Author: nina hovnanian

Armenian society demands to arrest scandalous MP on military doctor
murder’s case

news.am
July 04, 2012 | 18:55

YEREVAN. – The public activists sent a letter to Armenia’s Attorney
General Aghvan Hovsepyan and requested that Ruling Republican Party
influential MP Ruben Hayrapetyan be involved as a suspect on case of
Harsnakar restaurant, owned by Hayrapetyan, where military doctor was
beaten to death by restaurant security staff.

`We are writing you on notorious Harsnakar criminal case. As a result
of brutal fight in Harsnakar, high-ranking military doctor Vahe
Avetyan died in hospital on June 29.

Though a criminal case has been filed, people do believe that the
order of lynching [the doctor] has been given by Ruling Republican
Party former MP Ruben Hayrapetyan. Two weeks have passed but the
option of involving Ruben Hayrapetyan as a suspect has not been
considered. Moreover, the victims insist that up to 15 were involved
in the fight, while only six have been detained

Considering that the constitutional function of the Prosecution of the
Republic of Armenia is to protect public interests, we request that
you involve Ruben Hayrapetyan as a suspect in the criminal case of
Harsnakar and later arrest him. In his previous press conferences he
called for violence for many times and announced that he punished
people by beating them. This provides enough ground for us to think
that he is absolutely capable to give such an order. Beside this, he
found himself guilty when withdrew the MP mandate on Tuesday.

We request that you transfer the criminal case from the jurisdiction
of the Police to the jurisdiction of Special Investigation Service, as
from the very beginning some senior Police officials, without having
the conclusion of police investigation, have announced that Ruben
Hayrapetyan was innocent. According to rumors, he is the relative of
Yerevan Police Chief Nersik Nazaryan.

We request that you take certain steps and make a decision on not
allowing the former MP to escape from Armenia. But if he does, the
whole responsibility will lay on you.

This criminal case will come to show whether the Prosecution acts in
compliance with its constitutional functions and protects the rights
and interests of society in general or it solely protects the criminal
and oligarchic interests of a very small privileged class of society.
Otherwise, we will have to ensure the rule of law and jurisdiction
ourselves based on our rights and constitutional functions,’ the
letter reads.

Armenia’s prosecutor general ready to receive initiators of protests
against Harsnaqar incident

news.am
July 04, 2012 | 18:27

YEREVAN.- Armenia’s Prosecutor General Aghvan Hovsepyan expressed
readiness to receive the initiators of the protest action against
incident in Harsnaqar restaurant, prosecutor’s office said.

As Armenian News-NEWS.am informed earlier, an incident had occurred at
Harsnaqar Restaurant on June 17, where several military doctors
including Edgar Mikoyan, Arkadi Aghajanyan, Garik Soghomonyan, Artak
Bayadyan and Vahe Avetyan were brutally beaten by the restaurant
employees. And Vahe Avetyan died in hospital on June 29.

A criminal case is launched, and the police have detained six people.

The Restaurant’s owner is senior ruling party MP – who on Tuesday
submitted his resignation from his parliamentary seat – , Football
Federation of Armenia President, and businessman Ruben Hayrapetyan.

Numerous protest actions calling to bring Ruben Hayrapetyan to
responsibility were held over the recent days.

Armen Badalyan: Army to Blame for Letting Bodyguards Get So Powerful
Grisha Balasanyan

hetq
14:35, July 4, 2012

Armen Badalyan, a specialist in political and electoral technologies,
told Hetq that MP Ruben Hayrapetyan’s resignation statement was a
public relations stunt.

Badalyan argued that Hayrapetyan should have condemned the Harsnakar
Restaurant beating the very day it occurred and, as a member of
parliament, he should have met with his electorate and explained what
had happened.

The specialist said that Hayrapetyan should have also told voters
that, for evident reasons, he had to leave parliament as well.

Badalyan says that it was only after Hayrapetyan was called to the
Presidential Palace that he resigned, underscoring the fact that the
president’s words have more impact than those who voted for him.

Badalyan believes that the visit of European Council President Herman
Van Rompuy also played a part in Hayrapetyan’s resignation, but that
it was pure politics and not a result of moral guilt.

The specialist said that the entire incident would blow over and not
lead to any widespread political upheavals or repositioning of forces.

This too will pass like some many similar incidents before,’ he argued.

Badalyan also blames the army for letting the bodyguards of various
oligarchs get so powerful.

`Don’t forget, that in the March 1, 2008 clashes at Proshyan and Leo
Streets, the bodyguards and the army were on the same side of the
barricades. It’s due to the army that the bodyguard units of so many
oligarchs have gotten so strong today.’

Latin American notary public model to be introduced in Armenia

news.am
July 04, 2012 | 15:32

YEREVAN. – The Latin American notary public model will be used in
Armenia, and this means the notary public will bear 100-percent
responsibility for the documents he/she notarizes, Justice Minister
Hrayr Tovmasyan stated, during Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting, while
submitting for the Government’s approval the list of events stemming
from the notarial reforms concept.

`The person must be certain that he/she will not lose a cent as a
result of the notarized transaction. And if something is not done as
should be, the person responsible is the notary public,’ explained
Tovmasyan.

In his words, other notary public-related reforms likewise will be
conducted in Armenia.

And in response to Finance Minister Vache Gabrielyan’s remark that in
this case the notary public service fees could increase, Hrayr
Tovmasyan said that the fees indeed will increase because the notary
public cannot bear 100-percent responsibility within the current
service fees.

`Nemets, go away’: Public activists want to see Hayrapetyan prosecuted

News | 04.07.12 | 15:32

By Gayane Lazarian
ArmeniaNow reporter

About 500 protesters gathered today near the National Assembly
building and marched to the office of the prosecutor general demanding
a fair investigation into the killing of military doctor Vahe Avetyan,
who died on June 29 after being brutally beaten on June 17. The
picket’s participants demanded to hold Republican MP, head of Football
Federation of Armenia Ruben Hayrapetyan liable, considering his
mandate withdrawal to be a insignificant step. Hayrapetyan withdrew
his deputyship late Tuesday.

At the moment when the protestors were chanting `Nemets Rubo [Ruben
Hayrapetyan] is dangerous for public health,’ `Nemets, go away!’
president of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy was making a
speech in the National Assembly calling on the authorities of Armenia
to pay particular attention to the opinion of civil society in
Armenia’s European integration effort.

Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor office head Artur Sakunts told
ArmeniaNow that the civil society is getting fresh momentum in
Armenia, because everybody has personally felt that each person’s
security is endangered.

`Voicing this demand the protestors want Ruben Hayrapetyan to be
subjected to criminal liability and be involved in this case as a
suspect,’ Sakunts says.

Aram Manukyan from Armenian National Congress (ANC) faction said that
they have passed an official appeal signed by the heads of four
parliamentary factions (Dashnaktsutyun, ANC, Heritage and Prosperous
Armenia parties) to NA Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan, proposing to initiate
parliamentary hearings on the issue and within short time period to
call a meeting with heads of those law enforcement bodies which are
responsible for the investigation of the killing which took place at
Harsnakar restaurant, owned by Hayrapetyan.

Head of the ANC parliamentary faction Levon Zurabyan disappointed
activists, saying no special session will be convened on the issue due
to lack of votes. According to law, signatures of at least 44
lawmakers are necessary to call a special session.

Member of Heritage Party, activist Davit Sanasaryan said the number of
MPs of four factions – ANC, ARF-D, PAP and Heritage – exceeds 44,
making it possible to gather enough votes, so he wondered what the
problem was. (The total number of MPs of the four factions is 54).

Lieutenant Colonel threatening to blow up Harsnaqar charged

tert.am
13:59 – 04.07.12

Lieutenant Colonel Vardan Samvelyan has been charged under 235 Article
of the Armenian Criminal Code – illegal possession, transportation of
arms, explosives.

Responsible for the Defense Ministry’s press department Mary Sargsyan
told Pastinfo agency that a Yerevan court has satisfied the petition
of investigative body to jail Samvelyan as a restriction measure for
two months.

US State Department provided postponed but logical answer to Azerbaijan-expert

news.am
July 04, 2012 | 01:32

YEREVAN. – The U.S. State Department’s decision on removing Azerbaijan
from a list of countries eligible to purchase U.S. military hardware
is logical but postponed, expert Karen Bekaryan told Armenian
News-NEWS.am.

According to him, if one of the sides of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
settlement claims about achieving its goals by applying force, such
reaction will be responded by the mediator-states sooner or later.

`Logically the State Department should have adopted such a decision
long time ago. It is likely that hatred in the Azerbaijani rhetoric
has achieved to such level that it is no more possible to keep
silent,’ the expert said.

Asked to comment on the idea that the U.S. move may be simply of
diplomatic character, as Azerbaijan is not so much interested in the
American hardware, Bekaryan said that it may not play a huge role on
military level. However, the matter is in political platform.

The State Department gave a political estimation and it is not simply
a move but a very important symbolic act.

As the agency informed earlier, in response to Congressional concerns
first raised by House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Democrat
Howard Berman, the State Department has removed Azerbaijan from a list
of countries eligible to purchase U.S. military hardware which could
be used by the Aliyev regime in its ongoing attacks against Armenia
and Nagorno-Karabakh.

`This decision by Secretary Clinton is in the best interests of the
Armenian people and for peace in the region,’ said Rep. Berman, upon
receiving the modified formal notification from the State Department
late on June 27.

Polish Aid to Armenia: Opening of a Water Pipeline in Norashen Village

hetq
13:21, July 4, 2012

On 3 July, the Ambassador of Poland to Armenia Zdzislaw Raczynski
opened a water pipeline in Norashen, Aragatsotn Province which had
been constructed within the Polish Aid to Armenia programme.

The water pipeline will enable Norashen inhabitants to water all the
fields and gardens located in the lower part of the village which
could not have been effectively cultivated so far because of the lack
of water. The village inhabitants and vice governor of the Aragatsotn
Province Aram Arsenian also attended the opening.

This is the second project realised by the Embassy of Poland in the
Aragatsotn Province within the Polish Aid programme. Last year the
embassy financed renovation of the medical care station in the
neighbouring village of Geghadir.

Legendary Michel Legrand to have a concert in Yerevan

11:50, 4 July, 2012

YEREVAN, JULY 4, ARMENPRESS: Legendary composer Michel Jean Legrand
is scheduled to have a concert in Yerevan, autumn. Armenia’s State
Philharmonic Orchestra press service informed Armenpress , Legrand’s
concert is set to take place within the framework of Yerevan classic
music 6 th concert festival, dedicated to the 80 th anniversary of
great composer.

Legendary composer has already had concerts in Armenia previously .In
2006 he came forth in the same stage with Charles Aznavor, in 2009
jointly with his wife, harp-player Catherine Michelle. Michel Legrand
is more famous for his music written for the films ( over 200). The
Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964) brought him great fame.

Legrand has composed more than two hundred film and television scores
and several musicals and has made well over a hundred albums. He has
won three Oscars (out of 13 nominations) and five Grammys and has been
nominated for an Emmy. He was twenty-two when his first album, I Love
Paris, became one of the best-selling instrumental albums ever
released. He is a virtuoso jazz and classical pianist and an
accomplished arranger and conductor who performs with orchestras all
over the world.

CONDO IN BEAUTIFUL 6 FAMILY HISTORIC MANSION NEAR HARVARD/BOLTON/495

$159,000
Ad Number: 121929

Property Type: Condo or Co-op
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 1
City/State: Lancaster, MA 01523
Living Space (Sq. Ft.): 1,005
Viewed: 3708 times

Age: 100 years
Size of property: 1.5 acres
Architectural type: Victorian
View: Mountain View
Parking facilities: Driveway
Cooking type: Gas
Laundry facilities: In unit
Yearly taxes or condo fees: $2,379

Amenities: Storage, Dishwasher, Fireplace, Cable TV, Pets Allowed

School District: Nashoba Regional (great schools – Lancaster, Bolton, Stow regional)
County: Worcester
Type of seller: Other
When is it available?: Immediately

About this Property

Spacious 1+ bedroom condo available in the historic Bogigian Mansion
just off Rte 117 in the beautiful town of Lancaster, MA. Townhouse
style (2 floors) with loft style master bedroom. Original post & beam
features, exposed ceiling beams, built in shelving, wide pine as well
as hardwood floors, and lots of charm in this fully renovated 6-condo
conversion (2005 with new heat, electric, and plumbing). Entry though
elegant main foyer. Original fireplace (non-working) in entry as well
as in unit. Kitchen updated with maple cabinets. Ceramic tile floor in
kitchen and bathroom. Views of Mt. Wachusett. A must see!

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Pets OK with approval. Condo fee of $290/mo includes heat (forced hot
water with new state of the art boiler in 2008), trash removal, water,
septic/sewer (town sewer betterment is paid in full), exterior
maintenance including snow removal and landscaping (we’ve been
replacing the roof in sections since 2006 and have just two small
sections to go), and Master Insurance. The association has not levied
any assessments in addition to monthly fees. The goal is to cover
capital out of the condo fees. We are doing well with that though of
course we cannot guarantee we will never have an assessment.

Unit 4: Living Area is 1,005 sq.ft. Lots of closet space.

1st Floor: Living Room 14′ X 18’4″; Kitchen 9’4″ X 11′; Den/office
w/walk in closet 10′ X 10’6″; Full Bath 5’6″ X 11’6″ (w/stack
washer/dryer hook up)

2nd Floor Master Bedroom: 10’2″ X 29’4″ w/large walk in closet.

Buyer to pay 2 months extra condo fees at closing toward capital
reserves. There are 6 units total in the building. Each unit has
storage allocated in the full, unfinished above ground basement. Owner
is a licensed Real Estate agent.

LANCASTER — A “PRIMO” TOWN

Lancaster is a “primo” town, the mother town of the region
incorporated in 1653 and where many wealthy Bostonian’s vacationed in
days gone by. Many of the mansions here in town were built by the well
known Thayer family who also left the town endowments we continue to
enjoy. Today Lancaster features the famous Charles Bulfinch Church on
the Town Green, a fabulous and well endowed busy library, apple
orchards, ponds, parks, and nice people. Lancaster is part of the well
respected Nashoba Regional School District including Lancaster,
Bolton, and Stow, with the High School just having been rated #18 in
the state behind Wellesley (#12) and Lexington (#14).

BOGIGIAN — A “PRIMO” GUY

Hagop Bogigan who built the Bogigian Mansion in 1907, was an Armenian
immigrant who became a well-known humanitarian with two causes unusual
to his time — humanity, especially widows and orphans, and the
benefit of the education of women. Upon his death, Bogigian left a
good part of his considerable fortune to Mt. Holyoke College which to
this day offers scholarships on behalf of this endowment.

The marker stone that sits out front on the property is very special:

Hagop Bogigian; Humanitarian Crusader; 1856 – 1931

He built and lived in this house from 1907 until his death. He was
born in the Armenian Province of Kharpert in Ottoman Turkey and came
to this country in 1875. He befriended Longfellow and established a
successful business in Boston as a pioneer merchant of oriental rugs
and as an importer-exporter. Later he became a well-known figure in
America as a champion of the humanitarian causes of the Armenian
People. He supported higher education for Armenian women.

“So many Gods; so many creeds; so many paths that wind and wind; while
just the act of being kind; is all the sad world needs.” (inscribed on
his tombstone in Washington D.C.)

THE BOGIGIAN MANSION — A SPECIAL PLACE

In its’ glory, the Bogigian Mansion was an 80-acre estate with an
orchard, a pond, and formal rose gardens as well as the house, an 18
room summer mansion filled with art and imported rugs. Since
Bogigians’ death in 1931, much of the land has been sold off, but the
house has maintained it’s grandeur, always finding it’s place in this
changing world. The large Collins family (there were 18) lived here
happily for many years during the war, making pea soup in the basement
until they built the soup “factory” behind the house. Later the house
was a nursing home and then was converted to six apartments before
its’ most recent renovations and condo conversion in 2005.

Today the Bogigian Mansion is fully renovated as six condominiums
keeping with the historic nature of the units at the time they were
built. Features include original post and beam, exposed ceiling beams,
wide pine as well as hardwood floors, original fireplaces (though non
working), and views of Mt. Wachusett.