Category: 2017

Case of Kuwait citizen illegally entering Armenia: Prosecutor is dissatisfied with court ruling

Emil Lazarian
News.am, Armenia
Nov 16 2017
Case of Kuwait citizen illegally entering Armenia: Prosecutor is dissatisfied with court ruling Case of Kuwait citizen illegally entering Armenia: Prosecutor is dissatisfied with court ruling

09:59, 16.11.2017

The prosecutor is dissatisfied with the court ruling regarding Kuwaiti citizen Mahdi, who was sentenced to three months in prison and fined 250,000 drams (about US$512) for illegally crossing the state border of Armenia.

Tavush Province prosecutor Manukyan has petitioned to the Court of Appeal with a request to reverse the said ruling and forward this criminal case to the Tavush District Court of First Instance for a new trial. 

According to the indictment, on May 27, Mahdi had illegally crossed the state border of Armenia from Georgia with a fake Italian passport. 

The Tavush General Jurisdiction Court had found the Kuwaiti citizen guilty, sentenced him to three months in prison, and fined him 250,000 drams.

But considering that the defendant was in custody for more than three months, he was released immediately from the courtroom.

Armenian Genocide vid presented at Amsterdam’s KLIK festival

Jane Topchian
Pan Armenian, Armenia
Nov 16 2017
– 11:09 AMT
Armenian Genocide vid presented at Amsterdam’s KLIK festival

A video prepared by the Union of Armenians of Ukraine was presented at the international animation festival KLIK in Amsterdam.

Titled “Thank you for the chance to blossom again. Armenians”, the video was directed by Andranik Berberyan and Andrew Lidagovsky and was timed to coincide with the 102nd anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

The video was presented in several festivals, including Ukraine’s Molodiya Festival, KLIK in Amsterdam, as well as the international festival ReAnimania in the Armenian capital of Yerevan, and was well-received everywhere.

“This shows that the world is loyal to our new communication message and is ready to join it, becoming closer to the Armenian people, understanding of its culture,” Berberyan said.

The video took the third spot at the Molodiya Festival in Kiev.

Armenia adopts draft law on domestic violence

Albert Nalbandian
MediaMax, Armenia
Nov 16 2017

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According to Minister of Justice Davit Harutyunyan, the draft law provides for three main ways to protect the victims of domestic violence: warning, immediate interference, and decision of protection.

The immediate interference and decision of protection imply a number of punishing measures towards the abuser, such as the order to keep a certain distance and refrain from contact with the victim, prohibition to carry or keep weapons, order to take a rehab course for alcohol addiction, etc. Administrative and criminal punishing measures will be applied against the abusers who violate these terms, depending on gravity of violation.

“There is an erroneous opinion and an anti movement that try to present certain points as key parts of the draft law, while they aren’t in the draft altogether. I state officially that this document does not provide for a new basis of limitation or termination of parental rights and cannot undermine traditional family values in any way,” said Davit Harutyunyan. He added that forceful placement of minors in shelters is ruled out and that is clearly indicated in the draft.

Two institutions are required for execution of the law: social support centers, which already exist in Armenia and only need some changes and additional authorities, and shelters where survivors of domestic violence can live and recover for up to 12 months.

The victims of domestic violence will receive free-of-charge legal advice.

Aroutiunian Woodwind-Piano Quartet performed a unique concert in Yerevan

Andranik Taslakhchian
Panorama, Armenia
Nov 16 2017

Aroutiunian Woodwind-Piano Quartet performed a concert on Wednesday at National Gallery of Art in Yerevan. The concert that took place within the framework of the 5th Khachaturian International Festival, featured for the first time compositions by Armenian composers Karen Ananyan, Eduard Hayrapetyan, Jirayr Shahrimanyan, Mikhail Kokzhayev, Suren Zakarian, Martin Ulikhanyan, Arthur Aharonian.

To note, the Quartet bears the name of the Armenian composer Alexander Aroutiunian.

During the evening, the members of the quartet Gevorg Avetisyan (flute), David Gyulamiryan (clarinet), Nikolay Poghosyan (bassoon) and Lilit Zakaryan (piano) were joined by Tigran Vardanyan (oboe) and Armen Karagyan (horn) from the State Youth Orchestra.

The 5th Khachaturian International Festival is held under the high patronage of the President of RA Serzh Sargsyan. It is implemented thanks to the joint efforts of the State Youth Orchestra of Armenia (General Partner of the Orchestra – VivaCell-MTS), with the support of the Ministry of Culture of RA, the “Khachaturian” Foundation, European Foundation for Support of Culture.

5.1-magnitude earthquake shakes Azerbaijan

Torgomian Varazdat
Panorama, Armenia
Nov 16 2017

A 5.1-magnitude quake has jolted central Azerbaijan some 92 kilometers east of the city of Barda at a depth of 10 kilometers, The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) reported.

As RT reported, the epicenter of the quake, which struck at about 23:48 local time [2:48 a.m. GMT] lies some 212 kilometers (131 miles) from the country’s capital, Baku, which has a population estimated at 2 million people. There have been no reports of damages or casualties. Some 10 million people might have felt the tremors, according to EMSC estimates.

To note, Armenia’s National Service for Seismic Protection at Ministry of Emergency Situations reported the earthquake was felt in the whole territory of Armenia and Artsakh.

Armenian, Russian presidents discuss Karabakh conflict settlement

Arsine Chaltikian
ARKA, Armenia
Nov 16 2017

YEREVAN, November 16. /ARKA/. Serzh Sargsyan, Armenian president, met Wednesday with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin as part of his official visit to Russia, Sargsyan’s press office reports.  
During the talks, the leaders of the two countries discussed the agenda of the Armenian-Russian relations and issues related to the strengthening and development of bilateral interstate ties.

Reference was made to the implementation of those agreements reached at the top level in different spheres of activity, as well as the ongoing cooperation in political, economic, security, humanitarian and cultural fields.

The presidents stressed the importance of Days of Culture in both countries.

The Karabakh conflict settlement process was discussed at the meeting as well. 

“I would like to stress that all our teams are working hard on the implementation of our agreements reached during your visit to Russia last March,” Vladimir Putin is quoted in the press release. “And this work is yielding positive results. This does not even include our interaction in the areas of political contacts, security and the economy. Last year witnessed the beginning of growth, and this year it has already increased by a third, which is surely gratifying. We would like to maintain this trend.”

The Russian president is also quoted in the press release as saying that the Russian side is going to do everything for Armenian citizens to have access under current conditions and in the current situation to the achievements of Russian culture and to everything we take pride in. “We will continue to work together in this area,” Putin said, opening the meeting.

Sargsyan, on his side, agreed that progress in all areas of Russia-Armenia cooperation is evident.

“After our last meeting in Sochi we had an official visit at the level of the Russian Government,” he said. “In October, we held a Russian-Armenian interregional forum, the Second International Forum of Eurasian Partnership and the Russian-Armenian Youth Forum. The 30th meeting of the inter-parliamentary commission convened earlier this month.”

Sargsyan said close contacts between people, as well as cultural, educational and scientific ties have a special significance for the Armenians. 

“Last year the Days of Russian Culture enjoyed great success in Armenia,” he said. “Today we are launching a number of events as part of the Days of Armenian Culture, and they will be held not only in Moscow but in all big cities of Russia.” -0—

10:44 16.11.2017

Days of Armenian Culture in Russia kick off

Chakrian Hovsep
MediaMax, Armenia
Nov 16 2017
Days of Armenian Culture in Russia kick off

The event started with the exhibition of Martiros Sarian’s works, which involved around 30 pieces from collections of National Gallery of Armenia, Martiros Sarian House-Museum and State Tretyakov Gallery.

Within the frames of the event, Vladimir Putin handed Serzh Sargsyan “Demon and Angel with the Soul of Tamara” painting by Mikhail Vrubel, stolen from Armenia in 1995.

Armenia delegation: PACE discussed another initiative on Azerbaijani Laundromat corruption scandal

Garnik Tadevosian
News.am, Armenia
Nov 16 2017
Armenia delegation: PACE discussed another initiative on Azerbaijani Laundromat corruption scandal Armenia delegation: PACE discussed another initiative on Azerbaijani Laundromat corruption scandal

12:52, 16.11.2017

Another initiative with respect to the Azerbaijani Laundromat corruption scandal was discussed at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).

National Assembly (NA) of Armenia Vice Chairperson Arpine Hovhannisyan, who also heads the NA delegation to the PACE, informed about the aforesaid on her Facebook page.

“Another initiative which referred to money laundering, including the ‘Azerbaijani Laundromat,’ was discussed at the [PACE] Committee on Legal Affairs [and Human Rights],” Hovhannisyan wrote, in particular. “It is noteworthy that it will become an independent report at the initiative of the very Committee on Legal Affairs.

“At the [PACE] Monitoring Committee, the PACE co-rapporteurs [on Armenia] orally presented the developments taking place in the Republic of Armenia during this period. The report on Armenia will be discussed during the next sessions.”

Armenian, Azerbaijani FMs agree to meet in Vienna – statement

Ekmekjian Janet
Panorama, Armenia
Nov 16 2017

The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, Stephane Visconti of France, and Andrew Schofer of the United States of America) met separately on 14 and 16 November with the Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian and the Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov. The Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Andrzej Kasprzyk, also participated in the meetings, the Co-Chairs said in a released statement.

“The Co-Chairs discussed with the Foreign Ministers concrete steps to implement the agreements reached by the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and the President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan during the Geneva summit on 16 October 2017 as well as other items raised by the Co-Chairs in Geneva.

During the meetings, the Co-Chairs and the Ministers reviewed a number of working proposals currently on the table.

The Ministers agreed to hold a joint meeting on the margins of the December 2017 OSCE Ministerial Council in Vienna.

The Co-Chairs will prepare the agenda for this meeting, which will include substantive issues of the political settlement, as well as specific measures to reduce tensions on the Line of Contact.

Special attention will be paid to finalizing the expansion of the Office of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson in Office,” reads the statement.

Karabakh President receives Consul General of Armenia to Lyon

David Nargizian
News.am, Armenia
Nov 16 2017
Karabakh President receives Consul General of Armenia to Lion Karabakh President receives Consul General of Armenia to Lion

22:18, 16.11.2017

STEPANAKERT.- Karabakh President Bako Sahakyan received on Thursday Consul General of the Republic of Armenia to Lion, philanthropist Nikolay Sarkisov.

Issues related to the realization of various programs in Artsakh and the Motherland-Diaspora ties were on the discussion agenda.

The Head of the State expressed gratitude to Nikolay Sarkisov for consistent support to Artsakh, his active participation in its development and handed him the “Vachagan Barepasht” medal for substantial contribution to the recognition of the NKR independence with which he was awarded in connection with the 25th anniversary of the NKR proclamation.