Category: 2022

Armenia sends about 70 servicemen to Kazakhstan

Yeghisabet Arthur
 NEWS.am 
Armenia – Jan 5 2022
14:02, 06.01.2022

Armenia has sent its servicemen to Kazakhstan as part of the peacekeeping forces of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).

According to Sputnik Armenia, about 70 Armenian servicemen—as part of the CSTO peacekeeping contingent—shall protect strategic facilities in Kazakhstan amid mass protests in the country.

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev had announced on Wednesday that he had petitioned for assistance from the leaders of the CSTO member countries—including Armenia.


Georgia PM: I congratulate our Armenian compatriots, brotherly Armenian people on Christmas

Rose Khoyetsian
 NEWS.am 
Armenia – Jan 5 2022
14:18, 06.01.2022

I congratulate our Armenian compatriots and the brotherly Armenian people on the occasion of the Christmas and Epiphany. Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili of Georgia noted this in a congratulatory message, reported the First Channel television of the country.

"This history, based on centuries-old brotherhood and mutual respect, is conditioned by the good-neighborly and friendly relations of our [two] peoples, which, I believe, will be preserved in the future as well. I wish you all peace, health, happiness, and success," also reads the Georgian PM’s aforesaid message.

Lavrov supports efforts to normalize relations between Turkey and Armenia

Lena Karagyozian
 NEWS.am 
Armenia – Jan 5 2022
15:44, 06.01.2022

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in a telephone conversation with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu expressed support for the efforts to normalize relations between Turkey and Armenia, the Russian Foreign Ministry's press service reported.

The Ministers positively assessed the first meeting in the 3+3 format on normalization and development of cooperation in the South Caucasus, which took place in Moscow on December 10, 2021. It was agreed to prepare the next meeting with the same composition in the near future. Lavrov expressed support for the efforts to normalize relations between Turkey and Armenia, the Russian Foreign Ministry statement reads.

Armenpress: Armenia joins CSTO allies in deploying peacekeepers to Kazakhstan

Elizabeth Jabejian

Armenia joins CSTO allies in deploying peacekeepers to Kazakhstan

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 13:11, 6 January, 2022

YEREVAN, JANUARY 6, ARMENPRESS. The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) deployed its peacekeeping forces to its member-state Kazakhstan to “stabilize and settle the situation” as the country is facing threats to its national security and sovereignty.

The decision on deploying the peacekeepers was made on January 6 by the CSTO Collective Security Council.

Military units from CSTO-members Armenia, Russia, Belarus, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan are involved in the mission.

The main mission of the peacekeepers in Kazakhstan will be “the protection of significant state and military facilities and supporting the Kazakhstani law enforcement agencies in stabilizing the situation and bringing it to a framework of law,” the CSTO said in a statement.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who is now the Chairman of the CSTO Collective Security Council, announced earlier that the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev invoked Article 4 of the treaty amid “threats to Kazakhstan’s national security and sovereignty which appeared including as a result of foreign interference.”

“We strongly condemn the manifestation of violence” – Armenian Foreign Ministry on situation in Kazakhstan

Lena Karagyozian

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 13:31, 6 January, 2022

YEREVAN, JANUARY 6, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian Foreign Ministry issued a statement on the situation in Kazakhstan.

“We are following the armed clashes in Kazakhstan with concern. The infiltration of terrorist groups is alarming. We strongly condemn the manifestation of violence, we are convinced that it is not a way for solving political issues.

We believe that steps need to be undertaken for preventing further clashes, restoring the environment of tolerance which is necessary for peaceful political processes in the country, including the exercise of citizens’ right to peaceful rallies and freedom of _expression_,” it said.

Armenpress: Armenia tells its nationals in Kazakhstan to shelter in place as local authorities launch counter- terror operation

Raffi Khondkarian

Armenia tells its nationals in Kazakhstan to shelter in place as local authorities launch counter- terror operation

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 18:09, 6 January, 2022

YEREVAN, JANUARY 6, ARMENPRESS. Amid the violent unrest in Kazakhstan, the Armenian Embassy is advising all Armenian citizens who are currently in the country to shelter in place and follow safety guidelines set by local authorities. 

The local government introduced a state of emergency and curfew (23:00 – 07:00).

“We strictly advise all citizens of the Republic of Armenia to maintain safety rules, avoid crowded areas and remain in your hotels or other place of residence,” the Armenian Embassy in Kazakhstan said in a statement.

Protest rallies against high fuel prices erupted on January 2 in Zhanaozen and Aktau in the Mangystau Region in southwestern Kazakhstan. Two days later, the protests engulfed Almaty in the country’s southeast and other cities where the protesters clashed with the police.

As of January 6, more than 1000 people were wounded across the country.

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said that “terrorists” were seizing buildings, infrastructure and small arms and are battling security forces.

The Kazakh law enforcement agencies said they launched a counter-terror operation to establish order.

The commandant’s office in charge of enforcing the state of emergency called on Almaty residents "to remain calm and render assistance to the law-enforcement agencies in establishing the Constitutional order and public security,” TASS reported.

As the statement says, "radically-minded supporters of riots have caused huge damage to the city, put up resistance to the legitimate actions of law-enforcement agencies for establishing order and providing security."

The commandant’s office also reported that "the extremists are on a looting spree, causing damage to business." Moreover, "they are endangering the lives and health of civilians, obstructing the work of medical workers and causing damage to polyclinics and hospitals."

"Bandits who are on the rampage in Almaty are highly organized, which is evidence that they were seriously trained abroad" and "their attack on Kazakhstan is an act of aggression and an attempt to disrupt the state’s integrity," the statement says.

Kazakhstan officially invoked Article 4 of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), asking fellow CSTO allies to send peacekeepers as the country was facing national security threats with outside interference.

The CSTO  its peacekeeping forces.

https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1072375.html

RFE/RL Armenian Report – 01/06/2022

Emil Lazarian 
                                        Thursday, January 6, 2022


Yerevan Silent On Armenian Troop Deployment To Kazakhstan

        • Astghik Bedevian

Kazakhstan - A burnt car is seen by the mayor’s office of Almaty set on fire by 
protesters, January 5, 2022.


Armenia’s government on Thursday declined to reveal the number of Armenian 
soldiers that will be deployed to unrest-hit Kazakhstan as part of a 
“peacekeeping” operation launched by the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty 
Organization (CSTO).

Kazakh President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev asked the military alliance for urgent 
intervention on Wednesday after three days of angry protests sparked by a surge 
in fuel prices. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian, the current holder of the CSTO’s 
rotating presidency, announced hours later that Russia and four other ex-Soviet 
states making up the bloc will send troops to Kazakhstan to help “stabilize and 
normalize the situation” there.

In a statement released on Thursday morning, the CSTO said its Collective 
Peacekeeping Force will include about 3,600 servicemen from Russia, Armenia, 
Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. It said Russian airborne troops have already 
arrived in Kazakhstan and “begun to fulfill the assigned tasks.”

The main tasks of the force will be “the protection of important state and 
military facilities, assistance to the forces of law and order of the Republic 
of Kazakhstan in stabilizing the situation and returning it to the legal field,” 
added the statement.


Russia -- Russian airborne troops board a military transport plane at Chkalovsky 
Airfield to join the CSTO's peacekeeping force in Kazakhstan, January 6, 2022.

Russia’s Sputnik news agency reported early in the afternoon that Armenia will 
contribute some 70 soldiers to the CSTO contingent. There was no official 
confirmation of the information in the following hours.

RFE/RL’s Armenian Service could not reach the Defense Ministry in Yerevan for 
comment throughout the day. Neither the ministry nor the government issued any 
statements on the Armenian military deployment as of 9 p.m. local time.

The Armenian Foreign Ministry expressed serious concern over the continuing 
unrest in Kazakhstan.

“We believe that steps must be taken to prevent further clashes and restore the 
atmosphere of tolerance necessary for peaceful political processes, including 
citizens’ right to hold peaceful gatherings and express themselves,” it said in 
a statement.


KAZAKHSTAN - Protesters take part in a rally over a hike in energy prices in 
Almaty on January 5, 2022.

Pashinian’s decision to join the Russian-led operation prompted strong criticism 
on social media. Pro-Western civic activists, who had helped him come to power 
through mass protests in 2018, were especially upset by the move, saying that 
Yerevan must stay away from the violent suppression of what they see as 
legitimate protests against Kazakhstan’s authoritarian regime.

Critics also argued that Kazakhstan and other CSTO member states failed to 
provide Armenia with military assistance requested by Pashinian after 
Azerbaijani troops crossed into Armenian territory in May. Kazakh leaders openly 
congratulated Azerbaijan on its victory in the 2020 war in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Maria Karapetian, a lawmaker from the ruling Civil Contract party, defended 
Pashinian’s decision. She said its critics simply want Armenia to leave the CSTO 
and “make a different geopolitical choice.”


KAZAKHSTAN - Troops are seen at the main square in Almaty where hundreds of 
people were protesting against the government, January 6, 2022.

“If we leave the CSTO, what [other organization] should we join? They must 
propose the next step,” Karapetian told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service.

Meanwhile, violent clashes and gunfire continued to rock Kazakhstan's largest 
city, Almaty, on Thursday as security forces tried to quash the Central Asian 
nation's deadliest uprising in the three decades since it declared independence 
from the Soviet Union. RFE/RL journalists in Almaty said they opened fire on the 
demonstrators in Republican Square.

The Kazakh police said in the morning that they killed “dozens” of protesters 
and detained around 2,000 people over the past day.



Russian-Led Security Bloc To Send Troops To Unrest-Hit Kazakhstan


KAZAKHSTAN -- A view shows a burning police car in Almaty during a protest 
sparked by the Kazakh authorities' decision to lift price caps on liquefied 
petroleum gas, January 5, 2022.


Armenia announced early on Thursday that the Russian-led Collective Security 
Treaty Organization (CSTO) will send troops to Kazakhstan to help its government 
quell violent protests sparked by a fuel price hike.

Kazakhstan’s President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev declared a nationwide state of 
emergency on Wednesday as thousands of anti-government protesters clashed with 
police and stormed government buildings in the oil-rich Central Asian nation for 
the third consecutive day.

Angry demonstrators, some of whom were armed with rubber truncheons, sticks, and 
shields, set fire to a presidential residence and the mayor’s office in the 
country’s largest city, Almaty,

Police engaged in pitched battles with the protesters, using tear gas, stun 
grenades, and rubber bullets to try to disperse the crowds, but were largely 
unsuccessful. Kazakhstan’s Interior Ministry said eight police and National 
Guard troops have been killed and 317 people wounded during the unprecedented 
unrest.


Kazakhstan – Protesters storm the Almaty city hall, January 5, 2022

Toqaev said that he has appealed to the CSTO, a security bloc comprising Russia, 
Kazakhstan, Armenia and three other ex-Soviet states, to assist his government 
in responding to what he called a “terrorist threat.”

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian, whose country is the current holder of 
the CSTO’s rotating presidency, spoke with Toqaev by phone and announced shortly 
after midnight that he will also hold “consultations” with the leaders of CSTO 
members.

In a statement issued about two hours later, Pashinian said they have decided to 
dispatch “collective peacekeeping forces” to Kazakhstan for the purpose of 
“stabilizing and normalizing the situation in that country.”


Demonstrators take part in a protest triggered by fuel price increase in Almaty, 
January 5, 2022.

He said that the unrest erupted as a result of unspecified “foreign 
intervention” and put Kazakhstan’s national security and sovereignty at serious 
risk.

Pashinian did not specify the number and composition of CSTO troops that will be 
deployed in Kazakhstan. Nor did he say whether Armenian soldiers will also join 
the contingent.

Russia did not immediately comment on the deployment.


Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2022 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

Armenia’s state interests subordinated once again and put at risk – Gayane Abrahamyan

Lara Chatinian
Panorama, Armenia
Jan 6 2022

Former lawmaker from ruling Civil Contract party Gayane Abrahamyan commented on Facebook the CSTO Council decision to send the organization's peacekeepers to Kazakhstan with the aim of stabilization and normalization of the situation in the country. 

"It is obvious that Armenia was not the party to initiate and all the more, make a decision to send the CSTO peacekeepers to Kazakhstan, yet the group of authoritarian states wanted this decision about the interference to be announced by a leader, who himself had come to power through the street protests. This was announced by the one who was left alone by the CSTO at the most decisive and critical period of its history the bloc  described the cynical violation of Armenia's borders and the war as 'a border incident'," Abrahamyan wrote on her Facebook page.

In Abrahamyan's words, the CSTO Council decision should have been communicated on the Council's behalf but not by the prime minister of Armenia, and the latter should have steered away from communicating this through the website of the prime minister and his Facebook page. 

"Armenia's chairmanship of the Collective Security Treaty Organization is a titular post. The CSTO Council comprises of the heads of members states, and the Chairman is the head of the country which chairs the the organization at a specific period. With this notorious statement and its announcement to the world on behalf of Armenia's prime minister, our country lost its main and perhaps the only trump card in its foreign relations of being a democratic state and its positioning of being an advocate for democrats values," Abrahamyan concluded. 

Sharmazanov: By sending troops to Kazakhstan, Pashinyan admits that Armenian authorities were right on March 1

Hagop Kamalian
Panorama, Armenia
Jan 6 2022

Former deputy speaker of the Armenian parliament and member of the Republican Party of Armenia Eduard Sharmazanov commented on Nikol Pashinyan’s decision to send peacekeeping forces to unrest-hit Kazakhstan.

"It’s utterly ridiculous that the man who grabbed power in Armenia through street protests in 2018 stands against his Kazakh "revolutionary brothers”. The “prime minister”, who has discredited the CSTO more than anyone else, has become a defender of the CSTO Charter,” he wrote on Facebook on Thursday.

“Since you know how to write a "letter" to the CSTO, why didn't you do it on November 16, 2020, when the enemy launched an attack?

“By sending troops to Kazakhstan, Pashinyan admits that the authorities were right on March 1, 2008, and he is a criminal. "Sovereign" prime minister… "proud revolutionaries", enjoy!” Sharmazanov said.

Turkish press: Research reveals true Ottoman establishment date of Troy Museum

Arpi Talalian
 ISTANBUL JAN 06, 2022 – 2:11 PM GMT+3

Troy Museum Director Rıdvan Gölcük holds a copy of an Ottoman-era document regarding the foundation of the museum, in Çanakkale, Turkey, Jan. 5, 2022. (AA Photo)

History is a tricky storyteller, facts get muddied, urban legends rise from thin air and documents may become lost in archives waiting for a spotlight for ages as has been the case with Troy Museum in Turkey's Çanakkale. Its year of establishment has now been revealed to be 1911, instead of 1936 as believed for a long time, after research on the museum's history found documents related to its foundation.

The study on the history of the Çanakkale Museum, which was renamed the Troy Museum three years ago, started in the state archives in September last year and has now been completed.

The Çanakkale Museum was known to have been established in 1936 in the Armenian church in the Zafer Square in the Fevzipaşa District. Within the scope of the study, the information about the beginning of the museum's service was examined.

In the examinations made in the state archives, it was determined that the Çanakkale Museum was founded in 1911 in Çanakkale High School.

In the research, documents regarding the first director, janitor and collection development of the museum were also found.

An Ottoman-era document regarding the foundation of the Troy Museum in Çanakkale, Turkey, Jan. 5, 2022. (AA Photo)

Rıdvan Gölcük, Director of the Troy Museum, which stands at the entrance of the Ancient City of Troy located within the boundaries of the Tevfikiye village, told reporters that they shared 111-year-old documents with the public for the first time.

Gölcük, who also took part in the study, stated that they were trying to better understand their foundation's background.

"In many publications, the establishment date of the Çanakkale Museum was referred to as 1936. However, there were also publications stating that it was founded in 1932 and 1930. Therefore, we saw that there was no consensus on the establishment history," Gölcük told Anadolu Agency (AA).

An Ottoman-era document regarding the foundation of the Troy Museum in Çanakkale, Turkey, Jan. 5, 2022. (AA Photo)

"Although the dates say different things, all documents indicate that Çanakkale Museum was founded at the Armenian church located in Zafer Square. We conducted most of our work in the state archives. We came across a very important document regarding the establishment of the Çanakkale Museum in the state archives," he said.

Gölcük stated that the document found belonged to the year 1911. He said that in the document, the establishment of the Çanakkale Museum Branch was mentioned.

"In fact, within the first document, approximately 10,000 kuruş (an Ottoman currency) was requested for the establishment of the Çanakkale Museum Branch. Then we saw that this budget was provided.

"Contrary to what is known, we have determined that the place used as the first museum building was not an Armenian church. The first museum building was Çanakkale High School, which is the Çanakkale Teacher's House today."

Gölcük stated that they also found other important data in the documents. He noted that in the document dated July 15, 1911, sent from the Müze-i Osmaniye (Ottoman Museum) Directorate to the Ministry of National Education, it was stated that a person named Hamza Agha was appointed as the museum janitor with a salary of 100 kuruş.

An Ottoman-era document regarding the foundation of the Troy Museum in Çanakkale, Turkey, Jan. 5, 2022. (AA Photo)

"Sermet Efendi, (the) Minister of Education at the time, became the first director of the Çanakkale Museum," Gölcük revealed.

Gölcük also touched upon the history of museums in the Ottoman Empire.

"Our first museum is today's Istanbul Archeology Museum, then Bursa and Sivas are opened. We see that the Çanakkale Museum is one of the earliest museology practices and museology initiatives made in the Ottoman lands.

"In Anatolia, after Bursa and Sivas, Çanakkale Museum stands out as the museum that was opened at the earliest dates. This document is not only important when it comes to museology in Çanakkale, but also showed us how far Turkish museology goes back and the need to remove the dust off of it, conduct studies on it."