Month: February 2019

The delegation led by RA Defense Minister Davit Tonoyan left for Moscow on a working visit.

According to the press service of the Ministry of Defense, a number of meetings are scheduled during the visit.

Levon Ter-Petrosyan was also questioned as a witness in the March 1 case today. HZ informs about this.

With the same information, his interrogation lasted one and a half hours.

RA Special Investigation Service, however, again did not provide information regarding the interrogation, stating that they do not comment.

It should be noted that he was interrogated several times as a witness in the case of March 1 Serzh Sargsyan.His interrogation ended yesterday.

Today, some online media published information that during the interrogation within the framework of the March 1 case, Serzh Sargsyan, the third president of the Republic of Armenia, testified against the second president of the Republic of Armenia, Robert Kocharyan. According to the website, it is possible that this is what influenced today’s decision of the Appellate Criminal Court.

168.am asked S. for clarification in this regard. From Amram Makinyan, the advocate of Sargsyan’s interests.

“Serzh Sargsyan was summoned to the special investigative service of the RA within the scope of the March 1 case and questioned. I am sorry that due to the confidentiality of the preliminary investigation, I cannot present and comment on Serzh Sargsyan’s testimony in full. I am familiar with the news circulating in the press, according to which Mr. Serzh Sargsyan allegedly testified against Mr. Robert Kocharyan. I can say unequivocally that they are completely fictitious and fabricated,” Amram Makinyan, the advocate of Serzh Sargsyan’s interests, told us.

http://verelq.am/hy/node/42219?fbclid=IwAR2Dih_P0gvij1PW_4b10FBJDkKQ9k7jin7abegyM66QGgR8R6P2T4CmLRI

VERELQ presents the most notable publications of the Armenian press.

“Fact” the newspaper writes. “Samvel BabayanThe statements made recently received a harsh response in various circles of Artsakh. First, he was opposed by the favorites of the 2020 presidential elections: Araik Harutyunyan and Vitaly Balasanyan, then pointed out by him – activists of the movement Razmik Petrosyan and Armo Tsatryan: The point is that Samvel Babayan, in fact, accused the active figures of the Artsakh liberation struggle. Serzh Sargsyan, in keeping the so-called “compromising line”, and as the leaders of the movement represent, Sargsyan did not talk about concessions, but rather referred in detail to the ongoing negotiations on the Artsakh issue, presented the position and main approaches of the mediators, Azerbaijan, as well as the policy implemented by Armenia. By the way, according to the information we have, the same figures of the movement threatened in private conversations to address Babayan’s real character in the near future, in particular, to remind him of his willingness to make concessions in the stage before the war, which was prevented in the field. by commanders”.

“Publication” the newspaper writes. “The gap between the political elites of Armenia and Artsakh is growing. “Nikol Pashinyan drew that line and isolated the Artsakh leadership from the Karabakh settlement issue. on the one hand, he declares that he will do everything to make Artsakh a negotiating party, on the other hand, he broke ties with the leadership of Karabakh,” said our source. The point is that Serzh Sargsyan He had formed a tradition before and after all important foreign meetings regarding the Artsakh issue: he would go to Artsakh and meet with the local political elite, while Nikol Pashinyan does not have such discussions and meetings. At the beginning, the authorities and the elite of Artsakh did everything to gain his favor, but at some point they chose a different tactic. They have decided to maintain internal solidarity from now on and strongly oppose the Armenian authorities if they interfere in their internal life. As it happened, for example, Samvel Babayanafter the incriminating statement regarding “handover of land”. The former Prime Minister of Nagorno-Karabakh responded to that statement Araik Harutyunyan, although he is the number 1 supporter of the revolution and Pashinyan’s government in Artsakh.”

“time” the newspaper writes. “The Speaker of the National Assembly will leave for Artsakh next week Ararat Mirzoyan: In the past, the NA presidents’ visits to the Republic of Artsakh, especially the first, were quite representative, they included several MPs representing different parliamentary factions, because the parliaments of the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Armenia do not interact with each other at the level of friendly groups, but at the level of inter-parliamentary commissions. This time, the first visit of the President of the National Assembly is very modest and as frugal as possible.”

“People” the newspaper writes: “All three RA presidents were interrogated within the framework of the March 1 criminal case, just in different capacities. Yesterday, the SIS invited the first president of RA for questioning Levon Ter-Petrosyanas a witness. A third president was questioned twice as a witness Serzh Sargsyan, who held the position of the Prime Minister of RA on March 1 and as a result of those events, received the position of the head of the country. And the second president? Robert Kocharyan, who was still the acting president on March 1, has been under the status of an accused for several months, he is the only one of the accused in this case, moreover, yesterday the RA Court of Appeals rejected the appeal of the defense to change his restraining order. Thus, it can be expected that the preliminary investigation in the case of March 1 can take an objective course. after all, all three presidents were on the side of these events, just on two different sides. And logic suggested that these interrogations should have been done ten years ago. In these years, there has been a lot of talk about the need to interrogate them. after all, each of them probably had something to say. Also, each of them, especially in 2008 those in power can give the answers to the most important questions if they are honest. P.S. It is surprising, but it is a fact that Serzh Sargsyan in 2008 was the Prime Minister of RA, moreover, in 2008 As a result of rigged elections and March 1, he became the president of the country, but he was never accused of subverting the constitutional order. He is just a witness.”

“People” the newspaper writes: “Before the New Year, the pre-holiday awards from the state budget just came from the noses of the officials. Yesterday, the ruling “My Step” parliamentary faction invited the Minister of Finance of RA to give explanations on this topic. Atom Janjughazyan: Moreover, the session lasted a record long time – four hours. And as the sources of the newspaper claim, during those four hours, the deputies simply questioned the minister. To be honest, they were right, because the minister’s relative and godson received the biggest awards in the ministry. The leader of the “My Step” faction in a conversation with “Zhoghovurd” newspaper Lilit Makunts also said. “Regarding the godson, Mr. Janjughazyan said that the deputy minister is not his godson, but the children. Such a question was also discussed. And indeed the meeting lasted very long.” By the way, in response to our reporter’s question, Janjughazyan tried to deny it at first. “I have no family connection with anyone. Now no one has asked about it.” But when we referred to Makunts, he admitted. “Yes, there was a question, I clarified it.”

“time” the newspaper writes. “Despite all the assurances of the Central Bank that the macroeconomic situation in Armenia is stable, yesterday we witnessed another depreciation of the dram exchange rate. Our source close to the banking system claims that the Central Bank is holding down the dram exchange rate through repressive measures, preventing banks from buying dollars even if there is a demand for them. If in the past the Central Bank influenced the exchange rate of the dram through foreign exchange interventions, now the possibility of resorting to this financial instrument is also limited due to the poor state of foreign reserves.”

“time” the newspaper writes. “The government finally sent its activity plan to the parliament. But it turns out that it is not a final document, but constantly changing and being supplemented. Now the drafters are studying the feedback and trying to complete the text accordingly. Deputies were also warned that the final version may differ significantly from the published one. It is, of course, a violation of the law, but now nobody pays attention to such details.”

“Publication” the newspaper writes. “According to some information, the former director of Kanazi Garrison-Clinical Hospital is running for the position of the head of the Ministry of Defense Medical Service Department. Sahak Ohanyan, who was also the head of the Central Military Medical Commission. Let’s remind that the name of Sahak Ohanyan has always been circulated in the media in the context of unpleasant incidents. it was written about him that in 2013 he beat soldiers in the Kanazi hospital. And the current head of the medical service of the Ministry of Defense is Gayane Hovhannisyan.”

“Publication” the newspaper writes. “Optimizing, “super” ministries have started working with journalists in a “super style”. they don’t answer verbal questions any more, they demand to send the question in writing and, according to the law, they answer only on the 5th day. Minister of Internal Affairs Araik Harutyunyan we sent written questions. Employees of the National Institute of Education received notices on January 22 that they will work until March 31, “their contracts may be terminated.” What is the reason for this and will the institute be restructured or possibly dissolved? Secretary of the Ministry Narine Harutyunyan gave an “exhaustive” answer to the question. “The reduction of staff is due to the fact that in 2019 it is planned to carry out the program activities “Substantive and methodological maintenance of education and training of teachers of public schools of the republic”, “Primary (vocational) and secondary vocational education and training (VET) reforms” in a competitive manner, as a result of which the funding of the National Institute of Education may be reduced. Based on this reality, the board decided to notify the staff of the National Institute of Education in writing about the reduction of positions. At the same time, we should note that the sub-questions put forward by you can be answered based on the results of the competition.”

“People” the newspaper writes. “On January 24, RA Minister of Health Arsen Torosyanannounced the absolutely free operations of citizens in case of malignant neoplasms. Until now, surgeries were carried out on the principle of co-payment within the framework of the state order. We were informed by the Ministry of Health that the operations will be performed in those medical facilities that meet the requirements and have an oncology license. It should be noted that for a long time, a number of citizens have been calling “Zhoghovurd” daily and asking when the free surgeries will start. It turns out that they don’t even get the answers they are interested in from medical institutions. Until then, let’s note that cancer surgery will be free of charge in those hospitals that will sign the contract with the Ministry. And in this case, the medical center will not be able to perform surgeries in case of cancer diseases on a paid basis.”

There will be no more extra-budgetary funds in state structures. NA Vice President Lena Nazaryan wrote about this on her Facebook page, informing that Finance Minister Atom Janjughazyan came to the NA at the invitation of the “My Step” faction, with whom they discussed a number of issues related to the issue of bonuses and amendments to the Tax Code for about 5 hours.

Nazaryan informed about what changes decisions were made in the matter of bonus payments. 

“1. There will be no more extra-budgetary funds in state structures. (Only the Ministry of Defense may be an exception). It is mainly from these funds that gratuities have been provided for years, and no upper limit of gratuities has been set for a public servant. 

2. According to the 2019 budget, a gratuity fund in the amount of 30 percent of the salary fund will be provided for each state institution. 

3. The Civil Service Office drafts a government decree to regulate the distribution of bonuses. I think the most important question of this kind concerns the setting of an upper limit for each position, so that the manager is limited to that limit when giving bonuses to himself and the employees. 

4. At the earliest opportunity, we will initiate a change in the Law on Public Service, so that the amount of the bonus payment can also be seen in the published declaration.

p.c. In the last 10 years, there has not been as much change in the provision of bonuses as there has been in the last three weeks,” wrote the NA vice president.

Discussions on the Karabakh conflict have been ongoing in recent days. Armen Ashotyan, vice-chairman of the Republican Party from Artsakh, also referred to Samvel Babayan’s statement and the harsh reactions that followed, noting that the Madrid principles were always rejected by Azerbaijan.

“The harsh reaction to the misinformation actions regarding the consultation held in Artsakh in 2016 with the participation of Serzh Sargsyan was not too late. Many government and political figures of Artsakh put an end to these speculations.

However, the attempt to muddy the waters continues. In response to the fresh illiteracy of those who are several light years away from the negotiation process and politics and those who spread this joke, I would like to stress only two things:

1. Azerbaijan has always rejected the Madrid principles.

2. The Madrid principles or any recommendations based on them have never been signed.

It can be assumed that, in addition to internal Armenian developments, the political processes taking place in Artsakh are also fraught with dangerous perspectives on the Artsakh issue. But remember, gentlemen, that this is not the right time to show your local interests at the expense of national issues,” Ashotyan wrote on his Facebook page.

To remind, Samvel Babayan, in fact, accused the active figures of the Artsakh liberation struggle of keeping Serzh Sargsyan’s so-called “compromising line”, and as the figures of the movement represent, Sargsyan did not talk about concessions, but at their suggestion, he referred in detail to the ongoing negotiations on the Artsakh issue, presented the position and main approaches of the mediators, Azerbaijan, as well as the policy implemented by Armenia.