Month: March 2023

 11:46, 1 March 2023

YEREVAN, MARCH 1, ARMENPRESS. Armenian law enforcement agencies seek to introduce electronic monitoring to deter repeat domestic violence offenders from reoffending and to keep victim-survivors safe.

Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Arpine Sargsyan presented a bill on introducing electronic tagging in preventing domestic violence at the plenary session of parliament on March 1.

The current law enables law enforcement agencies to conduct either “urgent intervention” or institute a “protection measure” in domestic violence cases, with the latter requiring a court order.

Citing international experience, Sargsyan said the electronic monitoring will increase effectiveness of protecting the victims.

The bill seeks to enable relevant authorities the power to order the offender wear the ankle or arm monitor, while the victim will have a notification device designed to issue a warning (both to the victim and police) in case of the offender approaching them.

 12:46, 1 March 2023

YEREVAN, MARCH 1, ARMENPRESS. A monument commemorating the victims of the 2008 post-election unrest, colloquially known as the March 1 events, was inaugurated today near City Hall in downtown Yerevan.

President Vahagn Khachaturyan, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Speaker of Parliament Alen Simonyan, Yerevan Mayor Hrachya Sargsyan, other government officials, members of the public and family members of the victims attended the inauguration.

“I want to underscore that March 1 is not a day of mourning,” PM Pashinyan said in his speech. “Because, of course, we mourn and commemorate the victims, but March 1 has a wider context, and the meaning of the life and struggle of our killed brothers is about something completely different. After the 2021 parliamentary election I had various occasions to say that for the first time in the history of Armenia, elections became not the cause of a domestic crisis but the way to overcome the domestic crisis. This is also my personal conclusion from the 1 March 2008 events because as you know I was personally significantly involved in those events and the conclusion is that March 1 was actually about the lack of democracy, it was about breaking the people’s free _expression_, deforming it, depriving the people of _expression_ and making decisions. And this is how we must perceive the meaning of March 1. And at least from this perspective the struggle and sacrifice of March 1 reached its goal, because vote rigging is a closed chapter in Armenia and there won’t be a return to it.”

He described the Armenian people as the “guarantors” for never allowing a return to vote rigging and said that the vision of the people is to live a free, happy and fruitful life in a strong, independent and sovereign country.

Deputy Mayor of Yerevan Tigran Avinyan noted that the monument is being opened 15 years since the events. “The meaning of March 1 teaches us a lesson that there should never be a dividing line between the government and the people. And whenever the government and people have these lines it leads to crimes like March 1,” Avinyan said.

The sculptor of the monument, Albert Vardanyan, said his creation “came from his heart” because “everyone shared the pain” of those days. “This is an ode to the people and government, so that we never again see such days.”

Eight protesters and two police officers were killed in the violent suppression of anti-government street protests that followed a disputed presidential election held in February 2008 which saw Serzh Sargsyan take office. Former President Levon Ter-Petrosyan, the main opposition candidate in the ballot, rallied his supporters to protest against alleged vote rigging.

Ter-Petrosyan's supporters held nonstop rallies in Liberty Square until they were forcibly dispersed by riot police early on March 1, 2008.

[see video]

 14:06, 1 March 2023

YEREVAN, MARCH 1, ARMENPRESS. Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan extended condolences to the families of the victims of the deadly train crash in Greece.

“Deeply saddened by news of horrific train collision in Greece that claimed dozens of lives,” FM Mirzoyan said in a tweet addressed to his Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias. “Our heartfelt condolences to families & friends of victims & we wish a speedy recovery to injured. Armenia stands by brotherly Greece & its people in this tragic moment.”

At least 36 people have died and dozens more injured after two trains collided in northern Greece.

 15:19,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 28, ARMENPRESS. Russia is guided by the “do no harm” principle in the South Caucasus, but not all players in the region share this approach, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said.

“We are guided by the principle that can be described as “do no harm”, and above all the principle of contributing to resolving all emerging problems, which will first of all be based on the principled agreements of the three leaders within the framework of their four statements,” TASS quoted Lavrov as saying at a joint press conference with his Azeri counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov.

The other principle, according to Lavrov, is to ensure mutually beneficial cooperation between countries of the region based on mutual respect. “Not all players are guided by the same principles, especially those who are far from South Caucasus,” the Russian foreign minister said.

Lavrov also commented on the EU civilian mission in Armenia. According to him, the mission “raises many questions in terms of legitimacy.”

“We see how the EU is explicitly abusing its relations with Armenia and Azerbaijan, including by advancing its so-called mission in the territory of Armenia, which raises serious doubts in terms of legitimacy,” Lavrov said.

The mission “raises numerous questions”, according to the Russian FM, including “in terms of its functions, mandate and the added value that it can bring to the efforts aimed at the normalization of the relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia.”

“But it is the sovereign choice of the parties with whom to cooperate and with whom not,” FM Lavrov added.

 15:46,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 28, ARMENPRESS. Students from various universities of Armenia gathered outside the UN office in Yerevan on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of the Sumgait pogrom to demand recognition and justice.

The demonstrators were displaying posters with statements condemning the Sumgait pogrom, the 44-Day War of 2020, the September events and the blockade of Artsakh by Azerbaijan.

“The purpose of the demonstration is to remind about the Sumgait pogrom. We want the world to acknowledge this fact and change its stances on Artsakh. The world’s silence is odd and we think it is important to remind the world about the atrocities committed against Armenians in Sumgait and Baku, the concealment of the state-sanctioned crimes and Azerbaijan’s ongoing anti-Armenian and belligerent policy,” one of the students said.

The students walked from the Yerevan State University to the UN Office and held a silent protest outside the building.

In late February 1988, Azerbaijanis began a state-sponsored massacre of the Armenian population in Sumgait, which became known as the Sumgait pogrom.

 16:27,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 28, ARMENPRESS. Deputy Minister of Defense Karen Brutyan met with his Russian counterpart Alexander Fomin to discuss cooperation and regional security, the Russian Ministry of Defense said.

Urgent issues of Armenian-Russian military and military-technical cooperation, as well as the state of regional security were discussed during the meeting,” the Russian Ministry of Defense said in a read-out.

 17:00,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 28, ARMENPRESS. On February 28, President of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) Arayik Harutyunyan chaired a meeting of the Security Council.

The humanitarian situation resulting from the blockade of the Lachin Corridor, as well as steps taken by the authorities to overcome the problems were on the agenda, according to a read-out issued by Harutyunyan’s office.

 17:27,

YEREVAN, 28 FEBUARY, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 28 February, USD exchange rate up by 0.28 drams to 389.34 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 2.28 drams to 413.40 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate stood at 5.18 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 5.35 drams to 471.37 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price up by 112.69 drams to 22765.08 drams. Silver price down by 4.32 drams to 259.49 drams. Platinum price stood at 16414.1 drams.

 17:46,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 28, ARMENPRESS. Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia Mher Grigoryan receives the newly appointed Ambassador of the United States of America to Armenia Kristina Kvien, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Government of Armenia.

Welcoming Kristina Kvien, the Deputy Prime Minister congratulated her on her appointment as Ambassador and wished her fruitful work in her responsible mission.

The interlocutors discussed the prospects for the development of trade and economic relations between the two countries.

During the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan presented to the Ambassador the situation resulted by the blocking of the Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijan and the importance of a clear international response to it.

The interlocutors also exchanged ideas on regional developments.

 19:13,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 28, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan chaired a consultation, during which issues related to the development of the demographic strategy were discussed, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister.

In particular, reference was made to the current demographic situation, existing risks and opportunities, management of migration flows, changes in the population structure, demographic programs and other topics.

An exchange of ideas took place on the goals and targets of the strategy to be developed.