Category: 2018

Being guided by Constitution is the privilege of free men, Armenia’s President says

Emil Karabekian
Public Radio of Armenia
July 5 2018
15:05, 05 Jul 2018

The Constitution is the fundamental document that reinforces the rule of law, justice and people’s power in the country as a guarantee of independence and further development, Armenian President Armen Sarkissian said in a congratulatory address on Constitution Day.

“The recent state-building steps are also based on the logic of that major law,” the President said.

“On this anniversary of the Constitution we can speak not only about the unequivocal fact of existence of sovereign and developing Armenia, which has taken the path of democratic development, but also about  its growing international standing,” President Sarkissian added.

The President added that the “will of the Constitution and the people is inter-connected. Today, people are the creator of their life and development agenda.”

“Together we must continue to build a politically and economically harmonious Armenia developing on the basis of reciprocal respect between the citizens and the authorities,” he added.

“Being guided by the Constitution and laws is not just a necessity and a duty, but also a privilege of free people aware of the value of their and others’ rights,” the President stated.

Armenia’s Sarkissian attends festive events marking Constitution Day

Badalian Vardan
Panorama, Armenia
July 5 2018

Armenian President Armen Sarkissian took part today in the celebrations marking the Day of Constitution and State Symbols of the Republic of Armenia held at the Constitutional Court.

Mr. Sarkissian observed the exhibition dedicated to the Constitution and state symbols, participated at the solemn reception and cut the festive cake, the presidential office said. 

Family of Ex-Armenian Leader Sargsyan Targeted by New Authorities

Edgar Tavakalian
Transitions online, Czech rep.
July 5 2018

Two brothers of ousted former president face legal probes, along with other members of the old ruling elite.

5 July 2018

The new Armenian government’s anti-corruption drive has now caught two brothers of the ousted former president in its net.

 

Former President Serzh Sargsyan’s (pictured) younger brother Aleksander (Sashik) was detained yesterday by security officers. Last week, the State Revenue Committee opened criminal proceedings against another Sargsyan brother, Levon, and his family on suspicion of tax evasion, Asbarez.com reports.

 

Aleksander Sargsyan’s son, Hayk Sargsyan, was also taken into custody.

 

Aleksander Sargsyan was detained and then released last week, after he and Serzh Sargsyan’s former bodyguard, Vachakan Ghazaryan, were taken into custody on weapons possession charges. Officers seized $2 million from Ghazaryan, who was formally charged with illegal enrichment.

 

Since opposition activist Nikol Pashinyan led a wave of popular unrest to the prime ministership just under two months ago, doubts have been raised about his ability to crack down on the endemic corruption of Serzh Sargsyan’s decade in power.

 

But as bne Intellinews writes, law enforcement agencies seem to have been emboldened to take on officials of the former ruling Republican Party and its allies.

 

Protesters have stepped up calls for the ouster of Yerevan Mayor Taron Markaryan following the release of a video showing footage of his “lavish property,” Intellinews says, citing RFE/RL.

 

In mid-June, two senior officials in the Yerevan city government were arrested on 14 June on corruption charges related to a municipal fund overseen by Markaryan, who is affiliated with the Republicans.

 

 

  • National Security Service agents confiscated several bags containing firearms from Aleksandar Sargsyan’s residence, according to Asbarez.

 

  • Proceedings against Levon Sargsyan began shortly after the Revenue Committee said it had fined a company linked to him $1.7 million for tax evasion.

 

  • The security chief of businessman-politician Gagik Tsarukyan has been detained on suspicion of causing grave bodily harm, an adviser to the Armenian Investigative Service told RFE/RL on 3 July.

 

  • Tsarukyan’s parliamentary faction played the role of loyal opposition party under Serzh Sargsyan’s administration, but switched sides and endorsed Pashinyan, “playing a key role in his election and becoming a de-facto member of the Pashinyan-controlled ruling majority in parliament,” last month.

Compiled by Ky Krauthamer

Armenian Prosecutors to Question Ex-President & Arrest Ex-Minister of Defense

Emma Nadirian
Georgia Today
July 5 2018

The Special Investigative Service (SIS) of Republic of Armenia has reopened the investigation of the March 1st events of 2008 when the government opened fire against peaceful demonstrators who were challenging the official results of the presidential elections.

The SIS has decided to question the former President of Armenia, Robert Kocharyan (1998-2008), for his connection with the deadly crackdown on the peaceful demonstration, which Armenians often call “The March 1st Slaughter”.

On July 4, the Press-Secretary of Kocharyan, Victor Soghomonyan, speaking about the recent developments and the decision to question his boss for the shooting, stated that Kocharyan is out of the country at present. According to the Azatutuyun radio station (Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty) Kocharyan stands ready to testify for his actions before and during the March 1st events.

Meanwhile, the law-enforcement agency decided to arrest Kocharyan’s Minister of Defense, Mikael Harutyunyan, who played a key role in the event.

According to the SIS press-release, Harutyunyan illegally used, together with “other individuals,” the armed forces against peaceful protesters in what amounted to an “overthrow of constitutional order.”

According to the Armenian Constitution, the Army commandership is banned from using the Army in internal political developments, while Harutyunyan, according to a secret order released on February 23, 2008, formed special regiments in Yerevan, giving them combat weapons and arsenal to depress the peaceful demonstrations.

The protests in Armenia started on 20 February 2008 and lasted 10 days. The demonstrators were protesting the most criticized and disputed presidential elections of Armenia according to which Serzh Sargsyan was announced the winning candidate.

The protests against the official results of the presidential elections were led by the main opposition candidate, Armenia’s First President, Levon Ter-Petrosyan (1991-1998) who raised a huge popular movement in support of his nomination in 2008 and demanded the annulment of the election results by the Constitutional Court. The increasing pressure by Ter-Petrosyan and 10-day non-stop demonstations in Yerevan, which put the government under risk of collapse, “forced” Kocharyan’s regime to use brutal actions against the opposition to maintain his power.

After the crackdown of the protest early in the morning followed the arrests of most opposition leaders as well as the house arrest of Ter-Petrosyan. Current Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, was one of the few opposition leaders who escaped arrest, to lead the main demonstration later that day.

The negotiations between Ter-Petrosyan and the authorities received no results and later the same day the government announeced a state of emergency and opened fire against Ter-Petrosyan’s supporters, killing at least 10 and wounding a hundred demonstrators.

After the crackdown on the demonstration, Pashinyan had to spent almost 1.4 years in the underground, and then willingly went to the General Prosecuter’s Office in July 2009, where he was arrested and sentenced to seven years inprisonment in 2010.

Pashinyan spent just 1.5 years in prison and was released in an act of amnesty, which was announced as a result of another popular movement raised by Ter-Petrosyan in 2011, which pressed the government to release the dozens of pollitical prisoners imprisoned during the 2008 presidential elections.

During the 10 years of the presidency of Sargsyan, no serious steps were made to investigate the killings of the peaceful demonstrators, with the opposition parties and human rights defenders marked all the actions made by Sargsyan’s government in this direction as “imitation and show.”

The Armenian National Congress party lead by Ter-Petrosyan and other parties opposing the former government lead by Sargsyan, have already expressed their satisfaction with the recent move of the Special Investigative Service of Armenia and have announced their willingness to support the investigation.

By Karen Tovmasyan in Yerevan

Music: Paris National Opera Children’s Choir to perform in Armenia

Talar Tumanian
Panorama, Armenia
July 4 2018
16:42 04/07/2018 Armenia

Paris National Opera Children’s Choir is set to perform concerts in Armenia in the scope of Komitas Festival to be held in Yerevan on July 13-20. Under the direction of Gaël Darchen, the Choir will perform on July 17 at Aram Khachatourian concert Hall in Yerevan.

 The Armenian Little Singers junior choir will perform at the concert as well, Panorama.am learnt from the Choir’s Facebook page.

Concerts are planned also in Harichavanq, Gyumri, Dilijan, Garni and Geghard.

 To note, Komitas international festival is chaired by Tigran Hekimyan. 

Music: Mansurian’s “From Rebirth to Victory” to premiere at All Armenian Choir’s concert today

Vanyan Gary
Panorama, Armenia
July 5 2018
Culture 19:04 05/07/2018 Armenia

The All Armenian Choir will perform its first concert at the Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concerts Complex in Yerevan, Armenia, on Thursday evening.

The concert titled “From Rebirth to Victory” is dedicated on the Day of Constitution and State Symbols of Armenia, the Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra’s website reported.

The participants of the event include the Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra (Artistic Director and Principal Conductor: Eduard Topchjan), National Academic Choir of Armenia (Artistic Director and Principal Conductor: Hovhannes Tchekidjian), Yerevan State Chamber Choir (Artistic Director and Conductor: Harutyun Topikyan), Speghani Choir (Artistic Director and Principal Conductor: Sarina Avtandilyan) and the Choir of Yerevan Specialized Vocal-Choral School of Voice Preservation (Artistic Director: Karine Arakelyan, Choirmaster: Emma Arakelyan).

Hovhannes Tchekidjian and Eduard Topchjan will conduct the concert.

“From Rebirth to Victory” by renowned Armenian composer Tigran Mansurian is set to premiere at the concert. Its program also features compositions by such famous composers as Makar Yekmalyan, Komitas, Robert Amirkhanyan, Edgar Hovhannisyan, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Giuseppe Verdi, Charles Gounod and Gioachino Rossini.

Sports: Armenia’s Harutyunyan reaches final in Cadet World Wrestling C’ship

Greg Madatian
MediaMax, Armenia
July 4 2018
Armenia’s Harutyunyan reaches final in Cadet World Wrestling C’ship

The Armenian athlete stunned the viewers and fans alike by registering early 10-0 wins against all his opponents in the 45kg category.

First Harutyunyan beat Kanan Heybatov (Azerbaijan) and Shakhbos Komilov (Uzbekistan), then defeated Chance Russell Lamer (USA).

In the final, Harutyunyan will face Rahman Mousa Amouzadkhalili (Iran).

Sports: Mkhitaryan scores incredible goal in Arsenal training

George Mamian
Panorama, Armenia
July 5 2018

Armenian national football team and Arsenal midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan has scored from behind the goal during an Arsenal training session.

The club posted a video showing the Armenian international’s incredible goal on Twitter, writing: “Score from behind the goal? No problem for Henrikh Mkhitaryan!”

Watch the video at

Sports: EuroBasket: Austria, Armenia Await Great Britain

Kanayan Tamar
MVP
July 5 2018
  • By MVP Staff   
  • Updated: July 3, 2018

Great Britain’s men will need to get past Austria and Armenia to reach the qualifiers for EuroBasket 2021.

Exiting the World Cup in the first qualifying phase means GB drop into Group D the pre-qualifying phase for the Euros.

The teams have been divided into four groups of three teams, and will face every other team in their group in both home and away fixtures. The games will take place in the same windows as the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qualifiers, in September 2018, November 2018 and February 2019.

GB schedule:
16 September 2018 v Armenia (A)
29 November 2018 v Austria (H)
21 Februrary 2019 v Armenia (H)
24 February 2019 v Austria (A)

The winning team of each of the four groups will then move directly into the FIBA EuroBasket 2021 Qualifiers which start in autumn 2019. The losing teams meanwhile, will enter the Third Round of the Pre-Qualifiers in August 2019, where they will be joined by the five teams that were knocked out in the First Round of the Pre-Qualifiers, as they seek a second chance to make the Qualifiers.

Meanwhile Alan Keane and James Vear will remain as head coaches of the Great Britain Under-18 and Under-16 men’s teams.

Keane returns after leading the side into Europe’s Division A last summer. This year’s European Championships in Latvia from July 28-August 5 with drawn against Lithuania, Montenegro and Serbia in the opening round.

Vear was in charge with GB’s Under-16s came fourth in Division B’s European Championships in 2017. This year’s event, to be held in Sarajevo from August 9-18, puts his side in a group with Sweden, Portugal, Luxembourg, Romania and Ireland.

Azerbaijani Press: Russia wants Karabakh conflict frozen

Boris Nahapetian
Yeni Musavat, Azerbaijan
July 2 2018
Russia wants Karabakh conflict frozen

[Armenian News note: the below article is translated/summarized from Azeri]

The article, published by the Baku-based opposition newspaper Yeni Musavat, was commenting on statements that Russian figures made at a conference held to discuss bilateral relations in the village of Cocuq Marcanli in Azerbaijan’s Cabrayil District. It also suggested that words of support for Baku voiced by Russian political commentators at the event showed that Moscow would only take sides with Azerbaijan regarding the Karabakh conflict if the two countries became close allies.

The commentary praised the fact that the political commentators, who it said “are believed to be close to President Putin and are able to influence Russian public opinion”, made statements that were “consonant” with Azerbaijan’s position. The article said that those figures were Alexander Dugin, Maksim Shevchenko, Igor Korotchenko, and State Duma members – “overall, people who have good feelings for us”. It said their remarks highlighted Azerbaijan’s growing importance for Russia and were also a warning “red line” for Armenia.

The article said the fact that the village of Cocuq Marcanli – which Azerbaijan regained from Armenians in April 2016 – was chosen to host the conference and the guests went up to the Lalatapa post to meet Azerbaijani soldiers and wish them successes was “an interesting move and, no doubt, should be viewed as a message to the Armenians“. In other words, the article said, it all meant that “if you [Armenians] do not behave… Moscow may once again turn a blind eye to the Azerbaijani army’s advancement”.

However, the article went on, one should not be euphoric about those statements and moves in favour of Azerbaijan. “Because the final say regarding Karabakh is Putin’s,” it said and pointed out that Putin had so far not called Armenia an “occupier” even once. “With all the unique opportunities in his hands, he has not made a real contribution to the resolution of the conflict,” the article said.

It said that even though Azerbaijan had not lost any part of its territory in the course of Putin’s rule, but on the contrary, regained thousands of hectares in Karabakh and in the exclave Naxcivan, the Karabakh conflict had not yet been resolved because Moscow’s traditional approach suggested “continuation of the conflict” and extension of the “occupying regime” in Karabakh.

Unfortunately, Moscow does not seem to be aiming to radically resolve the Karabakh conflict. On the contrary, it looks like “Moscow needs the conflict to stay frozen in order to keep Azerbaijan and Armenia in its orbit”, the commentary suggested.

The article recalled statements made at the conference by Alexey Yezubov, an MP from the ruling United Russia party – “Russia and Azerbaijan are fraternal and allied countries. We should be together, we should be in a union”; “Armenia should give five districts back to Azerbaijan. Putin has said that this is Russia’s unchanged position” and “Karabakh is an inalienable part of Azerbaijan”. The article highlighted that the statements suggested Moscow could give Azerbaijan support in the Karabakh issue in return for Baku being always by Moscow’s side and joining the Eurasian Economic Union and the Collective Security Treaty Organisation. “In brief, Moscow has conditions for Baku,” the article said.

At present, one of the Kremlin’s concerns is to keep Armenia in check following the change of government in Yerevan, the article said. It said the Kremlin opened “volley fire” on Yerevan and did it from Azerbaijani territory. “This is a warning message to the Armenian leadership. Perhaps, it is the last one [warning message],” it said.

It added that Dugin also touched on the topic of NATO ahead of the organisation’s Brussels summit which Pashinyan was preparing to attend. Dugin openly called on Armenia “to be smart”, the article said.