Category: 2020

Police cordon off Armenian government building amid opposition protest

Ani Kharatian
Panorama, Armenia

Dec 24 2020

Police have cordoned off the Armenian government building amid a protest organized by the opposition parties making up the Homeland Salvation Movement to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

Opposition activists have gathered in front of the government since 10am Thursday, attempting to bar ministers from entering the building for a regular cabinet meeting. They are chanting “Nikol, the traitor!”.

Clad in helmets and shields, police officers have blocked all entrances to the building.

"Police have cordoned off the government building to prevent ministers from entering the building. Citizens help police to block the government building to keep ministers from going there. If they enter it secretly, they will no longer be able to leave the building,” opposition ARF member Gegham Manukyan told reporters.

"If they have sneaked in, it means that a government that cannot openly enter the government building with its prime minister ceases to be a people's government,” he said.

"Even Syunik is not as protected as this vile traitor. Think about it, police officers!" protesters said, addressing police.


Many anti-Pashinyan protesters spend night in Yerevan’s Republic Square

Christine Harutyunian
Panorama, Armenia

Dec 24 2020

Numerous protesters spent the night in the Republic Square in Yerevan, demanding the resignation of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who signed a deal to cede Artsakh territories to Azerbaijan last month.

Opposition Dashnaktsutyun party member Ishkhan Saghatelyan, the coordinator of the Homeland Salvation Movement, posted photos from the square on his Facebook page at night, noting that they were taken by Hrant Sarafyan.







Armenian PM hails Russian Emergency Ministry efforts in helping restore normal life in Artsakh

Babken Chilingarian
Public Radio of Armenia

Dec 23 2020

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan received Minister of Emergency Situations of the Russian Federation Yevgeny Zinichev.

The Prime Minister praised the activities of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations in helping restore normal life in Nagorno Karabakh, providing humanitarian assistance to the citizens, and thanked them for the effective cooperation with the Armenian side.

Nikol Pashinyan noted that the Armenian government attaches importance to the continuous development of strategic cooperation with Russia, emphasizing the key role of Russia in strengthening peace and stability in the region.

“We are interested in further development of cooperation with Russia in all spheres, including security, economy and humanitarian spheres,” said the Prime Minister, emphasizing the development and implementation of new joint programs in various fields.

Yevgeny Zinichev provided details on the humanitarian activities carried out by the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations in Artsakh and noted that the transportation of humanitarian cargo and other works are carried out without problems, in close cooperation with Armenian partners.

The interlocutors discussed issues related to the full realization of the potential of the Armenian-Russian Humanitarian Center, further cooperation in the field of emergency situations and rapid response.



Armenian, Russian FMs discuss settlement of humanitarian issues in Artsakh

Emil Lazarian
Public Radio of Armenia

Dec 23 2020

The Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Russia Ara Aivazian and Sergey Lavrov have discussed issues related to the implementation of the provisions of the November 9 trilateral statement on the establishment of a ceasefire in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone and the deployment of Russian peacekeepers, including the speedy settlement of humanitarian issues.

In this context, the Armenian Foreign Minister emphasized the settlement of humanitarian issues, in particular, the creation of appropriate conditions for the repatriation of the displaced Artsakh Armenians, the restoration and protection of their rights, the release of hostages, the repatriation of civilians.

The Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Russia also touched upon a number of issues on the bilateral and international agenda.



Armenian PM lauds Russia’s Emergency Ministry work in Nagorno-Karabakh

Manouk Vasilian
TASS, Russia
Dec 23 2020
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a meeting with Russian Emergency Minister Yevgeny Zinichev

YEREVAN, December 23. /TASS/. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has had a meeting with Russian Emergency Minister Yevgeny Zinichev and praised the work of the Russian agency in returning to normality in Nagorno-Karabakh and providing humanitarian aid to citizens, the Armenian cabinet reported Wednesday.

"We are interested in further development of cooperation with Russia in all spheres, including security, economy and the humanitarian sphere. We highly appreciate the activity of the Russian Emergency Ministry to resume normal life in Nagorno-Karabakh," the prime minister said, noting the need to develop and implement new joint programs in various spheres. Pashinyan also said that the Armenian government attaches importance to continuous development of strategic partnership with Russia and underlined key role of Russia in boosting peace and stability in the region.

Zinichev spoke in detail about the humanitarian activities of the Russian Emergency Ministry in Nagorno-Karabakh and stressed that transportation of humanitarian shipments is going ahead without any problems and in close cooperation with Armenian partners.

Renewed clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia erupted on September 27 in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. On November 9, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint statement on a complete ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh starting from November 10. The Russian leader said the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides would maintain the positions that they had held, and Russian peacekeepers would be deployed to the region. Currently, 23 observation posts were set up by the peacekeepers.


New group of Armenian priests leaves for Dadivank

Anna Tamamian
Public Radio of Armenia
Dec 23 2020




A new group of Armenian clergymen has left for Dadivank Monastery, the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin informs.

“Another group of clergymen left for Dadivank with the blessing of the Patriarch of All Armenians,” the Mother See said.



The Russian peacekeepers undertook to protect the monastery, after the Karvachar region, where the church is situated, was handed over to Azerbaijan under the trilateral statement of November 9.

Armenian priests continue their eternal prayer for our homeland and people, Fr. Vahram Melikyan, Director of Information Services of the mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, said late last month.

The Catholicos of All Armenians is in constant contact with our clergy living in the church.

New exhibition marks 25th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute

Mike Maghakian
Public Radio of Armenia

Dec 23 2020

An exhibition entitled “The First Quarter Century of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute” opened at the Museum’s temporary exhibition hall today to mark the 25th anniversary of establishment of AGMI.

The opening ceremony was attended by Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Vahram Dumanyan and Deputy Minister Narine Khachaturyan.

The exhibition is bilingual (Armenian, English) and includes fifteen subtitles. The exhibition presents the history of the foundation of the Tsitsernakaberd memorial and the Museum-Institute, the activities of AGMI on the eve of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, the official visits of honorary guests to the museum, etc.

Some sub-titles of the temporary exhibition are dedicated to the publications of the museum-institute, museum funds and the scientific library, temporary-traveling exhibitions, the conferences and public lectures organized.

During the next quarter of a century of its activity, the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute, as a pan-Armenian international organization meeting the standards of the 21st century, will continue to implement a number of projects, undertake new projects aimed at fundamental study of the Armenian Genocide.

The Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute (AGMI) was opened on April 24, 1995, on the 80th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.