Category: 2021

 12:53,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 29, ARMENPRESS. Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on the occasion of the upcoming New Year and Christmas holidays.

Felicitating the Armenian PM, Putin said in a message that the regular contacts with Pashinyan during 2021 “fully affirmed the friendly, allied nature of the Russian-Armenian relations,” the Prime Minister’s Office said.

“I expect that through joint efforts we will ensure the dynamic development of bilateral cooperation in various areas, as well as collegial partnership in the EEU, CSTO, CIS and other multi-lateral organizations. This is in line with the fundamental interests of the brotherly nations of Russia and Armenia, and the strengthening of security and stability in the Transcaucasian region,” Putin said, wishing “robust health, good luck and all the best” to PM Pashinyan and “peace and welfare” to the Armenian people.

 13:26,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 29, ARMENPRESS. The Superintendant of the Armenian Ministry of Defense’s Marshal A. Khanperyants Military Aviation University Major-General Daniel Balayan was sacked by a presidential decree on December 29.

President Armen Sarkissian signed the dismissal order on the advice of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, the presidency said.

Major-General Balayan was serving as head of the university since 1993.

 13:51,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 29, ARMENPRESS. The average weighted tariff of electrical energy will increase by 4,7 drams/kWh starting February 1, 2022.

The Public Services Regulatory Commission approved the decision during its December 29 session.

The tariff for socially vulnerable families (11% of consumers) will remain unchanged, while the tariff for consumers using up to 200 kWh per month (55% of consumers) will increase by 1,5 drams/kWh.

Consumers using from 201 to 400 kWh per month (25% of consumers) will pay 3,5 drams more per kWh, while the tariff for consumers using more than that will increase 5,5 drams/kWh.

The tariffs were approved as follows:

Consumers using up to 200 kWh per month – Daytime tariff: 46,48 drams; Nighttime tariff 36,48 drams

Consumers using from 201 to 400 kWh per month – Daytime tariff: 48,48 drams; Nighttime tariff: 38,48 drams

Consumers using more than 400 kWh per month – Daytime tariff: 53,48 drams, Nighttime tariff: 43,48 drams

The daytime and nighttime tariffs for socially vulnerable families remained unchanged at 29,99 and 19,99 drams respectively.

 14:11,

STEPANAKERT, DECEMBER 29, ARMENPRESS. A man from the village of Aygestan in Artsakh’s Askeran Province was arrested by Azerbaijani troops after accidentally crossing into Azeri-controlled territories in the morning of December 29.

The National Security Service of Artsakh said in a statement that they received a missing-person report around 07:30, December 29 concerning the whereabouts of Armen Verdyan, a 50-year-old resident of Aygestan.

Investigators then found out that the man got lost near Nakhijevanik and Ughtasar and accidentally crossed into the Azeri-controlled areas and was subsequently taken into custody by Azeri troops. 

The Artsakh authorities said they’ve immediately notified the Russian peacekeepers, who in turn have validated that Armen Verdyan is safe.

“Negotiations are now underway to return the citizen of Artsakh,” the NSS said .

 15:35,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 29, ARMENPRESS. Brussels Airlines flight SN2899 to Yerevan, Armenia returned to Brussels Airport after the plane was hit by a lightning strike at an altitude of 22,500 feet above the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg, Aviation24.be reported.

The flight was fully booked, with 180 passengers on board.

The crew decided to turn back to Brussels immediately after the lightning strike.

The flight was postponed by 24 hours and the passengers were accommodated in nearby hotels.

 15:58,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 29, ARMENPRESS. Russia is ready to act as a mediator for normalizing relations between Armenia and Turkey and provide support in “any format”, the Russian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrey Rudenko said, according to RIA Novosti.

“Moscow is ready to provide mediating support in any format. At the same time, we attach importance to abandoning putting forward preconditions, focusing on mutually-acceptable topics and steps which would lead to a gradual formation of an atmosphere of trust and good-neighborliness,” he said.

 16:24,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 29, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian and First Lady Nune Sarkissian visited the Yerablur military cemetery in Yerevan to pay tribute to the fallen troops of the Artsakh war. They laid flowers at the graves of the soldiers and observed a moment of silence.

The President also laid flowers at the graves of assassinated Prime Minister Vazgen Sargsyan, military commanders Monte Melkonyan and Andranik Ozanyan.

 17:16,

YEREVAN, 29 DECEMBER, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 29 December, USD exchange rate up by 0.52 drams to 478.64 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 1.90 drams to 539.91 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.01 drams to 6.50 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 0.98 drams to 641.95 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price up by 30.18 drams to 27779.56 drams. Silver price up by 0.38 drams to 348.78 drams. Platinum price up by 16.23 drams to 14942.36 drams.

 17:36,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 29, ARMENPRESS. The Azerbaijani military released the citizen of Artsakh whom they’d arrested after he’d accidentally crossed into Azeri-controlled territory.

The 50-year-old resident of the village of Aygestan (Askeran Province) was handed over to the Russian peacekeepers, the Human Rights Defender of Artsakh Gegham Stepanyan said in a statement.

“As a result of negotiations conducted by the security forces of Artsakh and the Russian peacekeepers, the civilian was returned and is now with the Russian peacekeepers. Soon he will be handed over to the Armenian side,” Stepanyan said.

 17:50,

YEREVAN, 29 DECEMBER, ARMENPRESS. Unique archeological objects saved from Shushi Carpet Museum were presented to the public at Erebuni Historical-Archeological Museum- Reserve. During the 44-day war of 2020 it was possible to evacuate carpets, as well as archeological objects from the museum.

The Director of Erebuni Museum Mikayel Badasyan told ARMENPRESS that everyone should do his job and with this exhibition they try to familiarize the people with the archeological heritage of Shushi Carpet Museum.

We, knowing, that archeological items were saved from Shushi Carpet Museum, getting acquainted with Vardan Astsatryan, decided to organize a temporary exhibition in order to be able to familiarize our compatriots and visitors of the museum with the important part of our fatherland Artsakh and, in particular, the archeological heritage of Shushi. The saved items, when brought and stored at Erebuni museum, many were not at good condition. Quite a long and detailed work was carried out for the restoration of those items at our restoration, solidification laboratory”, said the Director of the museum.

He said that different pottery items and jewelry are presented at the exhibition, but he singled out two exclusive items – a cast jewelry-ornament, which undoubtable was a symbol of power and the next
a stone wand with a cat’s head at the top, which also was a symbol of power and belonged to a person of highest social status.

The Director of Shushi Carpets Museum Vardan Astsatryan said that the items exhibited is only a part of the archeological items of the museum which were possible to evacuate during the war.

“This is only a small part of the samples. I have to mention that because we were specialized in carpets, these items were of secondary role, but we knew the origin of all. When the items were evacuated and moved to Yerevan, the directorate of Erebuni Museum and the scientific council restored all of this, dated and presented to the public. I should say that from the entire pottery samples it was possible to evacuate only 40 percent” he said.

About 30 samples are presented at the temporary exhibition in Erebuni Museum. The exhibition will last until May 29, 2022.