Smoking suspected in Yerevan hospital fire

Save

Share

 11:32, 16 April, 2021

YEREVAN, APRIL 16, ARMENPRESS. The administration of the hospital where a fire erupted early Friday morning suspects that it was caused by smoking.

Yerevan State Medical University (YSMU) Chief of Staff Shushan Danielyan said in a statement that according to the preliminary version a patient violated the no-smoking rule in the hospital room, causing the fire.

“The health workers attempted to put out the fire before the arrival of [firefighters], as a result of which the department’s doctor injured their arm, and the patient who violated the safety rules has been taken to the burns clinic,” she said.

Earlier it was reported that a patient and a doctor suffered burns in a fire at the YSMU Heratsi N1 Hospital Complex in Yerevan early Friday morning.

The Ministry of Emergency Situations said a 911 call was made at 06:24.

6 fire engines were dispatched to the scene. The fire, which had erupted at a 2nd-floor hospital room, was contained at 06:34 and extinguished at 06:43.

The hospital had evacuated 11 patients before the first responders’ arrival.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

‘We must hold discussions over future structure of Armed Forces’ – Armenian PM

Save

Share

 14:51, 8 April, 2021

YEREVAN, APRIL 8, ARMENPRESS. We must hold discussions over the future structure of our Armed Forces, Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan said at the Cabinet meeting today.

“Also, in connection with the principles of military service, how professional the Army should be, to what extent it should rely on conscripts and to what extent it should rely on professionals”, the PM said, adding: “We need to discuss these issues very deeply and seriously and make decisions”.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

RFE/RL Armenian Report – 04/08/2021

                                        Thursday, April 8, 2021

Armenian PM Reaffirms Plans To Deepen Ties With Russia


Armenia -- President Armen Sarkissian (second from right) visits a 
Russian-Armenian border guard post on Armenia's border with Turkey, July 4, 2020.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian reiterated his desire to further deepen Armenia’s 
relationship with Russia after holding what he described as “very productive” 
talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday.
“I am very satisfied with the results of the meeting,” Pashinian told a group of 
Russian-Armenian lawyers at the end of his visit to Moscow.

“We didn’t sign any documents but spoke about the further implementation of a 
number of documents, including on security, signed in the past,” he said, 
singling out Russian-Armenian treaties on a joint military contingent and 
air-defense system of the two states.

Echoing statements by other Armenian officials, Pashinian said that Russia is 
helping Armenia reform its armed forces after the autumn war in 
Nagorno-Karabakh. “This was one of the most important issues discussed by us,” 
he said without going into details.

“One thing is clear: the character of Russian-Armenian relations is strategic 
and this strategic cooperation must be made deeper in view of the existing 
challenges and situations that we face,” added Pashinian.

Pashinian announced plans for forging even closer ties with Russia shortly after 
Putin brokered an Armenian-Azerbaijani agreement that stopped the six-week war 
over Karabakh on November 10. He said Armenia needs “new security guarantees.”

The Armenian Defense Ministry announced late last month that a high-level 
Russian military delegation will visit Yerevan soon for further talks on defense 
reforms announced by Armenia’s government.


RUSSIA -- Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and Russian President Vladimir 
Putin meet at the Kremlin in Moscow, April 7, 2021

Putin also emphasized the “strategic” nature of Russian-Armenian ties in his 
opening remarks at the meeting with Pashinian.

The two leaders discussed the implementation of the truce agreement and the 
restoration of transport links between Armenia and Azerbaijan envisaged by it. 
Pashinian complained that Baku is continuing to hold many Armenian prisoners of 
war and civilian captives in breach of the deal.

Putin had a phone call with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Thursday.

Pashinian met, meanwhile, with Ara Harutiunian, the Karabakh president, in 
Yerevan to brief him on the results of the talks with Putin. He praised Russian 
peacekeeping troops deployed in Karabakh, calling them “the main protagonists of 
ensuring peace and stability” in the conflict zone.



Kocharian Again Sues Pashinian

        • Satenik Hayrapetian

Armenia -- Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and formen President Robert Kocharian.

Former President Robert Kocharian has filed another defamation lawsuit against 
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian just days after being cleared of coup charges.

A lawyer for Kocharian, Hayk Alumian, told RFE/RL’s Armenian service on Thursday 
that he is seeking 4 million drams ($7,500) in damages and a public retraction 
of what he regards as slanderous claims made by Pashinian during a March 1 rally 
in Yerevan.

Addressing supporters at the city’s Republic Square, Pashinian accused Kocharian 
of ordering security forces to shoot and kill opposition protesters in Yerevan 
in March 2008. He again claimed that investigators have solved the killings of 
eight protesters and two police servicemen during the post-election unrest and 
that the ex-president is dragging out his trial to obstruct justice.

Alumian said Pashinian slandered his client and violated the latter’s 
presumption of innocence.

Kocharian had already sued the prime minister in September 2018 and April 2020. 
He withdrew the first suit in June 2019 after Pashinian clarified through a 
lawyer that he did not publicly accuse the ex-president of “organizing the 
killings.”

The second suit followed Pashinian’s allegations that Kocharian and other former 
senior officials “plundered” Armenia while in office. A Yerevan court has yet to 
rule on it.

Pashinian did not immediately react to his political foe’s latest legal action.

Kocharian, who governed the country from 1998-2008, was first arrested in July 
2018 on charges of “overthrowing the constitutional order” during the final 
weeks of his decade-long rule.

Armenia’s Constitutional Court declared the accusations, strongly denied by 
Kocharian, unconstitutional on March 26. The move led a Yerevan judge presiding 
over the marathon trial of Kocharian and three other former officials to throw 
out the case earlier this week.

The judge ruled that Kocharian and his former chief of staff, Armen Gevorgian, 
will continue to stand trial only on bribery charges also denied by them.



Armenia Gets Russian Coronavirus Vaccine

        • Nane Sahakian

Armenia - Boxes containing Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine are unloaded from a 
Russian transport plane at Zvartnots airport, Yerevan, April 8, 2021. (Photo by 
the Russian Embassy in Armenia)

Armenia received the first major batch of Russia’s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine 
early on Thursday.

Health Minister Anahit Avanesian said the 15,000 doses of the vaccine will be 
used to inoculate 7,500 people at highest risk of contracting COVID-19.

“Preference will be given to health workers of COVID [medical] centers, patients 
suffering from chronic illnesses and people aged 65 and older,” Avanesian told 
reporters.

The same high-risk groups of the population are also eligible for 24,000 doses 
of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine which the Armenian government purchased and 
imported on March 28.

Health authorities were due to start administering the AstraZeneca vaccine shots 
on April 5. The inoculations were postponed, however, due what government 
officials called logistical problems.

Avanesian downplayed the delay, saying that the government’s vaccination efforts 
remain on track.

The minister also complained that the government has trouble buying larger 
quantities of coronavirus vaccines manufactured by various countries.

“All vaccines are sold to small countries in very small quantities,” she said. 
“It’s very hard to acquire them.”


Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and Russian President Vladimir Putin 
meet at the Kremlin in Moscow, April 7, 2021

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian raised the matter with Russian President Vladimir 
Putin when they met in Moscow on Wednesday.

Pashinian asked Putin to help Yerevan buy many more doses of the Sputnik V 
vaccine. “We need more than a million doses,” he said.

“Our [vaccine] production is gaining momentum … So I think that we will solve 
this problem,” replied Putin.

The Russian Embassy in Yerevan described the first major shipment of Sputnik V 
shots as a “continuation of Russia’s large-scale support for Armenia in the 
fight against COVID-19.” It said Russia donated 2,000 Sputnik doses to the South 
Caucasus country earlier this year.


Armenia - Passengers on a commuter bus in Yerevan, March 12, 2021.
Armenia has been hit hard by the pandemic and is currently grappling with a 
third wave of coronavirus infections.

The Armenian Ministry of Health said earlier on Thursday that 1,231 new 
coronavirus cases have been registered in the country of about 3 million in the 
past day. It also reported the deaths of 32 more people infected with COVID-19.

The daily numbers of cases and deaths have increased sharply since the end of 
February. Critics blame the resurgence of the acute respiratory disease on the 
authorities’ failure to enforce their physical distancing and sanitary rules.

Few Armenians now wear mandatory face masks not only on in the streets but also 
shops and even public buses. Schools, theaters, restaurants and cafes across the 
country remain open.


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.

 

Return of captives delayed – Deputy PM’s Office

Public Radio of Armenia
April 8 2021

The return of captives is delayed, Deputy Prime Minister’s Office informs.

The Azerbaijani side fails to fulfill the 8th point of the trilateral statement of November 9, which is a gross violation of the post-war humanitarian process, a spokesperson for the Office told Armenpress.

“Negotiations continue with the mediation of the Russian side, and we hope that the Azerbaijani side will eventually respect the signed statement and implement the humanitarian agreement, thus contributing to the establishment of stability in the region,” the commentary reads.

ARARAT legendary Armenian brandy presents premiere of ‘Under One Sky’ film

Panorama, Armenia
April 8 2021

ARARAT legendary Armenian brandy celebrates its redesign and presents “Under One Sky” movie. By this new artistic form, the brand illustrates its genuineness and eternal values, that continue to inspire. “Under One Sky” directed by Alexander Hant will be released on April 8.

Four parallel stories about main human values are happening in different countries with different heroes, who are experiencing the most important and the brightest moments of their lives. One of the main ideas of the film is the superiority and importance of sincere human connections in the light of which all the barriers between generations and conditionality of borders are faded out. As ARARAT always accompanies us during the most important moments of our lives.

This cross-cultural project unites such stars as Emmanuil Vitorgan, Khoren Levonyan, Maxim Matveev, Nerses Avetisyan as well as actors from Kazakhstan Sanjar Madi, Karlagish Mukhamedjanova, brand’s friends in Belarus Anna Bond, Elizaveta Battalova and true masters of Yerevan Brandy Company.

Seven minutes of screen time show the heroes in different life situations and reveals all those things, which are reflected in the legendary Armenian brandy – true human values, which are passed from generation to generation and unite people, cities and countries across the globe.

“Under One Sky” is the collaboration of the brand with filmmaker Alexader Hant, who despite his young age has already won significant international awards such us “Nika” and prize at KVIFF (Karlovy Vary International Film Festival). The partnership became possible mostly because mutually shared values.

“We are living in difficult times, when people are again drawing the borders. Our stories are to show that despite those borders we all live under the same sky,” Alexander Hant told reporters on Wednesday.

ARARAT export manager Vardges Hoveyan noted that they were not looking for an advertising director, but for a director who makes powerful films, because they did not want to make a commercial, as the factory does not need it, but real human values had to be revisited through a story.

According to Hoveyan, the time of the film screening was not chosen by chance. The film is launched in a very meaningful time, when almost each of us deeply realize the true importance of human connections.

With very refine brand integration this movie has been designed as a story about values – their importance and universality. Here the main human values are symbolically presented in the form of а guiding star, the light of which will always bring to the right decisions.

“What does unite people when the borders of many countries remain closed? Genuine beauty, moments of inspiration, the joy of creative work, and, above all, the stories, which brings closer generations and hearts. The new project of ARARAT “Under One Sky” is far more than just a movie. It is the first cinematographic project of the brand, that became possible in the result of ARARAT teams’ efforts in Eastern Europe. It is a unique, contemporary and emotional way to show all these things that unite us around ARARAT despite difference in generations and countries we live in. And of course, it is an unusual way to support the new range of ARARAT and demonstrate the uniqueness of duet of contemporary shape and values, that remain unchanging,” said Karine Madelrieu, Marketing Director of Pernod Ricard Eastern Europe.

“Under One Sky” is the first big project of ARARAT after its redesign. Earlier this year ARARAT changed its look, but the brand’s philosophy and values remain the same. True love to the work you do, mastery, respect of the traditions, hospitality, audacity on the way to the triumph and, most importantly,  the irreplaceability of the sincere human connections – all the ARARAT values are unique and universal at the same time. Year by year they unite more and more people, which illustrates one very important truth – value is a something, the power of which gets stronger ones you share it with others.

One of the important roles of the movie is embodied by ARARAT. Thus, one episode shows how Hamlet Antonyan, the real production director of the Yerevan Brandy Company, is tasting the spirit from one of the thousand barrels kept in the ageing cellars and symbolically talks to the previous generations of masters. This dialogue of times also ensures that the inherited values will also be transferred to the generations to come. This bright episode is important not only from the dramaturgic aspect, but also comes to showcase the real world of ARARAT the beauty of which is beyond any cinematographic lenses.

Prior to the film shootings, all the actors were tested for coronavirus.

"Everyone’s tests came back negative. It was very important for us. The production director of Yerevan Brandy Company has acted in the move and he must not lose smell. Throughout its history, even during World War II, the factory has never suspended its operations. It would be awful if it had happened because of this movie. But we succeeded," Hoveyan said.

The world premiere of the film will take place on April 8, at 8pm Yerevan Time (GMT +4) on the specially created platform www.underonesky.araratbrandy.com .

The choice of the channel allows to enjoy the movie despite geographic locations and underlines the combination of classic cinema and modern trends, which are inviting to reveal new facets for each generation.

“Under One Sky” is a movie which overcomes the space and borders, a movie which will stick you to the gadget screens for a couple of minutes, where almost everyone will find some familiar feelings and which will make you to look at the sky.

More photos at the link below

Russia records 8,646 new daily COVID-19 cases

Save

Share

 16:00, 5 April, 2021

YEREVAN, APRIL 5, ARMENPRESS. Russia has registered 8,646 new confirmed COVID-19 infections over the past 24 hours, bringing the total count to 4,589,540 cases, TASS reports citing the anti-coronavirus crisis center.

According to the crisis center, the relative increase of new infections remained at the level of 0.19%.

All in all, at present, 277,690 patients are still undergoing treatment in Russia.

Russian peacekeepers received more than 3,500 requests for help at the reception point in Stepanakert –

Panorama, Armenia
April 1 2021

Russian Defense Ministry reports that a reception center for citizens continues to operate at the Humanitarian Response Center of the Russian Peacekeeping Contingent (RPC) in Stepanakert. It also operates a hotline to collect information for the search of missing servicemen, to provide humanitarian assistance, assistance in employment and other problematic topics.

In total, more than 3.5 thousand people turned to the reception center for help. In particular, more than 800 requests were received by the phone hotline, according to the source. 

The officers on duty, who receive requests by phone or in person, must clarify the nature of the problem, find out from relatives information about the alleged area of the missing soldier, record their contact details. In the future, the search for missing persons will be carried out by the RPC military personnel in cooperation with representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides. All requests are recorded, entered in the database and sent to the joint search groups.

In addition to handling appeals from residents of Nagorno-Karabakh, the RPC Humanitarian Response Center has started delivering targeted humanitarian aid.

On the eve of the day, the military personnel of the peacekeeping contingent handed over more than 650 kilograms of humanitarian aid provided by the non-profit organization Russian Humanitarian Mission and the charitable foundations Doctor Lisa and Hurry to the Good to large families and internally displaced persons living in Stepanakert.

Yerevan court to hear motion to end prosecution of Kocharyan under Article 300․1

Panorama, Armenia
April 1 2021

The Court of General Jurisdiction in Yerevan, presided over by judge Anna Danibekyan, on Friday will continue hearings in the case of the alleged overthrow of the constitutional order involving Armenia’s second President Robert Kocharyan and three other former top officials.

The court is expected to hear a defense motion to end the criminal prosecution against Kocharyan under Article 300.1 of the Criminal Code, his legal team said in a statement on Thursday. The motion had been filed to the court on March 27.

Earlier last Friday, the Constitutional Court of Armenia ruled that Article 300․1 of the Criminal Code is unconstitutional and invalid, noting that it runs counter to Articles 78 and 79 of the Constitution. 

Legendary commander Arkady Ter-Tadevosyan dies aged 81

Public Radio of Armenia

Legendary military commander, Major General Arkady Ter-Tadevosyan passed away today aged 81.

Arkady Ter-Tadevosyan was the leader of the Armenian forces during the First Nagorno-Karabakh War and Armenia’s former Deputy Minister of Defense. 

Ter-Tadevosyan is best known as the commander of the operation of liberation of Shushi on May 8, 1992.

Arkady Ter-Tadevosyan was born in Tbilisi, Georgia. After graduating from a high school in Tbilisi, he decided to become an officer. He attended the Baku Combined Arms Command School and later the Leningrad Military Academy of Rear Services and Transportation.

He served in Afghanistan where he earned the nickname “Mountain Fox.”

The President of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, Bako Sahakyan, awarded him with the Order of the Golden Eagle and the title of Hero of Artsakh on the 17th anniversary of the Liberation of Shushi in 2009.