Category: 2020

 16:35,

STEPANAKERT, OCTOBER 20, ARMENPRESS. A missile with an internationally prohibited cluster warhead fired by the Azerbaijani armed forces on civilian settlements of Artsakh has been discovered near Stepanakert City, the capital of Artsakh. More than 260 exploded and unexploded shrapnel bomblets were found.

“The area where the missile was found is of economic significance,” the State Service of Emergency Situations of Artsakh said.  “Residents here make their living by farming, gardening and beekeeping. There is not a single military facility anywhere nearby,” the service said, adding that the bomb squads will dispose the ordnance.

The State Service of Emergency Situations of Artsakh called on citizens of the country to dial 911, 112 or 101 immediately upon noticing bombs, rockets or anything resembling them in gardens, forests or yards, or anywhere else in the country.

Numerous towns and cities of Artsakh were hit by Azeri rocket-artillery strikes since September 27.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 17:11,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 20, ARMENPRESS. Armen Hovhannisyan has been appointed deputy minister of justice of Armenia.

The respective decision has been signed by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and is posted on e-gov.am.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 18:28,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 20, ARMENPRESS. The Defense Ministry of Armenia denies the information spread by the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry that the Armenian side launches rocket strikes against Goranboy and Tartar regions, spokesperson of MoD Armenia Shushan Stepanyan told ARMENPRESS.

 20:21,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 20, ARMENPRESS. The Defense Army of Artsakh has destroyed another Turkish Bayraktar TB2 UAV, ARMENPRESS reports spokesperson of MoD Armenia Shushan Stepanyan published the photos, where MAM laser-guided missiles can be seen.

Yesterday Artsakh had downed another Bayraktar TB2, while PM Pashinyan said that during the war the air defense units of Artsakh’s Defense Army have downed nearly a dozen of Turkish Bayraktars.

 19:34,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 20, ARMENPRESS. President of Russia Vladimir Putin and President of France Emmanuel Macron held a telephone conversation, discussing the developments in Nagorno Karabakh conflict zone in detail, ARMENPRESS reports, the press service of the Kremlin informs, noting that the Presidents emphasized the importance of observing the ceasefire agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Vladimir Putin informed about the measures aimed at preventing the future escalation of the military operations and immediate resumption of negotiations for a political – diplomatic settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict. The sides emphasized the importance of observing the ceasefire agreements of October 10 and 17 reached between the conflicting sides.

During the conversation the Presidents of Russia and France emphasized the readiness to closely coordinate activities in the sidelines of both OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs’ format and the UNSC.

 21:08,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 20, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan underlines that the European Court of Human Rights has confirmed Azerbaijan is governed by racist regime that glorifies ethnic violence against Armenians and implants ethnic hatred into society, ARMENPRESS reports Pashinyan wrote in his Twitter micro blog.

Forcing Armenians of Artsakh to live under Azerbaijani rule violates international law’’, he wrote, calling on international community to recognize Artsakh’s independence.

 21:31,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 20, ARMENPRESS. Member of the National Assembly of France Valérie Boyer asked all the parties of the Senate to join her proposal of recognizing the independence of the Republic of Artsakh and condemning the actions of Azerbaijan and Turkey, ARMENPRESS reports Valérie Boyer wrote on her Facebook page.

‘’I have asked all the groups of the Senate to join my proposal of recognizing the independence of the Republic of Artsakh and condemning the actions of Azerbaijan and Turkey. Lives are endangered, genocide is taking place in front of us. It’s time to act’’, she wrote.

Yesterday Boyer said she will submit to the French Senate a proposal to recognize Nagorno-Karabakh and condemn the actions of Turkey and Azerbaijan.

Valérie Boyer added that resisting the attacks of Azerbaijan on Nagorno-Karabakh also means to go against the spread of Turkish Islam in Europe. ‘’This week I will submit to the Senate a proposal to recognize Nagorno-Karabakh and condemn the actions of Turkey and Azerbaijan,” she wrote.

Editing and translating by Tigran Sirekanyan

 22:11,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 20, ARMENPRESS. Military operations continue on Artsakh-Azerbaijan contact line , the situation is tense, ARMENPRESS reports representative of the Defense Ministry of Armenia Artsrun Hovhannisyan said in a press conference.

‘’Today early in the morning the Azerbaijani armed forces again launched offensives both in the north and south. Particularly fierce clashes took place in the south. During those clashes our forces successfully stopped a number of attacks and repelled them to their initial positions. At this moment the situation remains tense, military operations continue, but not so intensively like in the daytime’’, Hovhannisyan said.

He added that the air defense units have destroyed a number of UAVs, including Turkish Bayraktars, which has already been reported.

Editing and translating by Tigran Sirekanyan

 23:25,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 20, ARMENPRESS.  Representative for California’s 32nd congressional district Grace Napolitano urges the USA to officially recognize the independence of the Republic of Artsakh, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Armenian National Committee of America.

Referring to Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) conflict, she said that Artsakh cannot be part of Azerbaijan, adding that it has been the integral part of Armenia for thousands of years.

‘’Freedom is the only answer left for Artsakh’s survival – history-based, law-based, survival-based remedial secession’’, Napolitano said, adding that the path forward is one of liberty.