APRIL 26, 2019

April 24 is the day of remembrance of the victims of the Armenian Genocide. Many thousands of people from Armenia, Nagorno Karabakh, Diaspora, foreign guests visited the Tsitsernakaberd memorial in Yerevan that day, paid tribute to the memory of more than one and a half million Armenians who were victims of the Genocide at the beginning of the 20th century. On the occasion of the 104th anniversary of the genocide against the Armenians in Ottoman Turkey, commemorative events were also held abroad at the initiative of Armenian diplomatic missions, Diaspora structures, with the participation of local state, political and public figures.

…On April 24th, all Armenians, along with the progressive humanity of the world, commemorate the victims of the Armenian Genocide on all continents. It is a date written in black letters in our history, which not only marks a day of greatest sorrow and pain, remembrance and incense, but also a lost era, the tragedy of depatriation, the irrevocable loss of national identity, cultural and historical heritage. The Armenian Genocide carried out by the Ottoman government is now an undeniable fact, which is substantiated, recognized and confirmed by the testimonies of countless witnesses, decrees, resolutions and the decisions of many countries, states, and international organizations. 1915 is huge. The complete set of documents characterizing the mass massacres of the Armenian population in the Ottoman Empire as a pre-planned and fully executed genocidal act.

“The impunity of the Armenian Genocide opened the door to further grave crimes and genocides against humanity. Let’s remember the Holocaust, Cambodia, Rwanda and other tragedies. It should be a lesson in vigilance for all. The international recognition and condemnation of this terrible crime against humanity should become an important step in order to exclude its repetition anywhere in the world,” RA President Armen Sarkissian wrote in his address, expressing gratitude to all those states, international structures and organizations, spiritual heads and political leaders, representatives of academic circles, which recognize and condemn the Armenian Genocide.

About three dozen countries of the world, including Uruguay, France, Russia, Switzerland, Canada, Argentina, as well as the European Parliament, 49 of the 50 American states (except Mississippi), regional and city authorities of various countries, international authoritative organizations and structures have officially recognized the Armenian Genocide. During a briefing with journalists at the Tsitsernakaberd memorial complex, US Ambassador to Armenia Lynn Tracy stated that what happened in 1915 is “one of the worst atrocities” of the 20th century, which, according to the ambassador, the United States does not deny.

Since the 60s of the last century, the Armenian community in America has been fighting for the official Washington to recognize the massacre of one and a half million Armenians in 1915 as genocide and to condemn the crime. However, the leaders of the White House mostly avoided using the term “Genocide” and offered their support in the reconciliation of Armenians and Turks. The 44th and 45th presidents of the USA, Barack Obama and Donald Trump, used the Armenian phrase “Mets Yeghern” in their messages on April 24. The day is not far when the world will recognize the Armenian Genocide and condemn the atrocities of the Turkish genocide of the last century.

Mihran Poghosyan, a wanted ex-deputy and ex-head of the Judicial Acts Enforcement Service, was found in the Republic of Karelia on April 21 and arrested by Russian law enforcement officers. The spokesperson of the Special Investigation Service (SSI) conveyed the information to the press, adding that the extradition of the former high-ranking official to Armenia is underway. Mihran Poghosyan’s office announced earlier that he had informed Armenian law enforcement officers of his address in Moscow. According to the SIS, Poghosyan used his official position to embezzle large amounts of property and misused his official powers, which caused serious consequences.

At the end of March of this year, Mihran Poghosyan was invited for questioning, but he did not appear, citing that he was abroad. Already on April 15, the CSI had informed that Poghosyan was involved as an accused. The court of general jurisdiction of Yerevan satisfied the petition of the SIS and made a decision regarding Poghosyan’s arrest.

…Serzh Sargsyan’s teammate, Major General Mihran Poghosyan, was involved as an accused not only in the case of stealing large amounts of property and abusing official powers, but also in the well-known offshore scandal, which was at the center of the Republican government. The CSI charged him with Article 179, Part 3, Clause 1 and Article 308, Part 2 of the Criminal Code for committing publicly dangerous acts. According to that, Poghosyan, occupying the position of the Chief Enforcer of Judicial Acts from June 11, 2008, appointed the person ensuring his security as the enforcer of the central body of the State Security Service. to the position of the first-class consultant of the operative department, and the personal driver to the position of the leading consultant of the same department. They, as employees of the said department, did not actually attend work and did not perform duties arising from their respective positions, but fulfilled Mihran Poghosyan’s personal assignments. Nevertheless, the “consultants” mentioned by the latter’s instruction received a salary and payments equal to it, in the total amount of 44,199,463 drams. Thus, using his official position, Poghosyan stole a particularly large amount of money entrusted to him from the state budget.

There is information about another, larger amount of embezzlement in the message issued by the SIS the other day. “Mihran Poghosyan, using his official position, contrary to the interests of the service, with selfish motivations, in violation of the requirements stipulated by the law and government decisions, signed contracts for the purchase of goods and the provision of services with the organizations that are managed by him and carry out business activities through trusted persons,” the message said in particular. It is about 2011-2016. It is about a transaction made between DAHAP and “Catherine Group” LLC, actually owned by Poghosyan. Poghosyan purchased 32 “Bid” cars worth 211,158,000 drams from “Catherine Group” LLC, which, as mentioned, is his private entity, with the state funds entrusted to him, 20 of them at a price about 20,000,000 drams higher than the sale price, as a result of which the legitimate interests of the state were transferred. is particularly large property damage.

There are other similar episodes in the accusations. Episodes typical of the previous regime. Permissiveness, legal arbitrariness, looting and abuse of officials knew no bounds. The main targets of the looting of almost all so-called “oily” positions were the state budget, soil, land, in short, the national property. Poghosyan was a child of his time and environment and tried not to lag behind anyone. He was convinced of his own impunity, he knew very well that the “environment” would never hand over his child. It is no coincidence that the offshore criminal case was dismissed very quickly in 2017 based on lack of criminal record. Now the Special Investigation Service has resumed the proceedings of that criminal case as well, and we hope it will bring it to a logical end. After all, the criminal must go to prison, otherwise we will not become a state.

Later it became known that Mihran Poghosyan requested political asylum from Moscow. As they say, toast gets sweeter. This seems to be the prelude to remarkable developments.

Gevorg Lalayan commented

 

The Armenian Apostolic Church celebrated the Holy Resurrection of Jesus Christ (Great Easter) on April 21. Holy Week precedes Easter. On Saturday evening, a liturgy of the Resurrection of Christ was held, which ends the seven-week Great Lent period preceding Easter. On Sunday morning, on the occasion of the Holy Resurrection, a Patriarchal liturgy was held in the Mother Church of St. Gregory the Illuminator in Yerevan, during which Catholicos of All Armenians Karegi II sent his message to the entire Armenian people. In its meaning and scope, the sacrament of the Holy Resurrection is more than a church holiday. It unites, inspires and strengthens all of us in its own way, revives, renews and strengthens faith in one’s own strength, gives new hopes for tomorrow. 

On April 22, a meeting was held near Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, which was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinyan, Minister of Territorial Administration and Development Suren Papikyan and RA governors. Issues related to the course of spring-agricultural preparations, existing problems and the possibilities of their solution were discussed. Reference was made to the programs planned for this year in various fields in marzes. The governors reported on the progress of infrastructure development, various subsidy programs implemented in cooperation between the government and communities. The Prime Minister gave instructions to the governors: above in order to effectively implement the programs in the specified directions.

Last weekend, NKR President Bako Sahakyan received the Armenian government delegation in Stepanakert. A wide range of issues related to the cooperation between the administrative units of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh were discussed. The further expansion of Armenia-Artsakh relations and the implementation of new strategic plans in this direction were emphasized on both sides. On the same day, the delegation participated in training sessions at the headquarters of the NKR Defense Army, after which a visit to the advanced command post of the army was organized, where Artsakh Minister of Defense, Major General Karen Abrahamyan presented the possible actions of the enemy. nature and the most effective ways to adequately respond to them. The next day, the high-ranking guests visited the positions, congratulated the staff of the post on the occasion of Easter, got acquainted with the operational situation.

According to the information of the Special Investigative Service (SSI), the preliminary investigation regarding “March 1” has been completed. The criminal case against retired RA President Robert Kocharyan, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces Seyran Ohanyan, Deputy Minister of Defense Yuri Khachaturov and Chief of Staff of the President Armen Gevorgyan was sent with an indictment to the supervising prosecutor with a petition to send it to court. Kocharyan is accused of subverting the Constitutional order and receiving particularly large bribes, Ohanyan and Khachaturov – the Constitutional order. in overthrowing, Gevorgyan in assisting in the overthrow of the Constitutional order, receiving bribes in particularly large amounts and legalizing the property obtained through criminal means.

 

BBC reports that Ukrainian comedian Volodymyr Zelensky won the country’s presidential elections. After the ballots were counted, Zelensky had received more than 73% of the votes, while incumbent President Petro Poroshenko received 24%.

The Financial Times reports that during an event broadcast on Facebook, Zelensky thanked his supporters, telling them: “I promise that I will never betray you.” In his comments, which were apparently aimed at neighboring Russia, he added: “Countries of the former Soviet Union, look at us… anything is possible.”

France24 writes that 41-year-old Zelensky will be Ukraine’s youngest president when he officially takes office in early June. The star of the “Servant of the People” television project, now in its third season, has promised to continue Poroshenko’s pro-European policies. He also said that he wants to improve relations with unfriendly Russia.

According to The New York Times, Zelensky’s victory makes him the first Jewish leader in Ukraine to defeat Poroshenko, a representative of the political and business establishment, a billionaire tycoon who campaigned on a nationalist slogan. “Army, language, faith”. Poroshenko accepted the defeat and wrote on his Twitter page. “We were able to ensure free, fair, democratic and competitive elections. There is no doubt that Ukraine set a high bar for a democratic election campaign. I accept the will of the Ukrainian people.”

Prepared by Marina Muradyan