13:38,
Taking into account the fact that coronavirus infection is especially dangerous for the seniors, pensioners no longer have to visit the Bank to receive their pension cards.
The cards are delivered free of chargein the whole territory of Armenia and are handed over to the cardholders observing all the safety standards and the instructions of the Ministry of Health.
During the delivery, all the information security standards are observed as well: the cardsare delivered in sealed envelopes, with card activation guides. Our dear retired customers only need to have passports with them.
It should be reminded that the Bank, in line with the instructions of the Commandant, serves the elderly people over 60 out of turnthroughout the day, and especially from 10:00 to 12:00, in order not to endanger their health.
Taking care of all customers, the Bank advises to carry out banking transactions remotely through IDBanking.am (IDBankand Idram joint platform), Idram application, and to use IDBanking 24/7spots for cash transactions.
Let’s help the elderly to use remote banking service!
Download the Idram app here.
Preform a quick to utilize all the benefits of the platform.
Be healthy!
Armenpress: Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute presents online exhibition ahead of April 24
Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute presents online exhibition ahead of April 24
09:45,
YEREVAN, APRIL 23, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute is presenting a new online exhibition titled “Self-Defense in Cilicia during the Armenian Genocide”, the Museum-Institute told Armenpress. The exhibition is dedicated to the centennial of self-defense battles of Marash, Hadjin and Aintab.
“2020 marks the 100th anniversary of Marash, Hadjin and Aintab self-defense battles and the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute together with the Catholicosate of Cilicia have planned an international conference and a temporary exhibition to be held on April 16-17. However, due to the current situation with the pandemic, the conference was postponed while the exhibition will be presented to the public in an online format on the official website and the Facebook platform of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute.
“The temporary exhibition “Self-Defense in Cilicia during the Armenian Genocide” is bilingual (Armenian and English) and is composed of eleven panels. Various episodes of the history of the Armenian Genocide related to the Cilician Armenians are presented starting from their status, occupation and contribution in the Ottoman Empire before the Armenian Genocide till their deportation and massacres, international diplomacy and the emptying of Cilicia of Armenians. Special emphasis has been put on the self-defense battles fought by the Armenians of Cilicia, first against the genocidal policy of the Young Turk regime (self-defense of Fendejag, Musa Ler, Amanos in 1915), and then against the Kemalists (self-defense of Marash, Hadjin, Aintab in 1920). These self-defense battles were heroic battles fought for family, life, dignity and faith in extremely unequal conditions. The exhibition highlights the exceptional role of Armenian women in this struggle. In almost every place where the self-defense battles took place, women actively participated not only in preparatory and organizational works such as digging trenches, building barricades, but also in the actual fighting together with their husbands.
The statistical table presents the number of Armenians in Cilicia on the eve of the Armenian Genocide and as of April 1.
Unique exhibits from the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute and the History Museum of the Cilician Armenians (Nor Hachn) with their relevant stories will also presented revealing human destinies, horrors and heroic episodes of the Armenian Genocide”, the statement of the Museum-Institute says.
City of Glendale Moves Armenian Genocide Commemoration Online
Glendale will commemorate Armenian Genocide online
Due to coronavirus restrictions, the City of Glendale has decided to move its commemoration of the Armenian, annually held at the Alex Theatre, online, and will present a video compilation of past Armenian Genocide commemoration events on 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 23.
The city announced on Wednesday that program will also include messages from
Glendale Mayor Vrej Agajanian; Glendale City Councilmembers Daniel Brotman, Paula Devine, Ardashes “Andy” Kassakhian and Ara Najarian; Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank); State Sen. Anthony Portantino (D-La Cañada-Flintridge); Assemblymember Laura Friedman (D-Glendale); and Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger (5th District).
Tonight’s program may be seen on GTV 6 (Spectrum), Ch. 99 (AT&T), streamed on Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.
The city has also planned to broadcast the documentary“What Will Become of Us,” at 7 p.m April 24 on GTV 6 (Spectrum), Ch. 99 (AT&T).
Armenian Public Television holding meeting, employees will be resigning
Armenia coronavirus cases reach 1201
11:14, 17 April, 2020
YEREVAN, APRIL 17, ARMENPRESS. 42 cases of the coronavirus were recorded in the past 24 hours in Armenia, bringing the total cumulative number of cases to 1201, the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported.
A 58-year-old patient with underlying health conditions died from coronavirus complications in Yerevan, raising the number of fatalities to 19.
44 people recovered from the disease, bringing the total number of recoveries to 402.
The number of active cases is 780.
Reporting and writing by Lilit Demuryan
Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
Armenian Catholicos requests authorities release ex-president Robert Kocharyan from prison
- JAMnews, Yerevan
Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II said on April 14 that, given the coronavirus situation and the health condition of ex-President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan, it may be good to start considering his release from prison.
On April 15, the head of the Armenian church received a harsh response from the prime minister’s spokesperson.
This was followed by an appeal from the press service of the Mother See of Etchmiadzin, asking people not to politicize the words of the patriarch:
“Unfortunately, only a fragment of the original sentiment expressed by the Catholicos of All Armenians was presented, and his mention of the second president of Armenia has been taken out of context and twisted.”
In July 2018, Robert Kocharyan was charged with overthrowing the constitutional order. This was in reference to the use of brutality while breaking up a demonstration in Yerevan in March 2008, which resulted in the death of 10 people. After the Velvet Revolution in the spring of 2018, the new Armenian government resumed the investigation of those events, and Robert Kocharyan was one of the first accused.
The first time he was arrested in connection to these charges was on July 28, 2018. The ex-president’s lawyers have repeatedly tried to convince the court to change the terms of Kocharyan’s punishment. They succeeded twice. The last time Kocharyan was arrested on June 25, 2019.
What the Catholicos said
News.am cited Garegin II as stating that Kocharyan should be subject to the full judicial process, but that steps should also be taken to prevent his health from deteriorating. It was also said that, taking into considering the opinion of medical professionals, the patriarch considers it a possibility to change Kocharyan’s punishment – that is, to release him from prison.
The ex-president periodically receives in-patient treatment in medical clinics. The last time Robert Kocharyan was hospitalized on March 7. He was discharged from the hospital on April 3.
The head of the church said that in light of the coronavirus pandemic in many countries of the world, special attention is paid to those in custody:
“There are many welcome steps being taken, such as releasing and (or) changing the sentence of prisoners who are not dangerous to society, in order to protect them from the dangerous virus. In such matters, the Church’s position is based on the divine message of love, compassion and care. And in this sense, our call is to ensure that the authorities of our country take the necessary steps.”
Harsh response from the government
The response from the authorities was not long coming. It was voiced by a spokesman for the prime minister the very next day. Mane Gevorgyan stated that the government does not intend to comment on the “hopes and desires” of the Catholicos.
Moreover, she recalled a time that the church, or rather, the head of the press service of the Mother See of Etchmiadzin, Priest Vahram Melikyan, vouched for another prisoner.
She was referring to his plea to change the sentence of businessman Samvel Mayrapetyan, who is also involved in the criminal case regarding the events of March 2008.
“Mairapetyan left the country under the pretext of treatment in January 2019 and, despite the demand of the investigating authorities and guarantees of Vahram Melikyan, did not return to Armenia,” said the prime minister’s spokesperson Mane Gevorgyan.
The head of the press service says that the government expects that the Mother See of Etchmiadzin will recall the incident with Mairapetyan and provide an explanation.
Opinions of the defense
Kocharyan’s lawyers also took issue with his detention during the coronavirus epidemic:
“Kocharyan is in the risk group for coronavirus, as he is over 60 years old and has health problems, but continues to remain in the penal institution, while there are already confirmed cases of COVID-19 there.”
The defense states that Kocharyan’s imprisonment in light of the current situation is a sign of inhumane treatment.
Asbarez: Arayik Harutyunyan Expected to Become Artsakh’s New President
Aratyik Harutyunyan speaks to the press after casting his vote on the April 14 runoff elections. He is poised to become Artsakh’s next president
The frontrunner in Artsakh’s presidential runoff elections, Arayik Harutyunyan, is expected to become Artsakh’s next president, according to unofficial results and a congratulatory message from Armenia’s President Armen Sarkissian. Official data indicate that when polls closed at 8 p.m. local time, 44.9 percent of eligible voters took part in the elections, an almost 30 percent decline from the March 31 elections, which saw a 73 percent voter turnout.
Harutyunyan’s press secretary, citing preliminary results, took to Facebook to announce that his candidate had received 87of the voter. He also offered “congratulations to all.”
In offering his own congratulations—and effectively validating the elections—President Sarkissian said that Harutunyan will be assuming Artsakh’s presidency at a “complicated and critical time, when everything is contingent upon developments around the world, especially the complex geopolitical machinations taking place in our region.”
“The Republic of of Artsakh, once again proved that it is an established country with its own governmental structures, and most important, with its citizens,” Sarkissian said in a statement issued by his press office.
“Now, more than ever, there is a need for us to be united and unified,” said Sarkissian.
Sarkissian expressed confidence that Harutyunyan, who has served as Artsakh’s state and prime minister, will be able to strengthen the [civic] atmosphere of harmony and compassion in Artsakh; establish and secure Artsakh’s security; economic and political development; and bring the people together around unified aspirations.
In a statement posted on his Facebook page, Hautyunyan congratulated the people of Artsakh for a successful runoff elections given what he called the harsh conditions imposed by the global coronavirus pandemic and said, “We are moving forward. We must create our people’s prosperous future.”
In his statement Harutyunyan said that he would leave the matter of the voter turnaround to be assessed by political analysts, saying that he believed that a segment of the population—both his and his opponent’s supporters—might have thought that the results of the election were predetermined and they didn’t think that their participation was necessary.
Soon after the polls closed on Tuesday, Artsakh’s Central Election Commission secretary Gayane Arushanyan told Armenpress that 47,050 people voted in the elections, compared with the 76,728 who turned out on March 31.
Tuesady’s runoff elections were taking place two days after Artsakh declared a state of emergency to contain the spread of the coronavirus. Despite initiating stringent social distancing guidelines, the order stressed that the elections would go on as scheduled, with the government ensuring the public health by instituting strict sanitary and hygiene directives, which included disinfecting all polling stations in Artsakh.
Harutyunyan was the frontrunner in the March 31 elections, which also included a parliamentary elections, in which his Free Homeland coalition won the majority (40.4 percent) of the votes. In the presidential polls, however, Harutyunyan and runner up Masis Mayilyan, who is the Artsakh Foreign Minister, did not receive the required 50 percent of the votes, forcing a runoff.
On April 5, Mayilyan called for the postponement of the runoff elections, citing the safety of the population because of the coronavirus pandemic. He urged his supporters to not take part in the Tuesday’s voter. Officials in Artsakh have reported six cases of the coronavirus.
Artsakh’s President convenes consultation on coronavirus prevention
19:57, 8 April, 2020
YEREVAN, APRIL 8, ARMENPRESS. Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan convoked a working consultation on April 8 dedicated to the activities being carried out within the frameworks of preventing the spread of the new coronavirus, ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of Artsakh President’s Office.
The first case of infection registered in Artsakh was at the spotlight of the discussions. The President underlined that despite the undertaken measures a new coronavirus contamination case had been registered in the republic, which requires making corrections in the activities being implemented to neutralize or minimizing the possibilities of the spread of the disease.
Head of Interdepartmental Commission coordinating the prevention of the spread of the new coronavirus, state minister Grigori Martirosyan, healthcare minister Arayik Baghryan, heads of concerned structures provided reports on the measures being taken.
During the consultation a special emphasis was put on the issues of securing the health of the population during the second stage of presidential elections to be held on April the 14th.
President Sahakyan underlined the imperative to realize the preventive and organizational measures at the highest level, provide the necessary medical supplies and antiseptics, carry out coordinated disinfection activities on sites as well as reveal and eliminate the existing drawbacks. President Sahakyan gave concrete instructions to the heads of corresponding bodies on the proper realization of the discussed issues emphasizing that the current situation demands a high-level responsibility and coordinated implementation of the activities.
More Armenians to be evacuated from Moscow amid coronavirus crisis
17:26,
YEREVAN, APRIL 11, ARMENPRESS. Red Wings airline will operate the third charter flight from Moscow to Yerevan on April 12 at 15:40 to evacuate Armenian nationals who were stranded at the Russian capital due to cancelled flights amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Armenian Embassy in Russia said.
Listed passengers are advised to report to the Domodedovo airport’s 25-30 check-in desks at 12:00, the embassy said.
All arriving passengers will be quarantined for 14 days in Armenia.
Reporting by Norayr Shoghikyan
Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
Only 11 new coronavirus cases recorded in one day, signaling “unprecedented” dynamics in Armenia
11:01, 6 April, 2020
YEREVAN, APRIL 6, ARMENPRESS. 11 new COVID-19 cases have been diagnosed in Armenia in the past 24 hours, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on social media, signaling what appears to be an abrupt decrease of daily new cases, given that the previous daily cases were 52 (April 4).
“Out of 263 tests only 11 were positive. This is an unprecedented number for the past weeks. This means that the measures, which are causing numerous inconveniences, have begun giving results. The restrictions must be maintained stricter during this week. In that case, our chances for starting to think about easing the restrictions from next Monday will grow,” he said, calling on citizens to strictly adhere to the lockdown restrictions this week.
“Today’s number are giving hope, but we must certainly analyze tomorrow’s figures also,” he said.
The Prime Minister said that a 68-year-old coronavirus patient has died, becoming Armenia’s eighths COVID-19 fatality. The patient had underlying health conditions, he said.
The total cumulative number of COVID-19 infections in Armenia is 833, as of April 6, 11:00 GMT+4.
62 patients have recovered, 8 have died. The number of active cases is 763.
Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan