Author: Jagharian Tania

Release of Armenian journalist’s murderer continues to spark outcry in Turkey

Jagharian Tania
MEDYA News
Nov 17 2023
1:13 pm 17/11/2023


The release of Ogün Samast, the convicted murderer of prominent Armenian journalist and editor-in-chief of Agos newspaper, Hrant Dink, continues to stir debate in Turkey on its second day. Samast’s early release, attributed to ‘good behaviour’, starkly contrasts with the ongoing detention of individuals who have not committed violent crimes, underscoring a disparity in the judicial system as noted by several observers.

The Agos newspaper questioned the resolution of the broader issues surrounding the case. “The matter is inherently grave. Yet, we must ask ourselves: [Hrant Dink’s widow] Rakel Dink, following the murder, made a striking statement about Samast [a minor at the time of the crime]: ‘The darkness that turns a baby into a killer’. We ask: Has this darkness been illuminated? We highly doubt it,” the editorial stated.

It also highlighted a missed opportunity for a more comprehensive sentence: “The lawyers of the Dink Family had also sought a sentence for ‘organisational membership’ for Samast and his co-accused. The court made a decision in this direction, but since the membership was charged under Article 220, the First Penal Chamber of the Court of Cassation led the case to expire due to the statute of limitations. Thus, Samast did not receive an additional sentence. However, the Dink Family lawyers had sought organisational membership under Article 314, which would have resulted in a longer prison term for Samast.”

The editorial concluded by emphasising that “a similar atmosphere of darkness still prevails in our country. Many dissidents are easily targeted by power circles and their media. Unbelievable accusations are made daily against Osman Kavala and the Gezi detainees. A similar situation applies to other opposition politicians and human rights defenders. Above all, we are in an environment where even the Constitutional Court is accused of ‘terrorism’ and ‘political activism’.”

Rakel Dink addressed these concerns at the 100th Year of the Republic: Minority Rights conference. “The pursuit of justice in Hrant’s murder case was not about whether a person received a few years more or less in prison. From day one, we said it was necessary to question the darkness. Finding justice in this case is essential for the democratisation of our country. Now, should we say ‘this decision is auspicious for our country?'” she remarked.

In response to Samast’s release, protests and statements were made at the former Agos office. Sera Kadıgil, an MP from the Workers’ Party of Turkey (TİP), spoke at the scene, describing Samast as “merely a pawn” and stressing the unresolved nature of the murder.

The release has also raised questions about the broader implications for Turkey’s judicial system and its approach to minority rights. Nuriye Alsancak from the Left Party, speaking at the protest, criticised the government’s handling of the case and the ongoing challenges faced by political dissidents and human rights defenders in the country.

A statement from the Labour Party (EMEP) said: “Gültan Kışanak, Can Atalay, Osman Kavala, and many others haven’t killed anyone, yet they are held without reason. Hrant Dink’s murderer, on the other hand, has been protected from the start and now has been released.”

Former Minister of Culture and Tourism Ertuğrul Günay also expressed his dismay at this development, highlighting the irony of Samast’s release: “Journalist Hrant Dink’s killer was released today. Meanwhile, people who haven’t committed any crimes and whose charges remain unclear are still detained. Where there is no justice, there can neither be peace nor prosperity.”

Journalist and Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (HEDEP) MP Cengiz Çandar voiced a similar, ironic sentiment:  “Osman Kavala, who never touched a weapon, received aggravated life imprisonment. Selahattin Demirtaş chose the Turkish Grand National Assembly over weapons. He’s in prison. European Court of Human Rights decisions are not applied to either of them. Ogün Samast, who was imprisoned for murdering Hrant Dink, is now free. It’s possible. Turkey is a rule of law state and the judiciary is independent!”

https://medyanews.net/release-of-armenian-journalists-murderer-continues-to-spark-outcry-in-turkey/

Armenia’s main trading partner turns its back on it – horticulture will heavily greatly impacted

Jagharian Tania
Nov 11 2023
by EastFruit11 Nov 230136

EastFruit experts draw attention to a number of sequential events that have a negative impact on Armenia’s ability to export its fruits and vegetables, as well as other types of goods. Moreover, these events surprisingly coincide with the cooling of relations between Armenia and Russia, which the Armenian leadership actively accuses of failure to fulfill obligations on Karabakh.

What kind of events are these? First of all, this is an announcement about unexpected road repairs on Upper Lars, which is the only route for the delivery of goods from Armenia to Russia. Repairing this mountainous road in the winter makes no logical sense and this is why such an announcement is suspicious. The only alternative route goes through Azerbaijan, which means that Armenians will have to spend much more to export via that road, and secondly, this road goes via the country with which, until recently, Armenia was in an active phase of war, meaning that chances of using it are not so high. Here’s another coincidence –  Russi suddenly discovered unspecified “dangerous viruses” in tomatoes supplied from Armenia. Therefore, it is possible that this will be followed by a ban on the supply of products. They never bothered to even specify the types of viruses.

Read also: Georgia imported large volumes of blueberries from Ukraine – what’s wrong with this fact?

According to EastFruit, 94% of all fruit and vegetable exports from Armenia are exported to Russia, with 35% of all export revenue coming from greenhouse tomatoes. In addition to tomatoes, Armenia exports to the Russian market fresh strawberries, sweet peppers, table grapes, apricots, cabbages, culinary herbs, apples, peaches, nectarines, cherries, as well as nuts, primarily hazelnuts. Armenia currently does not have alternative markets for the exports of these goods, except for hazelnuts, which can be supplied to the EU. Naturally, we should expect that Armenia will try to increase exports to the markets of Georgia, Ukraine, and Moldova, where its products are not subject to import duties, but these countries are also large exporters, and these markets have completely different price realities. It will be theoretically possible to sell Armenian products to EU countries such as Bulgaria and Romania, but subject to an increase in quality, which can’t be achieved quickly and a significant reduction in prices. Consequently, impact on horticulture of Armenia could be significant.

Let us recall that Armenia recently demonstratively ratified the Rome Statute, which implies, in particular, the obligation to arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin in the event of his arrival in Armenia for extradition to the International Criminal Court (ICC), where Putin is held as a suspect, and the ICC has issued a warrant for his arrest.

EastFruit
https://east-fruit.com/en/news/armenias-main-trading-partner-turns-its-back-on-it-horticulture-will-heavily-greatly-impacted/

AW: His Holiness Aram I raises ethnic cleansing of Artsakh’s Armenian Christians with US House Speaker Mike Johnson

Jagharian Tania
 ANCA ANCA News 0

His Holiness Aram I led Armenian clergy and lay leaders from thePrelacies of Eastern U.S., Western U.S. and Canada in meetings on Capitol Hill

WASHINGTON, D.C.—His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia of the Armenian Apostolic Church, today called for American leadership in aiding Artsakh’s 100,000 Armenian Christian refugees, during discussions with U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), and a dozen U.S. Representatives, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia of the Armenian Apostolic Church meeting with U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, Rep. Adam Schiff and U.S. House Chaplain Rev. Dr. Margaret Grun Kibben, prior to offering the Nov. 9 opening prayer

“We warmly welcome His Holiness Aram I’s constructive consultations with Congressional leaders – among them Speaker Johnson and former Speaker Pelosi,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “A global ambassador for Armenian aspirations and inter-faith understanding, His Holiness represents a powerful voice for justice in Washington and in capitals around the world.”

The Armenian pontiff was on Capitol Hill at the invitation of Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and served as Guest Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Speaker Mike Johnson gaveled in the November 9 session of the U.S. House of Representatives, where His Holiness Aram I offered the opening prayer at the invitation of Rep. Adam Schiff

After a meeting in the Capitol with Speaker Johnson, Rep. Schiff, and U.S. House Chaplain Rev. Dr. Margaret Grun Kibben, His Holiness Aram I offered the opening prayer at today’s U.S. House of Representatives session.  In his prayer, he noted, “Help us, God of Mercy, remember in our prayers more than one hundred thousand Armenian refugees who were recently forced to leave Nagorno Karabakh, their centuries old homeland…” The prayer was televised on CSPAN and streamed live on the ANCA’s social media channels, available here.

In remarks on the U.S. House floor, Rep. Schiff welcomed His Holiness Aram I to Congress, noting that “his unwavering commitment to the values of faith, community, and compassion embodies the spirit of our vibrant Armenian community.”  Rep. Schiff went on to stress that His Holiness Aram I’s “support for humanitarian issues, advocacy for human rights, engagement in several educational and cultural initiatives, and promotion of interfaith understanding have left an indelible mark making the world a better place for all.”

Following the prayer, His Holiness Aram I met with Speaker Pelosi, House Democratic Whip Representative Katherine Clark (D-MA), and Representatives Jim Costa (D-CA), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Young Kim (R-CA), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Dina Titus (D-NV), at a reception hosted by the ANCA. His Holiness also met separately with Rep. Jerry Carl (R-AL).  The Armenian pontiff praised members of the Congressional Armenian Staff Association in attendance, for their efforts to educate elected officials on Armenian American concerns.

His Holiness Aram I led Armenian clergy in singing a moving rendition of The Lord’s Prayer in Armenian at the Capitol Prayer Room, adjacent to the rotunda

Prior to leaving the Capitol, His Holiness Aram I led fellow clergy in a moving rendition of The Lord’s Prayer, sung in Armenian in the Congressional Prayer Room near the rotunda in the United States Capitol.

During his visit to the U.S. Capitol, Catholicos Aram I was accompanied by His Eminence Archbishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Prelate of the Eastern U.S. Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America; His Eminence Archbishop Papken Tcharian, Prelate of the Canadian Prelacy; His Grace Bishop Torkom Donoyan, Prelate of the Western U.S. Prelacy; Very Rev. Fr. Sahag Yemishian, Vicar General of the Eastern U.S. Prelacy; Very Rev. Fr. Hovagim Panjarjian, head of the Catholicosate Media Department; Very Rev. Fr. Sarkis Aprahamian, head of the Middle East and Christian-Islam dialogue section of the Ecumenical Department of the Catholicosate; Mr. Stepan Der Bedrosian, co-chair of the Central Executive Council of the Catholicosate; Leaders of the Executive Councils of the Eastern U.S. Prelacy, Western U.S. Prelacy, and Canadian Prelacy; as well ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian and members of the ANCA Washington DC Staff.

His Holiness Aram I with members of Congress, Armenian clergy and lay leaders from the Prelacies of Eastern U.S., Western U.S. and Canada and ANCA advocates

His Holiness Aram I arrived in Washington, DC earlier this week, the first stop in his visit to the Eastern Prelacy, continuing his mission to revitalize Diasporan life through the various fields of activity of the Cilician Catholicosate prelacies.

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The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is the largest and most influential Armenian-American grassroots organization. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters and supporters throughout the United States and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCA actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.


Armenia reinforces air defense with Indian ZADS anti-drone systems

Jagharian Tania
Army Recognition
Nov 9 2023
Defense News November 2023 Global Security army industry

According to information reported by the Indian news site Euarasiantimes.com, Armenia is strengthening its defense capabilities by signing a $41 million contract with India to acquire ZADS anti-drone military equipment. This new arms agreement is part of deepening bilateral relations between the two nations, which have intensified in recent years.

Armenia is strengthening its defense capabilities by signing a $41 million contract with India to acquire ZADS anti-drone military equipment (Picture source: ZEN)

Yerevan has concluded a deal with the Indian company Zen Technologies to supply the Zen Anti-Drone System (ZADS). The deal includes the delivery of an unspecified number of ZADS units and the maintenance and training of Armenian military personnel. Zen Technologies also plans to open an office in Armenia to facilitate these operations. Zen Technologies is a Hyderabad, India-based company specializing in the design and manufacturing of advanced simulation systems and drone countermeasures solutions.

Zen Technologies' Zen Anti-Drone System (ZADS) is a countermeasure solution to unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS). It is designed to detect and neutralize hostile drones by disrupting their communication with the ground control station. The ZADS is equipped with a radio frequency (RF) detector, a jammer, as well as antennas dedicated to jamming and detection. It also integrates a video-based drone identification and tracking (VDIT) system.

With a 5 km detection port and a 4 km detection capacity, the ZADS can simultaneously detect the signals of the global satellite navigation system (GNSS), the industrial, scientific, and medical radio bands (ISM), and the signals móviles. All frequencies are intercepted. This function allows you to deactivate the conflict between a hostile aerial vehicle (UAV) and the solar control station, meaning that the drone returns to its mission or returns to its base.

This acquisition comes in a context where the Armenian army is seeking to improve its air defense, particularly after the intensive use of drones by the Azerbaijani army, manufactured in Turkey and Israel, during the recent attack on Nagorno-Krabagh in September 2023.

As of September 2022, contracts worth $245 million have already been signed between Armenia and India for the purchase of Pinaka Mk-1 systems of multiple launch rockets, anti-tank rockets, and Indian ammunition. In November of the same year, an additional $155 million deal was reached for the delivery of Indian ATAGS (Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System) 155-millimeter howitzers to the Armenian army.

Pinaka is a multiple rocket launcher produced in India and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the Indian Army. The system has a maximum range of 40 km for Mark-I and 60 km for the Mark-I enhanced version and can fire a salvo of 12 HE rockets in 44 seconds. The system is mounted on a Tatra truck for mobility. Pinaka saw service during the Kargil War, where it was successful in neutralizing enemy positions on the mountaintops. It has since been inducted into the Indian Army in large numbers. About 5,000 missiles are being produced every year while an advanced variant is under development with enhanced range and accuracy. In 2019, an upgraded guided-missile version of the system had been test-fired, with a range of over 90 km.

The Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) is a cutting-edge towed howitzer developed in India. This artillery system was designed between 2013 and 2017 by a consortium of Indian organizations, including the Armament Research and Development Establishment, Tata Advanced Systems, and Kalyani Strategic Systems. The manufacturing of ATAGS began in 2019, with key players such as Advanced Weapons and Equipment India, Bharat Forge, and Tata Power SED contributing to its production.

If you would like to know more about the delivery of the ATAGS and Pinaka Mk-1, do not hesitate to consult the article written by the Army Recognition Group editorial team dated October 30, 2023.

Historically, India and Armenia have enjoyed friendly relations, and this support intensified following the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, where India's regional enemy Pakistan openly supported Azerbaijan.

As for the transfer of arms, it is reported that the military equipment sold by India to Armenia was transported through the Iranian corridor. Iran, which shares borders with Armenia and Azerbaijan, has historically maintained a neutral position, but with tilts favorable to Armenia, notably due to the presence of a large Armenian community in Iran and mutual distrust of Turkish expansionism in the region. This Iranian corridor provides a vital passage for Armenia, landlocked and blocked by its borders with Turkey and Azerbaijan, allowing a logistical route for the import of military equipment and other essential resources.

Historically dependent on Russia for its supplies of arms and ammunition, Armenia is diversifying its sources of supply, in particular, due to the deterioration of Russian-Armenian relations and Russia's involvement in the conflict with Ukraine. Armenian leaders have expressed frustration over Moscow's inability to honor post-2020 defense contracts.

Additionally, as reported by the Army Recognition editorial team on October 24, 2023, Armenia recently signed two arms contracts with France, including the purchase of three Ground Master 200 radar systems from Thales and a letter of intent for the future acquisition of French short-range surface-to-air missiles. Although financial details and delivery dates have not been disclosed, these agreements demonstrate the growing support of France, which has a large Armenian diaspora, and India, which supports Armenia in its conflict with Azerbaijan.

A never-before-seen side of David Galstyan’s art

Jagharian Tania
November 8, 2023 Hena Aposhian Art 0

YEREVAN—Armenia-based photographer and artist David Galstyan’s latest exhibition Nebula is “a story of alchemy: how the mundane transforms into a cosmic phenomenon,” in his words, offering a unique take on the so-called mundane, everyday elements of life. On the day of the opening ceremony of the exhibition on October 28, the moon was passing into the earth’s shadow, creating a partial lunar eclipse. This coincidental alignment made the exhibition even more enchanting and magical, leaving the guests in awe of both the artworks and the overall atmosphere at Latitude Art Space in Yerevan.

Running for two weeks, the exhibition contains over 40 scanographies, each one containing a piece of the home of the Armenian people. As Galstyan put it, the components of the artworks are “anything that is gathered from the ground. I have found these things in my own land. They represent my culture in its most grounded and physical way.” Although each art piece is open for interpretation, abstracted elements of fire, dirt, tree branches and more can be found in them. “To take something unimportant or something ordinary and to showcase it for it to gain life and form and for others to see. Something you step on – to see its beauty,” the artist reflected.

Born and raised in Yerevan, Galstyan studied acting at the State Theatre Institute in Yerevan. It did not take long for Galstyan to find his calling. “After serving in the army, I changed my path and began to express myself through photography,” he said. “I changed my path and found photography more close to my heart.”

For over a decade now, Galstyan’s works have been exhibited both locally and internationally, including at the Emerging Arts Exhibition in New York in 2012, the sixth Beijing International Art Biennale in 2015, the “Hello World. Revising a Collection” Berlin exhibition at Nationalgalerie Hamburger Bahnhof-Museum fur Gegenwart in 2018 and more. Galstyan was also the cameraman for Lucine Talalyan’s experimental film Post DIY, Adrine Grigoryan’s documentary film Bavakan and the Turkish documentary film A Piece of Armenia. 

“Art allows us to raise questions that otherwise we cannot. Art allows us to raise questions that other fields may not allow,” Galstyan said regarding the role of art in society. At the core of his beliefs, he thinks that in many ways, art reminds people not to think inside of a box. Reflecting on Nebula, the artist admitted, “I cannot say what the influence will be, because we have to allow people to integrate and process that which they saw.”

Galstyan’s technique for the exhibition was scanography. For the creation of each art piece, the artist used a basic scanner, but with a slightly different method than the norm – he chose not to close the top of the scanner. By leaving the scanner open, the information that each piece contains is infinite. There is no limitation on what each piece represents or how it is interpreted. “Because I cannot limit myself to a specific niche, this is an _expression_ of this period of my life, as simple as something that reflects my current times,” he said. 

Galstyan’s studio is at the Art Factory, which is in the same building as the Latitude Art Space. Latitude is an Art Space by the Yerevan Biennial Art Foundation (YBAF), whose mission is to showcase and support Armenian art. Galstyan is the newest member of the foundation, and this was his first exhibition with YBAF.

Latitude Art Space invites everyone to come and check out this exhibition, “where the mundane transcends into cosmic marvels, inviting us to ponder the magic within the every day.” It will run until November 11, and visitors can view the exhibit between Thursday-Saturday from 2:00-7:00 p.m. All the artworks featured in the exhibition are for sale, and a portion of proceeds will go to help families in need from Artsakh.

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Hena Aposhian is a freelance journalist who primarily focuses on Armenian arts & culture. She is a graduate of the American University of Armenia and holds a bachelor's degree in English & Communications.


Armenpress: Armenian Church holds meeting of Supreme Spiritual Council

Jagharian Tania

 10:07, 1 November 2023

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. The meeting of the Supreme Spiritual Council of the Armenian Apostolic Church began on October 31 in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

The assembly is chaired by Catholicos Karekin II and will be held for four days.

In a press release, the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin said that issues pertaining to the post-war challenges facing Armenia and the issues of the forcibly displaced Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh will be discussed during the assembly. The clergy will also discuss issues related to the preservation of the spiritual-cultural heritage of Nagorno-Karabakh, and the spiritual, educational and social mission of the Church.

BTA. International Conference on Cyber Threats and Solutions Held in Sofia

Jagharian Tania

 15:44,

SOFIA, OCTOBER 31, ARMENPRESS/BTA.An international conference on "Cyber Threats and Solutions: Safeguarding Europe's Digital Landscape" was held here on Tuesday. Attending were leading experts, politicians, and representatives of specialized units in the field of cybersecurity in the EU. The forum was organized by the Center for the Study of Democracy and  Konrad Adenauer Foundation. 

Following are sound bites from the conference.

Deputy Interior Minister Stoyan Temelakiev: The risk of computer crimes is a threat to both the public and the private sectors. Reporting cybercrimes is the path to a safer digital environment. It is important to report such crimes; otherwise, the real threat level remains hidden from the competent bodies and the criminals might evade justice.

Jan Kralik, Programme Manager at the Council of Europe Cybercrime Division: Cybercrime is a threat not only to organizations and institutions but also to human rights and rule of law. It can erode the foundations of democracy, for example through interference in elections. It is important to report cybercrimes to the competent institutions because a large part of them remain unsolved due to not being reported by the victims. Cyberattacks have increased in frequency after the the start of the war in Ukraine, and they are a challenge on a world scale that require work across the globe, not just in Europe.

(This information is being published according to an agreement between Armenpress and BTA.) 




Yerevan Hands Protest Note to Moscow Over ‘Insulting’ Program on Russia’s State-Run TV

Jagharian Tania
by Asbarez Staff

 

 October 24, 2023

 

in Armenia, Artsakh, Featured Story, Latest, News, Top Stories

A graphic featured on the Russian Channel One Program shows George Soros as a puppet master of Pashinyan and his government


Russian State-Run Television Airs Program Disparaging Pashinyan and Saying Russia Should Control the “Zangezur Corridor”

The escalation of tensions between Armenia and Russia took on new form when Russia’s state-run Channel One aired an hour-long program criticizing Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan for his government’s handling of the Artsakh issue, and, among other issues, advancing the imperative for the opening of the so-called “Zangezur Corridor” to be controlled by Russia.

The program, which aired on Monday evening, was deemed so “insulting” that Armenia’s Foreign Ministry handed a protest note to Russia after summoning its ambassador to Armenia Sergey Kopyrkin on Tuesday.

“In connection with the program aired on October 23 on the all-Russian federal TV channel Channel One, during which insulting and absolutely unacceptable statements were made against high-ranking officials of the Republic of Armenia, Armenia’s Foreign Ministry summoned Sergey Kopyrkin, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Armenia,” a statement by the foreign ministry said Tuesday when the protest note was also presented.

The growing rift between Moscow and Yerevan has also spilled into other facets of bi-lateral relations, with the Speaker of the Russian Duma, Viasheslav Volodin, announcing that it has tabled a measure that would recognize Armenia-issued drivers’ licenses as identification.

“We thought it appropriate to delay the [ratification of] the measure, which grant additional privileges [to Armenian citizens], since Armenia’s National Assembly members and the government have not taken any steps on the issue of the status of the Russian language,” Volodin said.

He explained that Belarus and Kyrgyzstan have also determined the status of Russian language in their countries through Constitutional amendments.

Then on Monday Channel One, the leading state-run television channel, aired an hour-long program entitled “Nikol Pashinyan: The Bearer of Calamity,” in which Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and his circle, including National Security Chief Armen Grigoryan and Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan were labeled as “Soros agents,” referring to the American billionaire George Soros whose “democracy-building” contributions to emerging democracies have caused domestic havoc in some of the recipient countries.

The program did not shy away from emphasizing the more than 30 billion-ruble (over $320 million) annual funding Armenia receives from Moscow, as well as that four Russian military basis operating in Armenia where some 4,000 Russian border units are deployed, Azatutyun.am reported having translated the content of the show.

As relations have worsened between the two countries, Russia has signaled its support for the controversial land corridor from Azerbaijan to Nakhichevan through Armenia—a move Yerevan vehemently opposed and called an infringement on Armenia’s sovereign territory.

The Channel One program also featured a government official who, according to Azatutyun.am, claimed to have participated in meetings of the deputy prime ministers of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, who are tasked with untangling the transport routes between the two countries and the more complex task of delimiting and demarcating the borders.

The Russian official featured on the program did not mince words when asserting that Russia’s goal and desire is to take control of the so-called road connecting Azerbaijan to Nakhichevan.

“The 45-kilometer [almost 15 miles] road, called the Zangezur Corridor, has to be built,” the official said on the Channel One program. “We don’t understand why Armenia is against it.”

Canadian Foreign Minister visits Armenian troops near border with Azerbaijan

Jagharian Tania

 12:10,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 26, ARMENPRESS. Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly has visited an Armenian military position outside Jermuk to become acquainted with the situation on the border with Azerbaijan.

Commander of the 5th Army Corps of the Armed Forces of Armenia Colonel Sasun Badasyan presented the situation to the Canadian Foreign Minister and briefed her on the Azerbaijani occupation of sovereign Armenian territory in that section.

Badasyan said that Azerbaijan invaded and captured 7600 hectares of territory in that section of Vayots Dzor province in 2022.

Bombs falling, families fleeing, civilians in danger: Not Israel or Gaza, but Armenia | Opinion

Jagharian Tania
AOL
Oct 20 2023
SEVAG TATEOSIAN
at 8:25 PM

Imagine waiting for your children to arrive home from school, just as they did every day. Imagine you going about your day like it was no different than any other. Then imagine hearing bombs overhead and seeing buildings being destroyed in your neighborhood. Left with no choice, imagine fleeing your home, leaving everything behind. No, I am not talking about Ukraine, Israel or Gaza.

I am talking about the ethnic cleansing campaign ordered by Azerbaijani oil-rich dictator Ilham Aliyev against the indigenous Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh-Artsakh. You probably didn’t see much about this topic on the news channels. You probably also didn’t hear that there was a blockade by the Aliyev regime of the only road leading to this territory, causing a medieval style humanitarian crisis, which included hunger, malnutrition and even starvation of an innocent group of people.

Using weapons purchased from Turkey, Pakistan and Israel, Azeri dictator Ilham Aliyev, who once won his election before Azerbaijanis even voted (Washington Post reported …Azerbaijan’s election authorities released vote results – a full day before voting had started), pounded the self-autonomous region of Nagorno-Karabakh-Artsakh where Armenians had been living over 2,000 years. Several ancient Armenian churches tell a story of a civilization that had deep roots in the area. The Azerbaijani regime has already called for the re-purposing of several of these churches and the destruction of others.

Within a span of less than a week, 100,000 to 120,000 ethnic Armenians left their homes and fled to Armenia through the Armenian city Goris, a town of approximately 20,000. The latest numbers suggest that 30,000 of those who fled were children.

I had an opportunity to speak to Ruzanna Torozyan, executive director of Winnet Goris Development Foundation. Torozyan’s organization has been working in Goris for 15 years to support economic and political empowerment of women in Armenia through establishment and development of women’s resource centers. She had never seen anything like this.

Refugees had been driving for days to get to Goris, a ride that usually took a few hours. People arrived scared, exhausted, malnourished and psychologically crushed. Most of those arriving were women, children and the elderly. Men had stayed back to help refugees evacuate.

Opinion

Torozyan, who witnessed firsthand several dead bodies covered with blankets in vehicles of refugees who died in transit, told me hotels were full and kindergartens, schools and churches became shelters to house people. Winnet Goris is still helping several families of refugees, but because Goris doesn’t have the infrastructure in place to accommodate most of the refugees, almost all left to bigger cities.

In the northern Armenian city of Vanadzor, far from the southern border where refugees were crossing, Armine Hovannisian, acting director of Orran, told me that although Orran’s mission is to help the children in need in Armenia, when Aliyev first attacked in 2020, they knew they had to expand their mission. When they began witnessing the refugees crossing, Orran began preparing emergency help of food baskets, blankets, sleeping bags and clothing.

It took refugees a few days but some made it to northern Armenia and to Orran. In an email, Hovannisian told me that the women and some of the children could not stop crying — some because they told their stories, others because they were either grateful or could not believe that now they were at the mercy of assistance. The current needs of Orran and the refugees include: food, bedding, winter heating, help with rent, winter shoes, clothing, baby milk, diapers and hygienic supplies. In November, Orran will host a fundraiser in Southern California to help fund the needs of the refugees.

Although no one individual or organization can speak to exactly the horrors of what the 120,000 people witnessed, one thing is for certain, what Azerbaijan has done is a violation of international law, according to many experts. On Oct. 5, the European Parliament approved a resolution saying the current situation implemented by Azerbaijan amounts to ethnic cleansing.

Locally, the bipartisan congressional delegation of Jim Costa (D-Fresno), David Valadao (R-Hanford) and Tom McClintock (R-Elk Grove) have urged the Biden administration to work with the United Nations Security Council in establishing a peacekeeping mission to protect the Armenian population. Many members of the Congress have condemned Azerbaijan.

One of the saddest parts about this situation is that hundreds of millions of United States dollars have gone to Azerbaijan for “security and defense aid” in the past years. In 2018-19 for example, $100 million of our tax dollars were sent to Azerbaijan. Is it a coincidence that Aliyev ordered a major offensive against the Armenians in 2020? I wonder how much of the “security and defense aid” we sent went to kill innocent Armenian men, women and children.

Sevag Tateosian of Fresno is host or producer of San Joaquin Spotlight on CMAC Comcast 93 and Att 99 and TalkRadio 1550 KXEX.

https://www.aol.com/bombs-falling-families-fleeing-civilians-172547641.html