Author: Jagharian Tania

Police charges 477 citizens in one day with violating movement restriction and quarantine rules

Jagharian Tania
Panorama, Armenia
April 4 2020
Society 18:30 04/04/2020Armenia

The Police of Armenia continues implementing the Commandant’s directive on the restriction on public movement to prevent the spread of coronavirus, the press service at the Police reported.

As the source said, from April 3 9 a.m. to April 4 9 p.m., 477 people in Armenia have been pressed with administrative charges for violating quarantine rules and other restrictions of public movement imposed to contain the coronavirus.

The total number of citizens called for administrative liability has been 5665 since the directive of the Commandant’s Office. 2441 out of the total number were recorded in capital Yerevan, 3224 – in regions.

The Police urges the citizens to strictly refrain from leaving the houses under quarantine rules except for bare essentials.

Armenian President holds phone talk with renowned scientist Yousef Babikian

Jagharian Tania

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 11:33, 1 April, 2020

YEREVAN, APRIL 1, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian had a telephone conversation with famous scientist, Professor in genetics studies Yousef Babikian, the Presidential Office told Armenpress.

The officials discussed Prof. Babikian’s studies on natural and organic materials aimed at enhancing and restoring the human immune system, as well as the joint actions being carried out with the Armenian scientists in the Rhea Pharmaceutical laboratory founded by Mr. Babikian in Armenia.

The Armenian President and Mr. Babikian also discussed the global coronavirus pandemic and the cooperation opportunities in fighting the disease in Armenia.

Prof. Babikian is currently one of the leading scientists at the Charoen Pokphand Indonesia, which is a largest multi-functional company operating in Thailand, China and Indonesia.

 

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan




Armenpress: Coronavirus cases reach 11 in Azerbaijan

Jagharian Tania

Coronavirus cases reach 11 in Azerbaijan

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 10:13, 10 March, 2020

YEREVAN, MARCH 10, ARMENPRESS. Two more cases of the novel coronavirus have been registered in Azerbaijan, reports TASS.

These two people arrived from Iran.

The total number of the people infected with the Covid-19 has reached 11 in Azerbaijan. All these patients arrived from Iran.

In late December 2019, Chinese authorities notified the World Health Organization (WHO) about an outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan, central China. WHO declared the outbreak of the novel coronavirus a global health emergency and named the virus COVID-19. Cases of coronavirus have been reported in over 100 countries.




Ameriabank postpones loan repayments for 2 months over coronavirus fears

Jagharian Tania

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 16:02,

YEREVAN, MARCH 13, ARMENPRESS.   To prevent coronavirus, as well as to avoid crowding in the bank’s branches, Ameriabank has decided to provide all its individuals and individual business customers with a “credit vacation” from March 13 to May 13, 2020, ARMENPRESS reports the Bank issued a statement.

“To prevent coronavirus, as well as to avoid crowding in the bank’s branches, Ameriabank has decided to provide all its individuals and individual business customers with a “credit vacation” from March 13 to May 13, 2020.

“To prevent coronavirus, as well as to avoid crowding in the bank’s branches, Ameriabank has decided to provide all its individuals and individual business customers with a “credit vacation” from March 13 to May 13.All individuals and individual entrepreneurs during this period may fail to make regular repayments of their loans, including principal, accrued interest, servicing and other payments, which will not result in any adverse effect.

Loan interest rates of its individuals and individual business customers will be calculated and distributed over the remaining months of the loan in accordance with the newly drawn schedule that the customers can receive through the pre-selected communication method they have selected.

Ameriabank continues urging all its customers to use the Bank’s Remote Service and 24/7 Contact Center by calling +374 10 561111”, reads the statement.

8 cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) have been confirmed in Armenia since March 1, 2020 

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan

Pashinyan and wife test negative for coronavirus

Jagharian Tania

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 17:29,

YEREVAN, MARCH 14, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and his spouse Anna Hakobyan tested negative for the novel coronavirus.

Pashinyan and his wife had gone into self-quarantine on March 13th after a media report said the Brazilian president had the virus. Anna Hakobyan had a meeting with the Brazilian First Lady days earlier.

The report on the Brazilian president’s health condition was refuted afterwards, but Pashinyan and his wife however chose to stay self-quarantined and take the test as a precaution.

The tests came back negative.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

State Department: Armenia experiences significant problems with independence of judiciary

Jagharian Tania
News.am, Armenia

12:43, 12.03.2020
                  

Armenia’s significant human rights issues included torture; arbitrary detention, harsh and life-threatening prison conditions, 2019 Reports on Human Rights Practices reads.

The report was issued by the State Department on March 11. The report also refers to the 2018 parliamentary elections in Armenia that were held with respect for fundamental freedoms.

“Significant human rights issues included: torture; arbitrary detention, although with fewer reports; harsh and life-threatening prison conditions; arbitrary interference with privacy; significant problems with the independence of the judiciary; crimes involving violence or threats of violence targeting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or intersex (LGBTI) persons; and use of forced or compulsory child labor,” the report says.

“The government took steps to investigate and punish alleged abuses by former and current government officials and law enforcement authorities. For example, throughout the year, an investigation continued into the culpability of former high-ranking government officials surrounding events that led to the deaths of eight civilians and two police officers during postelection protests in 2008.”

The report also mentions deaths in the army. It is noted that human rights NGOs voiced concern regarding the Defense Ministry’s classification of military deaths and the practice of qualifying many noncombat deaths as suicides, making it less likely that abuses would be uncovered and investigated. In response to demands from families whose sons died in the army under noncombat conditions, the government established a working group consisting of NGOs and individual experts to examine five past cases and identify systemic problems.

Lawyer Ruben Melikyan reports violation by Pashinyan in constitutional referendum ‘Yes’ campaign

Jagharian Tania
Panorama, Armenia

Lawyer Ruben Melikyan, who is leading the campaign for a “No” vote in Armenia’s constitutional referendum, promises to records all violations committed by representatives of the constitutional referendum “Yes” campaign.

“From today on, [Prime Minister] Nikol Pashinyan is on vacation and, according to his statement, he is going to campaign for constitutional changes.

Here a question arises: Does Armenian citizen N. Pashinyan have the right to use a state helicopter to travel to southern Syunik Province for the purpose of campaigning there?

Obviously no, since the “No” campaign representatives have no opportunity to make use of those resources and domestic aviation in general,” the lawyer said on Facebook.

“Dear My Step members, when are you going to say “No” to the daily breaches of the law?” he added.

Earlier on Tuesday PM Nikol Pashinyan said he was taking a vacation to fully engage in the campaign for a “Yes” vote in the referendum.

He was set to campaign in Syunik Province on Tuesday morning, announcing visits to Meghri, Kajaran, Kapan and Tegh.


Armenpress: Nearly 3.1 trillion AMD deposits in Armenia’s banks: 1 trillion AMD are non-resident deposits

Jagharian Tania

Nearly 3.1 trillion AMD deposits in Armenia’s banks: 1 trillion AMD are non-resident deposits

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 11:32, 3 March, 2020

YEREVAN, MARCH 3, ARMENPRESS. The volume of deposits in Armenia continues growing, last year it increased 19%. Moreover, this year 1 trillion from the nearly 3.1 trillion AMD loans are non-resident deposits, Andranik Grigoryan – head of the department of financial stability and development at the Central Bank, told Armenpress.

“We have approximately 3.1 trillion drams in deposits, of which nearly 1trillion drams are non-resident deposits. Only in 2019 we had a nearly 19% growth in deposits which is quite a good dynamics. Even during the deep economic crisis we haven’t had decline in deposits, we also had growth, even in 2009, 2014 and during the political processes in 2018”, he said.

There was a nearly 10.7% growth in deposits in late 2018.

Commenting on the reports according to which during the 2018 Revolution days some people withdrew their deposits from banks, Girgoryan said in the beginning of 2018 when the political movements started there was a certain outflow. “But these could have been the deposits of non-residents. These deposits were not withdrawn and taken to other place, they again returned back in 3-4 months. And at that time we even had a 10% growth. This was quite a good figure and speaks about the trust towards the financial system and the banking sector”, Grigoryan said.

The CBA official said everything can have an effect on the financial stability, but it doesn’t mean that Armenia has a financial instability. “Our feature is that we had quite a good capitalized financial system, and the banks were enjoying trust among investors and clients. And this trust helped our financial system to easily overcome the year of 2018, and not only that year, in 2009 we had a nearly 23% devaluation, in 2014 nearly 15% devaluation”, he said.

Grigoryan said the financial system’s average capital adequacy ratio in Armenia is approximately 17% which is quite high. The minimum is set at 12%. The minimum level in Europe is 8%. The CBA official assures that Armenia’s financial system is quite liquid to serve every demand of clients, at the same time in case of losses it has quite a big capital to absorb potential losses.

Interview by Anna Grigoryan

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan




Armenia Justice Minister responds to MPs criticizing amendments to Judicial Code

Jagharian Tania
News.am, Armenia
March 4 2020

15:45, 04.03.2020
                  

In his closing speech during a discussion on the draft law on making amendments to the Constitutional Law “Judicial Code” and the attached draft laws in parliament today, Minister of Justice of Armenia Rustam Badasyan stated that the draft laws will provide the opportunity to fight against corruption in the judiciary effectively and not undermine the independence of the judiciary at the same time.

Touching upon the observation of head of Bright Armenia faction Edmon Marukyan and the faction’s MP Taron Simonyan that this draft law will lead to the creation of a judiciary dependent on the government, the minister asked the MPs to state which body the judiciary will be dependent on when judges comprise the Ethics and Disciplinary Committee, the Supreme Judicial Council and other bodies.

Badasyan addressed the opposition MPs and independent MP Arman Babajanyan and stated the following: “During the first-second readings, bring a version that will solve the problems facing the judiciary better, and the ruling party will definitely accept it, but under the condition that it doesn’t contradict the Constitution,” Badasyan said.

Turkish host tells foreign nationals, including Armenians, to get out of Turkey

Jagharian Tania
Panorama, Armenia
March 4 2020
Politics 14:52 04/03/2020Region

The host of one of the local television stations in Turkey’s Urfa Province has made xenophobic statements.

Trying to justify the Turkish military operations in Syria’s Idlib, he called on foreign nationals living in Turkey, including Armenians, to get out of the the country, Ermenihaber reported.

“There may be people who think that this country is not their homeland and they don’t belong to this nation. This is a wonderful opportunity for them. As long as the borders are open to refugees, you, too, can disguise as refugees and leave the country,” he said.

“You can say: I am not the son of this country, I am a Russian grandson, a son of a German, a grandson of an Englishman, an Armenian… If so, the borders are open, get out of here, go!” he said.