Author: Tambiyan Samvel

Second wave of Armenian massacres in Baku in 1918

Tambiyan Samvel

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 11:51,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 15, ARMENPRESS. In September 1918, 23 thousand Armenians fell victim of thoroughly planned pogroms against the ethnic Armenian population of Baku. Stores, houses and oil factories owned by Armenians were razed to ground or looted. The Armenian community of Baku suffered not only human but also financial losses. The pogroms started in mid-September when the city was seized by Turkish army and went on till November of the same year. There is incontrovertible evidence related to the pogroms kept in the archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Germany. The evidence includes records and reports of the German soldiers who, at the time, were in Baku or in other places adjacent to the city. The most detailed calculation of human losses of the Armenian population was conducted by Bakhshi Ishkhanyan who, at that period, was the head of the Statistical Commission of the Armenian National Council of Baku. Bakhshi Ishkhanyan presented the results of those surveys in his book “Great Horrors of the city of Baku: Statistical research of the events of September 1918”, weighing them up with other sources as well, which was published in 1919. As of September 1918 more than 100 000 Armenians, including refugees from different regions of Azerbaijan that escaped to Baku because of the Turkish offensive, were living in Baku. Although until the city’s surrender to Turkish forces in September, 1918, ⅓ of the Armenian population was able to evacuate the city by the sea, the majority of Armenians remained in their homes falling victim to Turkish-Tartar attacks.

From the research of the Statistical Commission under the Baku Armenian National Council. The list does not include the number of refugees from other regions and labor migrants, who had no relatives in Baku. Armenian pogroms were deliberate in nature and coordinated not only by the Turkish forces but also by the authorities of the newly-formed Azerbaijan Democratic Republic which then was settled in Elizavetpol (Gandzak, nowadays Gyanja). It is noteworthy that there was a secret order by the Minister of Interior Affairs of ADR, Behbud Khan-Jevanshir, addressed to the mayors of Nukhi, Shemakhi and Baku, stating: “It is necessary to knock the Armenians down and step over their bodies in order to achieve our goals. Do not feel sorry for anyone and follow the orders given to you”. According to the reports of the Statistical Commission presided by Bakhshi Ishkhanyan in just 3 days approximately 9 thousand people were murdered. The death toll consists of 5248 names to which were also added the numbers of the victims among Armenian refugees from Shemakhi and Goycha. The committee also took into consideration the fact that there were many Armenian workers in the city’s oil factories who, unfortunately, had no relatives left in the city to clarify their fate.

  • Murdered during the pogroms of 15-17 September (only according to the death toll) – 5248 ○ Men – 3763 ○ Women – 1485 ○ Children aged 1-15 ● Missing – 3572 ○ Of which 3215 were killed (according to the surveys) ● Prisoners – 4246 ○ Of which 2972 were killed in the result of slave labour ● Killed in 3 months – 8139 (of illnesses and epidemics – includes the number of refugees leaving for Persia, South Caucasus and Central Asia)

According to the surveys and reports, the number of people who were killed or died during the pogroms as well as afterwards, as a result of the pogroms, in the period of Baku’s Turkish-Azerbaijani governance up to the entry of British forces, and also considering the number of missing people and dead in captivity from hard labor, and Armenians who lost their lives because of diseases and epidemics as a result of deportation from the city, brings the total number of victims to 23 314 people. During that time, the Chief of Staff of the Turkish Army’s East group, German Lt. Colonel Paraken noted in a report dated 26.09.1918 to Lt. General Von Seeckt: “Atrocities generally happened inside the houses. That’s the reason why there were comparatively less corpses in the streets. In general, they [the corpses], were at the corners thus we often could feel them in smell. I saw 7 corpses piled together, among them children as well…Almost all of the corpses were covered with bruises. The basements had putrid smell… At the presence of other witnesses a German told me that together with the Nuri Pasha’s adjutant they had entered a home where 13 Georgians were indiscriminately killed. When he drew the attention on the fact that the victims are Georgian, i.e. people under the auspices of Germans, the adjutant of Nuri shrugged and said: “They were simply mistaken for Armenians”. These genocidal acts against Armenians were left unpunished which naturally led to their repetition in the late 80’s, when a heinous crime against the Armenian community was committed in Baku again, for the third time in the history of the city.

A1+: All parks must be fenced – Zoo Animal Care Coordinator (video)

Tambiyan Samvel

Wandering dogs near the Yerevan Zoo have attacked three red kangaroos and killed them.

Zoo Animal Care Coordinator Artyom Makaryan says the kangaroos’ cages had been restored in the last spring, considering the likelihood of such occurrences, but this was due to the lack of a fence in the area.

“The zoo will be 80 years old next year, and its still has the issue of fencing the entire area. All parks must be fenced, as the park is a special object, and there may be cases of escaping animals; if we had a fence, this would not be the case,” says Artyom Makaryan.

When asked about why haven’t security measures been taken yet when this is already the third case of wandering dogs entering the park, and which has led to a decline in animals, the cordinator replied that they have a special security team that keeps the likehood of such cases very low. “ln this particular case, however, the number of the dogs was high and also, it wasn’t particularly difficult to kill a kangaroo, so the team couldn’t save the animals. As for the problem of wandering dogs in general, we are more attentive to this issue. When we notice a crowd of dogs, we alert and resolve the issue.”


Sports: Boxer Art Hovhannisyan rolls forward with another knockout victory

Tambiyan Samvel
Panorama, Armenia
Oct 26 2019
17:30 26/10/2019 Armenia

20-year-old Armenian professional boxer Artyom “Art” Hovhannisyan defeated Jose Passa of Argentina in the super featherweight division tournament held in Quebec, Canada. Hovhannisyan dropped Passa to the canvas in the second round. The win came as his 11th consecutive and 9th knockout victory in the professional career.

Art Hovhannisyan, professional boxer residing in Glendale, started amateur boxing at the age of 13. He was taught under internationally known boxing coach, Varuzhan Davtyan. He is a four-time Armenian National Champion in the lightweight division. His current ranking in the super featherweight division is No. 22, according to Boxrec.com.

Yerevan celebrating its 2801st anniversary

Tambiyan Samvel
Panorama, Armenia
Oct 19 2019
Society 10:39 19/10/2019 Armenia

“Erebuni-Yerevan 2801” celebrations will kick off in Armenia on October 19 under the slogan of “Yerevan in my heart”. This year the city day is going to be marked in all administrative districts. On October 19 the events start from 13:00.

The official part of “Erebuni-Yerevan 2801” celebration and the gala-concert are to be held at the National Academic theatre of Opera and ballet after A. Spendiaryan. The National Academic Choir of Armenia headed by Hovhannes Chekidjyan and the State Symphonic Orchestra of Armenia are to perform on stage.

The main events of “Erebuni-Yerevan 2801” celebration start in the evening of October 19. From 19:00 till 22:00 music of various styles and genres can be listened to in the administrative districts. At 22:00 the festive firework will light the night sky of Yerevan.

To note, The history of Yerevan dates back to the 8th century BC, with the founding of the fortress of Erebuni in 782 BC by king Argishti I at the western extreme of the Ararat plain.

168: Two detained in suspicion of killing police officer in Yerevan

Tambiyan Samvel
| 11:04 | October 16 2019
Category
Society

Two persons have been detained by the Police of Armenia in suspicion of killing a police officer in Yerevan on October 16, Head of PR and Media Department of the Police Ashot Aharonyan said on Facebook.

“Additional information about the details of the incident will be provided later”, he said.

On October 16, at 04:20, one police officer was shot dead while another was beaten by two persons in Yerevan.

Criminal case has been launched into the incident.

Investigation is underway.

Sports: Eurasian Basketball League: Aragats starts with victory

Tambiyan Samvel
Panorama, Armenia
Oct 2 2019
Sport 17:05 02/10/2019 Armenia

In the first game of the Eurasian Basketball League kicked off in Yerevan on Tuesday, October 1, Armenia’s Aratagts beat Kazakh Barsy 89-79, the National Olympic Committee’s press service reported.

In the next game of the first round Urartu will host Russian Arsenal Tula on October 2. The opening ceremony of the tournament will be held on Wednesday. 

Film: Film about industrial tourism in Armenia won at the International Film Festival in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Tambiyan Samvel
Arminfo, Armenia
Sept 27 2019

ArmInfo. In the capital of  Bosnia and Herzegovina, the city of Sarajevo, the results of the V  International  VIVA FILM FESTIVAL Film Festival. The winner in the  nomination “Best Installation” was the film “Tourism Factory” (author  Zhanna Tolstikova;

editing director Ivan Zakharenko) from the cycle “Scooter” of the  Russian television channel “Promotion”.  The film is dedicated to  industrial tourism in Armenia and was shot with the support of the  Yerevan TV channel <21 TV>.

General producer of the non-fiction film festival Goran Gonzo Lukic  noted that documentaries are a great way to tell the world about the  cultural heritage, natural wealth of countries, as well as raise  acute social problems.

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A film about industrial tourism in Armenia, which tells about tours  to the country’s significant enterprises (Yerevan Brandy Factory,  Dilijan Mineral Water Plant, Carpet Production Factory in Yerevan),  was shown among other documentary works by filmmakers from Mexico,  Brazil, Spain, Italy, Slovenia, Serbia, Moldova and other countries  of the world.

VIVA FILM FESTIVAL General Producer Goran Gonzo Lukic noted the  novelty of the “Tourism Factory” film about travels in Armenia and  stated the importance of the documentary film genre in the current  media space.

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VIVA FILM FESTIVAL is an international documentary film festival held  in Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina). The festival is a member of the  International Documentary Association of Documentary Films  International Documentary Association and is in the TOP-100 of the  world film competitions.  TV channel is a  family-entertaining TV channel. Created in 2014, broadcasts in more  than 180 cities of the Russian Federation, the audience is 25 million  people. Laureate and winner of All-Russian and international  television festivals and competitions, including   in the nomination “Best Television Design”. <21TV> Channel is a music  and entertainment channel in Armenia. Created in 1998.  The audience  of the channel is more than one and a half million people (60% of the  population of Armenia). Cities of broadcasting: Yerevan, Ashtarak,  Ararat, Etchmiadzin, Artashat, Garni, Armavir, Abovyan. The TV  channels (Russia) and <21TV> (Armenia) are included in  the MKR-Media holding along with other media assets. 

Mnatsakanyan-Mammadyarov meeting: Armenia stresses need to secure return of captives from Azerbaijan

Tambiyan Samvel
Panorama, Armenia
Sept 24 2019

Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan Zohrab Mnatsakanyan and Elmar Mammadyarov met in New York on Monday, 23 September.

The meeting arranged on the sidelines of the 74th session of the UN General Assembly was also attended by OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs Igor Popov of Russia, Stéphane Visconti of France, Andrew Schofer of the United States and Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk.

During the meeting, the ministers discussed the Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) peace process and assessed the current situation. The Armenian FM lauded the mediation efforts of the Minsk Group co-chairs and personal representative of the OSCE CIO, the Foreign Ministry said in a press release on Tuesday.

The Armenian side highlighted continued efforts to strengthen the ceasefire and reduce tensions. The need for consistent steps to build a climate of trust, including through the implementation of previously achieved arrangements, was also emphasized.

With regard to the Armenian citizens held captive in Azerbaijan, the Armenian side stressed the necessity for securing their repatriation.

In terms of advancing the peace process Mnatsakanyan attached importance to ensuring the proportionality of commitments undertaken by the parties in the settlement process, reiterating Armenia’s principled position on and approaches to the process.

The officials outlined the future steps in this direction, including the co-chairs’ regional visit and arrangement of another ministerial meeting in the near future. 

Pashinyan to hold press conference in Vanadzor town

Tambiyan Samvel

Pashinyan to hold press conference in Vanadzor town

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 10:19,

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 11, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will hold a press conference in Vanadzor.

“Dear compatriots, previously I promised to hold my next press conference in Gyumri. But as I already paid several visits to Gyumri and held events there following that statement, and also two major events are expected to take place in this city, I made a decision to hold the upcoming press conference in Vanadzor.

The press conference will take place on September 16, at 13:00, in the Vanadzor Technological Center”, the PM said on Facebook.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan




Jewish, Armenia residents of old city fighting city over renovation plans

Tambiyan Samvel
Jerusalem Post
Sept 6 2019
BY HEDDY BREUER ABRAMOWITZ
 SEPTEMBER 6, 2019

An Armenian priest enters a church at the monastery compound in the Armenian Quarter in Jerusalem’s Old City June 8, 2010. The Armenians in Jerusalem now fear their 1,500-year-old Christian presence may disappear. Their society and extensive landholdings risk becoming collateral damage in a demograp. (photo credit: REUTERS)


The Jerusalem Municipality is planning to reconstruct the Armenian Patriarchate Road, the sole vehicular access road that serves the Western Wall, the Jewish and Armenian Quarters.

On Thursday, residents of the Jewish Quarter met Jerusalem Municipality representatives for a public presentation about the project, after an anonymous letter was disseminated among residents that spread rumors about the proposed project.

Director of Old City Development at the Jerusalem Development Authority, Aner Ozeri, told residents that no deal had yet been struck between the city and Jewish and Armenian Quarter residents, but that there were plans under discussion.

Ozeri, who came with maps and schematics, explained that the current infrastructure was built nearly 50 years ago and that it is today inadequate for residents and tourists. People swarm the Old City throughout the year for festivals, celebrations and state ceremonies.

There were 3.3 million tourists in 2014, with 74% visiting the Western Wall and 68% visiting the Jewish Quarter. In 2018, tourism to Israel exceeded 4 million people and 2019 is showing a 10% rise.

The proposed plan is part of a city development plan, first considered four decades ago, which hopes to unify visually all the gates of the Old City. The design includes stone walkways, new lighting, better sidewalks and more.

The plan will be carried out, if approved, in partnership between the municipality and JDA. It will require 24-six construction and 24-seven closure of a 300-meter section of the Armenian Patriarchate Road. Renovations would extend from the “Kishle” police station near the Tower of David Museum until the Zion Gate, hence likewise requiring partial closure of the road that continues to the Batei Machse Road reaching the Dung Gate.

Ozeri said construction on the road is estimated to take around three-and-a-half months and should begin immediately following the Jewish High Holy Days and Sukkot period.

The medieval Zion Gate was built in 1540 by Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent during the Ottoman period. It was designed with a sharp 90-degree turn and functioned as an effective deterrent to the use of seven-foot-long lances for both mounted and foot troops.

While the gate may have once been the pinnacle of military defense technology in its day, it is challenging for modern drivers who navigate in cars and buses as opposed to  camels, horses and donkeys.

This is not the first time that residents of the Jewish and Armenian Quarters have been down this road.

In 2008, a preservation and restoration project closed the Zion Gate to vehicular traffic for six months. In 2019, the New Gate was reopened following an extensive infrastructure project that resulted in “the sewage, water, lighting and electricity infrastructures … [were] rehabilitated, streets… repaved, and a parking lot has been opened for residents and for public use.”

It is also not the first time the city has attempted to move forward with this infrastructure project.

In 2016, Jerusalem Affairs Minister Ze’ev Elkin put a moratorium on a prior version of the plan, which involved twice as much reconstruction and was scheduled to be worked on only during day-time hours, which would then require as much as four years of work.

Shosh Selavan, chairperson of the Jewish Quarter community council, along with others,  has been in negotiations with the municipality to hammer out an agreement that will make an efficient, though not ideal, transition for the residents of the two most-affected quarters, as well tourists.

“Instead of a wider-scale, full infrastructure reworking, we are seeking to pare down the goals in order to get the work done in the shortest possible time, thus reducing the amount of inconvenience to residents and tourists,” Selavan told The Jerusalem Post. “They are expecting to only dig as deep as necessary to replace a water pipe and no further, thus, hopefully, side-stepping any potential archeological digs delaying the road work.”

She said that she suggested temporarily relocating 40 Armenian families who live adjacent to the construction, which will bear the brunt of the hardship, into temporary housing. She also disclosed that “plans include a 90-car parking lot for use by the Jewish Quarter residents,” meant to alleviate the chronic inadequate parking problem.

There were many residents who spoke at the Thursday meeting, bringing up other Old City challenges with the JDA and municipal staff while they could, such as poor transportation, crowded parking lots, emergency services, delivery of goods and getting repairs done and students commuting to the several schools in the vicinity – all of which are ongoing issues for local residents.

A blind woman told about how challenging it is to walk with her cane in the Old City, competing with commuters.

Many stood up to protest the plan, which Rabbi Ephraim Holtzberg, formerly of the Carta Mamilla Boulevard project, described as tantamount to asking to “suicide” and “chaos.”

Yossi Ben Shahar, former the head of emergency services for the Jewish Quarter, said he sees any such plan as “life endangering and unfeasible.” One of his main concerns is the logistics involved in bringing several ambulances to the Jewish Quarter or Western Wall for a possible multi-injury occurrence in case of an accident or terror attack and managing to exit the Old City and get the injured to hospital. He also pointed out that the current plan restricts access to the Christian Quarter in cases of emergency there.

Brig. Gen. (res.) Dr. Yaakov Hisdai, a historian and lawyer, turned to the audience and asked, “Is there anyone in this auditorium who is in favor of the plan?”

Not a single hand was raised in the full auditorium. Then loud applause broke out.

The story, therefore, is still developing.