Month: May 2021

The Executive Board of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) expressed on Thursday its concern over the situation in Syunik province in Armenia, specifically the illegal crossing of the RA state border by the Azerbaijani armed forces and their advancement of 3.5 kilometers into the  Sev Lich area.   

"The Executive board notes that these developments came as a result of criminal inaction of Armenia's capitulant leadership, failure to properly assess the situation, the deep crisis in the state management and security as well as the destructive consequences of the recent Artsakh war," the statement issued by the party said. 

It added that the case of violation of the RA territorial integrity poses risks for escalation, and the authorities fail to undertake necessary measures to prevent and neutralize the existing risks. 

"As a result, Azerbaijan is expanding the tools for pressure on Armenia to create favorable ground for new concessions from Armenia and puts forward new demands. The  incompetent regime ruling in Armenia possesses neither internal nor external tools to ensure Armenia's territorial integrity," the statement said, adding every day the regime stays in power, brings dangers threatening Armenia, Artsakh and the Armenian people increase.

US Congressman Frank Pallone has commented on the recent border incident in Syunik province of Armenia, where Azerbaijani armed forces crossed the state border near Sev Lich area and advanced 3.5 kilometers into the territory of Armenia . 

"Azerbaijan has now invaded Armenia in clear violation of international law. The U.S. must condemn this attack in unequivocal terms and use its influence with allies to bring about the withdraw of Azeri forces from Armenian territory," Pallone tweeted.

The Head of Henaket analytical center Tigran Abrahamyan commented on Facebook on the recent border incident in Syunik province of Armenia, where Azerbaijani armed forces had crossed the state border near Sev Lich (Black Lake) area and advanced 3.5 kilometers deep into the territory of Armenia. 

Abrahamyan recalls acting PM Nikol Pashinyan's statement at the Security Council meeting where he asserted that the Azerbaijani actions in fact constituted a siege of the Lake. Pashinyan also stressed that the situation was 'at least near-critical, if not critical.' 

"Even if the situation is settled, and the Azerbaijani servicemen return to their initial positions, we can assume that other concessions might be made either on the border on the political arena," Abrahamyan said, adding: "The Security Council session led by Pashinyan and his assessments show that the matter is not only about border violation but contains deeper problems. Azerbaijan is trying to ensure not only favorable position for its forces, control over the water resources of the Lake but also secures more leverage, pressure to use against Armenia in the ongoing negotiations."

The council of the Homeland Party expressed concerns over the latest developments in Armenia’s Syunik Province, as a result of which the Azerbaijani military advanced some 3.5 kilometers into the sovereign territory of Armenia, violating the territorial integrity of the country.

"Such developments are a result of the defeatist policy of the incompetent and treacherous regime still considering itself to be the authorities of Armenia, which regularly leads to public administration and security crises, disrupting the domestic stability of the country and creating new foreign policy challenges," the party said in a statement on Thursday.

“In order to confront the security challenges in Syunik and other border regions of Armenia, we attach great importance to the consolidation of national and healthy forces, the soonest recovery and reinforcement of our army, as well as the establishment of a new level of dignified relations with strategic allies and friendly states.

"Given that this weak and incompetent regime is in no way capable of pursuing a policy that will ensure the vital interests and sovereignty of our state, we reiterate our conviction that the treacherous regime, which has no future in Armenia, must be removed immediately,” the statement read. 

https://www.panorama.am/en/news/2021/05/13/Homeland-Party/2501493

Yerevan City Council member Tehmina Vardanyan, who formerly represented the Luys faction, has joined the opposition Homeland Party, she said in a Facebook post on Thursday.

“As a result of deliberations, thorough study of the political sector and sober assessment of the domestic political situation, I have finally come to the conclusion that the removal of the current authorities is of vital importance for the survival of our nation, statehood and homeland,” she wrote.

“Therefore, I am honored to announce that from today I will be part of the team of the Homeland Party united around idea of bringing real change in Armenia and building a strong and modern state. There is no alternative to a safe and united Armenia,” Vardanyan said.  

Vazgen Manukyan, a joint interim PM candidate of the Homeland Salvation Movement, which demanded the resignation of Nikol Pashinyan and his cabinet, on Thursday announced a meeting of the movement’s Council amid the security challenges in Armenia’s Syunik Province.

"The developments in Syunik point to serious threats facing our country. Until the [snap parliamentary] elections, we may lose new territories of our homeland under this government,” he said in a statement.

“I invite the members of the Council of the Homeland Salvation Movement to a meeting tomorrow, May 14, at 5pm, to discuss our further steps,” Manukyan said. 

Artsakh’s Human Rights Ombudsman Gegham Stepanyan on Thursday sent a letter to a number of reputable human rights organizations in which he particularly referred to the results of the ombudsman’s fact-finding work during the Azerbaijani-Turkish aggression against Artsakh and humanitarian issues arising in Artsakh in the post-war situation, as well as issues related to human rights protection, his office reported.

The ombudsman called on international partners to take active and effective steps to alleviate the humanitarian situation by joint efforts, and within the framework of cooperation visit Artsakh to assess the situation on the ground and support the people of Artsakh.  

The lawyers of Armenia’s former President Serzh Sargsyan petitioned judge Vahe Misakyan of the Yerevan Court of General Jurisdiction to lift the signature bond imposed as a measure of restraint on their client at a court hearing involving Sargsyan and several others on Thursday. 

Prosecutor Arsen Martirosyan opposed the defense motion, claiming there are still grounds for the preventive measure against Serzh Sargsyan, and asked the court to reject the request.

In addition to Serzh Sargsyan, charges were also brought against former Armenian Minister of Agriculture Sergo Karapetyan, former Deputy Minister of Agriculture Samvel Galstyan, head of a department of the ministry Gevork Harutyunyan and Flash company owner Barsegh Beglaryan. Sergo Karapetyan and Samvel Galstyan died from coronavirus and the criminal proceedings against them were stopped.

Serzh Sargsyan has been charged with organizing an alleged embezzlement of government funds along with the other officials through misuse of official position.

The indictment said that Sargsyan used his official position in January and February 2013, when he was president, to steer a government fuel contract to a particular company that cost the state an additional 489 million drams (roughly $1 million) in subsidies.

At today’s hearing, Barsegh Beglaryan’s lawyer Nikolay Hakobyan also filed a motion to the court to lift the signature bond against his client.

According to the defense lawyer, Barsegh Beglaryan has shown proper behavior all this time and cannot interfere with the investigation and influence its course. The prosecutor opposed this request as well.