Author: Kalantarian Kevo

EEU MEMBERSHIP TO PROVIDE POWERFUL STIMULUS TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN ARMENIA – RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR

YEREVAN, February 10. /ARKA/. EEU membership will provide a powerful
stimulus to Armenia’s economic growth, Russian ambassador to Armenia
Ivan Volinkin said in his interview to Russia 24 TV channel on Monday.

No customs borders will ease access to a huge market for the Armenian
goods, he said. Increased production will, in turn, help create new
jobs, reduce prices, improve competitiveness and increase commodities
turnover, he added.

Volinkin said food imports of EEU-member states total $43 billion
today, and Armenia’s chances of taking a substantial niche in this
market are high.

According to the ambassador, some positive changes can be seen already
today. In particular, Armenia’s rural exports to Russia have grown
considerably, he said.

The Russian ambassador referred to the Armenian parliament’s evaluation
of EEU membership prospects and the benefits from accession to
170-millioin market of the union.

The only financial obligation will be the annual fee of $1.5-2 million,
according to Volinkin. But instead, a lot will be saved due to zero
export duty and low energy prices, he said.

The ambassador also reminded of the strategic allied partnership and
the trust-based dialogue.

Volinkin said they highly appreciate also the cooperation on the
international scene where the two countries have mainly similar
positions.

Passenger traffic between the countries keeps growing, and every day
twelve flights are carried out from Zvartnots airport to Moscow only,
Volinkin said. -0–

PROSPEROUS ARMENIAN PARTY (PAP) TO ORGANIZE ACTION OF PROTEST OVER ABDUCTION OF PAP MEMBER ON FEBRUARY 9

by Ashot Safaryan

Monday, February 9, 11:34

As unknown men in masks abduct Artak Khachatryan, a member of the
Prosperous Armenian Party (PAP) on February 7, PAP mulls an action of
protest. Vahe Enfiajyan, a parliamentarian (PAP), calls on everyone
who fights for free and democratic public to join the protests that
will be held outside the Government building at 1:00pm on February 9.

Artak Khachatryan, a member of the PAP Political Council, was abducted
by the three unknown in masks on February 7 in the evening. Several
hours later, he was found near his apartment severely beaten up.

PAP has disseminated a statement over the incident, wherein it
strongly condemned the violence against Khachatryan. The Party
blames the political leadership of Armenia for the incident that
happened shortly after Khachatryan took an active part in the protests
against the Law on Turnover Tax. The Party slams the authorities for
restoring to violence against their own citizens instead of settling
the social-economic problems accumulated in the country and recovering
the political atmosphere. The authorities are losing touch with reality
and acting in agony, the PAP says in the statement. The PAP informs
that it has received numerous offers from the regional headquarters
and territorial offices to organize a large-scale rally in Yerevan.

However, the PAP Political Council so far calls for restraint and
suggests its parliamentary faction to boycott the parliament sittings
until those who attacked and beaten up the activist are found and
punished.

OPINION: ‘SLOW’ WAR AT THE BORDERS BECOMING UNFORTUNATE DAILY REALITY IN ARMENIA

Opinion | 09.02.15 | 11:10

GOHAR ABRAHAMYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter

“All along the Armenian-Azerbaijani border the opponent, violating
the ceasefire regime, kept Armenian villages under open fire.” It
may be cynical to say, but this sentence has become so common in
recent years. But now the news is more and more about casualties among
civilians… Although, if we look at the fact that since the beginning
of the year – within around 40 days, ceasefire regime violations by
Azerbaijan claimed 13 Armenian lives, two civilians among them, this
‘news’ becomes common as well, considering the fact that before we
had that many deaths within a whole year.

At hearing another victim’s name each of us starts searching in mind
for relative-acquaintances and when we do not find anyone, we breathe
with ease, then coming to senses we realize that among two and a half
million or even less, there is no mine or yours. On a small piece of
land, on a point that can barely be seen on the Planet there should
not be mine or yours, as we are so few that the boundaries of ‘mine
and yours’ always intersect.

We, or some others, have convinced ourselves/us that we live in a
peaceful country… however that ‘peaceful’ is felt differently on
every section of the 300-400 km road stretching from the capital
toward north-south.

For instance, in the town of Sevan, 60 km from Yerevan, where I
moved three months ago after my 25-year-long life in the capital,
peaceful, as I see it, is when the wind is calm, salaries are not
late, the exchange rate of the ruble (most labor migrants wire
money back home from Russia in rubles) is high, shopkeepers watch
less TV and serve the customers more, and the culmination of shop
peace – when the shop-keeper greedily crosses out names from his
book of debts. People know very little about border shootings here,
they surely heard that there is a neighboring country that regularly
shoots, but very few imagine how harsh those shootings appear to be,
making the bravest and the most indifferent shiver out of helplessness.

This is the ‘peaceful’ in mostly all provinces and communities
of Armenia, maybe a bit different, though, in Yerevan, where the
luxurious buildings, magical lights cast shadow on the reality.

Nevertheless, in 31 communities of Armenia, more specifically in 10
villages, this daily problems of ‘peaceful’ are added up by daily
increasing shootings that have nothing to do with peaceful.

And right here, on the edge of the border between two countries the
small piece of land in deep misery gives away the weakness of the two
countries’ and specifically their governments’ strategy, the work done,
human treatment and the borderline of ‘mine and yours’ in general.

The northern province of Tavush, that has the longest, 300-km border
with neighboring but un-neighborly Azerbaijan and is in direct contact
with this country (I mean the intensity of shootings), with its 24
border communities and roads winding there demonstrate the connivance
of the government. The country that still two years ago promised 7
percent economic growth, but hardly provided half of it, could not
provide border community residents with jobs during 20 years, to be
able to earn their families’ daily food.

On the contrary, President Serzh Sargsyan, with promises, as part
of his pre-elections campaign for his second term, visited border
village of Movses and blamed the residents for being lazys saying
that they had to do farming and animal breeding, not knowing, or
maybe having forgotten that professions, so typical of farmer, here
would mean suicide: the arable lands are right within the range of the
opponent’s fire and people working in the field become easy targets,
increasing the number of sniper victims.

All throughout 20 years no strategic structures were built for the
villages living in constant danger of war.

Only during recent years, when an upcoming war can be ‘smelt’ even
stronger, private companies, individuals are trying to implement some
projects, but even they do not always end in success. And the worst
part is that most of the money allocated for border projects either
does not achieve its goals or simply does not reach there. Thus,
even the border, where our country starts and ends, where they were
supposed to provide all means for the residents to stay, has become
a best place for money laundry.

So much could have been done during 20 years that was not and that
weakened even more the border guard living by caprices of two country
governments.

Only during the 2014 August escalation, when the whole country was
focused on the border, and only the Armenian armed forces provided
unreserved defense, after official visits and long discussions,
despite opposition MP Nikol Pashinyan’s suggestion on a 50-percent
compensation of utility payments for border community residents, the
National Assembly in October approved the bill about tax privileges
for 31 villages situated closest to the border, according to which
only two types of taxes – employees’ income tax and social payments
were left to be paid. Earlier there was also a decision to realize
tax exemption for the land that is under fire, although this was not
as effective, because these lands are not used because of shootings.

Recently many military experts predict a possibility of renewed
hostilities and say that we must get ready for it, prepare the people
psychologically. They say we must get ready for it during peace, and
during 20 years after signing the ceasefire agreement, which we never
actually enjoyed, but the situation was not as tense as it has been
during the last two-four years and there was time to act. However,
our national arrogance might have made us once again change the rules
of the game and be sure that we will not see a wide-scale war anymore.

And let there be no wars, but then what is it that is happening on
our border now, if not war. Some experts call it situational warfare,
others – snipers’ warfare, some others – a slow one, many others simply
prefer calling it a war of nerves. Nevertheless, the fact is that as
a result of all of this each day we lose people, and if sometimes we
manage to avoid physical victims, it has become impossible to avoid
catching psychological traumas and many other diseases. And it is
shameful to realize that we lose people not only from the opponent’s
bullets, but also because of our government’s work.

In her journalistic work Gohar Abrahamyan has frequently visited
communities at the Armenian-Azerbaijani border and written reports
and feature stories from there.

AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENT: MY MESSAGE TO ARMENIA: STOP THE OCCUPATION”

APA, Azerbaijan
Feb 8 2015

[ 08 February 2015 03:28 ]

Baku-APA. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and
his wife Mehriban Aliyeva attended the panel “Outside Ukraine –
unresolved conflicts in Europe” held in the framework of the Munich
Security Conference, APA reports quoting “Vestnik Kavkaza”.

President of Azerbaijan spoke delivered speech at the panel, then
answered questions from participants.

The representative of Armenia addressed to the President of Azerbaijan
Ilham Aliyev, accusing the Azerbaijani army in the shelling of the
Armenian positions and increased tensions on the front line.

President Aliyev said the following: “In principle, this is tactic
of the Armenian side – always throw the blame on us. They invaded our
territory, violated international law, committed genocide in Khojaly,
destroyed our historical and religious monuments, and shift the blame
on us. But the question is that what the Armenian soldier are doing in
the occupied territories? What Armenian soldier is doing in Agdam? If
he does not want to be killed, he shall not go to Agdam. Let him
stay in his Yerevan, Gyumri, in their own country. You have enough
space in own country, there is, in fact, not too many people left,
so what are you doing in Agdam, what are you doing in Fizuli?”

“The year 2014 was generally remarkable in terms of the activity of
intermediaries in the negotiations. President Putin organized a meeting
between President Sargsyan and me in August. Already in September,
Secretary of State [John] Kerry organized a round of negotiations
with the Armenian president and me. Finally, at the end of October,
President Hollande invited us to Paris, where we had, I would say, an
excellent, very constructive meeting. Both parties then stated that
they considered this meeting a great success and will try to reduce
tension on the frontline. What happened then? After less than ten
days, Armenia began military exercises on the occupied territories,
particularly in Agdam, with the participation, according to the
Armenian media, of 47 thousand soldiers. They organized manoeuvres
in occupied territory with the use of military equipment, aircraft
and helicopters. For three days our army remained patient enough not
to respond, but then Armenia with the help of its Mi-24 helicopters
attacked Azerbaijan’s position. Our army had to respond and one of
the helicopters was shot down. For Armenia, it was an occasion to
accuse Azerbaijan. With this provocation, it showed disrespect to
the leaders of France, Russia and the United States that have made
so much effort to reduce tensions. Armenia thinks itcan do anything,
and no one will punish it. This is the main reason behind Armenia’s
behavior. Now they are blaming us, saying, Do not shoot!.

So, my message to Armenia is: end the occupation.” As soon as you stop
the occupation, we will have peace, cooperation and reconciliation.

And the reason why it is not happening is because the Armenian soldier
is still in Agdam and Fizuli”, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said.

PARLIAMENT TO COUNTER PRO-GULEN CONGRESSMEN’S LETTER TO KERRY

Daily Sabah, Turkey
Feb 9 2015

ERDAL Ã…~^AFAK

President Erdogan said Turkish parliamentarians would be sending a
letter to U.S. Secretary of State Kerry countering arguments made by
Gulen-funded U.S. congressmen about Turkey and the government

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, speaking on his way to Colombia –
the first leg of his Latin America tour that will also include visits
to Mexico and Cuba – said Turkish parliamentarians are mobilizing
to counter the propaganda campaign waged by the Gulen Movement
in the U.S. Responding to a question about the letter sent by 88
congressmen to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, claiming that
the Turkish media was under government pressure, Erdogan said that
the members of the Turkish-American Friendship Group in Parliament
were penning a letter to Kerry. An investigative report by Daily
Sabah’s Ragıp Soylu, published on Feb. 9 showed that 43 of the
88 congressmen who signed the letter, which was originally sent to
them by Gulen Movement-affiliated groups in the U.S., had received
campaign donations from the movement as well as free trips to Turkey,
also organized by the group. The rest of the signatories are said to
have been influenced by Armenian and pro-Israel lobbies. Erdogan noted
that in addition to an article by Fethullah Gulen published in The New
York Times, there was information on efforts by the group to recruit
American politicians to damage ties between the U.S. and Turkey.

The Gulen Movement, led by U.S.-based Fethullah Gulen, and its
operatives within the state are accused of waging an indiscriminate
campaign of intimidation against opponents and trying to topple
the government.

Erdogan said he would not be surprised if information about the
criminal practices of the group is released in books and documentaries
in the future.

He also cited yesterday’s arrest of 21 police officers for illegally
wiretapping him when he was the prime minister and all his ministers,
apart from former Interior Minister Ä°dris Naim Å~^ahin, who is known
to have links to the shadowy movement. Erdogan said such illegal
activities were ordered by Fethullah Gulen.

He said that as criminal investigations uncovered new information,
the true extent of the illegal activities of the group would come
to light. “The provincial heads of the movement were identified
and suddenly all of them fled. In the future, we may come to know
the country leaders of the movement. I talked to the president of
Mali about this matter. He, without any hesitation, said that anyone
acting against Turkey would be acting against them and that he would
take the necessary measures.”

Erdogan said he was faced with threats to his own safety and that of
his family. “You trust those who guard you, but suddenly it comes
to light that some belong to them,” he said, adding that they only
found out about the security risk posed by these infiltrators when
the fight against the Gulen Movement started.

Erdogan said Latin America may be far from Turkey, but his trip was
aimed at bridging the physical, economic and political distance.

“Investors are accompanying me. We know there is a lot we can cooperate
on, including infrastructure, mining and energy.”

He said that he would soon undertake another tour of Latin America,
which will include visits to Brazil, Venezuela and Bolivia.

One key reason behind the visit to Colombia was counterterrorism,
said Erdogan. “We will discuss the progress they have made on ending
terrorism.”

The Swiss Leaks project is based on a trove of almost 60,000 leaked files
that provide details on over 100,000 HSBC clients and their bank accounts.
Explore the data to see how different countries compare, and find out more
about some of the clients of the bank:

His Holiness Karekin II

Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians

Born Ktrij Nersessian, he was enthroned in 1999 as the 132nd Supreme
Patriarch and Catholicos (meaning “universal leader”) of Echmiadzin, the
holy seat of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church. He has traveled the
world visiting the Armenian diaspora and promoting inter-faith dialogue. His
travels have taken him to places including Vatican City, the United States,
India and Turkey, milestones of his pontifical visits.

File details

HSBC internal files first listed Karekin II among its clients in 2000. He
was connected to an account named “His Holiness Karekin II Nersis” that
listed one bank account and held as much as $1.1 million in 2006/2007. The
leaked files do not specify the exact role that Karekin II had in relation
to the account.

Comment

A spokesman told ICIJ that the account in question was opened by His
Holiness Karekin II’s precedessor “for the benefit of the Church and its
charities. This account was transferred to His Holiness Karekin II
Nersissian upon the death of his predecessor to be used for the same
purposes. The Catholicosate -the area of responsibility of the Catholicos-
of the Armenian church is a national religious institution and is not
subject to any taxes” and that His Holiness “has immunity from any taxes.”

WILL MUNICH CONFERENCE 2015 GO DOWN IN HISTORY?

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Feb 9 2015

9 February 2015 – 4:04pm

Yesterday 51st Security Conference in Munich, during which the
participating countries presented their current positions on the
issues of security in Europe and beyond, has ended. The key topic of
the conference was the Ukrainian crisis, for which the usually single
point of view of the West was divided into two: German Chancellor
Angela Merkel after talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin
has proposed a soft diplomatic solution to the problem, while US
politicians continue to insist on supplies of lethal weapons to Kiev.

This Munich Conference may go down in history as well as Munich-2007,
the chairman of the Federation Council Committee on International
Affairs Konstantin Kosachev said, adding that now it’s necessary that
loud statements be implemented. In general, the conference has showed
the change of Western politicians’ approach to the Russian position.

“Firstly, last year’s logic ‘we don’t agree with Russia and refuse
to talk’ changed to at least ‘we don’t agree, but we must talk’.

Secondly, the EU, unlike the US, rules out the possibility of supplying
weapons to Ukraine. Consequently, if we ignore the public rhetoric,
the Europeans in fact back Moscow’s political settlement plan rather
than Kiev’s military scenario,” the senator said.

Experts’ opinions on the results of the Munich Conference-2015 are
divided. So, the President of the National Strategy Institute, Mikhail
Remizov, drew attention to the fact that the event itself is the only
possibility for the parties to express and to hear their points of
view, rather than substantive negotiations to take any decision.

“Therefore, the conference was of an intermediate nature, because
it took place waiting for the results of the negotiations of the
‘Normandy Quartet’,” he said.

“Perhaps the most significant aspect was the very unpleasant
welcome speech of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who quite
correctly and clearly voiced Russia’s position and didn’t go beyond
it. This was demonstrated by Lavrov’s personal rejection and biased
perception of the Russian position, the desire for a certain moral
ostracism in relation to Russia. The accurate, more restrained than
earlier, rhetoric of Chancellor Angela Merkel stood out against this
background. It was clear that caution is given simply by the presence
of the negotiating process, which was initiated in Kiev, and that the
conference has once again confirmed that, regardless of the outcome
of these negotiations, the isolation policy of Western countries,
the US and its allies against Russia will continue,” the expert said.

The political scientist Rovshan Ibragimov, in his turn, praised the
Munich conference as an important platform for discussions and meetings
of statesmen. “It is necessary to re-examine together any problems
or issues which the country and the region are facing now. It is no
coincidence that in parallel with the Munich conference a meeting
on Ukraine was held in Moscow of the leaders of France, Germany and
Russia. So it is rather a structural platform that addresses the
security problems,” he said.

Ibragimov spoke about the presence of Azerbaijani President Ilham
Aliyev at the conference. “He had a meeting on security issues as well
as on geo-economic expectations, with the presidents of Macedonia and
Serbia. Also the issue of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was discussed.

It is very significant that, even before his visit to Davos,
during Ilham Aliyev’s visit to Germany, Angela Merkel said that the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has some parallels with the security issues
in the post-Soviet space, which is like a mirror image of events in
Ukraine. I think it’s like just a new perception of the problem. So
on the basis of Munich, the expectation came that issues of permits of
perennial conflicts in the former Soviet Union will now be seen through
the prism of problems of integrity in Ukraine,” the analyst said.

“Perhaps the most significant aspect was the very unpleasant
welcome speech of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who quite
correctly and clearly voiced Russia’s position and didn’t go beyond
it. This was demonstrated by Lavrov’s personal rejection and biased
perception of the Russian position, the desire for a certain moral
ostracism in relation to Russia. The accurate, more restrained than
earlier, rhetoric of Chancellor Angela Merkel stood out against this
background. It was clear that caution is given simply by the presence
of the negotiating process, which was initiated in Kiev, and that the
conference has once again confirmed that, regardless of the outcome
of these negotiations, the isolation policy of Western countries,
the US and its allies against Russia will continue,” the expert said.

The political scientist Rovshan Ibragimov, in his turn, praised the
Munich conference as an important platform for discussions and meetings
of statesmen. “It is necessary to re-examine together any problems
or issues which the country and the region are facing now. It is no
coincidence that in parallel with the Munich conference a meeting
on Ukraine was held in Moscow of the leaders of France, Germany and
Russia. So it is rather a structural platform that addresses the
security problems,” he said.

Ibragimov spoke about the presence of Azerbaijani President Ilham
Aliyev at the conference. “He had a meeting on security issues as well
as on geo-economic expectations, with the presidents of Macedonia and
Serbia. Also the issue of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was discussed.

It is very significant that, even before his visit to Davos,
during Ilham Aliyev’s visit to Germany, Angela Merkel said that the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has some parallels with the security issues
in the post-Soviet space, which is like a mirror image of events in
Ukraine. I think it’s like just a new perception of the problem. So
on the basis of Munich, the expectation came that issues of permits of
perennial conflicts in the former Soviet Union will now be seen through
the prism of problems of integrity in Ukraine,” the analyst said.

Political analyst Ramaz Sakvarelidze also drew attention to a
parallel, which had already been drawn by Prime Minister of Georgia
Irakli Garibashvili, between the problems of Ukraine and Georgia. “He
stressed that, leaving events in Georgia without reaction, the West
has a more extensive and more dramatic situation in Ukraine. How
it will be perceived by Western countries, which have not yet been
able to find the key to solving not only the Georgian, but also the
Ukrainian hot topic, is difficult to say,” he noted.

The expert added that Garibashvili would like to emphasize the fact
that “if the international community will be directed only to suspend
the process in Ukraine, and even if it will achieve this, it is
unlikely to save the world community from new surprises.” “When the
bloodshed in Georgia was suspended, the international community was
calm, but now it has received new bloodshed in Ukraine. So a local
task to stop the conflict can be solved, but it is too simplistic
and does not correspond to reality,” the political scientist says.

ARMENIAN ARCHBISHOP OF TEHRAN CONGRATULATES IRANIANS ON ANNIVERSARY OF ISLAMIC REVOLUTION

Tasnim News Agency, Iran
Feb 9 2015

February 09, 2015 – 18:24

TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Armenian Orthodox primate of the diocese of
Tehran, Archbishop Sebouh Sarkissian, congratulated the Iranian nation
on the victory anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

In a message to Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah
Seyed Ali Khamenei on Monday, Sarkissian offered his congratulations
to the leader and other high-ranking officials on the 36th anniversary
of the victory of the Islamic Revolution.

“The victory of the Islamic Revolution led by the late Imam Khomeini,
revealed the Iranian identity to the international communities,”
he stated.

The Armenian archbishop also expressed the hope that “dear Iran” would
witness further prosperity under the leadership of Ayatollah Khamenei.

The Iranian nation toppled the US-backed Pahlavi regime 36 years ago,
on February 11, 1979, ending the 2,500 years of monarchic rule in
the country.

The Revolution, led by the late Imam Khomeini, established a new
political system based on Islamic values and democracy.

Every year Iranians mark anniversary of their Islamic Revolution from
February 1 to 11, known as the Ten-Day Fajr ceremonies. February 1,
1979 was the date when Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returned from exile.

On February 11 each year, Iranian people pour into the streets in their
millions to commemorate the great victory of the Islamic Revolution.

GERAGOS & GERAGOS’ MARK GERAGOS

The Recorder
Feb 9 2015

Marisa Kendall, The Recorder

Los Angeles attorney Mark Geragos, perhaps best known for defending
celebrities including Michael Jackson and Chris Brown, recently
set his sights on the online real estate site Zillow Inc. His firm,
Geragos & Geragos, filed six employment suits in less than a month,
accusing the company of “shocking” sexual harassment and other labor
violations. Zillow has denied the claims. Geragos said he’s been
shifting his practice to include more civil litigation on behalf of
individuals fighting powerful interests. Among his new civil clients:
singer Kesha in a suit accusing her former producer of abuse and rape.

Q: What sparked the Zillow lawsuits?

A: We often receive cold calls from a variety of prospective clients.

In this case there was a rash of Zillow employees who called
complaining about a really disturbing corporate culture. We were
presented with compelling evidence of serious corporate wrongdoing. I
credit [co-counsel] Bobby Samini at Samini Scheinberg for flagging
much of this outrageous conduct.

Q: How did the subsequent allegations come to light?

A: Once we filed the initial class action complaint and whistleblower
action, we received dozens of calls from other current and former
employees who were making the identical complaints.

Q: What was going through your mind as the cases piled up?

A: It really brought home in stark relief the reasons why I shifted
my practice to doing more plaintiffs’ work instead of solely criminal
defense. Criminal defense lawyers are used to holding the government
accountable for systemic violations of the liberties of the accused
who have a disproportionate amount of power. Here you have individuals
who are taken advantage of by corporations in the worst ways possible
and they deserve a passionate voice.

Q: What is the legal strategy behind hitting Zillow with multiple
suits in such a short amount of time?

A: Our firm handles class and mass actions against corporate
defendants, so these types of actions are fairly common for the firm.

Q: How many more Zillow suits can we expect?

A: We received dozens of phone calls from individuals who shared
horrific claims of discrimination, labor law abuses and other corporate
cover-ups. Stay tuned.

Q: How much of your work is representing plaintiffs in class actions,
rather than criminal defense work?

A: Over the last couple of years we have tried more civil than criminal
cases. However, we are pretty even balanced in our casel oad between
civil and criminal clients.

We represent consumers in class actions, we handle multi-district
litigation cases and individual as well as corporate plaintiffs. We
have represented nonprofits against “Big Pharma” and had eight-figure
jury verdicts.

Q: What are some of the differences between representing everyday
plaintiffs, such as Zillow employees, and celebrity clients?

A: Ironically, the celebrity cases we spend more time fending off the
media and trying to damp down the coverage, where just the opposite
may be true in a case that cries out for public scrutiny.

Q: Were you expecting the Zillow suits to generate this much publicity?

A:The wrongs committed against the Zillow plaintiffs resonated
throughout the country–not just among those employed there, but
in other workplaces. One article on the case highlighted how the
tech world started off with such lofty ambitions as the workplace
environment, but that in many cases they ended up being worse than a
traditional corporate workplace. The attention brought to the case
was organic and developed mostly through blogs and others sharing
similar work place abuses.

Q: Publicity can be a double-edged sword, as evidenced by the
defamation lawsuit music producer Dr. Luke recently filed, claiming you
accused him of sexually assaulting Lady Gaga. What was your reaction
to that suit?

A:It doesn’t surprise me. The defendant and his lawyers have
retaliated against Kesha by suing her, her mother, her manager and
now her lawyer. To paraphrase former Clinton-era Attorney General
Webb Hubbell during the Whitewater case, they can sue her cat but
that won’t detract from what we are going to do. Which in this case
is hold him accountable.

Q: What do you do when you’re not litigating?

A: I have very few hobbies but enjoy working out every morning. I
am passionate about the Armenian Cause and most of my free time is
devoted to that.

DAGDIGIAN EXPOSES ARMENIA’S SELDOM SEEN PHOTOGRAPHY

By Tom Vartabedian on February 9, 2015

LOWELL, Mass.–In his quest to unveil Armenia’s hidden treasures with
his camera and text, Joe Dagdigian is his very own GPS guide.

More than once or twice, he has passed the village of Bash Aparan
en route to another destination. He’ll often stop and pay tribute to
General Dro Kanayan, who is buried there. A huge memorial is visible
from the highway, catching your eye.

Armenians gather on May 28 to celebrate Independence Day at the Bash
Aparan memorial where General Dro Kanayan directed Armenia’s defense
forces. (Joe Dagdigian Photo)

There’s something very intimate here, especially with General Kanayan’s
son Mardik. The two spent their younger days as AYF members, attended
conventions together, and gathered at many a social interlude. The
respect they had for one another goes without saying.

Last May 28, Dagdigian had his camera in overdrive as he captured
reflective scenes of an Independence Day celebration taking place at
the monument, marking the site when General Kanayan led the defense
of Bash Aparan.

“The celebration started in the town of Aparan with a parade to the
memorial,” reflected Dagdigian. “The music, dancing, and homage paid
that day left an indelible imprint.”

Dagdigian will share his images and commentary in a program on Sat.,
Feb. 21, titled “Seldom Visited Armenia,” beginning at 6 p.m. at the
Armenian Relief Society (ARS) Community Center, at 142 Liberty St.,
Lowell.

The program is being sponsored by the Lowell “Aharonian” Gomideh in
conjunction with the 94th anniversary of the Feb. 18 Revolt against
the Soviets in 1921.

In this illustrated presentation, Dagdigian will take viewers along
the remote areas of Armenia, including ancient Bronze Age ruins and
monasteries–places quite difficult to access.

You will visit the gravesite of “Khent,” the character of Raffi’s
famous novel by the same name, who happens to be buried near
Etchmiadzin.

“Although Khent was fiction, the character was not,” Dagdigian
explains. “The country is full of amazing places that only have to
be seen to be appreciated. Not a year goes by when I don’t embark
upon a new trail to be shared through pictures and stories.”

Included in his talk are interactions with visitors and encounters
in the homes of total strangers ready to serve up their hospitality
for a smile. Accompanying him on many of these junkets is his wife
Lisa. The two share a home in Yerevan.

Much of it also has to do with their charity work with orphanages
and hospitals. Dagdigian’s work with the Cosmic Ray Division over
the years remains exemplary, resulting in thousands of dollars raised
for that cause.

He’s been honored for his work as a 50-year member of the ARF
and served as past chairman of the Armenian National Committee of
Merrimack Valley.

Dinner begins at 6 p.m., followed by the program. Admission is $20
for adults and $10 for students.