Author: Ani Tigranian

                                        Wednesday, 
Investment Firm Sues Armenia Over Railway Deal
        • Sisak Gabrielian
Armenia - A railway bridge in northern Lori region
A Dubai-based investment company has filed a lawsuit with the International 
Court of Arbitration, demanding that the Armenian government pay it 
compensation in the amount of $160 million related to the planned construction 
of an Armenia-Iran railway.
Rasia FZE, which is registered in the United Arab Emirates, has undertaken to 
build the rail link.
The information about the international lawsuit against Armenia was confirmed 
on Tuesday by Minister of Transport, Communications and Information 
Technologies Ashot Hakobian.
Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technologies Ashot 
Hakobyan at a press conference in Yerevan. 04Sept.,2018
According to the minister, the company claims that it incurred losses as a 
result of the actions of the Armenian side. “We believe that this is not 
logical. The reason is that during this period with the purpose of supporting 
the project representatives of the Armenian government were in China where this 
issue was also discussed. And Rasia FZE today cites some reasons, saying that 
this affected their further programs,” the minister explained.
Plans for construction of a railway linking Armenia and Iran were announced in 
2008 by then-President Serzh Sarkisian. Before the 2013 presidential election a 
concession contract was signed with Rasia FZE. Since then, however, the company 
has not built a single meter of railway.
“The company only prepared a feasibility report and submitted it to the 
Ministry, and the Ministry made numerous remarks on it. After that, the company 
was repeatedly invited to discuss the implementation of its concession 
obligations, but all the invitations remained unanswered,” said Hakobian.
The minister is convinced that the Armenian government has solid arguments in 
case of litigation. “I think that our positions are strong and there is no 
cause for concern. However, we will not be doing nothing. Measures are being 
taken. The government has already invited a prestigious international 
organization to defend our interests,” Hakobian said.
The governments of Armenia and Iran have discussed the railway project for more 
than a decade. So far, however, Yerevan has failed to attract an estimated $3.2 
billion needed for building the 305-kilometer-long Armenian section of the 
railway.
2008 Post-Election Events Need Thorough Investigation, Says U.S. Envoy
        • Sargis Harutyunyan
U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Richard Mills at a conference dedicated to 
franchising business opportunities at the Armenia Marriott Hotel, Yerevan, 
5Sept., 2018
Washington’s view remains that “there has been a need for a thorough and fair 
investigation into the events of March 2008,” United States Ambassador to 
Armenia Richard Mills said on Wednesday, commenting on recent developments in 
the probe concerning deadly post-election violence that took place in Armenia a 
decade ago.
In late July Armenia’s former president Robert Kocharian was charged with 
breaching the country’s constitutional order by illegally using the armed 
forces against opposition supporters who protested against alleged fraud in a 
disputed presidential election. Eight protesters and two police personnel were 
killed when security forces broke up those demonstrations on March 1-2, 2008.
Kocharian spent more than two weeks in custody before being released by the 
Court of Appeals that cited a constitutional provision giving the ex-president 
immunity from prosecution.
Several other former senior officials, including Colonel-General Yuri 
Khachaturov, the current head of the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty 
Organization, have also been charged in connection with the 2008 events.
These developments appeared to have particularly irked Russia whose foreign 
minister Sergei Lavrov within a space of just one month twice commented on 
Armenian internal affairs.
On July 31, Lavrov denounced the prosecutions, arguing that they run counter to 
the new Armenian leadership’s earlier pledges not to “persecute its 
predecessors for political motives.” And earlier this week Lavrov repeated his 
concerns. “Of course, we are worried by the circumstance that the situation in 
Armenia remains heated, events that happened 10 years ago are being 
investigated… No doubt, we consider those to be an internal affair of Armenia 
and wish that internal affairs remain within the framework of law and on the 
firm basis of the Constitution and be overcome quickly,” the top Russian 
diplomat said.
In response to the question of RFE/RL’s Armenian service (Azatutyun.am) whether 
he considered such comments to be interference in Armenia’s internal affairs, 
U.S. Ambassador Richard Mills said: “I have seen those comments. It’s for the 
Armenian government to respond to comments from the Russian government.Our view 
remains that there has been a need for a thorough and fair investigation into 
the events of March 2008. And it is important that that investigation be 
carried out in accordance with the rule of law and Armenian due process.”
Mills talked to media today on the sidelines of a U.S.-Armenian business 
conference on franchise opportunities.
“We are here today for a very important development in the U.S.-Armenian trade 
relationship, that is a one-day conference that the embassy is sponsoring to 
bring together Armenians interested in franchise opportunities with U.S. 
corporations and businesses. And I think it shows that we believe that there 
are real opportunities here for U.S. business and for Armenian business to 
prosper together in the new Armenia,” the U.S. ambassador said.
“This conference today brings together over 50 Armenian government and business 
people as well as representatives from several major U.S. companies to talk 
about franchise and business opportunities here. So, as I said, we believe that 
there are real opportunities for business and trade that will benefit both 
sides. And we are encouraging the government to continue to work to help 
improve and develop Armenia’s business climate. The business climate, the 
investment climate can be fragile. And all it takes is one government mistake, 
or a bad law, or a bad decision and investors can be scared away. That’s why I 
hope the government will continue to pay attention to the environment it is 
creating for business and investment here.”
Lawyer Calls Investigators’ Decision On Kocharian Illegal
Armenia - Ex-president Robert Kocharian's lawyer Aram Orbelian, 5Sept., 2018
Aram Orbelian, a lawyer representing the interests of former Armenian president 
Robert Kocharian, has described yesterday’s decision by the Special 
Investigative Service (SIS) not to allow his client to leave Armenia pending 
investigation as illegal.
Still, he said, the ex-president will sign a written pledge confining him to 
the country limits, if necessary.
Kocharian, who ruled Armenia from 1998-2008, stands accused of illegally using 
the armed forces against opposition supporters who protested against alleged 
fraud in a disputed presidential election a decade ago. Eight protesters and 
two police personnel were killed when security forces broke up those 
demonstrations on March 1-2, 2008.
Kocharian spent more than two weeks in custody last summer. The Court of 
Appeals on August 13 overturned a district court’s July 27 decision to allow 
Kocharian’s arrest. It said that the Armenian constitution gives the 
ex-president immunity from prosecution. The Prosecutor’s Office has appealed 
the court’s decision at Armenia’s highest judicial instance – the Court of 
Cassation, which is still to consider the case.
SIS spokesperson Marina Ohanjanian told RFE/RL’s Armenian service 
(Azatutyun.am) on Tuesday that investigators have decided to apply a measure of 
restraint called “a written undertaking not to leave [the country]” in relation 
to Kocharian. The decision comes one day after Kocharian, through his lawyer, 
revealed his intention to travel to Germany for an annual medical examination.
“Taking into account the decision of the Court of Appeal that immunity is 
applied to the charges [brought against Kocharian] and that, accordingly, no 
criminal prosecution can be pursued on those charges, we assume that any action 
aimed at criminal prosecution – and applying a measure of restraint is also an 
act of prosecution – is not legal,” said Orbelian.
The lawyer said that they have not yet received the text of the decision. “We 
will see it and then give a more detailed assessment,” he said, adding that 
they will appeal the decision “if it proves to be what we think it is.”
Kocharian insists that there are no grounds for his prosecution and claims 
political motives for that. The 64-year-old former leader announced his return 
to active politics on August 16.
Armenian Judokas To Miss International Competition In Azerbaijan
Judo competitions
An Armenian judo team will not travel to Baku which hosts world championships 
later this month, Armenia’s Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs said on 
Wednesday.
According to Armenian sport officials, Azerbaijan has refused to formally 
provide the necessary guarantees for the security of the Armenian delegation.
The World Judo Championships are due to be held in the capital of Azerbaijan on 
September 20-27.
Despite the lingering conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh athletes from Armenia and 
Azerbaijan traveled to their neighboring country on several occasions to take 
part in major international competitions before 2016 April clashes in the 
disputed region in which dozens of soldiers were killed on both sides.
Thus, more than two dozen Armenians took part in the first European Games held 
in Baku in 2015.
Azerbaijani athletes also attended a number of major international competitions 
in Armenia, including judo, boxing and archery events.
In all those cases security guarantees to athletes were provided by the 
authorities of the host nation.
Baku Summons U.S. Diplomat Over Bilzerian Visit To Karabakh
        • Heghine Buniatian
Dan Bilzerian at a shooting range in Nagorno-Karabakh, August 2018
Official Baku has sent a note of protest to the United States over the visit of 
American citizen Dan Bilzerian to Nagorno-Karabakh.
According to official sources, U.S. Charge d'Affaires William Gill was summoned 
to the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan over this matter earlier this week and 
was given an official note of protest addressed to the U.S. Department of State.
Bilzerian, a 37-year-old American social media celebrity of Armenian descent 
nicknamed the “King of Instagram”, made a trip to Armenia in late August to be 
issued a passport of an Armenian citizen.
The professional poker player, who is primarily known for his playboy lifestyle 
and has tens of millions of followers on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter 
attracted by his regular photos of private jets, scantily clad women, piles of 
cash and guns, then traveled to Nagorno-Karabakh where he fired various weapons 
at a local shooting range.
Azerbaijan, which considers ethnic Armenian-controlled Nagorno-Karabakh to be 
its territory, saw it as a violation of its laws. “It was brought to the notice 
of the senior American diplomat that Bilzerian had violated the law of 
Azerbaijan on the state border and the country’s Migration Code as, without 
presenting relevant documents, bypassing our checkpoints, he entered the 
occupied territories of Azerbaijan,” said Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry 
spokesman Hikmet Hajiyev.
The note of protest directed to the American side also claims that Bilzerian 
“illegally acquired firearms and for provocative purposes demonstratively 
opened fire on the positions of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces.” “We also 
informed the American diplomat that this person was making insulting and 
immoral statements on camera affecting the dignity and moral values of the 
Azerbaijani people and contradicting the spirit of friendly relations between 
Azerbaijan and the United States,” the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesman 
said.
Immediately after Bilzerian’s visit to Nagorno-Karabakh Azerbaijan launched a 
criminal case against the flamboyant millionaire. A court in Baku issued an 
arrest warrant for Bilzerian and put him on the international wanted list.
In response to this development, Bilzerian, who is no stranger to controversy, 
told the American magazine People that he thinks the arrest warrant was 
politically motivated. “They only issued the warrant for my arrest, and nobody 
else on the trip,” he said. “I think it’s because I am a public figure and they 
want to try to make an example out of me.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan does not conceal the 
demonstrative nature of the criminal case against Bilzerian to prevent visits 
of U.S. citizens and citizens of other countries to Nagorno-Karabakh. “We have 
informed the American side about the charges brought against Bilzerian and 
about the steps taken to bring him to justice. The Azerbaijani side expects the 
U.S. Government to take seriously the concerns of Baku and take the necessary 
measures to ensure that U.S. citizens refrain from visiting the occupied 
territories of Azerbaijan,” Hajiyev said.
At least on one occasion in the past authorities in Baku already acted on their 
warnings by arresting a foreign national over his visit to Nagorno-Karabakh. In 
December 2016 at the request of Azerbaijan the authorities of Belarus arrested 
blogger Alexander Lapshin, who has the citizenships of Israel, Russia and 
Ukraine. The blogger was then handed over to Baku where he was tried and 
sentenced to three years in prison for violating Azerbaijani laws. Lapshin was 
released from Azerbaijani prison in September 2017 after numerous calls from 
human rights organizations and some backstage negotiations with official Baku.
Baku has a long list of international figures who are declared personae non 
gratae in Azerbaijan and are banned from entering the country.
Press Review
“Zhoghovurd” writes on Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian’s upcoming visit to 
Moscow. “It is remarkable that the visit of the head of the Armenian government 
to Moscow comes one week after the September 1 meeting between Russian 
President Vladimir Putin and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. Then Putin and 
Aliyev also exchanged views on the Karabakh conflict. It is expected that the 
Karabakh issue will also be addressed at the Putin-Pashinian meeting. It 
appears that this subject is slowly getting back on the agenda,” the paper 
observes.
On the same subject “Haykakan Zhamanak” writes: “It’s a fact that the 
Armenian-Russian dialogue, far from having stopped, is only developing in a new 
spirit. Nevertheless, it is necessary to note that the September 8 meeting 
between Pashinian and Putin will be more difficult as compared to the previous 
two meetings. The difficulty is first of all conditioned by the recent 
Putin-Aliyev meeting during which the two parties also discussed the Karabakh 
issue. This issue is certain to come up also at the September 8 meeting. The 
sides may try to come to a common denominator on the agenda and format of 
restarting negotiations. It is not ruled out that Putin, as head of one of the 
countries chairing the OSCE Minsk Group, will act as a mediator and present to 
Pashinian Aliyev’s vision of conflict settlement – if there is any.”
“Zhamanak” comments on the decision by the Special Investigation Service not to 
allow ex-president Robert Kocharian, who is charged with overthrowing the 
constitutional order, to leave Armenia pending investigation: “This decision 
comes shortly after Kocharian revealed his intention to leave the country… 
Interestingly, Kocharian decided to leave Armenia for several days ahead of the 
hearing of his case at the Court of Cassation. Of course, the date of the 
hearing is not known yet, but there is still an intrigue here as it is not 
clear whether there will be a new decision on arresting Kocharian or not. 
Another interesting point is that Kocharian’s decision to leave coincided with 
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s congratulations on his birthday on August 
31, which were perceived by many as support.”
(Tigran Avetisian)
Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2018 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
www.rferl.org

                                        Monday, 
Pashinian Sees No Rifts In Armenian-Russian Relations
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian (L) meets with Russian President 
Vladimir Putin in Sochi, Russia, May 14, 2018
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian has downplayed problems in Yerevan’s 
relations with Moscow, describing them as a “work process in its natural 
course.”
Answering questions from citizens in a live Facebook broadcast late on Sunday, 
Pashinian also announced his upcoming visit to Moscow during which he will meet 
with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He gave no indications of the date of 
the planned meeting, but said it will take place soon.
“This will be our third meeting, and I am convinced that we will discuss 
numerous issues that are on the agenda of our relations and will find solutions 
to numerous problems,” said the head of the Armenian government, stressing that 
contacts with the Russian side take place at different levels.
“Of course, I don’t mean to insist that all possible problems will be solved, 
but I can surely say that our natural cooperation continues. And I am convinced 
that it will be continued in its natural way.”
Some analysts have recently suggested that Russia was irked by several moves by 
the new Armenian government that included the prosecution of former president 
Robert Kocharian and several other senior former officials on charges related 
to the deadly post-election crackdown on the opposition in 2008. Among those 
charged with ‘overthrowing constitutional order’ is also Yuri Khachaturov, a 
former deputy defense minister of Armenia who currently chairs the Russian-led 
Collective Security Treaty Organization.
In July, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov denounced the prosecutions, 
arguing that they run counter to the new Armenian leadership’s earlier pledges 
not to “persecute its predecessors for political motives.” Lavrov repeated his 
concern over “investigation in Armenia of events that happened 10 years ago”, 
but added that he considered it to be Yerevan’s “internal affair.”
Pashinian, who played a key role in the 2008 protests as an oppositionist, 
downplayed the Russian criticism on August 10. He said Moscow should “adapt” to 
the new political realities of Armenia.
Speculation about souring Armenian-Russian relations increased last week when, 
according to the Kremlin’s official website, Russian President Putin telephoned 
Kocharian on August 31 to congratulate him on his 64th birthday anniversary.
The Kremlin reported no other details in its official readout of the phone call 
that came two weeks after Kocharian pledged to return to active politics and 
challenge the current Armenian government.
In another development the Russian Interfax news agency reported on Friday that 
Moscow had refused to extradite another former Armenian defense minister Mikael 
Harutiunian, who is thought to live in Russia, to Armenia on the grounds that 
he is also a Russian citizen. A spokesman for Armenian prosecutors effectively 
denied the report, however, saying that they are unaware of the whereabouts of 
Harutiunian, who is wanted in Armenia on charges stemming from his alleged role 
in the 2008 post-election crackdown.
Armenia ‘Willing’ To Take Part In Syria Rebuilding
Armenian Parliament Speaker Ara Babloyan (R) meets with Syrian ambassador 
Mohammed Haj Ibrahim, Yerevan,03Sep,2018
Armenia is willing to take part in the reconstruction of friendly Syria, 
Armenian Parliament Speaker Ara Babloyan said on Monday during a meeting with 
Syrian ambassador in Yerevan Mohamed Haj Ibrahim.
Aided by the Russian military the Syrian government forces have managed to 
restore control over much of the territory of the Middle Eastern country torn 
by years of war and internal strife, but economic recovery and reconstruction 
still appear to remain a vital concern for the authorities in Damascus.
Russia has recently sought a greater Western involvement in the rebuilding of 
Syria. The United States and its allies, meanwhile, believe that reconstruction 
assistance should be tied to a process that includes U.N.-supervised elections 
and a political transition in Syria. Washington blames the regime of Bashar 
al-Assad for Syria’s devastation.
Since the start of the conflict in Syria in 2011 hostilities have also affected 
a sizable ethnic Armenian conflict in Syria. Tens of thousands of Syrian 
Armenians fled their homes, with many of them given refuge in Armenia during 
recent years.
During the meeting with the Syrian ambassador Babloyan expressed hope that 
“peace, internal political stability and public solidarity will soon be 
established in Syria.”
He also expressed his gratitude to the Syrian legislature for its activities 
towards the recognition of the Ottoman-era massacres of Armenians as genocide.
Many of the Syrian Armenians are descendants of survivors of the 1915 massacres 
who found refuge in Aleppo and other Syrian cities and towns.
Ambassador Haj Ibrahim attached importance to the role of the Syrian-Armenian 
community, which he described as “an integral part of the Syrian society that 
has vastly contributed to the country’s development.”
“What the Syrian people have seen during these recent years is like what 
Armenians saw in Western Armenia [the part of historical Armenia, which is now 
in Turkey],” the Syrian diplomat said, according to the Armenian parliament’s 
official website.
Retired Armenian General Denies Embezzlement Charges
        • Naira Bulghadarian
Artur Aghabekian (archive photograph)
Retired general Artur Aghabekian, who once served as Armenia’s deputy defense 
minister and currently advises the ethnic Armenian leader of Nagorno-Karabakh, 
denies charges of large-scale embezzlement from the fund where he has served as 
chairman of the board of trustees.
The charges were pressed against Aghabekian over the weekend as part of a 
criminal case initiated still in July.
The retired general is accused of misappropriating over $110,000 from the 
Martik (Worrier) Foundation, which was set up for training and retraining of 
officers of the armed forces of Armenia, assisting military science, providing 
scholarships to talented students and some other education-related activities.
According to the Investigation Committee of Armenia, in separate cases Martik 
directed funding for programs not related to the goals of the foundation. “In 
particular, large sums of money were spent on organizing hospitality parties at 
restaurants and hotels for individuals, purchasing premium-grade gasoline for 
vehicles having nothing to do with the foundation, purchasing valuable presents 
for different persons,” the Committee said. “Sufficient data were obtained to 
show that some of the money were spent on the organization of hospitality 
parties at restaurants in recreational zones where Aghabekian owns 40 percent 
of shares.”
Investigators allowed Aghabekian to remain free, but confined him to country 
limits pending investigation.
The retired general insisted on Monday that he has acted within the framework 
of the charter of the foundation. “I think that during further investigative 
actions the bodies conducting the investigation will also come to this 
conclusion,” he said. “I myself wrote the charter [of the foundation] in 2002 
and in doing so I realized what kind of programs I would be carrying out in the 
future.”
Aghabekian’s is the latest in a series of prosecutions against senior former 
officials launched after anticorruption campaigner Nikol Pashinian came to 
power as prime minister on the wave of street protests in April-May. Pashinian 
has vowed to root out corruption and carry out reforms in the South Caucasus 
country.
Armenia, Japan See Potential For Stepping Up Cooperation
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian receives visiting Japanese Foreign 
Minister Taro Kono, 3 September 2018
Armenia and Japan have real opportunities to bring their bilateral relations at 
a new level, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian said on Monday as he 
received visiting Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono.
Kono arrived in Yerevan on Sunday on an official three-day visit during which 
he also met with his Armenian counterpart Zohrab Mnatsakanian and President 
Armen Sarkissian.
Pashinian described the diplomatic relations between the two countries as 
“efficient and dynamically growing.” At the same time, he pointed out the 
existing potential particularly for stimulating economic ties.
According to the Armenian prime minister’s official website, Pashinian spoke 
about the new political and economic situation in Armenia and the reforms that 
are being carried out in the country, in particular, the anti-corruption 
campaign, efforts to improve the environment for investments and 
entrepreneurship.
Minister Kono reportedly welcomed the democratic changes taking place in 
Armenia and expressed readiness to assist the government in that process. The 
top Japanese diplomat agreed about the presence of a great potential for 
developing and deepening relations between Japan and Armenia in different 
areas. He said he visited the Tumo center for creative technologies in Yerevan 
and was “impressed by Armenia’s education model for the field of technologies.”
“Tumo is one of the places where we can also work together. We are ready to 
discuss prospects of deepening our cooperation in the economic sphere,” he said.
Within the context of developing economic ties the two officials attached 
importance to the signing and ratification of an agreement between the Armenian 
and Japanese governments on liberalization, encouragement and protection of 
investments. Among possible fields where Yerevan and Tokyo can develop their 
cooperation Pashinian singled out information technologies and hi-tech, 
tourism, infrastructure and innovations.
The Japanese foreign minister welcomed the offer of the Armenian prime 
minister, expressing willingness to discuss steps in this direction. Both 
officials stressed the need to hold culture days of the two countries in 
Armenia and Japan and also attached importance to the development of 
inter-parliamentary relations. The two agreed to form a joint agenda and 
actively work to realize it.
Prime Minister Pashinian and Minister Kono also exchanged views on current 
regional and international issues. The head of the Armenian government said he 
highly appreciated Japan’s “balanced position in the issue of the 
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.”
During an earlier joint press conference today Japanese Foreign Minister Kono 
and his Armenian counterpart Zohrab Mnatsakanian also said that the two 
countries will, in particular, seek to cooperate in the fields of innovations 
and information technologies.
Press Review
(Saturday, September 1)
“Haykakan Zhamanak” lambastes former president Robert Kocharian, who is being 
prosecuted on coup charges in Armenia, over his ‘provincialism’ revealed in his 
purported attempt to seek political support from Moscow. The paper, in 
particular, refers to Kocharian’s August 31 telephone conversation with Russian 
President Vladimir Putin reported by the Kremlin in which the latter extended 
his congratulations to the former Armenian leader on his 64th birthday. 
“Kocharian, naturally, doesn’t care that such messages create some problems for 
the sovereignty of Armenia, to some extent provoke more anti-Russian sentiments 
and fuel unnecessary tensions within the Armenian society,” it writes.
“Hraparak” notes that a brief readout on the Kremlin’s official website about 
Putin’s phone conversation with Kocharian has stirred a ‘big storm’ within the 
Armenian society. “Some took it as a slap in Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian’s 
face, others remembered that Putin sent such public congratulations to 
Kocharian only during the latter’s presidency, still others noted that only two 
months ago it was [another ex-president] Serzh Sarkisian’s birthday, but Putin 
did not congratulate him at the time when he, perhaps, needed that support 
most.”
“Zhamanak” suggests that Russia’s possible refusal to extradite Mikael 
Harutiunian, a former Armenian defense minister wanted on charges related to 
the 2008 post-election unrest, to Armenia on the grounds that he is also a 
Russian citizen may trigger tensions in Armenian-Russian relations similar to 
the ones that existed when in 2015 Moscow effectively refused to transfer a 
Russian soldier charged with murdering a seven-member Armenian family in Gyumri 
to Armenian jurisdiction. On August 31, the Interfax news agency, citing a 
diplomatic source in Russia, reported that such refusal will be Moscow’s 
response to the request received from the Armenian side. “The cases of [the 
Russian soldier Valery] Permyakov and Harutiunian may not be comparable, but as 
far as extradition is concerned, history may be repeated,” the paper comments.
The editor of “Aravot” believes Kocharian’s intention to participate in 
expected early parliamentary elections can only be welcomed: “This is going to 
be a good test that will enable the second president to check his real rating. 
In the upcoming elections he will not possess any administrative levers, he 
will not be able to threaten or pressure anyone, he will not be able to ban 
media and buy votes. Consequently, the votes that Kocharian will receive will 
truly be his ‘hard earned’ votes, the votes that he really deserves.”
(Tigran Avetisian)
Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2018 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
www.rferl.org