Author: Hambik Zargarian

Actions of Azerbaijani side clearly indicate the unwillingness to implement their obligations to unblock Lachin Corridor

Hambik Zargarian

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 18:33, 3 March 2023

YEREVAN, MARCH 2, ARMENPRESS. On 2 March and on the night of 2 to 3 March, units of the Azerbaijani armed forces stationed in the occupied territories of the Askeran, Martakert and Martuni regions of the Republic of Artsakh violated the ceasefire established by the Trilateral Statement of 9 November 2020, ARMENPRESS was informed from MFA Artsakh.

“We strongly condemn the provocations of the Azerbaijani side, committed immediately after another meeting between representatives of the Republic of Artsakh and the Republic of Azerbaijan through the mediation of the Commander of the Russian Peacekeeping Contingent in Artsakh.

Against the backdrop of the discussion by the parties of humanitarian and infrastructural issues in the context of the need to immediately lift the illegal blockade of Artsakh, the actions of the Azerbaijani side clearly indicate the unwillingness to unconditionally implement their obligations to unblock the Lachin Corridor, including in accordance with the Order of the International Court of Justice.
 
In this regard, we consider it necessary for the international community to continue the implementation of specific measures to put pressure on Azerbaijan in order to curb its destructive actions and intentions aimed at resolving issues by force”, reads the statement of the Foreign Ministry of Artsakh

Disease incidence rises in Artsakh under blockade

Hambik Zargarian
Panorama
Armenia – Feb 28 2023

Disease incidence and health complications have increased in Artsakh this year amid Azerbaijan’s ongoing blockade of the Lachin Corridor, the sole road connecting the Artsakh Republic to Armenia, as well as the constant stress caused by uncertainty and threats emanating from Azerbaijan’s criminal actions.

According to data released by the Artsakh Ministry of Health on Monday, they include ischemic heart disease (58%), ischemic stroke (cerebral ischemia) (36%), birth complications (11.6%) and a number of other diseases.

Among adults and especially children, an increase in neuro-psychological problems is recorded compared to last year, as evidenced by a rise in children’s (46%) and adults’ (47%) visits to neurologists and psychologists.

Compared to the same period of 2022, the cases of surgical interventions due to intestinal obstruction, which may be caused by a lack of gluten in the diet, have increased by 25% in 2023.

Azerbaijan has blocked the Lachin Corridor since December 12.

Tigran Avinyan took over as deputy Yerevan mayor illegally – Pastinfo

Hambik Zargarian
Panorama
Armenia – Feb 21 2023
See also ANIF head Tigran Avinyan’s simultaneous appointment as deputy Yerevan mayor controversial – Pastinfo

The reports of Pastinfo that Tigran Avinyan was illegally installed as a deputy mayor of Yerevan in September last year have been confirmed, the media outlet said on Monday, calling his appointment a part of “outright political corruption.”

The Yerevan City Council elected Avinyan, a member of the ruling Civil Contract party who leads the Board of Directors of the Armenian National Interests Fund (ANIF), a state-owned enterprise, as deputy mayor on 23 September 2022. Avinyan plans to run as Civil Contract’s candidate in Yerevan mayoral elections this year.

ANIF has confirmed that Avinyan continues to lead its Board of Directors after taking up the deputy mayor’s post.

Pastinfo cited Article 48 (Clause 8) of the law on local self-government in Yerevan which says a deputy mayor may not engage in entrepreneurship, hold any other post in state, local self-government bodies and for-profit organizations or carry out other paid work, except for scientific, pedagogical and creative activity.

“Following the report, ANIF rushed to the aid of the ruling team’s mayoral candidate, claiming he didn’t get a salary, but refrained from saying when Avinyan gave up his salary and didn’t provide a copy of its charter, since it’s not just about salary,” Pastinfo says.

The Ministry of Economy and the government also refused to provide the ANIF charter to the media outlet.

Pastinfo eventually managed to gain access to the charter which “reveals why the government and ANIF tried so hard to keep it a secret.” It claims the charter confirms allegations of political corruption.

“Thus, ANIF is a commercial organization, which aims to earn profit, as it is stipulated in Clause 1.2 of its Charter. It has three governing bodies – the General Meeting of Shareholders, Board of Directors and Executive Body led by the director,” the media outlet states.

“As reported earlier, Article 48 (Clause 8) of the law on local self-government in Yerevan bans a deputy mayor from holding a position in a for-profit organization, which has been violated by Tigran Avinyan. In a breach of the Armenian law, the latter not only holds a post in a for-profit organization, but also manages it.

“It’s confirmed that Tigran Avinian is the ANIF Board of Directors chairman and is responsible for organizing its activity. He chairs the board and general meetings, signs both the decisions of the General Meeting and the Board as well as the documents approved by them under Clause 16.2 of the Charter.

“Obviously, Avinyan has breached the law and his appointment as deputy mayor amounts to an abuse of power, which is a criminal offence, while the competent authorities turn a blind eye to it. This is nothing other than an overt political patronage and a typical instance of political corruption,” Pastinfo writes.

UN court orders Azerbaijan to end Nagorno-Karabakh roadblock

Hambik Zargarian
feb 22 2023

Armenia had told the court 120,000 people were running short of food, medicine and fuel due to the blockade of the disputed territory. The Lachin corridor is the only road between Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Wednesday ordered Azerbaijan to end its blockade in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.

The court reached the legally binding ruling after a 13-2 vote.

Since mid-December, a group of Azerbaijanis have blocked the Lachin corridor, which is the only road into Nagorno-Karabakh from Armenia. The group cited illegal mining causing environmental damage as the reason for its protest blocking access to the region.

The two countries in the Caucasus fought over the disputed region in the 1990s and again in 2020. Following the latter of the two wars, a Russian-brokered truce saw Armenia cede territories to Azerbaijan.

Earlier this month, Armenia offered a peace plan to Azerbaijan, aiming to definitively resolve the territorial dispute.

“Azerbaijan shall, pending the final decision in this case… take all measures at its disposal to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin corridor in both directions,” presiding judge Joan Donoghue said.

“The disruption on the Lachin Corridor has impeded the transfer of persons of Armenian national and ethnic origin,” she said.

Donoghue said that there had been “shortages of food, medicine and other life-saving medical supplies” in Nagorno-Karabakh due to the roadblock. She added that there was a “risk that irreparable prejudice will be caused.”

The court also pointed to a 2021 ruling in which UN judges ordered both states to do everything possible not to escalate the conflict.

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said Yerevan welcomed the ruling that “Azerbaijan must take all measures to end its blockade and ensure unimpeded movement of persons.”

“We are also pleased to see truth prevail as the Court rejected in full Azerbaijan’s counter request.”

Armenia last month told the court that some 120,000 people had been running short of food, medicine and fuel due to the blockade, adding that people could not be transported to area hospitals.

Yerevan also accused Azerbaijan of committing “ethnic cleansing” in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Baku denied the allegations and filed a counter-claim against Yerevan, accusing Armenia of laying landmines and “murdering and maiming Azerbaijanis.” In its Wednesday ruling, the ICJ said that Baku did not show that the landmines specifically targeted Azerbaijanis.

sdi/sms (AP, AFP, Reuters, dpa)

Are former defense ministers being persecuted in Armenia? Opinion of opposition and expert

Hambik Zargarian
feb 22 2023

  • JAMnews
  • Yerevan

Persecution of former defense ministers

Accusations against former defense ministers Seyran Ohanyan and Vigen Sargsyan jave given rise to controversy in Armenia. The first is accused of selling real estate for special purposes that served a military unit, the second is accused of “jumping the line” in military housing. Seyran Ohanyan has been ordered not to leave Armenia; Vigen Sargsyan was put on the wanted list.

The opposition claims that the criminal cases against them are “fabricated” and both ex-ministers are victims of “political persecution”.

There is no consensus in the expert community. According to political observer Hakob Badalyan, there is no doubt that “in the state system of Armenia funds were squandered and corruption was at the institutional level.”

  • What the ex-minister of defense, now one of the leaders of the opposition in Armenia is accused of?
  • New restrictions under martial law: discussions in Armenia
  • Scandal brewing between Armenia and other members of CSTO military alliance

On February 20, information appeared about the arrest of former commander of the 3rd Army Corps (2006-2010), Major General Grigory Khachaturov. The prosecutor’s office reported that he was accused of using his official position “to legalize especially large real estate acquired by criminal means (money laundering)”. This case is connected with the name of former Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan.

Grigory Khachaturov was arrested after the Prosecutor General’s Office obtained the consent of the deputies of parliament to deprive him of his parliamentary immunity and bring ex-minister Seyran Ohanyan to justice. Both former high-ranking military men are accused of fraud with the sale of the territory of two military units. Ohanyan has already announced that these were old, unusable buildings and lands, which were unnecessary care and required additional expenses from the budget.

On February 21, the Anti-Corruption Court rejected the prosecutor’s request to arrest Grigory Khachaturov; he was released in the courtroom.

As in the case of ex-ministers, the opposition believes that bringing the general to criminal responsibility is dictated by political motives and the negative attitude of the current authorities towards their predecessors.

Khachaturov is the son of the former head of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Armenia, Yuri Khachaturov. Khachaturov’s father was also a former secretary of the CSTO, a Russian-led military bloc. However, the Armenian authorities withdrew their representative from the post of CSTO Secretary General in 2018, after the “Velvet” revolution.

Yerevan explained their decision by bringing Yuri Khachaturov as a defendant in the March 1 case. On this day in 2008, during the dispersal of a demonstration of those who disagreed with the results of the presidential elections, people died. Former Armenian President Robert Kocharyan was accused in the same case. According to experts, the episode with the recall of Khachaturov from his post in the CSTO caused a certain tension between the authorities of Armenia and Russia, as well as the leadership of the military bloc.

Armenia will remain a parliamentary country, the form of government will not change. The decision was made on November 30 by the Council for Constitutional Reforms

Seyran Ohanyan, head of one of the opposition factions in parliament, served as defense minister from 2008-2016. On February 8, he was stripped of his parliamentary immunity. Ohanyan is accused of embezzlement on an especially large scale and abuse of power. The third accusation against him contains secret information concerning the defense and security of the state. Armenian media referred to the scandalous case of “unusable missiles.” The main defendant in this case is another former defense minister, David Tonoyan.

Commenting on the charges, Seyran Ohanyan said that the statute of limitations had passed, and he was “innocent and will prove his innocence” in court:

“These are fictitious cases. Under this government, the primary issues – security issues – are not a priority. Everything is done to divert the attention of our society.”

According to him, the current authorities initiate criminal prosecution against “all those officials who do not serve their interests”:

“This is another proof that the goal of these people is not to improve security, but to discredit [unwanted people]. Nobody says that there were no shortcomings and mistakes in the army. But there was no criminal approach aimed at weakening our security.”

According to the new criminal code of Armenia, pickpocketing is considered a more serious crime and the punishments therefore will now be harsher

Vigen Sargsyan served as Minister of Defense in 2016-18. A criminal case against him was initiated in 2019,. He is currently not in the country.

He is accused of “intentionally committing acts beyond the scope of his authority” in the distribution of apartments intended for military personnel.

“He instructed the members of the Central Housing Commission to allocate apartments to 26 servicemen who are not registered or later included in the lists, as well as to three persons who are not in the ministry’s system,” the prosecutor’s office said.

Sargsyan stated that law enforcement agencies did not make any effort to contact him and deprived him of “the opportunity to protect his legal rights.”

“This is nothing but a manifestation of political persecution and an open violation of human rights, as it has been openly committed for years against all oppositionists,” he wrote on his Facebook page.

As for the charge brought against him, he countered that the distribution of apartments was carried out “in accordance with the requirements of the law and on the basis of the military path passed by the recipients of apartments and merits”:

“Instead of verbose nonsense, a list of those who received apartments should be published indicating the military career and merits of each, as well as a list of those whose rights, in the opinion of the prosecutor, were violated. I believe that this will be enough to consider the topic settled.

The foundation pays compensation to the families of the dead and injured soldiers through monthly deductions from the salaries of all residents of Armenia

Political observer Hakob Badalyan:

“The opposition declares any such case related to the previous system as political persecution, and there is a political motive in this. The opposition is trying to turn this assessment into a defense mechanism, tool, tactic, on the one hand, and on the other hand, to keep its supporters,” he told JAMnews.

According to Badalyan, the “cementing mechanism” of the governance system in Armenia before the 2018 revolution was corruption:

“There is no doubt that in those years there was a systematic waste of public and state resources. Otherwise, political, economic and other events in Armenia would have had a completely different course and quality.”

He believes that only law enforcement agencies can find out the true state of affairs, the degree of responsibility of individual officials and their involvement in corruption schemes. Badalyan considers it important that these legal processes must be as transparent as possible and society should make sure that the investigation is taking place “within the framework of the law.”

https://jam-news.net/persecution-of-former-defense-ministers/






Armenia to receive 12,5% shares of Amulsar gold mine operator as exploitation is set to restart

Hambik Zargarian

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 14:40,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 22, ARMENPRESS. Armenia will receive 12,5% shares of Lydian Armenia for the company to resume operations, the Ministry of Economy told ARMENPRESS.

Furthermore, the Armenian government will not make any spending.

Minister of Economy Vahan Kerobyan earlier said that a $250,000,000 agreement will be signed with Lydian Armenia, the operator of the Amulsar gold mine, which will restart operations.

Asked whether or not the government is buying $250,000,000 in shares of the company, the ministry said the government is not making any spending. “No, the government isn’t spending anything,” a ministry official told ARMENPRESS.

PMs of Armenia and Iraq agree to organize Armenian-Iraqi intergovernmental commission meeting in the near future

Hambik Zargarian

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 18:35, 17 February 2023

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 17, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Iraq Mohammed Shia al-Sudani in the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister.

The interlocutors attached importance the development of Armenian-Iraqi relations in various directions, including political and economic. In that regard, the parties emphasized the need to deepen trade and economic ties between the two countries, expand and strengthen cooperation of businessmen.

An agreement was reached to organize a meeting of the Armenian-Iraqi intergovernmental commission in the near future, during which further steps and joint programs will be outlined.

The sides also highlighted mutually beneficial cooperation on international platforms.

Armenian Foreign Minister meets with Turkish counterpart in Ankara

Hambik Zargarian

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 12:24,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 15, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu are holding a meeting in Ankara, ARMENPRESS correspondent reported from the Turkish capital.

The meeting will be followed by an enlarged-format meeting.

The foreign ministers will then deliver press statements.

The Armenian Foreign Minister is then scheduled to visit Adiyaman in southeastern Turkey, where an Armenian search-and-rescue team is assisting in the earthquake response efforts.

Nancy Pelosi meets Armenian counterpart to discuss enhancing peace and stability in the region

Hambik Zargarian
Sept 18 2022

By Chris King 

 

Nancy Pelosi, the US Speaker of the House met today, Sunday, September 18, with her Armenian counterpart, Alen Simonyan. They are believed to have discussed among other things, ways of enhancing peace and stability in the region in light of the recent attacks by neighbouring Azerbaijan.

It was a historic first visit for Pelosi to Yerevan, who arrived yesterday, Saturday, September 17, heading a Congressional delegation. She sat with Somonyan in the National Assembly of Armenia. Other topics known to have been spoken about were the two country’s shared democratic values, as well as enhancing their inter-parliamentary relationship.

She also met with the Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to discuss the continued US-Armenian partnership. The PM is facing a tough time following the aggression by Azerbaijan, with the country’s opposition calling for him to resign.

Earlier today, the delegation of Pelosi, FrankPallone, Jackie Speier, and Anna Eshoo, joined Mr Simonyan on a visit to Tsitsernakaberd, where he showed them the Armenian Genocide Memorial. The US party paid their respects by laying flowers and observing a moment of silence before being given a tour of the museum.