Author: Ani Tigranian

PM says the COVID-19 pandemic peak in Armenia may take place in late June

Ani Tigranian
News.am, Armenia
June 5 2020

19:14, 05.06.2020

PM Nikol Pashinyan said the peak of COVID-19 pandemic in Armenia may take place in late June.

According to him, during the meeting on COVID-19 situation in Armenia, they have discussed several scenarios, including the option of declaring a total lockdown, the announcement of a curfew, as well as the ban on most economic activities.

“I do not agree with any of the decisions during those discussions. Because before making such decisions, we must make sure that they will solve our problems,” he said. 

According to him, the COVID-19 pandemic continues all over the world with different dynamics, at different rates, and therefore, there are many uncertainties in this regard.


Sports: Joaquin Caparros returns to Armenia

Ani Tigranian
News.am, Armenia
June 5 2020

By Samvel Sukiasyan

The newly-appointed manager of the Armenian national team Joaquin Caparros has returned to Yerevan from Spain, FFA press service told NEWS.am Sport.

FFA technical director Gines Melendez and youth national squad manager Antonio Flores have also returned to Armenia.

After arriving in Yerevan, the Spanish specialists isolated themselves.

Former security chief to Pashinyan: ‘Just don’t do it’

Ani Tigranian
Panorama, Armenia
June 5 2020

Former Director of the National Security Service (NSS), Chairman of the Homeland Party Artur Vanetsyan urged Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to stop posting photos and videos of people violating the safety rules on Facebook.

“This photo campaign is carried out in such a sloppy and untalented way. It’s a sin to make the country a subject of mockery. Don’t do it, just don’t do it!” Vanetsyan tweeted.

Pashinyan has been sharing photographs and videos of people not practicing social distancing or wearing face masks for a few days already, showing that they fail to comply with the anti-coronavirus rules set by the Commandant’s Office.

It turns out that many of the photos and videos the premier has receives were made days or even years ago. The posts have triggered criticism and offensive remarks about the alleged violators from Facebook users.

Pashinyan had to remove some photos and videos obviously containing disinformation from his Facebook page. 

Armenian Genocide Memorial in Denver part of mass vandalism at Colorado State Capitol

Ani Tigranian
Public Radio of Armenia


Asbarez – The Colorado State Capitol in Denver was vandalized during protests that are gripping the nation over the death of George Floyd. The Armenian Genocide Khatchkar memorial, which is at the State Capitol was also not spared.

In as statement issued Saturday, the Board of Directors of Armenians of Colorado condemned “the ongoing injustices against our African American community and we join them in calling for justice for George Floyd.” The organization, however, was puzzled that a monument honoring victims of injustice was vandalized.

“Protest leaders have repeatedly denounced violence and vandalism. We do not hold the peaceful protesters responsible for the behavior of violent individuals,” said the Armenian of Colorado statement.

“As Armenian Americans, a community that has survived genocide and centuries of oppression, we recognize and condemn the ongoing injustices against our African American community and we join them in calling for justice for George Floyd,” added the statement.

“Since the Khachkar commemorates the victims of all crimes against humanity, including slavery and state-sponsored racism, it is ironic that individuals who claim to seek justice have vandalized the very monument that honors the victims of injustice,” said the statement.

“Any vandalism against the Capitol khachkar is particularly painful given that it is a replica of one of the 3,000 medieval cross-stones of the legendary Djulfa cemetery destroyed by Azerbaijan’s government in 2005 as part of their plan of erasing the Armenian history in Nakhichevan,” said the Armenians of Colorado Board.

“We will continue to monitor the ongoing protests and consider short-term and long-term solutions for the protection of the Colorado State Capitol memorial to the victims of all crimes against humanity. If necessary, we will rebuild our sacred monument again and again, while defending human rights and equality for all,” said the Armenians of Colorado Board of Directors.

Armenpress: ECHR ruling should become basis to eradicate hatred against Armenians in Azerbaijan – MFA Artsakh

Ani Tigranian

ECHR ruling should become basis to eradicate hatred against Armenians in Azerbaijan – MFA Artsakh

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 19:27,

YEREVAN, MAY 27, ARMENPRESS.  On May 26, 2020, the European Court of Human Rights ruled on the murder of Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan by Azerbaijani officer Ramil Safarov in Hungary in 2004, as well as the extradition, pardon and glorification of the murderer in Azerbaijan. The court ruled that Azerbaijan had violated Article 2 (the right to life) and Article 14 (prohibition of discrimination) of the European Convention on Human Rights, ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the MFA Artsakh.

It is noteworthy that during the proceedings, the Court noted that the actions of Azerbaijan – the pardon of Ramil Safarov immediately after his arrival in Azerbaijan, the payment of salaries during his stay in the Hungarian prison, the provision of an apartment and the career advancement – indicate that Azerbaijan recognizes and accepts the crimes by Ramil Safarov as its own. The court also stressed that each of these measures individually and collectively had testified that various state structures and top officials had approved and encouraged Ramil Safarov’s actions and that the approval and encouragement were strongly supported by the Azerbaijani society as a whole.

As we have repeatedly stated, pardon, heroization and popular glorification of a murderer as a role model to follow are an integral part of the state policy of the Azerbaijani authorities conducted for years on inciting Armenophobia in the country and encouraging hate crimes against Armenians. We consider it necessary to recall once again that the manifestations of racism and xenophobia against Armenians in Azerbaijan have been repeatedly mentioned in the documents of a number of international organizations, in particular, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the European Commission against Racism, and Intolerance and the Council of Europe Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities.

The fact that not only the Azerbaijani authorities, but also the majority of the Azerbaijani society approve and encourage the heinous crime committed by Ramil Safarov is an alarming signal of serious transformation of the public consciousness in the country.

The ECHR ruling on the murder of Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan by Azerbaijani officer Ramil Safarov can and should become a basis for taking practical steps, supported by the international community, to eradicate the negative phenomena caused by the multi-year state policy and practice of the Azerbaijani authorities on injecting the “hatred virus” against Armenians and everything Armenian into the public consciousness.




Senator Pat Dodson affirms support for Australian recognition of Armenian, Assyrian and Greek genocides

Ani Tigranian
Public Radio of Armenia

Prominent Aboriginal leader Senator Pat Dodson has signed an Affirmation of Support backing the Joint Justice Initiative for national recognition of the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek Genocides.

The February 2020 launch of the Joint Justice Initiative at Australia’s Parliament House featured the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding by the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU), Assyrian Universal Alliance (AUA) and Australian Hellenic Council (AHC), which declares Australia’s recognition of the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek Genocides as a priority on behalf of their communities.

Elected to the Federal Senate in 2016, Dodson’s pre-parliamentary career included various roles defending the human rights of indigenous Australians, including as Chair of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation and Commissioner into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody.

In February 2020, the Western Australian met a Joint Justice Initiative delegation of advocates representing Armenian-Australians, Assyrian-Australians and Greek-Australians. In May, he signed the Affirmation of Support.

“Senator Pat Dodson has an unimpeachable record in defence of the human rights of indigenous Australians, and we are honoured to have his support as we strive for Australian recognition of the genocides committed by Ottoman Turkey against the region’s indigenous Armenians, Assyrians and Greeks,” said Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU) Executive Director, Haig Kayserian.

The Joint Justice Initiative has so far announced the support of Dodson, Jason Falinski MP, Josh Burns MP, John Alexander MP, Senator Andrew Bragg and Bob Katter MP, with a promise of more announcements to come.

On 25th February 2020, over 100 Federal Australian parliamentarians, diplomats, departmental officials, political staffers, academics, media and community leaders were treated to cultural performances, food, wine and brandy, as well as the historic signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, which affirmed that the signatory public affairs representatives of the three communities were jointly committed to seeing Australia recognize the Turkish-committed Genocide against the Armenian, Greek and Assyrian citizens of the Ottoman Empire during World War I.

CIVILNET.Russia Rejects Armenia’s Plea for Lower Gas Prices

Ani Tigranian
CIVILNET.AM

21:43

A criminal case has been initiated against the former President of Armenia’s Football Federation Ruben Hayrapetyan. Armenian Government has introduced fines for those who do not wear masks outdoors. Russia has rejected the Armenian government’s request for lower gas prices.  20 members of the far right “Adekvad” group have been arrested.

Russia reports less than 10,000 new coronavirus cases for fourth day in a row

Ani Tigranian

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 12:48,

YEREVAN, MAY 19, ARMENPRESS. The number of coronavirus cases in Russia has risen by 9,263 over the past day and the daily growth in cases has not exceeded 10,000 for the fourth day in a row, TASS reports citing the anti-coronavirus crisis center.

To date, 299,941 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in all Russian regions.

According to the crisis center, the daily growth rate stood at a record low level of 3.2% like the day earlier.

A total of 3,988 (43.1%) people diagnosed with the virus over the past day have not shown any symptoms.

A record high number of 5,921 patients with COVID-19 have recovered in Russia over the past day, taking the total number of recoveries in the country to 76,130.

The death toll has climbed by 115 over the past day to 2,837.

Regular flights from Russia to Armenia to resume on May 15

Ani Tigranian

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 17:09,

YEREVAN, MAY 14, ARMENPRESS. The regular flights from Russia to Armenia will resume on May 15, Armenian deputy prime minister Tigran Avinyan said in the Parliament, commenting on the question of vice speaker Vahe Enfiajyan.

“Starting May 15 the regular flights from Russia will be restored, and our citizens seeking to return to Armenia will be allowed to return to homeland with a certain regular logic, by strictly following the self-quarantine rule”, he said.

Since March 13, 2020, more than 2000 Armenian citizens have returned to homeland from Russia thanks to the efforts of the Armenian government.

Today the Armenian government made a decision to extend the coronavirus-related state of emergency for another 30 days, until June 14.

According to the latest data, the number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in Armenia has reached 3,860, out of which 1,572 patients have already recovered. The number of active cases is now 2,218.

Reporting by Norayr Shoghikyan; Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan