Wednesday,
Another Armenian Town Sealed Off Due To Coronavirus Outbreak
• Narine Ghalechian
Armenia -- Police officers enforcing a coronavirus lockdown check cars leaving
Yerevan, April 1, 2020.
Authorities blocked on Wednesday all roads leading to Vartenis, a small town 160
kilometers northeast of Yerevan, after registering 47 cases of coronavirus there
in recent days.
Acting on a government order, Armenia’s police and National Security Service
(NSS) set up roadblocks early in the morning to prevent people leaving or
entering Vartenis. Only vehicles carrying food, fuel and medicine as well as
individuals having special permissions issued by the regional administration
were allowed to pass through the checkpoints.
Gnel Sanosian, the governor of the surrounding Gegharkunik province, told
RFE/RL’s Armenian service that 21 of the infected people are employees of the
local hospital and policlinic. He said one of them, a policlinic doctor, was the
primary source of the COVID-19 outbreak recorded late last week.
“We still cannot establish where the disease entered Vartenis from,” said
Sanosian. “But have we have ascertained the circle of the infected people’s
contacts.”
Sanosian confirmed that some of the other local residents who tested positive
for coronavirus are members of a non-traditional religious group. He did not
deny rumors that the group, which he refused to name, has held religious
services despite a ban on any gatherings imposed by the Armenian government last
month.
“If necessary, relevant bodies will deal with that and we will find out where
those people went and in which gatherings they participated,” added the
governor. “Our main task right now is to treat and take care of everyone.”
As part of the one-week lockdown, the authorities quarantined 150 other Vartenis
residents who came into contact with the infected people. They will spend the
next two weeks in hotels in other parts of the country. Dozens of other locals
were ordered to self-isolate.
Another small town, Maralik, was sealed off for on Monday after 18 doctors and
other employees of a local hospital were diagnosed with the potentially lethal
disease. Three other Maralik residents are among 24 people who have died from
the virus in Armenia so far.
The Armenian Ministry of Health reported 72 new coronavirus cases across the
country in the past day. The total number of such cases thus reached 1,473.
According to the ministry, a total of 633 people recovered from COVID-19 to date.
Sarkisian’s Son-In-Law Indicted On Corruption Charges
• Ruzanna Stepanian
Armenia -- Mikael Minasyan.
Armenian tax authorities have brought corruption charges against Mikael
Minasian, former President Serzh Sarkisian’s son-in-law and reputed confidant
highly critical of the current government, it emerged on Wednesday.
The State Revenue Committee (SRC) gave no details of the accusations of illegal
enrichment, false asset disclosure and money laundering which were leveled
against him one month ago. Minasian’s lawyers rejected them as unfounded and
politically motivated.
Minasian served as Armenia’s ambassador to the Vatican from 2013 to 2018. He was
sacked in November 2018 six months after Sarkisian was toppled in the “Velvet
Revolution” led by Nikol Pashinian, the current prime minister.
Minasian, 42, enjoyed considerable political and economic influence in the
country throughout Sarkisian’s decade-long rule. He is also thought to have
developed extensive business interests in various sectors of the Armenian
economy.
One of the defense lawyers, Amram Makinian, said the money laundering charge
stems from large sums of cash which Minasian transferred from one of his bank
accounts to another in 2017-2018. He declined to specify the total amount of
that money.
“The investigating body has noted that documents at his disposal prove the legal
origin of the money and that money resulted from the sale of his stake in a
property,” Makinian told RFE/RL’s Armenian service. “The transfer of the
proceeds from the totally legal sale of those assets is now deemed money
laundering. This is one of the most pathetic accusations I have ever seen.”
The lawyer also insisted that the other accusations are based on a “technical
error” committed by the employee of a private firm which drew up and filed
Minasian’s income declarations. He said that SRC investigators are refusing to
summon that person for questioning.
“The investigating body and prosecutors realize that the criminal case will
collapse if they are interrogated,” claimed Makinian.
Vatican - Armenian Ambassador Mikael Minasian (R) speaks at an event during
President Serzh Sarkisian's visit to Rome, 19Sep2014.
In his first income declaration filed with a state body in 2013, Minasian said
that he owns an apartment in Yerevan, four villas and shares in two companies in
addition to having more than $2.5 million in cash in his bank accounts. He also
declared ownership of an expensive collection of more than 200 artworks.
In Makinian’s words, the investigators have asked a court in Yerevan to allow
his client’s arrest.
Minasian apparently left Armenia shortly after his sacking. Since then he has
increasingly attacked Armenia’s current leadership and Pashinian in particular
with articles posted on his Facebook page and disseminated by Armenian media
outlets believed to be controlled by him. He has accused the government of
incompetence and misrule.
For his part, Pashinian has repeatedly accused Minasian of illegally making a
huge fortune during Sarkisian’s rule. Pashinian most probably referred to
Sarkisian’s son-in-law when he pledged, during a November 2019 visit to Italy,
to bring to justice Armenia’s “best-known corrupt individuals” who he said are
“hiding in Vatican basements.”
In a January 11 article, Pashinian’s “Haykakan Zhamanak” daily accused Minasian
of masterminding a smear campaign against the prime minister family.
Minasian’s father Ara is a renowned doctor who ran a state hospital in Yerevan
until the Armenian Health Ministry accused him of embezzlement in July 2018. Ara
Minasian strongly denied the allegations. He apparently fled Armenia before
being formally charged in November 2018.
Sarkisian, who still leads the former ruling Republican Party of Armenia, is
also facing embezzlement charges which he rejects as politically motivated. The
ex-president’s trial began in late February.
Moscow Dismisses Complaints About Russian Gas Price For Armenia
Switzerland -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attends the Human Rights
Council at the United Nations in Geneva, February 25, 2020.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has defended Moscow’s reluctance to cut
the price of its natural gas supplied to Armenia and criticized Armenian
criminal investigations into major Russian companies operating in the country.
The Armenian government effectively requested a price cut in a letter to
Russia’s Gazprom giant sent late last month. The letter argued that
international oil prices, which essentially determine the cost of Russian gas
supplied to Europe, have fallen sharply due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian also discussed the matter by phone on March 31
with President Aleksandr Lukashenko of Belarus, which is also heavily dependent
on Russian gas. According to Lukashenko’s press office, the two men agreed that
the current gas prices set for their countries are “inflated.”
Lukashenko has since repeatedly complained that European Union member states are
now paying less for Russian gas than Belarus or Armenia, which are part of the
Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union (EEU).
Kazakhstan - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko (L) and Armenian Prime
Minister Nikol Pashinian talk at a CSTO summit in Astana, 8 November 2018.
Lavrov dismissed such complaints during a video conference on Tuesday. He argued
that unlike EU consumers, Armenia and Belarus buy Russian gas at fixed prices
that had been set well below international market-based levels.
“When the existing price for Armenia and Belarus was two or three times lower
than the international price this was taken for granted and nobody said that
it’s politics,” he said.
While acknowledging that the two ex-Soviet states allied to Russia are entitled
to privileged treatment by Gazprom Lavrov stressed that they must also honor
their “contractual obligations.”
Lavrov also said that internal gas prices set by Armenian utility regulators
make it harder for Gazprom to agree to a deeper discount. He complained that
this “chronic” problem is “not being solved for several years running.”
The retail prices have remained unchanged since Gazprom raised its wholesale
tariff for Armenia from $150 to $165 per thousand cubic meters in January 2019.
Armenia’s Gazprom-owned gas distribution network has incurred additional losses
as a result.
Last month the Gazprom Armenia network formally asked the Public Services
Regulatory Commission (PSRC) to allow a roughly 11 percent rise in the gas
prices set for Armenian households and businesses. The commission has to approve
or reject the application by June 19.
Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigorian said on April 15 that in response to his
letter Gazprom Chairman Alexei Miller indicated that it is up to the two
governments to agree on the new wholesale price. Pashinian discussed the issue
with Russian President Vladimir Putin in an April 6 phone call.
Lavrov mentioned that conversation, saying that Putin and Pashinian “see ways of
developing our alliance and strategic partnership.” But he did not clarify
whether the two leaders reached any agreements on the gas issue.
Armenia -- A commuter train at Yerevan's railway station, February 27, 2018.
The Russian minister promised that Moscow will continue to take into account
“our allied relations” in deciding the gas price for Armenia. But, he said,
Yerevan too should demonstrate its commitment to the Russian-Armenian alliance
by dropping “inappropriate” criminal proceedings launched against major Russian
corporations.
Lavrov singled out Armenia’s railway network managed by the Russia Railways
(RZD) giant.
An Armenian law-enforcement agency effectively accused the network called South
Caucasus Railway (SRC) of investment-related fraud after raiding its offices and
confiscating company documents in August 2018. Both SRC and its Russian operator
denied any wrongdoing.
Russia’s Deputy Transport Minister Vladimir Tokarev said last September that the
continuing criminal investigation has effectively disrupted RZD’s operations in
Armenia. He warned that the state-run company managing Russia’s vast network of
railways is therefore considering pulling out of a 30-year management contract
signed with the former Armenian government in 2008.
In late 2018, Armenian law-enforcement authorities also launched a fraud inquiry
into Gazprom’s Armenian subsidiary. They have not indicted any senior executives
of the gas and railways operators so far.
Armenian Opposition Demands Explanations On Karabakh Talks
• Ruzanna Stepanian
Germany -- Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian (R) and Azerbaijani President
Ilham Aliyev meet in Munich, February 15, 2020.
Armenian opposition leaders demanded on Wednesday that Prime Minister Nikol
Pashinian personally comment on Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s claim
that Yerevan and Baku are “actively discussing” peace proposals calling for
Armenian territorial concessions to Azerbaijan.
Lavrov said on Tuesday that he presented them to his Armenian and Azerbaijani
counterparts at a trilateral meeting held in Moscow a year ago. He said the
proposals envisage a phased settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict which
would start with Armenian withdrawal from “several districts around Karabakh.”
Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanian implicitly denied this. He insisted that
for the last two years the conflicting parties have only exchanged views on
“some elements” of peace deals put forward by the Russian, U.S. and French
mediators in the past.
Mnatsakanian’s assurances did not satisfy the two opposition parties represented
in the Armenian parliament. Their top representatives said Lavrov’s statement
runs counter to Pashinian’s repeated claims that no Karabakh peace accords have
been on the agenda of Armenian-Azerbaijani talks held during his rule.
“With all due respect for my good friend Zohrab Mnatsakanian, I must say that
his response was absolutely inadequate,” said Naira Zohrabian of the Prosperous
Armenia Party. “He did not answer the most serious and important question: what
active negotiations are they talking about?”
Armenia -- Edmon Marukian, the leader of Bright Armenia Party, talks to RFE/RL,
Yerevan, March 21, 2020.
“It is very important that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian also reacts,” said
Bright Armenia Party leader Edmon Marukian. “Our officials are saying that there
are only discussions, not negotiations, while Lavrov is saying that there are
negotiations and they center on a particular document.”
Marukian told RFE/RL’s Armenian service that Yerevan should not only “provide
explanations to our public” but also “demand explanations from the Russian side.”
Ruben Rubinian, the pro-government chairman of a parliament committee on foreign
affairs, insisted, however, Mnatsakanian’s response was good enough. “The
Armenian foreign mister told the truth yesterday,” he said.
In a joint statement issued in March 2019, the mediators reiterated that a
Karabakh settlement must involve “return of the territories surrounding
Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijani control; an interim status for Nagorno-Karabakh
providing guarantees for security and self-governance; a corridor linking
Armenia to Nagorno-Karabakh; future determination of the final legal status of
Nagorno-Karabakh through a legally binding expression of will.”
This formula has been at the heart of various framework peace accords drafted by
the U.S., Russian and French co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group since 2007.
Armenia, Azerbaijan Pledge To Keep Karabakh Peace Process Alive
Switzerland -- Foreign Ministers Zohrab Mnatsakanian of Armenia and Elmar
Mammadyarov of Azerbaijan and international mediators meet in Geneva, January
30, 2020.
Armenia’s and Azerbaijan’s foreign ministers pledged to continue looking for
ways to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict despite the coronavirus pandemic
during a joint video conference with international mediators held late on
Tuesday.
“Considering the great challenges now confronting all populations without regard
to political boundaries … the Foreign Ministers and the Co-Chairs [of the OSCE
Minsk Group] expressed the hope that the resolve seen in the global pandemic
response will bring a creative and constructive impetus to the peace process,”
read a joint statement issued by them.
“The Foreign Ministers and Co-Chairs agreed to remain in close contact and to
continue negotiations in person as soon as possible,” it said.
The statement said that the worldwide spread of the virus has delayed not only
such talks but also confidence-building “humanitarian measures” previously
agreed by the conflicting parties. “Nevertheless, the necessary work to prepare
these activities continues,” it stressed.
During the discussion, the U.S., Russian and French mediators co-heading the
Minsk Group also renewed their calls for the parties to “strictly” observe the
ceasefire in the conflict zone and “avoid provocative actions in the current
environment,” according to the statement.
Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanian and his Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar
Mammadyarov most recently met in the mediators’ presence in Geneva on January 30
for two days of what they called “intensive discussions.” In a joint statement,
they said they focused on “possible next steps to prepare the populations for
peace” and “principles and elements forming the basis of a future settlement.”
Two weeks later, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and Azerbaijan’s
President Ilham Aliyev held a brief meeting before participating in a panel
discussion on Karabakh held as part of an annual security conference in Munich.
Earlier on Tuesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that the two
sides have been actively discussing a peace plan which he presented to
Mnatsakanian and Mammadyarov at a trilateral meeting held in Moscow a year ago.
Lavrov said the plan calls for a phased settlement that would start with
Armenian withdrawal from “several districts around Karabakh.”
Mnatsakanian implicitly denied this at a news conference held in Yerevan shortly
afterwards. He insisted that for the last two years Baku and Yerevan have only
exchanged views on “some elements” of a possible peace deal.
Mnatsakanian said that any deal must allow the Karabakh Armenians to exercise
their right to self-determination through a “free expression of will” that would
involve no “limitations.”
Azerbaijan has repeatedly ruled out any settlement that would fall short of
restoring Azerbaijani control over Karabakh.
In a joint statement issued in March 2019, the mediators said “any fair and
lasting settlement” must involve “return of the territories surrounding
Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijani control; an interim status for Nagorno-Karabakh
providing guarantees for security and self-governance; a corridor linking
Armenia to Nagorno-Karabakh; future determination of the final legal status of
Nagorno-Karabakh through a legally binding expression of will.”
Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2020 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
Author: Janet Ekmekjian
CIVILNET.No lockdowns and a flattened curve. How did South Korea do it, and what can we learn?
CIVILNET.AM
20:08
While surfing the vast realms of the Covid19-internet and different countries’ response to the pandemic, I came across this internet “wisdom” that went a little like this: “The world is living in 2020 while South Korea is somewhere in 2030.” This may seem far-fetched, but… is it?
Zara Poghosyan
YEREVAN – On a Wednesday morning in early March, as we gathered in our sun-lit office where the staff holds the daily CivilNet editorial meetings, I received a message from one of the editors at Korea.net, the portal that “represents the voice of the Korean government and promotes Korea online," effectively notifying me that I had been selected as a Korea.net Honorary Reporter.
I was thrilled to know it entailed a possible visit to the country, having long been fascinated by its history, culture and above all, the phenomenon of robust technological and economic growth that seemed to be, as some mildly put it, on steroids.
This was an odd time because the world was caught by surprise by the novel coronavirus – Covid-19. But South Korea? Not so much.
This is partly because South Korea has been down this road before , having battled a similar outbreak of yet another coronavirus, the far more deadly MERS, back in 2015.
In its fascinating way that Koreans achieve things, the country has managed to flatten the curve that initially had a very steep incline, and has been able to avoid the Chinese model of harsh lockdowns the world has also had to implement (apart from Sweden, causing a huge blow to the world economy and markets. South Korea, however, seems to have managed to escape the demise: the country hasn’t even closed its border, although all arrivals must enter a two week quarantine. Incheon International Airport, the primary airport serving the Seoul Capital Area, is ranked the 16th busiest airport in the world with 68,350,784 people traveling through it in 2019. More than 50% of annual tourists consist of travelers from which country? You guessed it, China, the cradle of the virus.
So what is behind Korea’s efficient containment of the virus that is ravaging the rest of the world?
Someone on the internet jokingly said, “The world is living in 2020 while S. Korea is somewhere in 2030.” This may seem far-stretched, but… is it though?
As the spring is in full bloom on the beautifully paved streets of Seoul, – equal parts futuristic and historical, – people are out and about their business, some even leisurely picnicking on the banks of the Han river. To me, who has been in lockdown for about a month, with a similarly non-exciting month lying ahead, this seems pretty utopian.
Some call South Korea’s strategy the 4T strategy - Test, Triage, Trace and Treat. But there are two other Ts – people’s Trust in their government and government’s Transparency. South Korea saw the number spike in late February because of its massive testing capabilities and accurate data recording.
The country immediately started mass production of test-kits, establishing drive-thru and walk-in free test centers with results coming in as soon as 24 hours. By early March, South Korea was conducting 20,000 tests a day, the most anywhere in the world. Anyone who tested positive was immediately isolated. Infected individuals also had to download an app that alerts authorities when they go out, and people in the vicinity of an infected person receive phone alerts from the authorities.
If you think that South Korea is able to do this because of its smaller size, consider this: Seoul Metropolitan city is the world’s 2nd largest with a population of 25.6 million people, with its population density almost twice that of New York City and eight times greater than Rome.
South Koreans are used to wearing masks on a daily basis because of fine dust that by the way, partly come from China and Mongolian deserts with prevailing winds.
However, apart from being a health protection measure, masks are a fashion statement in South Korea. Anyone familiar with the KPOP culture and the Korean entertainment industry, would know. By the way, Koreans didn’t line up their supermarkets to empty the shelves of toilet paper and alcogel in what was called panic buying that swept across the USA and some of Europe. The only mild shortage has ever been that of the face masks.
COVID-19 surveillance can be deeply intrusive. In South Korea, where a democratic country flattened the rate of the outbreak’s growth, authorities retraced the physical steps of those who tested positive. They enlisted credit card records for purchase patterns, GPS data for travel patterns, and security-camera footage for verification. Surveillance in data-dystopian countries like China was far more extensive.
At first glance, South Korea’s experience shows that countries around the world can learn much from it, especially when considering that a second-wave of the virus is still likely. Lockdowns are not a long-term solution, although they have proven to be effective in temporarily stopping the uncontrollable spread of this virus.
The South Korean government has access to private GPS data to use only during national emergencies. At the same time, many around the world express concerns that the government’s GPS surveillance of its citizens poses a risk to privacy and information security. But aren’t we already sending GPS information to Google right now without any knowledge about where all that data might end up? I’m no tech expert but even I would know that as long as you have a smartphone, your location info is always provided to some company or institution, regardless of which country you reside in. It's just a difference of whether the government can use that data to save lives or not.
This topic has also sparked a heated debate in Armenia, where the country’s parliament voted in favor of adopting the controversial data-collecting law “to limit the spread of the coronavirus,” while those opposing it expressed their concerns about the state's interference with the citizens’ personal data.
To scratch the surface of understanding South Korea’s phenomenon, let’s take a short dive into its most recent history.
Following the Korean War of 1950-1953, South Korea remained one of the poorest countries in the world for over a decade. Fast-forward to now, and we have a country that has the 4th largest economy in Asia and the 12th largest in the world. Today, it is the world’s 6th largest car-manufacturer, largest ship builder, largest manufacturer of memory chips, and the list goes on and on.
The fact that Korea was able to do so in about 50 years is remarkable. This economic growth is described as the Miracle on the Han River. The term was coined after the phrase "Miracle on the Rhine" that was used to refer to the economic rebirth of West Germany after World War II. South Korea’s growth has brought the country to the ranks of countries in the OECD and the G-20.
In the book The Future is Asian, Parag Khanna argues that the world is becoming more multipolar. However, he also predicts that the 21st century will be the “Asian Century.” Will it, though?
With an emphasis on mostly economic trends, Khanna argues that, “In the 19th century, the world was Europeanized. In the 20th century, it was Americanized. Now, in the 21st century, the world is being Asianized.” He does have a point when we consider the Asian ‘tigers’ – Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan and South Korea, the newer, booming economies of South-east Asia, and look further to the new economic superpowers of China and India.
While there are many things in this book I disagree with, including ideas like “Democracy guarantees neither that good ideas will emerge nor that they will be implemented,” I have to agree that there are undoubtedly many truths in his book, among them this quote, “There is no more important region of the world for us to better understand than Asia – and thus we cannot afford to keep getting Asia so wrong.”
I still haven’t finished the book. I have all the time in the world to do so, or so it seems.
Much has been said about the way this virus will,and already is, altering our reality , the reality that was once perceived as the “old normal.” What we need to do now is start thinking about the possibility of a "new normal," where sanitary precautions and social distancing will not be extra and stigmatized, but instead, an inseparable part of our daily routine.
And in the hopefully near future, when the vaccine is out and we're out of our caves, with obvious deficiencies of vitamin D but a tiny bit wiser and a whole lot paranoid about viruses; with a newfound obsession for washing hands and carrying around alcogels, ready for extra amounts of human interaction (and several urgent visits to beauty salons, gyms and whatnot), we can revert back to Old Normal, looking back at this from the height of someone who overcame, survived and learnt. And then…
There won’t be much time to sit back and relax. While trying to salvage what is left of the economy, (both worldwide and in my country) this will also be the appropriate time to consider that the South Korean approach may be a good one to consider, if this virus is here to stay.
South Koreans are generally humble people. They believe they’re just doing their jobs in fighting the pandemic. As a South Korean acquaintance told me during one of our insightful conversations on Kakao Talk (something like Korea’s Whatsapp and China’s WeChat), they were not expecting all this attention from international media, nor are they advocating that “their way is the best way.”
In one thing, he is certain – whichever model the world chooses in order to deal with this pandemic, it will be better than nothing.
Meanwhile, we’re still in this, together. While the increasing tendency of this outbreak has been for the nation-states to shut-down and try to contain the virus from within, we all need to come together across borders and nationalities and implement global disease prevention and control measures. Together, we will ultimately win.
Zara Poghosyan is the Communications Manager at CivilNet Studio in Yerevan and an Armenia producer for Al Jazeera English.
Cover photo 'Seoul's daily life', '서울의 일상' by 박종화
Fisherman near the Han river, '한강의 여유-2', photo by 박종화
Strange Times, photo by aaaallday
https://www.civilnet.am/news/2020/04/15/No-lockdowns-and-a-flattened-curve-How-did-South-Korea-do-it-and-what-can-we-learn/381922
Armenian FM addresses letter to UN Secretary-General
17:47,
YEREVAN, APRIL 16, ARMENPRESS. Foreign Minister of Armenia Zohrab Mnatsakanyan addressed a letter to UN Secretary-General António Guterres reaffirming Armenia’s commitment to the appeal for global ceasefire.
Highlighting the necessity to fight the pandemic through joint actions, the Armenian FM said in the letter: “The international support is equally important for the people who became vulnerable as a result of conflicts. In this regard, the support and availability of the UN professional structures, and first of all, the World Health Organization, is specifically important for people living in regions and affected by conflict. Armenia is ready to provide all the necessary conditions for the uninterrupted operation of the UN respective bodies regardless of the status of the territory.
This pandemic is a great challenge for the humanity, meanwhile the joint efforts for overcoming it can give a new impetus to the multilateral cooperation, the joint efforts to create an inclusive world free of wars and hatred. Taking actions to strengthen trust towards the prevention, mitigation and management of the disaster at this difficult time should be viewed as an opportunity for all peoples, including the conflict sides”.
Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
Artsakh’s President convenes consultation on coronavirus prevention
19:57, 8 April, 2020
YEREVAN, APRIL 8, ARMENPRESS. Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan convoked a working consultation on April 8 dedicated to the activities being carried out within the frameworks of preventing the spread of the new coronavirus, ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of Artsakh President’s Office.
The first case of infection registered in Artsakh was at the spotlight of the discussions. The President underlined that despite the undertaken measures a new coronavirus contamination case had been registered in the republic, which requires making corrections in the activities being implemented to neutralize or minimizing the possibilities of the spread of the disease.
Head of Interdepartmental Commission coordinating the prevention of the spread of the new coronavirus, state minister Grigori Martirosyan, healthcare minister Arayik Baghryan, heads of concerned structures provided reports on the measures being taken.
During the consultation a special emphasis was put on the issues of securing the health of the population during the second stage of presidential elections to be held on April the 14th.
President Sahakyan underlined the imperative to realize the preventive and organizational measures at the highest level, provide the necessary medical supplies and antiseptics, carry out coordinated disinfection activities on sites as well as reveal and eliminate the existing drawbacks. President Sahakyan gave concrete instructions to the heads of corresponding bodies on the proper realization of the discussed issues emphasizing that the current situation demands a high-level responsibility and coordinated implementation of the activities.
Srbuhi Arzumanyan: 5 political forces will be represented in the Artsakh parliament
Arminfo, Armenia
April 1 2020
ArmInfo. According to preliminary data of the parliamentary elections in Artsakh, 5 political forces got seats in the new parliament of Artsakh. Head of the Artsakh Central Election Commission, Srbuhi Arzumanyan, announced this on April 1 at a meeting with journalists.
She said that the total number of voters was 104,350, and 76,712 voters participated in the vote. <73.5% of voters participated in the elections. The number of invalid ballots was 2418 or 2.8 percent.
To get seats in the National Assembly, the parties had to overcome the 5% threshold, and the blocs – the threshold of 7%. According to her, 5 political forces will be represented in parliament>, the head of the CEC said.
Thus, the following political forces will be represented in the new NKR parliament: Free Homeland – United Civil bloc (Arayik Harutyunyan) – 29688 votes (40.4%), "United Homeland" party (Samvel Babayan) – 17365 votes (23.63%), " Justice" party Artsakh (Vitaliy Balasanyan) – 5865 votes (7.9%), ARF- "Dashnaktsutyn" – 4717 votes (6.4%), Artsakh Democratic Party (Ashot Ghoulyan) – 4269 votes (5.81%).
Armenpress: Artsakh’s efforts should receive international support – MFA Artsakh
Artsakh’s efforts should receive international support – MFA Artsakh
19:31, 1 April, 2020
YEREVAN, APRIL 1, ARMENPRESS. The consistent efforts of the authorities and people of Artsakh should be supported by the international community, since the strengthening of democracy, human rights and the rule of law is universal and therefore is the collective responsibility of the entire world community. The creation of artificial obstacles on this path is a violation of the provisions of fundamental international human rights instruments, ARMENPRESS reports reads the statement issued by the Foreign Ministry of Artsakh on the national elections held in March 31.
“On March 31, 2020, in accordance with the Constitution adopted at the national referendum in 2017, the sixth presidential and the seventh parliamentary elections were simultaneously held in the Republic of Artsakh.
The authorities of the Republic created all the necessary conditions for the elections to be held on a competitive and free basis and in line with international standards. The elections in Artsakh attracted unprecedented attention: over 140 international observers and about 40 foreign journalists from 38 countries expressed readiness to participate in them. Unfortunately, due to the preventive measures in place in different countries, including restrictions on movement caused by the spread of the new coronavirus (COVID-19), the participation of international observers and foreign journalists was impossible. We express our deep gratitude to all international observers who expressed readiness to support this important democratic process in Artsakh by their participation. At the same time, around 950 representatives of non-governmental organizations from Artsakh and Armenia observed the elections.
The elections passed in a calm atmosphere, with the active participation of voters. The turnout made 72.2 percent of the total number of voters. According to the preliminary data of the Central Electoral Commission of the Republic of Artsakh, five political forces were elected to the National Assembly (Parliament). It should be noted that 10 political parties and 2 party alliances competed for parliamentary seats. Due to the fact that none of the presidential candidates took over 50% of the votes, the second round of the presidential elections is set to be held, which will take place within the time frame prescribed by the law.
The elections held in conditions of openness and political pluralism have once again demonstrated the determination of the authorities of the Republic of Artsakh in the effective organization of the public life based on the democratic principles, the consistent improvement of state institutions, and the provision of efficient mechanisms of public control.
We are convinced that the strengthening of democratic traditions and their spread throughout the South Caucasus will become an important contribution to ensuring peace, stability and predictability in the region, as well as create the necessary conditions for the final settlement of the Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict by exclusively peaceful means.
The consistent efforts of the authorities and people of Artsakh should be supported by the international community, since the strengthening of democracy, human rights and the rule of law is universal and therefore is the collective responsibility of the entire world community. The creation of artificial obstacles on this path is a violation of the provisions of fundamental international human rights instruments”.
Ex-detachment commander on Four-Day Artsakh War and Armenian army
News.am, Armenia
April 3 2020
15:43, 02.04.2020
Armenian ombudsman: Authorities should resort more to alternatives to deprivation of liberty
Panorama, Armenia
April 3 2020
The confirmed coronavirus infections among the employees of Vardashen Penitentiary in Yerevan rose serious concerns about persons deprived of their liberty, particularly those with underlying health conditions and the older persons, who are at-risk groups.
What does Human Rights Defender of Armenia Arman Tatoyan think on the matter and are any measures being taken to preserve their health or is it more appropriate to release them on bail, put them under house arrest or keep them in solitary confinement?
In response to Panorama.am's question, the ombudsman said:
“The Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment has recently published a statement of principles in Armenian concerning the treatment of persons deprived of their liberty in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and submitted them to the relevant authorities to apply them.
The Committee for the Prevention of Torture said the relevant authorities should resort more to alternatives to deprivation of liberty, including commutation of sentences, early release and probation.
As regards the provision of health care, special attention will be required to the specific needs of detained persons with particular regard to vulnerable groups and/or at-risk groups, such as older persons and persons with pre-existing medical conditions. This includes, inter alia, screening for COVID-19 and pathways to intensive care as required. Further, detained persons should receive additional psychological support from staff at this time.
A number of international organizations have made similar calls.
In regard to the issue raised by you to release detained persons at-risk groups on bail, it should be noted that i is for the bodies conducting preliminary investigation or judicial proceedings in specific criminal cases to decide on the issue.”
The statement issued by the Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment read, in part: “As close personal contact encourages the spread of the virus, concerted efforts should be made by all relevant authorities to resort to alternatives to deprivation of liberty. Such an approach is imperative, in particular, in situations of overcrowding. Further, authorities should make greater use of alternatives to pre-trial detention, commutation of sentences, early release and probation; reassess the need to continue involuntary placement of psychiatric patients; discharge or release to community care, wherever appropriate, residents of social care homes; and refrain, to the maximum extent possible, from detaining migrants.”
Quarantine declared in Artsakh`s medical facilities
Arminfo, Armenia
ArmInfo.Based on the tense epidemiological situation in the world caused by the coronavirus, the Ministry of Health care of the Artsakh Republic urges the country's population to go to medical facilities only if absolutely necessary.
<In order to prevent the spread of infection, quarantine is declared in medical institutions of the Republic with the corresponding restrictions. Citizens receiving free and preferential medicines, please come after agreement with a medical doctor, every working day, starting from 12:00. In order to avoid additional complications, we offer in urgent cases to contact the local doctor by phone to get the necessary treatment.
By a corresponding order of the Minister of Health care of the Republic of Artsakh, the heads of organizations subordinate to the Ministry that provide medical care and services were instructed to temporarily declared quarantine in medical institutions; strictly prohibit access by unauthorized persons; restrict the movement of patients from the departments; limit the admission of new patients, except in urgent cases; limit planned examinations of citizens in outpatient departments; limit planned operations; post a quarantine notice at the entrance to the building>, the Information Headquarters said in a statement.
COVID19: Artsakh citizens advised against all but highly essential travel to Armenia
12:09,
YEREVAN, MARCH, ARMENPRESS. The coronavirus response commission of Artsakh has advised its citizens to avoid all but highly-essential travel to Armenia over the COVID19 situation.
“Due to the nationwide restrictions on movement of people and mandatory self-quarantine in Armenia, the inter-departmental commission regulating the coronavirus prevention measures in the Republic of Artsakh is calling on citizens of Artsakh to refrain from traveling to Armenia in the coming days (minimum 7 days). Travel to Armenia exclusively in highly essential cases,” the commission said in a statement released through the Information HQ of Artsakh.
So far, Artsakh does not have coronavirus cases.
Armenia has announced a 7-day lockdown to help prevent the spread of the COVID19. Citizens are asked to remain in their homes and go out only in the event of strict necessity, such as shopping for groceries or medication. Non-essential businesses have been shut down. The number of COVID19 cases in Armenia has reached 265 as of March 25.
Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan