Author: Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS

Chris Bohjalian and Stephen Kurkjian: Esteemed Writers in Conversation

Emil Lazarian
 Pauline Getzoyan Community News 0

Armenian Museum of America, May 18, 2022

WATERTOWN, Mass.—The Armenian Museum of America held its first in-person event in more than two years on Wednesday, May 18 with a flourish. More than 200 people filled the third-floor galleries to listen to and participate in a conversation between New York Times bestselling author Chris Bohjalian and Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Stephen Kurkjian. They talked about “what words and reading and stories can mean to the soul,” as described by Bohjalian. 

Armenian Museum of America Board of Trustees president Michele Kolligian and Armenian Museum of America executive director Jason Sohigian, May 18, 2022

Before the conversation began between the two powerhouse and renowned writers, the buzz in the room was palpable as people took their seats. Michele Kolligian, president of the museum’s Board of Trustees, welcomed everyone with the memory of Bohjalian conducting his research for The Sandcastle Girls in the museum’s library that still boasts a collection of more than 30,000 books. July 25th will mark 10 years since Bohjalian launched The Sandcastle Girls at the museum, which is currently celebrating its 50th anniversary year.

Jason Sohigian, who was named executive director of the museum in November 2020, has seen membership quadruple in the last year and a half thanks in part to the diversity of online programming which the museum has presented during the pandemic shutdown and a concerted drive to encourage people to join the museum’s mission. Sohigian introduced Bohjalian and Kurkjian, enumerating their significant accomplishments and accolades.

The Lioness, Bohjalian’s 24th novel, has already reached number six on the New York Times bestseller list, has received rave reviews from the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Boston Globe, Publisher’s Weekly, Wall Street Journal and others, and is already in development for a TV series from eOne and Marsh Entertainment. His books have been translated into more than 35 languages, three have been made into movies, and The Flight Attendant is now in its second season on HBO Max. The Boston Globe has called Bohjalian “one of our finest storytellers.” 

Kurkjian, a three-time Pulitzer Prize winner, is one of the most acclaimed investigative reporters in the country with a career that spanned 40 years with The Boston Globe. He was the newspaper’s former Washington bureau chief and a founding member of its investigative Spotlight team. He is the author of the 2015 book Master Thieves: The Boston Gangsters Who Pulled Off the World’s Greatest Art Heist, about the still-unsolved 1990 theft of 13 works of art valued at up to $500 million from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. Kurkjian also appears in the 2021 Netflix documentary “This Is a Robbery: The World’s Biggest Art Heist.”

New York Times bestselling author Chris Bohjalian and Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Stephen Kurkjian, May 18, 2022

Bohjalian opened his conversation with Kurkjian by addressing “the elephant in the room”: his altered voice. He explained that he does not have laryngitis, as many have speculated, but this is his new “post-pandemic voice,” which is a long-haul symptom from his bout with COVID-19 in March of 2020. He reassured the audience that he works with an excellent voice therapist in New York City. Then, before Kurkjian could ask his first question, Bohjalian asked him, as a chronicler of the area for more than 40 years, what makes Boston such a great character, to which Kurkjian responded with appreciation of the immigrant experience in the city, further illustrated by the “gem” of the Armenian Heritage Park on the Greenway.

The conversation progressed from the inspiration for Bohjalian’s characters to his discipline in the writing process, the source of surprise for each writer, locations as characters and changes in writing style.

Bohjalian’s inspiration for his latest novel stemmed from a matinee workshop performance of the play based on his book Midwives, after which he emerged from the dark theater into the sunshine reminding him of how much he enjoys movies. And thus was born the setting of The Lioness: Hollywood’s Golden Age when its biggest star finally gets married and decides to take her friends on a safari. Bohjalian and his wife Victoria Blewer went on a safari to the Serengeti in October 2019, and he said the book was made better by that experience and witnessing the great crossing of the wildebeest. He wrote the novel in 2020 when he had just lost his voice to the virus, noting the importance of his “pod” during that time and the dedication at the beginning of The Lioness: “For my pod, literal and metaphoric, from 2020, the Year That Satan Spawned, and the first half of 2021. When I was hanging on by my fingernails, you gave me your hand. You are my safari.”

Bohjalian explained more changes from the pandemic, including an altered schedule that used to begin at his desk at 6:00 a.m. With the advent of the pandemic and addition of his rescue dog Jesse to the family in February 2020, Bohjalian now gets to his desk shortly after 7:30 a.m. with the goal of writing 1,000 words a day, assuming “that they will not all be good.” He discussed Hemingway’s influence and rules for writing, one of which is to “always begin with rewriting what you wrote the day before.”

In discussing the different styles of writing between novelist and journalist, Bohjalian explained that his characters take him by the hand and lead him in a book’s direction, and Kurkjian said that the synthesis of information in reporting leads to sometimes surprising discoveries.

Bohjalian expressed admiration for the work of journalists and the importance of newspapers and magazines, explaining that the beginning of each chapter in The Lioness includes a quote from The Hollywood Reporter, Movie Star Confidential or the Los Angeles Times, an homage to the influence of the publications and a reminder to readers of what was happening in the world during those times.

The advent of streaming television has changed Bohjalian’s writing over the years. “I believe how we consume information has changed,” he said. Previously, his books were a much slower immersion into the characters and story. Now, he will take readers and drop them right into the action. Ten years ago, The Flight Attendant, for example, might have started off with the main character Cassie learning to be a flight attendant instead of beginning with her waking up next to a dead man.

Throughout the evening, the esteemed writers expressed sincere admiration for each other’s body of work, welcoming questions from the audience. Bohjalian passed out exclusive Lioness chocolate bars from Lake Champlain Chocolates as a special treat for queries, after which eager readers lined up to get their books signed by the author.

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Editor
Pauline Getzoyan is editor of the Armenian Weekly and an active member of the Rhode Island Armenian community. A longtime member of the Providence ARF and ARS, she also is a former member of the ARS Central Executive Board. A longtime advocate for genocide education through her work with the ANC of RI, Pauline is co-chair of the RI branch of The Genocide Education Project. In addition, she has been an adjunct instructor of developmental reading and writing in the English department at the Community College of Rhode Island since 2005.


Amnesty Int’l: Armenia/Azerbaijan: Nagorno-Karabakh conflict caused decades of misery for older people – new reports

Emil Lazarian
May 17 2022

The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh territory has caused decades of misery for older people, Amnesty International said in two new reports published today. 

The conflict – first fought from 1988 to 1994, and then during another escalation in late 2020 – sawolder people unlawfully killed, tortured, and forcibly displaced; abuses which have marked their lives ever since. 

One report, Last to Flee: Older People’s Experience of War Crimes and Displacement in the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict, documents how older ethnic Armenians were disproportionately subjected to violence in the recent conflict, including war crimes such as extrajudicial executions, as well as torture and other ill-treatment while in Azerbaijani detention.

The other report, ‘Life in a Box’: Older People’s Experiences of Displacement and Prospects for Return in Azerbaijan, details the suffering experienced by older Azerbaijanis who were forced from their homes in Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding districts during the first conflict.

The conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh highlights the unique risks that older people face in armed conflicts

Laura Mills, Researcher on Older People with Amnesty International’s Crisis Response team

“The conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh highlights the unique risks that older people face in armed conflicts. Often the last to flee, they also suffer the consequences of war for decades on end,” said Laura Mills, Researcher on Older People with Amnesty International’s Crisis Response team.

“In both Armenia and Azerbaijan, older people have struggled to rebuild their lives in displacement – yet their loss of independence and dignity is treated as inevitable or irrelevant.

“With tensions high – and further conflict still possible – both Armenian and Azerbaijani authorities should make clear and firm commitments to prioritize the protection of older people, and ensure their human rights, including rights to housing and health, are protected.”

When active fighting broke out in Nagorno-Karabakh in September 2020, older people in ethnic Armenian communities were almost invariably last to flee their homes, and were disproportionately impacted by violence as a result.

During the early stages of the conflict, men aged between 18 and 55 were typically mobilized to fight or to serve the war effort as volunteers. By the time Azerbaijani forces advanced on ethnic Armenian villages and towns, the only people remaining were often older people, and particularly older men.

Many older people encountered obstacles while trying to leave. Physical disabilities and health problems made it difficult for some to flee. In other cases, some older people with psychosocial disabilities or dementia found it difficult to comprehend the necessity or urgency of leaving. Others chose not to leave because they had strong attachments to their homes, or were reluctant to abandon land or livestock. 

Older people who fled their homes have languished in displacement in the years since. They reported a lack of access to adequate housing and a loss of livelihoods, which further entrenched feelings of helplessness and isolation. They also suffer due to an extreme lack of mental health or psychosocial support services.

 Destroyed buildings in the town of Aghdam © AFP/Getty Images

On the ethnic Armenian side, more than half of civilian deaths were among older people. Many interviewees told Amnesty International of extrajudicial executions by Azerbaijani forces. They described killings where victims were beheaded or shot at point-blank range, constituting the war crime of wilful killing. Some appeared to have been tortured prior to their deaths, and some corpses were mutilated afterwards. 

Amnesty International was able to verify many of these cases through testimony from witnesses and relatives, as well as by reviewing and verifying death certificates, official forensic examinations undertaken by the Armenian authorities, and videos posted to social media.

Slavik Galstyan, 68, who lived with his family in the village of Mets Tagher and had a psychosocial disability, did not want to leave his home in October 2020. His body was found more than two months later. A death certificate issued by the Armenian authorities concluded that his death was caused by traumatic blood loss from gunshot wounds to his chest, stomach, and other internal organs. 

His son, Ashot, identified the corpse at the morgue and said his father’s body appeared to have been mutilated. Ashot told Amnesty International: “His head was crushed. It was as if all the bones in his body had been broken. He was like a [slab of] meat.”

Sedrak Petrosyan, 90, was brutally kicked and beaten while in captivity, and his 56-year-old son went missing after being taken into Azerbaijani custody. He said: “I want to die. I wanted to die in prison but somehow I survived.”

Other interviewees reported beatings and other forms of physical violence – and in one case, a mock execution – and other ill-treatment. Older men appear to have been targeted because Azerbaijani soldiers believed they had participated in Armenia’s war effort during the 1990s.

While displacement can be devastating to all people, it poses particular challenges for older people

Laura Mills

“The Azerbaijani government must ensure that any members of its armed forces responsible for the war crimes committed – including willful killings, torture or inhuman treatment, or enforced disappearances – are prosecuted in fair trials,” said Laura Mills.

“While displacement can be devastating to all people, it poses particular challenges for older people. The Armenian government and de facto authorities in Nagorno-Karabakh must do more to ensure that older people are able to rebuild their lives on an equal basis with others. They must also reform their approach to humanitarian response, to ensure that older people are provided with much-needed support.” 

An older woman in Baku, Azerbaijan © Ahmed Muxtar / Amnesty International

During the initial conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh from 1988 to 1994, more than half-a-million ethnic Azeri civilians from the region and seven surrounding districts were forcibly displaced. Many civilians, including older Azeri civilians, were unlawfully killed and subjected to other violence. Those who were displaced have lived in other parts of Azerbaijan ever since.

For decades, many lived in overcrowded tent camps, dormitories and schools, or abandoned railway cars, sheds, or buildings. They shared toilets and showers with dozens of people, and sometimes lived without electricity, heat, or running water. They struggled to meet their basic needs, or pay for food and medication.

In 2020, Azerbaijan reclaimed much of the territory lost in the initial conflict, and there are plans to resettle potentially hundreds of thousands of displaced persons. However, there are significant barriers to doing so: Armenian forces laid anti-personnel landmines on a massive scale, and also committed and oversaw the widespread destruction and seizure of property.

Many older people raised concerns about returning permanently to their home regions. Mehriban M*, 72, told Amnesty International: “I have huge security concerns when it comes to living close to Armenians. There is lots of trauma between our two nations. I know lots of people who were killed.”

Despite significant progress in recent years, it is estimated that as many as 100,000 displaced people still live in difficult conditions in informal housing in Azerbaijan. These residences are overcrowded and often difficult to physically access, meaning that older people are forced to rely on assistance from relatives or others simply to leave their homes. 

Manzar A*, an 81-year-old displaced woman living in a dormitory, told Amnesty International: “This is like a prison, there is no air… I can’t go downstairs to buy food. I cannot go out. If I really need to, people have to help me.”

All displaced persons have the right to return to their original homes in conditions of dignity and security

Laura Mills

Amnesty International also spoke to older people who said that they had virtually no employment opportunities, or felt excluded from resettlement conversations.

Famil M*, 71, said: “Right now I’m just waiting around… Seventy is nothing, I don’t feel old and I’m perfectly fit. But every company tells me I’m too old.”

Malik C*, 67, said: “I feel that my opinion is not heard because I don’t participate anywhere now. As a pensioner I spend most of my days in the garden. Nobody knows [my home village] better than me, but strategy is formed by people from Baku.”

Amnesty International is calling on the Azerbaijani government to ensure any process of return fully respects the rights and needs of a diverse range of older people, including older women, older people with disabilities, and that all older people are meaningfully included in decisions related to returns and provided information transparently and accessibly, so that they can make informed, voluntary decisions.

“All displaced persons have the right to return to their original homes in conditions of dignity and security, and the unique risks to older people must be taken into consideration. The Azerbaijani authorities must ensure they have access to appropriate housing and can earn a living on an equal basis with others,” said Laura Mills.

“The Armenian forces’ destruction of civilian objects and seizure of civilian property, as well as their widespread use of landmines, violate international humanitarian law. Not only do these violations continue to undermine the right to return of displaced people, they pose a serious obstacle for Azerbaijan’s efforts to resettle displaced populations in conflict-affected regions.”

For the report, Last to Flee: Older People’s Experience of War Crimes and Displacement in the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict, Amnesty International interviewed 69 people, including 42 older people (22 older women and 20 older men, aged between 60 and 90 years old). The organization sought a diverse group of interviewees to represent a wide age range, a mix of genders, and numerous disabilities.

For the report, ‘Life in a Box’: Older People’s Experiences of Displacement and Prospects for Return in Azerbaijan, Amnesty International interviewed 40 displaced older people, including 23 older men and 17 older women aged between 58 and 88.

Under international law, there is no specific definition of older age. While chronological age is often used as a benchmark, this does not always reflect whether a person is exposed to risks commonly associated with older age. Amnesty International prefers a context-specific approach to older age, as supported by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. 

Amnesty International does not take a position on the dispute over the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh,but emphasises that return to original homes in conditions of dignity and security is the right of all displaced people.

Armenian serviceman wounded in landmine explosion

Emil Lazarian
Public Radio of Armenia
May 17 2022
May 17, 2022, 20:52

 Less than a minute

Armen Babayan, a contract serviceman of one of the military units located in the north-eastern direction of the republic, was wounded in a mine explosion on May 17 at around 4:15 pm, the Ministry of Defense informed.

His life is not in danger, the Ministry said.

An investigation into the the circumstances of the incident is under way.

Moscow Analysts See Armenia Becoming ‘Another Ukraine’ – OpEd by Paul Goble

Emil Lazarian
May 17 2022”
 May 17, 2022  

By Paul Goble

Two Moscow commentators who often reflect Kremlin views say that the situation in Armenia is deteriorating to the point that that country in the Southern Caucasus is following the Ukrainian example and thus promises to generate the kind of instability the West will exploit against Russia.

Roman Lugovoy of Versiya says that Armenian Prime Minsiter Nikol Pashinyan came to power via a color revolution and now may lose it in another; but even if Yereven “doesn’t repeat the fate of Kyiv,” Armenia is likely to remain unstable and that instability threatens Russian interests in the region (versia.ru/v-armenii-zreet-novaya-revolyuciya).

And Igor Moiseyev of Svobodnaya Pressa suggests that what is going on shows that “Yerevan has already chosen ‘the Ukrainian path,” a trend that could end with the disappearance of that country. He says that Azerbaijan and Turkey, acting for the West with its interests in weakening Russia, are likely to be the chief culprits in such an outcome.

But the fact that Moscow analysts are drawing analogies between Armenia and Ukraine is worrisome given what Putin has said about the disappearance of Ukraine from the map of the world and what his forces are doing there. Such remarks suggest that some in the Kremlin may now be considering Armenia as the next target for Russian aggression.

Moscow has the forces in place to mount such an attack and may be thinking that it not only could easily overpower the Armenian authorities thus giving it a victory but would enjoy in Yerevan at least some support, especially if the Russian side portrayed what it was doing as a defense of Armenia against Turkic plans.

Paul Goble is a longtime specialist on ethnic and religious questions in Eurasia. Most recently, he was director of research and publications at the Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy. Earlier, he served as vice dean for the social sciences and humanities at Audentes University in Tallinn and a senior research associate at the EuroCollege of the University of Tartu in Estonia. He has served in various capacities in the U.S. State Department, the Central Intelligence Agency and the International Broadcasting Bureau as well as at the Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Mr. Goble maintains the Window on Eurasia blog and can be contacted directly at [email protected] .

Gegham Manukyan: Armenian police ‘kidnapped’ MP Tadevos Avetisyan

Emil Lazarian
Panorama
Armenia – May 17 2022

Armenia’s riot police detained MP Tadevos Avetisyan from the opposition Hayastan bloc at anti-government protests in Yerevan on Tuesday, Gegham Manukyan, a leader of the opposition ARF party and Hayastan MP, said in a live video on Facebook.

“Officers of the special police units kidnapped Tadevos Avtisyan despite the warning that they were not entitled to do so,” Manukyan said.

“They pushed him into a police van and took him away without providing any explanations,” he added.

Opposition protesters blocked dozens of streets in Yerevan on Tuesday morning as part of the ongoing campaign of civil disobedience to force PM Nikol Pashinyan from office, paralyzing traffic across the city. The police used force to detain hundreds of demonstrators.

North Korea reports over 269,500 newly-registered coronavirus cases over past day

Emil Lazarian

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 09:58, 17 May, 2022

YEREVAN, MAY 17, ARMENPRESS. The Emergencies Ministry of North Korea stated that over 269,500 coronavirus cases were registered in the country over the past 24 hours, TASS reports citing the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

“According to the information of the state emergency epidemic prevention headquarters, over 269,510 persons with fever, some 170,460 recoveries and 6 deaths were reported from 18:00 of May 15 to 18:00 [local time] of May 16 throughout the country”, the agency reported.

According to KCNA: “As of 18:00 of May 16 since late April, the total number of persons with fever is over 1.483,060, of which more than 819,090 have recovered and at least 663,910 are under medical treatment. The death toll stands at 56”.

Last Thursday, KCNA reported that North Korea had detected its first case of the BA.2 Omicron variant, also known as stealth Omicron.

Armenian, Iranian ministers discuss new contract by program gas for electricity

Emil Lazarian

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 11:53, 17 May, 2022

YEREVAN, MAY 17, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of Armenia Gnel Sanosyan met with Iranian Minister of Petrolium Javad Owji during the working visit in Iran, the Armenian ministry of territorial administration said in a news release.

The new contract under the program gas for electricity was discussed during the meeting.

Minister Sanosyan presented proposals over the re-signing of the contract. When the responses of the Iranian side over the proposals made are ready, the contract will be signed.

Gnel Sanosyan also said that road construction works are actively taking place in Armenia now, however, the changes in the price of asphalt (bitumen) created some difficulties. He said that it would be desirable if the bitumen is delivered to Armenia at a cheaper price.

Other issues of mutual interest were also discussed during the meeting.

The sides assessed the meeting as positive and constructive.

286 anti-government demonstrators detained by Yerevan police for "failure to obey lawful order"

Emil Lazarian

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 12:10, 17 May, 2022

YEREVAN, MAY 17, ARMENPRESS. 286 demonstrators were detained by Yerevan police during the latest civil disobedience actions demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

Police said the demonstrators were detained for “failure to obey a lawful police order.”

The opposition demonstrators were blocking streets in Yerevan in the morning of May 17.

ARF member Ishkhan Saghatelyan, the Vice Speaker of Parliament from the parliamentary opposition and one of the leaders of the demonstrations, said in a live broadcast social media address that they are suspending their demonstrations from 11:30 and will hold another rally at Yerevan’s France Square at 19:00 tonight.

ANIF held annual meeting of Board of Directors

Emil Lazarian

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 12:14, 17 May, 2022

YEREVAN, MAY 17, ARMENPRESS. The annual meeting of the Board of Directors of the Armenian National Interests Fund (ANIF) took place on May 16.

ANIF management presented the new investment projects of ANIF launched in the reporting period, and discussed the implementation of existing programs. The details of several new projects in the preparatory stage, which will be announced in the near future, were presented to the Board of Directors.

ANIF Board of Directors consists of independent members with high international standing in various fields, whose presence ensures a comprehensive, impartial evaluation of ANIF’s activities, transparency of projects, and objective evaluation of their efficiency.

In the coming days, ANIF will present to the public the comprehensive report of the organization and will summarize the results of the activity 2019-2021.

RFE/RL Armenian Report – 05/17/2022

Emil Lazarian 
                                        Tuesday, May 17, 2022
Armenian Speaker Reticent About Karabakh’s Status
May 17, 2022
        • Astghik Bedevian
Armenia - Speaker Alen Simonian chairs a session of the National Assembly, 
Yerevan, September 13, 2021.
Parliament speaker Alen Simonian on Tuesday pointedly declined to say whether 
Armenia will champion Nagorno-Karabakh’s right to self-determination in 
negotiations on a peace treaty with Azerbaijan.
Responding to Azerbaijani proposals to negotiate such a treaty, the Armenian 
government has said that the question of Karabakh’s status must also be on the 
agenda of the talks. But it has not publicly clarified its position on the 
status or a mechanism for determining it.
Simonian, who is a key political ally of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian, was 
similarly reticent about the issue when he spoke to RFE/RL’s Armenian Service.
Asked whether Pashinian’s administration could recognize Karabakh as a part of 
Azerbaijan, he said: “As head of the legislative branch, I cannot be involved in 
the negotiating process or somehow predetermine it. The foreign minister, the 
head of the government will answer this question.”
Simonian also would not be drawn on the reason for Yerevan’s failure to mention 
the Karabakh Armenians’ right to self-determination it its written proposals on 
the peace talks communicated to Baku.
“The Armenian proposal is a proposal regarding the status, but that proposal 
regarding the status is a subject of discussions,” he said vaguely.
Speaking in the Armenian parliament on April 13, Pashinian said that the 
international community is pressing Armenia to “lower a bit the bar on the 
question of Nagorno-Karabakh’s status” and recognize Azerbaijan’s territorial 
integrity. He signaled Yerevan’s intention to make such concessions to Baku, 
drawing strong criticism from his political opponents and Karabakh’s leadership.
The authorities in Stepanakert made clear that the Karabakh Armenians will never 
agree to live under Azerbaijani rule. Armenian opposition leaders charged, for 
their part, that Pashinian has agreed to Azerbaijani control over the disputed 
territory.
ARMENIA - Police officers detain opposition supporters who attempted to block 
streets in the capital Yerevan on May 17, 2022.
The opposition went on to launch daily street protests in Yerevan aimed at 
forcing Pashinian to step down.
“You must quit in order for Artsakh (Karabakh) to remain Armenian,” Ishkhan 
Saghatelian, one of the protest leaders, appealed to the prime minister as 
thousands of opposition supporters again marched through Yerevan on Tuesday.
Pashinian and his political allies have rejected the opposition demands.
Simonian said the ruling political team won a popular mandate to govern Armenia 
for the next five years in parliamentary elections held last June. He also 
rejected the opposition criticism of the government’s Karabakh policy.
“What does the opposition propose? Nothing,” said the speaker.
Yerevan Sees Rebound In Russian-Armenian Trade
May 17, 2022
Russia - Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Armenian Prime Minister 
Nikol Pashinian, Moscow, May 16, 2022.
Armenia’s vital trade with Russia is showing signs of recovery after shrinking 
in the immediate aftermath of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Prime Minister 
Nikol Pashinian indicated late on Monday.
“Regarding the economy, I also want to note that after a certain decline in 
March, there is an intensification of bilateral economic relations looming,” 
Pashinian told Russian President Vladimir Putin at a meeting held following a 
Collective Security Treaty Organization summit in Moscow.
In his opening remarks at the meeting, Pashinian thanked Putin for “prodding 
Russian businesspeople to invest in Armenia.” He welcomed the “investment 
interest” shown by them but did not specify potential projects that could be 
launched soon.
Nor did he cite any projections regarding this year’s volume of Russian-Armenian 
trade. It rose by almost 21 percent, to $2.6 billion, in 2021. Russia thus 
solidified its status as Armenia’s number one trading partner.
Bilateral trade reportedly shrunk in March following the start of the war in 
Ukraine and the resulting Western sanctions imposed on Russia. Visiting Moscow 
last month, Armenian Economy Minister Kerobian said the two governments should 
work together to “urgently eliminate the causes of the decline and restore 
growth.”
Russia - Russian Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov (second from right) 
meets with Armenian Economy Minister Vahan Kerobian, Moscow, April 13, 2022.
Pashinian discussed the matter with Putin as well as Russian Prime Minister 
Mikhail Mishustin when he paid an official visit to Russia later in April. He 
spoke of “common challenges” facing Armenia and Russia.
Because of its close economic links with Russia, Armenia is expected to be 
significantly affected by the Western sanctions. The World Bank and the 
International Monetary Fund have said that economic growth in the South Caucasus 
country will slow down considerably this year.
The Central Bank of Armenia (CBA) likewise forecast modest growth in early 
March. It argued, in particular, that a sharp depreciation of the Russian ruble 
will have a negative impact on Armenian exports to Russia and remittances from 
Armenian migrant workers.
The ruble has rallied dramatically since then and is now stronger against the 
U.S. dollar and the euro than it was before the Russian invasion.
Hundreds Arrested As Armenian Opposition Keeps Up Protests
May 17, 2022
        • Artak Khulian
Armenia - Riot police detain an opposition protester in Yerevan, May 17, 2022.
The Armenian police made more than 400 arrests on Tuesday as opposition 
supporters again blocked roads across Yerevan in continuing protests aimed at 
forcing Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian to resign.
Groups of protesters began the blockages at 8 a.m. local time in an attempt to 
disrupt traffic and step up pressure on Pashinian’s government. Opposition 
leaders claimed to have blocked more than 50 streets in various parts of the 
capital.
Riot police stepped in to unblock the streets, clashing with protesters and 
detaining many of them. The police reported a total of 414 arrests in the 
afternoon, a daily record high since the start of the Armenian opposition’s 
“civil disobedience” campaign on May 1.
The protesters included members of Armenia’s parliament affiliated with its two 
opposition groups leading the campaign. Security forces tried to detain one of 
them, Tadevos Avetisian, but let him go after finding out that he is a 
parliament deputy.
Armenia - Opposition supporters block a street in Yerevan, May 17, 2022.
“This is not policing. This is hooliganism,” charged Lilit Galstian, another 
opposition lawmaker taking part in the protests.
Some citizens also condemned the police actions as they watched the dramatic 
scenes in the city center. They argued that the protests are peaceful.
“Nothing [wrong] was happening,” one woman told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service. “But 
they just rounded up [protesters] and took them away.”
The authorities insisted that the police restored public order and did not use 
disproportionate forces.
Mobile phone videos posted on social media showed dozens of defiant opposition 
supporters chanting anti-Pashinian slogans inside a police bus and a police 
station in Yerevan. They and all other detainees were expected to be released a 
few hours later.
Armenia - Riot police detain an opposition protester in Yerevan, May 17, 2022.
Ishkhan Saghatelian, an opposition leader, urged supporters to leave the streets 
at 11:30 a.m. and gather in the city’s France Square, the site of an opposition 
tent camp, in the evening.
“We have fully accomplished the task set by us,” Saghatelian said in a video 
message broadcast on Facebook. “We have demonstrated that the people are in 
control of the situation.”
Saghatelian said earlier that the opposition objective is to create “diarchy” 
that would make Pashinian’s resignation inevitable.
The prime minister and his political allies have rejected the opposition demands 
for his resignation fuelled by his recent statements on the Nagorno-Karabakh 
conflict.
Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
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