Press: How the concerned “fearful” got on the RPA list and then left it

  • 30.11.2018
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  • Armenia:
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11
 97

VERELQ presents the most notable publications of the Armenian press.


“time” the newspaper writes. “The leader of the RPA list Vigen Sargsyan announced yesterday that their proportional list representatives are withdrawing under the influence of fear. However, the reality is that most of these candidates appeared on that list under the influence of fear. RPA members claim in private conversations that the party’s elite forced them to be on the list, otherwise threatening to reveal undesirable aspects of their activities. During this time, those leaving have realized that they will not even get 10 votes, and have decided to avoid unnecessary embarrassment.”


 “Publication” the newspaper writes. “Under all governments, the security bodies conduct closed, non-public polls on campaign days to get an approximate picture of the election results, and then report to their superiors. According to our sources close to the security agencies, the other day Nikol Pashinyan the results of the last days of such polls were put on the table. The percentages of KP were high, but quite low compared to the days of the mayoral elections. Among the ratings, according to the polls, in first place in Shirak Felix Tsolakyan was in Yerevan Alen Simonyan»:


“Publication” the daily writes. “The former governor of Aragatsotn submitted his resignation to the CEC yesterday Sargis Sahakyan, according to our information, a few days ago, during the party gathering, he made a sensational speech that he and his brother would be the last to leave the RPA. “He was a fan of RPA and did not stop glorifying even after the revolution Serzh Sargsyan“said our RPA source, assuring that he did not inform the party of the reasons for his resignation, but they are sure that, as Hermine Naghdalyanin this case, Sahakyan was also threatened with “compromise documents”. However, some people think that they have understood that without money they have no voice, they voluntarily save themselves from embarrassment. By the way, 4-5 unknown candidates from the RPA also submitted their resignations, the RPA informed that they were initially included to ensure the required number.” 


“People” the daily writes. “Zhoghovurd” daily reported the other day that the Ministry of Defense was instructed to refrain from participating in political processes. Some details of those instructions became known yesterday. In particular, the commanders and deputies of the military unit were told that on the day of the election, the commanders, their deputies, and officers should appear at the polling station at such a time that they would not meet the troops. Moreover, they should be exclusively in civilian clothes and not communicate with anyone who is related to the Armed Forces and who may be in or around the precinct. Having given this instruction, the leadership of the Ministry of Defense explained to the commanders that the purpose of this is one, so that the soldiers do not see their leaders and are not constrained unnecessarily. Spokesman of the RA Ministry of Defense Artsrun Hovhannisyan confirmed this information of ours, adding that the soldiers of the military unit were also told that if there is someone who is not interested in the elections, he can not appear in the elections, no one can and has no right to force him to take that step.”


“People” the daily writes. “The Constitutional Court of the Republic of Armenia has accepted for examination the draft of controversial amendments made on October 2 in the NA Rules of Procedure and the Constitutional Law. Do you remember that after the RPA, as well as the PAP and ARF, which were part of Pashinyan’s government at that time, hastily voted in favor of this project, a great wave of protest arose. RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan with the call, the citizens surrounded the parliament building. And the president of RA Armen Sargsyanin order not to aggravate the situation, he simply did not sign the project, sending it to the Constitutional Court to challenge its constitutionality. “Zhoghovurd” daily newspaper was informed that the case has been accepted for examination and the trial will start already in 2019, and the first hearing is scheduled for January 22. It was appointed by written procedure. The National Assembly was appointed as the respondent. But here it is noteworthy that the investigation of the case will begin when the powers of the parliament that adopted the draft have been terminated, moreover, it is possible that the RPA authors of the draft may not even be members of parliament. And it will turn out that the new parliament will answer the previous one for those who did. Although in this case it is clear that the new parliament, as the respondent, will help the CC to recognize the adopted project as unconstitutional.”


“Publication” the newspaper writes. According to a Russian source, Russian emissaries are in Armenia these days and have come to understand the situation. In Russia, they are worried that pro-Western and pro-Soros forces will dominate in the next National Assembly, first, of course, the “Sasna branches”, then those with a European orientation. Moscow considers several persons who have the reputation of a key Sorosian and appeared on the list of CP. They have serious reservations about such figures as Davit Sanasaryan and Babken Ter-Grigoryan(initiator of the Putin go f*uck yourself movement), are offended by the presence of figures considered to be Soros, Hovhannes Hovhannisyan and Sos Avetisyan (the latter was guaranteed by the Secretary of the Security Council Armen Grigoryan). The Russians confirmed that Avetisyan “came out” from the influence of “Soros” 1-2 months ago to enter the National Assembly.


“Realist” the newspaper writes. “While Artsakh and the army are divided in the campaign, in the true sense of the word, many internal Armenian problems are left out of the discussion. In meetings with citizens of different marzes, it is necessary to talk clearly about their problems, development plans for the coming years, but no, the campaign follows a completely different logic. This agenda is dictated by the government of the day and consistently promoted, in which only one force becomes a participant – the RPA representing the former government. Other forces participating in the election and society are in the role of observers. The RPA and “My step” are on the stage, they are crushing each other, from which the society has no benefit, and the more knowledgeable part, which demands ideas and vision, is disappointed. No one knows how the government will change his life in the next 5 years. Instead, he hears: calm down, representatives of the Artsakh government, we will throw the village heads out by the neck, we will spread the asphalt for a long time… However, this is not the only nail that the government will use in the campaign. According to our information, in the last days of the campaign, the levers of the government will be put into action, and the NSS will come into play again. A surprise file has been prepared, a report of the National Security Service, the National Security Service. They will try to show the public how many former officials they spread on the asphalt and what great discoveries they made! So don’t hope for programmatic discussions.”


“time” the newspaper writes. “Governor of Shirak Karen Sarukhanyan one by one, he invites the community heads of the region to his office and instructs them to work for the candidates of the “My Step” bloc. Moreover, the head of the village threatens that if his order is not fulfilled and “My Step” does not win a convincing victory in the given community, the village head will have problems with the law enforcement agencies after the elections. This is not a new approach, the RPA governors treated village heads in the same way, but they wanted 50-60 percent instead of 70-80 percent.”


“Realist” the newspaper writes. “Martunu Medical Center has not been able to choose a new director for a long time. The term of office of the previous one has ended, and the nominees are removed from the examination one after the other. Vigen Khachatryan, the representative of the Martuni territorial division of the “Sasna Tsrer” party, is running for the position of the director of the MC. “After the second round of the competition, he was also cut off, avoiding appeal in the prescribed manner. But a few days later, when the newly appointed governor Buy Sanosyanwas in their village on a working visit, he urged the villagers to block the road of the governor and put an ultimatum before him: either Khachatryan will be the director of the MC, or they will take more extreme steps,” said the source of “Irates”. He also stated that the issue has a political context, because Khachatryan is a supporter of “Sasna Trees” and is doing everything to steal votes from the ranked candidate of the “My Step” bloc, Governor Sanosyan. “The people of Martun are being provoked that instead of voting for Pashinyan, they should vote for Sasna Trees,” said our interlocutor. to settle, but there were some problems with the paperwork, and his departure did not work out. As he personally could not run, he proposed the candidacy of his sister’s husband to “Sasna Trees”. They did not reject Khachatryan either and included his son-in-law Davit Galstyan in Martun’s rating list.” It was also known to “Irates” that in Martuni and neighboring villages there is now a fierce battle between the above-mentioned two forces. The governor wants the issue of the director of the hospital to be resolved peacefully after the elections, and Khachatryan and his son-in-law are using the delay in the election of the head of the medical facility as a club.”


“People” the daily writes. “Zhoghovurd” daily newspaper was informed that currently 100-110 court cases are being heard daily in the RA Administrative Court with the request for the invalidity of administrative acts of the Republic of Armenia. Most of the fined citizens appeal the administrative acts in court, because if they are declared invalid, attorney’s fees are confiscated from the court. As a result, the lawyers provide interest and service to the drivers at the extra-budget expense of the traffic police. During the last 9 months of the last year, 1 million 461 thousand people were brought to administrative responsibility by the Central Administrative Court. 966 decisions. In the same period, 14 thousand appeals were made from the decisions made in the order of superiority. 74, by judicial order – 5 thousand. 838. “Zhoghovurd” daily found out that during the last 9 months of last year, 4,000 decisions were made by the court in the lawsuits filed against the CSO. Out of 55 judgments, 2,000 were issued against the CSO. 325 judgments, and here 1 thousand was made in favor of ЧО. 730 judgments. During the 9 months of the previous year, 5 million drams were confiscated from the CSO as legal fees. And there is a fear that this amount will increase and turn into 25-30 million drams.”

Embassy clarifying reports about Armenians injured in Iran quake

News.am, Armenia
Nov 26 2018
Embassy clarifying reports about Armenians injured in Iran quake Embassy clarifying reports about Armenians injured in Iran quake

12:48, 26.11.2018
                  

YEREVAN. – The Armenian embassy in Tehran is clarifying information whether Armenian nationals or ethnic Armenians were injured in an earthquake, spokesperson for the Armenian Foreign Ministry Anna Naghdalyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.3 shook Kermanshah province in western Iran late Sunday, injuring 716 people, Mehr agency reported.

The quake had also affected Iraq along the shared borders with Kermanshah.

Sports: Harutyun Merdinyan qualifies for World Cup 2018 final with 1st place

MediaMax, Armenia
Nov 23 2018

Photo: rsport.ru

The qualifiers of pommel horse, rings and floor exercises took place the first. 

Harutyun Merdinyan had a great performance in pommel horse and scored 14.966 points qualifying for the final with the first place. Artur Davtyan is the 20th in the same exercise. 44 athletes participated in the competition.

Artur Tovmasyan scored 14.733 in rings and is in the final with the 5th place. Vahagn Davtyan is the 10th with 14.600 points.

Pashinyan takes vacation as PM to campaign for his bloc ahead of general election

Pashinyan takes vacation as PM to campaign for his bloc ahead of general election

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17:33,

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS. Caretaker Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will take a vacation from Monday to campaign for his Im Kayl (My Step) bloc for the upcoming general election.

Pashinyan is member of the board of Civil Contract, a party that is within the Im Kayl bloc.

“I’m taking a vacation from tomorrow to fully participate in the campaigning,” Pashinyan said on Facebook today.

Im Kayl will hold campaigning events tomorrow in four Armenian towns: 11:00 in Talin (Aragatsotn Province), 13:30 in Maralik (Shirak Province), 15:00 in Artik (Shirak Province) and 17:00 in Gyumri (Shirak Province).

Armenia will vote to elect a new parliament on December 9. 

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan




Three teams of Sevan startup Summit 2018 receive Armenian Presidential awards

Three participating teams of the Sevan Startup Summit 2018 today received special awards of the President of Armenia at the Presidential Palace, the Presidential Office reports.

In summer 2018 President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian participated in the closing ceremony of the Sevan Startup Summit during which he promised that one more nomination – award of the President of the Republic, will be added to the awards for the 120 startup teams participating in the summit.

Today Armen Sarkissian handed over the Presidential awards to the three winner teams.

The first prize and 5 million AMD award was handed over to the SuperAnnotate AI project. The second and third awards were bestowed to YOLO and SENSE2beat projects respectively.

President Sarkissian congratulated the Sevan Startup Summit organizers and award winners, expressing hope that they will continue their activities and will be presented at the international arena. “It’s time for us to hold the Startup also in the Silicon Valley. Of course, the participation of 120 teams is a great number, but I hope that 1200 teams will participate in the coming years. This is a really perfect idea and project. Many young people make first steps in the life and will achieve great success by your help and the will of God,” the President said.

Startup Armenia foundation’s co-founder Hakob Hakobyan considered the President’s support encouraging. “The fact that you visited us and delivered a lecture was a great progress for us. And today’s awards and their idea are really obliging. We are ready to do more for Armenia to capture an importance place on the innovation map,” he said.

RFE/RL Armenian Report – 11/23/2018

                                        Friday, 
Pan-Armenian Charity Raises More Money For Karabakh
US- The Hayastan All-Armenian Fund holds an annual telethon in Los Angeles, 
November 23, 2017.
In an annual telethon broadcast from Los Angeles, a pan-Armenian charity has 
raised more than $11 million that will mostly be spent on its ongoing 
infrastructure projects in Nagorno-Karabakh.
The Hayastan All-Armenian Fund received $12.5 million and $15.5 million in 
donations during similar fundraisers helds in 2017 and 2016 respectively.
As always, the Thanksgiving Day telethon featured prominent members of the 
Armenian community in the United States and Karabakh Armenian leaders. It was 
broadcast by Armenian and U.S.-Armenian TV channels.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian made a live televised appeal to Armenians around 
the world when he visited Hayastan’s headquarters in Yerevan early on Friday. 
He urged them to donate more funds to the charity, stressing the importance of 
its projects implemented in Armenia and Karabakh.
In a statement issued shortly afterwards, Hayastan said the sum collected by it 
this time includes $2.5 million donated by a “benefactor” who did not want to 
be identified. Two other wealthy donors, Armenian-American businessmen Antranig 
Baghdassarian and Albert Boyajian, contributed $1 million each.
Most of the latest donations will be channeled into two projects in Karabakh 
launched by Hayastan last year. One of them is aimed at expanding local 
irrigation networks while the other seeks to support greater use of solar 
energy by Karabakh households.
Nagorno-Karabakh - Cars on a newly constructed highway connecting Karabakh to 
Armenia.
Hayastan has implemented over $350 million worth of projects in Karabakh and 
Armenia since being set up in 1992. The fund’s current Board of Trustees is 
headed by Armenia’s President Armen Sarkissian and comprises Pashinian, other 
senior Armenian state officials, Catholicos Garegin II as well as prominent 
members of Armenian communities around the world.
In recent years the fund has partly financed, among other things, the 
construction of a second highway connecting Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia. The 
116-kilometer-long road was inaugurated last year.
Hayastan’s activities were overshadowed in July by the arrest and ensuing 
resignation of its then executive director, Ara Vartanian. Although Vartanian 
admitted using Hayastan’s money for online gambling and other “personal 
purposes” he avoided prosecution after reportedly compensating the charity.
Pashinian’s government has since pledged to help ensure greater transparency in 
the fund’s activities.
Armenian Minister Sees Slower Growth In 2018
        • Sargis Harutyunyan
Armenia - Workers at a tech company based in the Engineering City in Yerevan, 
August 22, 2018.
The Armenian economy is on course to grow by 5 to 6 percent this year, Economy 
Minister Tigran Khachatrian said on Friday.
Economic growth in Armenia accelerated to 7.5 percent in 2017, according to 
official statistics. It hit 9.7 percent in the first quarter of this year, 
before the start of weeks of mass protests that led to the resignation of the 
country’s longtime leader, Serzh Sarkisian, and his government.
Data from the Armenian Statistical Committee shows that growth has slowed down 
since then. The government agency has also reported a sharp drop in foreign 
investment.
Political opponents of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian, the protest leader who 
came to power in May, have seized upon these figures to criticize his economic 
record. They claim that his government’s policies are scaring away local and 
foreign investors.
Khachatrian insisted that the dramatic regime change, commonly referred to as a 
“velvet revolution,” will benefit the domestic economy in the longer term. He 
argued that the new government has already broken up economic monopolies linked 
to the former regime and is taking other measures to improve Armenia’s business 
environment.
“The revolution has led to a greater degree of economic freedom, easier access 
to the markets and more equal competition,” said Khachatrian. “These are 
factors that could and should create a more favorable environment for 
investment-related decisions. But they can’t produce solutions and results at 
once.”
The minister predicted that the upcoming parliamentary elections, which 
Pashinian’s bloc is widely expected to win, will also contribute to faster 
growth. The resulting “stabilization of the situation” in the country will only 
encourage businesspeople to launch new projects, he said.
Pashinian cited economic considerations when he started pushing for the holding 
of the snap elections in early October. He said political uncertainty resulting 
from his team’s modest presence in the current Armenian parliament is hampering 
economic activity.
Pashinian Denies Electoral Foul Play
        • Anush Muradian
Armenia - Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian addresses a rally in Aparan, November 
21, 2018.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian dismissed on Friday opposition claims that he 
abused his powers by holding rallies during work hours and before the official 
start of campaigning for Armenia’s upcoming general elections.
Pashinian held the rallies when he visited two Armenian provinces earlier this 
week. He also discussed the conduct of the December 9 elections with local 
government officials.
Former President Serzh Sarkisian’s Republican Party (HHK) denounced those 
gatherings, accusing Pashinian of using his government levers for electoral 
purposes. Two other groups running for parliament also criticized them.
A top representative of Armenia’s leading anti-corruption watchdog voiced 
similar concerns on Thursday, saying that by “international standards” 
Pashinian’s actions constituted “abuse of administrative resources.”
“Show me those international standards. Publish them on your websites,” 
Pashinian told journalists when he was asked to comment on the controversy.
“I am calling on all citizens of Armenia to vote for the [ruling] My Step 
alliance in the forthcoming parliamentary elections. Am I abusing my 
administrative resources?” he said.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the HHK cited election-related guidelines 
of the Council of Europe and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in 
Europe which it said were violated by the premier.
Pashinian insisted that he toured towns in the Gegharkunik and Aragatsotn 
provinces as part of his prime-ministerial duties. In any case, he said, the 
rallies held there did not breach the Armenian Electoral Code.
The Central Election Commission (CEC) likewise said on Friday that the code 
does not ban election contenders from holding rallies before the start of the 
election campaign set for November 26.
Pashinian was equally unrepentant about his decision to march through Yerevan 
with his supporters on Saturday.
Asked why he did not want to wait until Monday, he said: “When we held a rally 
on August 17 did we break the law? Or did I break the law when I went to the 
Syunik, Vayots Dzor and Tavush provinces?”
The HHK was accused by opposition leaders, including Pashinian, and media of 
abusing its administrative resources in various elections throughout its leader 
Serzh Sarkisian’s decade-long rule. Many public and even private sector 
employees were reportedly pressured to attend its campaign rallies and vote for 
HHK candidates.
Press Review
“Zhamanak” looks at the former ruling HHK’s election campaign motto: “If you 
are concerned, vote for Republicans.” “Apparently the HHK forgot to add what 
those concerns are about,” the paper comments scathingly. It says many 
supporters of the former ruling party must be “concerned” that they can no 
longer break laws, take bribes or rig elections.
“Especially in the last 20 years Armenia’s water resources have been used, or 
rather wasted, in the most savage way,” alleges “Zhoghovurd.” “And that has 
been done for the enrichment of the former rulers.” The paper reports in this 
context that prosecutors have now launched criminal proceedings against the 
owners of 150 hydroelectric plants suspected of serious environmental 
violations.
Lragir.am reports that Armenia’s Russian-managed railway network has decided to 
suspend a rail ferry service between Georgian and Russian Black Sea ports 
operated by it together with other firms. The online publication says the 
decision comes ahead of the entry into force of a Georgian government ban on 
the transit of trucks laden with wheat through Georgia’s territory. It fears 
that the move will disrupt imports of wheat to Armenia. “The situation 
resembles the early 1990s when Armenia was subjected to a gas blockade,” it 
says.
“Past” says Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian’s decision to stage a “big march” in 
Yerevan on Saturday is clearly related to the December 9 parliamentary 
elections. “Pashinian and some other forces have already unofficially started 
their election campaigns, turning [the official start of campaigning on] 
November 26 into a symbolic date,” writes the paper.It says Pashinian’s rally 
is aimed at “mobilizing his core political base through one of the main 
techniques of regime change.”
(Lilit Harutiunian)
 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

U.S. experts on Iran sanctions policy visit Armenia

Aysor, Armenia
Nov 16 2018

An interagency team of subject matter experts from the U.S. Departments of State and Treasury visited Yerevan November 15-16 to discuss Iran sanctions policies with counterparts in the Armenian government and business community. 

This visit is the latest in a series of engagements designed to explain U.S. sanctions policy against Iran to governments around the world.

The delegation met with the Armenian Acting Deputy Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Energy and Economic Development and Investment, as well as other officials in the Office of the Prime Minister, and the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Economy, and Transportation. 

They also met with the Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Armenia as well as with private banks, members of the American Chamber of Commerce in Armenia, and Armenian academics and think tank experts.

The delegation emphasized U.S. efforts to change the “Iranian regime’s malign behavior” through maximum economic and diplomatic pressure, while also outlining areas for cooperation with partners like Armenia.

RPA is in pre-election frenzy, but they haven’t made the de jure decision yet

  • 09.11.2018
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  • Armenia:
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5
 231

The meeting of the Council of the Republican Party will take place on November 11. It will take place in the RPA central office.


Earlier, in a conversation with VERELQ, NA Vice-Chairman, RPA spokesman Eduard Sharmazanov stated that at the session it will be decided whether the RPA will participate in the extraordinary parliamentary elections or not.


Meanwhile, it is obvious that RPA has already made the decision. It is even known who will run where. For example, according to the rumors, the former vice-chairman of the National Assembly Hermine Naghdalyan will be nominated in the Syunik marz by rating electoral system, Eduard Sharmazanovin Lori. Advent of Sahakyan որդին՝ Arman Sahakyan will be nominated in Arabkir administrative district.


The list of Republicans will be headed by the former Minister of Defense Vigen Sargsyan:

Calendar of Events – 11/8/2018

                        Armenian News's Calendar of events
                        (All times local to events)
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What:           "Toward Sis with an Eyewitness View"
                a lecture is given by Bishop Torkom Donoyan
                =========================================
What:           "4,000 Towns and Villages: Armenians in Ottoman Turkey, 1914."
                Reception and panel discussion with Ara Sarafian, Garabed
                Moumdjian, Crispin Brooks and Dr. Garbis Der Yeghiayan.
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