12:51,
STEPANAKERT, JANUARY 26, ARMENPRESS. The Staff of the Human Rights Ombudsman of Artsakh published a report on vandalism against the Armenian cultural heritage in the occupied territories of the Republic of Artsakh and the threat of destruction of Armenian monuments, the Ombudsman’s Office told Armenpress.
As a result of military aggression against the Republic of Artsakh, at least 1456 overwhelmingly Armenian historical and cultural prominent immovable monuments, including 161 monasteries and churches, 591 khachkars (cross-stones), the ancient sites of Tigranakert, Azokh, Nor Karmiravan, Mirik, Keren, fortresses and castles, sanctuaries and other monuments remained under the control of Azerbaijan. 8 state museums also came under the control of Azerbaijan with 19 311 exhibits, as well as private museums of Armenian Carpet and Armenian dram of Shushi.
The report presents a number of cases of destruction and acts of vandalism against the Armenian cultural heritage during the Azerbaijani-Turkish aggression and after the ceasefire, including deliberate targeting and vandalism against St. Holy Savior Ghazanchetsots Cathedral and St. Hovhannes Mkrtich (Kanach Zham) Church of Shushi.
The report also refers to Azerbaijan’s policy of deliberately spreading disinformation on Armenian cultural heritage and “albanizing” the Armenian cultural monuments which is also a threat of extinction of the Armenian cultural heritage in the territory of Artsakh.
The analysis of the identified cases and the context of Armeniaphobia shows that the destruction and distortion of the Armenian cultural heritage are systematic and widespread. The actions and statements of the Azerbaijani state bodies and public figures show that this is a specific state policy based on the criminal policy of inciting hatred against the Armenian nation.
Given the many precedents and the real threats of deliberate destruction of the Armenian cultural heritage in the territories under the control of Azerbaijan by the Azerbaijani authorities, the Staff of the Human Rights Ombudsman of Artsakh considers it urgent for the relevant international organizations and especially UNESCO to take effective and immediate steps to preserve the Armenian cultural heritage in the territory of Artsakh.
The English content of the report can be found , the Armenian and Russian versions will be published later.
Armenia ruling bloc MP: My Step faction considering idea of granting parliament the right to self-dissolution
Jan 26 2021
The only thing I can tell you is that the idea of granting the National Assembly the right to self-dissolution is being considered. This is what deputy of the ruling My Step bloc of the National Assembly of Armenia Vahagn Hovakimyan told reporters in parliament today.
According to him, the ruling My Step bloc’s parliamentary faction hasn’t held a discussion on this yet, bu it might give a negative conclusion.
Asked if this is the ruling majority’s initiative, the deputy paused and gave an affirmative answer. In response to a specifying question why the idea has come up, the deputy said the issue was considered when amendments were being made to the Constitution.
When reporters noted that citizens might get the impression that the ruling bloc doesn’t know how to dissolve the parliament since it renounces Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s resignation and is trying to find alternative paths to solve the issue, Hovakimyan said this is only reporters’ impression.
Ayb Educational Foundation files lawsuits in Armenian court
Today, Ayb Educational Foundation filed two lawsuits with the Administrative Court of Armenia in regard to the interventions of state bodies over the past few months, also taking into consideration the fact that a reference was made to the letter sent from the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Armenia in the press release issued by the Prosecutor General’s Office on January 15.
The Foundation told Armenian News-NEWS.am that it reaffirms its position that the repressions of administrative and investigative bodies or any other body can’t lead to the desired outcome of the real clients.
In addition, taking into consideration the actions that have taken place over the past two-and-a-half years, Ayb Educational Foundation will launch a new legal procedure and will provide the public with details soon.
Ombudsman: People cannot use some lands in Armenia’s Nrnadzor border community due to border determination
Armenian CDC: 355 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed over last 24 hours
11:13, 12 January, 2021
YEREVAN, JANUARY 12, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian National Center for Disease Control and Prevention says 355 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed over the past 24 hours in the country, bringing the cumulative total number of confirmed cases to 162,643.
729 patients recovered, raising the number of recoveries to 150,602.
1885 tests were conducted over the past day.
10 patients died from COVID-19, bringing the death toll to 2941. This number doesn’t include the deaths of 707 other individuals (5 in the past 24 hours) infected with the virus, who died from other pre-existing illnesses, according to health authorities.
As of January 12, 11:00 the number of active cases stood at 8393.
Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
Air temperature to gradually rise in Armenia by 4-6 degrees
15:00, 9 January, 2021
YEREVAN, JANUARY 9, ARMENPRESS. No precipitation is expected in Armenia in the daytime of January 9 and on January 10-13, the ministry of emergency situations told Armenpress.
Precipitation is forecast in most of the regions in the daytime of January 14.
The air temperature will gradually rise by 4-6 degrees in the Republic on January 10-13.
Snow is expected in Yerevan in the evening of January 14.
Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
Economy minister under fire from health authorities over ‘oxygen’ remarks regarding COVID measures
Economy minister under fire from health authorities over ‘oxygen’ remarks regarding COVID measures
11:42, 8 January, 2021
YEREVAN, JANUARY 8, ARMENPRESS. The Ministry of Healthcare dismissed the Economy Minister Vahan Kerobyan’s concerns over a potential extension of the “quarantine” regime – a precautionary nationwide regime introduced by the government in 2020 as a replacement for the COVID-19-related state of emergency.
The “quarantine” regime enables the government to continue requiring citizens to wear face masks in public areas, enforce other safety rules and measures whenever necessary and demand COVID-19 tests at border crossing points.
The Ministry of Healthcare proposed the Cabinet to extend the regime for another 6 months from January 11. The proposal is yet to be debated and approved.
Economy Minister Kerobyan said in an interview that the decision hasn’t been discussed with his ministry and that they’d agree with it only in the event of strongest arguments. “But the fact is that now the economy need oxygen above all, and we must do everything for the economy to work maximally open,” Kerobyan had said.
But now the Healthcare Ministry spokesperson Alina Nikoghosyan has announced that the proposed extension of the quarantine regime won’t anyhow restrict or ban any types of businesses.
“First of all I’d like to note that the activities of different organizations, including educational ones, rendering of services, closed institutions (for example psychiatric institutions) are carried out with adherence to epidemiological safety rules and other similar regulations,” Nikoghosyan said.
She said that if the quarantine regime is not extended, the authorities won’t be able to carry out the preventative measures any longer. “This decision doesn’t envisage any ban on any type of economic activity, it rather envisages requirements which enable to reduce the risk of transmission of the coronavirus disease in those organizations,” Nikoghosyan said.
Nikoghosyan said the authorities should not stop the preventive measures in the light of the new strains of the COVID-19 emerging globally, the tense epidemiological situation in many countries and the unavailability of a mass vaccination yet.
Nikoghosyan fired back at Kerobyan’s “oxygen” remarks, saying: “Minister Vahan Kerobyan also mentioned that right now the economy needs oxygen above all. During the last months, coronavirus patients also needed oxygen above all, which was ensured as the efforts of the ministry of healthcare. We are hopeful that the ministry of economy will in turn spare no effort for ensuring oxygen for the economy, without increasing the number of patients, as well as without disrupting the supply of oxygen needed for treating them.”
She added that the healthcare ministry is ready to discuss any reasonable and substantiated proposal.
Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
Pashinyan, Macron discuss humanitarian situation in Nagorno Karabakh
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a telephone conversation with the President of France, Emanuel Macron.
The interlocutors referred to the humanitarian situation in Nagorno Karabakh caused by the aggression unleashed by Azerbaijan and the ways to overcome the challenges.
The Prime Minister thanked the President of France for his attention and support during the difficult days for the Armenian people.
Nikol Pashinyan and Emanuel Macron also discussed a number of issues related to the agenda of Armenian-French relations and the development of economic cooperation.
Catholicos of All Armenians: Like all citizens of Armenia, the Church will also freely express its opinions
Eight People Detained during Anti-Government Protest in Armenia
- December, 28, 2020 – 15:30
- Other Media news
Protesters gathered outside the parliament building on Monday morning – when the legislature was due to convene for an extraordinary session – to demand that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan step down.
“Eight people have been taken under police custody so far,” a spokesperson for the Armenian police said.
Police have cordoned off the building and deployed extra officers to the area. Protesters threw eggs at lawmakers’ cars, which sparked a clash with a politician from Armenia’s My Step ruling party.
As reported by a Sputnik correspondent in Yerevan, the demonstrators then marched to Republic Square, where there are several government buildings, to join another anti-Pashinyan protest. So far, the situation remains calm amid a heavy police presence.
The Armenian opposition has been demanding Pashinyan’s resignation since he signed a trilateral declaration with the leaders of Russia and Azerbaijan on November 9 to cease armed hostilities in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The ceasefire entailed significant territorial concessions to Azerbaijan, which many Armenians are not happy about, especially as around 2,300 Armenian soldiers have reportedly died since the start of the conflict.
Last Friday, Pashinyan proposed holding a snap election but this was rejected by the opposition, who demand he step down first as it’s feared the PM has enough influence to call the vote.