Category: 2020

 12:50,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS. On December 18, the Ombudsmen of the Republic of Artsakh and Armenia published a joint ad hoc report on the attacks of journalists by Azerbaijan covering the hostilities in Artsakh, the Office of the Ombudsman of Armenia said in a statement.

“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. 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”, the statement says.

 13:32,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS. Armenia’s economic activity index has declined 7.2% in January-November 2020 compared to January-November 2019, the National Statistical Committee reports.

Industrial production volume declined 0.2%. Construction volume declined 11.2%. The decline in trade turnover comprised 13.5%, and that in the services volume – 13.6%.

In January-November consumer price index increased 1%, the industrial production price index grew 2.2%. Electricity production volume increased 1.8% in the aforementioned period.

Average monthly nominal salary in Armenia increased 4.2%, comprising 186,167 drams.

External trade volumes have also registered decline – 12.4%: the export declined 5.2% and the import – 15.9%.

Dram exchange rate against the US dollar was 486.29 as of January-November 2020.

Reporting by Anna Grigoryan; Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 13:52,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS. Member of Parliament of Armenia Vagharshak Hakobyan will conduct an observer mission in the upcoming parliamentary elections in Kazakhstan.

Speaker of Parliament Ararat Mirzoyan signed the respective order.

Vagharshak Hakobyan will depart for Nur-Sultan on the sidelines of the CIS Inter-Parliamentary Assembly’s international observer mission on January 7 and will stay there until January 13.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 14:31,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS. The road linking Kapan with the village of Agarak in the province of Syunik has completely gone under Azerbaijani control and thus Armenian citizens have stopped using it, the Mayor of Kapan Gevorg Parsyan told lawmakers during a discussion.

“We have three problematic roads – Kapan-Goris, Kapan-Tchakaten and the Kapan-Agarak village. The Kapan-Goris road is functioning, Kapan-Tchakaten is also functioning, but we had to stop using the part leading from Kapan to Agarak village because it has completely gone under [Azerbaijani] control,” Parsyan said.

However, he noted that there is an alternative road but it is several times longer and needs a complete reconstruction.

“Because of not using the road, in a sense the villagers of Agarak, Yeghvard and Ujanis have become blockaded,” Parsyan said.

The parliamentary discussion is launched by the opposition Prosperous Armenia party to discuss the ongoing delimitation and demarcation at the state border.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 14:36,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS. The Azerbaijani military is deployed only 100 meters away from the village of Syunik in the eponymous province, the Mayor of Kapan Gevorg Parsyan told lawmakers in parliament.

He added that Azerbaijani positions are only 1 kilometer away from the residential parts of the town of Kapan.  “After some highly important heights which are located in front of the Syunik and Kapan settlements go under Azerbaijani control, the town of Kapan and some other settlements would become serious targets,” Parsyan warned.

The opposition Prosperous Armenia party organized the discussion in parliament over the delimitation and demarcation process.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 14:56,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS. The Mayor of Kapan Gevorg Parsyan proposed lawmakers in parliament to pass a law that would allow villagers of border towns in Syunik province to possess and carry firearms for self-defense against potential threats.

“You can start legislative initiatives on arming the men of our villages, which would give additional confidence to our citizens. Let’s figure out a way to arm the villagers of our border settlements, so that every man would have a firearm in their home,” Parsyan said, noting that this has become a necessary safety measure after some villages of the province of Syunik are now bordering Azerbaijan following the delimitation and demarcation process after the Artsakh war.

Parsyan did not elaborate if his proposal refers to open carry or concealed carry.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 15:16,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian paid a working visit today to Gyumri, the Presidential Office told Armenpress.

President Sarkissian met with Primate of the Shirak Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church Archbishop Mikayel Ajapahyan. They discussed the current crisis situation in the country, stressing that joint efforts are needed for overcoming this situation.

They expressed their concerns over the current challenges facing Armenia, especially highlighting the security and defense of the state borders and bordering communities, the return of prisoners of war from Azerbaijan.

President Sarkissian also visited the Holy Savior Church in Gyumri.

He met with Governor of Shirak province Tigran Petrosyan and Mayor of Gyumri Samvel Balasanyan.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 16:01,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS. Football Federation of Armenia announced the voting results of the Player of the Year 2020, the FFA reports.

Armenian National team captain Henrikh Mkhitaryan voted Player of the Year collecting 133 points. This is the 10th title for Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

FC Astana midfielder Tigran Barseghyan is in the second place with 79 points.

MSK Zilina midfielder Vahan Bichakhchyan is in the third place with 25 points.

 17:23,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan has sent a congratulatory letter to Prime Minister of Georgia Giorgi Gakharia on re-appointment, the Armenian PM’s Office told Armenpress.

“Please accept my warm congratulations on your re-appointment as Prime Minister of Georgia. I wish you new achievements in all your initiatives for the benefit of the brotherly Georgia.

A productive and mutually beneficial cooperation has been established between our governments and us personally in the past one and a half year, based on the centuries-old historic ties between our peoples and cultural and civilizational commonalities.

I am sure that the relations between Armenia and Georgia will continue developing in all directions of mutual interest with our joint efforts for the benefit of the two countries and the peoples”, reads the Armenian PM’s congratulatory letter.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 15:20,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS. President of the Constitutional Court Arman Dilanyan received on December 24 UN Resident Coordinator in Armenia Shombi Sharp, the Court reports.

Arman Dilanyan highlighted the comprehensive support of the United Nations in modernizing Armenia’s public administration system, as well as to the ongoing reforms in judiciary and anti-corruption sector.

The UN Resident Coordinator in Armenia thanked for the meeting and introduced the programs being implemented by various UN agencies in Armenia, expressing hope that the cooperation between the UN Yerevan Office and the Constitutional Court will strengthen.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan