Category: 2020

 14:42, 16 December, 2020

STEPANAKERT, DECEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. President of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan has announced he is stepping down as Chairman of the ruling Free Motherland (AHK) party.

“I have decided to abandon the position of Free Motherland Party president and leave the party in order for me to be able to act and be perceived in the post of the President of the Republic as a head of state above any party, as a politician who must be accepted as a unifying person especially in times of crises,” Harutyunyan said in an address.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 14:45, 16 December, 2020

STEPANAKERT, DECEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. Ensuring the security of its citizens is the top priority of Artsakh, because it’s impossible to record success and development in the remaining spheres without secure environment, President of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan said in an address delivered today, outlining the future actions in the field of security.

“On the one hand, we have a line of contact with the Azerbaijani side, which has been extended about two and a half times, a direct approaching to our some settlements and very restricted communication measures with Armenia. On the other hand, we have scarce human and technical resources and limited time for strengthening the new frontline, and from the other hand we have security guarantees conditioned by the continuous support of the Armenian people, Armenia and the presence of the Russian peacekeeping troops”, the President said.

He stated that the authorities of Artsakh do the utmost in their powers and capacities to neutralize the existing security challenges and clarify the uncertainties, some of which depend also on the results of the high-level international negotiations. “Nevertheless, regardless of the current objective difficulties, one thing is clear to us: the Defense Army, with the support of all Armenians, will continue its functions and efforts for ensuring the physical security of the people of Artsakh which are being joined by the guarantees of the Russian peacekeeping troops”, he said.

Arayik Harutyunyan said the Azerbaijani side continues its constant provocative behavior, the vivid evidence of which, he said, are their latest actions in Khtsaberd and Berdadzor sections. “Different provocations of the Azerbaijani troops were prevented by the servicemen of the Defense Army and the Russian peacekeepers, and yesterday evening they have been repelled from the outskirts of Hin Shen village of Shushi. These days no one was injured in the Berdadzor direction, and the adversary wasn’t allowed to enter into any settlement. Unfortunately, several dozens of our servicemen have been captured by the Azerbaijani side in the direction of Khtsaberd, and currently the Defense Ministry is clarifying all circumstances. I personally will be consistent with this so that those found guilty will be held accountable. Their quick and safe return should be the focus of our upcoming efforts, and we are already taking actions on this direction.

Taking into account the peacekeeping mandate assumed by Russia in Artsakh, it’s obvious that the violations of the provisions of the November 9 trilateral statement and the line of contact are a disrespect to Russia’s both mediation efforts and peacekeeping mandate. Therefore, we, together with the military-political leadership of Armenia, are working with the Russian side aimed at jointly preventing the Azerbaijani provocations, and the Defense Army is, of course, fulfilling its duties within the existing capacities”, the President of Artsakh said.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 15:10, 16 December, 2020

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. President of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan says he is ready to resign as soon as the country will be ready to duly overcome the difficulties of presidential and parliamentary elections in terms of domestic and external conditions and constitutional regulations.

In an address to the nation on December 16, he added that in the next few days he will approve a new Cabinet’s structure and composition.

He said that all presidential decrees and Cabinet decisions related to the country’s defense and security will be adopted only at the consent of the Security Council.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 15:42, 16 December, 2020

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijani forces attacked a church in the city of Shushi on October 8, 2020 during the Nagorno Karabakh hostilities, in what appears to be a deliberate targeting in violation of the laws of war, Human Rights Watch said.

“Two separate attacks, hours apart, on the Ghazanchetsots Cathedral on October 8 in the town of Shushi suggest that the church, a civilian object with cultural significance, was an intentional target despite the absence of evidence that it was used for military purposes. Weapon remnants Human Rights Watch collected at the site corroborate the use of guided munitions. President Ilham Aliyev said that the church could have been targeted only by mistake and was “not among military targets””, Human Rights Watch said.

“The two strikes on the church, the second one while journalists and other civilians had gathered at the site, appear to be deliberate,” said Hugh Williamson, Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “These attacks should be impartially investigated and those responsible held to account.”

On October 8, 2020, Azerbaijan carried out two strikes on the Ghazanchetsots Cathedral, causing damage to the complex.

 15:50, 16 December, 2020

STEPANAKERT, DECEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. A serviceman of the Defense Army of Artsakh has died from a gunshot wound in unknown circumstances, the Ministry of Defense of Artsakh said.

18-year-old Vahe Babayan, a serviceman of the Defense Army, suffered a fatal gunshot wound around 14:17, December 15, in circumstances yet to be determined while on duty at a military base in the north-eastern direction of the Defense Army.

An investigation is underway to determine details of the incident.

The Defense Ministry extended condolences to the family and friends of the serviceman.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 15:55, 16 December, 2020

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s father Vova Pashinyan has died at the age of 80 from a serious and long-lasting disease, the PM’s spokesperson Mane Gevorgyan told ARMENPRESS.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 15:58, 16 December, 2020

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian had a meeting with head of the opposition Bright Armenia faction of the Parliament Edmon Marukyan, the Presidential Office told Armenpress.

The current situation in the country was discussed during the meeting.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 17:00, 16 December, 2020

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan says snap parliamentary elections cannot be held only by his will and decision, adding that consent should be reached over it.

In an interview to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, asked whether for instance a change of the PM is really illogical in such situation, Pashinyan stated: “The question is not that the prime minister should leave or not, the question is that who decides who is the Prime Minister of Armenia. People should decide by their own choice, snap elections cannot be held only by my will and decision, consent should be reached over it”.

Commenting on the question relating to assuming responsibility, the PM said: “Ok. I say I consider myself the number one responsible official, but I do not consider myself as the number one guilty”.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 16:37, 16 December, 2020

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has addressed the situation in the villages of Hin Tagher and Khtsaberd of Artsakh in an interview with the RFE/RL’s Armenia service.

RFE/RL Armenian service: What’s the situation like now in Hin Tagher and Khtsaberd?

Prime Minister Pashinyan: According to our information, the Russian peacekeepers are also blockaded. There is a problem with communication, because due to the terrain and the developments there are some problems with communication, moreover, the Russian peacekeepers also have these problems, and we have somewhat of a crisis situation there.

RFE/RL Armenian service: We are receiving different information on new captives from the Hadrut-Shushi section, are there really new captives?

Prime Minister Pashinyan: Yes, we have that information, but again I’d like to say that this is in the framework of that same event, meaning these aren’t different developments taking place in different areas, these developments are happening within the framework of what’s taking place in the Khtsaberd-Hin Tagher section.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 17:21, 16 December, 2020

YEREVAN, 16 DECEMBER, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 16 December, USD exchange rate down by 0.19 drams to 524.90 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 2.29 drams to 640.64 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.01 drams to 7.16 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 9.93 drams to 709.51 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price up by 317.89 drams to 31231.43 drams. Silver price up by 5.93 drams to 408.65 drams. Platinum price down by 6.27 drams to 17331.58 drams.