Author: Emma Nadirian

Armenian defense ministry spox mocks Azeri claims of ‘controlled areas’ in Nakhijevan border section (photos)

Emma Nadirian
| 16:01 | July 21 2018
Category
Region

Armenian defense ministry spokesperson Artsrun Hovhannisyan has released photos showing Ordubad – the second largest town in Nakhijevan – and nearby villages. The photos were taken from Armenian positions, he said.

“If this means to control, then turns out we are fully controlling Ordvan-Ordubad and nearby villages. I personally took the photos,” Hovhannisyan said on Facebook, sarcastically referring to the recent Azeri reports where they would take photos of certain Armenian locations in that border section and claim control over it.

[Go to the website for the pictures]

Sports: IBF junior welterweight champ Petros Ananyan takes on Steve Claggett

Emma Nadirian
PanArmenian, Armenia
– 09:54 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Super Channel, the destination network for Canadian boxing fans, has announced the second installment of its new live boxing series, “SUPERBOX LIVE”, airing on July 28, presented by Lee Baxter Promotions, at Powerade Centre in Brampton, Canada, Fight Network reports.

International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior welterweight champion Petros Ananyan (13-0-2, 6 KOs) will defend his title against Canadian fan-friendly Steve “The Dragon” Claggett (26-5-1, 17 KOs) in the 10-round main event.

To watch “SUPERBOX LIVE: Rising Up” live in Canada, showcasing some of Canada’s top professional fighters, as well as more exciting boxing to come in 2018, fight fans can contact their local cable provider to subscribe to Super Channel and all that it offers, including premium series, movies and much more, for as low as $9.95 per month.

“SUPERBOX LIVE: Rising Up,” starting at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT, will also be aired on delay via BoxNation in the United Kingdom, as well as Match TV in Russia.

Protocol Sports Marketing Ltd has been named exclusive representative for international rights for SUPERBOX LIVE.

Armenia-native Ananyan, now residing in Moscow, captured his title last October, when he upset 30-1 defending champion Luca Giacon, who was fighting at home in Spain, by way of a six-round technical decision.

The reigning North American Boxing Association (NABA) USA junior middleweight title holder, Claggett upset highly-touted prospect Yves Ylyssee, Jr. (14-0) last October in Montreal, by way of a 10-round decision for the IBF North American title.

“I am excited to work with SUPERBOX LIVE for the first time,” promoter Lee Baxtercommented. “I think this can be the beginning of a great platform for Canadian fighters to show their skills and also build international fights right here in my hometown!”

“SUPERBOX LIVE is excited to be working with Lee Baxter Promotions,” said Mike Garrow, who is the co-creator of SUPERBOX LIVE. “Not only has Lee Baxter staged a number of great events here in Canada, he has elevated a number of athletes who have competed on the world stage in a short period of time. This is exactly what we are looking for in SUPERBOX LIVE events.”

In the eight-round co-feature, Indian welterweight and Bollywood star, Neeraj “Gangster” Gorat (9-2-2, 2 KOs) makes his second World Boxing Council (WBC) Asian title defense, against an opponent to be determined.

Canadian featherweight prospect Ross Mylet (2-0), fighting out of Oakville, Ontario, faces Francisco “Relempago” Ubiet (6-3, 2 KOs) in a four-round match.

In the televised opener, Women’s International Boxing Association (WIBA) super featherweight champion Sandy “Lil Tyson” Tsagouris (16-2, 7 KOs), defends the title she won March 18, 2017 for the first time in a 10-round bout against her Mexican challenger, Guadalupe Solis (5-2, 2 KOs).

Criminal case launched over kidnapping and assault case involving ex-President’s wanted nephew Narek Sargsyan

Emma Nadirian
| 14:40 | July 17 2018
Category
Society

A criminal case has been launched over the kidnapping and assault case involving Narek Sargsyan, wanted nephew of former President Serzh Sargsyan.

A citizen reported to the Police that he was kidnapped last year in Yerevan and beaten because of his business plans. The man planned to open a nightclub.

Police say Narek Sargsyan’s bodyguard invited the man to a meeting in August of 2017. The victim was kidnapped from downtown Yerevan by several men and taken to the basement of Narek Sargsyan’s residence.

The man was beaten, threatened at gunpoint and tortured with a lighter. He was then relocated to another facility, and again beaten.

Only when assuring that he won’t undertake any business activities concerning nightclubs was the man released.

The investigation has been instructed to the National Security Service’s investigation department.

Amnesty is the political will of authorities and society, says justice minister

Emma Nadirian
| 15:30 | July 16 2018
Category
Society

Armenia’s justice minister Artak Zeynalyan says amnesty is not a right, but a privilege.

During the meeting with reporters on July 16, commenting on the fact that a group of prisoners of announced that they will start a hunger strike in case of not receiving an amnesty, the justice minister said amnesty is the political will of the authorities and the society.

“Whether the Armenian people, the victims of the crime are ready to forgive those who violated their rights? This is the problem which cannot be solved via hunger strike”, he said.

Exhibition: New Glendale Library exhibit honors Armenian heritage

Emma Nadirian
Los Angeles Times

By Michael Livingston

Jul 13, 2018


A new art exhibit will pay homage to Armenia’s capital city, a place many Glendale residents call their native home.

To celebrate the 2,800th anniversary of Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, a special 10-day exhibition at the Glendale Central Library’s ReflectSpace and PassageWay galleries will celebrate the city’s history.

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The library’s newest exhibit, “Yerevan 2800” will be in its ReflectSpace and PassageWay galleries. It is a joint effort between the city of Glendale and the Library, Arts & Culture Department in collaboration with the Yerevan Municipality Tourism Office.

“We usually approach an exhibit with contemporary art, along with historical images and context,” said co-curator Ara Oshagan. “There is a huge population of Yerevanians in Glendale.”

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The exhibit will feature contemporary art, photography and film from eight artists — Sev Black, Sophia Gasparian, Narine Isajanyan, Edmond Keshishyan, Ashot Khudaverdyan, Karen Mirzoyan, Emily Mkrtichian and Anahid Yahjian — who have Yerevan connections.

The exhibit also comes on the heels of Armenia’s “Velvet Revolution,” a nonviolent grass-roots movement to remove President Serzh Sargsyan from office. Sargsyan resigned on April 23, and opposition leader Nikol Pashinian was elected prime minister on May 8.

Isajanyan, 41, was in Yerevan a few days before the exhibit opened on Wednesday.

She and her 10-year-old son were in the city for 40 days while Isajanyan worked on a group art exhibit. Isajanyan said the Yerevan people are still in the honeymoon period after the election.

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“People were so happy. Everything has changed completely,” Isajanyan, 51, said. “They believe the new generation will lead us to new heights.”

For her portion of the exhibit, Isajanyan painted abstract pieces that symbolically represent how Yerevanians are never far from their native home.

“In America, there are a lot of nationalities. People are trying to live together,” Isajanyan said Friday morning. “This is an opportunity to be together. We are bringing you our culture, showing who we are and where we come from.”

“In my work, I show how people don’t have to physically be somewhere” to appreciate it, she said.

Artist Black lived in Yerevan for 22 years and brought an interesting piece from his homeland to the exhibit — garbage.

“I’m not offended when people say, ‘What does your garbage represent?’ Sometimes people ask what I do for a living. I say, ‘Garbage collector,’” Black said Friday afternoon.

Sev Black, whose real name is Henrik Khachatryan, is presenting a collection of artwork created in Yerevan in the early 1990s from garbage.

What residents considered useless or expired, Black saw inspiration. He said his pieces are in relation to possession and how society treats inanimate items, and by extension, people, who matter and don’t matter.

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“We use them, then throw them away,” Black said. “Then, when it [breaks], we throw it away. And we project our way of being onto the people, too. If we can get some profit or something from them, we will have good relations with them. If not, we throw them away.”

Black, 63, collected the garbage and then used different torches to create his work.

“They are like my brushes,” he said.

Black considers himself a performance artist who sometimes brings the process-making of his work to the audience.

“When I was younger in Yerevan, I burned my art in public,” Black said. “In one exhibition, I was burning one piece, then we would go inside to see the other.”

Black said Friday he would not be burning anything during the exhibit’s opening reception later that night. He will be smiling, as he will be sharing his homeland with people interested in its history, culture and people.

“I lived there all my youth and some of my adult life,” Black said. “I am proud.”

http://www.latimes.com/tn-gnp-me-yerevan-exhibit-20180713-story.html#

Western Prelacy News – 7/6/18

Emma Nadirian 
July 6, 2018 
Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate
6252 Honolulu Avenue
La Crescenta, CA 91214
Tel: (818) 248-7737
Fax: (818) 248-7745
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.westernprelacy.org
PRELATE TO CELEBRATE DIVINE LITURGY AT ST. SARKIS CHURCH IN PASADENA ON THE
FEAST OF TRANSFIGURATION
        Sunday, July 8, 2018 is the Feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord
Jesus Christ, also known as Vartavar. 
        On this occasion, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate,
will celebrate Divine Liturgy and deliver the sermon at St. Sarkis Church in
Pasadena. H.G. Bishop Torkom Donoyan, Vicar General, will celebrate Divine
Liturgy and deliver the sermon at the Crescenta Valley parish. 
***
PONTIFICAL THANKSGIVING PRAYER HELD IN PRELACY CHURCHES
        On Sunday, July 1st, 2018, the 23rd anniversary of the election and
consecration of His Holiness Aram I as Catholicos of the Great House of
Cilicia was celebrated within Western Prelacy Churches with Pontifical
Thanksgiving Prayer.
        H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, presided over Divine
Liturgy, delivered his message, and conducted Pontifical Thanksgiving Prayer
service at Holy Trinity Church in Fresno. H.G. Bishop Torkom Donoyan, Vicar
General, celebrated Divine Liturgy, delivered the sermon, and conducted
Pontifical Thanksgiving Prayer service at Holy Cross Cathedral in
Montebello.
        At Holy Trinity Church, Parish Pastor Very Rev. Fr. Dajad Ashekian
celebrated Divine Liturgy and assisted in the Pontifical Prayer service. 
        In his message, the Prelate highlighted our Pontiff's faithful and
devoted service to the Armenian Church and the Armenian people since his
ordination to the priesthood 50 years ago, his visionary, dynamic, and bold
leadership as Catholicos for the past 23 years, and his contributions to our
nation as a scholar, educator, and champion of the Armenian Cause. His
Eminence stated that His Holiness has built a legacy that will endure in the
history of the Holy See of Cilicia, of the Armenian Apostolic Church, and in
the ecumenical movement, for he has been and continues to be a prominent and
respected figure not only in the Armenian Church but on the international
stage. 
        Next, the Prelate delivered his sermon on the day's Gospel reading
from Matthew 14:13-21, the feeding of the five thousand, focusing on three
lessons. The first is our Lord Jesus Christ's infinite love and mercy for
mankind. Second, that we need not worry, for the Lord will provide for all
of our needs and with God even the impossible becomes possible. Third is
that as children of God we too are commissioned to help our fellow man just
as Jesus commissioned His disciples to feed the crowds. "May the message of
this miracle and the Pontifical Prayer service be an occasion for us all to
renew our obedience and faithfulness to God, our allegiance to the Holy See
of Cilicia, and our commitment to serving God, the Armenian Church, and our
fellow man," stated the Prelate.
        Citing from the Pontifical Prayer service, the Prelate concluded by
praying for the Lord to bless His Holiness Catholicos Aram I and strengthen
him in mind, body, and spirit, to fill us all with grace, wisdom, and
prudence, and to bless, strengthen, and keep in peace the Armenian Apostolic
Church, the Holy See of Cilicia, the Brotherhood, Prelacies, churches,
clergy, and faithful worldwide, keeping us all under the protection of His
holy and venerable cross. 
***
PRELATE DELIVERS INVOCATION AT NAVASARTIAN VICTORY BALL
        On Sunday, July 1st, 2018, the 43rd Navasartian Games Victory Ball
was held at the Beverly Hilton. H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian,
Prelate, attended and delivered the invocation. He was accompanied by
Archpriest Fr. Vazken Atmajian. H.G. Bishop Torkom Donoyan, Vicar General,
Executive Council Chair Mr. Garo Eshgian and members were in attendance.  
        The program began with the flag ceremony by Homenetmen scouts,
followed by the national anthems. The Prelate began his invocation by
thanking God for the opportunity to come together on this centennial of the
first Republic of Armenia to celebrate Homenetmen on its centennial
anniversary. His Eminence saluted and commended the Homenetmen family, the
Central Executive, Regional Executive, Scouting Council, and local chapters
who work together in the spirit of love and brotherhood for the wellbeing of
our youth and the preservation of our heritage. He prayed for the Lord to
bless the devoted members of Homenetmen with many more healthy years to
carry on the organization's worthy mission and to bless and protect and
young scouts and athletes as they develop into our leaders of tomorrow. The
Prelate commended this year's Honorary President, Mr. and Mrs. Hamlet and
Greta Chraghchian, and Exemplary Homenetmen member Mr. Koko Balian for their
decades-long dedicated service and valuable contributions to our national
life, as well as the past honorary presidents and exemplary members,
sponsors, donors, and friends.
        The program continued with welcoming remarks by Mr. Charles
Ghailian. The Homenetmen Western Region's message was delivered by Chairman
Mr. Manuel Marselian. Guests viewed two videos on the history of Homenetmen
and of the Navasartian Games. Mr. Koko Balian was honored with a plaque as
the 2018 Homenetmen Western U.S. Exemplary Member. The ribbon ceremony
followed, with this year's Honorary President Mr. and Mrs. Hamlet and Greta
Chraghchian receiving the ribbon from last year's Honorary President, Mr.
and Mrs. Vicken and Nono Apelian. The official program concluded with the
centennial ceremony, which featured a candle-lighting and cake cutting by
past and present Honorary Presidents.
***
RECEPTION FOR ARMENIA'S DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER TIGRAN AVINYAN
        On Friday, June 29, 2018, the Consulate General of Armenia in Los
Angeles hosted a reception in honor of a delegation from Armenia led by
Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinyan. The reception was attended by clergy
and lay community leaders. H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate,
attended and conveyed his blessings and well wishes to the honored guests. 
***

Armenian Prosecutors to Question Ex-President & Arrest Ex-Minister of Defense

Emma Nadirian
Georgia Today
July 5 2018

The Special Investigative Service (SIS) of Republic of Armenia has reopened the investigation of the March 1st events of 2008 when the government opened fire against peaceful demonstrators who were challenging the official results of the presidential elections.

The SIS has decided to question the former President of Armenia, Robert Kocharyan (1998-2008), for his connection with the deadly crackdown on the peaceful demonstration, which Armenians often call “The March 1st Slaughter”.

On July 4, the Press-Secretary of Kocharyan, Victor Soghomonyan, speaking about the recent developments and the decision to question his boss for the shooting, stated that Kocharyan is out of the country at present. According to the Azatutuyun radio station (Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty) Kocharyan stands ready to testify for his actions before and during the March 1st events.

Meanwhile, the law-enforcement agency decided to arrest Kocharyan’s Minister of Defense, Mikael Harutyunyan, who played a key role in the event.

According to the SIS press-release, Harutyunyan illegally used, together with “other individuals,” the armed forces against peaceful protesters in what amounted to an “overthrow of constitutional order.”

According to the Armenian Constitution, the Army commandership is banned from using the Army in internal political developments, while Harutyunyan, according to a secret order released on February 23, 2008, formed special regiments in Yerevan, giving them combat weapons and arsenal to depress the peaceful demonstrations.

The protests in Armenia started on 20 February 2008 and lasted 10 days. The demonstrators were protesting the most criticized and disputed presidential elections of Armenia according to which Serzh Sargsyan was announced the winning candidate.

The protests against the official results of the presidential elections were led by the main opposition candidate, Armenia’s First President, Levon Ter-Petrosyan (1991-1998) who raised a huge popular movement in support of his nomination in 2008 and demanded the annulment of the election results by the Constitutional Court. The increasing pressure by Ter-Petrosyan and 10-day non-stop demonstations in Yerevan, which put the government under risk of collapse, “forced” Kocharyan’s regime to use brutal actions against the opposition to maintain his power.

After the crackdown of the protest early in the morning followed the arrests of most opposition leaders as well as the house arrest of Ter-Petrosyan. Current Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, was one of the few opposition leaders who escaped arrest, to lead the main demonstration later that day.

The negotiations between Ter-Petrosyan and the authorities received no results and later the same day the government announeced a state of emergency and opened fire against Ter-Petrosyan’s supporters, killing at least 10 and wounding a hundred demonstrators.

After the crackdown on the demonstration, Pashinyan had to spent almost 1.4 years in the underground, and then willingly went to the General Prosecuter’s Office in July 2009, where he was arrested and sentenced to seven years inprisonment in 2010.

Pashinyan spent just 1.5 years in prison and was released in an act of amnesty, which was announced as a result of another popular movement raised by Ter-Petrosyan in 2011, which pressed the government to release the dozens of pollitical prisoners imprisoned during the 2008 presidential elections.

During the 10 years of the presidency of Sargsyan, no serious steps were made to investigate the killings of the peaceful demonstrators, with the opposition parties and human rights defenders marked all the actions made by Sargsyan’s government in this direction as “imitation and show.”

The Armenian National Congress party lead by Ter-Petrosyan and other parties opposing the former government lead by Sargsyan, have already expressed their satisfaction with the recent move of the Special Investigative Service of Armenia and have announced their willingness to support the investigation.

By Karen Tovmasyan in Yerevan

Sen. Menendez welcomes Armenian President to US Senate

Emma Nadirian 
US Fed News
 Friday 9:57 PM EST
SEN. MENENDEZ WELCOMES ARMENIAN PRESIDENT TO US SENATE
WASHINGTON, June 29 -- Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking
Member issued the following news release:
Earlier this week, U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of
the Senate Foreign Relations, met with Armenian President Armen
Sarkissian at a National Committee of America (ANCA) Congressional
Celebration of a Century of U.S.-Armenian Relations.
"I was proud to welcome President Armen Sarkissian to the United
States Senate. The United States and Armenia have a strong bond based
on shared values and a commitment to the democratic process. In recent
months, the people of Armenia impressed the entire world with peaceful
protests calling for the democratic, accountable government that they
deserve. This is a powerful and inspiring example of citizens making
their voices heard. Armenia's peace and prosperity is not ultimately
tied to one person or party, but to efforts by a diverse group of
Armenian citizens to work together, hold each other accountable, and
build the democratic institutions that they wish to see.
"I am also proud to stand in solidarity with the people of Armenia as
it continues to face challenges to stability across the region.
Turkish aggression from the Eastern Mediterranean to northern Syria,
is unacceptable. And the bellicose behavior we continue to see from
Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh must stop. The Kremlin has made no
secret of its agenda to undermine democracies across the world, and we
must work together to counter such malign Russian influence in
Armenia. I want to thank the President for his visit and his efforts
to further strengthen the ties between us."
A Congressional champion for U.S.-Armenian relations, Menendez
introduced Senate Resolution 136 in the 115th Congress commemorating
the 102nd anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and calling for a
foreign policy of the United States reflects appropriate understanding
and sensitivity concerning issues related to human rights, crimes
against humanity, ethnic cleansing, and genocide documented in the
United States record relating to the Armenian Genocide.

Employees of No.19 polyclinic announce strike

Emma Nadirian
  • 16:24 | June 28,2018 | Social
  • Armenian:
  • Rus

The secretary of the Yelk (Way Out) faction of the Council of Elders of Yerevan, Tehmina Vardanyan, received employees of the polyclinic number 19, who have already declared a hunger strike to the director Samvel Sargsyan.

During the meeting the details of the meeting with the medical staff with the Head of the Healthcare Department Kamsar Babinyan and further actions were discussed.

According to the healthcare workers, K. Babinyan urged them to return to normal work and assured that he would also meet with the director to find a compromise option.

Employees, however, point out that they are going to continue the strike and only the director’s resignation can be acceptable for them, Press and Public Relations Department reports.

168: Special Investigative Service has political will to reveal March 1 case

Emma Nadirian
| 12:07 | June 28 2018
Category
Politics

Head of the Special Investigative Service of Armenia Sasun Khachatryan assures that nothing hinders to reveal the March 1 case.

“The Special Investigative Service has a political will to reveal that case regardless of persons to be involved”, he told reporters before today’s Cabinet session.

Asked whether 2nd President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan will be questioned over this case, the SIS chief said: “I will release the information to the extent that it will not harm the investigation of the case. But I can state that there is no constraint for questioning someone, there is a will to revel the case”.

Sasun Khachatryan added that information on the process of the case will soon be posted at the Service’s official website.