Month: June 2022

Karabakh reveals high treason case involving serviceman

Maral Takmazian
PanARMENIAN
Armenia –
– 11:34 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - The National Security Service of Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) has revealed that a serviceman of the Defense Army communicated with foreign agents online and delivered military information in return for $1,550 in early 2021.

In January and February 2021, the man identified by his initials as L. G. spoke to a foreign agent pretending to be a young Armenian woman, received $150 and provided "certain" military information, the NSS said.

The Armenian soldier continued his interaction with another foreign agent from February 2021 and provided coordinates of military positions located along the line of contact, details of the equipment and armament of those posts, number of servicemen involved in shifts, combat duty-related information, receiving $1400 in return.

After a criminal case was initiated, the man was arrested. He has given confessional testimony.

Armenia moves against criminalizing “serious insults”

Lilit Nahapetian
PanARMENIAN
Armenia –
– 15:44 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenia has decided against criminalizing “serious insults” as suggested by a government-backed bill, Justice Minister Karen Andreasyan said Saturday, June 11.

Andreasyan said those who practice the "unacceptable behavior" will be fined in the amount of up to AMD 3 million (a little over $7000).

"Criminal liability for serious insult was intended to curb the disgraceful and unacceptable conduct of certain groups and individuals amid a deep polarization of the society," the Justice Minister said in a statement.

"After a number of professional discussions led by the Prime Minister, the government has decided that in our agenda of further democratization, even a legitimate restriction on freedom of speech should be implemented without the tools of criminal prosecution as much as possible."

Andreasyan said the government decided against establishing the law in the new Criminal Code which will be published on July 1.

Sports: Nations League: Ukraine 3-0 Armenia

Varazdat Torgomian
Public Radio of Armenia
Armenia –

Armenia were defeated by Ukraine in the third round of the Nations League.

The game played in neutral territory in Lodz, Poland.

Ruslan Malinovsky opened the score in the 61st minute, Oleksander Karavaev and Vitaly Mykolenko added two more in the 77th and 84th minute respectively.

Armenia are currently third in League 2 Group 1. Ukraine top the group with 6 points.

Armenia will host Scotland in Yerevan in the fourth round on June 14.

Armenian wines showcased at London Wine Fair

David Nargizian
Public Radio of Armenia
Armenia –

Armenian Ambassador to UK Varuzhan Nersesyan visited the Armenian Pavilion at the London Wine Fair, held between 7-9 June at the Olympia London.

13 different Armenian wine producers were represented for the first time at the Wine fair, showcasing numerous, breath-taking wines made from grape varieties indigenous to the country.

Wine production within Armenia is steeped in history, being home to the oldest winery in the world and the region itself boasting an 8000-year-old history in winemaking.

On Friday the 10th of June a follow-up event was held at the Travellers Club under the auspices of the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia. The event which was accompanied by live jazz renditions of Armenian classics, displayed the aforementioned wines and their producers to a wide range of guests including journalists, businesses members of the Travellers Club, representatives of the Armenian community.

In his speech, Ambassador Nersesyan thanked the Travellers Club for hosting the event and the wine producers for exhibiting their wines so commendably. He went on to signify the importance of presenting Armenian wines and their rich history, to both British consumers and businesses alike. The Ambassador also expressed his hope that Armenian wine production will continue to develop and grow, furthermore, for it to become more commonplace within the British market.

The event was held in partnership with the Vine and Wine Foundation of Armenia and the USAID-funded RED-NEO project, implemented by the CARD foundation.

 

EU envoy responds to Armenian MP’s letter over police violence against protesters

Emil Lazarian
Panorama
Armenia –

The head of the European Union Delegation in Yerevan and the EU resident ambassadors have replied to a letter from Taguhi Tovmasyan, an MP from the opposition Pativ Unem bloc who heads the Armenian parliament’s Standing Committee on Protection of Human Rights and Public Affairs, concerning police violence against opposition protesters in Yerevan last week.

“I had addressed Ambassador Andrea Wiktorin, Head of EU Delegation to Armenia, regarding the use of special means by policemen on June 3. I informed the Ambassador about the alarms according to which the expiration date of the used special means had already been over and in congruence with the professionals’ reviews the expired ammunition appeared to be a reason for the severity of the injuries of protestors and policemen. I also told the Ambassador that as oppositionists confirm, the police didn’t inform the protestors about the use of special means in advance,” she wrote on Facebook on Saturday.

The lawmaker requested for public comments, arguing that it could help prevent a recurrence of “inadmissible” police operations in the future.

“On behalf of Ambassador Andrea Wiktorin, Head of EU Delegation to Armenia, and Heads of Mission of the EU member state embassies resident in Armenia (Heads of Mission, Ambassadors: Embassy of France, Embassy of Germany, Embassy of Italy, Embassy of Greece, Embassy of Sweden, Embassy of the Netherlands, Embassy of Czech Republic, Embassy of Lithuania, Embassy of Italy, Embassy of Slovak Republic, Embassy of Romania, Embassy of Bulgaria), I got the following reply: It is important that people are able to voice freely their opinion or disagreement, and law enforcement and police forces should refrain from excessive use of force. Both disproportionate use of force by Police servicemen and the use of force against Police servicemen by the protestors are unacceptable. Violent incidents, including the use of special measures on the 3rd June, need to be investigated. In some cases, this is already happening,” Tovmasyan said.

“The Ambassador has raised her concerns with the Minister of Justice and she is in regular contact with the Human Rights Defender, who requested explanations from the police about the types of the special measures used, their compliance with the permissible criteria for use, as well as the need, proportionality and suitability of their use in the given situation.

“Ambassador Wiktorin also highlights the utmost importance to refrain from hate language and provocations, and all parties should deplore any form of violence coming from either sides. The EU Ambassador assures me that the EU delegation will continue to carefully observe the developments,” the MP noted.

Armenian opposition unveils Saturday’s action plan

Mary Lazarian
Panorama
Armenia –

The Armenian opposition holding daily anti-government protests in Yerevan has unveiled its action plan for Saturday, June 11.

Accordingly, a march against “unprecedented political repressions” is scheduled to start from Yerevan’s central France Square at 7pm, the Hayastan alliance said.

“At 9:30pm, a cultural event-discussion will be held with Shushan Petrosyan,” it added.

Protesters detained after trying to bar Pashinyan from entering Ararat, oppositionist says

Emil Lazarian
Panorama
Armenia –

Many protesters were detained after attempting to bar Nikol Pashinyan from entering Ararat Province on Saturday morning, lawyer Arsen Babayan, a senior member of the opposition Homeland Party, said on Telegram.

"This morning, Nikol Pashinyan travelled to Ararat Province on a working visit. Citizens tried to block his entry to the region, noting that he has no right to visit the communities," he wrote, adding many of the protesters were taken to police stations.

"I would like to tell the pro-government circles that next time you boast that your prime minister can travel freely in Armenia, remember that your elder brother Aliyev can move around "freely" in Armenia as well,” Babayan said.

“I advise the police against detaining Armenians during Aliyev's tour," he added.

Yerevan court refuses to arrest Yerkir Media head

Vicken Chmshkian
Panorama
Armenia –

A first instance court in Yerevan on Saturday rejected a motion by prosecutors to put Bagrat Yesayan, the director of Armenia’s opposition TV channel Yerkir Media, in pre-trial custody, his lawyer Vahe Yeprikian said.

“The motion for Bagrat Yesayan’s unlawful arrest has been rejected,” he wrote on Facebook, thanking the court for the “fair decision”.

Officers of the National Security Service broke into the editorial office of Yerkir Media and detained Bagrat Yesayan on Friday.

He is charged with “inciting mass riots and obstructing journalists' lawful professional activities” at the demonstrations in Yerevan on November 10, 2020.

Artur Vanetsyan wins defamation suit against Arman Babajanyan

Hovik Karapetian
Panorama
Armenia –

Senior opposition MP Artur Vanetsyan, who heads the Homeland Party, has won his defamation lawsuit against Chairman of For the Republic Party Arman Babajanyan.

A first instance court in Yerevan, presided over by judge Naira Avetisyan, obliged Babajanyan to publicly deny his claims about Vanetsyan made in a 2020 interview and apologize to him in a ruling delivered on Friday.

"In the case of Artur Vanetsyan vs. Arman Babajanyan, the court of first instance once again obliged the latter to publicly apologize to the Homeland Party leader," Arsen Babayan, a senior member of the party, wrote on Telegram.

Babajanyan has also been told to pay Vanetsyan 800,000 drams (about $1,900) in damages.

In the interview to Factor TV in September 2020, Babajanyan accused Artur Vanetsyan of "spying for Russian special services".

Armenia`s authorities will decriminalize "great insult"

Emil Lazarian
ARMINFO
Armenia –
Naira Badalian

ArmInfo. Armenia's authorities will decriminalize "great insult," Minister of Justice Karen Andreasyan wrote in a Facebook message. 

At a discussion chaired by Armenia's premier, representatives of  government agencies decided to abolish criminal responsibility for  great insult, with only administrative responsibility. 

"The Criminal Code that will be enforced on July 1, 2022, will not  impose punishment for great insult," he wrote. Mr Andreasyan adds  that the criminal responsibility was prescribed by the law to  "prevent outrageous and inadmissible behavior of individuals and  groups amid profound social polarization." 

"The government considers inadvisable to include an article on great  insult in the new Criminal Code and prefers the civil liability norms  in effect," the minister added. 

However, it does not mean derogatory remarks about people will not be  punished. Those abusing the freedom of speech will be fined up to AMD  3mln.