Author: Antranik Varosian

Reforms in Armenia envisage integrity check for all judges, prosecutors, investigators

Antranik Varosian

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 11:45,

YEREVAN, JULY 21, ARMENPRESS. The Cabinet approved the 2022-2026 Judicial and Legal Reforms Strategy and its Action Plan.

Speaking at the Cabinet meeting, Minister of Justice Karen Andreasyan said that it is the continuation of the 2019 strategy.

He said that many of the works in the new strategy are inherited from the previous one and are being perfected and improved.

“Certain areas were unfortunately not implemented due to the pandemic and the war. Some other areas are almost ready and we will implement them in the next months,” he said.

The first provision in the strategy is the judiciary reforms. The full chain of the Anti-Corruption Courts will be launched. The system is nearly completed.

The other important direction is the digitization of court proceedings, and then integrity check.

Andreasyan said the integrity check will concern not only the judges. “Today, only newly appointed judges are passing an integrity check, whereas the strategy envisages that soon all active judges will pass the integrity check. This will become a very serious instrument in fighting corruption,” Andreasyan said, adding that they envisage the integrity check also for prosecutors, investigators, prison staff and in some other areas as well.

The other emphasis in the strategy is the chance to appeal the Supreme Judicial Council’s disciplinary decisions.

Reforms are also envisaged in law practice. Andreasyan said they’ve worked together with the bar association and the lawyers in developing the amendments and they’ve reached a consensus.

Reforms are planned in the bankruptcy field, as well as the compulsory enforcement system.

The system of alternative solution of disputes is also an important direction in the strategy.

World Youth Development Forum launched in Beijing

Antranik Varosian

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 12:27,

BEIJING, JULY 22, ARMENPRESS. The World Youth Development Forum launched in the Chinese capital of Beijing on July 21.

The Forum is attended by representatives from a number of countries.

Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the Forum.

Topics to be discussed during the three-day Forum include climate change, employment and entrepreneurship, digital economy and high-quality education.

The Forum was organized by the All-China Youth Federation.

 

Photo by Xinhua




Joe Biden infected with coronavirus

Antranik Varosian

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 19:49,

YEREVAN, JULY 21, ARMENPRESS. President of the United States of America Joe Biden has tested positive for coronavirus has shown a positive result, ARMENPRESS reports says the statement of the press secretary of the White House Karine Jean-Pierre.

The statement noted that Biden is fully vaccinated, has received two booster doses and is now showing mild symptoms. The US President has started taking the drug Paxlovid.

It is noted that he will be self-isolated in the White House and will continue to perform all his duties during that time. Biden was in contact with White House staff members by phone on the morning of July 21, and will participate in his planned meetings at the White House by phone and via Zoom from the residence.

Armenia signs memorandum with Iraqi Kurdistan Mine Action Agency

Antranik Varosian
NEWS.am
Armenia – July 12 2022
15:35, 12.07.2022

YEREVAN. – The Center for Humanitarian Demining and Expertise (Center) of Armenia hosted a delegation from the Iraqi Kurdistan Mine Action Agency (IKMAA), the Center informs Armenian News-NEWS.am.

The IKMAA representatives, led by the deputy director Niyazi Khalid, visited the Center’s training center, got acquainted with the Center’s activities, and exchanged experience.

Also, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Center and the IKMAA.

In addition, the guests met with Levon Khachatryan, the Case Manager of the Ministry of Defense of Armenia; and Georgi Kocharyan, the Head of the Department of International Security at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Armenian Minister of Emergency Situations, Chargé d’Affaires of Georgian Embassy discuss ongoing and future projects

Antranik Varosian

Armenian Minister of Emergency Situations, Chargé d’Affaires of Georgian Embassy discuss ongoing and future projects

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 10:28,

YEREVAN, JULY 15, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Emergency Situations of Armenia Armen Pambukhchyan received Chargé d’Affaires of the Georgian Embassy in Armenia Irakli Kvanchakhadze, the ministry said in a news release.

During the meeting Minister Pambukhchyan said that the ministry is ready to cooperate with the Georgian side in different areas.

Irakli Kvanchakhadze in turn thanked for the warm welcome and expressed hope that the cooperation will continue.

The ongoing and future programs were discussed during the meeting.

The sides highlighted the presence of mutual support and trust between the two friendly countries.

Activist Tehmine Yenokyan reports murder attempts against her and her family

Antranik Varosian
Panorama
Armenia –

Environmental activist and journalist Tehmine Yenokyan has alerted about murder attempts against her and her mother.

She said unknown assailants fired a shot at her home on 29 June, damaging the window of the living room. The bullet penetrated the house.

“I called the police, officers of the Nor Nork police department visited our apartment and took the shell with them. The crimes committed against me and my family do not end there because the law enforcement agencies failed to take effective measures,” she wrote on Facebook.

“On 12 July, at around 12:50am, a second gunshot was fired at my living room window, as a result of which the window glass was broken again, and the fired shell entered our living room, damaging the ceiling and the wall. I immediately called the police again,” the activist said.

She added that the front door of her house was set on fire earlier in March.

“Police describe all these actions as property damage, not crimes against my life. I believe these crimes are part of a single chain targeted at me and my family and committed at the same location. Two consecutive shots at my living room can’t be a coincidence,” Yenokyan said.

“In both cases, at the time of the shooting, my mother and I were in our apartment, and those shots could have caused our death; the fact that we survived was merely a matter of luck. In other words, assassination attempts continue to be made against me and my mother.

“The competent agency must launch a probe into a crime against life and health, not just property damage.

“On the occasion of the incident, we have appealed to Armenia’s chief prosecutor and police chief with the request to conduct a proper legal assessment and effective investigation,” she noted.

The police have told Panorama.am an investigation is underway.

Golden Apricot International Film Festival opens in Yerevan

Antranik Varosian
ARMINFO
Armenia –
Alina Hovhannisyan

ArmInfo. Last time, the Golden Apricot International Film Festival took place in Yerevan, Armenia, in 2019. Over 2,000 guests visited thee festival, with over 100 films  screened for the Armenian audience. Some of the films were later  prize winners at prestigious international film festivals. 

Karen Avetisyan, Artistic Director of the Golden Apricot festival,  says that over 150 renowned representatives of the movie industry are  coming to the festival this year. Among them are Irish screenwriter  and director Terence George, Michael Goorjian, an Emmy Award winning  actor, filmmaker, and writer of Armenian decent, Albert Serra, a  Catalan filmmaker, Philippe Bober, a leading European producer,  Marina Razbezhkina, a Russian screenwriter, producer, director and  documentary filmmaker.

“We have gone through a hard period and we hop that this year’s  festival will mark the opening of a new chapter, especially on the  eve of thee 100th anniversary of Armenian cinema and 20th anniversary  of Golden Apricot,” Mr Avetisyan told ArmInfo. 

The festival opened with Amerikatsi (American) by Michael Goorjian. 

“It is most important that the film was fully shot in Armenia by an  international team” he said. 

Terence George, Head of the Jury, told reporters it is his third  visit to Armenia, where he feels quite at home. 

As to the film assessment criteria, he said that independence is one  of the main criteria. The festival will close with Invisible Republic  by Garin Hovannisian. 

For more information visit  

Jane Fitz cancels performance at Sensor Festival in Armenia

Antranik Varosian
Inverted Audio
July 5 2022


Jane Fitz has announced that she will no longer be performing at the inaugural edition of Sensor Festival, scheduled to take place 10-12 September at a disused space telescope at Mount Aragats in Armenia.

In a statement published via Instagram, Jane Fitz shared “Over the past 24 hours I have learnt that a festival I was booked to play in Armenia in September is in fact Russian-backed and promoted. As a long-time visitor and financial beneficiary of Ukraine, who has raised funds for the war effort, it’s absolutely impossible for me to play and get paid at this festival and so I’m cancelling this booking immediately.”  – (read statement)

Having just announced their first wave of acts, featuring some of the most respected producers and selectors of our times it is a disappointing to learn of this dupe. Sensor Festival describe themselves as “anti-war” with a “mission to unite cultures in peace” – that being said, their official ticket partner is Russian owned Tickets Cloud – meaning that a percentage of all ticket sales will be going to Russia and their investors. You can learn more about Tickets Cloud from this 2017 blog post with founder Egor Egerev.

In light of this, other artists have dropped out of the festival including; Andrew Peckler, Animistic Beliefs, DJ Bone, Rabih Beani, Job Sifre – we expect more artists to follow in due course.

Artist currently announced to perform at Sensor Festival; Ana Helder, Andre Pahl, Binh, Broken English Club, Byetone, Cantenac Dagar, Carlota, Ciel, Deepneue, Digby, Dhafer Youssef, Dopplereffekt, Elena Colombi, Eiger Drums Propaganda, Ivan Smagghe, Lea Bertucci, LEYA , Legowelt, Maayan Nidam, DJ Majkel, Merlin Ettore, Ninos Du Brasil, Oko DJ, Raphael Carrau, Rakans, Robin Ordell, Ron Morelli, Rhadoo, Sacha Mambo, San Proper, Sote, Tony Buck, Vaahzer, Velv.93, Vlada.

Armenia, Argentina have intense relations: PM Pashinyan receives Ambassador Vergara

Antranik Varosian

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 16:04, 8 July 2022

YEREVAN, JULY 8, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan received today Ambassador of Argentina to Armenia Mariano Vergara, the PM’s Office said.

During the meeting PM Pashinyan said that the government of Armenia is interested in developing and expanding the cooperation with Argentina in different areas, expressing hope that the activities of the Ambassador will contribute to strengthening the bilateral ties. Despite the geographical distance, the PM said, Armenia and Argentina have intense relations and a good potential to enrich them with new initiatives.

Pashinyan specifically highlighted expanding the economic partnership and trade turnover volumes, adding that Armenia is ready to create favorable conditions for Argentine companies aimed at implementing investment projects.

PM Pashinyan also praised the bilateral partnership in international organizations and said that the Armenian side is ready to make the collaboration on this aspect more effective. He also highly appreciated the recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide by Argentina.

In his turn the Ambassador thanked for the warm reception and said that different cultural events are taking place in Armenia on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and Argentina. The foreign diplomat informed that the creation of the Armenian-Argentina Chamber of Commerce is under consideration in order to boost the economic cooperation.

In the context of the development of relations between the two countries, the Ambassador highlighted the role of the Armenian community in Argentina, which, he said, is quite united and enjoys high respect in his country.

Issues relating to the cooperation in agriculture, healthcare, education, culture and other fields were discussed.

The regional developments were also touched upon at the meeting.