Thursday,
Key Witness In Ex-Police Chief’s Death Probe Leaves Armenia
• Ruzanna Stepanian
Armenia -- National police chief Hayk Harutiunian at an official ceremony in
Yerevan, April 16, 2003.
The key witness in an ongoing investigation into the recent mysterious death of
a former chief of the Armenian police has left the country, law-enforcement
authorities said on Thursday.
General Hayk Harutiunian, who headed the national police service from
1999-2008, was found shot to death in his country house on September 24. After
questioning an unnamed person who “was with him at the scene of the incident”
Armenia’s Investigative Committee suggested that Harutiunian most probably
committed suicide.
A spokeswoman for the committee told RFE/RL’s Armenian service that the
“eyewitness” assured investigators that they “will return to the country in
just a few days’ time.” She insisted that the witness’s absence from the
country will not have a negative impact on the investigation.
“All investigative actions requiring the presence of the witness have been
taken and the investigating body has acquired all the evidence relevant to the
criminal case,” said the official. Investigators are now awaiting final results
of forensic tests conducted as part of the probe, she added.
Two Armenian news websites claimed late last month that moments before his
death Harutiunian complained to another person that he is being pressured by
the authorities to give false incriminating testimony against former President
Robert Kocharian and a retired senior police officer indicted in connection
with the 2008 post-election violence in Yerevan. The Investigative Committee
was quick to dismiss those reports.
Two days after Harutiunian’s death, another law-enforcement body, the Special
Investigative Service, charged Alik Sargsian, the man who succeeded Harutiunian
as police chief in April 2008, with covering up what the SIS now describes as
security forces’ illegal crackdown on opposition protesters in February-March
2008. Sargsian flatly denied the accusations.
The SIS had repeatedly interrogated Harutiunian as a witness in the case. It
claimed on September 26 that he too had signed “official documents containing
false information and records” about the 2008 crackdown.
Former President Kocharian is currently under arrest, standing trial, along
with three other former officials, on coup charges. He rejects them as
politically motivated.
Authorities Deal With Toxic Leak From Armenian Copper Mine
• Susan Badalian
Armenia -- The polluted Voghji river in Syunik province is seen after a mining
accident , .
A senior government official accused Armenia’s largest mining company on
Thursday of trying to hush up a toxic waste spill that contaminated a river
flowing through the southeastern town of Kapan.
The accident was reported near a “tailings” dump of the Zangezur
Copper-Molybdenum Combine (ZCMC) early in the morning. Officials said that a
leaky pipe connecting the dump with ZCMC’s ore-processing facilities sent a
stream of industrial waste flowing into the already polluted Voghji river.
According to Levon Petrosian, the head of the regional branch of the state
Inspectorate Body on Environment Protection and Natural Resources, the pipe was
swiftly replaced by ZCMC workers sent to the site. “The river is still brown,”
Petrosian told RFE/RL’s Armenian service in the afternoon.
He said his agency took water and soil samples from the contaminated area and
sent them to Yerevan for detailed examination.
ZCMC said that the leak lasted for up to 40 minutes. Minister for Emergency
Situations Felix Tsolakian blasted the company during a cabinet meeting in
Yerevan which discussed the accident.
“They kept things secret and didn’t [immediately] say that such an accident
happened,” claimed Tsolakian. “The [ZCMC] bosses didn’t say that and carried
out quick repairs.”
“I don’t know what he meant by ‘kept secret,’” Petrosian said when asked to
comment on Tsolakian’s claims. “All I can say is that when our inspectors heard
the alert and went there the pipe was already replaced.”
Environment Protection Minister Erik Grigorian told reporters that authorities
are now ascertaining the damage inflicted on the environment. He complained
that Armenian environmental legislation sets “ridiculously” small fines for
mining firms violating it and must be toughened significantly.
Faulty and old tailings dumps are thought to be a key source of environmental
damage caused by the Armenian mining industry which generates more than 40
percent of the country’s exports.
ZCMC, which is nominally controlled by the German metals group Cronimet, is the
sector’s largest enterprise employing more than 4,000 people. It is also
Armenia’s number one corporate taxpayer.
Armenian Constitutional Court Chief Under Investigation
• Astghik Bedevian
Armenia -- Constitutional Court Chairman Hrayr Tovmasian reads out a court
verdict on an appeal filed by former President Robert Kocharian, September 4,
2019.
Law-enforcement officials raided the offices of Armenia’s Constitutional Court
and former ruling Republican Party (HHK) on Thursday after launching criminal
proceedings against the court’s embattled chairman, Hrayr Tovmasian.
Other investigators visited and questioned his elderly father.
The developments came two days after most members of the Constitutional Court
refused to oust Tovmasian. The Armenian parliament called for his dismissal in
an October 4 appeal drafted by its majority loyal to Prime Minister Nikol
Pashinian.
A non-partisan member of the parliament, Arman Babajanian, went further,
demanding that law-enforcement authorities prosecute Tovmasian. Babajanian
charged that the latter colluded with other key members of Armenia’s former
HHK-dominated leadership to illegally become head of the Constitutional Court
in March 2018.
The Special Investigative Service (SIS) announced on Thursday morning that it
has decided to open a criminal case in connection with Babajanian’s written
demand. It said it has launched an investigation into a possible “usurpation of
state authority by a group of individuals.”
An SIS official visited the HHK headquarters in Yerevan in the following hours.
According to the party’s deputy chairman, Armen Ashotian, he confiscated
documents relating to the termination of Tovmasian’s membership in the HHK in
early 2018.
The SIS also carried out what it called “investigative actions” inside the
Constitutional Court building in the Armenian capital. The court secretariat
refused to comment on the probe, saying that Tovmasian is on vacation at the
moment.
Under Armenian law, Tovmasian cannot be prosecuted without the consent of at
least five of the nine members of the country’s highest court. Two of those
judges, Alvina Gyulumian and Arevik Petrosian, declined to comment on the
unprecedented proceedings when contacted by RFE/RL’s Armenians service.
Armenia -- Riot police separate rival protesters outside the Constitutional
Court building in Yerevan, September 3, 2019.
HHK representatives denounced the case as politically motivated. “Pashinian’s
regime is looking for internal enemies in the country,” said the former ruling
party’s spokesman, Eduard Sharmazanov.
Ruben Melikian, Nagorno-Karabakh’s former human rights ombudsman highly
critical of Pashinian’s government, likewise described Tovmasian as a victim of
political persecution.
Melikian also claimed that another law-enforcement agency, the National
Security Service (NSS), has summoned Tovmasian’s father Vartan and two
daughters for questioning. “Guys, do you realize what red line you are
erasing?” he wrote on Facebook, referring to the authorities.
Later in the day NSS officers questioned Vartan Tovmasian in his home in a
village south of Yerevan. Tovmasian Sr. told reporters afterwards that they
only asked him questions about the roof of his state-owned one-story house.
“They wondered when we built the roof, how much we spent on it, where we got
the money from and so on,” he said. “They did not ask other questions or search
the house. They just said they want to check the roof.”
The 75-year-old added that he is ready to visit the NSS headquarters and answer
more questions there on Friday. He did not confirm that the powerful security
service also wants to interrogate Hrayr Tovmasian’s daughters.
The NSS said that it will comment on the matter later on. It did not issue any
statements as of Thursday evening.
Tovmasian claimed on October 2 that the authorities are seeking to force him
out in order to gain control over the Constitutional Court and be able to make
unconstitutional decisions. He said he will not bow to the pressure despite
recent arrests of two individuals linked to him.
In a September 4 ruling read out by Tovmasian, the Constitutional Court
declared unconstitutional a legal provision used by SIS investigators against
Armenia’s jailed former President Robert Kocharian. Pashinian called the ruling
“illegal.” The prime minister charged earlier Tovmasian had cut political deals
with HHK leader and former President Serzh Sarkisian to “privatize” the court.
Meanwhile, Vahe Grigorian, the court’s newest member installed by the current
parliament in June, insisted that he sees no political motives behind the
law-enforcement authorities’ latest moves against Tovmasian.
Grigorian also continued to challenge the legitimacy of Tovmasian and six other
court justices appointed before the “Velvet Revolution” of April-May 2018.
“This crisis in the Constitutional Court is much deeper than Hrayr Tovmasian
and his past activities or current behavior,” he said.
Press Review
“Haykakan Zhamanak” says that Armenia’s former rulers are very worried about
the current authorities’ plans to enact a law allowing them to confiscate
“illegally acquired assets.” The law would primarily and retroactively apply to
practices of the past decade. “This is apparently the reason why critics regard
the law as an additional weapon in the authorities’ hands for unleashing
repressions against ‘undesirable’ individuals,” writes the pro-government
paper. “The law could indeed prove controversial. But one must acknowledge that
not having such a law, allowing a few dozen families to enjoy billions [of
dollars] from the state and the people would have much more severe consequences
for Armenia.”
“Zhamanak” says that the latest visit to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone by
the U.S., Russian and French co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group began right
after a summit of Turkic states held in Baku. The paper says that Presidents
Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and Recep Tayyip Erdogan used the summit to
reiterate their “aggressive and bellicose” statements on Karabakh. It says
Aliyev also effectively laid claim to Armenia’s Syunik province, potentially
setting the stage for a “regional war.” The likelihood of such a war depends on
how the United States, Russia and France will respond to Aliyev’s statement, it
says.
“Zhoghovurd” notes that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian met with Karabakh
President Bako Sahakian just before receiving the Minsk Group co-chairs in
Yerevan this week. An official press release on the meeting said Pashinian and
Sahakian discussed ways of further strengthening links between Armenia and
Karabakh. The paper notes that in the meantime Aliyev and Erdogan discussed
Azerbaijani-Turkish military cooperation at a meeting in Baku.
(Lilit Harutiunian)
Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2019 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
www.rferl.org
Month: October 2019
DTLA Film Festival Features Its First Armenian Film, Supported by the USC Institute of Armenian Studies
For Immediate Release USC INSTITUTE OF ARMENIAN STUDIES University of Southern California Los Angeles, California, USA Contact: Syuzanna Petrosyan, Associate Director [email protected] | 213.821.3943 DTLA Film Festival Features Its First Armenian Film, Supported by the USC Institute of Armenian Studies The 11th annual DTLA Film Festival, which is set to run from October 23 to 27 at Regal L.A. LIVE, will be featuring its first Armenian film, with the support of the USC Institute of Armenian Studies. This year’s festival includes foreign films from around the globe, all making their Los Angeles premieres, including the narrative feature “Yeva” by Armenian Iranian director Anahid Abad. “Yeva” is the first film of Armenian content and language to ever be included in the festival, and it's the first film being presented that’s set in Armenia and has an Armenian director. “It’s so important to be able to understand that real life exists in conflict zones, and this film does just that,” said Salpi Ghazarian, director of the USC Institute of Armenian Studies. “That’s why we’re so pleased that the Armenian participation in the DTLA Film Festival is about people and lives -- especially women’s lives. Needless to say the message is universal.” The film will screen at the festival on October 26 at 6:15pm at Regal L.A LIVE. The screening will be followed by an audience Q&A with director Anahit Abad. Tickets can be purchased at . Yeva will also be screening at the Laemmle theatre in Glendale on November 1. The film is an intimate drama, in which a woman suspected of murder flees from Yerevan to an Armenian village in Nagorno-Karaakh with her young daughter. The heroine, Yeva, returns to a place she briefly worked as a doctor during the Nagorno-Karabakh War between Armenia and Azerbaijan, hoping she won't be recognized. As she integrates into the rhythm of village life, Yeva's memories of the war come flooding back, as she tries to conceal her identity. "While the film is set in Armenia, the story has a universal message about the sacrifices and strengths of motherhood and family, which resonated with us,” said Karolyne Sosa, Director of Programming, DTLA Film Festival. ‘Yeva' has already screened and won several awards at major international film festivals this year. We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to present the U.S. West Coast premiere of the film.” “Yeva” was selected as Armenia’s official submission to the 90th Academy Awards in the Best Foreign Language Film category for 2017. The film is co-produced by Iran’s Farabi Cinema Foundation and the National Cinema Center of Armenia. The 94-minute film is set in Armenia and has an all-Armenian cast, including Narina Grigorian, Shant Hovhanisian, Sergay Tovmasian, Vrejh Kasoni, Marjan Avadisyan, Roz Avadisova, Digran Davtian, Nanor Patrosian, Avalian Adamian and Marat Davtian. The film was banned in Turkey due to interference from Azerbaijan’s government. A total of 36 feature-length movies – 17 narrative and 19 documentary — are slated to screen at the DTLA Film Festival, with the majority making their World Premiere, West Coast Premiere or Los Angeles premieres. The DTLA Film Festival was established in 2008 with a mission of reflecting the vibrant and eclectic urbanism that defines downtown L.A. Through the exhibition of a wide array of independent films by and about groups traditionally underrepresented in the commercial Hollywood film industry – notably women, people of color, and the LGBTQ communities – DTLA Film Festival has established itself as a platform that has continually pushed the creative envelope. About the Institute Established in 2005, the USC Institute of Armenian Studies supports multidisciplinary scholarship to re-define, explore and study the complex issues that make up the contemporary Armenian experience—from post-genocide to the developing Republic of Armenia to the evolving diaspora. The institute encourages research, publications and public service, and promotes links among the global academic and Armenian communities. For inquiries, write to [email protected] or call 213.821.3943
The scandal with Garegin Nzhdeh is gaining new momentum
Arminfo, Armenia
Oct 17 2019
ArmInfo. In Russia, the church is separated from the state. This was announced on October 17 during a weekly briefing by the official representative of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maria Zakharova, asking her to submit her vision of resolving the situation related to the attempt to dismantle the memorial plate to Garegin Nzhdeh, which was iestablished in the courtyard of the Armenian church in Russian Armavir.
Responding to the question of the journalist, Zakharova asked to answer the question whether the journalist divides the attitude to this issue in Armenia and in Russia into two or three aspects. “Firstly, I did not know the aspect of this situation, that there is a tablet on the territory of the Armenian temple, etc. We still proceed from the fact that our Church is separate from the state, and this applies to all religious directions. The second point, if we return to this topic globally, I believe that we need to return it to a certain historicity and assessments from this point of view, “the representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry said, recalling that Moscow’s position was voiced repeatedly at briefings, she is also reflected in a special report by MFA of Russia. According to her, this assessment is relevant in principle, and if it approaches this issue from the point of view of history. “The third point, I wanted to say once again that if I touch on the specific situation and the statements of MPs and local authorities, I’m not up to date and ready to study and comment more specifically. But, I believe that the first two points are the answer of your question,” Zakharova concluded .
Armenian Minister of Environment cannot guarantee 100% safety of Teghout Mine
Arminfo, Armenia
Oct 17 2019
ArmInfo.Minister of Environment of Armenia Erik Grigoryan does not have enough information to give a final answer to the question whether the Teghout mine is insured against situations similar to what happened today with the Zangezur Copper-Molybdenum Plant. He stated this in an interview with reporters on October 17 after a government meeting.
At the same time, the Minister admitted that he was acquainted with the conclusions of international experts on the problematic nature of the tailing damps of Teghut CJSC. As Grigoryan pointed out, the information was transferred to the appropriate structures.
To recall, the Teghout Mine ceased operation in January 2018. At first, the company that operated it stated that the reason was the need for ongoing repairs, and two months later, it stated that there was a problem in the tailings pond and the interruption would be long. Later it became known that VTB Bank confiscated at the mine and mining plant because of about $ 400 million in debt outstanding by “Vallex Group”.
In July this year the representative of the American consulting company, David Hallman, stated that there is a risk of collapse in the tailing dumps of the Teghout Mine and there is a risk if it is exploited. Activists began demanding to stop the mine development.
Nevertheless, the current management Teghout company, which is subordinate to VTB Bank, restarted the mining and processing plant in mid-July and claims that there are no problems in the tailing dump. On the day of the restart, Lori Region Governor Andrey Ghukasyan and Teghut CEO Karen Ghazaryan stated that they had suspicions that “false rumors” about the danger of the collapse of the tailing dump were being deliberately disseminated.
Meanwhile, in a statement issued the day before, the Vallex Group noted that in October-November 2017, three internationally recognized organizations investigated the tailings damp, and concluded that “urgent measures should be taken to strengthen the tailings damp and ensure safety”, otherwise case “operation of the plant will lead to a real threat of collapse of the dam.” On August 15, those in charge of Teghout CJSC reported that an agreement was signed with a Bulgarian company to carry out the necessary research on the tailing damp. The company said that work will begin in the first days of September, with the arrival of Bulgarian specialists. The entire process of engineering-geological and hydrogeological examinations and initiation of a study of the sustainability of the tailings dam will be under their direct control, and the results will be ready within 7-8 months. “The September 10 earthquake proved that the government was right about the sustainability of the Teghout tailing damp,” Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan wrote on his Facebook page. He recalled that there were many allegations of the imminent destruction of the tailing damp. However, according to the prime minister, if these statements were true, then after the 4-magnitude earthquake recorded in the territory of the mine, the tailing damp would have collapsed. Pashinyan recalled that the management company was required to conduct a detailed analysis of the situation, identify the degree of risk and ensure long-term safety, only after which the mine will be possible to operate.
Armenian CC`s President Hrayr Tovmasyan`s father and daughters were summoned to NSS
Arminfo, Armenia
Oct 17 2019
ArmInfo.Armenian Constitutional Court’s President Hrayr Tovmasyan’s father and daughters were summoned to the National Security Service. Sister of Hrayr Tovmasyan, Angela Tovmasyan, stated this. She also noted that NSS officials said they were summoned for a conversation.
We tried to contact the press service of the NSS of Armenia, however, we did not receive an answer. It should be noted that on the basis of a statement by the independent MP of the National Assembly of Armenia Arman Babajanyan, the Special Investigation Service opened a criminal case on the seizure of state power by a group of persons.
Arman Babajanyan submitted to the Prosecutor General’s Office that a group of persons had usurped power. On the basis of the application to the SIS, a criminal case was initiated under Article 300 of the RA Criminal Code (seizing power through the use of violence or the threat of violence, as well as the appropriation of the powers of the President, NA President, the Government or the Constitutional Court by methods not provided for by the Constitution). A preliminary investigation is being conducted in the case.
The statement of the MP concerns the legality of the chairmanship of the President of the Constitutional Court of Armenia Hrayr Tovmasyan in this position. The MP in his message to the Prosecutor General’s Office noted that Tovmasyan committed violations of the law upon assuming this position in 2018. That is, Tovmasyan’s MP duties were formally terminated without a corresponding statement, on the basis of a nonexistent justification by the then NA President. According to Babajanyan, MP duties cannot be terminated on non-existent grounds.
Zakharova presented the position of the Russian Foreign Ministry in connection with Zatulin`s visit to Artsakh
Arminfo, Armenia
Oct 17 2019
ArmInfo.A note from the Azerbaijani side in connection with the visit of the State Duma lawmaker, first deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on CIS Affairs Konstantin Zatulin to Nagorno-Karabakh was received through diplomatic channels. This was announced on October 17 during a weekly briefing by the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova.
”I want to once again draw attention to the fact that on our website there is a warning published for a very long time but, unfortunately, few of those who want to travel to the corresponding region pay attention to it. So, we have a valid warning on our website that I quote:
”But, one way or another, you can be sure that the Russian Federation as a state will not allow an unjust solution to the Karabakh conflict. I’m just sure of that. Whoever the president or the prime minister is, the Russian people first of all value conscience and justice. And they are on your side”, – concluded Zatulin.
Sports: Armenia’s Robert Gevorgyan conquers bronze at European Deaf Judo Championships
Panorama, Armenia
Oct 17 2019
Sport 20:30 17/10/2019 Armenia
The 2nd European Deaf Judo Championships were held at Brasschaat, Belgium where the only representative of Armenia Robert Gevorgyan (60 kg) conquered bronze medal, the National Olympic Committee reported. According to the source, 8 judokas with hearing difficulties were competing for medals in the 60 kg weight category.
Around 85 athletes from 14 countries participated in the competition, the source said, adding the Armenian athlete left for Belgium accompanied by coach Artyom Melkonyan and Armenian delegate Anna Papoyan.
Armenia Ice Cream Market: New Developments helps to grow market opportunities & forecast until 2024
Market’s Gazette
Oct 17 2019
Pashinyan addresses congratulatory message on Armenian Press Day
Pashinyan addresses congratulatory message on Armenian Press Day
17:01,
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 16, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan addressed a congratulatory message on the Armenian Press Day, the PM’s Office told Armenpress.
“Dear representatives of the Armenian press,
Dear reporters, I warmly congratulate you on the Armenian Press Day. This Day is another occasion to value your role, your work, including in the most important process of creating New Armenia.
Media, the freedom of speech are one of the most important institutes of democracy, for the development of which our government is consistent and will continue to do everything for our homeland to clearly and confidently continue moving on the path to democracy. One of the proofs of our steps is Armenia’s unprecedented progress in the World Press Freedom Index released by the Reporters Without Borders leading international organization: our country has improved its positions by 19 points and is ranked 61st.
Dear colleagues, freedom of media is one of the most important values today we have in Armenia, and we should do everything to keep and develop it.
I once again congratulate all of us on the Armenian Press Day, wishing creative achievements, free and safe activity”.
Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
Central Bank of Armenia: exchange rates and prices of precious metals – 16-10-19
Central Bank of Armenia: exchange rates and prices of precious metals – 16-10-19
17:06,
YEREVAN, 16 OCTOBER, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 16 october, USD exchange rate stood at 476.57 drams. EUR exchange rate stood at 524.89 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate stood at 7.40 drams. GBP exchange rate stood at 602.53 drams.
The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.
Gold price stood at 22839.09 drams. Silver price stood at 269.75 drams. Platinum price stood at 13759.23 drams.