Former Armenian President Arrested
• Sisak Gabrielian
Armenia -- Former President Robert Kocharian gives an interview to Yerkir Media
TV channel, Yerevan, 26Jul2018.
Armenia’s former President Robert Kocharian was arrested late on Friday after
being charged in connection with the deadly breakup of opposition protests
staged following a disputed presidential election in 2008.
A district court in Yerevan allowed the Special Investigative Service (SIS) to
keep Kocharian under arrest pending investigation into the crackdown which left
ten people dead.
The court’s decision was communicated to the press by his lawyers shortly after
midnight. One of them, Ruben Sahakian, said they will appeal against it. He and
the other attorney, Aram Orbelian, declined to comment further, saying that
they will hold a news conference on Saturday.
Kocharian was remanded in pre-trial custody after a lengthy court hearing
attended by him. According to Sahakian, the ex-president made no statements in
the courtroom and reacted to the court ruling “very calmly.”
The SIS on Thursday charged Kocharian with “overthrowing constitutional order”
in the wake of the February 2008 election official results of which gave
victory to his preferred successor, Serzh Sarkisian. The main opposition
presidential candidate, Levon Ter-Petrosian, rejected those results as
fraudulent and held nonstop demonstrations in the Armenian capital, demanding a
rerun of the ballot.
Armenia - Supporters of opposition candidate Levon Ter-Petrosian rally inside a
barricaded area in Yerevan in the wake of a disputed presidential election, 1
March 2008.
Security forces broke up those protests on March 1-2, 2008. Eight protesters
and two police servicemen died as a result.
Kocharian angrily rejected the accusations as politically motivated and
“fabricated” in televised remarks aired later on Thursday.He defended the
legality of his decision to declare a state of emergency and order Armenian
army units into central Yerevan late on March 1, 2008. He also said that the
coup charges ran counter to the decisions of Armenia’s Central Election
Commission and the Constitutional Court that validated the official election
outcome.
The SIS’s decision to prosecute Kocharian was condemned by Sarkisian’s
Republican Party but welcomed by Ter-Petrosian’s associates. Relatives of some
of the protesters killed in the unrest also welcomed it.
The SIS levelled the same accusations against Yuri Khachaturov, a retired army
general who was Armenia’s deputy defense minister during the dramatic
post-election developments. But unlike Kocharian, Khachaturov was granted bail
by the district court. His lawyer told reporters after midnight that the
ex-general, who serves as secretary general of the Collective Security Treaty
Organization (CSTO), will pay 5 million drams ($10,400) to avoid arrest for now.
Armenia - Opposition leader Nikol Pashinian addresses protesters that
barricaded themselves in central Yerevan, 1 March 2008.
Shortly after he swept to power in May, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian named a
new head of the SIS and told the law-enforcement agency to finally complete its
protracted investigation into what was the worst street violence in Armenia’s
history.
Pashinian played a key role in Ter-Petrosian’s 2007-2008 opposition movement.
In particular, he was the main speaker at a rally held in downtown Yerevan late
on March 1, 2008 as security forces clashed with some protesters several
hundred meters away. He subsequently spent about two years in prison for
organizing “mass disturbances,” a charge he denied as politically motivated.
Kocharian has repeatedly defended the post-election crackdown, saying that it
prevented a violent of seizure of power by the Ter-Petrosian-led opposition.
Earlier this year, he blamed Pashinian for the bloodshed.
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
Author: Emil Karabekian
168: Azerbaijani military opens cross-border gunfire at Armenian village, again
Category
Region
Azerbaijan’s cross-border gunfire at the Barekamavan border village in the Armenian province of Tavush hasn’t caused serious damages, defense ministry spokesman Artsrun Hovhannisyan told ARMENPRESS, adding that the situation is currently calm.
“Shots were fired in the direction of Barekamavan on July 22 during 22:00 – 23:00. Shots were fired from small arms. There is nothing serious. The situation is calm,” Hovhannisyan said.
You Can Shake the Town, but Not the Spirit
The author, Karine Hairapetian, with an AYF Youth Corps camper in Gyumri
BY KARINE HAIRAPETIAN
After a three-day teaser of Yerevan, I was not ready to part with the big city and move to the more rural city of Gyumri. In addition to leaving behind the vivacious street life, I was dreading the idea of sharing one bathroom with 16 other people. The question that I found myself asking was, why do the people of Gyumri choose to stay in their city and not in the city of Yerevan?
As I drove to Gyumri, my worries of living in a “boring” city quickly faded away. I didn’t know it was possible to feel such an overwhelming sense of Armenian-ness. Looking out of the crammed bus’ windows and seeing the green rolling hills and foliage, I was able to answer my previously overstated question.
Yes, Yerevan’s night life and restaurants may be superior, but my sense of Armenian-ness was diluted in an urban, globalized city. The term “hyrenaser” is epitomized by the people of Gyumri. After the earthquake of 1988, this town could have been abandoned, leaving behind only ruins. However, that’s not the case. Gyumri is continuously rebuilding itself from ground up, both literally and figuratively. Although they still have a long way to go, the people are continuously proving their loyalty and dedication to their beloved city.
Prior to traveling to Gyumri, I believed I had met all types of “hyrenaser” individuals but I was pleasantly proven wrong. The citizens of Gyumri: the adults and children, the working professionals and stay-at-home mothers, the schoolchildren and the grandparents, they’ve each taught me that “hayrenasiutyun” is something they live, breath, and work toward every day. I am extremely grateful to be able to share this feeling with them.
This instance is just one of the many impacts the AYF Youth Corps Program will have on my life, and I now anxiously wait to experience more life altering moments in the next few weeks.
A1+: Armenian Embassy in reports
With regard to the touristic period, the Georgian authorities temporarily do not require a authorization from drivers who cross the border with cars that are not registered on their names. The Armenian Embassy in Georgia has issued this statement.
“Dear citizens of the Republic of Armenia, in connection with the tourist period, the Georgian authorities decided to meet half way and, before the end of the above-mentioned period, not to demand a power of attorney at the border of drivers crossing the road on cars not registered on their names,” the RA Embassy in Georgia reports.
Let’s add that earlier the embassy spread the message that drivers crossing the Georgian border on a vehicle not registered on their names should submit a power of attorney.
There is no tangible change in EU’s policy towards Armenia – Prime Minister Pashinyan
Category
World
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan talked about the assessment of foreign partners on the recent domestic political changes in Armenia.
Summing up the results of his Belgium visit at a briefing with reporters at the Brussels airport, the PM said in general the international partners follow and are aware of what had happened in Armenia.
“During my all meetings I have stated that democracy is not a foreign political orientation for us, it’s a value system, and I hope that the EU perceives the situation as such. As democracy is a belief and a value system for us, I have no doubt that we will move forward the democratic reforms and will succeed”, PM Pashinyan said.
He stated that Armenia can more quickly implement these reforms by the support of international partners, but it will not be in the status of applier.
“Actually, we know what we need to do, and our partners should clarify their actions. After our revolution we have heard numerous welcoming statements from the EU, but there is no tangible change in the policy. The EU’s policy is the same, as it was 4 months ago, and we think that they either need to reduce the tone of their statements or significantly change their policy”, the Armenian PM said.
Film: 15th Golden Apricot Yerevan Intl. Filmfest. kicks off
Mehr News Agency, Iran
TEHRAN, Jul. 10 (MNA) – The 15th Golden Apricot International Film Festival kicked off on Sun., with two Iranian films to e screened, in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia.
The 15th Golden Apricot Yerevan International Film Festival kicked off on July 8, with Armenian President Armen Sarkissian delivering speech at the opening; the event will wrap up on July 15. Founded in 2004, the film festival is named after an indispensable part of Armenian culture: the apricot, called “prunus armeniaca” in Latin, meaning “the Armenian plum.”
At the festival, films are presented in two international competition sections: features and documentaries. One Grand Prize Golden Apricot and one Special Mention (Silver Apricot) are awarded in each category.
Two-time Oscar-winning director Asghar Farhadi chairs the Jury. The members include chairwoman of European Cinema Market Beki Probst (Germany), Russian director Boris Khlebnikov (Russia), French Armenian director Valerie Massadian (France), and renowned cinematographer Larry Smith (United Kingdom).
Farhadi initially won the Golden Apricot award for Best Picture ‘A Separation’ in 2011. His latest project, ‘Everybody knows’, will be screened in the festival in the out-of-competition category. ’20th Circuit Suspects’ by Hesam Eslami is the second Iranian film to be screened in the documentary category competing with ten other movies.
LR/IRN82965909
Azerbaijani Press: Armenian Diaspora organizations to be dealt serious blow
AzerNews, Azerbaijan
July 6 2018
5 July 2018 17:57 (UTC+04:00)
By Rashid Shirinov
If the Armenian Diaspora organizations do not abandon their dirty intentions, they will be dealt a serious blow, Fuad Muradov, Chairman of Azerbaijan State Committee for Work with Diaspora, told journalists on July 5.
“The Azerbaijani Diaspora is already in the process of consolidation in all directions. The Armenian Diaspora must be prepared to see how their dirty activities will be suppressed during these years. We know about their provocations,” he said.
Muradov added that the State Committee will be next to its Diaspora organizations in their activities to achieve the national goals.
“The Armenian lobby and the groups supporting it should know that they will be dealt a serious blow in the near future. This concerns the issue of territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, which is one of the most important issues,” he said.
The state committee chairman urged all Azerbaijanis to unite.
“Addressing the Azerbaijanis, I declare that we are with them in all their actions in the name of Azerbaijan to preserve the independence of the country. I warn the Armenian Diaspora once again to give up their dirty deeds,” Muradov stressed.
It is noteworthy that the Armenian Diaspora and lobbies often try to use the international arena to distort the essence of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as well as to present this region of Azerbaijan as allegedly Armenian. However, Azerbaijan effectively responses to such provocative attempts and timely prevents them.
Former President Serzh Sargsyan’s nephew suspected in murder attempt
Category
Society
The Investigative Committee of Armenia resumed the preliminary investigation of the criminal case initiated on the case of Yerevan resident Davit Simonyan’s receiving gunshot wound in April 2007.
Hayk Sargsyan is suspected in Davit Simonyan’s murder attempt.
On July 4 the National Security Service agents searched the apartment of Alexander Sargsyan, brother of third President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan. After the search Alexander Sargsyan and his son Hayk Sargsyan have been detained.
On April 1, 2007, the Police were notified that Yerevan resident Davit Simonyan, born in 1984, has been hospitalized with a gunshot wound.
On the same day, A. Ghevndyan presented a gun to the Police and told that he fired shots as a result of carelessness, injuring his friend D. Simonyan.
Criminal case has been launched into the incident. But on May 28, 2007, a decision was made not to launch criminal proceedings against A. Ghevondyan on the grounds of absence of complaint.
However, on July 3, 2018, the Prosecutor General’s Office made a decision to eliminate the aforementioned decision. As a result of investigative operations, it was revealed that Davit Simonyan received a gunshot wound not by A. Ghevondyan, but by Hayk Sargsyan.
Investigation continues.
Being guided by Constitution is the privilege of free men, Armenia’s President says
Public Radio of Armenia
July 5 2018
15:05, 05 Jul 2018
The Constitution is the fundamental document that reinforces the rule of law, justice and people’s power in the country as a guarantee of independence and further development, Armenian President Armen Sarkissian said in a congratulatory address on Constitution Day.
“The recent state-building steps are also based on the logic of that major law,” the President said.
“On this anniversary of the Constitution we can speak not only about the unequivocal fact of existence of sovereign and developing Armenia, which has taken the path of democratic development, but also about its growing international standing,” President Sarkissian added.
The President added that the “will of the Constitution and the people is inter-connected. Today, people are the creator of their life and development agenda.”
“Together we must continue to build a politically and economically harmonious Armenia developing on the basis of reciprocal respect between the citizens and the authorities,” he added.
“Being guided by the Constitution and laws is not just a necessity and a duty, but also a privilege of free people aware of the value of their and others’ rights,” the President stated.
Verelq: Manvel Grigoryan’s wife, Nazik Amiryan, was arrested. SIS
- 28.06.2018
- Armenia:
- arm
- rus
130
On 27.06.2018, Nazik Amiryan, who presented himself to the preliminary investigation body, was arrested on 27.06.2018 by the senior investigator of the Special Investigation Service of the Republic of Armenia under the head of the Special Investigation Service of the Republic of Armenia within the framework of the criminal case being investigated by the Special Investigation Service of the Republic of Armenia under Article 235, Parts 1, 2, and Article 179, Part 3, Clause 1 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia.
The SIS informs that Amiryan is suspected of committing the criminal act provided for by Article 235, Part 2 of the RA Criminal Code, that he and Grigoryan illegally obtained from an unknown source the 28th and 30th Lchaapnya of Arshaluys village, Armavir marz, Lchaapnya 28th and 30th administrative district of Arshaluys village, Armavir marz, which serves as a recreation area at 46 Alaverdyan street, Vagharshapat city and at their registration and actual residence address. illegal storage of large quantities of weapons and ammunition in buildings and adjacent areas.
The investigation is ongoing.
Let’s remind that a few days ago, RA Prosecutor General Artur Davtyan, while presenting a petition at the extraordinary session of the National Assembly, stated that the obtained evidence provides a basis for indicting Manvel Grigoryan for illegally acquiring military equipment and storing it in private houses owned by his wife Nazik Amiryan, daughter Aitsemnik Grigoryan, residents of Etchmiadzin Seyran Azaryan, Armen Hakobyan and others.
As well as for stealing someone else’s property of particularly large amounts entrusted to his trust by means of embezzlement with a prior agreement with a group of persons. There are already two defendants in this case: Manvel Grigoryan and his friend Armen Hakobyan.