Category: 2020

Armenia ranked third in countries where Russia is most loved, poll shows

Lara Antonian
TASS, Russia
Dec 24 2020
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Syria, Ukraine, Bulgaria and China are among the other top countries
Yerevan, Armenia

© Alexander Ryumin/TASS

YEREVAN, December 24. /TASS/. Rossotrudnichestvo, Russia’s state agency responsible for overseeing promotion of cultural ties and exchanges, has published the results of a poll entitled ‘Which countries love Russia the most?’, Armenia was placed third, the Russian cultural center in Yerevan told TASS Thursday.

"We thank everyone who took part in the competition. Tajikistan won the first place in the competition, followed by Serbia and Armenia was placed third in the list of countries that love Russia the most," the agency was told. Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Syria, Ukraine, Bulgaria and China are among the other top countries.


Sarkissian, Pashinyan discuss discuss ways of overcoming challenges facing Armenia

Jhanna Virabian
Public Radio of Armenia

Dec 24 2020

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met with President Armen Sarkissian today.

The interlocutors discussed the situation in the country, the ways of overcoming the challenges.

Issues related to security and protection of Armenia’s border communities, restoration of normal life in Artsakh and support packages provided by the Armenian government were discussed.


Dozens detained in protests against Armenia’s prime minister

Ara Felekian
Irish Independent
Dec 24 2020
 
 
 
Campaigners want Nikol Pashinyan to quit over the terms of a November 10 peace deal with Azerbaijan.
 
By Avet Demourian, Associated Press
03:25 PM
 
 
Police in the Armenian capital detained dozens of people during protests against the country’s prime minister, who is being pressured to resign over his handling of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with Azerbaijan.
 
Opposition politicians and their supporters have been demanding for weeks that Nikol Pashinyan step down over the November 10 peace deal that saw Azerbaijan reclaim control over large parts of Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas.
 
The Russia-brokered agreement ended 44 days of fierce fighting in which the Azerbaijani army routed Armenian forces.
 
Police detained 77 people following clashes when thousands of protesters converged on centre of the capital Yerevan and surrounded the heavily guarded government building.
 
Mr Pashinyan and other cabinet members were able to get into the building despite the unrest.
 
“Now our goal is that they don’t get out until Nikol Pashinyan resigns,” Ishkhan Saghatelyan, a leading member of the opposition Dashnaktsutyun party, was quoted as saying by the Russian state Tass news agency.
 
Nagorno-Karabakh lies within Azerbaijan but was under the control of ethnic Armenian forces backed by Armenia since a separatist war there ended in 1994.
 
That war left Nagorno-Karabakh itself and substantial surrounding territory in Armenian hands.
 
 Demonstrators scuffle with Armenian police (Vahram Baghdasaryan/AP)
 
Heavy fighting erupted in late September in the biggest escalation of the decades-old conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, killing more than 5,600 people on both sides.
 
The Russian-brokered peace agreement stipulated that Armenia hand over control of some areas it holds outside Nagorno-Karabakh’s borders.
 
Azerbaijan also retained control over areas of Nagorno-Karabakh it had taken during the conflict.
 
The peace deal was celebrated in Azerbaijan as a major triumph, but sparked outrage and mass protests in Armenia where thousands repeatedly took to the streets.
 
Mr Pashinyan has defended the deal as a painful but necessary move that prevented Azerbaijan from overrunning the entire Nagorno-Karabakh region.
 
 

Citizens have blocked Baghramyan Avenue in Yerevan

Suren Karakhanian
Panorama, Armenia
Dec 24 2020

Groups of citizens have blocked the central Baghramyan Avenue in Yerevan, demanding the resignation of PM Nikol Pashinyan. They have parked two trucks on the road section in front of the American University. A poster on one of the truck reads "Nikol, take away your bloody hands!" Police forces are deployed at the scene. The traffic is currently disrupted through the avenue. 

One of the protesters, a relative of a missing soldier, told reporters. "For 45 day now, we have been searching our children and haven't found. I have been to Artsakh myself. I am pessimistic about the search operations. No state body was next to us and I myself went to deep locations for finding the missing one at the  risk of own life. This  protest is not a political action. I am not affiliated with any political party," he stressed.  

The protester noted that chances to find their sons are diminishing as bodies are covered with snow.  

"Let us not be guided by lies. First, we were told we would win the war. Today, we are not sure even how many captives are held, how many missing people and victims are. We need an educated leader capable to negotiate," added he.


Georgia maintained neutrality during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Gakharia insists

Emma Nadirian
Panorama, Armenia

Dec 24 2020

The Georgian government was able to maintain neutrality during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the country's The candidate for the premiership Giorgi Gakharia stated on Thursday  during the meeting with ruling Georgian Dream party MPs in parliament. 

"Neutrality made it possible for us to preserve friendly ties with our neighbors,” Gakharia said, as quoted by Agenda.ge. 

In the words of the PM's candidate, as a result of the recent developments in Nagorno-Karabakh, the number of regional players has increased and Tbilisi is interested in reinforcing the presence of strategic partners in the region at present. 


Five women suffered in police actions during Thursday rally in Yerevan

Suren Karakhanian
Panorama, Armenia

Dec 24 2020
Law 19:53 24/12/2020Armenia

Five women have suffered on Thursday during the anti-Pashinyan rally in Yerevan as a result of excessive force exercised by police officers.  In total, 69 citizens, who took part in the rally organized by the Homeland Salvation Front, were detained. 

"69 citizens have been taken to police stations throughout the day. The citizens were detained for administrative offenses with the law enforcement officers filing respective protocols," Tert.am news outlet was told at press department of the Police of Armenia. 

Some of the detainees have been released, the source added. 

Prosperous Armenia faction initiates urgent discussion on issues related to the borders

Vicken Chmshkian
Panorama, Armenia

Dec 24 2020

Prosperous Armenia faction initiates an urgent parliamentary discussion on the situation with borders . As the fraction said in a statement, the discussion entitled "On the occurred situation in borderline communities, current issues, ways to solve them, the border clarification,  protection and ensuring the secirty." will be held on Friday at 14։00. 

"It is of utmost importance to break the information blockade on these topics, for that we have invited the representatives of the government, members of My Step and Bright Armenia factions to get thorough information and assess the current state of affairs. 

To note, Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on Thursday that specific problems may arise concerning two settlements in Syunik province – Vorotan and Shurnukh. "These issues may cause certain painful situations, but I want to assure that in all cases in which problems arise from the point of view of the interests of our citizens, the government will provide full and adequate compensation to our citizens and their interests will be fully protected,” Pashinyan stated at the cabinet session. 


​Investigators declare search against Armenia ex-culture minister and ex-Ambassador to Israel who helped her

Manouk Vasilian
News.am, Armenia
Dec 24 2020
 
 
Investigators declare search against Armenia ex-culture minister and ex-Ambassador to Israel who helped her
17:29, 24.12.2020
 
After large-scale investigative and other procedural actions taken through preliminary investigation of a criminal case that the Division for Investigation of Heavy Crimes of Yerevan Investigation Department of the Investigative Committee of Armenia is investigating, the Investigative Committee has established several circumstances of misuse by the former Minister of Culture and Youth Affairs of Armenia and the mechanism for committing misuse.
 
The press release of the Investigative Committee also reports the following: “Through investigation, factual data have been obtained according to which H. P. (Hasmik Poghosyan-ed.), in 2006, holding the position of Minister of Culture and Youth Affairs of Armenia and serving as vice-president of the Armenian NGO for Cultural Cooperation with Foreign Countries at the same time, made the plot of land located in central Yerevan and included in the list of restrictions in the Land Code of Armenia the property of the NGO with help from the president of the NGO and later Ambassador of Armenia to Israel A. S., negligently causing grave consequences.
 
Based on the evidence obtained, the former minister has been involved as an accused under articles of the Criminal Code (abuse of official powers and money laundering), and a search has been declared against her.
 
As for the president of the NGO, former Ambassador of Armenia, the latter has been charged with assisting in abuse of official powers, and bail for AMD 20,000,000 has been chosen as a pre-trial measure.
 
 
 

130 lecturers, employees of Armenia’s languages and social sciences university demand PM’s resignation

Emil Lazarian
News.am, Armenia
Dec 24 2020
 
 
 
130 lecturers, employees of Armenia's languages and social sciences university demand PM's resignation
18:45, 24.12.2020
 
A number of lecturers and staff of the Yerevan Brusov State University of Languages and Social Sciences has issued a statement joining the demand for PM Nikol Pashinyan's resignation.
 
The statement has been signed by 130 lecturers and employees.
 
According to 130 lecturers and employees, as a result of the statement signed on November 9, 2012, the current government is unable to overcome the unprecedented challenges.
 
"We, the representatives of the higher education institution, are responsible for educating the patriotic generation and we can not be indifferent to the political situation and the moral atmosphere in the country," the statement added.