Category: 2019

Armenian firefighters combat massive wildfire near Mount Ara as flames spread into adjacent province

09:55, 21 August, 2019

YEREVAN, AUGUST 21, ARMENPRESS. Firefighters in Armenia’s Kotayk Province have managed to contain a wildfire in the foothills of Mount Ara.

The Ministry of Emergency Situations reported that firefighters were dispatched to the scene at 09:16, August 20 and the fire was contained at 02:15, August 21. Nearly 100 firefighters are combating the fire, and numerous local residents have joined the operation.

The fire has even spread into the adjacent Aragatsotn Province. As of 02:15, August 21 nearly 1300 ha of grass area is burning in the Kotayk province, and 500 ha of land from the side of Aragatsotn.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

Uruguay’s president diagnosed with lung cancer

09:58, 21 August, 2019

YEREVAN, AUGUST 21, ARMENPRESS. President of Uruguay Tabaré  Vázquez has announced that he has been diagnosed with lung cancer.

Vázquez, 79, who is an oncologist by profession, told reporters that the cancer has been discovered in his right lung.

He said he will remain hospitalized for another two days for additional checkups, emphasizing that he is feeling well.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

51,000,000 cubic meters less water drained from Lake Sevan

10:25, 21 August, 2019

YEREVAN, AUGUST 21, ARMENPRESS. As of August 12, 51,000,000 cubic meters less water has been released from Lake Sevan compared to the previous year’s same period, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on Facebook.

“As of August 12^th the volume of water released from Sevan is 93 million cubic meters instead of last year’s 144 [million] cubic meters. This means that there is big likelihood that there won’t be a necessity to carry out a release greater than the 170 [million] cubic meters envisaged by law.

The reason for this situation is more or less the favorable weather and the implementation of emergency measures in the water management sector,” Pashinyan wrote.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

Yerevan mayor files defamation lawsuit against most vocal critic

10:47, 21 August, 2019

YEREVAN, AUGUST 21, ARMENPRESS. Mayor of Yerevan Hayk Marutyan has filed a defamation lawsuit against one of his most vocal critics who has been harshly lambasting the city’s waste management operations.

Court documents show that the suit filed against Sona Aghekyan (pictured above) on August 15^th has been assigned to Yerevan City Court of General Jurisdiction Judge Tatevik Stepanyan.

The mayor seeks “compensation for damages inflicted to his honor and dignity and a refutation”.

Aghekyan, a former Yerevan City Councilor, has made numerous statements targeting the mayor for what she describes as poor management of the city’s sanitation sector. She recently organized a demonstration outside the City Hall and brought a container full of wastewater with her.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

Less than 10 days to register for WCIT 2019 Lightning Rounds

11:21, 21 August, 2019

YEREVAN, AUGUST 21, ARMENPRESS. (Press Release) This year marks the first time WCIT will host “Lightning Rounds” in its 40 year history.  Entrepreneurs will have a unique opportunity to showcase their startup ideas and technological innovations before a plenary audience composed of other tech startups, entrepreneurs, large tech companies, universities, and other attendees. Presenters from across the globe will be selected by an international jury of technologists, venture capitalists and ICT experts and practitioners, from a pool of applicants from around the world and provided with 3 minutes to present their new ideas or innovative technologies. The lightning Rounds will be split into 3 sets. Judges will choose presentations which demonstrate not just innovation but the potential for global applicability and impact. The most promising of these startups will be awarded the  “Armenian Technology Communities A-Prize” and $100,000 on behalf of the entire technology community of Armenia. 

The World Congress on Information Technology (WCIT 2019), one of the largest and most prestigious ICT events in the world, will be held in Yerevan this year from October 6-9. The three-day congress will gather over 2500 participants from around 70 countries: information and communication technology leaders, CEOs and investors, policy makers and government officials, academics, and technologists. This year’s theme is The Power of Decentralization: Promise and Peril.

“We want global solutions that will impact the world. A major criteria for startups is that ideas presented should have global applications, and make the world a better place to live. Selected startups will have a unique opportunity to present their ideas in front of 3-4 thousand people,” explains Emma Arakelyan, WCIT 2019 Content Committee Member.

The Government of Armenia has declared IT a strategic area of focus. The country’s legislation fosters favorable conditions for foreign direct investments in the tech sector. Furthermore, consistent efforts are being made to promote the development of high-tech innovations, cultivate ecosystems, and accelerate startups in the industry. The ICT sector represents 7 percent of the national GDP. Over 45 percent of the industry exports go to the USA and Canada, 25 percent to Europe, 11 percent to Asia. Over 900 ICT companies call Armenia home, including globally recognized Picsart, Renderforest, Softconstruct, Joomag, etc. 

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WCIT 2019 will be held in Yerevan on October 6-9, 2019. The Congress is hosted by Armenia with the support and under the high patronage of the Government of the Republic of Armenia. The World Congress on Information Technology (WCIT) was established by the World Information Technology and Services Alliance (WITSA). Its main organizing body is the Union of Advanced Technology Enterprises (UATE).

Authorities release studies and assessment of Amulsar audit conclusion

11:30, 21 August, 2019

YEREVAN, AUGUST 21, ARMENPRESS. The Investigative Committee of Armenia has published the studies and assessments conducted in relation to the Amulsar case audit conclusion on the occasion of the discovered shortcomings.

The assessment has been posted online.

Government, Ryanair discuss potential entry into Armenian market

12:08, 21 August, 2019

YEREVAN, AUGUST 21, ARMENPRESS. Armenia’s Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinyan and Civil Aviation Committee President Tatevik Revazyan held a meeting with Irish Ryanair low-cost airline’s Chief Commercial Officer David O’Brien and Director of Route Development Kate Sherry.

The parties discussed issues related to Ryanair’s potential entry into the Armenian market, according to a statement by Avinyan.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

Khachaturyan sisters might get self-defense ruling in high-profile patricide case

12:14, 21 August, 2019

YEREVAN, AUGUST 21, ARMENPRESS. Russian investigators have decided to drop criminal proceedings against the three teen sisters who murdered their father on grounds of having suffered severe physical and sexual abuse, according to Kommersant newspaper.

Maria, Angelina, and Krestina Khachaturyan bludgeoned and stabbed their 57-year-old father, Mikhail to death last year, and claimed they’ve done so in an attempt to escape from abuse.

They were 17, 18 and 19 years old at the time. The sisters reported the attack to police and admitted carrying it out. They claimed their lives were in danger if they didn’t take the action. Detectives determined that the Khachaturyan sisters were beaten almost daily by their father, and also suffered sexual abuse.

According to a report by Kommersant the investigation has confirmed the teenagers’ claims.

Lawyers of the sisters believe that they will be able to achieve a self-defense ruling and that the criminal prosecution will be dropped.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

Defense Ministry officials suspected in embezzling procurement funds

12:15, 21 August, 2019

YEREVAN, AUGUST 21, ARMENPRESS. The National Security Service (NSS) of Armenia says it has discovered a fraudulent scheme in the procurement procedure at the Ministry of Defense where officials have faked paperwork and embezzled more than 20 million drams.

The NSS said in a news release that “official persons of the Ministry of Defense have conspired with the supplier” and signed a contract for unreasonably high prices and received 21,7 million drams more than the market price of the unnamed product.

The NSS did not mention how many officials are suspected in the case. It said an investigation is underway.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan