Tuesday,
Tsarukian Critical Of Criminal Cases Against High Court Chief
• Astghik Bedevian
Armenia -- Prosperous Armenia Party leader Gagik Tsarukian attends a parliament
session in Yerevan, .
Gagik Tsarukian, the leader of the main opposition Prosperous Armenia Party
(BHK), questioned on Tuesday criminal proceedings launched against Hrayr
Tovmasian, the Constitutional Court chairman increasingly at loggerheads with
the country’s leadership.
Tsarukian challenged law-enforcement authorities to present evidence of abuses
allegedly committed by Tovmasian. He condemned them for interrogating the
latter’s daughters.
“Let them present proof that he had committed some crimes,” Tsarukian told
reporters. “We all would support punishing him [in that case.] We are not in
favor of crimes.”
“But as an Armenian, as a family man, seeing a 16-year-old or 18-year-old girl
summoned for interrogation over some abuses is unacceptable to me,” he said.
“With their actions, they [investigators] are embarrassing the prime minister.
If these people want to show something, then they are not fit for their jobs.”
Tovmasian’s daughters as well as father were questioned by the National
Security Service (NSS). The NSS said it suspected that they had not submitted
accurate asset declarations to a state body. It said it is also investigating a
possible misuse of government funds allocated by the Armenian Justice Ministry
at a time when it was headed by Tovmasian.
Another law-enforcement body, the Special Investigative Committee (SIS), is
probing a possible “usurpation of power” by Tovmasian. Both inquiries were
announced two days after the Constitutional Court rejected the Armenian
parliament’s demands to replace its chairman installed by the country’s former
leadership.
The BHK refused to back a corresponding parliamentary resolution drafted by
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian’s My Step bloc. Tsarukian said on October 2 that
the bloc has come up with “very weak” arguments in support of its bid to oust
Tovmasian.
“Let them bring out evidence of [Tovmasian’s] illegitimacy and we will say he
is not legitimate,” the BHK leader said on Tuesday. He said that so far he has
seen only “empty talk.”
While criticizing the authorities, Tsarukian stopped short of explicitly
backing the former ruling HHK party’s claims that the criminal cases against
Tovmasian are politically motivated.
Pashinian dismissed those claims through a spokesman on Monday. The
parliamentary leader of his bloc, Lilit Makunts, likewise insisted that
Tovmasian is not subjected to “political persecution.”
“I hope that law-enforcement bodies are acting within the bounds of powers and
functions which they are supposed to have, and I hope that they engage [people]
in the investigations on the basis of legal facts and corroborations,” said
Makunts.
Armenian Parliament Attack Ringleader Asks For Parole
• Ruzanna Stepanian
Armenia - A screenshot of TV footage of gunmen opening fire in the Armenian
parliament on 27 October, 1999.
The jailed man who led a deadly attack on the Armenian parliament in 1999 has
asked authorities to release him on parole, it emerged on Tuesday.
A spokeswoman for Armenia’s Penitentiary Service said Nairi Hunanian, who is
serving a life sentence, is eligible for parole because of having spent 20
years in prison.
The official, Nona Navikian, told RFE/RL’s Armenian service that Hunanian’s
application is already being considered by a relevant state body. It will
respond to him within an 80-day period, said Navikian.
An obscure former journalist, Hunanian led an armed group that burst into the
National Assembly and sprayed it with bullets on October 27, 1999. Then Prime
Minister Vazgen Sarkisian, parliament speaker Karen Demirchian and six other
officials were killed in the shooting spree that thrust Armenia’s government
into turmoil.
Hunanian, who will turn 54 in December, accused the government of corruption
and misrule and called for regime change as he held dozens of parliament
deputies and government officials hostage following the killings. He and the
four other gunmen, including his brother Karen and uncle Vram Galstian,
surrendered to police after overnight negotiations with then President Robert
Kocharian. Several other men were also arrested in the following days.
The gunmen were subsequently tried and sentenced to life in prison. Throughout
the marathon trial Hunanian insisted that he himself had decided to seize the
parliament and try to topple the government without anybody's orders. But many
in Armenia still believe that the ringleader and his accomplices had powerful
sponsors outside the parliament building.
Pashinian Under Fire Over ‘Secret’ Pay Rise
• Naira Nalbandian
Armenia -- Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian holds a cabinet meeting in Yerevan,
June 27, 2019.
Opposition leaders denounced Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian on Tuesday for what
appears to be a confidential decision to effectively double the salaries of
Armenian government ministers and their deputies.
Citing information provided by various ministries, the Hetq.am investigative
publication reported on Monday since June the ministers have been paid 1.5
million drams ($3,200) each per month, which is twice the amount of their
salaries set by an Armenian law. It said that deputy ministers have likewise
seen their monthly wages double to just over 1 million drams.
The online publication quoted an Armenian government spokesman as saying that
the sharp pay rises were “carried out under a secret procedure.” It said that
Pashinian issued the “secret directive” in July.
Pashinian’s press secretary, Vladimir Karapetian, did not deny the veracity of
the report when he spoke to RFE/RL’s Armenian service on Tuesday. But he
declined to comment further.
The salaries of Armenia’s high-ranking state officials were most recently
officially raised in 2013 through amendments to the law in question. Pashinian,
then an opposition parliamentarian, strongly opposed the measure. “The ruling
elite has decided to raise its wages … against the background of poverty,
emigration and hopelessness,” he complained at the time.
The leaders of the two opposition parties represented in the Armenian
parliament seized upon the Hetq.am revelation to accuse Pashinian’s government
of lack of transparency. They also questioned the legality of the lavish pay
rise.
“I condemn it for the fact that it was done secretly,” said Prosperous Armenia
Party (BHK) leader Gagik Tsarukian. “What did the people do the [2018]
revolution for? The people are ready for everything but they want to be
informed.”
“Public funds belonging to the people cannot be spent through secret procedures
unless we are talking about spending on defense and national security,” agreed
Edmon Marukian of the Bright Armenia Party (LHK).
Artur Sakunts, a prominent civic activist, also voiced concern at the
revelation. “This is incompatible with democratic and accountable governance,”
he said, adding that the government should apologize to the public and explain
the salary hike.
Meanwhile, parliamentary leaders of the ruling My Step bloc sought to deflect
questions about Pashinian’s controversial decision, saying that it is up to the
government to explain it. But they also stressed that paying the ministers and
other senior officials decent salaries will contribute to good governance in
Armenia.
“The wages of employees of state bodies must be raised because often times the
private sector offers better [financial] conditions to specialists needed by
the state … and the state loses in this competition,” said My Step’s Alen
Simonian.
Marukian acknowledged that higher salaries lower “corruption risks” in the
public sector. The opposition leader added, however, that the government should
either increase them by amending the law on high-ranking officials’ wages or
pay those officials bonuses in a transparent manner.
Pashinian’s government has paid hefty bonuses to tax officials as well as the
employees of other government agencies. Their disclosure by Armenian media
caused opposition uproar late last year. The head of the State Revenue
Committee, Davit Ananian, admitted in January that he alone received 14 million
drams ($29,000) in bonuses during his eight-month tenure.
Pashinian essentially defended those payments, arguing that they also benefited
ordinary public sector employees. He also complained that the government has
trouble attracting skilled professionals working for private firms and earning
higher wages.
Appointment Of Armenian Constitutional Court Head Declared Illegal
Armenia -- Constitutional Court Chairman Hrayr Tovmasian reads out a court
verdict on an appeal filed by former President Robert Kocharian, September 4,
2019.
Law-enforcement authorities challenged on Tuesday the legality of Hrayr
Tovmasian’s appointment in March 2018 as chairman of Armenia’s Constitutional
Court after bringing coup charges against a former senior official.
The Special Investigative Service (SIS) said that the former Armenian
parliament elected Tovmasian court chairman as a result of a “usurpation of
power” by a “group of officials.” It claimed that they broke laws to install
him just before the entry into force in April 2018 of sweeping constitutional
amendments.
The amendments introduced a six-year term in office for the head of Armenia’s
highest court. Tovmasian was picked to run the court under the previous
constitution which allows him to hold the post until the age of 70. He was
elected shortly after the resignation of the court’s previous, long-serving
chairman, Gagik Harutiunian.
In a statement, the SIS claimed that the then deputy chief of the parliament
staff, Arsen Babayan, illegally backdated Harutiunian’s letter of resignation
in order to make sure that all legal deadlines for Tovmasian’s swift election
are met. It said that Babayan, who was arrested on Monday, has been charged
with forgery and seizure of power. The former official strongly denies the
accusations, according to his lawyers.
The statement also said that the SIS investigators suspect former parliament
speaker Ara Babloyan of involvement in the alleged coup. Babloyan was
interrogated by them earlier in the day.
The SIS stopped short of indicting Tovmasian, who has been under growing
government pressure to step down. It launched the coup probe on October 17 two
days after seven of the eight other members of the Constitutional Court
rejected the government-controlled parliament’s demands to replace their
chairman.
Former President Serzh Sarkisian’s Republican Party of Armenia (HHK), with
which Tovmasian was affiliated until February 2018, says the investigation is
part of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian’s continuing efforts to force the high
court chairman to resign. Pashinian and his political allies deny any political
motives behind it.
Pashinian charged in July that Tovmasian “privatized” the Constitutional Court
with the help of the HHK. He implicitly demanded changes in the court’s
composition.
Tovmasian claimed on October 2 that the current authorities are seeking to oust
him in order to gain control over the court and be able to make
unconstitutional decisions. He said he will not bow to the pressure.
Press Review
“Government fans say that everything in Armenia has changed for the better,
grumblers are sure that nothing has changed, while the government’s opponents
say things have changed for the worse,” writes “Aravot.” “All three groups are
wrong. In Armenia two things have changed for the better: the government was
formed as a result of legitimate elections and it is not corrupt. These two
standards are so important that one can speak of a phenomenal achievement for
Armenia. What could have changed faster but has not changed is hypocrisy and
the ruling team’s obligation to justify everything.”
“Haykakan Zhamanak” dismisses claims about the “political persecution” of
former government officials and other critics of the current regime. The
pro-government paper says that law-enforcement authorities are simply trying to
solve crimes committed in the past. It deplores “terrible psychological
pressure exerted on the law-enforcement system” by Armenia’s former rulers.
“This is an overt attempt to paralyze and wreck the state law-enforcement
system,” it says.
“Zhamanak” comments on the recent sacking of Grigori Hayrapetov, who headed a
National Security Service (NSS) division in charge of the personal security of
the country’s top leaders and their family members. It followed the dismissal
of NSS Director Artur Vanetsian and police chief Valeri Osipian. The paper is
worried that these sackings could demoralize lower-ranking law-enforcement
officers and thus undermine the work of the state security apparatus. It says
they deepened a perceived lack of “predictability” within that system.
(Lilit Harutiunian)
Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2019 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
www.rferl.org
Author: Talar Tumanian
Mirza Dinnayi: I am happy to be awarded by Armenians, grandchildren of genocide survivors
News.am, Armenia
Oct 19 2019
Mirza Dinnayi: I am happy to be awarded by Armenians, grandchildren of genocide survivors Mirza Dinnayi: I am happy to be awarded by Armenians, grandchildren of genocide survivors
22:20, 19.10.2019
168: Security Council holds session chaired by PM Pashinyan (photos)
Categories
Official
Politics
The Security Council of Armenia is holding an extraordinary session which has been planned in advance chaired by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.
The PM welcomed the meeting participants and stated: “Our session coincided with the ongoing heated developments in the region, and today we will hold discussions on this matter. Of course, we will also exchange views, information about our recent international contacts, as well as will discuss the current situation of the peaceful settlement of the Artsakh conflict. The sessions of the Security Council are very important because in the context of our security issues we are also making economic, political decisions, and I am confident that our deci
Gravestones with Armenian, Georgian inscriptions discovered in Tbilisi
Panorama, Armenia
Oct 18 2019
Gravestones with Armenian and Georgian inscriptions were found during the restoration of the Dry Bridge in Tbilisi last week, Jnews reported.
The tombstones are numbered with red paint which has caused outrage among the public.
Diplomats of the Armenian Embassy in Georgia have already visited the construction site to examine the gravestones. Also, the diplomats have contacted representatives of the construction company and are working with Georgian authorities to determine the fate of the gravestones, the embassy said in a statement on 11 October.
According to the news outlet, a commission has been set up in Georgia to deal with the findings. The commission features representatives of the Georgian Ministry of Culture, National Agency for the Cultural Heritage Preservation and Tbilisi Municipality.
Several options for resolving the issue are being considered: the transfer of the gravestones to the Armenian community of Georgia, their placement in the Khojivank Pantheon of Tbilisi or transfer to any other Georgian museum.
The scandal with Garegin Nzhdeh is gaining new momentum
Arminfo, Armenia
Oct 17 2019
ArmInfo. In Russia, the church is separated from the state. This was announced on October 17 during a weekly briefing by the official representative of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maria Zakharova, asking her to submit her vision of resolving the situation related to the attempt to dismantle the memorial plate to Garegin Nzhdeh, which was iestablished in the courtyard of the Armenian church in Russian Armavir.
Responding to the question of the journalist, Zakharova asked to answer the question whether the journalist divides the attitude to this issue in Armenia and in Russia into two or three aspects. "Firstly, I did not know the aspect of this situation, that there is a tablet on the territory of the Armenian temple, etc. We still proceed from the fact that our Church is separate from the state, and this applies to all religious directions. The second point, if we return to this topic globally, I believe that we need to return it to a certain historicity and assessments from this point of view, "the representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry said, recalling that Moscow's position was voiced repeatedly at briefings, she is also reflected in a special report by MFA of Russia. According to her, this assessment is relevant in principle, and if it approaches this issue from the point of view of history. "The third point, I wanted to say once again that if I touch on the specific situation and the statements of MPs and local authorities, I'm not up to date and ready to study and comment more specifically. But, I believe that the first two points are the answer of your question," Zakharova concluded .
EU supports OSCE MG Co-Chairs’ efforts in NK talks, Special Rep. Toivo Klaar tells Armenian PM
EU supports OSCE MG Co-Chairs’ efforts in NK talks, Special Rep. Toivo Klaar tells Armenian PM
19:18,
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 16, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan held a meeting on October 16th with EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia Toivo Klaar, the Prime Minister’s Office said in a readout.
The PM said that Armenia attaches importance to the continuous development of relations with the European Union and that the official high-level meetings testify about the Armenia-EU effective dialogue and dynamic process of cooperation.
According to PM Pashinyan, the EU is Armenia’s most important colleague in the full-swing reforms that are underway in Armenia, and the government is resolute in continuing key reforms in different sectors.
Klaar said that the EU is also attaching importance to deepening partnership with Armenia and is ready to continue supporting the Armenian PM and the Government in the reforms aimed at strengthening democracy.
Nikol Pashinyan and Toivo Klaar exchanged ideas around the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement. The PM emphasized that Armenia sees the resolution exclusively through a peaceful path and is committed to the negotiations process within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship format.
The EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia commended Armenia’s steps aimed at the conflict’s peaceful resolution and noted that the European Union is supporting the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs’ efforts in the direction of peaceful negotiations.
Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
Armenpress: Armenian PM meets with President of Turkmenistan in Ashgabat
Armenian PM meets with President of Turkmenistan in Ashgabat
09:39, 11 October, 2019
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 11, ARMENPRESS. The working visit of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to Turkmenistan has kicked off, the PM’s Office told Armenpress.
Today early in the morning Pashinyan met with President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov in Ashgabat. The Turkmen President welcomed the Armenian PM and highlighted his visit in the context of discussing the prospects to deepen the bilateral and multilateral relations.
“Dear Mr. Pashinyan,
Let me welcome you in Turkmenistan and thank you for accepting the invitation to take part in the summit of the CIS Heads of State. I think we have a good opportunity to discuss our future cooperation for the benefit and welfare of our peoples”, the President of Turkmenistan said.
He praised the current development process of the Armenian-Turkmen relations and stated that Turkmenistan is interested in expanding the mutual beneficial partnership with Armenia and the ties in different areas.
The Armenian PM in turn said he is happy to visit Turkmenistan and have a chance to exchange views on the process and development of the Armenian-Turkmen cooperation.
“Dear Mr. President,
I want to thank you for the invitation to visit Turkmenistan and for the warm welcome. It’s a pleasure to be in Ashgabat. This is my first visit to Turkmenistan during which we have an opportunity to discuss not only the bilateral agenda, but also our bilateral cooperation. I am confident we will manage to discuss all topics of mutual interest”, PM Pashinyan said.
He stated that in the Central Asia Turkmenistan is one of Armenia’s key partners with which the country has effective, constructive mutual relations, and in line with the high-level political dialogue it is also necessary to boost the economic cooperation.
The Armenian PM and the Turkmen President touched upon the bilateral and multilateral partnership agenda, the intensification of economic ties and trade turnover, as well as issues to utilize the existing potential in different fields. The sides expressed readiness to boost the joint beneficial projects and initiatives.
The officials also touched upon the importance of the activity of the CIS Council of Heads of State, the development of cooperation within the CIS and other issues.
Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
Artsakh President, Armenia’s Defense Minister hold meeting
Artsakh President, Armenia's Defense Minister hold meeting
20:19,
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 11, ARMENPRESS. (Press Release, Office of President of Artsakh) On 11 October Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan received Defense Minister of the Republic of Armenia David Tonoyan.
Issues on army building and cooperation between the two Armenian states in the sphere were on the discussion agenda. Artsakh Republic Defense Minister Karen Abrahamyan was present in the meeting.
AbuDhabi: Thani Al Zeyoudi Attends Armenian Embassy’s Reception On National Day
WAM, UAE
Sept 29 2019
ABU DHABI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM – 29th Sep, 2019) Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, attended Sunday a reception hosted by the Armenian Ambassador to the UAE, Mher Mkrtumyan, on the occasion of his country's National Day.
The event, organised at the InterContinental Abu Dhabi, was attended by Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi; Saeed Abdullah Al Qamzi, Director of Visits Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; top officials; heads of Arab and foreign diplomatic mission accredited to the UAE, a number of businesspersons and members of the Armenian community in the country.
In his speech on the occasion, the Armenian Ambassador hailed the wise policy of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and the strong relations between the two countries.
He highlighted UAE's achievements in all domains and emphasised his country's desire to enhance bilateral cooperation in various fields.
U.S. Senate panel backs increased assistance to Armenia
ARKA, Armenia
Sept 27 2019