Tuesday,
Armenian President Signs Bill On Asset Seizures
Armenia -- President Armen Sarkissian (R) and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian
attend a conference in Dilijan, June 8, 2019.
President Armen Sarkissian has signed into law a controversial government bill
allowing the confiscation of private properties and other assets deemed to have
been acquired illegally, while warning against its “unscrupulous enforcement” by
the authorities.
The bill passed by the Armenian parliament last month allows prosecutors to
investigate individuals in case of having “sufficient grounds to suspect” that
the market value of their assets exceeds their “legal incomes” by at least 50
million drams ($103,000). Should the prosecutors find such discrepancies they
can ask courts to nationalize those assets even if their owners are not found
guilty of corruption or other criminal offenses.
The latter will have to prove the legality of their holdings if they are to
retain them. They will also be given the option of reaching an out-of-court
settlement with the prosecutors, which would require them to hand over at least
75 percent of their assets in and outside Armenia to the state.
The government says that current and former state officials facing corruption
charges will be the main targets of the legal mechanism for asset forfeiture.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian has repeatedly portrayed it as a major
anti-corruption measure that will help the authorities recover “wealth stolen
from the people.” Pashinian has indicated in recent weeks his intention to use
it against the country’s former rulers and their cronies repeatedly branded by
him as “plunderers.”
The two opposition parties represented in the parliament have backed the bill in
principle while proposing various amendments to it and voicing other
reservations.
But other, more hardline opposition groups and figures have condemned the bill
as unconstitutional and accused Pashinian of planning a far-reaching
“redistribution of assets” to cement his hold on power. They claim that this
will only discourage Armenian and foreign entrepreneurs from investing in the
country.
Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigorian likewise warned that the bill could scare
away investors and lead to capital flight from Armenia when the government
discussed and approved it in December.
Some of the critics, among them supporters of the former government, urged
Sarkissian last month to ask the Constitutional Court to rule on the bill’s
conformity with the Armenian constitution.
The president decided to sign the bill into law, however. In a lengthy
explanatory note released on Monday, his office said that “numerous” Armenian
non-governmental organizations, legal experts and even foreign investors have
voiced concern over the legislation and its possible negative impact on the
domestic business environment. It said the presidential administration has
discussed those concerns with Justice Minister Rustam Badasian and received
“clarifications” from him.
“The president of the republic attaches great importance to the fight against
crime,” read the statement. “At the same time, it is expected that the law must
be implemented in strict conformity with the legitimate aim of its passage.”
“An unscrupulous enforcement of the law could undermine trust in the state and
jeopardize its effectiveness,” it said.
Sarkissian’s office specifically warned the authorities against arbitrarily
accessing and using citizens’ personal data, breaching bank secrecy or hampering
business activity and competition.
The statement did not clearly explain why Sarkissian chose not to request a
Constitutional Court judgment on the legality of asset seizures sought by the
government.
Meanwhile, Pashinian met with Badasian later on Monday to discuss practical
modalities of the law’s implementation. The justice minister, who is the main
author of the legislation, confirmed that the process will be handled by a new
division that will be set up within the Office of the Prosecutor-General in the
coming months.
Kocharian Has Another Operation
Armenia -- Former President Robert Kocharian is brought to a courtroom in
Yerevan, May 8, 2020.
Armenia’s jailed former President Robert Kocharian underwent surgery on Tuesday
for the second time in seven months.
Kocharian’s office said that the operation went according to plan and that he is
now in a “satisfactory” condition. It did not reveal the medical condition he
suffered from.
Kocharian, who is standing trial on corruption and coup charges strongly denied
by him, was already operated on at Yerevan’s Izmirlian Medical Center in
October. He was again the taken to the private hospital on April 28 for what one
of his lawyers described as a “post-operative checkup.”
Earlier this spring, Kocharian spent more than three weeks in another hospital
after complaining of blood pressure fluctuations. He was sent back to prison on
April 3.
Kocharian’s lawyers have since repeatedly demanded his release from custody on
health grounds, saying that he risks being infected with coronavirus. They say
that 65-year-old is in a COVID-19 high-risk group because of his age and health
problems.
The lawyers reiterated their demands on Friday when a Yerevan court resumed the
high-profile trial of Kocharian and three other former officials prosecuted on
charges mostly stemming from the 2008 post-election unrest in the Armenian
capital.
Three former Armenian prime ministers also attended the court hearing to ask the
presiding judge, Anna Danibekian, to free Kocharian pending the outcome of the
trial. Danibekian is scheduled to respond to these petitions on Wednesday.
Kocharian rejects all charges leveled against him as politically motivated.
Government Won’t Rule Out Renewed Coronavirus Restrictions
• Robert Zargarian
Armenia -- A COVID-19 patient and a medic at the intensive care unit of Surp
Grigor Lusavorich hospital, Yerevan, . (A photo by the Armenian
Mnistry of Health)
The government could re-impose restrictions on people’s movements if coronavirus
cases continue to spread in Armenia, a senior official said on Tuesday.
“We may again tighten restrictions if need be,” Vahan Hunanian, a spokesman for
Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinian, told RFE/RL’s Armenian service.
Hunanian said that the government has still not decided whether to extend a
coronavirus-related state of emergency which ends on Thursday. “When a final
decision is made we will announce it,” he added.
The government declared the state of emergency on March 16 and imposed a
nationwide lockdown a few days later in a bid to contain the coronavirus
epidemic. It began easing the resulting restrictions already on April 13.
The lockdown was largely lifted by May 4 despite increased daily numbers of new
COVID-19 infections and Health Minister Arsen Torosian’s warnings that the
authorities will soon be unable to hospitalize or isolate all infected people.
The Armenian Ministry of Health reported 146 coronavirus cases on Tuesday
morning, raising the country’s total to 3,538. It also said that one more person
died from the virus in the past 24 hours. The official death toll from the
epidemic thus reached 47.
The ministry has also reported the deaths of 19 other individuals infected with
the COVID-19. It claims that they died as a result of other, pre-existing
conditions.
Hasmik Ghazinian, an epidemiologist, said that the number of cases and
fatalities is continuing to rise rapidly because the lockdown restrictions were
not strict enough and were not taken seriously by many Armenians. “The
restrictions that were put in place were not really restrictions,” she said.
Some restrictions such as a ban on public transport and the closure of schools
and universities remain in force. Also, supermarkets, other shops and small
businesses must require customers to wear face masks and gloves. Many of them do
not comply with this requirement.
Ghazinian suggested that supermarkets’ failure to enforce social distancing and
hygiene rules is one of the main causes of the continuing spread of the virus.
Opposition Party Boycotts Armenian Parliament After Violence
• Tatevik Lazarian
Armenia -- Empty seats of deputies from the opposition Bright Armenia Party
boycotting sessions of parliament, Yerevan, .
Deputies representing the opposition Bright Armenia Party (LHK) continued to
boycott on Tuesday sessions of the parliament in protest against the violent
conduct of their pro-government colleagues which they say is encouraged by Prime
Minister Nikol Pashinian.
They walked out of the National Assembly last Friday following a brawl involving
LHK leader Edmon Marukian and several deputies from Pashinian’s My Step bloc.
One of those lawmakers, Sasun Mikaelian, punched Marukian while the latter spoke
on the parliament in the presence of Pashinian and government ministers.
Pashinian deplored the violence but effectively blamed it on the LHK. Marukian’s
party charged in response that he thereby “justified, legitimized and
encouraged” violence against his political opponents. It also demanded the
resignation of Mikaelian and two other My Step deputies who also hit Marukian
during the fight.
The ruling bloc responded by saying that they will resign from the parliament
only if Marukian and two other LHK deputies quit too.
Marukian shrugged off the proposal in a video address livestreamed on Facebook
overnight. He claimed that Pashinian wants to get rid of his “last opponents” in
the parliament.
“Why should we hand our mandates?” said Marukian. “Who did we punch? Sasun
Mikaelian must definitely give up his mandate because he has nothing to do with
politics.”
“We are victims of violence whereas you are its perpetrators and initiators,” he
added, appealing to the ruling bloc.
“They are not victims, they are a party to the conflict,” countered Lilit
Makunts, the bloc’s parliamentary leader.
“I am calling on my esteemed colleague to return to the political field and to
put the work of the National Assembly back on a substantive track,” she told
reporters.
Makunts also said that My Step has “drawn our conclusions” from the ugly
incident and expects the same from the opposition party.
None of the 17 deputies representing the LHK showed up for Tuesday’s session of
the 132-member parliament. The boycott led speaker Ararat Mirzoyan to postpone a
planned debate on two LHK bills by two months.
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.
Author: Albert Nalbandian
Armenia among semi-consolidated authoritarian states in Freedom House Democracy Index
Arminfo, Armenia
May 6 2020
ArmInfo. The democracy index, according to the non-governmental organization Freedom House in Armenia, is 3 units. Moreover, Armenia is in the category of semi- consolidated authoritarian states. This is stated in a report entitled ” Nations in Transit 2020: Dropping the Democratic Facade”, which was published by Freedom House today.
Together with Armenia, Georgia (3.25 points), Moldova (3.11 points) and Ukraine (3.39 points) are among the transitional regimes. Meanwhile, according to the Freedom House rating, the seven consolidated authoritarian regimes among countries in transition include Russia (1.39), Turkmenistan (1), Azerbaijan (1.14), Uzbekistan (1.14), Tajikistan (1.18), Kazakhstan ( 1.32) and Belarus (1.39).
The best thing about democracy and human rights among the 29 countries included in the ranking is in Estonia (6.09 units), which the authors of the report classify as consolidated democracies. The same category includes Lithuania (5.64 units), Latvia (5.79 units) and Slovenia (5.93 units).
A report on the development of democracy and civil liberties in the transition countries – European and Asian states of the former socialist bloc – notes that current trends are such that more and more leaders of world states have recently refused to even pretend to play according to the rules of democracy.
As the democratic consensus of the post-Cold War order has given way to great- power competition and the pursuit of self-interest, these politicians have stopped hiding behind a facade of nominal compliance. They are openly attacking democratic institutions and attempting to do away with any remaining checks on their power.
In the region stretching from Central Europe to Central Asia, this shift has accelerated assaults on judicial independence, threats against civil society and the media, the manipulation of electoral frameworks, and the hollowing out of parliaments, which no longer fulfill their role as centers of political debate and oversight of the executive. Antidemocratic leaders in the region continue to pay lip service to the skeletal, majoritarian element of democracy-claiming that they act according to the will of the people-but they do so only to justify their concentration of power and escalating violations of political rights and civil liberties.
In the authoritarian half of the Nations in Transit region, incumbent rulers used their well-established control over state institutions to further fortify their own positions. Perhaps nothing demonstrated this instrumentalization better than the constitutional “reforms” announced by Russian president Vladimir Putin in early 2020, which will ultimately allow him to retain his post beyond the two-term maximum. The timing of the overhaul, very much by design, took everyone by surprise, signaling that Putin is firmly in command and remains one step ahead of friend and foe alike when it comes to succession and the survival of his regime. More importantly, the changes demonstrated a contempt for the rule of law and the basic principles of constitutional government.”
Prosperous Armenia party condemns incident in parliament
News.am, Armenia
May 8 2020
18:02, 08.05.2020
Canada fully supports and the peaceful resolution of the conflict and the OSCE Minsk Group process – Foreign Affairs Minister
Panorama, Armenia
May 7 2020
In a letter addressed to the Armenian National Committee of Canada (ANCC) on May 4th, Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Hon. François-Philippe Champagne clarified Canada’s position on Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), reported the ANCC.
Contrary to the diplomatically irresponsible and one-sided tweet published by the Canadian Embassy in Ankara, following the General Election held in the Republic of Artsakh on March 31st, Minister Champagne clearly stated that Canada fully supports the OSCE Minsk Group Process, the peaceful resolution of the conflict and the principle of self-determination – amongst others – as outlined in the Helsinki Final Act.
“While I regret any concern that this tweet may have caused the Armenian National Committee of Canada and the Canadian-Armenian community, I would like to reassure you that there has not been any change to our long-standing position on Nagorno-Karabakh” said the minister in his letter.
“We are satisfied to see that the Minister has restored the balance vis-à-vis Canada’s position on this issue of paramount importance to Armenian-Canadians, effectively overriding the lopsided and foreign-influenced tweet published by the embassy in Ankara” said Hrag Tarakdjian and Shahen Mirakian, co-presidents of the ANCC.
“The position of Canada remains based on our strong and consistent support for the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group’s work toward a negotiated solution, and our position does not prejudge the outcome of this process. Canada agrees with the Minsk Group that there can be no military solution to the conflict and that any resolution must take into account the Helsinki Final Act. We want peaceful societies, and we will support the solution, when achieved.” Concluded the minister in his letter addressed to the ANCC.
“There is still a lot more that needs to be done on this issue and the ANCC will continue to stand at the forefront and work with our government to ensure that the fundamental human rights of the people of Artsakh are protected and upheld” concluded Tarakdjian and Mirakian.
The source reminds, that on April 3rd, the ANCC forwarded a letter to Minister Champagne, raising serious concerns regarding the tweet, asking for its retraction and for the Minister to recall the ambassador for his irresponsibility and inability to uphold Canada’s balanced foreign policy.
Armenpress: We continue working as two equivalent partners – Armenian FM about relations with Russia
We continue working as two equivalent partners – Armenian FM about relations with Russia
18:41, 6 May, 2020
YEREVAN, MAY 6, ARMENPRESS. Foreign Minister of Armenia Zohrab Mnatsakanyan reaffirms that relations with Russia were and remain one of the priority foreign policy directions of Armenia, ARMENPRESS reports Mnatsakanyan said during parliament-Cabinet Q&A session, answering the question of an MP from ‘’Luminous Armenia’’ Party about the recent announcement of Russian FM Sergey Lavrov.
‘’We have Armenian-Russian relations, which are quite saturated, and we have history based on all the principles of allied relations, which are reflected in many legal documents and have very concrete applications. These relations are about numerous spheres, starting from security sphere. Our Government has announced numerous times that these relations were and remain one of the key foreign policy directions of Armenia. And in this spirit we continue working with our Russian partners”, he said.
The Minister noted that naturally, there are different questions from the Armenian side, Russian side, but there is no need to make drama out of that. ”We are speaking about relations, which are not necessarily to start and end with toasts, each side has its questions and priorities. But all these are relations of partners and allies. And we worked and will work in that way, as two equivalent partners, friends and allied countries”, he said.
The MP noted that no one questions the strategic relations with Russia, but the question is who were the announcements of Lavrov addressed to.
”The question came from an Azerbaijani source, as long as I remember, and the answer was addressed to the Azerbaijani source”, Mnatsakanyan responded.
Sergey Lavrov particularly said in his announcement that they actively discuss the proposals presented at the meeting between the foreign ministers of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia in Moscow, which are about ”step-by-step” solution.
Reporting by Anna grigoryan, Editing and translating by Tigran Sirekanyan
Armenian ombudsman calls for ‘special attitude towards our symbols’
Panorama, Armenia
Armenian Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman) Arman Tatoyan expressed concerns over hate speech on social media and called for urgent measures to deal with the issue.
His remarks came in response to a question by opposition MP Ani Samsonyan on the level of hate speech in the country in 2019 against 2018 while presenting the 2019 Annual Report of the Human Rights Defender at the parliament on Monday.
According to the ombudsman, new legislative tools have recently been adopted to prevent hate speech, but he also highlighted public behavior in the fight, stressing citizens should not be involved in hateful online discussions.
“Public figures should behave in a way not to cause insult or hatred. This applies to everyone, indiscriminately,” the human rights defender said.
Tatoyan touched upon the recent wave of tensions between the Armenian church and authorities.
“I think we should join our efforts to prevent it, because the Armenian Apostolic Church, led by His Holiness, has played a unique role in the life of the Armenian people. This has been the case historically. We must have a special attitude towards our symbols,” Tatoyan said.
Union of Armenians of Ukraine launched an online exhibition dedicated to 105th anniversary of Armenian Genocide
Arminfo, Armenia
ArmInfo. The Union of Armenians of Ukraine (UAU) initiated and launched an online exhibition dedicated to the 105th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire on a special portal. As stated on the official website of the UAU, the exhibition contains archival photographs, documents and historical analytics about the Armenian Genocide, which can be viewed by clicking on the following link: said historian Vahe Petrosyan. The scientist emphasized that it is imperative to prevent the recurrence of such a tragedy, which requires conviction and a full understanding of the scale of the disaster.
To note, in the morning, April 24, in all the churches of the Ukrainian Diocese of the AAC, the bells simultaneously rang. After a minute of silence, memorial services were held, which parishioners could watch live. In connection with the coronavirus pandemic, the traditional laying of flowers at Khachkar on the day of commemoration of the victims of the Genocide took place in a narrow circle. Regional communities, in particular Kiev, Chernihiv, Cherkasy, Kamenets-Podolsky, Odessa, Dnipro and Kropyvnytskyi, took part in socially directed flash mobs, making thematic videos, some of which were broadcast on regional television channels. In Odessa, a closed film screening of the movie “Promise” took place on a large screen in the open. Of particular interest was the online lecture “The Armenian Genocide: Comprehension of History” from the head of the historical and cultural committee of the Union of Armenians of Ukraine, candidate of historical sciences David Davtyan. Banners, billboards, citylights and other socially oriented informational materials about the Armenian Genocide were installed on the streets of Ukrainian cities.
To recall, earlier in the media the letter of the Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Vasily Bodnar to Ukrainian officials was circulated, in which he asked them to refrain from using the term Armenian Genocide and participating in commemorative events on the occasion of the 105th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada MP Daria Volodina sharply criticized the appeal of Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Vasily Bodnar: “The next bottom has been broken. After talking with the Foreign Ministry last year, it was clear that some officials of this ministry were deeply indifferent to both the fate of Ukraine and our individual citizens, but no less problem is the absolute illiteracy of certain people who work there. “On the television channel , the MP emphasized the need for an internal investigation regarding to deputy minister.
To note, on April 24, on the initiative of Daria Volodina, 26 MPs of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine recorded a video message in memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide – “Ukraine remembers” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLZ94g8Mcs0&feature=youtu.be).
Ukraine has not officially recognized the Armenian Genocide, but, now the Verkhovna Rada is considering a draft resolution initiated by MP Anton Polyakov “Draft Resolution on the Recognition of the Armenian Genocide” (registration No. 2376 of 11/05/2019). According to the latest data, more than 400,000 ethnic Armenians live in Ukraine, who are citizens of Ukraine or are legally located in the country.
The Literary Armenian News: Prayer – by Bedros Afeyan – 04/24/2020
Dear Armenian News readers,
The homepage for The Literary Armenian News is at: Armenian News.org/tlg/
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PrayerThese things I shall do. Sing in Armenian.Think in arguments undreamt by non-Armenians.Do good and throw proceeds into the seaNever look back, nor look beyond that seaLook up to the North Star and show it the wayNever hesitate to seize the matter by the throatOf the reverse argument’s crushing counterattackPlanned the night before, but easy breezy till the stroke.Laugh hardily and often for tragedy is written in our starsGive as if nothing needed belongs to youTake one for every 100 you so give.And joining hands with short, stout, hairy friends who comeFrom all diasporan corners to sing in Armenian and to danceLet the ritual be rich in incense, robes, candle lit paradesLet our eagles rest on the peaks of snow-capped mountainsHunting the vermin of their cannons and their tankschased by duduk meditations, Tufa monoliths, triumphant strength.Bedros Afeyan4-20-2020Pleasanton, CA
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ANN/Armenian News postings are for Armenian News’s audience only. Redistribution of Armenian News postings to any other media require prior written consent from Armenian News’s Administrator. No statements made in this column are to be construed as recommended by Armenian News’s Administation or by USC. Nor does Armenian News’s Administation or USC endorse the contents, opinions or information presented in this column.
Dr. Bedros Afeyan ([email protected]) is the editor of The Literary Armenian News (TLG), and will consider works not only of poetry, but also in the area of short fiction. Quality of language, excellence of translation, quality of song and images are all crucial to the aesthetic value of any work up for consideration.
Please note the following important guidelines:
- All submissions to TLG MUST be sent to Armenian [email protected] and [email protected].
- With your submission include a short bio about the author;
- Submissions may not be anonymous, but at the author’s request we may use their pen-name and/or withhold their Email address for purposes of privacy;
- Submissions which have not yet been selected will continue to receive consideration for following issues;
- In art, selection is necessarily a judgement call. As such, we will not argue why a particular submission was or was not selected;
- There is no guarantee or promise that a submission will be published.
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Armenia parliament majority: Those guilty for leak of off-air footage before PM’s video message must be punished
News.am, Armenia
Armenia parliament majority: Those guilty for leak of off-air footage before PM’s video message must be punished Armenia parliament majority: Those guilty for leak of off-air footage before PM’s video message must be punished
14:21, 20.04.2020
Coronavirus cases in Russia rise by 4,268 in one day
14:24,
YEREVAN, APRIL 20, ARMENPRESS. The number of coronavirus cases in Russia has risen by 4,268 over the past day, reaching 47,121 in all regions, TASS reports citing the anti-coronavirus crisis center.
“Russia has registered a rise in coronavirus cases to 47,121 (+10%) in 85 regions. Over the past day, 155 people have been discharged after recovering and 3,446 over the entire period. Forty-four patients have died of coronavirus over the past day. The total death toll in Russia is 405”, the crisis center reported. A total of 1,935 (45.3%) new coronavirus cases are asymptomatic.
In late December 2019, Chinese authorities notified the World Health Organization (WHO) about an outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan, central China. WHO declared the outbreak of the novel coronavirus a global pandemic and named the virus COVID-19.
According to the data of the World Health Organization, coronavirus cases have been confirmed in more than 210 countries and territories.