Armenian church delegation to meet with Pope Francis

Public Radio of Armenia
Feb 17 2020

Armenia NGO chief: PM’s caviar story is 100% true

News.am, Armenia
Feb 17 2020

15:36, 17.02.2020
                  

YEREVAN. – The story of the caviar is 100 percent true; it happened. Narek Samsonyan, President of the "Civil Consciousness" NGO and founder of the Antifake website of Armenia, said this during a discussion today, referring to the criminal case brought against him.

According to the indictment, Samsonyan, knowing that the information he provided was false, he informed on Facebook and then during a questioning at the Special Investigation Service as a witness stated that the Armenian Prime Minister allegedly bought black caviar from a Yerevan restaurant for $3,000/kg. After that, the Prime Minister's security officials visited the restaurant and wanted to buy another kilogram of black caviar on the condition of payment by bank transfer, but the restaurant administration informed that in that case, one kilogram of black caviar would cost $5,000. According to Samsonyan, after learning about it, the Prime Minister decided to punish the restaurant through the State Revenue Committee.

"Now they have no way back and that criminal case created," Samsonyan said. "This is a part of hate speech and is a consequence of hate speech."

He added that they have uncovered the YouTube channels that are directly funded by a prominent government SNCO and a deputy who has links to a prominent oligarch, and which are spreading hatred in favor of PM Nikol Pashinyan.

"Today we are dealing with a type of media that is encouraged by the power, which spreads lies, hate speech, and slander," Samsonyan said. "In terms of media, today we are heading toward North Korea."

He noted that there are currently three criminal cases against him.

"The NA [National Assembly] Speaker [Ararat Mirzoyan] has filed a lawsuit against me; this time asking for big sums – 3.5 million drams," he emphasized. “In the case when I have two witnesses, in the presence of whom Ararat Mirzoyan used drugs; we will not reveal our sources."

Media Advocate initiative: Armenian Public TV journalist made political statement

News.am, Armenia
Feb 17 2020

23:01, 17.02.2020
                  

Journalist of Armenian Public Television Anush Muradyan de facto made a political statement when she asked her question. Media Advocate initiative issued a statement on this and urged the journalist to be more alert as it touched upon the political subtext of the question that the particular journalist asked Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Alen Simonyan following the session of Civil Contract Party today.

“The journalist of Armenian Public Television asked Alen Simonyan the following question:

“Tomorrow Ruben Melikyan will be submitting an application to the Central Electoral Commission, they have formed the civil initiative and, in essence, it turns out that they are going to become the supporters of Robert Kocharyan, in a way, they are going to become the ones creating the NO campaign. What do you have to say about this?”

Journalist of Armenian Public Television Anush Muradyan de facto made a political statement when she asked her question. Journalists need to refrain from giving political evaluations, and the journalist of Armenian Public Television needs to be more alert.

Media Advocate initiative urges the publicly-funded television company to follow professional ethics. Such behavior of a journalist is unacceptable,” the statement reads.

Protest staged outside Armenia government building

News.am, Armenia
Feb 17 2020

14:12, 17.02.2020
                  

YEREVAN. – Our soldiers are in worse shape today, standing before the bullet, and it is not clear from where they will receive the bullet. Human rights advocate Nina Karapetyan, who is protesting in front of the government of Armenia, told this to reporters today, referring to the recent increase in the number of murders and suicides in the army.

According to her, there are two important issues: our security, and the children who die in times of peace.

As per Karapetyan, all officials should give an explanation for these incidents, as to why no such crime has been solved until the end.

According to the human rights advocate, all the respective blame is put upon the society.

In her words, the defense minister and the chief of Military Police should personally go to the military units where murders were committed.

The protesters made a statement, then signed and handed it to the government’s department of letters.

The statement says, in particular, they demand a meeting with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and the heads of the law enforcement agencies immediately after the forthcoming session of the government.

Since the beginning of this year, there already have been 14 deaths in the army in times of peace.

Armenia analyst: Karabakh independence from Azerbaijan was established 3 times in 20th century

News.am, Armenia
Feb 17 2020

14:54, 17.02.2020
                  

YEREVAN. – Discussion behind closed doors is one thing, but when there is an actual press conference during which the two leaders are battling, it is quite another. In the first case, it is not clear what exactly is being discussed, but one can guess, and the press conference is like a rally. But this is not a rally in Yerevan, and one needs properly prepared for it. Political scientist Aleksandr Manasyan stated this during a meeting with journalists today.

According to him, during the Munich debate between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, the statements of the Armenian side, represented by Pashinyan, were not very convincing. "The historical arguments put forward by Pashinyan about Tigranes the Great and the revolution in Armenia were weak," the analyst said, noting that even the announcer was somewhat skeptical.

As per Manasyan, if the head of the Armenian government decided to go this way, these arguments should have been presented wisely and more carefully so as not to cause a negative reaction.

Referring to the Khojaly tragedy, the analyst noted that the Armenian side has its position on this issue, and he reminded that the Popular Front of Azerbaijan, which carried out the massacre of the peaceful Azerbaijani population in Khojaly, is entirely responsible for what happened.

The political scientist reminded that in the legal sense, Karabakh's independence from Azerbaijan was established three times in the 20th century: in 1918, 1920, and 1991.

“Karabakh is in the negotiation process; it’s us who is pushing it out,” Manasyan said. "When representatives of the OSCE Minsk Group visit Karabakh, it actually means that they admit that it is a party to the conflict."

He added that Karabakh should not wait for Baku's demands, but must posit its own conditions. Moreover, according to Aleksandr Manasyan, Azerbaijan still has to apologize to Armenians for the massacre of the Armenian population in Azerbaijan and Karabakh. Otherwise, there can be no negotiations.

12 candidates applied for presidential elections in Artsakh

Arminfo, Armenia
Feb 15 2020

ArmInfo. 12 candidates submitted applications to the CEC to participate in the upcoming March 31 presidential election in the Republic of Artsakh. This is  reported by the NKR Central Election Commission.

Candidate from the Generation of Independence party Ruslan Israelyan,  leader of the Free Homeland party, ex-state minister of Artsakh Araik  Harutyunyan, speaker of the NKR National Assembly, leader of the  Artsakh Democratic Party Ashot Gulyan, press secretary of Artsakh  president David Babayan from the party submitted their applications  , ex-secretary of the Karabakh  Security Council Vitaly Balasanyan from the Justice party, Karabakh  Foreign Minister Masis Mayilyan, self-nominated candidate, David  Ishkhanyan from the ARF party, Hayk Hanumyan from  the , self-nominated people Sergei Amiryan,  Kristin Balayan, Bella Lalayan and Melsik Poghosyan. Applications for  participation in the parliamentary elections were submitted by 6  parties and one bloc. These are the Artsakh Conservative Party (16  candidates), the United Homeland party (62 candidates), the National  Revival party (20 candidates), the ARF Dashnaktsutyun party (33  candidates), the Artsakh Democratic Party (33 candidates) and the  party (35 candidates). The block of parties "Free Homeland"  and "Civil United Alliance" nominated 65 candidates. It should be  noted that on March 31, 2020, presidential and parliamentary  elections will be held in Artsakh. 

Robert Kocharyan: People have already resolved the Karabakh issue

Arminfo, Armenia
Feb 17 2020

ArmInfo. The portal of the second president of Armenia 2rd.am on its Facebook page published excerpts from the speech of the second president of Armenia Robert  Kocharyan, which reflect his position on the Karabakh issue.

In particular, he notes: "Our people have already resolved the  Karabakh issue. The negotiations today have one goal, to legitimize  what we already have today on this land," the second president of  Armenia emphasizes.

"I would like to emphasize that the current situation around  Nagorno-Karabakh is the consequence of the aggression of Azerbaijan  in 1991-1992 with the aim of ethnic cleansing of the Armenian  population, as well as Azerbaijan's refusal to accept the latest  proposals of mediators to resolve the conflict," Kocharyan  emphasized.

In response to a question from the head of the Azerbaijani delegation  to PACE, the second president of Armenia stated: "The world  recognizes the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, and we recognize  it. But the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic has nothing to do with the  territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. Because you never had it. "And  you gained independence together with the Karabakh people. I  participated in the hostilities and I am proud of the result that we  have today."

It should be noted that on February 15, during a security conference  in Munich, a discussion took place between the Prime Minister of  Armenia Nikol Pashinyan and the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.

Aliyev, in particular, noted that Karabakh is part of Azerbaijan and  the settlement of the conflict is possible only if it is returned to  the AR. He also added that Artsakh's belonging to Azerbaijan is  recognized by the international community, and it is an integral part  of Azerbaijan.

In turn, Nikol Pashinyan said: "Karabakh was never part of  independent Azerbaijan. Karabakh was included in Azerbaijan only  during the existence of the Soviet Union. Therefore, when we talk  about the territorial integrity of the state, we must first decide  which state we are talking about >, "he said, recalling that Artsakh  left the Azerbaijan SSR and the Soviet Union in the same way as the  Azerbaijan SSR left the USSR."


Famous photographer-documentarian German Avagyan passed away

Arminfo, Armenia
Feb 17 2020

ArmInfo. Famous photographer-documentarian German Avagyan passed away. The famous photographer-documentarian was also known for his reports during the  Karabakh war.

German Avagyan was born on December 12, 1962 in the city of  Tsulukidze (Khoni) in Georgia. In 1980- 1985 studied at the Yerevan  Polytechnic Institute. Since 1989, his career as a photojournalist  began: he, in particular, collaborated with the "Republic of Armenia"  and <Takoma Voice> newspapers, as well as other local and foreign  media.

Among the achievements and awards – <Best Photographer of the Year>  of the American "Amainatapker" magazine (2000, Los Angeles, USA); < For achievements in the press> award from Versus studio and the Open  Society Institute (2001, Yerevan, Armenia); laureate of the "Fifty  Raven" competition of the International Foundation for Documentary  Photography (founded by the <Mother Jones> magazine, San Francisco,  USA. 2002); Yerevan Press Club Annual Award (2005, for the series of  "Deadly Toys" photographs).

Political analyst: During the discussion between the heads of Armenia and Azerbaijan, the statements of the Prime Minister were not very convincing

Arminfo, Armenia
Feb 17 2020

ArmInfo. During the discussion in Munich between the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan, the statements of the Prime Minister were not very convincing. Political  analyst Alexander Minasyan stated this at a press conference on  February 17.

He noted that such discussions should be well prepared, as it is very  different from the closed-door meeting when it is not known what was  being discussed. Here, in fact, a press conference at which the heads  of two states present their arguments and viewpoints on a very  important issue for the countries.

According to the political analyst, Pashinyan's arguments about  Tigran the Great and the revolution in the country are very weak, the  most interesting is that even the moderator after these statements by  the prime minister was puzzled. "In fact, this kind of argument is  not to the liking of countries like the USA and Russia, the EU will  not like it either, since during the above period of time many states  didn't exist either, which, in turn, could wounded their self-esteem.  And since Pashinyan decided to bring these arguments, they could be  presented more tactfully so as not to cause a negative reaction,  "Minasyan emphasized, noting that it did not make sense to go so deep  into history. The expert noted that the legal side of this issue was  no less important than the historical one. Indeed, in the legal  aspect in the 20th century, Karabakh's independence from Azerbaijan  was confirmed three times, in particular, in 1918, in 1920 and in  1991.

 "The fact that the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group are visiting  Karabakh suggests that they recognize Artsakh as a party to the  conflict. In this situation, Karabakh should not wait for the demands  of Baku, but must put forward its own conditions. And it would be  right for Azerbaijan to apologize to Armenians for the massacre of  the Armenian population in Azerbaijan and Karabakh, "Minasyan noted.  As for the tragedy in Khojaly, the expert noted that according to the  position of the Armenian side, the Popular Front of Azerbaijan bears  all responsibility for what happened, since it was the  representatives of this organization that carried out the massacre of  the civilian population.

It should be noted that on February 15, during a security conference  in Munich, a discussion took place between Prime Minister of Armenia  Nikol Pashinyan and  President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev. Aliyev, in  particular, noted that Karabakh is part of Azerbaijan and the  settlement of the conflict is possible only if it is returned to the  AR. He also added that Artsakh's belonging to Azerbaijan is  recognized by the international community, and it is an integral part  of Azerbaijan. Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan, reacting to these  attacks of Aliyev, advised the latter not to go so deep into history,  recalling that not only before our era, but also in the later period,  the Azerbaijani people in the Caucasus did not exist in principle.  

"If President Aliyev wants to delve deeper into history, then I can  remind him that during the time of the Armenian king Tigran the  Great, there was no country called Azerbaijan in the South Caucasus.   Armenians, Georgians, but not Azerbaijanis lived here historically,"  he added. The prime minister said:  "Karabakh was never part of  independent Azerbaijan. It was included in Azerbaijan only during the  existence of the Soviet Union. Therefore, when we talk about the  territorial integrity of the state, we must first decide which state  is in question," he said , recalling that Artsakh withdrew from the  Azerbaijan SSR and the Soviet Union in the same way as the Azerbaijan  SSR from the USSR. "

In front of government building, protesters demand to identify reasons for increase incidence of deaths in army

Arminfo, Armenia
Feb 17 2020

ArmInfo. "We were all looking forward to the revolution in the hope that after it the situation on the border would change, but that did not happen," said human rights  activist Nina Karapetyan on February 17, who organized the protest in  front of the government building.

The protesters are demanding to identify the reasons for the increase  incidence of deaths in the armed forces. Nina Karapetyan noted that  we are talking about two important issues at once – security and  children who die in peaceful conditions. Nina Karapetyan noted that  we are talking about two important issues at once – security and  children who die in peaceful conditions. According to Karapetyan,  officials should explain the reasons for the record increase in  deaths in the army over the past 40 days.

"Prosecutors and other law enforcement officials say that they  revealed 90% of deaths in the army, but this is not so. Most cases  have not been disclosed," Karapetyan emphasized. According to the  human rights activist, the Minister of Defense and the head of the  military police should go to military units where cases of murder  were recorded. "They had to go to every military unit where the  killings and suicides took place, and stay until the cases were  solved," she said.

Protesters said that after the upcoming government meeting, which  will be held on February 20, 2020, they will demand a meeting with  the Prime Minister, the Director of the National Security Service,  the Attorney General, the Minister of Defense, the head of the  military police, the head of the general staff, the head of the  Investigative Committee and the head of the Special Investigation  Service.  It should be noted that discussions on the situation in the  armed forces will take place in two parliamentary committees – on  defense and security issues and on health and social issues. Artak  Davtyan, Chief of the General Staff of the RA Armed Forces, will be  invited to the meetings, which will be held in closed session. Ani  Samsonyan, a member of the Bright Armenia faction, wrote on her  Facebook page that discussions would begin on February 18 at 11:00  am. The MP did not raise issues on the agenda of the meeting,  however, with a high degree of probability, discussions will mainly  be held around the theme of the death of soldiers in the army under  unclear circumstances.

In turn, member of the Prosperous Armenia faction Naira Zohrabyan  noted that frequent deaths in Armenia pose a serious threat to the  country's security. According to her, on-duty statements about the  need to eradicate hazing cannot be dispensed with.  To recall, on  February 14, it became known about the death of the 13th soldier who  died in the Armenian army since the beginning of the year. Almost all  of these deaths occurred under unclear circumstances. This fact is  being vigorously debated in society, on social networks they demand  the resignation of Minister of Defense David Tonoyan and Chief of the  General Staff, Artak Davtyan.