Author: George Mamian

Ex-deputy PM Armen Gevorgyan charged with money laundering

George Mamian

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 12:35, 20 May, 2021

YEREVAN, MAY 20, ARMENPRESS. The Special Investigations Service (SIS) has charged Former Deputy Prime Minister Armen Gevorgyan with money laundering.

The indictment states that Gevorgyan allegedly used his official position from 2004-2018 to launder 4,921,302,379 drams in revenue. According to the Special Investigations Service, Gevorgyan and the persons affiliated with him had a total of 743,458,821 drams in legal income from 2002-2018, while in the same period of time 39 real estate properties worth many times more than the figure was registered by their names.

Gevorgyan is accused in abusing his powers to influence several mayors into holding illegal auctions and alienating municipality-owned land to the persons affiliated with him.

The said real estate properties were sold for 751,268,208 drams, whereas the market value was more than 4,843,530,000, while 10 other properties in the Czech Republic owned by Gevorgyan’s affiliated persons were valued at 391,920,000 drams, the SIS said.

Gevorgyan denies wrongdoing.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

Defense Ministry reports “altercation” between Armenian and Azeri troops near Lake Sev

George Mamian

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 14:45,

YEREVAN, MAY 21, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian Ministry of Defense reports no “significant changes” in the situation at the border with Azerbaijan, where the Azeri troops have breached the state border of Armenia. It said that an incident has taken place in the evening of May 20.

In the evening of May 20 an “altercation” took place between Armenian and Azerbaijani troops near Lake Sev. The altercation was reportedly caused by the videos which were earlier published on Armenian and Azerbaijan news outlets and social media. The command of the troops was able to resolve the altercation.

“The Ministry of Defense urges to refrain from spreading such videos. They don’t anyhow help in resolving the issue peacefully, and contribute to unnecessary increase of tension. Generally the situation is stable. The Armenian military units are fully controlling the situation and continue to keep the Azerbaijani troops blocked.”

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

‘Azerbaijan can’t remain unpunished’ – MEP calls for exerting pressure on Baku

George Mamian
 

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 16:38,

YEREVAN, MAY 20, ARMENPRESS. Armenian prisoners of war held in Azerbaijan cannot be called as criminals, Member of European Parliament representing Belgium Tom Vandenkendelaere said at the at the discussion during the EP plenary session relating to the prisoners of war captured during the recent Nagorno Karabakh war.

“It’s quite a long time the Nagorno Karabakh conflict continues. It’s a matter of a serious concern for the European Union, especially from the perspective of the issue of repatriation of prisoners of war. There is great uncertainty regarding the fate of POWs”, he said, adding: “We must exert huge pressure on Azerbaijan, they cannot remained unpunished”.

In particular, the MEP urged to investigate the facts of human rights violations by Azerbaijan. He stressed the need for taking actions for the return of the Armenian POWs from Azerbaijan and the end of “this unacceptable situation”.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Political consultations held between Armenian, Russian foreign ministries in Moscow

George Mamian

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 10:51,

YEREVAN, MAY 20, ARMENPRESS. Armenian-Russian political consultations have taken place in Moscow on May 19 dedicated to the cooperation between the two countries in multilateral platforms, the Armenian foreign ministry reports.

The Armenian delegation was led by deputy foreign minister Artak Apitonyan.

During the consultations the sides thoroughly touch upon the Armenia-Russia partnership in the UN, OSCFE and other international organizations, as well as issues of mutual interest.

The meeting participants also discussed the regional security and stability. In this context the Armenian deputy FM presented to the sides the humanitarian problems caused by the recent war launched by Azerbaijan against Artsakh, including the release of Armenian prisoners of war and civilian captives.

Both sides emphasized the importance of constantly deepening the Armenian-Russian partnership in all platforms.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

While Putin Urges Diplomacy Azerbaijan Ignores Negotiations

George Mamian



The Armenian and Azerbaijani border posts near Syunik

Moscow offers to facilitate Armenia-Azerbaijan border demarcation

President Vladimir Putin of Russia urged Armenia and Azerbaijan to resolve the current border standoff exclusively through diplomatic efforts, while Azerbaijan failed to attend talks scheduled for Wednesday to negotiate a resolution.

After negotiations stalled over the weekend to address Azerbaijan’s breach of Armenia’s sovereign border, new round of talks were scheduled to resume Wednesday, but were halted due to Azerbaijan’s absence.

In announcing Azerbaijan’s absence, Armenia’s Defense Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday that Armeni still hopes for a negotiated solution to the dispute. It again warned that if this does not happen “within a reasonable timeframe” Yerevan will reserve the right to remove the Azerbaijani troops from Armenian territory by force.

Putin telephoned Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev and Armenia’s Acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan urging the two leaders to resolve the current standoff exclusively through diplomacy, while, once again, stressing “the need to solve issues aimed at ensuring security and stability in the region in line with the November 9, 2020 and January 11, 2021 statements.”

Pashinyan told Putin that “Azerbaijani forces, against all international norms, have violated the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia.”

Putin told Aliyev that Russia is ready to facilitate the border demarcation process, a sentiment echoed by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who on Wednesday said that Moscow has proposed that the two sides set up a commission on the delimitation and demarcation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border and expressed readiness to participate in its activities as a “consultant or mediator.”

“The Russian side will continue its mediation efforts and consultative support aimed at achieving an agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan on the launch of a process of delimitation and demarcation of their state border,” the Kremlin said in a readout of Putin-Aliyev call.

In confirming the Russian proposal, the head of Armenia’s National Security Council Armen Grigoryan said that Azerbaijan needed to withdraw its troops from Armenia’s sovereign territory before any demarcation talks.

“The Armenian side has stressed the need for the withdrawal of Azerbaijani forces from Armenia’s sovereign territory before the launch of such work,” Grigoryan told Armenpress. “Only after that would conditions be created for such discussions.”

Speaking ahead of a CSTO foreign ministers’ council in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, Lavrov downplayed the seriousness of the border standoff, saying that he didn’t sees the need to “whip up emotions on this issue.”

Armenia President signs law on declaring amnesty for male citizens who avoided fixed-term military service

George Mamian
News.am, Armenia
17:59, 17.05.2021

President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian today signed the law on declaring amnesty for persons who avoided regular military call-up for fixed-term military service or alternative military service, as reported the Staff of the President of Armenia.

According to this law, amnesty shall be declared for male citizens of the compositions of privates having attained the age of 27 and reserve officers having attained the age of 35 who avoided compulsory military service or alternative service and male citizens suspected, accused of committing a criminal offense to avoid fixed-term military service or alternative service or convicted of committing the criminal offense.

Armenia’s ombudsman seeks support to advance concept of security zone around Syunik and Gegharkunik

George Mamian
Panorama, Armenia

Armenia’s Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman) Arman Tatoyan has urged all government agencies, MPs, the competent public and political organizations and specialists to support his efforts to advance the concept of creating a security zone around Syunik and Gegharkunik Provinces, along the border with Azerbaijan.

“I appeal to all the bodies of our country, the deputies involved in the delegations of international instances, the competent public and political structures and specialists to support Armenia’s human rights defender to advance the concept of creating a security zone around Syunik and Gegharkunik, along the border sections with Azerbaijan,” he said in a statement on Friday.

“I also address this proposal and appeal to all of our powerful Diaspora structures and individuals. We will provide the necessary facts and justifications for this purpose.

“The security zone is necessary to guarantee the rights of the border residents of the Republic of Armenia, and all of the citizens of our country.

“Near Syunik and Gegharkunik villages, there should be no Azerbaijani soldiers, nor should there be any flags or signs on the roads between Syunik communities.

“We must work together and with concrete steps, and with a united force, together fight against the fatal challenges we face, to fight for our rights and for the security of our country,” the statement reads. 

Chess: Armenia convicts place 3rd at international chess tournament

George Mamian
News.am, Armenia

YEREVAN. – The online conference and international tournament of the Chess for Freedom program—with the participation of convicts from Armenia, Russia, the US, and Spain—were held on Tuesday, reported the press service of the Armenian Chess Federation.

The goal of this program, which is implemented under the auspices of 12th World Chess Champion Anatoly Karpov, is the introduction of chess as a tool for education and social inclusion in prisons in various countries.

Armenia placed third in the aforesaid online international chess tournament. Russia took the first place.

France calls on Azerbaijan to release all Armenian detainees

George Mamian
Public Radio of Armenia
May 7 2021

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“We call for the expeditious release of all Armenian detainees still being held,” the French Foreign Ministry said in a Facebook post.

It added that Azerbaijan’s release of three Armenian detainees “is a step in the right direction.”

#NagornoKarabakh

We call for the expeditious release of all Armenian detainees still being held. Azerbaijan’s release of three Armenian detainees yesterday is a step in the right direction.

Statement by the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group

— France Diplomacy (@francediplo_EN) May 6, 2021

Three Armenian prisoners of war returned from Azerbaijani captivity on Tuesday. Over 200 Armenian POWs are still held in Baku.

Russia, Armenia discuss starting production of Sputnik V vaccine, Lavrov says in Yerevan

George Mamian

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 13:49, 6 May, 2021

YEREVAN, MAY 6, ARMENPRESS. Armenia is discussing with Russia the issue of starting a production of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine against coronavirus, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said during a joint press conference with Armenia’s caretaker FM Ara Aivazian in Yerevan.

“We have discussed our joint efforts in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. Russia has provided Armenia with several tens of thousands of doses of Sputnik V vaccine and currently the issue of acquiring another 1 million doses by Yerevan, as well as organizing its production in the territory of Armenia is being discussed”, Lavrov said.

The first batch of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine in 15,000 doses has been delivered to Armenia on April 8. A new batch for 14,000 people has been imported to Armenia on April 26.  

Russian FM Sergei Lavrov has arrived in Armenia on May 5 on a two-day visit.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan