Author: Elizabeth Jabejian

Amid the ongoing scandalous investigation into MP Manvel Grigoryan’s suspected embezzlement of military supplies and illegal possession of firearms, the organized crime unit of Yerevan police have received a report that two trucks loaded with military food supplies are parked in a parking lot at 22 Soghomon Taronts Street.

The drivers of the trucks, both members of the Yerkrapah Volunteer Union – a paramilitary organization chaired by the arrested MP, who is also a former general, have been placed under arrest.

Police found nearly 3000 cans of canned meat labeled Not For Sale: Soldier’s Share. This type of canned meat is not available for sale anywhere and is the military food supply for the armed forces.

According to the drivers, Nazik Amiryan – the wife of the arrested MP – had instructed them to load the supplies into the truck on June 16 from the Yerkrapah Volunteers Union headquarters in Yerevan. Circumstances are being clarified.

National security service (NSS) agents have detained Arthur Asatryan, the Italy-based Armenian businessman aka Don Pipo, in Ejmiatsin (Vagharshapat) city.

Footage of the Armenian A1+ channel shows Asatryan being taken away in an NSS car outside a mansion in Ejmiatsin.

NSS spokesperson Samson Galstyan commented on the video in an interview to ARMENPRESS, saying: “You see what you see. I can only confirm that the work continues, we will issue a statement when it is finished.”

Earlier the NSS confirmed that agents are carrying out operations in the city.

Attended by RA President Armen Sarkissian, today, for the first time in Armenia’s history, the members of the new government were sworn in at the Presidential Palace.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan was the first to take the floor and read out the text of the oath: “For the sake of achieving the national goals and strengthening the Homeland, I swear to fulfill in good faith all the duties assumed before the people, observe the Constitution and laws, promote the sovereignty and the interests of the Republic of Armenia, remain committed to the high office of member of government.”

Then the other members of government took turns to swear solemnly to the nation. At the end of the oath-taking ceremony, President Sarkissian congratulated the Prime Minister and the Cabinet members, wishing them fruitful and productive work for the benefit of the Homeland and the Armenian people.

Note that the government’s oath-taking comes as a novelty in our country’s political and public management culture.

Deputy foreign minister of Armenia Shavarsh Kocharyan says newly-appointed foreign minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan is a professional diplomat and has passed a serious path, reports Armenpress. “He has served also as deputy foreign minister, and in general, the ministry is satisfied with his appointment”, the deputy FM told reporters.

Asked whether he will continue the work in the position of the deputy FM, Shavarsh Kocharyan said: “We are working, what is the talk about? The ministry has worked during the movement and it also works now. The foreign ministry is one of the structures which should work like a clock regardless of events”.

Deputy FM Kocharyan refused to comment on the statement of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan according to which Armenia is a party to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, which also gave rise to a debate between the first and second Presidents of Armenia and the former defense minister Vigen Sargsyan. Deputy FM Kocharyan said the foreign ministry doesn’t comment on the statements of the leadership, it comments on the statements of the representatives of other countries.

In the framework of the criminal case investigated in the Investigative Division of Avan and Nor Nork administrative districts of Yerevan Investigative Department of the RA Investigative Committee stabbing of two young men was revealed – the person having committed the alleged crime was identified, the motive was found. The suspect was arrested.

It was earlier informed that on May 13, 2018 at 22:25 a call was received from «Saint Gregory the Illuminator» medical center informing that two residents of Yerevan – one of them, born in 1993, with a diagnosis of polytrauma, cut wound on the frontal part of the abdomen, the other, born in 1997, with a diagnosis of polytrauma, cut-pierced wound on the lumber region of the abdomen, head injury were taken to medical center.

Through preliminary investigation of the criminal case initiated in the RA IC Investigative Division of Avan and Nor Nork administrative districts of Yerevan Investigative Department actual data were obtained on the allegation that the young men had sustained the heavy bodily injuries during the incident that took place in one of the yards of lane 1, Bakunts of the city of Yerevan.

In the result of necessary investigatory and other procedural actions a number of circumstances, motive were found, the person having committed the alleged crime was identified; he is a resident of Yerevan. the latter was arrested on suspicion of committing crime envisaged by the Point 1 of the Part 2 of the Article 112 of RA Criminal Code and was questioned.

Pursuant to the suspect’s testimony on May 13, 2018 at about 21:30 he noticed from his flat that in the yard of their house about 10 boys armed with blackjacks were going to his father and brother and realizing that those people were going to beat them he also went to the yard. He fired a warning shot to the air with a gas gun however the argument was not prevented and a fight broke out during which he was hit with blackjacks on different parts of his body. Noticing a knife on the ground the person having committed the alleged crime took it and stabbed two of those who had hit him.

Preliminary investigation is ongoing. Measures are taken to provide the comprehensive, objective and complete investigation of circumstances, to verify the circumstances mentioned in the testimonies.

Note; Everyone charged with alleged crime offence shall be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law.