Month: February 2015

POLITICAL CRISIS AWAITING ADEQUATE EVALUATION IN ARMENIA – OPPOSITION MP

12:38 * 27.02.15

An Armenian opposition lawmaker on Friday expressed his concerns of
a political crisis, which he said needs an adequate evaluation by
the authorities.

“The political arena has become a kind of barren today, so in that
respect, I don’t think [such a situation] will be long-lasting. What
we observe is a seeming silence where, as a matter of fact, there
is a scream and noise lying behind. So one day it will push its way
to Liberty Square to raise its voice,” the leader of the Heritage
parliamentary facction, Ruben Hakobyan, told journalists at the
National Assembly.

But he ruled out the possibility of such a public protest on March 1,
the anniversary of the 2008 tragic post-electoral turmoil in Yerevan
(the opposition Armenian National Congress traditionally conducts
a rally on that day to remember those killed in the violent clashes
and call for a fair probe for resolving all the circumstances behind
the deadly events). The opposition MP said they will be heading to
the eastern regions on March 1 to meet with the residents of the
towns and villages situated close to the border. “We’ll be on the
border on March 1 and conduct meetings in Vanadzor (Lori region),
Shamshadin and Berd (Tavush),” he said .

Hakobyan added that the day was not intentionally timed to coincide
with the tragic anniversary. “We had our working schedule,” he
explained.

Asked whether Heritage has been invited to attend the Prosperous
Armenia party’s special congress, Hakobyan answered in the negative.

“I don’t know whether or not there will be invitations or the political
forces will have any participation at all,” he said.

Hakobyan said he doesn’t think that despite the wide public discontent
with the authorities, those in the upper hierarchy of government see
or realize that most of the population is against their policies.

He said the authorities have to learn a lesson to evaluate the
situation adequately. “What we need in that case are negotiations
and consultations. We need the authorities’ initiative to sit and
talk everything over, but I do not think they realize that,” he added.

Hakobyan further stressed the importance of developing a common agenda
to address very different actual issues, including President Serzh
Sargsyan’s statement voiced at a recent congress (particularly his
call for distinguishing business from politics).

“I think it is important to develop a joint agenda to find a way out.

Today we reap the fruits sown by the authorities over the past 20-25
years. We all have our share of guilt, so if there is a collective
understanding, they [the authorities] can, with rapid efforts, bring
the state out of this situation,” he added.

From: A. Papazian

KARABAKH WAR VETERAN CALLS FOR CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE

2.27.2015 13:40 epress.am

The Founding Parliament Movement calls for the citizens to begin acts
of disobedience against the authorities from this day forward by not
paying traffic violation fines, said a statement by the movement’s
coordinator Jirair Sefilian.

“You already know that we are inviting you to come out on the streets
on April 24. However until then, in order to weaken the regime, we
will begin acts of disobedience starting today. As the first act,
we call for people to stop paying fines for traffic violations. It
is not a secret that a large part of the fines indirectly passes
to the criminal oligarch system instead of the state budget. Hence,
with that step we do not allow the regime to oppress us, as well as
deny them a significant sum of money.

Instead of paying fines, we suggest you to take advantage of the
possibilities afforded in the law and to delay paying them by six
months. While on April 24 we will come out on the streets and begin
a process which will remove the regime. After that the new government
will nullify all accumulated fines and penalties during the regime’s
reign through a national amnesty,” stated Sefilyan.

He also stressed that “after removing the regime the new government
would essentially reduce the level of fines and penalties according
to our citizens’ salaries.”

At the same time, Sefilyan urged to not consider the above mentioned
as a call to break the law and to strictly continue following the
rules of the road.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL SAYS ARMENIA’S LAW ENFORCEMENT DID NOT CONDUCT EFFECTIVE INVESTIGATION IN SHANT HAROUTIUNYAN CASE

by Ashot Safaryan

Friday, February 27, 11:11

Amnesty International Report 2014/15 “The State Of The World’s Human
Rights” addressed also Armenia’s problems in the field. Particularly,
the report highlights such problems as restriction of the freedom of
assembly and use of violence by police against peaceful demonstrators.

According to Amnesty International “Peaceful protesters were dispersed
by police using excessive force in several instances. Police broke
up peaceful protests using excessive force on a number of occasions
throughout the year.”

As for tortures ands other ill-treatment, the report says local
(Armenian) human rights defenders continued to raise concern over
high numbers of reported beatings and ill-treatment in police custody.

The document spotlight the investigation in the case of Shant
Haroutiunyan, leader of “Tseghakron” Party, who is currently serving
his sentence in a penitentiary.

“Authorities still had to effectively investigate the allegations of
ill-treatment in custody of the opposition leader Shatn Harutyunyan.

Shatn Harutyunyan and 13 other activists were arrested following
clashes with the police on 5 November 2013, when they were attempting
to march to the presidential building. Allegations of ill-treatment
by two activists detained during protests on 7 March also remained
without effective investigation,” Amnesty International reports.

To recall, 37 people were arrested after clashes with the police in
the course of the protest action “March of Millions of Masks” on Nov
5 in Yerevan. Four police officers and a teen were injured during the
incident, 20 of the detained have been arrested. On Nov the families
of the detainees held protest actions demanding their release. On
December 18 one of the detainees, leader of Tseghakron Party Shant
Haroutiunyan filed a complaint to the investigation against the ban
on meetings with the family. The ban was not lifted however. Later,
Haroutiunyan was sentenced to 6 years in prison.

PURSUING JUSTICE THROUGH ART: 2015

Save the Dates!

A Multi-Cultural Genocide Exhibition and Symposium

Hope Ricciardi Diaspora collage and oil on three fir panels 24 x 24 in.

Save the Dates!

Pursuing Justice Through Art: 2015 A Multi-Cultural Genocide Exhibition
and Symposium

Exhibit Runs March 18 – April 25, 2015 Reception: Saturday, March 21,
2-4 pm Symposium: Saturday, April 18, 1-4 pm

This exhibition brings attention to genocide, the fragmented history
of various cultural groups, and art as a means of educating us
about humankind’s inhumanity. The year 2015 is significant. It
is the 100th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, the 70th
Anniversary of the end of the Jewish Holocaust, and the 40th
Anniversary of the Cambodian Genocide. Details on the symposium
and related events will be listed here as they are added:

Exhibitiing artists of Armenian descent include: Aroutiunian, Gagik
Avakian, John Babaian, Ani DerMarderosian, Adrienne Dulgarian, Stepan
Janjigian, JoAnn Kasbarian, Lucine Megherian, Talin Odabashian, Marsha
Nouritza Ricciardi, Hope Sperandio, Jessica Thank you to our sponsors:

Stay Connected

GERMAN SCIENTISTS AND MPS EXPECT FROM BERLIN FOR CLEAR POSITION ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

13:15, 27 February, 2015

BERLIN, FEBRUARY 27, ARMENPRESS: The Berlin evening, held on February
26, devoted to the memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide,
united the German deputies, public and political figures, the
representatives of the Armenian Embassy and the Armenian community
and interested people. During the evening, organized at the Berlin
Chamber of Deputies by the Armenian Embassy to Germany, the Armenian
community of Berlin and the Initiative “Genozid 1915”, the details
about the first genocide of the 20th century were shown, historical
and political evaluations were given and the present talked about
the role of the German Empire in the program of Armenians’ killing
and the current position of Berlin on the issue.

The board member of the Armenian community of Berlin Vardges Ailanak
stated that up to now Turkey conducts denial policy, moreover,
on the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, on April 24,
the government of Turkey planned to celebrate the centennial of the
Battle of Gallipoli.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NO TO MINING AT AMULSAR, PROTESTS IN SWEDEN

12:17 February 27, 2015

EcoLur

Accordind to Pan-Armenian Environmental Front O…n February 26,
in the capital city of Sweden, a group of environmentalists joined
to the campaign against the mining at Amulsar initiated by Lydian
International Ltd.

Arranging the protests every week in front of the Swedish Parliament
House the environmentalists are raising their voices of concern
about the mines operated north of the country. This time they showed
solidarity towards their fellow Armenians.

Photos by Pan-Armenian Environmental Front

ACTIVIST FACES INDICTMENT IN GYUMRI, ARMENIA

by Ashot Safaryan

Friday, February 27, 11:09

Activist Anushavan Haroutiuyan has become the second participant in the
protest actions over the family murder in Gyumri to face indictment.

The indictment says Haroutiunyan in a company of other persons
violated the public order in Garegin Nzhdeh Street in Gyumri on Jan
15 2015. Particularly, they demonstrated disrespect for the public,
used violence to a person, showed resistance to the police.

The activist – who does not plead guilty – was released on recognizance
not to leave.

On Jan 12, 6 members of the Avetisyans’ family were murdered in
Gyumri. The only survivor of the Jan 12 tragedy, 6- month-old Seryozha
Avetisyan, died of stab wounds on Jan 19. Though a month has passed
since the day of the murder, the investigation – either Russian or
Armenia is not clear – has not yet reasonably explained the reasons
why Valery Permyakov could commit that horrible crime. At the moment,
the criminal is staying in the territory of the Russian 102nd military
base and the residents of Gyumri still demand transferring Permyakov
to Armenian law- enforcers. Some protesters and the police clashed
near the Russian Consulate in Gyumri.

INVESTIGATION INTO ARTAK KHACHATRYAN’S BEATING CASE DISCONTINUED – SAYS BROTHER

12:05 | February 27,2015 | Politics

The investigation into the beating of activist Artak Khachatryan
has been discontinued, Khachatryan’s brother, Artyom Khachatryan,
said on February 27.

“There is no news in connection with the criminal case. They do not
call us for questioning or additional testimony,” he said.

Artak Khachatryan, a member of the Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK),
was attacked on February 9 in the neighbourhood of an entertainment
centre in Yerevan. Three armed men wearing masks forced Khachatryan
into a car and drove away with him. Later, Khachatryan was found near
his home in an unconscious state and brutally beaten up.

Khachatryan is now in Karabakh with his friends. Artyom Khachatryan
is convinced that his brother’s abduction and beating were politically
motivated.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SOCCER BOSS: NATIONAL TEAM COACH WILL GO IF ARMENIA FAILS TO BEAT ALBANIA

SOCCER | 27.02.15 | 11:33

RELATED NEWS

Soccer: FFA head criticizes national team coach, not considering
replacement yet

Armenian national soccer team coach Bernard Challandes will resign if
the Havakakan fails to beat Albania in an upcoming Euro-2016 qualifier,
Armenian Football Federation head Ruben Hayrapetyan said.

Armenia resume their Euro-2016 qualifying campaign by traveling
to Albania on March 29. The team has only one point after three
qualifiers played under the new Swiss coach last fall and is behind
all Group I rivals including Denmark, Portugal, Albania and Serbia.

Appearing on the Soccer Hour show of Armenia TV on Thursday night,
Hayrapetyan said that Challandes had admitted his mistakes, in
particular in the game against Portugal last November.

“I have set the task to him to take the team to the European
championship finals. If we fail to beat Albania, Challandes will
resign,” he said.

After Armenia lost to Portugal 0-1 Hayrapetyan, in particular,
criticized the Swiss specialist for choosing to play defensive soccer.

“If we think only about keeping our goal safe, we cannot have a
success,” he said then.

LEVON ZURABYAN: MUCH DEPENDS ON MARCH 1 RALLY

13:22 | February 27,2015 | Politics

The future cooperation between the Armenian National Congress (HAK) and
Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) mainly depends on the BHK, Head of the
HAK faction Levon Zurabyan said during today’s parliamentary briefings.

“We are doing our job. We shall continue our struggle and we are ready
to continue cooperation with the BHK if the latter is ready,” he said.

Zurabyan also said a lot depends on their rally scheduled for March 1.

“Either the regime will eventually understand that people will not
reconcile with them or they [authorities] will openly continue to
oppress people.”

In conclusion, Zurabyan said the rally will be attended by first
president [Levon Ter-Petrosyan] who has a lot to say to people.

From: A. Papazian