Category: 2020

Arpine Hovhanisyan denied inclusion to constitutional reforms commission due to 'political decision'

 14:43,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 30, ARMENPRESS. Former Deputy Speaker of Parliament Arpine Hovhannisyan has been denied inclusion into the Specialized Commission for Constitutional Reforms due to a “political decision”, Minister of Justice Rustam Badasyan told reporters.

“Lawyer-academicians and representatives of NGOs have been elected to the commission. We appreciate Arpine Hovhannisyan’s sincere motivations that she is ready to help. I am not questioning Arpine Hovhannisyan’s professional skills, but I have to note that the persons included in the commission do not have political affiliations,” Rustam Badasyan said.

Hovhannisyan served as Justice Minister from 2015 to 2017.

Badasyan said they didn’t whatsoever have any objective of selecting oppositionist or pro-governmental candidates to the commission.

“She was involved in the 2015 constitutional amendments works, and this was mentioned in her application, which in itself can’t deserve positive assessment. Having participated in those works in 2015 couldn’t have been considered a positive thing in the selection of this phase, but I have noted that Ms. Hovhannisyan is willing to help us with sincere motives, we will not refuse from that help,” Justice Minister Rustam Badasyan said.

On January 29, the Ministry of Justice released the results of the selection of members of the Specialized Commission of Constitutional Reforms. The Justice Ministry selected lawyer-academics Anahit Manasyan, Artur Ghambaryan, Armen Mazmanyan, Arsen Tavadyan, Levon Gevorgyan and Tigran Markosyan; NGO representatives Karen Zadoyan (Armenian Association of Lawyers) and Daniel Ioannisyan (Union of Informed Citizens).

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

 15:15,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 30, ARMENPRESS. Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia Mher Grigoryan, who is in Kazakhstan on a working visit, is participating in the session of the Council of Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) in Almaty, the deputy PM’s Office told Armenpress.

The session agenda includes issues relating to the elimination of existing barriers for the functioning of the market in the EAEU space, integration development directions within the Union and digital transportation corridors. The session will also touch upon the formation process of a common market of gas, oil and oil products.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

 15:20,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 30, ARMENPRESS. The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has found in the Saribekyan and Balyan v. Azerbaijan case that the Azerbaijani authorities had been responsible for the torture and death of Manvel Saribekyan, an Armenian national who had been detained in a military police cell in Baku.

The ECHR recognized that Saribekyan’s right to life has been violated, and that Azerbaijan violated the Article 3 (prohibition of torture and ill-treatment).

The Court held by six votes to one that Azerbaijan was to pay the applicants (Saribekyan’s next-of-kin) 60,000 euros (EUR) jointly in respect of non-pecuniary damage and EUR 2,200 in respect of costs and expenses.

Manvel Saribekyan, a resident of the Ttujur village of Gegharkunik province (Armenia), was taken captive by Azerbaijani authorities in 2010 September.

“The Court thus found that Mr Saribekyan had been subjected to ill-treatment in the form of severe physical violence during the final days of his life while being detained in the Military Police Department in Baku. The Court found that the suffering he had endured had amounted to torture and that he had suffered a violation of his rights under Article 3”, ECHR said in the judgment.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

 16:28,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 30, ARMENPRESS. The State Revenue Committee of Armenia released the list of 1000 largest taxpaying companies and the total volume of taxes paid by them during 2019 (https://bit.ly/313IUXh).

Grand Tobacco Armenian-Canadian Joint Venture tops the list with over 57 billion AMD paid in taxes in 2019.

Zangezur Copper and Molybdenum Combine is the second with more than 51 billion AMD paid in taxes. The company is followed by Gazprom Armenia CJSC (over 43 billion AMD).

International Masis Tabak is ranked 4th (more than 19 billion AMD), and the fifth place is captured by JTI Armenia CJSC (more than 16.4 billion AMD).

Flash LTD, CPS OIL CORPORATION Co.Ltd., Philip Morris Armenia LLC, GeoProMining Gold LLC and Veon Armenia CJSC are in the top ten.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

 18:36,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 30, ARMENPRESS. The National Assembly of Armenia has convened an extraordinary sitting, ARMENPRESS was informed from the official website of the parliament of Armenia.

By the decision of President of the National Assembly Ararat Mirzoyan and the initiative of the MPs the extraordinary sitting will take place on February 6 at 11:00.

The sitting will address mainly constitutional issues.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan

 16:29,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 30, ARMENPRESS. Newly-appointed Ambassador of Ukraine to Armenia Ivan Kuleba presented today his credentials to President Armen Sarkissian, the Armenian President’s Office told Armenpress.

The Armenian President congratulated and wished success to the Ambassador, expressing confidence that he will serve his experience and abilities for the strengthening of the relations between the two countries.

The sides stated that the peoples of the two countries are connected with each other with deep historical roots which creates a firm base for the further development of the Armenian-Ukrainian relations.

President Sarkissian said it’s time to take practical steps in the bilateral relations, noting that the cooperation opportunities are much more than the current level.

The Ukrainian Ambassador said during his tenure he will do the utmost to further strengthen and push forward the bilateral mutually beneficial cooperation in various areas.

Talking about the expansion of economic cooperation the officials attached importance to the activities of the Armenian-Ukrainian joint inter-governmental commission on economic affairs. In line with the traditional cooperation sectors they also highlighted the cooperation in new technologies, agriculture, food safety, etc.

The sides highly valued the role of the Armenian community in Ukraine’s public-political, economic and cultural life.  

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

 16:23,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 30, ARMENPRESS. Russia’s Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has signed an instruction to close the state border in the Far East as a measure to prevent the spread of coronavirus, TASS reports.

"A corresponding instruction was signed today. Work on it is already in progress. We will inform all those concerned properly about the measures to close the border in the Far Eastern region and other steps the government has taken [to prevent the spread of coronavirus in Russia]," TASS quoted Mishustin as saying in his opening remarks at the Cabinet’s meeting on Thursday.

A total of 16 border checkpoints, including automobile and railway checkpoints, will be shut down.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

 19:13,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 30, ARMENPRESS. Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan, Zohrab Mnatsakanyan and Elmar Mammadyarovmet in Geneva on January 29 and 30. OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs Igor Popov (Russia), Stéphane Visconti (France), Andrew Schoffer (USA) and Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk also participated in the meeting. Before the meeting, the Armenian FM had already met with the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs and the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk.

ARMENPRESS reports spokesperson of the foreign ministry of Armenia Anna Naghdalyan informs that a broad scope of issues related to the peaceful settlement of NK conflict were discussed during the 2-day meetings. Particularly, the sides referred to the implementation of the agreements reached in 2019 and the possible future steps aimed at the preparation of the peoples to peace, the principles and elements that are the basis for the future settlement.

FM Mnatsakanyan has emphasized the importance of involving the elected representatives of the people of Artsakh in the peace talks.

The foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed to meet again in the near future under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan

 19:50,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 30, ARMENPRESS. The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group reiterate their full commitment to helping the sides find a peaceful solution to the conflict and the principle of confidentiality in the settlement process, reads the joint statement by the Armenian, Azerbaijani FMs and the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the official website of the OSCE, the statement runs as follows,

“The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, Stéphane Visconti of France, and Andrew Schofer of the United States of America) met separately and jointly with Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov in Geneva on 28-30 January. They were joined in their meetings by the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Andrzej Kasprzyk.

Over three days of intensive discussions, the Co-Chairs and the Ministers discussed the following agenda items: implementation of agreements and proposals discussed in 2019 and possible next steps to prepare the populations for peace; principles and elements forming the basis of a future settlement; and timing and agenda for advancing the settlement process.

The Co-Chairs reiterated their full commitment to helping the sides find a peaceful solution to the conflict and the principle of confidentiality in the settlement process, as well as the need for creativity and a spirit of compromise to achieve a fair and lasting peace.

The Ministers agreed to meet again in the near future under Co-Chair auspices”.

 20:38,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 30, ARMENPRESS. Artsakh Defense Army serviceman Vahram Avagyan fired at his own chest from his AKM rifle, ARMENPRESS reports press secretary of the Investigative Committee of Armenia Naira Harutyunyan said.  

A criminal case has been initiated.

The incident took place on January 30, at 13:15.

UPDATES:

16:58 – Artsakh authorities said the base where the incident happened was not at the border and the fatal shooting was not caused by enemy fire. 

It’s not yet confirmed that it has been a suicide.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan