Category: 2020

Armenian health care system continues working under pressure

 18:23, 6 July, 2020

YEREVAN, JULY 6, ARMENPRESS. The situation over coronavirus remains hard in Armenia. Nearly 1000 new cases were reported during the week-end and the health care system continues working under pressure, ARMENPRESS reports PM Pashinyan said in a briefing following the session at the Commandant’s Office.

”Bad news come not only from Armenia, but from the entire world. In many countries the situation seems to be taken under control, but later we receive information about the 2nd wave’’, Pashinyan said.

Nikol Pashinyan noted that the strategy over the situation remains the same. The authorities see the way out of the situation also with the help of citizens, who can change the situation by changing their individual behavior and cooperation. Pashinyan emphasized that relying only on administrative measures the situation cannot be solved.  

Editing and translating by Tigran Sirekanyan

Ucom expresses position to SCPEC Armenia

 18:30, 6 July, 2020

YEREVAN, JULY 6, ARMENPRESS. The State Commission of the Protection of Economic Competition of the Republic of Armenia approached “Ucom” CJSC to clarify Ucom’s position on the merger of “VEON Armenia” CJSC and “Team” LLC through the acquisition of 100% share by the latter on June 26.

ARMENPRESS reports Ucom issued a statement over the situation, which runs as follows,

‘’Let us note, that on June 8, 2020 “Team” LLC has submitted an application to the SCPEC of Armenia with a request to allow the above-mentioned transaction. On July 1, 2020 “Ucom” CJSC presented its position on the transaction, stating, in particular, that the merger is subject to rejection on several grounds.

In particular, according to the position of “Ucom” CJSC, the actions taken by “Team” LLC and its management should be qualified as unfair competition (including unscrupulous competition by using Ucom’s undisclosed confidential information). Hence, the conclusion of the discussed transaction contradicts Articles 11 and 16 of the RA Law on Protection of Economic Competition, and the merger is subject to rejection by the SCPEC.

The Position establishes and substantiates that Hayk Yesayan, former Director General at Ucom, as well as Alexander Yesayan, former Deputy Director and Strategic Director at Ucom (who is an acting member of the Board of Directors of “Ucom” CJSC), have breached the fiduciary duty towards Ucom as well as, when negotiating the deal with “VEON Armenia” CJSC and presenting the signed memorandum to SCPEC, they used confidential information (including details of the deal with VEON, which is named a doctrine of misappropriation of corporate opportunities in the legislation and jurisprudence of a number of countries). Thus, we find that as a result of the revelations and use of confidential information belonging to Ucom by the Yesayans, “Team” LLC was able to negotiate and sign a memorandum within just a month, and is going to acquire the shares of “VEON Armenia” CJSC, while similar deals’ negotiations last for months, if not longer. These actions, as justified in the Position, are both unfair competition and prohibited.

“Ucom” CJSC presented factual circumstances confirming the above-mentioned statements to the RA SCPEC. Moreover, a comparative legal analysis/ case study of the experience of the countries with similar legal regulations was presented as an additional argument confirming the justifications given in Position. The provided information underlines that such manifestations are not unique and are condemnable both in Armenia and abroad.

“Ucom” CJSC states that it intends to defend its violated rights, both in relevant bodies of Armenia and abroad, and is currently discussing with the legal services team and foreign lawyers the possible legal proceedings to commence abroad’’

Bomb threat at ”Dalma Garden Mall’’ was also false

 19:30, 6 July, 2020

YEREVAN, JULY 6, ARMENPRESS. The Ministry of Emergency Situations of Armenia informs that it received false bomb threat installed not only at ‘’Megamall Armenia’’, but also at ‘’Dalma Garden Mall’’.

ARMENPRESS reports the National Center for Crisis Management received a call today, at 13:30, that a statement has been spread on internet according to which bombs are placed at the 1st and 2nd floors of Megamall Armenia shopping center in Yerevan which are going to explode at 13:50.

Rescuers and operative groups left for the scene.

Nearly 350 citizens were evacuated by rescuers and police officers from the shopping center.

No bomb was discovered at ‘’Magamall Armenia’’ trade center.

At 13:55 the National Center for Crisis Management received another call that bomb was installed also at ‘’Dalma Garden Mall’’.

Nearly 500 citizens were evacuated. Again no bomb was found.

Editing and translating by Tigran Sirekanyan

In all probability state of emergency will be prolonged – PM Pashinyan

 19:24, 6 July, 2020

YEREVAN, JULY 6, ARMENPRESS. It’s impossible to prolong state of emergency endlessly, but considering the situation over the pandemic, it’s necessary to show balanced approach, ARMENPRESS reports PM Pashinyan said in a briefing following the session at the Commandant’s Office.

‘’Of course, the situation leads to some concrete solutions, but on the other hand we understand that we cannot prolong the state of emergency endlessly. In all probability, if everything continues in this same way, we will prolong the state of emergency one more time. Anyway, we will try to improve the law on state of emergency in a way that when eliminating the state of emergency we will still have some levers to pursue anti-pandemic policy like during the state of emergency’’, Pashinyan said.

State of emergency in Armenia was prolonged until July 13.

Editing and translating by Tigran Sirekanyan