Author: Torgomian Varazdat

Armenia Police record 172 cases of electoral violations

Torgomian Varazdat
News.am, Armenia
June 16 2021
16:11, 16.06.2021

The Police of Armenia have monitored electoral violations since the holding of snap parliamentary elections was announced on May 11. This is what Deputy Chief of Police Ara Fidanyan told reporters today, presenting the past and future activities of the Police ahead of the snap elections of the National Assembly.

“In the mentioned period, the Police have recorded 80 cases of electoral violations, 45 of which have been processed through the procedure provided for by the Criminal Procedure Code, and 35 of which are accidental. Monitoring continued after the election campaign was launched, and 92 cases of electoral violations have been recorded to this day,” he said, noting that the cases of damage caused to the posters of political parties running in the elections sparked the public’s attention a lot.

“In regard to this, I must also state that there are positive indicators, that is, certain cases have been revealed. The revelation of cases of electoral fraud is especially in focus, and the police have worked quite extensively. Monitoring continues,” Fidanyan concluded.

Armenpress: Lavrov, OSCE Secretary-General to discuss situation over Nagorno Karabakh

Torgomian Varazdat

Lavrov, OSCE Secretary-General to discuss situation over Nagorno Karabakh

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 18:38, 17 June, 2021

YEREVAN, JUNE 17, ARMENPRESS.  Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid will discuss the situation over Nagorno Karabakh in Moscow, ARMENPRESS reports official representative of the Russian MFA Maria Zakharova said in a briefing.

Zakharova informed OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid will visit Moscow on June 21 and will meet with Russian FM Sergey Lavrov. Schmid will attend 9th International Security Conference.  

According to Zakharova, the agenda of Lavrov, Schmid talks includes a wide range of issues of ongoing OSCE work in three areas of security: military-political, economic-environmental, human rights. She added that the sides will also discuss the situation over Nagorno Karabakh.




Parents of missing soldiers meet with caretaker PM Pashinyan

Torgomian Varazdat

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 12:19,

YEREVAN, JUNE 17, ARMENPRESS. Parents of missing servicemen are meeting with caretaker Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in the government.

Pashinyan’s assistant Nairi Sargsyan told reporters in the government the meeting has been requested by the parents of missing soldiers.

He added that at the moment the number of missing servicemen is 275.

“We have had more than 1000 missing in action as of November. Later, as a result of DNA examinations, bodies of missing servicemen have been identified”, he said, adding that the bodies of more than 800 missing persons have been identified and have been buried.

On June 16 the Office of the 3rd President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan has released a document which presented a report about the actual expenditures made by the Military Insurance Fund. The Office drew the attention on the fact that the number of missing persons in the document is 1064, whereas earlier Pashinyan announced their number as 321 in the parliament.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Large number of men awaiting Armenia acting PM Pashinyan at "gates" of Syunik

Torgomian Varazdat
News.am, Armenia
11:04, 15.06.2021

A large number of men are waiting at the “gates” of Syunik Province for acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who heads the ruling Civil Contract Party’s electoral list for Sunday’s snap parliamentary elections in Armenia.

The governor of Syunik, Melikset Poghosyan, is also there. But he refused to answer Armenian News-NEWS.am’s questions, noting that he will not give an interview.

But to the remark that there is information that the employees of Syunik state structures were pressured to participate in today’s election rally with Pashinyan, the provincial governor said that there is no such thing; and one of those gathered added: “There are no people from state structures here.”

Earlier, Armenian News-NEWS.am reported that a large number of police forces left for Syunik Province early in the morning.

Azerbaijani GPO sends cases of 26 Armenian militaries to court

Torgomian Varazdat
The Caucasian Knot, EU

A preliminary inquiry is over in relation to 26 figurants of the criminal case against Azerbaijani militaries and civilians, the Azerbaijani General Prosecutor’s Office (GPO) reported on June 10 in a joint statement with the State Security Service (SSS) of Azerbaijan.

On November 26-27, 2020, the above Armenian military servicemen, acting in an organized group, illegally crossed the Azerbaijani state border and took positions in the north-western part of the dwelling settlement of Gadrut, Khodjavend District, says the statement posted on the website of the Azerbaijani GPO.

The above group committed armed attacks “on enterprises, institutions and organizations located in the country’s territory, as well as on individuals, and also committed explosions, fires and other terrorist actions that threaten the death of people,” the “Sputnik Azerbaijan” News Agency has quoted the GPO’s statement.

The case figurants are accused of terrorism, illegal acquisition of weapons and ammunition, creation of an armed grouping, and illegal border crossing, the “Report.az” has cited the investigators’ version. “Together with the indictment approved by the Deputy Public Prosecutor General of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the case has been sent to the court for consideration,” says the statement.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on June 10, 2021 at 08:01 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

See earlier reports:

Azeri political analysts note the need to strengthen borders, Azerbaijan returns lost soldier to Armenia, Azerbaijan reports capture of an Armenian saboteur at border.

Author: The Caucasian Knot;

Source: 
© Caucasian Knot

Armenian President addresses call on launch of pre-election campaign

Torgomian Varazdat

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 11:28, 7 June, 2021

YEREVAN, JUNE 7, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian has addressed a call on June 7 on the occasion of the launch of pre-election campaign in the country, his Office said.

“Today the campaign for the snap parliamentary elections officially launched in Armenia.

These elections are taking place in exclusively difficult and crisis conditions, our people and state are passing through difficult trials.

I call on all parties and alliances who participate in the elections to be maximally restrained, respect the voter and the opponent, demonstrate prudence and tolerance and hold the election process in an atmosphere of civilized political culture.

I propose all the political forces not to deepen the crisis with their activity, behavior and speech, do not cross the boundaries of morality, do not use dishonest propaganda technologies and remain committed to our national values and collective goal.

All state structures are ought to carry out their duties with high responsibility.

Law enforcement agencies in particular have high responsibility. They are ought to act with a great responsibility and professionalism to guarantee lawfulness and the rule of law, to ensure public order and the normal course of the elections.

I address all voters – by actively participating in the elections let’s demonstrate our attitude towards this or that political force, this or that politician, deeply understanding that we are making an election for our country’s future, development prospect and for the welfare of our generations.

Wishing success to all parties and alliances participating in the elections, I want to remind that the elections, being snap and also decisive for our country, are a normal political process which should be treated with a great responsibility and of which Armenia and our people should get out in a dignified manner”.

The electoral campaign for the snap parliamentary elections officially launched in Armenia on June 7.

The campaign will last until June 18.

The snap parliamentary elections will take place on June 20, but the electronic voting will kick off on June 11 until June 13.

26 political forces – 22 parties and 4 blocs, are participating in the elections.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Turkish Press: ANALYSIS: Azerbaijan, Armenia reach third stage of post-conflict reconciliation

Torgomian Varazdat
Yeni Safak, Turkey
June 2 2021

ANALYSIS: Azerbaijan, Armenia reach third stage of post-conflict reconciliation

Diplomatic arm-wrestling still continues between the sides after a 44-day war that ended with the decisive victory of Azerbaijan in the South Caucasus. After Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev’s statement that “we are ready to talk about the terms of the final peace agreement,” the parties, having mostly completed the first two stages, are discussing the terms of the third stage of post-conflict reconciliation. But in the post-war period, while clashes on the Azerbaijan-Armenia border still persist, diplomatic negotiations between the parties continue.

– First stage: Ending the Armenian occupation

The November 10 declaration, which ended the 44-day war, is in fact not just a ceasefire declaration but an important document regarding the solution of the problem. Through this document, the liberation of more than 300 settlements by the Azerbaijani army was accepted by Armenia and, according to Articles 2 and 6 of the declaration, the decision was also made for Armenia’s withdrawal from the remaining three occupied regions (Agdam, Kalbajar, Lachin) occupied by Armenia. Article 4 stipulates the withdrawal of Armenian armed units from the regions that are under the control of Russian peacekeepers as well. Article 5 of the tripartite declaration established a monitoring center, operated jointly by Turkey and Russia, to monitor the fulfillment of the ceasefire in Azerbaijan’s Karabakh region. In accordance with Article 8, the parties exchanged the bodies of the slain soldiers and returned the hostages. Azerbaijan returned the bodies of over 1,600 Armenian soldiers and repatriated 70 prisoners of war. In accordance with Article 6, the Lachin corridor will be handed over to Azerbaijan and a new corridor will be constructed within the next three years.

According to Article 7 of the declaration, it was decided that the return of IDPs should be carried out under UN supervision. This matter, according to President Ilham Aliyev, will be handled in due time. One of the most pressing issues in completing the first stage is Armenia’s refusal to deliver mine maps; and, while there was speculation during Sergey Lavrov’s recent visit to Azerbaijan that Armenia would provide these maps, this issue has yet to be resolved.

Another issue remaining from the first phase is the evaluation of the status of Armenian soldiers who entered Azerbaijani territory after the Nov.10 declaration and were designated as terrorists, in accordance with international law, because they violated the declaration by entering Azerbaijani territory and killing soldiers and civilians. The Armenian side claims that these soldiers are POWs who should be returned as per the November 10 declaration.

Overall, it appears that the first phase is progressing as planned. Although some Armenian politicians and soldiers made revisionist remarks immediately after the war they are now starting to come to terms with the reality.

– Second stage: The opening of transportation links

The second stage started to be implemented as a continuation of the first stage. According to Article 9 of the tripartite declaration, communication and transportation routes between the parties should be opened. As a result, on January 11, the parties signed a new declaration, and a committee comprised of the deputy prime ministers of Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Russia was formed. According to the latest information, the commission has held a total of eight meetings so far.

Experts, lawmakers, and the commission itself are debating the establishment of three transportation linkages. The first is the Zengezur Corridor, which runs between Azerbaijan’s main territory and its exclave of Nakhchivan. The second is between Armenia and Russia and passes through Azerbaijan, while the third involves the formation of a regional transportation network with the participation of Turkey, Iran, and Georgia.

According to President Ilham Aliyev, the establishment of this transportation link will improve the region’s chances of peace and aid in the prevention of new hostilities. However, this issue has sparked heated debate in Armenia ahead of the election. Experts believe this issue is being politicized by opposition figures ahead of the snap election. Nevertheless, despite the objections of the opposition in Armenia, the process on this issue continues. In his speech to the parliament, Acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan reminded his opponents of the principle of reciprocity in diplomacy, stating that “If we don’t give them a transportation link, they will do the same.” Azerbaijan, for its part, has begun infrastructure work in preparation for the construction of these roadways. This situation will also have positive implications for the creation and normalization of Turkish–Armenian relations.

– Third stage: Delimitation and demarcation of the borders

The third stage is the signing of an agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia on the delimitation and demarcation of their borders. The border between Azerbaijan and Armenia has been under Armenian occupation for the last 30 years. After the liberation of Azerbaijan’s territories, more than 500 km of borderline have emerged between the two countries; that is why delimitation and demarcation are needed in these new borders. This issue came to the fore prominently on May 12 after the tension in the Karagol region, located between the Lachin region of Azerbaijan and the Sisyan region of Armenia. This tension arose after the visit to the region of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. According to local media, during Lavrov’s visit, a draft agreement was prepared between the parties to determine the borders. According to the draft agreement, which was published in local media, the borders between the parties will be determined according to Soviet-era military maps from 1975/6. Meanwhile, Armenia will withdraw its military forces from eight Azerbaijani villages, which are mostly enclaves still under Armenian occupation.

Speaking in parliament on the matter, Nikol Pashinyan stated that the most essential task for the Armenian people is to usher in a new era of peaceful development for their future. It also appears that Pashinyan has no choice but to find mutual solutions to the problems with Azerbaijan because attempts to internationalize the issue have not yielded any results.

Different types of reactions have been observed from the Armenian side in relation to this issue. Armenia has built a deep “security” platform as a result of its prolonged occupation of Azerbaijani territories. Unfortunately, due to the false comfort of occupation, Armenia illegally annexed many Azerbaijani villages and settled in them its own citizens. Now, the Azerbaijani army is directly confronted by such “Armenian” villages, and identifying borders using maps alone is proving difficult.

The fact that this situation coincides with the pre-election period in Armenia complicates matters even more. Pashinyan, who was blamed for losing the Second Karabakh War, is being further called out by his opponents for making more concessions.

Not only the opposition but also some government officials known for their radical rhetoric have criticized Pashinyan. According to local media, former Foreign Minister Ara Ayvazyan has refused to sign the agreement on border delimitation and demarcation. President Armen Sarkisyan stated that Armenian military forces must take harsh preventative measures against Azerbaijan during the demarcation and delimitation process. But the fact is that Armenia has no option but to find a solution to its problems with Azerbaijan and Turkey.

– Obstacles to the final peace treaty

President Ilham Aliyev has stated that he has made proposals to Armenia on the terms of the final peace agreement, but Armenia has yet to respond. He has also emphasized that Azerbaijan is ready to talk about the conditions of that final peace agreement with Armenia. Azerbaijan’s condition for the ultimate peace deal is clear: The two countries must mutually recognize each other’s territorial integrity.

According to George Vanyan, an Armenian expert, the Armenian community is not yet ready for a final peace agreement. This is, in fact, a product of the radical and nationalistic sentiment fueled in the country by the rulers of Armenia over the past 30 years. As former Armenian President Levon Ter-Petrosyan stated: “No lessons have still been learned in Armenia and the diaspora … This suggests that the Armenian people are bracing themselves for more losses and sorrows.” Petrosyan is implying that the reconciliation process does not sit well with Armenia’s radicals and revanchists. That is why they are attempting to derail the peace process by inciting provocations. The international community must be wary of such provocations.

* Opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own.

By Dr. Cavid Veliyev

– The writer is head of the Baku-based think-tank Center of Analysis of International Relations.

Caucasian Knot | In Armenia, investigators disclose details of case on storage of soldiers’ remains

Torgomian Varazdat
The Caucasian Knot, EU
June 4 2021
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A case on the improper storage of the dead bodies of the Armenian soldiers killed during the combat actions in the autumn of 2020 is being investigated under the article on abuse of power. After the war, the number of forensic medical examinations rose sharply and there was not enough space for storing dead bodies, an expert explained.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that the Ministry for Public Health of Armenia checked the information, according to which the bodies of the soldiers killed in Nagorno-Karabakh were stored in sacks in a basement of the forensic medical examination centre. Anait Avanesyan, the acting Minister for Public Health, apologized to relatives of the dead soldiers, but the opposition demanded her resignation.

The forensic medical examination department of the Kotaik Region stored dead bodies packed in sacks in the rooms not intended for keeping corpses. Meanwhile, the chief of the department of the forensic medical examination centre was aware about the absence of places in refrigerators, the “Sputnik Armenia” reports.

The military situation suggests a non-standard style of work, and no country in the world is ready to conduct forensic medical examinations when their number exceeds the daily norms by hundreds of times, forensic expert Armen Gevorgyan notes. The expert notes that specialists were examining the dead bodies that had been lying on the battlefield for a long time and had been, among other things, destroyed by animals.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on June 4, 2021 at 06:45 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

Source: CK correspondent

Source:
© Caucasian Knot



Azerbaijan instrumentalizes captured people as political hostages and tools to pursue other goals – Armenia MFA

Torgomian Varazdat

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 11:48, 4 June, 2021

YEREVAN, JUNE 4, ARMENPRESS. Armenia’s foreign ministry has issued a statement regarding the criminal prosecution against the Armenian prisoners of war by Azerbaijan, the MFA told Armenpress.

The statement reads:

“On May 25, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia strongly condemned official Baku’s criminal prosecution against Lyudvik Mkrtchyan and Alyosha Khosrovyan, captured during the recent aggression of Azerbaijan against Artsakh. Continuing to violate the norms of humanitarian law, particularly the Geneva Convention on the Treatment of Prisoners of War, which explicitly states that prisoners of war are released and repatriated immediately after the cessation of hostilities, Azerbaijan has brought trumped-up criminal charges against 14 captured Armenian servicemen, which also violates the trilateral statement of November 9, 2020.

The criminal cases against 16 Armenian servicemen, as well as the torture and psychological pressure of other Armenian prisoners of war and captured civilians set a precedent for a malicious violation of international law. It is clear that Azerbaijan instrumentalizes the captured people as political hostages and tools to pursue other goals.

Official Baku also blatantly defies the relevant decisions of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on providing information on Armenian servicemen and civilians held in Azerbaijani captivity.

Despite numerous calls from the international community, Azerbaijan continues to conceal the true number of the prisoners, denying the captivity of dozens of Armenian servicemen and civilians. Moreover, Azerbaijan denies the detention of those whose captivity in Azerbaijan has been documented both through video coverage and testimonies of repatriated prisoners, which raises suspicions of a number of serious crimes.

All Armenian prisoners of war and civilian captives held in Azerbaijan must be immediately released and repatriated without any preconditions”.

Kocharyan: NSS should again take care of country’s security, instead of carrying out ‘stupid orders’

Torgomian Varazdat
Panorama, Armenia

What is happening in the spheres of Armenia’s security and foreign policy can be characterized by a single phrase – a complete fiasco, second President Robert Kocharyan said at the presentation of the pre-election program of his Armenia bloc on Saturday.

According to him, their first step in the security sphere will be the restoration of the combat readiness of the Armenian armed forces nor for fighting a war, but for ensuring a “decent peace”.

“There is simply no other option. The army is the basis of the country’s security, it must be modern, highly professional and combat-ready. Our army needs support and serious reforms,” said the former president.

Kocharyan stated that the National Security Service (NSS) should again deal with the country’s security issues, instead of carrying out “stupid orders to search for Satan, check cash register receipts or persecute the opposition.”

“Highly professional officers serve there, for whom, I am convinced, such assignments are offensive. We will take measures to never again allow the NSS to turn into political intelligence,” Kocharyan said.

Speaking about the police, the leader of the Armenia bloc underlined that the law enforcement agency is not meant to ensure the movements of one official, carry out his “whims” or serve his “morbid fears”.

“We will return the police exclusively to the sphere of functions envisaged by the laws of the Republic of Armenia. What we see almost on a daily basis is not normal,” he said.

Speaking about the foreign policy priorities, Kocharyan said that the “cheap policy of nimbleness” pursued today in the international arena will be ended.

“We will restore confidence in the country as a predictable and understandable partner,” he said, adding that friendly states will be offered a new and understandable agenda for bilateral cooperation.

“We should not suffer from a loser complex after losing the war. Believe me, this will be one of the most difficult challenges to overcome in the coming years. Defeat dealt us a hard blow, we must help our people overcome the complex that comes after such defeats,” Kocharyan said.

He claimed Armenia has the potential for quick recovery from the war, adding his team will do everything possible to make it a vital issue for Armenia’s allies, first of all, for Russia.

“It is really very important to form a new agenda, we cannot but come up with new ideas. Together with our allies, we can ensure and protect the interests of the Republic of Armenia. We will restore our lost positions in international organizations, first of all, in organizations dealing with security issues,” said the second president, expressing strong conviction that they are able to provide such solutions for these issues so that Armenia never finds itself in such situations in the future.

“Therefore, we must move to build a strong Armenia,” Kocharyan said.