Author: Elizabeth Jabejian

Murder in Gavar; victim’s body found burnt, suspect arrested

Elizabeth Jabejian
| 11:03 | March 8 2018
Category
Society

In the result of investigatory actions of great volume conducted in Gegharkunik Regional Investigative Department of the RA Investigative Committee motive of murder of 54 year-old resident of Gavar town was found, the suspect was arrested.

On March 4, 2018 at 22:45 a call was received from the resident of Gavar town on missing of H. Hergnyan, born in 1963.

In the result of measures taken on the base of the report it was found out that the woman last had a telephone conversation with her husband on the same day at about 15:00 during which the latter told her that he was at the area of the market of Gavar and was coming home. However, he did not go home and later his phone number became unavailable.

On March 5 a criminal case was initiated in Gegharkunik Regional Investigative Department of the RA Investigative Committee according to the Part 1 of the Article 104 of RA Criminal Code.

In the result of urgent investigatory and other procedural measures it was found out that on March 4 at about 15:30 H. Hergnyan got into the car of his fellow citizen after which nobody saw him. The fellow citizen was identified, his alibi was checked.

Through preliminary investigation it was found that Hergnyan had got bodily injuries incompatible with life during the argument over money issues with his fellow citizen. While being questioned the man told the circumstances of the case and the victim’s burnt body was found at the place pointed by him.

The suspect was arrested. Preliminary investigation is ongoing, necessary investigatory and other procedural actions are conducted to provide the comprehensive, complete and objective investigation of circumstances of the case.

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

CSTO Joint Staff chief says they will not help Karabakh in case of war

Elizabeth Jabejian
News.am, Armenia
March 6 2018
CSTO Joint Staff chief says they will not help Karabakh in case of war CSTO Joint Staff chief says they will not help Karabakh in case of war

14:34, 06.03.2018
                   

Nagorno-Karabakh is not a Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) member, and therefore the organization will not provide military assistance to Stepanakert.

Anatoly Sidorov, Chief of the CSTO Joint Staff, stated about the abovementioned at Tuesday’s videoconference devoted to the main military security threats to the CSTO member countries.  

He noted that a CSTO agreement is signed with Armenia, and, correspondingly, the CSTO has certain commitments to Yerevan.

“Armenian citizens should be rest assured that in case of a threat, the CSTO will not leave them in danger,” Sidorov added.

Also, he noted that even though Armenia-Azerbaijan relations are quite tense, they are not so tense that the two countries will “seize capital cities from each other.”

In addition, Anatoly Sidorov stressed that the CSTO does not have the authority to intervene in a conflict without a respective request by the organization’s member country which a party to this conflict.

Madagascar FM ‘impressed’ with Armenia visit, calls for deeper co-op

Elizabeth Jabejian 
Armenpress News Agency, Armenia
 Friday
Madagascar FM 'impressed' with Armenia visit, calls for deeper co-op
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. At a joint press conference in
Yerevan with FM Edward Nalbandian, foreign minister of Madagascar
Henry Rabary Njaka talked about the expansion of cooperation between
the two countries. Henry Rabary Njaka says great potential exists for
enhancing cooperation.
“The hospitality of Madagascar is mentioned often, but I can say that
Armenian hospitality is truly unique. All what we’ve done in the past
days was very impressive and even extremely touching at certain
moments. I can say this is just the beginning, our contacts must be
continuous in both Yerevan and Antananarivo. Madagascar and Armenia
are members of that big family, Francophonie, we share important
values and in this family we must certainly also protect values of
humanism and brotherhood. All that’s important, like human rights,
fundamental freedoms, respects of one people towards the other, all
these values unite us. I am stunned on how much similarities these two
peoples have,” the Madagascar FM said, stressing that both sides have
relevant will for advancing bilateral relations.
He mentioned that during the meeting with his Armenian counterpart
they addressed several issues including the upcoming visit of the
President of Madagascar to Armenia.
“I believe this visit will be a great honor for the people of
Madagascar. Our teams will begin permanent contacts starting today to
prepare that state visit. We expect success from that visit”, he said.
Henry Rabary Njaka expressed admiration for Armenia’s economic growth,
mentioning that Madagascar can only benefit from it.
“You were recording double-digit economic growth even five years after
declaring independence”, he said, adding that Madagascar needs a
friendly country like Armenia, which is rather experiences in several
sectors.
English –translator/editor: Stepan Kocharyan

Cases of rape and robbery. Surveillance will be strengthened in the area of ​​”Khor Virap”.

Elizabeth Jabejian
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The studies carried out by the Prosecutor’s Office of Ararat Marz of RA show that the crimes committed in the area of ​​”Khor Virap” monastic complex have increased significantly recently. This was reported by the press service of the General Prosecutor’s Office.


In particular, in 2017 On October 1, a case of sexual violence against a citizen of the People’s Republic of China who visited the “Khor Virap” monastery complex in the area called “Wild Animal Rescue Center” in the administrative area of ​​Urtsadzor village of Ararat marz was recorded. A criminal case was initiated under Article 139, Part 1 of the RA Criminal Code. In 2017, with the combination of sufficient evidence obtained as a result of other investigative and judicial activities during the preliminary investigation. On October 5, RA citizen K.T. was charged under Article 139, Part 1 of the RA Criminal Code for committing acts of a sexual nature by using violence against a citizen of the People’s Republic of China against her will. The criminal case is currently under trial.


In addition, in 2018 on February 12, cases of attempted robbery of foreign tourists were also recorded. In particular, citizen A. D. approached two citizens of the UAE separately in the territory of the “Khor Virap” monastic complex, with the intention of committing an open theft of someone else’s property, showing them his Armenian-Russian Cossack unification certificate, and presented himself as a police officer. Making it clear by gestures that he wanted to subject the tourists to a personal search, he accompanied them in one case to the wall of the church, in the other case to the toilet on the territory of the church, after examining them, he took out considerable sums of money from their pockets and wallets, then, adjusting the moment, he tried to openly steal all the money and ran away. However, in both cases, he did not complete the crimes due to reasons beyond his control. in one case the tourist managed to catch him and took all the money back and left, in the other case the citizen was caught by church visitors.


On 12.02.2018, in Vedi’s investigative department, According to part 1 of Article 34-176 of the RA Criminal Code, two criminal cases were initiated, which were joined in one proceeding. On the same day, A.D. was arrested and gave a confession during interrogation as a suspect. 2018 on February 15, he was charged with 2 counts under Article 34-176, Part 1 of the RA Criminal Code, and on the same day, detention was chosen as a preventive measure against him. On February 20, the prosecutor’s office of the Ararat region of RA received the criminal case with an indictment.


Taking into account the fact that the commission of such criminal acts in spiritual centers representing tourist attraction causes significant damage to the tourist reputation of RA and may lead to a decrease in the flow of tourists, therefore there is an urgent need to exclude crimes committed against visitors and tourists, to take measures to eliminate the circumstances contributing to the commission of crimes, Prosecutor of Ararat Marz, RA Sevak Hovhannisyan submitted a petition to the head of the Ararat Regional Department of the RA Police.


The prosecutor of the region, in particular, noted the need to provide a sufficient number of police officers to deploy a permanent police base in the area of ​​the complex, which is one of the important stops on the southern tourist route of RA, and to carry out proper surveillance.

Monte was right to insist that if we were to lose Artsakh, we would have turned the last page of Armenia’s history: Serzh Sargsyan

Elizabeth Jabejian
| 14:27 | February 20 2018
Categories
Artsakh
Politics
Region

Address by President Serzh Sargsyan on Artsakh Revival Day and Karabakh Movement 30th anniversary.

Dear Compatriots,

On 20 February 1988, the Nagorno-Karabakh Regional Council met in an extraordinary session to adopt a resolution expressing the Artsakh people’s will for free self-determination. Three decades ago, Armenians all over the world joined the fair demand and struggle of Artsakh.

Today, we are celebrating the 30th anniversary of that historic turning point, which the Artsakh Republic has rightfully proclaimed as the Artsakh Revival Day. Moreover, it became the day of revival of the Armenian people. Monte was right to insist that if we were to lose Artsakh, we would have turned the last page of Armenia’s history. February 20, 1988 was the moment of unity, determination and national awakening of the Armenian people.

Azerbaijan responded to our people’s peaceful and legitimate demarche by massacres in Sumgait and other places. In those days it became clear that people in Artsakh were doomed to physical extermination or victory.

We were forced to wage war. Those who unleashed the war were convinced that they had a great advantage, and the Karabakh issue would be resolved swiftly and permanently by exterminating the Armenians and depopulating Artsakh. From the distance of three decades we can confidently state that the Karabakh movement saved hundreds of thousands of lives.

Strong with the backing of the whole Armenian nation, the Armenians of Artsakh managed to cope with that severe trial with honor. Today, those who are calling us enemy, accuse us in everything, but the only fault of the people of Artsakh is that they did not lose and were not exterminated in that war.

Dear Compatriots,

The Karabakh movement was supposed to be transformed at a certain stage. With the proclamation of statehood, the movement did not shrink, but became a State policy. The pan-national outburst and awakening was crowned by the reinstatement of our two Armenian States.

We can hear the same threats as 30 years ago as we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Karabakh movement. The anti-Armenian propaganda has continued for 30 years now. It seems that nothing has changed. But we did. The free Artsakh, which shook off the Azeri yoke 30 years ago, is developing at a progressive pace both economically, politically, or culturally.

In our public consciousness there may be a justified perception that what is done is not enough. Therefore, we must constantly mark up the bar of our requirements and expectations. As a nation and a State, we still have a lot to do. There is a great deal of work to be done in all fields, but what we have done together over the past 30 years, sometimes in most difficult circumstances, is actually quite enough. Obviously, this is probably the most important thirty-year in Armenia’s history of the past few centuries. We can do much more, and yet we will think it insufficient.

Subjugation does not have an excuse, while freedom has no alternative. We are building modern and democratic statehoods in the Republics of Armenia and Artsakh. We fully respect the fundamental human rights, since freedom and dignity are absolute values for the Armenian people.

Long live the Republic of Armenia!
Long live the Republic of Artsakh which emerged as a result of the Karabakh Movement!
Long live the pioneers of the Karabakh movement!

Sports: Armenian delegation at 2018 Winter Olympic Parade in Pyeongchan

Elizabeth Jabejian
News.am, Armenia
Feb 9 2018
The opening ceremony of the 23rd Winter Olympic Games kicked off in Pyeongchan, South Korea.

The Armenian delegation has already participated in the Olympic Parade. Mikayel Mikayelyan was Armenia’s flagbearer. Head of Delegation Gagik Bolshikyan, Olympians Katya Galstyan, Ashot Karapetyan, as well as coaches of skiing and ski racing Armenian national teams Arthur Mikaelyan and Seyran Harutyunyan and Secretary General of the Armenian Ski Federation Gagik Sargsyan also participated in the Olympic Parade.

As reported earlier, Armenia has three representatives at Pyeongchan 2018: cross-country skiers Mikayel Mikayelyan, Katya Galstyan and alpine skier Ashot Karapetyan. Katya Galstyan participated in Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics.

Armenian athletes will compete on February 13. Mikayel Mikayelyan and Katya Galstyan will perform first.

Russian athletes took part in the Olympic Games in the parade under the Olympic flag.

Due to the Russian doping controversy, the International Olympic Committee will only permit certain Russian athletes to compete at the 2018 Winter Olympics under the designation Olympic Athlete from Russia (OAR).

South Korean and North Korean delegations took part in the parade together, although both countries are in war.

A total of 102 medals will be up for grabs this year in 15 events.

A total of 2,925 athletes from 92 countries will take part in PyeongChang 2018, and this is a record number in the history of Winter Olympics. Ecuador, Eritrea, Kosovo, Malaysia, Nigeria and Singapore made their WinterGames debut at the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018.

The competition schedules of Armenia’s representatives are as follows:

Katya Galstyan: Ladies’ Sprint Classic Qualification, February 13, 12:30pm (Armenia time)

Mikayel Mikayelyan: Men’s Sprint Classic Qualification, February 13, 13:05pm.

Katya Galstyan: Ladies’ 10km Free, February 15, 10:30am

Mikayel Mikayelyan: Men’s 15km Free, February 16, 10am

Ashot Karapetyan: Men’s Giant Slalom Run 1, February 18, 5:15am

Ashot Karapetyan: Men’s Slalom Run 1, February 22, 5:15am.

The post of Prime Minister is being taken away from Karapetyan, but an incentive award has been set. Pashinyan

Elizabeth Jabejian
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Now, when Serzh Sargsyan is likely to claim the post of Prime Minister, it is clear that the post of First Deputy Prime Minister will be given to Karen Karapetyan. Nikol Pashinyan, the leader of the “Exit” faction, announced this in the National Assembly, adding that according to this, taking away the post of Prime Minister from Karapetyan, they are giving him an incentive award in return.


“He was offered the prime minister’s seat earlier, but now it is being taken away from him. In order not to sound impolite, I want to tone it down a bit. And so that the people don’t notice all that, they want to give the presidential seat to Armen Sarkissian, who smiles beautifully at everyone and everywhere. They will take him out of the presidential residence and give him a European-renovated apartment on Prospect. As if sit there and smile,” declared Pashinyan.


Chairman of the Standing Committee on State-Legal Affairs of the National Assembly against the opposition MP’s statement Hrayr Tovmasyan  urged not to look for an element of conspiracy, because the Constitution provides for several positions of deputy prime ministers and it is not prohibited to appoint a first deputy prime minister, whose primacy will be purely nominal.


“He will replace the prime minister during his absence,” Tovmasyan emphasized.


Earlier we informed that the first deputy prime minister will also be in the new Security Council, which will not include the President of RA and the Speaker of the National Assembly.


According to the rumors, that position will be filled by the current Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan. Vache Gabrielyan is considered the most likely candidate for the position of Deputy Prime Minister.

Sports: Henrikh Mkhitaryan was abused at Manchester United: Garth Crooks

Elizabeth Jabejian
Pan Armenian
Feb 5 2018
February 5, 2018 – 14:22 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Arsenal star Henrikh Mkhitaryan was used and abused at Manchester United, according to BBC Sport pundit and former Tottenham striker Garth Crooks.

Mkhitaryan impressed on his Gunners debut against Everton in a 5-1 win on Saturday evening, setting up three goals in his first Emirates outing.

All three of the chances created by Henrikh Mkhitaryan for Arsenal have been converted. He became the first Arsenal player to record three assists in a Premier League game since Santi Cazorla set up four against Wigan in May 2013

And Crooks says Mkhitaryan will shine under Arsene Wenger, especially alongside his former Borussia Dortmund team-mate Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

“I liked Henrikh Mkhitaryan at Borussia Dortmund, I liked him at Manchester United and I adored what he did for Arsenal against Everton,” Crooks says in an article.

“Mkhitaryan was used and abused at United but, under more of an ‘artistic director’, the Armenia captain looks as if going to be a big hit for the Gunners.

“It is now patently obvious that Mkhitaryan and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, his former Dortmund team-mate, were having their own discussions to make sure that both would arrive at the Arsenal at the same time. One move clearly influenced the other.”

Sports: Henrikh Mkhitaryan bids ‘tearful’ farewell to Manchester United: source

Elizabeth Jabejian
PanArmenian, Armenia
Jan 20 2018
– 10:50 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Armenian midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan reportedly said a tearful farewell to his Manchester United team-mates and club staff on Friday, January 19 lunchtime as the final obstacle to United signing Sanchez was removed.

According to a source familiar with the matter, Mkhitaryan isn’t too happy with the way the deal “has been forced upon him,” The Daily Mail reports.

Alexis Sanchez will finally become a Manchester United player after Mkhitaryan agreed to join Arsenal in a swap deal.

The Armenian’s switch has been holding up negotiations after his agent Mino Raiola warned that he could scupper the Sanchez deal.

An hour after Jose Mourinho confirmed Mkhitaryan would be left out of United’s squad to face Burnley, MailOnline revealed that the player had said an emotional goodbye after his final United training session. “It was very tearful,’ said a source. “Henrikh has been a very popular figure here at United.

“We know he isn’t too happy with the way this deal has been forced upon him.

“He realises he has more chance of playing at Arsenal, but he would have preferred to leave on his own terms.”

Sports: Wins and fails of Armenian athletes in 2017

Elizabeth Jabejian
JAM News
Jan 12 2018
Gevorg Ghazaryan, Yerevan
Naira Martikian

A review of last year’s achievements. It’s time to determine the next steps


Last year can be regarded as a rather successful one for Armenian athletes. Achievements were made not only in sports, in which Armenia has traditionally been strong in, but also in sporting events where ‘success’ and ‘Armenia’ have been utterly incompatible until now, for example in cycling and basketball.

However, before we proceed to some particular achievements it should be mentioned that in 2017 Armenian athletes brought home 201 medals, of which 61 were gold. These were won in various sporting events at the world and European championships.

Artur Aleksanyan, three-time World Champion in Greco-Roman Wrestling

Major achievements of the previous year include: the world champion titles won by Arthur Aleksanyan and Maksim Manukyan at the Greco-Roman wrestling tournament; the gold success of Armenian boxer Hovhannes Bachkov at the European Boxing Championship; the victory of Henrikh Mkhitaryan and F.C. ‘Manchester United’ in the Europa League and chess player Levon Aronian’s victory in the FIDE World Chess Cup in Tbilisi.

Simon Martirosyan, an Armenian weightlifter (105kg weight category) who won the title of champion at the European Weightlifting Championship in Split, Croatia.

Levon Aronian at a news conference after the World Chess Cup.

Edgar Stepanyan, an Armenian cyclist, won the scratch race silver at the Track Cycling World Championship in 2017. After winning this tournament he has set a new goal – to make it to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

The national basketball team which took part in the World Cup qualifiers also looked promising. It was one victory shy of being included in the list of top contenders. This achievement wasn’t without consequence though. The Armenian Basketball Federation organized a home championship league entitled ‘A League’, with seven teams participating in it.

Fans of the Armenian national basketball team attending the Armenia vs Bosnia game.

There is certainly room for failure and defeat in sports, and the most noteworthy would probably be the disqualification of the Armenian weightlifting team. Some Armenian athletes turned out to be involved in a doping scandal. As a result, the entire national team was prohibited from participating in the 2017 World Cup.

Armenian football is still facing a crisis. Poor performance at the national championships and the uncertain future of the national team has given cause for reflection: is Armenian football’s driving force heading in the right direction?

A couple of new teams failed to breathe new life into Armenia’s club football. Such attempts were made in the past as well, but they were equally unsuccessful. An effort to develop provincial football seems to be the only right solution to the problem, and such a project has already been launched. F.C. Lori, which currently plays in Armenia’s A League, has been set up in Vanadzor city.

Armenian national football championship: Gandzasar-Kapan vs Shirak

A list of the top 10 Armenian athletes was announced at the end of 2017 wherein athletes were selected through a new procedure. Henrikh Mkhitaryan, a football player, came in at 3rd place based on the votes received from sports journalists, but he was ranked 1st by sports fans via sms-voting.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan after scoring yet another goal as part of Armenia national team.

This decision has stirred up debates in sports circles. It’s been said that the Armenian sports ‘envoy to the world’ led the top ten list undeservedly because he didn’t make any particular achievements as part of the national team.

JAMnews reported about that at the end of last year in its article: ‘A list of top ten 2017 Armenian athletes provokes a lively debate’.

In view of the aforesaid, the people responsible for selecting the best athletes will likely have to develop a new approach. Some countries for example have an additional nomination in the year’s top ten athletes rating, specifically designed for those who perform abroad and who have achieved considerable success there.