Tuesday,
Armenian Mayor Freed But Indicted
• Naira Bulghadarian
Armenia -- Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian (L), Goris Mayor Arush
Arushanian (C) and other officials walk through the center of the town,
September 12, 2020.
A court in Yerevan ordered a law-enforcement agency on Tuesday to release the
mayor of the Armenian town of Goris who was arrested after calling for civil
disobedience against Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian.
Nevertheless, the Investigative Committee leveled a string of criminal charges
against the 29-year-old mayor, Arush Arushanian. It also asked the court to
remand him in pre-trial custody.
Arushanian was among the heads of more than a dozen communities in Armenia’s
southeastern Syunik province who issued earlier this month statements condemning
Pashinian’s handling of the war with Azerbaijan and demanding his resignation.
They accused him of putting Syunik’s security at grave risk with Armenian troop
withdrawals completed over the weekend.
Arushanian urged Goris residents late on Sunday to block a regional highway and
not allow Pashinian to visit Syunik. He was arrested several hours later.
It emerged afterwards that Arushanian is suspected of organizing an illegal
gathering. The Investigative Committee said he is also a suspect in several
criminal investigations conducted by it.
Arushanian’s lawyer and supporters said that the arrest is politically
motivated. The lawyer, Armen Melkonian, challenged it in court.
The Yerevan court found the Arushanian’s arrest unjustified and ordered his
release.
“This is a political persecution,” Arushanian told reporters after being set
free.
The mayor defended the road blockade that forced Pashinian to cut short a visit
to Syunik on Monday. “That man has no right to enter Syunik because he has
handed over territory defended by the people of Syunik and vital for their
security to the enemy,” he said.
Shortly after the court order, the Investigative Committee said that Arushanian
has been formally charged with organizing the unsanctioned protest, abusing his
powers, engaging in illegal business activity and violent assault, and violating
environmental protection norms. It did not say whether the investigators will
ask the court to remand the mayor in pre-trial custody.
Melkonian described the accusations as “laughable” while saying he is not yet
familiar with their details.
Armenian Opposition Resumes Anti-Government Protests (UPDATED)
• Gayane Saribekian
• Astghik Bedevian
• Artak Khulian
Armenia -- Opposition supporters rally at Yerevan's Republic Square to demand
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian's resignation, .
Thousands of people poured into Yerevan’s main square on Tuesday as the Armenian
opposition tried to intensify its campaign for Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian’s
resignation.
Leaders of a coalition of more than a dozen opposition parties said they will
hold daily demonstrations until Pashinian agrees to hand over power to an
interim government tasked with holding snap parliamentary elections within a
year.
“We must take the whole state system away from Nikol Pashinian as a result of
sustained, consistent and well-organized efforts,” one of them, Ishkhan
Saghatelian, told the crowd demonstrating at the city’s Republic Square where
the main government building is located.
Vazgen Manukian, who has been nominated by the opposition National Salvation
Movement as a caretaker prime minister, urged Armenia’s armed forces and police
to stop executing Pashinian’s orders and “join the people.” “Switch to our side
so that we solve the issue today,” he said.
At Saghatelian’s urging, some of the protesters chanting “Nikol traitor”
surrounded the nearby building of the prime minister’s office guarded by several
rows of riot police.
A group of other protesters walked to another building that houses several
government ministries. They briefly scuffled with riot police there.
The opposition leaders went on to give the Armenian parliament’s pro-government
majority until 6 p.m. to meet with them and discuss their demands. Lawmakers
representing Pashinian’s My Step bloc ignored the offer.
One of those lawmakers, Maria Karapetian, said the ruling bloc will not meet any
of the opposition demands. She claimed that the snap polls sought by the
opposition would be held by “election falsifiers” if Pashinian were to resign
now.
The opposition responded by pledging to step up the pressure on the
parliamentary majority. “If they are not conscious of the popular demand then we
have to force a session of the parliament,” Saghatelian said in another speech
delivered at Republic Square later in the day.
The organizers pitched tents in the sprawling square for protesters willing to
spend the night there.
Armenia -- Opposition supporters rally at Yerevan's Republic Square to demand
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian's resignation, .
The opposition forces hold Pashinian responsible for the Armenian side’s defeat
in the recent war with Azerbaijan and say he is not capable of confronting new
security challenges facing Armenia. Their demands for his resignation and the
formation of an interim government have been backed by President Armen
Sarkissian, the Armenian Apostolic Church and prominent public figures in
Armenia and its worldwide Diaspora.
In a statement issued earlier on Tuesday, Pashinian again made clear that he has
no intention to step down. He portrayed the ongoing anti-government protests as
a revolt by the country’s “elites” that lost their “privileges” when he swept to
power in 2018.
Karapetian rejected any parallels between the ongoing anti-government protests
and the 2018 “Velvet Revolution.” “This is an attempt to use democratic
instruments against democracy and we will not allow that,” she said.
The opposition alliance called last week for a general strike and boycott of
university classes for December 22. It was not immediately clear how many
Armenians heeded the appeal.
At least one major highway was reportedly blocked by opposition supporters on
Tuesday afternoon.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic Armenian universities switched back to online
classes in October.
In statements issued in recent days, the deans and professors of 11 of the 19
departments of Yerevan State University (YSU) backed the opposition campaign of
civil disobedience. The deans included Naghash Martirosian of YSU’s Journalist
Department.
Martirosian told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service that the department’s ongoing exam
session was not interrupted on Tuesday. He said the department statement in
support of the opposition was a largely symbolic move designed to “demonstrate
our concerns over the existing uncertainties” in the country.
YSU’s Physics Department did not add its voice to the opposition demands for
Pashinian’s resignation. The department dean, Rafik Hakobian, said he believes
it must steer clear of political processes.
Several other Armenian universities likewise avoided openly backing the
opposition. But they made clear that their employees are free to go on strike
and join the protests.
Pashinian Continues To Claim Popular Support
Armenia -- Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian visits the town of Sisian,
.
Amid continuing opposition protests in Yerevan, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian
on Tuesday insisted that he still enjoys popular support and that his
resignation is primarily sought by Armenia’s “elite” overthrown by him in 2018.
Pashinian claimed that opposition and other groups trying to topple him in the
aftermath of the war in Nagorno-Karabakh are pitting themselves against “the
people.”
“The ‘elite’ that lost power in Armenia as a result of the 2018 revolution is
trying to take revenge,” he wrote on Facebook. “And we are talking about not
only the political elite but also all those who had privileges until 2018 and
have not had them since 2018.”
“Thus the real confrontation is not between the government and the opposition
but between the people and the ‘elite’ that lost privileges in 2018,” he said,
adding that it is up to “the people” to decide whether he should stay in power.
Pashinian issued the statement shortly before a coalition of more than a dozen
Armenian opposition parties resumed demonstrations in Yerevan aimed at forcing
him to hand over power to an interim government that would hold snap
parliamentary elections within a year.
Armenia -- Opposition supporters rally in Yerevan's Republic Square to demand
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian's resignation, .
The parties making up the ad hoc Homeland Salvation Movement called last week
for a general strike and boycott of university classes for December 22. One of
their leaders said it will be “the most decisive day” of their push for regime
change.
The opposition forces hold Pashinian responsible for the Armenian side’s defeat
in the war and say he is not capable of confronting new security challenges
facing Armenia. Their demands for his resignation and the formation of an
interim government have been backed by President Armen Sarkissian, the Armenian
Apostolic Church and prominent public figures in Armenia and its worldwide
Diaspora.
Pashinian faced angry protests on Monday as he headed to Armenia’s southeastern
Syunik province in hopes of reassuring local residents seriously concerned about
their security following Armenian troop withdrawals from Azerbaijani districts
adjacent to Syunik. The protests forced him to cut short the visit.
Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2020 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
Month: December 2020
Thousands protest in Armenia, demand the prime minister’s resignation
PBS.org
Dec 22 2020
Politics Dec 22, 2020 3:37 PM EST
YEREVAN, Armenia (AP) — Opposition supporters in Armenia on Tuesday ramped up pressure on the prime minister to resign over his handling of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with Azerbaijan, setting up a protest tent camp on the capital’s main square.
Opposition politicians and their supporters have been demanding that Nikol Pashinyan step down over the Nov. 10 peace deal that saw Azerbaijan reclaim control over large parts of Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas. The Russia-brokered agreement ended 44 days of fierce fighting in which the Azerbaijani army routed Armenian forces.
Tens of thousands of demonstrators swarmed government buildings in Yerevan, chanting “Nikol, go away!” Several hours into the rally, opposition supporters erected tents on Yerevan’s main square.
Ishkhan Saghatelyan, a leading member of the opposition Dashnaktsutyun party, said protesters will stay on the square until Pashinyan resigns. “Tomorrow we will take even more resolute action,” he said.
In several other parts of Armenia, local officials have joined the call for Pashinyan to resign and protesters were reported to have blocked several major roads.
On Monday, Pashinyan was forced to cut short his trip to the southern Syunik province after a local mayor urged residents to deny entrance to his motorcade. Police arrested the mayor of Goris, but a court in Yerevan ruled Tuesday to release him from custody.
As protests spread, hundreds of lawyers joined the demonstrations in Yerevan on Tuesday to push for Pashinyan’s resignation.
The opposition also called on Pashinyan’s My Step coalition, which currently has the majority of seats in the parliament, to sit down for talks on Tuesday — a demand it ignored.
Opposition parties initiated a parliament session Wednesday to push for the lifting of martial law, charging that the government has used the measure to keep a lid on protests.
Nagorno-Karabakh lies within Azerbaijan but was under the control of ethnic Armenian forces backed by Armenia since a separatist war there ended in 1994. That war left Nagorno-Karabakh itself and substantial surrounding territory in Armenian hands.
Hostilities flared up in late September and the Azerbaijani military pushed deep into Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas in six weeks of fighting involving heavy artillery and drones that left more than 5,600 people dead on both sides.
The Russian-brokered peace agreement obliged Armenian forces to surrender large parts of Nagorno-Karabakh and hand over the territories around the separatist region they had controlled for more than a quarter-century.
The peace deal was hailed in Azerbaijan as a major triumph, but sparked outrage and mass protests in Armenia where thousands repeatedly took to the streets. Pashinyan has defended the deal as a painful but necessary move that prevented Azerbaijan from overrunning the entire Nagorno-Karabakh region.
Associated Press writer Daria Litvinova and Vladimir Isachenkov in Moscow contributed to this report.
Every single minute that Pashinyan stays in power undermines foundations of Armenian statehood – advocate
Panorama, Armenia
Dec 22 2020
A group of advocates started a march from the Chamber of Advocates building to the Armenian National Assembly, and then to the Prosecutor General’s Office on Tuesday morning following a nationwide strike declared by the Armenian opposition to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.
The lawyers planned to submit documents demanding the parliament speaker to lift the martial law and to express no confidence in the prime minister; appealing to the deputies who also have the status of advocates to quit the My Step bloc and reporting a crime to the attorney general.
Speaking to reporters, Chairman of the Chamber of Advocates Ara Zohrabyan stated that there are “elements of treason” in the prime minister’s actions, and, naturally, many attorneys have joined today’s protests, refusing to participate in either court hearings or investigative operations.
“We expect that through these protests we will force the prime minister to step down, as every single minute that he stays in power is undermining the foundations of our statehood,” he said.
According to Zohrabyan, they represent a professional community, and the fact that they are taking part part in similar protests means that the situation is really devastating, with serious threats facing the country.
He noted that all police officers who are trying to pressure protesters should be held accountable to prevent such actions in the future.
Deputy commander of Armenia’s special police forces resigns
Panorama, Armenia
Dec 22 2020
The deputy commander of Armenia’s special police forces, known as “Red Berets”, Khachik Tovmasyan, has tendered his resignation.
“Khachik Tovmasyan submitted a resignation letter today due to circumstances concerning his family,” police told Panorama.am.
The 3rd special battalion of the Police Patrol Service is known as the “Red Berets”.
Artak Beglaryan steps down as Artsakh ombudsman
Panorama, Armenia
Dec 22 2020
Artsakh Human Rights Ombudsman Artak Beglaryan on Tuesday submitted resignation to the speaker of the country’s National Assembly, the Ombudsman’s Office reported.
His resignation is conditioned by an offer to hold another position in the government system, based on the existing challenges and needs.
Artak Beglaryan is set to hold a news conference at the small sessions hall of the National Assembly at 11am Wednesday.
ECHR grants Armenia’s request concerning soldiers captured by Azeri forces near Khtsaberd
Panorama, Armenia
Dec 22 2020
On 18 December, immediately after the meeting of Armenia’s Representative before the ECHR Yeghishe Kirakosyan with the relatives of 62 servicemen captured by the Azerbaijani forces near Khtsaberd, Nagorno-Karabakh, which took place in Gyumri, another request for applying interim measure against Azerbaijan on behalf of 53 servicemen was prepared and lodged by the Office of the Representative before the ECHR, along with supporting evidentiary materials.
Attorneys submitted an interim measure request for the remaining 9 servicemen, the Office of Armenia’s Representative before the ECHR reported on Tuesday.
On December 21, the ECHR granted the request submitted by the government of Armenia, asking the government of Azerbaijan to provide information on prisoners of war, their medical documents, and information on the terms of their exchange by 28 December.
Mayor of Goris town will be released from detention
Panorama, Armenia
Dec 22 2020
The Mayor of Goris town Arushan Arushanyan will be released from detention, according to the court decision, his lawyer Armen Melkonyan reported. In his words, the court examined the legality of detention as a restrictive measure and ruled to set Arushanyan free.
“Arushanyan has been under illegal detention for two days, while his deputy has been negotiating with Azerbaijanis in Shurnukh to divide the houses,” said Melkonyan. As to the charges brought against the mayor, the lawyer said those were nothing else but an extended hand to Turks, since Arushanyan was the one Goris community needed at this crucial time as never.
To remind, Arush Arushanyan was arrested on Monday on suspicion of holding and organizing protest with violation of the procedure established by law. The Investigative Committee initiated a criminal case according to the Part 1 of the Article 34-2251 of RA Criminal Code. Arushanyan’s arrest came after a Facebook post in which he called on locals to prevent the entry of the prime minister to Syunik province.
Ishkhan Saghatelyan: We will spend the night here if our demands are not met
Panorama, Armenia
Dec 22 2020
Civil disobedience protests have taken place throughout Armenia since 12.00 today, Ishkhan Saghatelyan, the coordinator at the Homeland Salvation Front stated during the rally at Republic Square in Yerevan. He reminded that numerous citizens, employees of factories and private companies, state structures have joined the nationwide strike to demand Pashinyan’s resignation.
“Now is the time for all our people to be one fist together to save the homeland. We gave time to deputies of “My Step” faction and suggested to meet and discuss the current situation in the country. Regretfully, they do not perceive the seriousness of the situation and their responsibility. We have received no feedback from the faction thus far,” Saghatelyan informed, adding there is much work with each member of the ruling party.
To remind, the opposition Homeland Salvation Movement set on Tuesday an ultimatum until 18.00 for deputies of the ruling “My Step” faction to send a delegation and hold discussions with the leaders of opposition on the current situation in the country.
Saghatelyan next informed that the opposition will soon announce the names of all deputies from the ruling faction, and the RA citizens ‘will be free in their decision and action.’ “If they do not realize and understand the public demand, we will force them to convene a parliamentary session,” Saghatelyan said.
He next said the if their demands are not met, they will spend the night in the square.
Ex-president Kocharyan’s lawyers join the opposition rally, miss the court hearing
Panorama, Armenia
Dec 22 2020
The lawyers of Armenia’s ex-president Robert Kocharyan have joined the opposition rally underway at Republic Square in Yerevan and haven’t attended the hearing in the case of an alleged overthrow of the constitutional order involving Armenia’s second President Robert Kocharyan.
As the lawyers said in a released statement, the defense team has been notified from the Staff at the Yerevan Court of General Jurisdiction that the next hearing was scheduled for 18 January, 2021.
We are in a war for our future – Vazgen Manukyan
Panorama, Armenia
Dec 22 2020
“Before attending this rally, I had been asked by friends to present the program of our government, a program it will implement when it comes to power. I got prepared, outlined the key points on a paper but when I came here, I realized that it was not the most important thing to do now, as the time will come for that,” Vazgen Manukyan, the candidate for the PM’s post from the Homeland Salvation Front stated on Tuesday during the rally at Republic Square in Yerevan.
Manukyan stressed that there are no elections currently and it is not the proper time to show whose political program is better. “On the one hand we are facing the destruction of the homeland, on the other – its restoration and future progress,” Manukyan said, adding not the governments are building the country, but the people of Armenia, the people who stand in the Square.
Manukyan called on all citizens in front of computer, TV and mobile screens to take to the streets: “It is no more important whom you like or not. The future of all of us is being decided right now. Join us and together we will decide on the wright and the wrong. Like in a war all layers of the society are mixed for a common cause to save the homeland, we are in a war now, the war for our future.”
Manukyan next called on the army leadership and the police to join the people, since they are the real Armenia.
“We are Armenia!” Manukyan stated.