Author: Karapet Navasardian

ICRC representatives visit Lebanese-Armenian Maral Najarian held captive by Azerbaijan

Karapet Navasardian
Panorama, Armenia
Feb 13 2021

Representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Friday visited Maral Najarian, a Lebanese-Armenian who is being held captive by Azerbaijan, and reported information to Najarian’s family, Maral’s sister, Ani told News.am.

Ani said the representatives had told her that Maral is fine. She refuted the news spread on social media according to which Maral has been released and urged to not spread fake news.

Maral was captured on November 10 in Berdzor while she was going to take her personal belongings.

The European Court of Human Rights had confirmed that Maral was in Azerbaijani captivity.

Armenia’s carpet production drops sharply in 2020

Karapet Navasardian
Panorama, Armenia
Feb 13 2021

Armenia saw a sharp decline of 76.5% in production of carpets and rugs in 2020, the latest official statistics show.

The country manufactured a total of 7.4 tons of carpets and rugs from January to December last year against the 31.5 tons produced in 2019, the Statistical Committee said.

Incidentally, 26.3 tons of carpets and rugs were manufactured in Armenia in 2018, an increase of 32.8% from the previous year.

Asbarez: Protesters Gather at Freedom Square at Vazgen Manukyan’s Urging

Karapet Navasardian

February 13,  2021



Protesters gather at Freedom Square on Feb. 12

Vazgen Manukyan, the candidate for prime minister of the National Salvation Movement, called a mass protest on Friday, saying that recent developments, especially the threat to border communities in Syunik prompted the protest gathering.

Speaking to journalists at the protest, Manukyan stressed that Friday’s event was not organized by the National Salvation Movement, which has announced a massive rally for February 20. He explained that the gathering was his own initiative as there were pressing issued to discuss with the public.

“There is an urgent situation. It became clear what is going on in Syunik… It became evident that a new agreement of capitulations has been signed behind our backs. In addition to this, a decision has also been made to not allow journalists to freely report on these issues, which raises a more concern that there is another agreement. This path to the destruction of our homeland is continuing,” Manukyan told reporters Friday.

He said that everything must be done to create a popular movement, adding that it has been difficult to bring them the streets. Manukyan said that the way to bring down the Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is to work on his lever, one of which is his My Step bloc and the other the high-ranking officials in the police force.

“If that structure crumbles, he will crumble,” said Manukyan.

Armenian Revolutionary Federation Supreme Council of Armenia Chairman Ishkhan Saghatelyan, who is also the lead coordinator of the National Salvation Movement said there was an imperative for the immediate gathering to address issues with the public.

“When Nikol Pashinyan says there is no public demand for a change in government, he is actually insulting the public,” said Saghatelyan, who said the ruling party will feel it on its own skin the need for that change.

Ombudsman’s representatives visit the five captives that returned to Armenia this week

Karapet Navasardian
Public Radio of Armenia
Feb 12 2021

On the instructions of the Human Rights Defender, the Defender’s representatives, including the doctor, had private talks with the five prisoners released from Azerbaijani captivity.

Their health condition was assessed.

Necessary actions will be taken as a result of the visit.

Five captives were repatriated to Armenia earlier this week with the mediation of the Russian peacekeepers. 

President of Artsakh introduces new Prosecutor General to staff

Karapet Navasardian

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 12:16,

STEPANAKERT, FEBRUARY 12, ARMENPRESS. President of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan visited today the Office of the Prosecutor General to introduce new Prosecutor General Gurgen Nersisyan to the staff, the Presidential Office told Armenpress.

In his remarks the President of Artsakh said despite the current complex post-war situation the functions on fighting against crime and protecting the state interests remain a priority on the path of building a lawful state.

He wished success to the new Prosecutor General, expressing hope that his experience and knowledge will greatly contribute to effectively solving all the problems facing the structure.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Yerevan’s Cafesjian Center for the Arts to host ‘Karen Ohanyan: Sevan’ exhibition

Karapet Navasardian
Panorama, Armenia
Feb 3 2021

The Cafesjian Center for the Arts (CCA) in Yerevan announces the opening of an exhibition entitled “Karen Ohanyan: Sevan” in Eagle Gallery on Friday, February 5, at 10am.

The exhibition features one of the recent most significant series by the painter never presented before, the Cafesjian Center said on Facebook.

“In the contemporary art scene of post-Soviet Armenia (especially of 2000s), Karen Ohanyan’s every single new work or series has been both urgent and relevant with a precise discourse: whether it is political, social, or pure artistic. Despite having a stylistic resemblance with the general oeuvre of the artist, each of these works boldly stands out from his earlier pieces.

“Today the artist reconsiders painting in accordance with the recently evolving vector, which is not limited only to, but is affected by modern technologies as well. In this sense, the value of his paintings transcends the boundaries of Armenian fine art and can be considered a local interpretation of Western painting tradition. In spite of its title, the series is not about the famous mountainous lake in particular; it is more about the contemporary painting, its traditions and issues today.

“The exhibition, “Karen Ohanyan: Sevan”, at the Cafesjian Center for the Arts will run till May 23, 2021. It not only reveals one of the most extraordinary Armenian painters of our time, but also gives an opportunity to contemplate about contemporary painting in the context of newness. In the alarming dynamics of modern days this exhibition can become an isle of not rushing and slow communicating with arts, in dialogue with Karen Ohanyan’s paintings-landscapes,” the center noted.

Artsakh reports 10 new cases of COVID-19 in one day

Karapet Navasardian

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 11:15, 4 February, 2021

STEPANAKERT, FEBRUARY 4, ARMENPRESS. 10 new cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Artsakh in the past 24 hours.

49 tests were conducted on February 3, the ministry of healthcare told Armenpress.

The number of active cases is 25.

The ministry of healthcare has again urged the citizens to follow all the rules to avoid new outbreaks and overcome the disease.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Ararat Province government denies reports on discussions to cede Tigranashen to Azerbaijan

Karapet Navasardian

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 15:06, 5 February, 2021

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 5, ARMENPRESS. Authorities of the Ararat Province are denying as ‘disinformation’ the reports alleging that during the February 3 visit of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan they discussed surrendering the town of Tigranashen to Azerbaijan.

The provincial government issued a statement saying that the discussions they had focused solely on issues of the implemented and ongoing projects in the province.

“Please do not spread such disinformation and refrain from serving the interests of foreign and domestic enemies,” it said.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

Armenia Central Bank raises refinancing rate

Karapet Navasardian

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 12:08, 2 February, 2021

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 2, ARMENPRESS. During today’s session the Board of the Central Bank of Armenia decided to raise the refinancing rate, setting it at 5.5%, the CBA told Armenpress.

The Lombard repo rate provided by the CBA is 7%.

The rate of funds attracted from banks by the CBA is 4%.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Armenian opposition Homeland Salvation Movement calling on citizens to gather near parliament building tomorrow

Karapet Navasardian
News.am, Armenia
Feb 2 2021
18:41, 02.02.2021

The opposition Homeland Salvation Movement has made the following announcement:

“Let’s all gather near the building of the National Assembly on February 3 at 10 a.m.

The My Step faction of the National Assembly continues to carry out anti-national and anti-state activities under the leadership of the government and its treacherous leader.

On February 3, at the initiative of the government, the National Assembly will hold a special session, and anti-state bills are among the items on the agenda.

We call on our citizens to gather near the building of the National Assembly on February 3 at 10 a.m. to protest against the activities of the anti-national authorities.”