Author: Emil Lazarian

ALLEGED MEDICARE FRAUD RING BUSTED IN LA AREA

San Francisco Chronicle, CA
April 25 2006

Five members of a Russian-Armenian organized crime ring have been
indicted for allegedly bilking Medicare of more than $20 million,
authorities said.

The group operated medical clinics and laboratories in Los Angeles,
Glendale and Pasadena that paid marketers for patient referrals and
billed Medicare for tests that were unnecessary or were not done,
Assistant U.S. Attorney Bruce Searby wrote in court papers. The
alleged fraud took place between 1997 and 2005.

The defendants, who were indicted Thursday, have been charged with
conspiracy, health care fraud, Medicare kickbacks, making false
statements to Medicare and money laundering.

The group allegedly was led by Konstantin Grigoryan, 56, of Altadena,
a former colonel in the Soviet army; his wife, Mayya Leonidovna
Grigoryan, 54; the Grigoryans’ son-in-law, Eduard Gershelis, 34, of
Los Angeles; Mayya Grigoryan’s brother-in-law, Aleksandr Treynker,
48, of Canoga Park; and Haroutyun Gulderyan, 36, of Tujunga.

The Grigoryans and Gershelis have been in federal custody since their
March 21 arrests. Gulderyan and Treynker have been released on bond.

The five are scheduled to appear in court June 13.

Gershelis’ attorney, Jerome Mooney, described the episode as “a very
unfortunate circumstance.” Attorneys for the other defendants did
not return phone calls from the Los Angeles Daily News seeking comment.

Last December, three operators of an Orange County clinic pleaded
guilty to charges they bilked insurers out of nearly $15 million by
operating on healthy people, authorities said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN AND NKR MPS MET IN STEPANAKERT

PanARMENIAN.Net
27.04.2006 22:35 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The session of the NKR-Armenia Interparliamentary
Cooperation Commission in Stepanakert was held in a business
atmosphere, Armenian NA Vice-Speaker, Commission Co-Chair Tigran
Torosyan stated at a news conference in Stepanakert today. In his
words, matters of enhancing economic integration of Armenia and NK,
effective interparliamentary cooperation, as well as settlement of the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict, working out the NKR Constitution, making
it comply with the European standards were discussed at the meeting.

Commenting on discussion of the NK issue in European structures, the
Armenian NA Vice-Speaker remarked the PACE members always underscore
that within the process of settlement the principle of people’s right
to self-determination should be taken into consideration without
fail. In his words, the CE sees its task not in finding a solution,
but forming a favorable atmosphere for conflict settlement. The
PACE Interim Commission on NK is scheduled to visit NKR in October,
Torosyan also reported.

Answering journalists’ questions, the Armenian Parliament Vice-Speaker
said that including NKR NA representatives in Armenian parliamentary
delegations to European structures is impossible. At the same time
he emphasized, “we will try to find ways to attain better efficiency
for our joint activities.”

Touching upon the stand of official Baku, which insists on settlement
of the conflict based on the principle of territorial integrity of
states exclusively, T. Torosyan emphasized that the NKR and the
Karabakh issue have nothing to do with territorial integrity of
Azerbaijan. “I think I. Aliyev will keep speaking about territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan even after international recognition of NKR
independence,” the Armenian NA Vice-Speaker said. In his opinion,
it is necessary to respect both principles, however in case of NK,
which determined itself in compliance with the international law,
exactly that principle prevails, reports Mediamax.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CALIFORNIA PARLIAMENT COMMEMORATES ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS ON APRIL 27

PanARMENIAN.Net
27.04.2006 22:41 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ April 27 the California Parliament marks the Day
of Commemoration of Victims of the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman
Turkey. Members of the California Council and Senate, Armenia’s
Consul General in Los Angeles Gagik Kirakosyan, members of national
communities of the State take part in the event. California Governor
Arnold Schwarzenegger has sent a message on the 91st anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide, which declares April 23-29 Week of Commemoration of
Armenian Genocide Victims in California, reports the Press Service of
the Armenian MFA. We note that on April 24 2005 the California Council
and Senate adopted a resolution on commemoration and recognition of
the Armenian Genocide.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIANS WERE FIRST TEACHERS OF JUDY BADY AMERICAN JAZZ SINGER

PanARMENIAN.Net
28.04.2006 00:10 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “My teacher was a famous Armenian pianist, composer
and arranger Armen Donelian. My first music teacher also was Armenian,
Gergoy Toroyan,” American jazz singer Judy Bady stated at a news
conference in Yerevan today. In her words, national melodies form the
basis for jazz and Armenian music is strongly present in Armenian jazz.

“I started singing in a church, I sang gospels, then studied in
New York, which is considered a jazz center. I will perform my own
compositions and classical jazz in Yerevan,” she remarked. As of the
acquaintance with composition of Armenian jazzmen, Bady said she has
listened records of Chiko & Friends of Armen Tutunjyan and looks
forward to a joint concert. Jazz Parade will be held at the Opera
Theater on April 29.

Misha Piatigorsky and Hans Glavishnik, who had performed with famous
Armenian jazz singer Tatevik Hovhannisyan in their time, also play
with Bady.

Judy Bady Quartet is in Yerevan owing to a recurrentJazz Appreciation
Month, held by the US Embassy in Yerevan.

ARMENIAN YOUTH PARTY TO SEND DELEGATION TO MOSCOW TO PROTEST RACIAL KILLINGS

Armenpress
Apr 27 2006

YEREVAN, APRIL 27, ARMENPRESS: The last weakened killing of an
Armenian student in Moscow and an attack on an Armenian film critic
have re-ignited anti-Russian sentiments in Armenia with many of
its ordinary citizens questioning the wisdom of Yerevan’s allied
relationships with Moscow.

The Youth Party of Sarkis Asatrian was the first among political
forces to react publicly to what he termed was ‘the sinister wave
of hate murders across Russia.” Speaking to a news conference today
he urged all Armenians irrespective of their political affiliation,
to show determination and unity to demand that Russian government
takes swift action to put an end to racial killings.

But Asatrian warned that protest actions alone would not be
sufficient, saying other ways of struggle must be put in action, by the
government, but very cautiously so that not to harm Russian-Armenian
relations. “The government must take all possible actions, develop a
list of actions, have a plan of actions to press for an end to this
problem,’ he said.

Asatrian said he was concerned that the so-called Russian ‘skinheads’
who are behind murders and attacks on non-Slavs could have been
trained by special interior squads. This means, according to him,
that they are not ‘hooligans’ as declared by Russian officials,
but ‘ a well-organized group.” Asatrian went on to argue that
many forces inside and outside Russia are interested in inciting
instability across it and even ‘to force a wedge in Russian-Armenian
relationships. Asatrian said his party will gather a team of 15
prominent Armenian intellectuals to fly them to Moscow on May 15
where they will meet officials from the Russian president’s staff,
chief prosecutor’s office, interior and foreign ministries.

“This time we have to be resolute and act jointly so that to have a
dialogue with able Russian forces to shift the problem to a civilized
field,’ he said, adding it was regretful that attacks on Armenians
in Russia are taking place in a year declared Year of Armenia.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SKINHEAD SCOUNDRELS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF BEING UNPUNISHABLE
By Aghavni Harutyunian

AZG Armenian Daily
28/04/2006

Nothing Changes for Good, While Number of Victims Grows

The April 22 murder of 17 years old Armenian student Vigen Abrahamiants
in Moscow testifies to the danger of the growing nationalistic movement
in Russia. The law enforcement bodies stated in the beginning that
Abrahamianst was killed for chasing a young girl. But, according to
the majority of the Russian mass media sources, this cause doesn’t
correspond to truth. The details of the case showed that the very
skinheads chased Vigen Abrahamiants and his friend. Denis Kulagin
is currently accused of the murder. In order to prove his guilt, the
policemen put forward the abovementioned cause. Though many witnesses
and Kulagin himself state quite different things about the case.

Besides, the April 22 record of the video surveillance at the
underground station where the murder took place has disappeared. This
factor makes the impression that the law enforcement bodies try
to conceal the real facts. Moreover, a teenager is accused of
Abrahamiants’ murder, while the young man was killed with a stab of
knife of a professional. Simon Tsaturian, lawyer of Abrahamiants’
family, added that the murdered not only stabbed Vigen, but also two
other people.

It’s noteworthy that the testimonies of the witnesses about the
attack of the skinheads given in the beginning, after 12 hours were
replaced with others that state about the quarrel for a girl. Most
likely, the statements of the Moscow Armenians, RA Embassy to Russia
and the Armenian’s Union of Russia condemning the murder case had
certain influence and the testimonies of the same witnesses again
“stated about the skinheads.”

The failed attempt of the law enforcement bodies to represent the
murder as a result of a quarrel for a girl testifies to the large-scale
activities of the skinheads. Quite many cases of attacking foreigners
in Russia were registered in the four months of 2006.

Over 10 people were killed as a result of nationalistic attacks from
the beginning of the year.

“Russia for the Russians” slogan of the Fascists doesn’t seem to
bother the law enforcement bodies.

Though the Fascists act openly, in public, the Russian law enforcement
bodies can’t or do not want to reveal the criminals and stop the
activities of the skinheads.

The skinheads mainly act in big cities, particularly, in
St. Petersburg, Moscow, Voronezh, Cheboksary, Petrozavodsk, Tolyaty
and in other big cities of Russia.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIANS OF AKHALKALAK PROTEST WITHDRAWAL OF RUSSIAN MILITARY BASE

AZG Armenian Daily
28/04/2006

The residents of Akhalkalak blocked the way of the military
communication car that belongs to the Russian military base #62. The
Russian mass media informed that they hinder the car to move from
a canyon and demand its return to the territory of the military
base. According to one of the activists of the protest, the car was
to go to Tsalka settlement. “The withdrawal of the communication car
means the beginning of military equipment’s withdrawal from Javakhk,”
Regnum agency cited the words of the unknown source in the city. The
Armenian residents of the city are against the withdrawal of the
Russian military base from Akhalkalaki, as many issues are not solved
yet, particularly, the issue of the security of the Armenian residents
of Samtskhe-Javakhk region.

Besides, many families earned their living thanks to the economic
infrastructure of the Russian military base in the region. The
Armenians of Javakhk region demand from the Russian and the Georgian
authorities to explain why the local residents were not involved in
the negotiations over the withdrawal of the Russian military base.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

KAREN MNATSAKANYAN BECAME THE EUROPEAN CHAMPION

A1+
[08:54 pm] 27 April, 2006

Karen Mnatsakanyan (60kg) became the European champion in the wrestling
of Greek – Roman style held in Moscow. The Armenian wrestler beat
his Georgian rival David Bedinadze in the finals with the overall
3:0 and became the European champion for the 3rd time.

Karen Mnatsakanyan had significant advantage over his Georgian
rival. The Armenian sportsman beat Azeri wrestler Faud Aliev before
moving on to the finals.

By the way, Karine Shadoyan (72kg) won a bronze medal for Armenia in
the women tournament.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ANOTHER SCUFFLE IN TSALKA

A1+
[09:17 pm] 27 April, 2006

In the Greek village Edikilisia a scuffle was initiated by Armenians
and Greeks on the one hand and by Svans on the other hand. The scuffle
was motivated by the toasts of Armenians and Greeks drunk to their
nations which wasn’t approved by Svans.

The special groups of the Georgian Interior Ministry and National
Security Service meddled with their brawl, and mainly Armenians and
Greeks suffered as a result of this interferance.

According to the agency “A-INFO” only the mediation of the Georgian
Parliament deputy could abate their rage.

The situation is stable in Tsalka after that incident.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRICES FOR INTERNET SERVICES TO FALL BY 10-15% ON AVERAGE FROM MAY 1 IN ARMENIA: FORECAST

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
April 26 2006

YEREVAN, April 27. /ARKA/. Prices for internet services will fall
approximately by 10-15 on average, the technical director of “Arminco”
company Grigory Sagiyan reported.

According to him, it is due to the price-cutting on average by 25%
made by “ArmenTel” Telecommunication Company for internet services on
15 April. “The prices decreased by 29% for large customers of internet
services, by 20% for medium customers, and by 10% for small customers,”
he said.

ArmenTel Telecommunication Company confirmed the information about the
price-cutting on average by 25%. They pointed out that this decision
was made in keeping with ArmenTel’s commercial policy.