2019.

The Balasanian Bloc would have still managed to install Samsonian as mayor had 
it accepted a coalition proposal from the opposition Zartonk (Awakening) party 
that controls four seats in the new Gyumri council. A representative of the 
bloc, Sona Arakelian, said it chose to team up with the ruling party instead 
because “the people of Gyumri gave the largest number of votes to these two 
forces.”

Less than one-quarter of the city’s eligible voters went to the polls on October 
17.

Samsonian also defended his bloc’s political choice criticized by opposition 
groups. “By gaining an absolute majority [in the council] we will manage to 
jointly address Gyumri’s problems even more rapidly,” the newly elected mayor 
told reporters. “If we were not united, there would be a problem.”


Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2021 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

Pressure on Turkmen Nationals in Turkey Must Be Stopped.

Suren Karakhanian 
Human Rights Watch
Nov. 2, 2021



[Their Rights and Freedoms Must Be Secured.]

Statement by Nongovernmental Organizations

02 November 2021

We, representatives of nongovernmental organizations, would like to
express our grave concern over the deteriorating situation for Turkmen
migrants in Turkey – primarily those who criticize Turkmen government
policies. Over the past few weeks many of them have been subjected to
threats, presumably as a result of pressure from the Turkmen
authorities on the law enforcement authorities of Turkey as well as
physical attacks. We call on the Turkmen government to stop this
harassment and call on the authorities of Turkey to uphold their
international legal obligations and ensure the protection of rights
and freedoms of Turkmen nationals residing in Turkey. We urge the
international community to closely monitor this worrying situation and
assist in resolving it.

Turkey is one of very few countries to which Turkmen citizens can
travel without a visa and where they may apply and obtain a residence
permit that is renewable on an annual basis. Similar languages and
culture foster auspicious conditions for employment, education, and
successful integration into local communities. According to some
sources, over a million Turkmen nationals reside in Turkey, including
migrant workers, students, and their family members.

In recent years, officials in Turkmenistan’s consulates abroad, in
violation of Turkmen law, have refused to renew and replace Turkmen
citizens’ passports, and force Turkmen residents to return to
Turkmenistan in order to renew their Turkmen identity documents. As a
result of this refusal, many Turkmen migrants cannot conform to
migration laws of the countries where they reside, including Turkey.
In the past eighteen months the situation has been exacerbated by the
Covid-19 pandemic: due to travel restrictions the number of Turkmen
nationals who are experiencing problems with their documents and are
unable to return to their home country has considerably increased. As
a result, thousands of Turkmen migrants with expired passports in
Turkey cannot exercise their rights to employment, education, health
care, and freedom of movement. They cannot register marriages, births,
and other civic acts.

This appalling situation has forced Turkmen migrants in Turkey to
organize a group of civil activists, who requested that the Consulate
fulfill their obligations under the Turkmen and international law to
renew passports. They also criticized the government’s refusal to
acknowledge the presence of Covid-19 infections in Turkmenistan, its
inadequate response to the country’s economic crisis, and the
authorities’ suppression of free speech. People started taking to the
streets to participate in peaceful rallies and sharing their problems
on social media. Many Turkmen nationals and human rights defenders
have repeatedly urged the Turkmen authorities to assist migrants in
legalizing their documents.

To the credit of the Turkish migration authorities, for a long time
they had been sympathetic towards Turkmen migrants and had not
penalized them because of expired passports. However, the situation
recently changed: in the course of preparations for the meeting of the
Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States, scheduled for 12
November in Istanbul, there has been an increasing number of reports
of arbitrary detention of Turkmen civil activists by the Turkish
police, their placement in deportation facilities and threats of their
immediate deportation to Turkmenistan. Experts[1] believe that the
Turkish authorities are trying to convince Turkmenistan to join the
Council and are making efforts to ensure this happens during the
upcoming session. Changes in the policy pursued by the Turkish
authorities towards Turkey-based Turkmen activists have occurred,
apparently, in response to requests by the Turkmen government, which
seeks to put an end to its nationals’ civic activities abroad.

Taking into account that Turkmenistan has a long record of severely
punishing peaceful critics of its government, forcibly returning
activists to Turkmenistan would place them at grave risk of
persecution, including a high risk of arbitrary arrest, torture, and
even enforced disappearance in prisons.

A number of recent cases illustrate this dramatic situation. This is
not a comprehensive list because not everyone is willing to disclose
their situation out of concern for the safety of their families in
Turkmenistan. Turkmen authorities are pressuring family members of
Turkey-based activists because of their civic activism. *

When detaining Turkmen migrants, Turkish police reportedly refer to a
list of 25 individuals, which was allegedly handed over to them by
Turkmenistan’s Consulate with a request for their detention and
deportation. Neither the detained activists nor Turkish lawyers
representing them have been able to see the list of 25 activists and
learn about the legal grounds for their detention. Turkmen human
rights defenders have on file a list of 13 individuals (№44/05-5490
dated 1 August), which the Turkmen Consulate sent to the Turkish
police.

Despite statements of Turkmen activists and international human rights
defenders, the Turkish authorities have continued to side with staff
of the Turkmenistan’s Consulate. The latter, in turn, are engaged in
creating false and arbitrary complaints against their fellow
countrymen, based on which the Turkish police arbitrarily and
illegally detain Turkmen migrants and threaten to deport them.

In addition, there are numerous alarming reports that Turkmen
nationals – supporters of Berdymukhammedov’s government – regularly
attack Turkmen civil activists in Turkey and threaten reprisals
against them and their family members. The complaints that these
activists have filed with Turkish law enforcement and judicial
authorities did not result in effective investigations or
prosecutions, which contributes to impunity and new assaults. **

There is also evidence that supporters of the Turkmen authorities have
routinely threatened and harassed activists in Turkey, and regularly
intimidate young activists on the phone and on the Internet. They
intimidate activists and their relatives with serious threats,
including murder, both in Turkey and Turkmenistan. Activists have
repeatedly filed reports with the Turkish police presenting
screenshots of the threats and giving names of perpetrators, but the
police do not undertake any effective action.

These attacks and threats are egregious examples of foreign nationals
persecuting Turkmen activists in Turkey. Inaction by the Turkish law
enforcement authorities in connection with this criminal wrongdoing
cannot be justified and contradicts Turkish and international law.

We call on the Turkish authorities:

    to halt any plans to deport detained Turkmen activists to
Turkmenistan, ensure they have access to a lawyer, immediately release
them from deportation custody, and allow them to continue with their
steps to regularize their status in Turkey;
    to promptly carry out an effective investigation of incidents of
attacks on and intimidation of Turkmen activists in Turkey and hold
those responsible accountable.

We hope that Turkey will abide by the rule of law and will not, in
order to advance geopolitical interests, pressure Turkmen activists
and cover up for those violating the law on its territory, at the
behest of illegal demands of Turkmen authorities. The Turkish
authorities must abide by its international obligations and the
fundamental principle of nonrefoulement, which obliges states to
ensure that they do not send anyone to a place where they face a real
risk of torture or other ill-treatment. Turkey is bound by its
obligations to protect fundamental rights and freedoms of people on
its territory and ensure they are not persecuted, and should not be
complicit in gross violations of human rights.

We urge intergovernmental organizations and Turkey’s international
partners to draw their attention to this acute situation and call on
Ankara to abide by its obligations under international law and prevent
deportation of Turkmen civil activists to Turkmenistan, including
those who are now in custody.

    Annadurdy Khadjiev, Turkmen Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights (Bulgaria)
    Farid Tukhbatullin, Turkmen Initiative for Human Rights (Austria)
    Yuri Dzhibladze, Centre for the Development of Democracy and Human
Rights (Russia)
    Adaem Çevik, Adalet Human Rights Platform (Turkey)
    Vyacheslav Mamedov, Turkmen Civil Democratic Union (the Netherlands)
    Ruslan Myatiyev, Turkmen.News (the Netherlands)
    Тimur Misrikhanov, Turkmenistan’s Independent Lawyers Association
(the Netherlands)
    Kate Watters, Crude Accountability (USA)
    Ivar Dale, Norwegian Helsinki Committee (Norway)
    Olga Zakharova, Freedom Files (Poland)
    Krassimir Kanev, Bulgarian Helsinki Committee (Bulgaria)
    Valentin Gefter, expert with the Presidential Council for the
Development of Civil Society and Human Rights under the President of
the Russian Federation (Russia)

    Rachel Denber, Human Rights Watch (international)

    Alexander Cherkasov, Human Rights Centre “Memorial”, included by
the Ministry of Justice of Russia in the list stipulated by p. 10 art.
13.1 of the Federal Law “On NGOs” (Russia)

    Gerald Staberok, OMCT (World Organisation Against Torture) (international)

    Svetlana Gannushkina, Civic Assistance Committee (Russia),
included by the Ministry of Justice of Russia in the list stipulated
by p. 10 art. 13.1 of the Federal Law “On NGOs”

    Oleksandra Matviichuk, Center for Civil Liberties (Ukraine)
    Artur Sakunts, Helsinki Citizens Assembly – Vanadzor office (Armenia)
    Tolekan Ismailova, Human Rights Movement “Bir Duino – Kyrgyzstan”
(Kyrgyzstan)
    Eldar Zeynalov, Human Rights Center of Azerbaijan (Azerbaijan)
    Lenur Kerymov, Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights (Poland)

    Natalia Taubina, Public Verdict Foundation, included by the
Ministry of Justice of Russia in the list stipulated by p. 10 art.
13.1 of the Federal Law “On NGOs” (Russia)

    Evgeny Zhovtis, Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights
and Rule of Law (Kazakhstan)
    Anara Ibraeva, NGO “Kadyr-Kasiet” (Kazakhstan)
    Elena Shakhova, Human rights NGO "Citizens' Watch", St.
Petersburg, included by the Ministry of Justice of Russia in the list
stipulated by p. 10 art. 13.1 of the Federal Law “On NGOs” (Russia)
    Ucha Nanuashvili, Human Rights Center (Georgia)
    Vadim Pivovarov, Association UMDPL (Ukraine)
    Alex Postica, Promo LEX (Moldova)
    Giorgi Marjanishvili, Center for Participation and Development (Georgia)
    Anders Bjurner, Swedish OSCE Network (Sweden)
    Sabuhi Gafarov, Human Rights Club (Azerbaijan)
    Matthias Hui, humanrights.ch (Switzerland)
    Matthew Schaaf, Freedom Now (USA)



Examples of persecution of Turkmen activists in Turkey

* On 27 September a civic activist, Dursoltan Taganova, was detained
and placed in a deportation centre, allegedly because the Migration
Office did not have a document confirming that she holds temporary
refugee status legalizing her stay in Turkey, despite the fact that
the Migration Office had previously granted her this status. Only on
12 October, after publication of appeals by human rights defenders and
the interference of a lawyer, Taganova was released under the pretext
of “a misunderstanding”. In mid-October she was again summoned to the
Migration Office, where officials tried to convince her to revoke her
refugee application which guarantees that she will not be deported.

In September 2021, in the presence of witnesses, activist Aziz Mamedov
submitted his passport to the Turkmen Consulate for extension. Since
then he has visited the Consulate three times, but diplomats have not
returned the document, claiming it has been lost. His lawyer is denied
access to the Consulate. Furthermore, every time the activist appears
at the Consulate, diplomats call the police.

On 18 October, 2021 47-year-old Akhmed Rakhmanov was sent to a
deportation centre soon after he had visited the Migration Office in
Antalya to extend his residence permit. Rakhmanov, the administrator
of an online chat group for a Turkmen political opposition
group-in-exile, Democratic Choice of Turkmenistan, has repeatedly
criticized the Turkmen regime on YouTube and TikTok and gave comments
to the Turkmen Service of Radio Liberty. He was kept in the Tuzla
deportation facility, where he went on hunger strike on 22 October,
2021.

Later on 18 October, 35-year-old Kamil Abulov was taken from his
apartment in Istanbul. Abulov’s spouse was informed by law enforcement
officers that the Turkish authorities have a list of 25 names of
Turkmen activists in Turkey who are at risk of detention at the behest
of the Turkmenistan’s Consulate. Abulov was also placed in the Tuzla
deportation centre. He is known to be one of the Turkmen activists who
had previously been detained by the Turkish police after a failed
rally attempt in front of Turkmenistan’s Consulate in Istanbul on 1
August. On 26 and 27 October 2021, after HRW’s appeal and the lawyer’s
interference, both were released.

Police officers were looking for three other Turkmen activists,
including Merdan Badrov, at their registered place of residence in
Istanbul on 20 October 2021, in order to detain them. Fortunately,
they were not at home.

On 22 October 2021, Bayram Allalyev was detained in a migration office
in Istanbul, to which he had been summoned to file for a renewal of
his residence permit. While he was filling in the documents, law
enforcement officers detained him. On 1 November, Allalyev was
released from the Pendik deportation centre.

** On 1 August 2021, with the collusion of employees of Turkmenistan’s
Consulate, a violent incident occurred when several activists were
beaten in front of the Consulate by unidentified officials. Two of the
victims had to seek medical help because one of them sustained an
injury to his head with a heavy object. There are solid grounds to
believe that the attackers are connected to Consulate staff because
when asked to return a telephone confiscated from the beaten activist
Aziz Mamedov, the attackers said that they could collect it in the
Consulate. The victims recognized the assailant on dashboard camera
footage. In addition, activist Farkhad Durdyev told human rights
defenders that during the incident he was tricked into entering the
Consulate area and was beaten. In connection with these attacks the
activists are working with lawyers and intend to resolve this issue by
legal means.

On 11 October 2021, two activists and a visitor to the office of the
Association of Oghuz Culture, Cooperation and Education in Istanbul,
were attacked by unidentified individuals. This happened after
activists had given an interview to a British journalist. A bag with a
telephone and documents was stolen from the Chairperson of the
Association of Oghuz Culture Nurmukhamed Annayev. Civic activist Aziz
Mamedov was severely punched in the face. First aid was rendered to
the assault’s victims. The activists claim that one of the attackers
resembles a person, who had assaulted Turkmen protesters in Istanbul
on 1 August 2021. This time, according to them, he had “an implement
which looked like a metal knuckle duster” in his hands. The activists
believe that the assault is related to the planned trip of Nurmukhamed
Annayev to the ODIHR/OSCE event scheduled to take place in Warsaw on
14-15 October, where he was going to give a speech criticizing the
Turkmen regime.

 *****

[1] [What is behind the attacks on Turkmen activists in Istanbul? In
Russian] Что стоит за нападениями на туркменских активистов в
Стамбуле? Radio Azatlyk – Turkmen Service of Radio Liberty, 14.10.2021
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://rus.azathabar.com/a/31508531.html__;!!LIr3w8kk_Xxm!6Bht731wsCTagXojINN_OQrCYpLLr2M2MIRdP1eB5v7fcpcmC6vWQ53VfPOIng$
 ; [A Turkmen wheel in a
Turkish cart. Ankara insists on Ashgabat's joining the Turkic Union.
In Russian] Туркменское колесо в турецкой телеге. Анкара настаивает на
вступлении Ашхабада в Тюркский союз. Serdar Aitakov, Nezavisimaya
Gazeta, 03.10.2021
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.ng.ru/courier/2021-10-03/11_8267_turkmenia.html__;!!LIr3w8kk_Xxm!6Bht731wsCTagXojINN_OQrCYpLLr2M2MIRdP1eB5v7fcpcmC6vWQ5327j_vEw$

Karabakh Victory exhibition opens in Erzurum

Suren Karakhanian
Vestnik Kavkaza
Nov 5 2021
 5 Nov in 18:35

In honour of the upcoming first anniversary of the Azerbaijani Liberation Army’s victory over the Armenian occupation troops, the Karabakh Victory exhibition was opened today in the eastern Turkish province of Erzurum.

The local administration, the Ataturk Technical University and the Erzurum Technical University organized the exhibition of photographic documents telling about the course of the Azerbaijani Patriotic War, Anadolu Agency reports.

Artsakh State Minister meets with Armenia’s Ambassador to US

Suren Karakhanian

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 12:25, 5 November, 2021

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 5, ARMENPRESS. On November 3, a reception was organized in honor of the State Minister of the Artsakh Republic Artak Beglaryan at the Embassy of Armenia in the USA. A meeting was held with Ambassador Lilit Makunts. 

The State Minister and his Chief Adviser Davit Hakobyan presented the current situation in Artsakh, the current problems, the vision of the future on the development of Artsakh and the involvement of the Diaspora in it. Artak Beglaryan stressed that the expectation from the Diaspora is not so much material, supporting the development of long-term capacities in Artsakh with the huge human resources of the Diaspora is more valuable. 

During the meeting with Ambassador Lilit Makunts, a number of issues related to the visit of the State Minister and the protection of the rights and interests of the people of Artsakh in the USA were discussed. 

Artak Beglaryan also met with the heads of the Armenian National Committee of America, the Armenian Assembly of America, and its offices in Washington, presented a vision for the future of Artsakh, and discussed the prospects for effective cooperation. 

The Permanent Representative of the Republic of Artsakh to the United States Robert Avetisyan also took part in all the meetings.

Armenpress: From Macron’s visit to donation of COVID-19 vaccines: New French Ambassador to Armenia gives interview to ARMENPRESS

Suren Karakhanian

From Macron’s visit to donation of COVID-19 vaccines: New French Ambassador to Armenia gives interview to ARMENPRESS

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 09:20, 2 November, 2021

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 2, ARMENPRESS. France’s new Ambassador to Armenia Anne Louyot says her goal is to make the cooperation between the two countries in different areas more long-term. She hopes that the OSCE Minsk Group will help to achieve lasting stability in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. The Ambassador notes that France attaches importance to taking humanitarian measures and returning the Armenian captives from Azerbaijan.

Anne Louyot gave an interview to ARMENPRESS about these topics.

-Mrs. Louyot, you have recently assumed office in Armenia. What are your impressions from our country and what actions do you see that must be taken during your mission?

-Thank you ARMENPRESS for the opportunity to give an interview. Of course, this appointment in Armenia is a great happiness and honor for me, as Armenia is France’s great friend in general and in the region in particular. From the first moments since I came here, I noticed the high level of the bilateral relations from the warm welcome I received here. And I am committed to further deepening the Armenian-French relations.

-Armenia and France cooperate in different areas. What successful programs would you mention and what kind of new projects are expected in the future? As an Ambassador, how do you imagine your activity for further deepening the bilateral relations and cooperation in different fields?

-Following the difficult period Armenia faced last year, France is more engaged here in humanitarian programs. There have been 8 important projects which provided urgent aid to the population mostly affected by the military operations. As you know, French President Emmanuel Macron has expressed his solidarity to the Armenian people. And France, the French people, have been mobilized for assisting Armenia. Programs were implemented with both different associations, organizations, local self-government bodies, as well as at a state level. Now my goal is to make this more long-term, carry out more long-term cooperation programs with the Armenian authorities. During my talk with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan , he said that the economic development is a priority for Armenia in order to consolidate the country and ensure future for the Armenian youth. This is also the desire of France, and our governments work together in order to introduce ambitious cooperation programs in economic sector both at bilateral and within the EU framework. You know that many important French companies, such as Veolia, Carfour, Amundi and Perno-Ricard, operate in Armenia. The purpose is to develop the economic cooperation, investments, have cooperation programs in the fields of sustainable development, green and high technologies. For instance, water, waste processing are areas where France can share its experience. Another important field is the healthcare. It becomes further important given that the coronavirus cases are growing in Armenia. And the French President has assumed a commitment to provide vaccines to Armenia. But there are also other healthcare programs around which we want to deepen our cooperation. There is already a very active cooperation between hospitals, the talk concerns the hospitals of Paris and Lyon which are cooperating with Armenian hospitals.

I would like to mention also two other sectors which are very important for cooperation. The education sector which is a priority for the Armenian government. There are already successful programs in this sector, such as the French university, the French-Armenian professional education center, the Lycée Français Anatole France and the Alliance Française. We want to have new cooperation programs in education sector. Cooperating with our Armenian partners with these projects we want to further contribute to the spread of French in Armenia. We must not forget that Armenia is a member of the International Organization of La Francophonie. Of course, there are many other fields which we want and can develop the cooperation. But now I would like to mention the cooperation in the heritage field. Here the partnership can be reflected in two forms – educational programs for specialists dealing with heritage preservation, and the restoration of the Armenian heritage. Those are the main areas where I would like to further strengthen the Armenian-French cooperation.

-Mrs. Ambassador, you talked about the statement of the French President on donating vaccines to Armenia. What vaccines the statement is about and when will they be delivered to Armenia? In august 2021, President Macron announced that France will donate 200,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine to Armenia.

-The talk is about either Moderna or Pfizer vaccines. We will inform when we know the date of the delivery. 50,000 doses of other types of vaccines have already been sent to Armenia by France. And the second delivery is already at a preparation stage. It’s still unknown how many doses it would be, but the talk is about quite a large quantity.

-France is an OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair country, and you are the representative of the Co-Chair country in Armenia. A year has passed since the war Azerbaijan launched against Nagorno Karabakh, but Baku still refuses to return all Armenian prisoners of war and civilian captives despite the commitments assumed by the November 9 trilateral statement. What role France can play on this matter as a Co-Chair country, for forcing Azerbaijan to return the captives? In your opinion, what actions must the OSCE Minsk Group and the international community take on this matter?

-Of course, I am aware of this painful situation. And of course, France is among those countries who wish taking humanitarian measures, reducing tension and releasing the persons held. Not me or my colleagues, the French Ambassador in Azerbaijan, follow this topic, there is a separate Ambassador, who is France’s co-chair in the Minsk Group and who follows and deals with this issue. We are happy that the Armenian Prime Minister and Foreign Minister reaffirmed the importance of the role of the Minsk Group in solving this situation. We are also happy for the recent meeting of the foreign ministers of the two countries in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. And the Minsk Group is working with the sides in order to take new actions in this dialogue process. As the Ambassador of France to Armenia, I hope that the Minsk Group will help the sides to record progress for the long-term stabilization of the situation.

-You mentioned earlier in one of your interviews that France is working with Russia and the United States on signing a lasting agreement over Karabakh. Can you please specify what kind of an agreement the talk is about?

-Perhaps I didn’t state my words very clearly that time. The talk, of course, was about the efforts of the Minsk Group Co-Chairs and the Co-Chair countries so that they accompany the sides in the settlement process.

-But is any concrete document being prepared?

-I will cite the statements of the Minsk Group Co-Chairs. The role of the Minsk Group is to accompany the sides in the lasting settlement process. The Minsk Group doesn’t write any document by itself, the talk is about accompanying and assisting the sides in order to find lasting stabilization solutions for the situation in the region.

-Azerbaijan claims that the Nagorno Karabakh conflict has been solved, whereas the status of Karabakh, the issue of the Artsakh people’s right to self-determination are still unresolved. Thus, Armenia claims that the conflict is not solved. What is France’s position on this matter?

-I would like to state once again that I am not the representative, the co-chair of France in the Minsk Group. And therefore, these are not the topics over which I have a direct authority. The only thing I can say is that I am fully aware and understand what an impact this situation has on the people of Armenia. I hope that all the diplomatic efforts being made will soon give results.

-As you said, you are not the representative of the Minsk Group and are not dealing with this issue directly, but I would like to address my last question on this topic. Till today the incidents provoked by Azerbaijan hinder to start the demarcation and delimitation works on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. What is your assessment to such behavior of the Azerbaijani side and how do you see the solution of the issue?

-Of course, France thinks that it’s important to achieve the border demarcation and delimitation. And we, as well as the international community call for making these processes in a peaceful way. It’s obvious that the establishment of a peaceful context will enable to more quickly conduct the demarcation and delimitation works. And of course, this is my wish on this matter.

-Earlier reports were spreading that French President Emmanuel Macron will pay a visit to Armenia. What details can you provide? Is a presidential visit to Armenia planned in the future or not?

-The President will be very happy to visit Armenia. As he has stated for several occasions, he has great connection with Armenia and Armenians. And he has a plan to visit Armenia, but at this moment the dates are not known.

 

Interview by Anna Grigoryan

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Photos by Mkhitar Khachatryan