Author: Ani Basmajian

No complete analysis yet: Minister Minasyan on anti-Russian sanctions’ impact on Armenia’s economy

Ani Basmajian
| 15:30 | September 5 2018
Category
BUSINESS & ECONOMY

Minister of economic development and investments Artsvik Minasyan commented on the question how the US sanctions on Russia will affect Armenia’s economy.

During the meeting with reporters, the minister said there are no complete analysis yet in this regard.

“Of course, there can be some effects. They should be presented in a balanced way, in other words an impact both from negative and some opportunities perspective. We will present it when we have more complete picture”, he said.

Anti-Armenian Lobbyist Arrested in Yerevan

Ani Basmajian
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1 day ago

Kemal Oksuz, a pro-Azeri lobbyist was arrested by Armenian police on Thursday

YEREVAN—Police in Armenia, in cooperation with Interpol, have detained Turkish national Kevin Oksuz wanted by the United States law-enforcement bodies.

Oskus established a company in Armenia to start business. On August 23, Kevin Oksuz was declared internationally wanted on charges of perjury by falsifying and submitting false statements to the Ethics Committee of the House of Representatives.

“Armenian Police and Interpol cooperation to help the U.S. bring Mr. Oksuz to justice is a welcome development,” said ANCA Communications Director Elizabeth Chouldjian.  “Exhaustive investigations by the Office of Congressional Ethics —  released in 2015 following ANCA grassroots pressure and public calls by watchdog groups — revealed that non-profits led by Mr. Oksuz had funneled over $750,000 in State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) funds to illegally pay for Congressional junkets to Baku.  We look forward to Mr. Oksuz and his patrons in the Azerbaijani government to be held accountable for the full extent of their foreign manipulation of the US political system.”

Oksuz was the president of a nonprofit organization of Turkish Americans and Eurasians, which aimed at establishing close relations between Turks and Americans by organizing trips to Turkey and Azerbaijan.

In 2013 he invited several US Congressmen to Azerbaijan and Turkey for a private visit. He submitted false documents to the Ethics Committee, noting that the organization never received financing from any source either directly or indirectly.

However, it has now been revealed that the organization actually didn’t pay for all expenses and received additional financing, including from SOCAR Oil Company belonging to the Azerbaijani government.

It has also been revealed that nine Members of Congress and 32 staff members received gifts worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

168: “Civil Contract” party to participate in Yerevan City Council early elections with “My Step” block

Ani Basmajian
| 11:50 | August 30 2018
Category
Politics

The “Civil Contract” party will participate in Yerevan City Council early elections with “My Step” block, the party’s spokesperson Vahan Kostanyan told the reporters.

“Civil Contract Party, Mission Party, as well as individuals who participated in the revolution are included in “My Step” block. The block will be led by member of Civil Contract Party, actor and producer Hayk Marutyan”, Kostanyan said, adding that “My Step” block has the capacity to consolidate the entire revolutionary team.

“We do not see anyone as our rival, we continue our communication with the citizens. The public is very well familiar with our political team, and when they get acquainted with the program of “My Step” block, they will understand that it’s our team that is able to assume Yerevan’s administration”, the party’s spokesperson emphasized.

“My step” block has submitted to the CEC a list of candidates of 170 individuals.

‘King of Instagram’ Dan Bilzerian arrives in Armenia

Ani Basmajian
JAM News
Aug 28 2018
JAMnews, Yerevan
Artur Xachatryan

Dan and his brother Adam received Armenian passports and registered with the Armenian Armed Forces

The world-famous American of Armenian origin Dan Bilzerian flew to Armenia on a private jet on 27 August. He was accompanied by his brother Adam Bilzerian and model Suelyn Medeiros.

Dan Bilzerian is a venture capitalist, a poker player and an actor.

He is also known as the ‘King of Poker’, though he has earned no significant success in professional poker. Bilzerian finished in 180th place once when he played in the World Series of Poker Main Event in 2009.

Bilzarian’s father is also a venture capitalist. Unlike his son, he achieved significant success in this field.

The purpose of his trip or who invited Bilzarian is unknown. However, together with his brother, he managed to get an Armenian passport and register with the Armed Forces of Armenia.

Bilzarian was also seen in one of Yerevan’s cafes in the company of Levon Kocharian, son of former President Robert Kocharian.

Dan Bilzerian has been posting about his Armenia trip on his Instagram account where he has about 24 million subscribers, earning him the nickname ‘King of Instagram’.

Pashinyan’s idea of inclusive economic growth is good, but difficult to implement, economist says

Ani Basmajian
ARKA, Armenia
Aug 20 2018

YEREVAN, August  20. /ARKA/. The idea of inclusive economic growth, announced by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at an August 17 rally,  is good, but difficult to implement, Hrant Mikaelyan, an economic researcher at the Yerevan-based Caucasus Institute, said today.

Speaking to tens of thousands of Armenians, who gathered to mark the first 100 days of his government, Pashinyan promised to replace the current ineffective economic model with an inclusive one, saying that  all citizens will receive equal opportunities to run businesses and all will be equal before the law and the tax authorities.

According to Mikaelyan, the idea is difficult to implement, since the number of wealthy people is limited. The situation can be corrected by equitable distribution of income, which should be done  in a way as to not go against the market laws.

In his words, for  inclusive economic growth to succeed, the growth of incomes should outstrip economic growth indices for several years and that should go in parallel with elimination of monopolies and reducing unemployment rate.

On the results of the first 100 days of the government, Mikaelyan pointed out a set of good macroeconomic indicators, recalling that the first 30 days of the government were spent on personnel reshuffling.

According to the National Statistical Committee, Armenia’s economic activity grew by 9.3% in the first half of 2018 when opposed to the same time span of 2017, according to the numbers, released today by the National Statistical Committee (NSC).

The economic activity in July increased by 11.1% from the year earlier, while in June it grew by 9.6% from 2017 June. Armenia’s foreign trade turnover in the first 7 months of this year amounted to about $4.089.8 billion, having increased by 26.8% from the same period of 2017. The government’s projection of GDP growth for this year is 4.5% 

The positive aspect of the new government’s work, according to Mikaelyan is that  bringing large businesses to the net and subsequent fines did not lead to the closure of businesses.  “This is very important for economic stability,” he said. -0-


Artsakh soldiers prevent Azerbaijani attack attempt

Ani Basmajian
Panorama, Armenia
Aug 17 2018

The Artsakh military has prevented an attack attempted by Azerbaijani forces in the northern direction on Friday.

A group of 15 members of the Azerbaijani armed forces launched an attack attempt towards one of the military positions of the Artsakh Defense Army located in the northern direction on 17 August, at around midnight, the Artsakh Defense Ministry said in a statement. 

The Artsakh frontline units timely detected the advancement of the adversary’s group and pushed them back to their starting positions.

“As a result of the shootout, the Defense Army suffered no losses. The data on the adversary’s losses are being clarified,” the statement says. 

    

Protesters Disrupt Kocharian’s News Conference

Ani Basmajian
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A group of protesters blocked Robert Kocharian from holding a press conference on August 14

YEREVAN (Azatutyun.am)—A group of protesters burst into a hotel in Yerevan on Tuesday, preventing former President Robert Kocharian from holding a news conference there.

Kocharian was due to meet the press at a conference hall of the Erebuni Plaza hotel one day after Armenia’s Court of Appeals released him from custody and ruled that he cannot be prosecuted for a 2008 post-election crackdown on opposition protesters.

The news conference was disrupted by several dozen mostly young protesters chanting “Robert murderer!” They blamed him for the deaths of eight protesters and two police servicemen during the breakup on March 1-2, 2008 of opposition demonstrations held in the wake of a disputed presidential election.

“We wanted to both disrupt the news conference and show the people’s attitude towards yesterday’s [Court of Appeals] verdict,” said one of the protesters, Karen Tovmasyan. “It’s an obviously illegal verdict.”

“If [Kocharian] has something to say, let him say that in court,” he said.

Kocharian, who ruled Armenia from 1998-2008, was seen leaving the hotel located in downtown Yerevan from a back entrance shortly after the incident. His office was quick to accuse Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of organizing the intrusion to stop Kocharian from speaking up. The intruders mainly included individuals close to Pashinyan, it said in a statement.

The statement said that Kocharian planned to make “important political statements” and “answer many questions” at the press conference.

“Today’s incident seems to bear out growing concerns … that the new authorities do not tolerate dissent and can persecute political opponents, especially those whose political clout and prospects are a cause for serious concern to them,” it charged.

Pashinian appealed to supporters in a Facebook video address aired following the disruption of Kocharian’s press conference. “All individuals who committed crimes against the state and the people will be held accountable,” he declared.

“Rest assured that in Armenia there is no force capable of taking on the people’s power and stopping the victory of the popular revolution,” said Pashinyan. “Whoever tries to stand in our way will end up in the garbage dump of history.”

Kocharian was arrested on July 27 on charges of “overthrowing the constitutional order” after the February 2008 election marred by opposition allegations of fraud. The charges stem from what Armenia’s Special Investigative Service (SIS) calls illegal use of the armed forces against supporters of the main opposition presidential candidate, Levon Ter-Petrossian. Kocharian rejects them as politically motivated.

The 63-year-old ex-president was set free on Monday immediately after the Court of Appeals ruled that the Armenian constitution gives him immunity from prosecution. The SIS condemned the decision as “illegal” and urged state prosecutors to ask the higher Court of Cassation to overturn it.

168: Prosecutor General’s Office to submit appeal after receiving ruling of Court of Appeals on eliminating Kocharyan’s detention

Ani Basmajian
| 13:26 | August 14 2018
Category
Society

After receiving the ruling of the Court of Appeals to eliminate the detention of 2nd President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan, the Prosecutor General’s Office will submit an appeal in accordance with it, Vahagn Muradyan, an official of the Prosecutor General’s Office, told the citizens protesting outside the Office.

“We have already issued a statement that we have not received the decision of the Court of Appeals yet. We will receive that decision in one-two days, will discuss it and will submit an appeal in accordance with the issues mentioned in the decision”, Muradyan said.

He added that the Prosecutor General’s Office has expressed its position in the Court of Appeals, and after receiving the decision they will submit an appeal in accordance with it.

Asked whether the Prosecutor General’s Office plans to submit an appeal to the Court of Cassation, Muradyan said yes, but added that they need to get acquainted with it so that to make the appeal in line with it.

He refused to comment on the statement of the Special Investigation Service according to which the Court of Appeals’ decision to release 2nd President Robert Kocharyan is illegal.

Turkish Press: Fresh suit filed for massive inheritance of Turkish-Armenian brothel owner Manukyan

Ani Basmajian
Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
Aug 11 2018

Sixteen plaintiffs have filed a suit in Istanbul for the massive inheritance of Turkish-Armenian brothel owner Matild Manukyan seventeen years after her death.

Manukyan, who was one of the top tax payers in Turkey, died in 2001 and left behind a huge fortune, including 486 properties, dozens of cars, as well as millions in cash and stocks.

Manukyan’s inheritance was bequeathed to Kerope Çilingir, who was officially registered as his son.

Sixteen relatives of Manukyan, who live in the eastern province of Muş and the western provinces İzmir and Kocaeli, filed a fresh case over the inheritance last week at the Istanbul Civil Court of Peace.

The plaintiffs argued that Çilingir “usurped” the inheritance although he was not the late woman’s son.

According to their attorney, who said he concluded a years-long research over the issue, Manukyan’s fortune was mostly based on inheritance she received from her great uncle Armenak Chah Mouradian and her grandmother Susan Chah Mouradian.

“Manukyan had no sons or daughters. My clients were her only relatives and legal heirs. But Kerope Çilingir usurped the inheritance,” the petition said, asking the court to “correct the error in the registry” and enforce an injuction to “keep Çilingir from selling the remaining properties.”

On Republic Square in Yerevan, an unknown person nailed himself to one of the benches

Ani Basmajian
Arminfo, Armenia
Aug 10 2018
On Republic Square in Yerevan, an unknown person nailed himself to one of the benches

Yerevan August 9

Tatevik Shahunyan. Today’s meeting of the Cabinet was accompanied by no less remarkable events outside the government building.

On the Republic Square from the window of the hotel “Marriott”, located directly opposite the government building, an unknown person hung a huge poster with the inscription: “Freedom to Robert Kocharian”.

At the same time, another citizen nailed his feet to one of the benches of the square. What is the reason for such a radical step of the citizen is not yet known. But this is hardly connected with the arrest of Kocharyan. The police, Emergency Situations Ministry and First Aid came to the scene, who together try to free the citizen from the “embrace” of the bench.