This year, the Istanbul Governor’s Office also banned the participation of commemorative events on April 24. Once again, the governor of Istanbul rejected the application of the “April 24 commemoration platform” without giving any reason.

Since 2010, the “April 24 Commemoration Platform” has been carrying out commemorative events both in Istanbul and in a number of cities in Turkey. In 2020, due to the epidemic, commemorative events were banned, and this ban continues to this day. the Turkish authorities call the measures “not expedient”.

In fact, the authorities’ presentation of the ban on April 24 events as “not expedient” stems from the policy of denial adopted at the state level. It not only limits commemorative events, but also undermines the opportunities for free expression of civil society.

The first and main reason for the ban on commemoration events is Turkey’s denial policy. Turkey has repeatedly stated that it did not commit genocide. In his speech, the President of the Republic of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, stated that the states that accepted the Armenian Genocide did not prove their claims with archival documents. As an example, Erdogan mentioned France, saying that the latter is not interested in the truth.

Therefore, the ban on events aimed at commemorating the Armenian Genocide in Turkey is related to denial itself. And the decision to hold commemorative events for the years 2010-2019 was due to the fact that the latter presented the international community with the message “freedom of speech exists in Turkey”.

The second reason is the foreign political factor. The events of April 24 were often accompanied by international reactions, and the holding of these events inside Turkey could be perceived as a rejection of the policy of denial, which the Turkish government avoids.

In 2016, the German Bundestag adopted a resolution officially recognizing the Armenian Genocide. Turkey criticized that decision. Erdogan announced that this decision will affect bilateral relations, calling it groundless, and the Turkish ambassador was recalled from Berlin.

In 2019, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that April 24 will be officially declared as the national day of remembrance of the Armenian Genocide in France. Turkey immediately condemned this move by Macron and again “documented” the denial of the Armenian Genocide. Turkish President’s Spokesman Ibrahim Kalin stated that the claims of the Armenian Genocide are political lies without a legal basis, and they contradict historical facts. Genocide “claims” have no value for Turkey.

In 2021, US President Joe Biden used the term “genocide” for the first time. Biden’s use of the term raised a big wave in Turkey. Turkish authorities criticized the announcement, calling it a politicization of history, and even temporarily recalled their ambassador from the US for consultations.

After the declarations by various countries aimed at recognizing and condemning the Armenian Genocide, Turkey not only denied or condemned the declarations of these countries, but also used economic or political tools to put pressure on those countries. Thus, after the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by France, the diplomatic relations between Turkey and France intensified. Turkish businessmen and parliamentarians traveled to Paris to temporarily suspend trade agreements and put pressure on France. That said, Turkey’s denial turned into a practical policy, and the ban on commemorative events is often perceived as a step by Turkey to counter pressure from the international community.

SCIENTIFIC ANALYTICAL FOUNDATION “GEGHARD”

“Hraparak” newspaper writes:

“While the Armenian public is guessing what and how Ilham Aliyev will support his friend Nikol Pashinyan on the eve of the elections, and they are making predictions that maybe Azerbaijan will create a border incident so that the CP members will terrorize the Armenian voters with a war and steal votes, it turns out that Aliyev has found a better solution.

According to our information, Aliyev wants to return 2 groups of prisoners to Armenia before the elections. There will be 8 people in one group, 3 in the other. Except for the military-political leadership of Artsakh, 11 of the 19 prisoners, most of whom have been suffering in Baku prison since 2020, will return to their homeland. Of course, there will be great joy in Armenia, and Aliyev hopes that with this step he will make the re-election of his beloved colleague, Nikol Pashinyan, inevitable.

The fact that the subject of the return of captives was agreed with Nikol Pashinyan is also evidenced by the fact that the Artsakh leadership was not included in the list of returnees. After all, their return could change the internal political atmosphere in Armenia and raise the broken spirit of our people.”

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The former foreign minister of Iran, now a member of the parliament from Tehran, Manouchehr Mottaki, on the air of Iranian state television, made factual accusations against the barbaric regime in Baku.

He stated that according to experts, during the attacks carried out by Israel in the north of Iran, the artificial airspace of Azerbaijan was used. There are reports that the airports of that country were also used and Israeli planes were refueled.

The flow of such accusations against the barbaric administration of Baku at various levels in the Iranian media does not stop, which also leads to the formation of such an atmosphere of public sentiments, which in the post-war period will certainly affect the Iranian state’s position towards the barbaric administration of Baku, which is trying to hide hostility towards Iran as much as possible at the official level.

Iranologist Vardan Voskanyan

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The CEC informs that the parties/parties’ alliances are obliged to open an election fund within 5 days after the registration of the electoral lists.

The parties included in the alliance of parties do not have the right to form a separate pre-election fund.

The pre-election fund of a party (alliance of parties) is formed from the payments made by that party (member parties of the alliance).

Funds can be opened in the following banks:

Ardshinbank CJSC

Armeconombank OJSC

AKBA Bank JSC

Unibank OJSC

VTB – Armenia Bank CJSC

Fast Bank CJSC

In the case of the National Assembly elections, the maximum limit of expenditures from the fund is 800 million drams.

Compulsory expenses to be made and declared from the fund are:

Political advertisements on the pre-election campaign in the mass media and on the Internet;

Sociological surveys and research,

Costs of indemnification of proxies,

Costs of preparation, installation and distribution of propaganda posters, propaganda print and other materials,

The costs of renting premises of election headquarters,

Costs of holding cultural or sports events,

Costs of renting halls, premises,

Expenses for vehicle rental/ excluding up to 7-seater cars.

Non-declarable costs

Utility costs of electoral headquarters

Vehicle fuel costs

Utility costs of halls and areas for holding pre-election meetings, meetings with voters and other events related to pre-election campaigning

Failure to include the expenses to be declared results in an administrative penalty of three times the amount of expenses not included in the fund’s expenses.

Exceeding the limit of incurred expenses causes an administrative penalty in the amount of three times the amount that exceeds the set maximum amount.

If the amount of expenses incurred in the specified directions and the amount of fines paid to the state budget is more than 120 percent of the maximum amount of the pre-election fund, then based on the application of the Central Electoral Commission, the court shall invalidate the registration of the electoral list of the party (alliance of parties) participating in the elections.

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Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a working discussion with Minister of Internal Affairs Arpine Sargsyan, during which the works implemented in the direction of introducing a new system of biometric passports and identification cards in the Republic of Armenia were presented.

In his introductory speech, Prime Minister Pashinyan noted that the process of introducing biometric passports and identification cards is in the final stage and they will be available to citizens from the fall of 2026.

Arpine Sargsyan emphasized that the purpose of introducing the new system is to ensure the compliance of identity documents with high international standards, in particular, with the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). According to the Minister of Internal Affairs, it will increase the reliability of documents, facilitate border crossings and facilitate the free movement of citizens, including in the visa liberalization process with the European Union.

It was noted that modern infrastructures are being created within the framework of the implementation of the new system. The project is implemented in the format of public-private cooperation. The new passports will have high-level protection mechanisms, including security components, including UV layers.

At the same time, it was emphasized that the Armenian identity, historical and cultural heritage and symbols of statehood are reflected in the design of the document. Accordingly, the outline map of the Republic of Armenia, the alphabet created by Mesrop Mashtots, and the first sentence in the Armenian alphabet, “Know wisdom and wisdom, know my language with genius” are reflected first. The Prime Minister emphasized that some letters are reflected larger and there is a certain thought and logic in it. “In particular, the letter “A” means freedom, independence, the letter “E” means happiness, the letter “E” means that in Grabar “E” means God, emphasizing God, the letter “Z” means the people, the letter “I” means sovereignty, the letter “X” means peace, “K” means life, “H” means Armenia, “M” means man, “J” means water as a symbol of life. The letter “O”, since there was no letter “O” in the initial version, we meant the law, legality, the letter “P” – we meant the state, the letter “S” – we meant love, the letter “K” – Christ, as the first state that accepted Christianity. Of course, these accents could be made with all letters, but in general, we thought that such accents would perhaps also significantly emphasize our strategies, perceptions, aspirations, and our ideas, and also add a certain design element.”

Continuing to present the images inserted on different pages of the document, it was noted that it begins with the genealogy of Armenians, with the image of Hayk Nahapet and the rock paintings found in Geghama Mountains and Ukhtasar, which have a very old history. The next important milestone in history is also presented, the cuneiform record of the founding of Yerevan, which is a very important part of Armenian identity and history. It was emphasized that the image of the Erebuni fortress has been restored by scientists. Next, the boundary stones of the Artashes period with Aramaic inscriptions are presented. The form and position of the boundary stone also with scientists formed as a result of consultations, are a visualization depicting the lifestyle and agriculture of the given period. It was emphasized that the choice of the boundary stone was not accidental, it was a very important state and legal tool even in that period, because it showed the existence of the state, the essence of state administration and also the land reforms that took place in that period.

On the next page is presented the Mother See of St. Ejmiadzin, which symbolizes the fact of accepting Christianity as the state religion in 301. The year of adoption of Christianity was emphasized as one of the key parts of our identity and history.

According to the logic of ceremonial seniority, the symbols of modern statehood are presented: the residence of the President of the Republic of Armenia, the Government building, the National Assembly building, the Constitutional Court building. Yerevan Cascade and Alexander Tamanyan, as the patriarch of modern urban development, were also depicted.

There is also a reference to the marzes. In alphabetical order, Aragats marz is presented with Mount Aragats with its four peaks, Ararat marz with Khor Virap as one of the most important centers of Christianity, Armavir marz with lavash baking process, Armavir marz gardens and fruits, Gegharkunik marz with Lake Sevan and the 10th century Berdkunk fortress, Kotayk marz with Garnu pagan temple, Lori marz with Lori fortress, Shirak region with the street of the historical center of Gyumri and the famous Phaeton view, Syunik region with Baghaberd castle, Tavush region with Sranots bridge, Vayots Dzor region with Jermuk waterfall and Jermuk’s famous deer. The Prime Minister emphasized that through all these historical and cultural monuments, an attempt was made to ensure the diversity and multi-layeredness of the portrait of Armenia.

It was emphasized that along with the introduction of the biometric passport, it is also planned to introduce automatic, contactless crossing systems at the border checkpoints, which will significantly facilitate and speed up the movement of citizens.

Summarizing the presentation of the passport, the head of state noted that with this step, Armenia takes an important step towards having a modern, safe and international passport system.

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