The Spanish city of Salobrena is hosting the FIDE World Youth Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships from 10 to 14 September.
Armenian chess player Aspet Tadevosyan representing Spain has become the winner of the rapid event of the U14 championship.
The young Armenian player scored 7,5 points out of 9.
The championship is divided in the categories under 14, under 16 and under 18 years old, with both open and girls sections.
Central Bank of Armenia: exchange rates and prices of precious metals – 09-09-19
17:26, 9 September, 2019
YEREVAN, 9 SEPTEMBER, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 9 september, USD exchange rate up by 0.10 drams to 476.65 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 0.45 drams to 526.13 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.06 drams to 7.28 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 2.51 drams to 588.57 drams.
The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.
Gold price down by 77.84 drams to 23350.17 drams. Silver price down by 16.41 drams to 278.07 drams. Platinum price down by 441.27 drams to 14512.45 drams.
Indicted Mayor of Ijevan resigns
13:12, 6 September, 2019
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 6, ARMENPRESS. Mayor of Ijevan Vardan Ghalumyan has resigned, Governor of Tavush – the province encompassing the town – Hayk Chobanyan told ARMENPRESS.
Chobanyan said the mayor tendered his resignation without mentioning a reason.
Ghalumyan is indicted since August 29 on charges of official misconduct.
Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 6
By Elchin Mehdiyev – Trend:
Legal talks on the release of Azerbaijani hostages Dilgam Asgarov and Shahbaz Guliyev are ongoing at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), and are expected to be completed before the end of this year, chairman of the Azerbaijani Bar Association Anar Baghirov told Trend.
Baghirov noted that all necessary measures are being taken to this end in accordance with the instructions of the head of state.
According to the chairman, communication should be completed by the end of this year, and the case will be considered in a short time.
“The statement of claim for the release of Dilgam Asgarov and Shahbaz Guliyev was prepared and sent to the ECHR on May 15, 2015. A letter was received from the ECHR on the adoption of the lawsuit on June 10, 2015, and correspondence was initiated,” the lawyer said.
During an operation in July 2014 in Shaplar village of Azerbaijani Kalbajar district occupied by Armenia, the Armenian special forces killed an Azerbaijani Hasan Hasanov, and took hostage two other Azerbaijanis, Shahbaz Guliyev and Dilgam Asgarov. All three of them wanted to visit their native lands and the graves of their relatives.
A “criminal case” was initiated against them. Afterwards, a “court” sentenced Asgarov to life imprisonment and Guliyev to 22 years in prison.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.
The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan, a 30-year-old midfielder of the Armenian national team and Arsenal, is currently undergoing a medical examination at Villa Stuart private hospital in Rome.
After passing medical examination, the captain of the Armenian national team will sign a one-year lease deal with Roma.
The captain of the Armenian national team will receive 3-5 million euros per season, not counting bonuses, calciomercato.com said earlier.
Roma will be able to redeem the rights to a football player for 15 million euros during the next summer transfer window. The English club will receive four million euros for a player.
The current deal between Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Arsenal will expire in the summer of 2021.
Police revealed the murder of 46-year-old Andranik Harutyunyan. On the night of July 2, 46-year-old Andranik Harutyunyan was killed in the yard of one of the buildings of the 5th block of Nor Nork.
The crime was revealed thanks to extensive operational-investigative measures and investigative activities of the head of criminal investigation of the police, Yerevan city departments, employees of the Nor Nork department and the employees of the investigative committee of the Yerevan city investigative department of the TSC department.
The media service of the RA Police informs that the murder was committed by a 32-year-old citizen of the Russian Federation. And a 50-year-old resident of Yerevan assisted him in committing the crime. He was detained and arrested.
Measures are being taken to find the person who committed the murder and the instrument of the crime – the firearm. The investigation is ongoing.
More details coming soon.
Western Prelate Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian and clergy with Ararat Home residents
MISSION HILLS—The feast of the Assumption of the Holy Mother of God was celebrated at Ararat Home in Mission Hills with special services including Divine Liturgy and the blessing of grapes. Western Prelate Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian presided over the service on Thursday, August 15, in which clergy members participated.
The celebration began at the Nursing Facility with special hymns and prayers dedicated to the Holy Mother of God. In attendance were Board of Trustees Chair Joseph Kanimian and members, Chief Operating Officer Derik Ghookasian, Skilled Nursing Facility Executive Director Margarita Kechichian, staff, and residents. On behalf of the Board, Kanimian thanked the Prelate and clergy for their regular visits, special attention to our elders, and heartfelt prayers.
Western Prelate Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian presided over the
The Prelate conveyed his greetings and expressed his joy at being with the Ararat Home family once again, where God’s presence can be felt in the loving and serene atmosphere, he said. Prelate Mardirossian noted that, during each visit, the clergy pray for the physical health and spiritual tranquility of the residents and beseech the Lord’s blessings upon them, and, on this occasion, the intercession of the Holy Mother of God. He thanked Kanimian for the administration’s warm welcome, love and respect during each visit, and blessed and commended them for their compassionate service.
Speaking on the feast of the Assumption, the Prelate stated that the Virgin Mary was chosen to be the mother of our Lord because she was a faithful and obedient servant who placed her absolute trust in God’s will, and invited all to follow in her example by submitting to His will and praising Him in all circumstances.
Western Prelate Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian blessing the grapes
The grape-blessing ceremony followed, and the celebration continued with Divine Liturgy at the Chapel, which was celebrated by Rev. Karekin Bedourian who also delivered the sermon focusing on the piety, purity, and faithfulness of the Holy Mother of God.
At the conclusion of the service, the Prelate conducted the blessing of grapes.
Ararat Home administration hosted a lunch for the clergy
Both of the day’s services came to a close with the offering of Holy Communion and the singing of Cilicia.
Later, Ararat Home Administration hosted a lunch for the clergy.
Armenia’s multiple chess champion, member of the Armenian national women’s chess team Maria Gevorgyan has been asked to refuse to participate in the tournament of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) to be held in Turkey so that the Azerbaijanis can participate.
This is what international chess master Maria Gevorgyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am.
Recently, Maria Gevorgyan posted on her Facebook page a photo in which the organizer of the tournament set to be held in Turkey sent a message to Maria Gevorgyan asking her to refuse to participate in the international chess tournament since that is what the Azerbaijanis demanded.
NEWS.am SPORT: Maria, what happened? What is the problem?
Maria Gevorgyan: A couple of days ago, I received an offer to participate in the Sivas Buruciye Chess Open 2019 international chess tournament to be held in Turkey from August 18 to 24. I had participated in a similar tournament in Turkey in 2018. It was very well organized. The organizer of the previous tournament made the offer and informed that someone else was the organizer and that it was only assistance. Later, organizer of Sivas Buruciye Chess Open 2019 Mustafa Eroglu contacted me and informed me that he was booking my plane tickets. After a while, the tournament’s organizer contacted me again and said the plane tickets are quite expensive, and I told him that I don’t see any problem and can cancel my participation and not leave for Turkey. He immediately said there won’t be any problem and that he is expecting me in Turkey.
A couple of hours later, I received a message from Mustafa Eroglu telling me the following: “Azerbaijani athletes have submitted a petition if the Armenian athletes play we will not participate in the tournament.” I didn’t take any other action.
NEWS.am SPORT: And you refused to participate?
Maria Gevorgyan: Yes, I did. The organizer actually pushed me to make that decision since it is the organizers of the tournament who had to cover all my expenses. Mustafa’s message made it clear that the organizers are declining Armenia’s participation and won’t cover my expenses. The Armenian Chess Federation interfered and sent a letter to FIDE to explore the matter.
FIDE requested that the organizer of the tournament present the petition of the Azerbaijani athletes regarding the Armenian chess player’s participation. I contacted Mustafa Eroglu, but he didn’t submit any document. This is the whole story. The Armenian Chess Federation addressed another letter to FIDE to receive the international federation’s opinion on the situation. We are waiting for FIDE’s response.
NEWS.am SPORT: What do you think the reason for this was?
Maria Gevorgyan: I don’t think there was any petition. I think there was simply a conversation between the Turkish organizer and the Azerbaijani athletes. There was no problem with funding. If there was a problem with funding, the organizer would tell me.
NEWS.am SPORT: Has there ever been a case when the Azerbaijani party creates problems for Armenia’s representative to participate in the FIDE tournament?
Maria Gevorgyan: There has never been such a problem. This is very strange. By law, no country has the right to demand cancelation of the participation of any country. The particular country can boycott the tournament. For instance, three years ago, Armenia boycotted the World Chess Olympiad in Baku. It is normal that the Armenians don’t go to Baku and the Azerbaijanis don’t come to Yerevan. However, there had never been such a case.
NEWS.am SPORT: Has Azerbaijan given any explanation yet?
Maria Gevorgyan: Azerbaijan hasn’t commented yet. We want to understand who the chess players are who allowed such discrimination against Armenia. The tournament will kick off in a couple of days. I will find out who the Azerbaijani athletes are and will have a picture of the situation.
NEWS.am SPORT: What will turn out if Azerbaijan doesn’t give an explanation?
Maria Gevorgyan: The organizer will be held fully responsible. It will turn out that he has put the blame on the Azerbaijanis for no reason. After the organizer’s message, I posted an announcement on my Facebook page and attached the message that the organizer had sent. After that, he threatened that if I don’t delete my announcement on Facebook, he will address different authorities and even a court, but I didn’t delete it. My goal was to raise the issue so that everyone knows there is racism in sports as well.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia has already contacted me. As a matter of fact, the ministry processes special cases of racism in sports.
NEWS.am SPORT: What is your attitude?
Maria Gevorgyan: Chess has always brought people together. People of different nations have played together. I have always respected each opponent, without attaching importance to the opponent’s nationality. The fact that there is such discrimination in sports and that there is such an action against me is very painful. I don’t know why this happened. In any case, I think this issue has to be in focus.
Lusine Shahbazyan
Ex-head of Union of Journalists of Armenia charged with forgery
10:47, 9 August, 2019
YEREVAN, AUGUST 9, ARMENPRESS. Authorities have brought forward criminal charges against former President of the Union of Journalists of Armenia Astghik Gevorgyan, the Investigative Committee told ARMENPRESS.
Gevorgyan, 86, has been charged under Paragraph 1, Article 325 of the Criminal Code – falsification, use or selling of “licenses reserving rights or exempting from liability or other official documents”. A signature bond has been applied against her as a measure of restraint.
She was President of the Union of Journalists from 1992 until 2017.
Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan.