Author: Alex Jidarian

Artsakh military releases names of 52 more fallen soldiers

Alex Jidarian
Panorama, Armenia
Feb 5 2021

The Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) Defense Army on Friday, February 5, released the names of 52 more Armenian servicemen killed repelling Azerbaijani attacks during the 2020 war. 

Margaryan Spartak Arsen, born in 2002

Gulabyan Yurik Gurgen, born in 1999

Manucharyan Arman Arshak, born in 1997

Tadevosyan Liparit Armen, born in 2001

Seyradaryan Harutyun Yervand, born in 2002

Khachatryan Sargis Vladimir, born in 2001

Tevosyan David Arthur, born in 2001

Arakelyan Mher Sasun, born in 2000

Chobanyan Armen Ashot, born in 2001

Avetumyan Mayis Shahen, born in 2001

Akinyan Israyel Gagik, born in 2001

Poghosyan Hovhannes Varuzhan, born in 2002

Reservist Poghosyan Tigran Zhorzhik, born in 1990

Reservist Sahakyan Sasun Nikolay, born in 1990

Volunteer Gevorgyan Andranik Armen, born in 1989

Reservist Aslanyan Armen Nikolay, born in 1975

Reservist Hovakimyan Husik Grigor, born in 1996

Reservist Manucharyan Georgi Artem, born in 1986

Reservist Harutyunyan Varuzhan Yakov, born in 1976

Balayan Ara Vladimir, born in 1976

Reservist Bezhanyan Aghasi Vahram, born in 1997

Reservist Mamunts Arthur Radik, born in 1989

Reservist Teymurazyan Grigor Levon, born in 1998

Reservist Nersesyan Armen Perch, born in 1980

Reservist Manukyan Manuk Slavik, born in 1970

Reservist Torosyan Manuk Gagik, born in 1985

Reservist Matevosyan Arayik Patvakan, born in 1971

Reservist Arakelyan Hovsep Melik, born in 1995

Atoyan Melik Robert, born in 1989

Revazyan Avag Gevorg, born in 1989

Ohanyan Sevak Vardan, born in 1985

Volunteer Akoghlyan Ashot Markos, born in 1984

Volunteer Karapetyan Mikayel Gurgen, born in 1993

Reservist Shahnazaryan Andranik Martiros, born in 1983

Reservist Avetisyan Tigran Hamik, born in 1990

Reservist Mkrtchyan Harutyun Seyran, born in 1993

Reservist Arshakyan Gevorg Seyran, born in 1992

Reservist Barseghyan Garik Grigor, born in 1983

Reservist Martirosyan Armen Garegin, born in 1986

Reservist Avetisyan Smbat Miran, born in 1989

Reservist Harutyunyan Sargis Vahram, born in 1994

Reservist Margaryan Roman Surik, born in 1995

Reservist Andreasyan Harutyun Gevorg, born in 1990

Ghazaryan Arman Arsen, born in 2001

Gevorgyan Narek Roman, born in 2000

Babayan Gevorg Sevak, born in 2001

Jivanyan Vahe Mihran, born in 2001

Hovsepyan Mikayel David, born in 2000

Khachatryan Suren Seyran, born in 1979

Ghazaryan Vahe Ashot, born in 1977

Zurabyan Artush Vanik, born in 1967

Navasardyan Sargis Frunzik, born in 1978 

Armenian arms dealer "Patron Davit" arrested after court upholds National Security Service’s motion

Alex Jidarian
News.am, Armenia
Feb 2 2021
Armenian arms dealer “Patron Davit” arrested after court upholds National Security Service’s motion
16:07, 02.02.2021

The Yerevan court of general jurisdiction today upheld the motion of the National Security Service of Armenia to arrest Davit Galstyan (a.k.a. Patron Davit), who is an arms dealer and a monopolist businessman in Armenia, Galstyan’s attorney Armen Harutyunyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Earlier, the National Security Service had issued an official press release stating that arms dealer, businessman Davit Galstyan had been apprehended and taken to the Investigation Department of the National Security Service on suspicion of embezzlement of particularly large amounts of money.

Galstyan is charged with embezzlement in particularly large amounts under the criminal case instituted and being investigated by the Investigation Department of the National Security Service.

     

 

Medvedev: Armenia and Azerbaijan should be ‘very grateful’ to Putin for his huge Karabakh efforts

Alex Jidarian
Panorama, Armenia
Feb 1 2021

Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev called President Vladimir Putin’s efforts on normalization of situation in Nagorno-Karabakh ‘precision work’ on Monday, TASS reported. 

Speaking in an interview for the media, he reminded about the 2016 escalation between Azerbaijan and Armenia, adding that “a roadmap was prepared at the time, but, unfortunately, the two countries did not use it the,” which “led to a new conflict, a prolonged one, with many victims.”

“It is very good that, thanks to the efforts of the Russian President – and this was precision work, I watched Vladimir Vladimirovich work once, he engaged in hours-long discussions with all participants of this conflict –without this work, this conflict could have continued right now,” Medvedev underscored.

He added that “it is a huge work that both Armenia and Azerbaijan should be very grateful for to the Russian president.”

Medvedev said that after the “hot phase” of the conflict ended in November 2020, “the situation has mostly settled, and this is the most important thing, people don’t die, and there are opportunities for development.” 

Delay in repatriation of Armenian POWs by Azerbaijani authorities proposed to be discussed at PACE winter session

Alex Jidarian
Panorama, Armenia
Jan 25 2021

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) will hold its 2021 winter plenary session from January 25 to 28 in a hybrid manner, allowing members to participate remotely or attend in person in Strasbourg.

The Assembly will debate the ethical, legal and practical considerations of COVID-19 vaccines. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus will address parliamentarians in the debate.

There have been requests for three urgent debates on:

– “The arrest and detention of Alexei Navalny in January 2021”
– “The worsening situation in Belarus”
– “Freedom of _expression_ (Article 10 of the ECHR) under threat by ‘Big Tech’ Companies”.

Three current affairs debate requests have also been submitted under the titles:

– “Prohibition of Russian and other national minorities languages in Ukraine”
– “Unjustifiable delay in repatriation of the Armenian prisoners of war and other captives by Azerbaijani authorities as violation of the European International Human Rights Standards”
– “The actual human rights situation in temporary occupied Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol during Covid-19 pandemics”.

Other topics on the agenda include ethnic profiling in Europe, restrictions on NGO activities in Council of Europe member States, and discrimination against persons dealing with chronic and long-term illnesses.

During the session, the Assembly will elect the Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe, the Secretary General of the Assembly and the judges to the European Court of Human Rights in respect of Greece and Switzerland. These elections will be held by individual electronic voting.

The European Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders will address the members of the Assembly and answer their questions, as will the Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany, Heiko Maas (within the framework of the German presidency of the Committee of Ministers) and the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Marija Pejčinović Burić (who will present her communication).

Debates will also be held on the independence of judges in Poland and in the Republic of Moldova, and on the implementation of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights. A report on parliamentary elections in Georgia will also be discussed. 

The Assembly will decide its final agenda on the opening day of the session.

Vardan Voskanyan: Armenian needs a victory

Alex Jidarian
Panorama, Armenia
Jan 26 2021

Expert in Iranian studies Vardan Voskanyan commented on the Monday incident in Georgia’s Marneuli region, where Azerbaijanis had reportedly attacked Armenian cargo trucks. 

“The attack on Armenian trucks with stones in Azerbaijani-populated region of Georgia shows that the explicit propaganda of the idea  about ‘living in peace’ after surrendering Artsakh has no touch with reality and is even very dangerous. Unless Armenia has recovered, shown its strength, recorded even a small victory in any sphere against the same enemy, we will not only be ignored but will be stoned further both literally and figuratively. Thus we would have no place to retreat or escape,” Voskanyan wrote on Facebook. 

“Armenian needs a victory, and that victory will come,” concluded the expert. 

Garo Paylan demands clarifications regarding demolition of Armenian church in Turkey

Alex Jidarian
Public Radio of Armenia
Jan 27 2021  

Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Diyarbakır MP Garo Paylan has submitted a Parliamentary question regarding the demolition of the Surp Toros Church despite being designated as an “Immovable Requiring Protection” by the Kutahya Regional Board of Cultural Heritage Protection, Bianet reports.

The historical Armenian church in Turkey’s western province of Kutaya was demolished after it came into the possession of a person.

In the Parliamentary question to the Speaker’s Office to be addressed to Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, HDP MP Paylan briefly said “dating back to 1603, the church had an important place in the city’s memory. The church was considered to be an important site of memory as it was the church where musicologist Gomidas was baptized.”

“The church was lastly used as a wedding hall and a movie hall; the authorities remained indifferent to the Armenian community’s calls for its restoration or, at least, its use as a cultural center,” Paylan said.

Paylan also referred to the remarks of Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who said, “We did not, do not and will not interfere with the belief, worship or the sacred of anyone.”

Paylan noted that “this demolition, despite Erdogan’s remarks, has deeply saddened and hurt all Christians, especially the Armenian citizens.”

Accordingly, Paylan asked the Minister the following questions:

  • How was the Kutahya Surp Toros Armenian Church demolished despite the protection order?
  • Has an investigation been launched against the person who demolished the church?
  • Has an investigation been launched against the public officials who made way for the demolition of the church under protection?
  • Why do you remain silent to the destruction of Armenians’ cultural heritage?
  • Will you take any action to ensure that the church will be rebuilt to its original?

After the Surp Toros Church in Turkey’s Aegean province of Kutahya passed into the ownership of a person, it was completely destroyed. There is now a flat ground in the place of the historical church.

Sports: Armenian boxer renounces champion belt

Alex Jidarian
News.am, Armenia
Jan 27 2021

Armenian boxer Karen Chukhajyan, who represents Ukraine, has renounced the WBA International champion belt in the semi-middleweight professional boxing category.

“We renounced the belt. In the beginning, we wanted to defend the title, but we faced hepatitis and then the coronavirus. In addition, we split from Sparta Boxing Promotions, and at that moment, there was no other person to organize the duel. This is why we decided to renounce the belt,” XSPORT cites Karen Chukhajyan.

On February 1, 2020, Chukhajyan had defeated Russian boxer Sergey Vorobyov and scored the vacant WBA International belt.

8 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Artsakh in past 24 hours

Alex Jidarian

Save

Share

 11:40,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 28, ARMENPRESS. 8 new cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Artsakh in the past 24 hours.

54 tests were conducted on January 27, the ministry of healthcare told Armenpress.

A total of 2318 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Artsakh.

The number of active cases is 29.

The death toll stands at 31.

The ministry of healthcare has again urged the citizens to follow all the rules to avoid new outbreaks and overcome the disease.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Hye Hopes Officially Launches Remote Learning in Syunik Region

Alex Jidarian

January 26,  2020



KAPAN, Armenia—Hye Hopes officially launched their remote learning program in the Kapan region of Armenia on January 18. After three months of planning and fundraising, the Hye Hopes team is now in Armenia and on the ground. Administrators and officials of School N1 and N3 of the Kapan region welcomed the Hye Hopes team and thanked them for their efforts to bring remote learning to the displaced students of Artsakh.

With 17 international volunteer teachers, four teacher aids from Armenia, and 48 students working together virtually, Hye Hopes launched their remote learning instruction programs. Students and their families are enthusiastic and grateful for the opportunity to participate in this unique learning opportunity. Currently, classes range from Math, English, Science, Physics, Art, and Coding. Classes are taught virtually by volunteer instructors from around the world via laptops, which have been generously donated by individuals and organizations from throughout the Armenian Diaspora. “It’s important for Armenians around the world to come together for our kids,” said founder Greg Krikorian.

Hye Hope’s goal is to expand the program to provide remote learning opportunities to more displaced students and provide each student with a laptop to work independently while adhering to health and safety guidelines. The students are excited to use this technology and the teachers are excited for this opportunity. Hye Hopes is building a bridge in learning and educational resources between Armenia and its diaspora. More funds are needed to improve conditions in the classrooms for the displaced students. To donate or for more information on volunteering as a teacher please visit the Hye Hopes website. Let’s build the future together as one!

Armenians hail Paphos street name change

Alex Jidarian
Financial Mirror, Cyprus
Jan 20 2021
20th January 2021

The Armenian and Pontian Greek communities of Cyprus hailed Paphos municipality’s decision to rename Talaat Pasha Street near the municipal market to Justice Street by removing the name of the mastermind of the Armenian Genocide.

The street is in the former Turkish Cypriot neighbourhood of Moutallos, on the intersection of Petrakis Miltiadous and Afroditis streets, a stone’s throw away from the old municipal market.

Talaat was the Interior Minister during the final days of the Ottoman Empire who planned and oversaw the execution of the massacres that culminated with the killing and death marches of 1.5 mln Armenians starting from April 24, 1915.

“Those who planned and executed genocides have no place in street names,” said an announcement by the municipality, shared on social media by Mayor Phedon Phedonos and Armenian Representative Vartkes Mahdessian.

The decision brought an outpouring of support on the mayor’s Facebook page, with many praising him for his courage and boldness.

The renaming was described “symbolic with meaning”, while others said it was “an example that needed to be imitated by other municipalities,” such as with Ankara street and Istanbul street in Limassol, especially after all Greek street names have been defaced in the Turkish occupied north.

Justifying the name change, the municipality said it took the decision after a request from the Armenian community of Paphos and the town’s Pontian Greeks.

It said the move reaffirmed the respect towards street and place names in the town as a product of co-existence with the Turkish Cypriot community.

And said that it could not ignore the matter “especially in the light of the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by tens of nations around the world and by the international academic community, as well as the discussion underway about the genocide of the Greeks of Pontus.

“Talaat Pasha’s leading role in the planning and execution of these genocides is documented through the study of historical facts.”

Paphos municipal council unanimously decided to delete Talaat’s name from a street name and by a majority decided to rename it ‘Justice Street’.

“The struggle we are waging for justice in Cyprus is an element that must unite Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots alike.

“It is noteworthy that there are many Turkish and Turkish Cypriot intellectuals who also describe and record Talaat Pasha as a hideous politician and a ruthless man.”

The Armenian National Committee of Cyprus welcomed the street name change, especially as the Cyprus parliament passed the Genocide Denial bill in 2015.

Talaat was assassinated by Soghomon Tehlirian in Berlin in 1921 as part of Operation Nemesis, a campaign of retribution killing Ottoman and Turkish leaders involved in the Genocide as well as Azeri murders of Armenians in 1918.