Author: Tambiyan Samvel

 10:14, 25 May 2022

YEREVAN, MAY 25, ARMENPRESS. A serviceman of the Armenian Armed Forces is under arrest in suspicion of treason, the National Security Service (NSS) said in a statement.

The NSS did not disclose the identity or the unit of the suspect.

It said that the serviceman was recruited in January 2022 by a foreign intelligence agency through social media, namely Facebook, and was paid 200 dollars for transferring highly classified information about his military base’s combat positions, equipment, coordinates, arsenal, number of on-duty troops and other top secret data.

The foreign intelligence service paid the 200 dollars to the suspect by bank transfer.

According to the NSS, the suspect confessed in his testimony after being arrested by the NSS Military Counterintelligence Division.

The suspect is remanded into custody pending trial.

 11:14, 27 May 2022

YEREVAN, MAY 27, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan sent a congratulatory message to the President of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay Luis Lacalle Pou on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the PM’s Office said.

The message reads as follows,

“Your Excellency,

Today marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Oriental Republic of Uruguay.

The friendly relations between our peoples, of course, have a much longer history, and during these 30 years they have also moved to the interstate level, continued to develop in an atmosphere of mutual understanding, common values and mutual trust.

We will never forget that Uruguay was the first country to officially recognize the Armenian Genocide in 1965, reaffirming its reputation as an advocate of fundamental human rights and universal values. At present, the Armenian community formed in Uruguay after the genocide is an important factor that strengthens the ties between our countries.

Ahead of the 30th anniversary, I attach great importance to the mutual decision to open embassies in Yerevan and Montevideo, which testifies to the high-level political dialogue and vision for the future.

I congratulate all of us on the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and Uruguay. I reaffirm my readiness to strengthen cooperation with friendly Uruguay in all areas of mutual and multilateral interest.

Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration”.

UPDATED: Protesters block foreign ministry headquarters in Yerevan

 10:14,

YEREVAN, MAY 24, ARMENPRESS. The anti-government demonstrators in Yerevan are protesting outside the foreign ministry building since early Tuesday morning.

The demonstrators have blockaded the building.

The protesters, led by Vice Speaker Ishkhan Saghatelyan from the opposition Hayastan faction and member of the ARF, marched down the city towards the foreign ministry from the France Square.

Saghatelyan called on his followers to block all entrances and exits to the building. After doing so, the protesters pushed through police lines and blocked the building.

UPDATES: 

12:20 Demonstrators open entrances

Opposition Members of Parliament Hayk Mamijanyan, Aram Vardevanyan and Ishkhan Saghatelyan entered the building after telling police officers that they have the right to do so as lawmakers. They entered the building to relay the message of the demonstrators.

Afterwards, the MPs exited the building and led the crowd of supporters back to the France Square.

 18:59,

YEREVAN, MAY 17, ARMENPRESS. By the decree of the President of the Republic, the Apostolic Nuncio of the Holy See to Armenia, Archbishop José Avelino Betancourt, was awarded the Medal of Gratitude for his significant contribution to the establishment, strengthening, development of friendly relations with the Republic of Armenia and protection of universal values.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the President’s Office, the President handed over the award to José Avelino Betancourt on May 17.

Vahagn Khachaturyan noted that he is very pleased to hand over the state award of the Republic of Armenia, which best reflects the significant contribution of José Avelino Betancourt to the strengthening and development of friendly relations between Armenia and the Holy See. “I am convinced that there will be no obstacle to the further development of the relations between the Holy See and Armenia, as it is guaranteed at the highest level with the participation of people like you,” said President Khachaturyan, congratulating the Holy See’s Apostolic Nuncio to Armenia.

José Avelino Betancourt thanked for the appreciation, noting that it is a great honor for him to receive such an award from the president of the first Christian country in the world.

 15:15,

YEREVAN, MAY 16, ARMENPRESS. A paramedic team in Yerevan was assaulted after responding to a 911 call, the ambulance service said.

According to the Ambulance Service Director Taguhi Stepanyan, the paramedic was seriously injured and is hospitalized. The driver of the ambulance suffered milder injuries.

“After the medics were leaving the home call, the homeowner attacked and battered the medic and the driver. Police were notified,” Stepanyan said.

Meanwhile, the incident received condemnation from City Hall.

Vice Mayor of Yerevan Gevorg Simonyan issued a statement condemning any act of violence against doctors. “We will be coherent in making sure that this incident gets the appropriate criminal-legal assessment,” Simonyan added.

City Councillor Ashot Sargsyan also issued a statement. “A medic and driver of an ambulance were assaulted while responding to a call, [the medic] was hit in the head with a crowbar. The paramedics were hospitalized. Any act of violence against a doctor is condemnable,” Sargsyan said.

Other details weren’t immediately clear.

Unfortunately, CSTO’s reaction wasn’t what we expected: Pashinyan on Azeri incursion into Armenia’s sovereign territory

 16:59,

YEREVAN, MAY 16, ARMENPRESS. During today’s summit of the leaders of the member states of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan raised issues relating to the mutual partnership of the CSTO states and the rapid response in crisis situations.

In his remarks the Armenian PM firstly thanked President of Russia Vladimir Putin for organizing the summit, which is dedicated to the 30^th anniversary of the CSTO, and for the warm welcome.

“Of course, our jubilee meeting is a very good opportunity to draw some conclusions and discuss the further development prospects of our organization. President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko raised very important issues relating to the mutual partnership between the CSTO member states. It can be said that the President of Belarus addressed quite problematic issues. In general, it can be said that there is a lot of positive in the CSTO history because CSTO has been, is and will be the most important factor on ensuring security in the region. But, as we see, during today’s jubilee summit we do not discuss jubilee issues only because the situation in the CSTO responsibility zone is quite tense”, the Armenian PM said.

Pashinyan touched upon the issue on the voting of the CSTO states, stating that this voting sometimes is not simultaneous.

“I want to note that this is not a new problem, it accompanies us for a long time. Armenia has raised this issue for many times. We have discussed this issue in a working procedure for many times. It’s obvious that this issue needs further discussion”, the PM said.

As for the mutual partnership and rapid response mechanisms, Pashinyan said this issue is very important for Armenia.

“As you know, last year on these days the Azerbaijani troops infiltrated into Armenia’s sovereign territory. Armenia applied to the CSTO to implement the mechanisms envisaged by the Crisis situations response procedures approved on December 10, 2010. Unfortunately, we cannot say that the organization reacted in a way the Republic of Armenia expected. For a long time we have been raising the issue of arms sale by CSTO member states to a non-friendly country. That weapon was used against Armenia and the Armenian people. This is a problem as well.

Frankly, the response of the CSTO member states during the 44-day war in 2020 and after that didn’t make Armenia and the Armenian people very happy, but I want to highlight the important role of the Russian Federation and President of Russia Vladimir Putin in the stop of the war in Nagorno Karabakh. I want to once again affirm that Armenia remains committed to the 2020 November 9, 2021 January 11 trilateral statements. I think that drawing conclusions is really important and good, but Armenia, as a founding member of the organization, is committed to the organization’s further development and views the organization a key factor on ensuring stability and security for the Eurasian region and Armenia. We are in a positive mood to fully assist the organization and its further development”, the Armenian PM said.