Category: 2020

 11:14, 16 December, 2020

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. The European Union (EU) informed the Government of Armenia about the disbursement of € 9 million in grants to support Justice Reforms in Armenia, the EU Delegation in Armenia told Armenpress.

The EU's decision follows a positive assessment on progress in the implementation of the Judicial & Anticorruption Strategies, macroeconomic stability, public financial management and state budget transparency.

In line with the EU-Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement CEPA standards and associated EU-Armenia Strategic Policy Dialogue on Justice Reform, this assistance package will contribute to strengthening the integrity and accountability in the justice system, improving access to modern and quality judicial services and establishing a specialized Anticorruption Court in Armenia.

This direct financial contribution recognizes and supports the Government commendable efforts to advance important, comprehensive legislative and institutional reforms in the judiciary and therefore also improve the overall business environment. This EU assistance announced today is complementary to other instruments of technical assistance and capacity building support such as with the German Foundation for International Legal Cooperation IRZ, as well as in the Eastern Partnership region with the EU-Council of Europe Partnership for Good Governance and various EU4Integrity projects.     

H.E. Andrea Wiktorin, EU Head of Delegation, said: “I welcome today’s announcement on this very important budget support disbursement for Armenia. Once again, both EU and Armenia peoples and institutions come together to deliver on good governance and rule of law reforms. The European Union and its Member States are contributing to increase accountability of the judiciary and prosecutorial bodies and push for zero tolerance towards corruption in Armenia. We share the challenge and we can only succeed together”.

Rustam Badasyan Minister of Justice, said: “First, I want to highlight that this disbursement of 9 MEUR is the first tranche of the Justice reforms budget support program with overall amount of 30 MEUR. It is important to reaffirm that the Judicial and Anti-Corruption Reforms remain the priority directions for our Government and we are happy to state that the good progress achieved during this one year has also gained appreciation of our European partners. We are thankful to the European Union for continuous support and effective cooperation in Justice sector.”

 12:05, 16 December, 2020

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Healthcare Arsen Torosyan held a meeting with the Iranian Ambassador to Armenia Abbas Badakhshan Zohouri and the embassy’s economic affairs specialist Seyed Reza Nourai to discuss cooperation issues.

Praising the centuries-old friendship and many years of cooperation between the two countries, the sides brought forward new proposals for partnership in the healthcare sectors of Armenia and Iran, the healthcare ministry said in a news release.

“We highly appreciate direct contacts with our Iranian colleagues and we are grateful for the provided assistance in this difficult period of time,” Torosyan said, referring to the Iranian humanitarian aid to Armenia for the COVID-19 response. “I am sure that our friendly relations will continue in the future, especially after overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic situation.”

An agreement was reached to organize video-conferences between Armenian and Iranian healthcare officials, doctors and health workers on the treatment procedures of COVID-19. The issue of launching a joint production of medications and medical equipment was discussed in detail.

The Iranian ambassador noted that regardless of the situation in the country the healthcare sector must continue working. The ambassador expressed readiness to further strengthen cooperation in this sector, expressing hope that the countries will be able to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic as a result of jointly fighting against it.

“Taking into consideration the cultural ties of our two countries, I am sure that our relations will develop even more from now. A powerful and rich Armenia is a pride for its neighbor country, therefore we want Armenia to have big successes and maximally develop the healthcare sector as a result of cooperation, bringing it to the highest point. I hope that in the next five to six months of cooperation we will achieve tangible results,” the Iranian ambassador said.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 12:43, 16 December, 2020

GYUMRI, DECEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. The families of the servicemen who were besieged in Artsakh’s Hin Tagher and Khtsaberd villages and who are officially considered missing since the evening of December 15 are blocking the Gyumri-Yerevan highway, demanding authorities to reveal the circumstances around what happened to them. 

The Ministry of Defense of Artsakh announced on December 16 in a statement that in the evening of December 15, in unknown circumstances, it lost contact with the military personnel of several combat positions of the Defense Army deployed in the direction of the Hin Tagher and Khtsaberd villages of Hadrut.

However, the Azerbaijani media had published videos online showing Armenian troops whom Azerbaijani servicemen have taken captive. But the Armenian authorities have not yet confirmed the captivity of these troops.

However, the protesters say they have recognized their family members in these videos. Most of the troops are from the province of Shirak. Their families claim that the servicemen were besieged for three days before they were taken captive.

Other than blocking roads, the families of the missing troops had earlier blocked the Shirak Governor’s Office, demanding a meeting with Governor Tigran Petrosyan, who told them to address the Ministry of Defense. In turn, the families say the defense ministry is not providing any information.

Several parts of the Yerevan-Gyumri road are closed. The Gyumri-Bavra road is also blocked.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 13:00, 16 December, 2020

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. The servicemen of the Russian peacekeeping contingent in Nagorno Karabakh have delivered humanitarian aid packages, including food and first aid items, to the town of Martakert, the Russian defense ministry reports.

Food and essentials were handed over to the residents of Nagorno Karabakh who have returned back home. More than 100 families received humanitarian aid.

The medical units of the Russian defense ministry continue providing care to the residents of Stepanakert and Martakert.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 13:38, 16 December, 2020

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. Speaker of Parliament of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan met with the representatives of Citizen’s Decision social-democratic party Suren Sahakyan and Garegin Miskaryan, the Parliament told Armenpress.

The discussion focused on the border security, the possible ways of solving the issues of captured citizens and the domestic political situation.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 13:52, 16 December, 2020

STEPANAKERT, DECEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. The Human Rights Defender of Artsakh Artak Beglaryan says he contacted several organizations and servicemen on the ground regarding the information on the troops who went missing in Khtsaberd village. “According to the information that I gathered, a military unit consisting of around 60 servicemen went missing during these days in the direction of the village of Khtsaberd in Hadrut region, and it is highly likely that the video published by the Azerbaijani side shows this very unit,” he said.

“This incident is totally unacceptable and it must be quickly and strictly investigated by law enforcement agencies to determine all circumstances and the circle of those guilty. The authorities of Artsakh and Armenia are obliged to take immediate actions to repatriate all our prisoners of war as soon as possible. In addition, it is necessary to provide clear information to the families of the prisoners of war and conduct maximally transparent public communication to avoid disinformation and unnecessary tensions,” Beglaryan said.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 13:49, 16 December, 2020

STEPANAKERT, DECEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. Search operations in the places of military operations carried our recently in Nagorno Karabakh continue.

As a result of these operations bodies of 64 more troops were found in Fizuli-Jabrayil section, representative of the Artsakh state emergency service Hunan Tadevosyan told Armenpress.

“A total of 892 dead servicemen have been found as of now. Today the search operations continue again in Fizuli and Jabrayil directions. The decision on involving the families of the killed servicemen into the search operations is also in force”, he said.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 14:14, 16 December, 2020

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. The President of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan has confirmed that “several dozens” of troops were taken captive by Azerbaijani armed forces in the direction of the village of Khtsaberd.

In an address to the nation on December 16, the President said that Azerbaijan continues its constant provocative behavior, with actions in Khtsaberd and Berdadzor being one of the latest.

“The Defense Army servicemen and the Russian peacekeepers thwarted various provocations by Azerbaijani troops, and yesterday evening they were repelled from the outskirts of the Hin Shen village of Shushi. These days no one was hurt in the direction of Berdadzor, and the adversary wasn’t allowed to enter any settlement. Unfortunately, several dozens of our troops were taken captive by the Azerbaijani side in the direction of Khtsaberd, and now the defense ministry is determining all circumstances. I will personally be coherent in bringing those guilty for this incident to legal accountability. Their quick and safe repatriation must be the focus of our efforts, and we are already taking steps in this direction,” Harutyunyan said.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 14:27, 16 December, 2020

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS.  The Court of Appeals has overturned an arrest warrant issued by a lower court that would allow the State Revenue Committee’s investigators to place the former Armenian Ambassador to the Vatican Mikayel Minasyan in pre-trial detention amid an ongoing investigation into alleged money laundering, illicit enrichment and falsification of asset disclosures.

Minasyan, who is the son-in-law of the 3^rd President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan, denies wrongdoing and claims that the charges are fabricated and politically motivated.  He is declared wanted by Armenian authorities.

Mikayel Minasyan served as Armenian Ambassador to the Holy See from 2013 to 2018. He was concurrently Armenia’s Ambassador to the Sovereign Military Order of Malta from 2014-2018 and to Portugal from 2017 to 2018.

He is one of the most outspoken critics of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and his administration.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 14:33, 16 December, 2020

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. Armenia’s Ombudsman Arman Tatoyan has recorded the new data on the capture of Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijani armed forces which is being spread on the Internet since December 15, as well as the videos on that immediately after their release.

“According to various data provided to the Office of the Ombudsman, citizens claim that they have recognized their family members or relatives. Our Office is receiving calls on this since yesterday late evening up to now. I have submitted all the data to the head of the Armenia delegation of the International Committee of Red Cross and introduced all the details we have as of now.

I want to state clearly that since yesterday we are taking all possible actions within our jurisdictions for the recording of the fact and the identification of the persons. A close cooperation is also being carried out with the Ombudsman of Artsakh”, the Ombudsman said on social media.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan