Category: 2020

Karabakh MOD: Azerbaijan attempted sabotage penetration

Eduard Nalbandian
News.am, Armenia

12:38, 23.05.2020
                  

Armenia attorney: If it weren’t for police, I would probably be behind bars now

Maral Chavushian
News.am, Armenia
Armenia attorney: If it weren’t for police, I would probably be behind bars now Armenia attorney: If it weren’t for police, I would probably be behind bars now

13:12, 23.05.2020
                  

YEREVAN. – My family is being harassed for the past two day. At first glance, it seemed like the matter was domestic, but in reality it turned out not to be so. Lawyer Tigran Atanesyan said this Saturday, referring to the attack on his house.

“Right next to my house is the old movie theater of Kanaker; it is currently a recording studio. There is a small playground there, my children always go and play [there]. However, the owner’s son, who is 40 years old, demands, says that my children no longer have the right to play there,” he said.

According to Atanesyan, he has no relations with that person, and there are bars separating his house and that institution. “On the second day, they decide to completely block those bars, my wife calls, I say, ‘Let them block, don’t pay attention.’ Meanwhile, seeing that we are not giving in to provocation, they start cursing—with the worst sexual insults—at my 7-year-old son, who is looking, from the first-floor window, what they are doing (…): They want to hit my window, my wife runs out, for 5-6 minutes they make the most insidious curses at my wife; my children, everyone locks themselves in the house,” he said.

According to Atanesyan, they attacked his house, said they would demolish the house and again mentioned that he was a lawyer. “My wife calls me, I rush home, I realize it’s a provocation. There is no excuse for attacking the house, even if those people had a problem with me; but I again say that there is no problem. I called the police, and they reached our house almost at the same time as me, the incident now continued with me. They attack me, and if it weren’t for the police, I would probably be behind bars today because I didn’t know how all that would have ended after the swearing. One [of them] is a well-known drug dealer, and the others were nothing—like him,” he said.

The lawyer noted that this incident was related to his professional activities, and also said that he had applied to a security service to provide round-the-clock security around his house.

“But if someone tries to frighten me with this, he is sorely mistaken. I will fight against this disgrace with double the energy,” he said.

To note, the press reported on Friday that Tigran Atanesyan’s house was attacked, and insulting remarks were made against his family, and they had attempted to injure his 7-year-old son.

Artsakh troops thwart Azerbaijani infiltration attempt

Karapet Navasardian
Public Radio of Armenia

On May 22 the Azerbaijani troops undertook a subversive infiltration attempt in the direction of the protection area of a military unit of the Defense Army, Artsakh’s Defense Ministry reports.

The Defense Army unites were quick to spot the advancement of the special forces of Azerbaijan, throwing them back to initial positions. The Defense Army sustained no casualties during the firefight.

The Artsakh Defense Ministry calls on the Azerbaijani side to refrain from unpromising tactics to artificially straining the situation. Otherwise, the entire responsibility for the tension on the front line will fall on the Azerbaijani side.


Attorney says Armenia PM Pashinyan is accountable for attack on his house

Manouk Vasilian
News.am, Armenia

14:12, 23.05.2020
                  

YEREVAN. – I am not forgiven for being [Armenia’s PM] Nikol Pashinyan’s lawyer [in the past], and now I have a completely opposite position to the policy that Pashinyan is running. Lawyer Tigran Atanesyan stated this at Saturday’s press conference, and in connection with the attack on his house.

“Yes, I blame these halls of power [for] all this that has become possible in this country. What have they turned this country into? Cursing is normal, vulgar, everyday words have become normal, a child can now be cursed at and attacked on. Yes, Nikol Pashinyan is accountable for this; this is during his tenure, and it is backed during his tenure,” Atanesyan said.

It should be noted that yesterday the press spread rumors that Tigran Atanesyan’s house was attacked, insulting remarks were made against his family, and an attempt was made to harm his 7-year-old son.

To note, the press reported on Friday that Tigran Atanesyan’s house was attacked, and insulting remarks were made against his family, and some people had attempted to injure his 7-year-old son.

Armenian Health Minister Voices Doubts about Georgian COVID Data

Vorskanian Yeghisabet
Georgia Today

Armenian Minister of Health Arsen Torosyan on Friday voiced his doubts about the coronavirus data of Georgia. When comparing the Georgian and Armenian healthcare and anti-epidemiological systems, Torosyan said Georgia’s are significantly different, “and not in a good way”, according to the news website Arminfo.  

“Our anti-epidemiological system is stronger, and this is a fact,” he said, going on to express hope that, in addition to Georgia, other neighboring countries – Russia and Iran, will be able to strengthen their anti-epidemiological systems, which is important for Armenia, taking into account the flow of citizens entering these territories from these countries.

During the on-line discussions initiated by the Public Council, Torosyan asked several questions about the methodology Georgia uses to record the date of the COVID-19 infected patients, noting that not many countries can “compare with Armenia on the principle of transparency of information on coronavirus.”

“Firstly, have PCR tests been used in all testing cases in Georgia, or are we talking about quick tests, which are practically not used in Armenia due to their low level of accuracy? Secondly, are citizens with mild ARVI symptoms tested for coronavirus? Thirdly, are coronavirus statistics included for people who have died from pneumonia while having diagnosed COVID-19? The Minister recalled that in Armenia, such cases of fatal outcomes are included in the statistics, and separate statistics are also conducted for patients with COVID-19 who have died from other diseases,” writes Arminfo.  

In an effort to prove his point, Torosyan offered some information for consideration: “when we test drivers driving from Georgia to Armenia, in many cases coronavirus is diagnosed. So, can it be considered that in Georgia there are really 1-2 cases of coronavirus detected a day, or in reality that not all cases of COVID-19 are detected and included in the statistics?”

The Armenian Minister also expressed doubt about whether or not Georgia, as well as other countries, will be able to keep the infection rates this low after it reopens its borders for tourists.

5928 cases of coronavirus were confirmed in Armenia, 2874 people have recovered and 74 have died. At time of writing, 2952 patients are receiving actual treatment. In Georgia, 723 cases of COVID-19 have been registered, 495 have recovered, and 12 have died, and 209 patients are undergoing treatment.

Amiran Gamkrelidze, Director General of the Georgian National Center for Disease Control and Public Health (NCDC) responded to the statement of the Minister of Health of Armenia. 

In his words, it is not yet confirmed that such a statement was actually made. 

“I saw this information, however, it is not yet confirmed that he actually made such a statement. I know Mr. Arsen Torosyan personally, and I am a little surprised if this statement was made from this perspective. We are very close nations, neighbors, we have a long history, and I was a little surprised by this kind of “non-diplomatic” statement.

“I don’t know what statistics he is relying on, he can see the data published by us, on our website, which is also available in English. On our website, we publish annual statistics, the dynamics of pneumonia. We have studied this. We do not have one of the most important characteristics of these pandemics – the high mortality rate. In other countries, such as Italy, etc., the mortality rate has been and still is high. We’ve been watching this for 3-4 years. Do we have a high mortality rate, including due to pneumonia? we do not have. Today, all patients with pneumonia in all hospitals in Georgia are being tested. All patients diagnosed with pneumonia, of course, are hospitalized and all of them are tested,” Gamkrelidze said.  

In his words, Torosyan also says that tests are being mixed in Georgia and that rapid tests are included in the data of tested people.

“No, Mr. Arsen, 48,290 tests conducted in the country are all PCR tests. We do not include in this a few thousand rapid tests used by the country, medical institutions. So I was surprised by this statement. I respect him, and other Armenian ministers. I am not sure whether he really made this statement or not,” Amiran Gamkrelidze added.

By Nini Dakhundaridze

Sports: 2019–20 Armenian Premier League – Ararat vs Urartu Preview & Prediction

Emil Lazarian
The Stats Zone
by Rob Esteva

THE FACTS

When is Ararat vs Urartu taking place? Monday 25th May, 2020 – 15:30 (UK)

Where is Ararat vs Urartu taking place? Vazgen Sargsyan anvan Hanrapetakan Marzadasht, Yerevan

Where can I get tickets for Ararat vs Urartu? Ticket information can be found on each club’s official website

What television channel is Ararat vs Urartu on? This match will not be televised live in the UK

Where can I stream Ararat vs Urartu? This match cannot be streamed live in the UK

THE TEAM NEWS

ARARAT

  • Ararat will be hoping to take advantage of the break as they were winless in their last five matches in the league and they need to snap that to consolidate their position in the top half of the table.
  • Goals were proving incredibly difficult to come by in recent matches as they have failed to score in their last three matches so they will look to Brazilian forward Weslen Junior to spark some life into their struggling attack.
  • The club will be hoping that some of their signings in the winter transfer window will be able to find their feet quickly with high hopes for Portuguese winger Sancidino Silva who joined from Swiss club Lausanne Sport, as he is expected to provide some much-needed creativity.

URARTU

  • Prior to the two-and-a-half month pause due to the Coronavirus, Urartu were giving themselves a fantastic chance of moving out of the bottom four places as they have taken 11 points from their last five matches in an impressive unbeaten run in the league.
  • After returning from the winter break, Urartu won both of their home matches 2-0 against Lori and 3-0 against Yerevan so they will be desperately hoping they can pick up from where they left off and continue this fine form.
  • The key to their recent strong form in the league has been their defence as they have kept four consecutive clean sheets and they will know that if they can keep things tight at the back, they have a golden chance to make ground on their opponents here.
 

THE PREDICTION

This promises to be a highly competitive affair and while the hosts sit above their opponents in the table, it is the visitors who had all the momentum prior to the enforced break. Urartu will be hoping they can continue their fine form from before the break that saw them go five matches unbeaten in the league and keep four clean sheets in a row. They have to be favoured in the draw no bet market against Ararat.


Armenpress: COVID-19: Armenia records highest number of new cases – 374

Emil Lazarian

COVID-19: Armenia records highest number of new cases – 374

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 11:11,

YEREVAN, MAY 23, ARMENPRESS. The National Center for Disease Control and Prevention is reporting the highest number of new COVID-19 cases in one day in Armenia – 374. The total cumulative number of confirmed cases has reached 6302.

62 people recovered in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of recoveries to 2936.

3 patients – aged 74, 86 and 54 – died from COVID-19 complications, raising the death toll to 77. All of the latest fatalities had pre-existing health conditions, according to health authorities.

Another 4 people infected with the virus died – bringing the number of fatalities unrelated to the COVID-19 to 32. Health authorities say these 32 individuals who were infected with the coronavirus died because of other pre-existing conditions.

The number of active cases stands at 3257.

Reporting by Anna Grigoryan; Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

PM Pashinyan visits intensive gardening business in Ararat province

Maral Chavushian

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 11:15,

YEREVAN, MAY 23, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan visited an intensive gardening business in the Azatavan community in the Province of Ararat to get acquainted with the agricultural work.

Minister of Economy Tigran Khachatryan, Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures Suren Papikyan and Governor of Ararat Garik Sargsyan accompanied the PM.

The owner of the facility said he has benefited from the government’s support program and he currently employs 12 workers, with the number of employees expected to reach 50 during harvest season.

The farmer said he is willing to expand his garden but the owners of neighboring lands are either unwilling to sell or they can’t find the owners at all.

The PM said he finds the absence of large lands to be a major problem.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

COVID-19: China reports no new cases in last 24 hours for first time

Emil Lazarian

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 11:24,

YEREVAN, MAY 23, ARMENPRESS. China, where the novel coronavirus originated in late 2019, has for the first time since the outbreak reported not a single new case in the last 24 hours. China has a total of 82,971 cases with 78,258 recoveries. 4,634 have died.

The number of COVID-19 cases around the world has surpassed 5,307,000, with 340,000 deaths.

According to research center data, 2,160,530 people have recovered so far globally.

The United States has most cases with 1,645,353. 97,655 Americans have died from the virus.

Brazil is the second hardest-hit country with the total number of cases – 332,382, with 21,116 deaths.

Russia has reported 326,448 cases with 3,249 deaths.

Spain has a total of 281,904 cases with 28,628 deaths.

36,393 people died from the coronavirus in the UK, where the total number of cases stands at 254,195.

Italy’s latest data shows 228,658 total cases with 32,616 deaths.

Georgia has so far reported 723 cases with 12 deaths.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

Government discusses option of banks accepting farming lands as pledge for loan

Lilit Nahapetian

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 12:36,

YEREVAN, MAY 23, ARMENPRESS. The Government of Armenia is seeking mechanisms which would enable banks to accept farmers’ lands as pledge for providing loans, PM Nikol Pashinyan told residents of the Verin Dvin community during a tour. He talked with the farmers about their businesses, some of whom are experiencing financial issues amid the coronavirus situation.

He said there are preliminary discussions over the matter, but the issue is not simple.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan