Author: Kajoyan Gevork

PARLEMENT FONDATEUR : MALGRE LES ARRESTATIONS, PAS D’ANNULATION PREVUE

Opposition

Le Parlement fondateur a declare hier que les manifestations
anti-gouvernementales commenceront comme prevu le 24 avril a Erevan
malgre les arrestations de six membres du mouvement d’opposition
radicale.

Le groupe s’est rassemble devant un centre de detention dans la
capitale armenienne pour exiger la liberation du leader du groupe,
Zhirayr Sefilian, et de cinq de ses proches collaborateurs.

“Nous avons deja reussi a surmonter l’etat de choc. Cette situation
etait previsible pour nous”, a dit l’un d’eux, Vartan Hakobian.

Les autorites repressives ont arrete les six hommes et fouille leurs
maison et bureaux mardi, les accusant de vouloir provoquer des > le 24 avril prochain. Les autorites doivent les
mettre en examen officiellement ou les liberer d’ici vendredi.

Le Parlement fondateur et d’autres forces d’opposition traditionnelle
ont rejete ces “allegations sans fondement et politiquement motivees”.

Ils les considèrent les detenus comme des prisonniers politiques.

Plusieurs dizaines de militants se sont reunis a l’exterieur du centre
de detention où Sefilian et ses camarades sont retenus. Ils ont ete
rejoints par Zaruhi Postanjian (Zharangutyun), qui a ete autorisee
a parler aux opposants arretes.

“Leur humeur reste combatif et ils continuent a se battre”, a-t-elle
declare aux journalistes.

Selon Hakobian, les principaux membres du Parlement fondateur restants
se sont reunis mardi soir pour elire une direction temporaire et
discuter d’un plan d’urgence. “Que personne ne doute qu’il y aura
des leaders pour continuer a mener notre action”.

Les autorites armeniennes, quant a elles, ont nie tout motif politique
cache derrière les arrestations. “Il n’y a et il ne peut y avoir de
prisonniers politiques dans notre pays”, a declare le Premier ministre,
Hovik Abrahamian, devant le parlement.

Les arrestations ont egalement ete justifiees par Armen Rustamian
(FRA). Ce dernier, qui a appele a des mesures gouvernementales > contre le Parlement fondateur le mois dernier, a de
nouveau condamne le mouvement de Sefilian.

jeudi 9 avril 2015, Claire (c)armenews.com

SUSPECTS IN THE BEATING OF WAR VETERAN RELEASED FROM PRISON

04.09.2015 12:27 epress.am

Gevorg Sargsyan, known by the nickname “Jungle”, and his nephew Sargis
Ghukasyan were released from prison several days ago, reports local
dailyHraparak. The two men were accused of brutally beating Karabakh
War veteran Vardan Tumanyan, 55, in the Yerevan administrative district
of Nor Nork in July 2014. After the beating, the war veteran died,
while Á follow-up examination showed that Tumanyan’s death was caused
by a birth defect.

Hraparak spoke to Tumanyan’s wife, Tanya Melkonyan: “Basically,
they surprised us. They revealed to us on Christ’s Revelation day
that those murderers were set free. Today, those investigators,
prosecutors, and committees are forcing me to commit a genocide on
the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide; to
throw a grenade inside their homes, or bomb their cars when they are
in it…they are provoking me.”

The dispute between Vardan Tumanyan and one of the men in the
neighbordhood, Babken, began in the yard when Babken got into an
argument with his friend with whom he was playing chess, and Vardan
intervened, which Babken didn’t like. He attacked Vardan with the chess
board. Vardan pushed Babken, who a few minutes later sent for his son,
Gevorg Sargsyan, “Jungle”, who worked as a guard at Ellanightclub
in Nor Nork. Sargsyan and his friends invited Vardan for a talk,
demanded an apology, and when Vardan asked for what, they began to
beat him in the yard, right before the eyes of his wife and daughter.

The Police initiated a criminal case; Gevorg Sargsyan and his nephew
Sargis Ghukasyan were arrested.

According to the first forensic examination, Tumanyan died as a result
of injuries caused by the beating. However, a new committee was formed
for a follow-up examination, headed by expert Fanarjyan.

Tumanyan’s wife, Tanya, is demanding a third examination with the
participation of an independent foreign expert, because, Melkonyan
alleged, the defendants bribed the experts during the second
examination.

CONDAMNATION DE L’ARRESTATION ILLEGALE DES PRINCIPAUX RESPONSABLES DU PARLEMENT FONDATEUR.

COMMUNIQUE DE RENAISSANCE ARMENIENNE

Le 7 avril 2015 a Erevan, a partir de 6h45 du matin, des forces de
police ont fait irruption aux domiciles et dans les locaux des membres
du Parlement Fondateur et du mouvement >.

Plusieurs de leurs dirigeants ont ete places en garde a vue :
Jirayr Sefilian, Karekin Tchugasezian, Hovhannes Ghazarian, Pavel
Manoukian, Varoujan Avedissian et Kevork Safarian, Toros Sefilian,
Garo Eghnoukian. Ces deux derniers ont ete liberes dans la journee
mais les cinq autres personnes sont toujours derrière les barreaux.

Des ordinateurs ont ete requisitionnes ainsi que des documents, a leurs
domiciles et dans les bureaux dErevan, Vanatsor, Gaban et Gyumri. Ces
perquisitions qui avait pour objectif la recherche d’elements tangibles
pouvant conduire a la condamnation des personnes et l’elimination du
mouvement, n’ont donne aucun resultat.

L’ordre d’arrestation de Jirayr Sefilian emane très probablement
de Serge Sarkissian en personne. L’interdiction, faite aux avocats
d’assister a l’interrogatoire des personnes en garde a vue, et a la
presse d’etre presente sur les lieux d’emprisonnement, a provoque le
rassemblement des sympathisants et des membres du Parlement Fondateur.

Les porte-paroles des vrais partis d’opposition au regime, Heritage
et Congrès National Armenien ont exprime leurs desapprobations. Les
deputes Nikol Pashinian et Zarouhi Postandjian ont dans la meme
journee rendu visite aux prisonniers.

Pour eux, comme pour les representants des organisations de droit
de l’Homme, Avedik Ichkhanian, Arthur Sakountz, Vartan Haroutunian,
il ne fait aucun doute ; il s’agit de mesures de repression politique
illegales et injustifiees. Pour tous, ces militants sont devenu des
prisonniers d’opinion > (cf la definition d’Amnesty
International) L’annonce d’un rassemblement le soir du 24 avril dans
un lieu deja autorise par les autorites, près du Musee Erebouni,
ne peut en aucun cas expliquer ces arrestations, pas plus que les
appels lances a la population afin de demarrer a cette date des actions
non-violentes de desobeissance civile. Le choix du 24 avril, critique
surtout par les partis conservateurs proches du regime, a ete choisi
par analogie au 24 avril 1965 qui, en pleine periode sovietique, a
marque pour l’histoire le reveil du sentiment national armenien. En
1965 la commemoration du genocide de Armeniens est devenue jour de
la Cause armenienne. Aujourd’hui elle deviendra celle du debut de la
resistance aux pouvoirs politiques et oligarchiques a l’origine de la
crise demographique et sociale, de l’injustice et de la corruption dont
souffre terriblement le pays, sa population et la nation toute entière.

Lors d’une brève conference, Azad Ordoukhanian representant de
Renaissance Armenienne en Allemagne a reclame, au nom du mouvement en
diaspora, la liberation immediate des personnes en garde en vue et le
respect des règles democratiques et des droits de l’homme. Sans quoi,
a-t-il ajoute, Renaissance Armenienne sollicitera l’intervention
des organismes internationaux, tels que le Conseil de l’Europe,
le Parlement Europeen, les organisations des droits de l’homme,
les milieux diplomatiques, les medias ainsi que les institutions
financières. Et elle organisera des manifestations devant les
ambassades d’Armenie dans tous les pays où elle est presente.

Renaissance Armenienne-Paris

jeudi 9 avril 2015, Ara (c)armenews.com

LASHA BAKRADZE READS THE TESTIMONY OF DAVIT FARMANIAN

April 9, 2015 09:43
EXCLUSIVE

Lasha Bakradze

Photo: From L.Bakradze ‘s personal archive

Mediamax presents 100 Seconds project devoted to Armenian Genocide
Centennial. The project is based on testimonies of Genocide survivors
published by the National Archive of Armenia.

Lasha Bakradze is a Georgian historian and philosopher. For “100
seconds” project he reads an extract from Armenian Genocide survivor
Davit Farmanian’s testimony.

National Archives of
Armenia Collection of Documents

Testimony of survivor Davit Farmanian the massacre at the Village of
Khachan in Berkri district of Van province

First they stripped the priest of our village Ter Mesrob and said:
“If you convert to Islam, you are free, if not , we’ll kill you”. Of
course, the priest refused, and they started plucking his beard, then
with a yataghan cut off his limbs one by one and at the end they cut
his head and threw him into the water.

In the same way tortured and killed our village head Avetis and the
church wardens Hakob, Grigor and Avag. Their fate was shared by the
Nazarove villagers Asatur Hovsepian, Hakob Petrosian und Baghdasar
Galoyan.

My turn came. I was stripped like the others. The butchers were
standing like angels of death waiting for the order. The sun had
already set down. I slipped away from them and jumped into water. They
started shooting. I swam with my powerless arms and made it to the
other bank. Only two villagers from Nazarove followed my example.

Producer: Ara Tadevosyan Filming: Alexander Alimov Post Production:
Tumo LLC

The source of Davit Farmanian’s testimony: National Archives of
Armenia, Armenian Genocide by Ottoman Turkey, 1915, Testimony of
survivors, Collection of documents, Yerevan-2013.

VivaCell-MTS is the general partner of 100 seconds project.

KIM LEAVES THE RESTAURANT BY BACK ENTRANCE (VIDEO)

18:01 | April 9,2015 | Social

In the morning the territory of Marriott Hotel was overcrowded:
hundreds of fans had gathered there to see famous Armenian American
TV star Kim Kardashian. In the afternoon, Kim together with her sister
left the hotel and they were accompanied to Mother Armenia memorial.

Before that, she approached the fans, signed autographs and took
photos with them.

The Kardashians were taken photos in Mother Armenian memorial and
their personal cameramen fixed their each step, which will be included
in the TV show about famous family. Then the Kardashian sisters went
to Cascade.

At about13:00 Kim and her sister- Khloe Kardashian, as well as the
relatives and the staff dined at one of the restaurants in Yerevan.

People of different ages gathered there to see the star. After waiting
for an hour, they saw Kim. But the star left the restaurant by back
entrance.

The last point was the Government. They had a talk with Prime Minister
and returned to the hotel.

CAVIAR WILL BE PRODUCED IN ARTSAKH

Monday, 06 April 2015 19:01

The preparatory works are developing in accordance with the schedule

A few months ago, many in Artsakh took the prospect of producing
caviar here with skepticism and distrust, but today, everybody is
looking forward to the results of the started program.

The program is implemented according to a fixed timetable. The
investors are the Swiss, and the area of impementation is the
border-adjacent village of Madaghis.

Black caviar will be produced in Artsakh. “The first building is
already built. A social-purposes building near it is to be completed.

It is a two-storey building. The first floor will serve for social
needs, and the second floor will comprise dwelling rooms”, said head
of the ‘Himnakar’ company implementing the construction works Serj
Poghosian. It means the fulfillment of the first stage of the works.

In the nearby area, the preparatory works are completed. The whole
area will be concreted. Soon they will start construction of ponds
here. , said my interlocutor. Along with
the construction works, installation works are underway. If necessary,
experts are invited from abroad. Part of the required equipment is
already delivered to Artsakh. Soon, conceived caviar will be also
imported. Fish will be incubated on the spot. It is already known
when the first batch of caviar will be produced in Artsakh. “In 2019,
we’ll have the first batch of caviar. And before that, beginning from
2018, sturgeon meat production will start”, said Adviser to the NKR
Prime Minister Aram Mkhoyan.

On completing the program, 50-60 new jobs will be created in the
border-adjacent village of Madaghis. Head of the Madaghis community
Zaven Avanesian is looking forward to it the most. “It is important
that women will have the chance to work there. Men have no problem
with job. There are organizations operating in and around our village,
providing jobs for the men of our village. We have no jobs for women.

We hope to resolve this issue with the construction of the fishpond”
said the head of the community.

For the implementation of the program in Madaghis, about 30 million
euro will be invested in the nearest 5 or 6 years.

Norayr HOVSEPIAN

UN BEAU-FILS DE GAGUIK TSAROUKIAN DEVIENT GOUVERNEUR DE LA REGION DU KOTAYK

ARMENIE

Sur decision du Conseil des Ministres, le Gouverneur du Kotayk, Aram
Haroutiounian, a ete releve de ses fonctions. Il a ete par la suite
nomme President du Comite de l’Eau du Ministère de l’Agriculture. Par
ailleurs, le Conseil des Ministres a nomme le maire de la ville
d’Abovian, Karapet Goulayan, (beau-fils de Gaguik Tsaroukian)
en tant que nouveau gouverneur de la region du Kotayk. Haykakan
Jamanak se demande si cette nomination signifie un >
de Gaguik Tsaroukian. Joghovourd voit dans cette nomination un > de la part de Serge Sarkissian envers
Gaguik Tsaroukian.

Extrait de la revue de presse de l’Ambassade de France en Armenie en
date du 3 avril 2015

jeudi 9 avril 2015, Stephane (c)armenews.com

APPEALS IN AZERBAIJAN TO CANCEL COMEDY WOMAN TROUPE’S CONCERT BECAUSE THERE ARE ARMENIANS IN ITS LEADERSHIP AND STAFF

16:04 09/04/2015 >> SOCIETY

Yet another display of Armenophobia takes place in Azerbaijan. Tair
Imanov, the head of the theatre “The Planet of a Guy from Baku”
urges to cancel the concert of the project Comedy Woman in Baku
because its founders and some of its troupe members are Armenians,
Azerbaijani media outlet Oxu.az reports.

Imanov expressed this claim on behalf of the whole staff of the
theatre and stressed that the concert should be cancelled as Comedy
Woman is ‘an Armenian project, is managed by the Armenians’ and the
whole money issued to the project would go, as he put it, into the
pockets of the leadership – ‘into the Armenians’ pockets.’

“No matter whether you want it or not, every Armenian who works
abroad sends money to their homeland,” Imanov highlighted. Citing
Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev, he claimed that no joint project
should be carried out with the Armenians until Karabakh conflict is
settled. He also reminded that some years ago ‘ethnic Armenians, such
as Irina Allegrova’ had been brought to Azerbaijan while Allegrova’s
repertoire includes the song My Armenia.

Related:

Azerbaijani singer takes offense at Big Apple Music Awards organizers
and speculates about ‘Armenian factor’

Another “Armenian scandal” boils up in Azerbaijan; this time bullying
victim became folk singer

Azerbaijan’s Attack On Eurovision Voters and Hadise

Yeni Musavat: Armenophobia becomes nation-wide activity in Azerbaijan

SIX CONCERTS IN PARIS AND A NEW ALBUM: AZNAVOUR YOUNGER THAN EVER

14:29, 08 Apr 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan

After four years of absence from the French capital, Charles Aznavour
will be back for six exceptional performances, Moonlight Productions
announced, L’Orient Le Jour reports.

The tireless artist will perform at the Palais des Sports in Paris
from 15 to 27 September 2015, after a world tour that took him from
last year in New York, Moscow, Montreal, London, Berlin, Los Angeles,
Rome Yerevan. He even celebrated her 90 years on stage, on 22 May,
in the German capital. His next original album, he has written,
composed and arranged, will be released on May 4 under the title
Encores, a word that evokes reminders of the public in English,
four years after the previous one and fifty others.

“This is the first time I write an album that talks about my past,”
he recently told fingering nostalgic topics in this sequel: “the war of
resistance, places that we frequented when we went to get drunk … ”

Dubbed the “French Sinatra” Charles Aznavour is the author of more
than 1,000 songs, actor in nearly 80 films and has performed in over 94
countries. “I have never, ever uttered the word goodbye,” he launched
in 2011, just before a series of 22 concerts at the Olympia for his
87 years.

REDUCED TO JUST EVENT?: ARTISTS DENOUNCE FRIVOLITY IN GENOCIDE CENTENNIAL COMMEMORATIONS

GENOCIDE | 08.04.15 | 10:25

Alina Nikoghosyan
ArmeniaNow intern

RELATED NEWS

‘Forget-Me-Nots’ As Business?: Sales, improper use of Genocide
Centennial Symbol create controversy

Scholars say: the idea of remembering the Armenian Genocide has
been reduced simply to a ceremony. They, in particular, refer to
last weekend’s visit by a group of Republican Party of Armenia (RPA)
women members to the Genocide Memorial in Yerevan.

On April 4, some 3,000 RPA women visited the Memorial at
Tsitsernakaberd, urging women around the whole world to unite against
genocides. However, photos of some women smiling during the ceremony
appeared in social media and this created a lot of controversy in the
public. The focus of all criticism was the organizer, the president
of the RPA women council, Parliament Deputy Speaker Hermine Naghdalyan.

“Everything must stem from within to give you an opportunity to
concentrate once a year, to appreciate the past, the present and the
future; when it turns into an event taking part in it becomes more
important than the essence itself. We should step toward the future
with families, not with ministries. The more we treat such phenomena as
an event, the more such results we will have,” Puppet Theater director,
film director Ruben Babayan told reporters on Tuesday.

Addressing the Founding Parliament’s initiative of holding “the 100th
anniversary without the regime” action on April 24, Babayan said that
the Armenian Genocide must not be confused with anything and it more
looks like using the opportunity.

“That I perceive as an attempt to make use of the results of the event,
it could have been held any other day, but they are using the moment
when people will be gathered,” he said.

Artavazd Bayatyan, musician and director of the Ardzagank (Echo)
radio station, addressed the same topic, saying that the Genocide is
a tragedy for every Armenian and that on April 24 Armenians must be
more united than ever.

“This belongs neither to the Communists, nor to the Republicans, nor
to the Nationalists; this is a common tragedy of the nation. Crime
was committed against our nation, and here nothing should be stuck
together in order to win,” Bayatyan said.

Bayatyan addressed also the topic of the RPA women’s behavior,
and said that such occurrences are rare and that the RPA women got
singled out because they are more numerous, more active and richer.

Different people climbed the height of the Memorial in all seasons,
and such occurrences are rare, mostly people who are actually concerned
and are full of the problem come. Students come often with smiles
one their face, because for them it’s an excursion,” he said.

According to him, the Genocide is a crime against the Armenians,
because Armenia also has many witnesses and proofs, and it must try
to solve the problem through the European Court.

“I would like the Genocide Memorial one day to turn into a revival
not a grief.

And even if some people go there smiling we will not look at it so
bitterly,” Bayatyan concluded.

As for the Armenian Genocide Centennial commemorations, in a number
of spheres various events have been organized and even dental clinics
have participated in “campaigns”.

Recently one of the dental clinics in Yerevan said it would offer
some services for free on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of
the Armenian Genocide.