Category: 2022

Turkey’s Pegasus seeks Armenia’s permission for Istanbul-Yerevan flights

Emil Lazarian
Jan 4 2022
January 4, 2022 – 12:51 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkish carrier Pegasus has submitted an application to the Civil Aviation Committee of Armenia for launching Istanbul-Yerevan flights, Sona Harutyunyan, press secretary of the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures, has said, according to Sputnik Armenia.

"They have applied for the implementation of two flights a week, starting in February," Harutyunyan said, adding that the the civil aviation authorities will consider the application within reasonable time frames.

The civil aviation authorities of Armenia earlier gave permission to the Flyone Armenia airline to operate charter flights on the route Yerevan-Istanbul-Yerevan.

Blinken, Cavusoglu discuss process of Armenian-Turkish normalization

Rose Khoyetsian
Public Radio of Armenia
Jan 4 2022
January 4, 2022, 11:05

US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken discussed the process of normalization of relations with Armenia with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.

“Secretary Blinken and Foreign Minister Cavusoglu discussed issues related to the Horn of Africa, Turkey’s appointment of a Special Envoy to discuss the process of normalization with Armenia, and opportunities to deepen cooperation bilaterally and as NATO Allies to address areas of mutual concern,” the Department of State said.

Armenian Ambassador delivers lecture for students of the U.S. Naval War college

Ani Basmajian
Public Radio of Armenia
Jan 4 2022
January 4, 2022, 11:28

 

Armenia’s Ambassador to the US Lilit Makunts held a lecture for the students of the U.S. Naval War college.

The Ambassador outlined the priorities of the Armenian foreign policy, highlighting the Nagorno Karabakh issue, security environment and regional developments.

The lecture was followed by Q&A session.

Established in 1884 as an advanced course of professional study for naval officers, the US Naval War College educates and develops leaders at specific stages in their careers from all services, US Government agencies and departments, and international navies.

Greek-Armenian Aventis Aventisian joins Dutch club Go Ahead Eagles

Emil Lazarian
Public Radio of Armenia
Jan 4 2022
January 4, 2022, 14:10

Greek-Armenian left back Aventis Aventisian has joined Eredivisie club Go Ahead Eagles on a 2 and a half year contract.

The 19 year old joins the club from Greek Super League giants PAOK. Born in Thessealoniki, Aventis is eligible to play for both Greece and Armenian national teams at the senior level.

Aventis Aventisian is looking forward to his introduction to Dutch football. “Big clubs, big league, big names,” he says. “Given the way of playing, the Netherlands is one of the best countries to play football. The attractive and attacking way of playing suits me as a player. I am an attacking full-back who likes to touch the ball and therefore expect the Dutch competition to be good for my development,” Aventisian said.

Armenian State Symphony Orchestra announces cooperation with leading IT companies

Emil Lazarian
Public Radio of Armenia
Jan 4 2022
January 4, 2022, 16:06

The Armenian State Symphony Orchestra, led by Artistic Director and Principal Conductor Sergey Smbatyan, and Alexandr Yesayan, the Chairman of the Honorary Board of Trustees of the Foundation for Support of the orchestra are designing a framework of cooperation with representatives of the IT community. 

Joint projects are expected to be implemented together with leading IT and communication companies. This cooperation aims to galvanize the orchestra’s efforts in promoting Armenian classical music and Armenian composers, following its mission of presenting our performing traditions in classical music abroad. In these efforts the orchestra will be joined by Members of the Honorary Board of Trustees the Foundation – the Co-Founder of Team Telecom Armenia AlexandrYesayan, the Chief Product Officer and Founding Partner of Picsart Creative Platform Mikayel Vardanyan, the President and Co-founder of Service Titan Software Technology Platform Vahe Kuzoyan, the Founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors of COAF Garo Armen and others. MoUs have been signed with these supporters to frame the future cooperation.

The Armenian State Symphony Orchestra is reputed for its innovative projects, which very often incorporate high-tech solutions in delivering classical music to large audiences, including the employment of Artificial Intelligence. Many of these projects receive wide recognition across the world offering new creative approaches to the dialogue between the areas of classical music and IT. This cooperation is also expected to contribute to the efforts of positioning Armenia in the larger context of cultural innovations globally, as well as to the promotion of the Armenian classical music heritage in the world.

Armenia police not allowing newly elected council members to enter Vardenis town hall building

Emil Lazarian
 NEWS.am 
Armenia – Jan 4 2022
11:40, 04.01.2022

The police of Armenia are not allowing the newly elected members of the Vardenis Council of Elders and the mayor-elect to enter the town hall building.

Outside the aforesaid building, the law enforcement first demanded to see the mandates of the elected council members and the mayor-elect, then informed that a lawsuit had been filed with the administrative court, the lawsuit had been accepted, and therefore the council members could not enter the town hall building.

Mayor-elect Aharon Khachatryan, in turn, said that a motion had been submitted to make an interim decision, but that motion was not granted at the moment, and therefore they can enter the town hall building.

Khachatryan’s lawyer, for his part, said that if the court has not chosen any means of securing the lawsuit, as well as there is no legal decision made by the court that the decision of the council meeting is invalid, then the council can enter the town hall building today and carry out work.

A police representative, however, said they will not allow the new town council members to enter the building, and therefore the council members could hold the mayor-elect’s inauguration elsewhere.

To note, the police did not submit any documents on the basis of which they banned the newly elected members of the Vardenis Council of Elders from entering the town hall building.

As reported earlier, in the December 5 local elections in Vardenis, the ruling Civil Contract Party (CCP) had won 13 seats, the opposition Aharon Khachatryan bloc—10 seats, and the opposition United Vardenis—4 seats in the town council. Then, the opposition forces had signed a memorandum to form a coalition, and therefore the number of their town council seats was enough to elect their mayor candidate.

After that, former mayor of Vardenis Aram Harutyunyan, who topped the electoral list of United Vardenis, was charged in a criminal case against him and was arrested.

The first session of the new Vardenis Council of Elders had taken place on December 30. But before the session started, the police had attempted to apprehend another opposition member of the council, Aharon Khachatryan, who is the opposition’s candidate for mayor. Three hours later, the opposition finally had managed to convene a session and elect Khachatryan mayor. The CCP members of this council, however, had not attended this session.


Armenia law enforcement not permitting reporters to enter Vardenis town hall building

Garik Boshkezenian
 NEWS.am 
Armenia – Jan 4 2022
13:02, 04.01.2022

Police officers are not allowing reporters to enter the town hall building of Vardenis, Armenia.

The reporters want to talk to the ruling Civil Contract Party’s (CCP) mayoral candidate, incumbent mayor Aram Melkonyan, who is at the town hall building.

The police have set up a human wall, do not permit reporters to enter the town hall building, but do not provide any legal justification for not allowing the reporters from entering the building.

Numerous officers from the police special forces also have arrived outside the Vardenis town hall building.

To note, the police did not allow the newly elected members of the Vardenis Council of Elders to enter the building, and for that reason, the inauguration of mayor-elect Aharon Khachatryan took place Tuesday at the courtyard of the town hall building.

As reported earlier, in the December 5 local elections in Vardenis, the ruling CCP had won 13 seats, the opposition Aharon Khachatryan bloc—10 seats, and the opposition United Vardenis—4 seats in the town council. Then, the opposition forces had signed a memorandum to form a coalition, and therefore the number of their town council seats was enough to elect their mayor candidate.

After that, former mayor of Vardenis Aram Harutyunyan, who topped the electoral list of United Vardenis, was charged in a criminal case against him and was arrested.

The first session of the new Vardenis Council of Elders had taken place on December 30. But before the session started, the police had attempted to apprehend another opposition member of the council, Aharon Khachatryan, who is the opposition’s candidate for mayor. Three hours later, the opposition finally had managed to convene a session and elect Khachatryan mayor. The CCP members of this council, however, had not attended this session.

The ruling force is in a life-or-death struggle for power – Artur Ghazinyan

Arpi Talalian
panorama.am
Armenia – Jan 4 2022

Opposition lawmaker Artur Ghazinyan commented on Facebook the situation occurred in Vardenis and Parakar communities of Armenia where after the local elections the ruling force members impede the formation of the local administration and inauguration of the elected heads from opposition. 

"The ruling Civili Contract party is engaged in life-or-death struggle for posts in Vardenis and Parakar communities, ignoring the votes of the local residents. The logic of the actions by police officers is imperceptible as they fail to provide legitimate grounds and justifications for not allowing elected mayors and members of the councils to enter the Mayor's office. In this fight for the posts and power the followers of Nikol are pawns deprived of self-respect second to nonce," wrote Ghazinyan.

Armenian soldier arrested for killing fellow serviceman

Emil Lazarian
panorama.am
Armenia – Jan 4 2022

An Armenian soldier has been arrested and charged with murder in the shooting death of a fellow serviceman, the Investigative Committee reported on Tuesday.

The victim, identified as Movses Tadevosyan (b. 2003), was found with gunshot wounds to the head in a military post on December 31. The serviceman died on his way to the military hospital.

The preliminary investigation revealed that Tadevosyan was killed by a fellow soldier. The latter has been charged under Article 104 (Part 1) of the Criminal Code of Armenia. The preliminary investigation continues, the law enforcement agency said.

Azerbaijani border guard arrested in occupied Artsakh village after killing three fellow servicemen

Rose Khoyetsian
panorama.am
Armenia – Jan 4 2022

An Azerbaijani border guard was arrested in a village in the occupied Berdzor district of Artsakh after killing three military staff members at a border outpost on Sunday, Gazeta.ru reported, citing the Azerbaijani Military Prosecutor’s Office.

The reasons for the incident remain unclear.

The man, identified as Sergeant Elkhan Avazly, opened fire on his fellow servicemen “for no apparent reason” and killed a first lieutenant and two noncommissioned officers, who were at that time at the border outpost. The suspect then dropped his weapon and fled, RT reported.

He was apprehended on January 3, shortly after midnight.

All the circumstances of the incident are being established, the military said.