Category: 2020

Armenian court rules to arrest son-in-law of ex-president on charges of illegal enrichment

Dabaghian Diana
JAM News
May 7 2020
 
 
 
 
07.05.2020
 
JAMnews, Yerevan
 
An Armenian court ruled on May 6 for the arrest of Mikayel Minasyan – son-in-law of former Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan.
 
Minasyan is being charged with illegal enrichment, declaring false income, and the legalization of property obtained by criminal means.
 
He is not the first member of the former president’s inner circle to have problems with the law.
 
Criminal proceedings were also filed against his brothers and nephews, as well as his father, Mikayel Minasyan.
 
Serzh Sargsyan himself is accused of embezzlement of budgetary funds in the amount of more than a million dollars.
 
The criminal case against Mikael Minasyan was opened in March 2020, at which time he was put on the wanted list. There have been some suggestions that he is now in Italy.
 
Minasyan’s lawyer Migran Poghosyan called the court’s decision to arrest his client “absurd and shameless.” In his opinion, the document “does not even hint at the analysis of the arguments presented by the defense”.
 
Recently, the ex-president’s son-in-law has been posting video messages addressed to citizens of Armenia on his Facebook page. From his home in an unknown location abroad, he delivers harsh criticism of the authorities and talks about the various ways he has served his homeland.
 
 
What Mikael Minasyan Says
 
The ex-president’s son-in-law claims that the current authorities tried to remove him from the political playing field and persuade him not to return to his homeland in exchange for ending the criminal prosecution.
 
Minasyan said that the former head of the national security service met with him to discuss this issue on behalf of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. However, he declined this offer because he could not “be civil to deceitful and irresponsible people, who are traitors to the people.”
 
The press secretary of the former head of the NSS, Artur Vanetsyan, responded to this statement. Kristina Melkonyan suggests that everyone recall the interview with Arthur Vanetsyan, in which he expressed his attitude towards Mikael Minasyan.
 
“Let no one draw any connection between me and Mikael Minasyan, because for me, this is a person who still has to answer many questions before the law of the Republic of Armenia,” Vanetsyan said in September 2019 after his resignation.
 
The Prime Minister’s press service has not yet commented on the statements of Mikael Minasyan.
 
Minasyan also stated that he was not returning to Armenia because the Armenian Prime Minister “decided long ago to arrest him.” “But someday I will definitely be back,” says Minasyan.
 
In his following Facebook speeches, he promised to investigate the mistakes that were made during the presidency of Serzh Sargsyan.
 
Serzh Sargsyan awards Mikael Minasyan with the medal “For Services to the Fatherland,” April 2018
 
The parliament treats Minasyan’s statements with general distrust
 
Hayk Konjoryan, a member of the National Assembly from the ruling “My Step” faction, considers Minasyan’s statement a “primitive ploy” to avoid punishment:
 
“To make political statements…only to then say, ‘Look, I’m being subjected to political persecution.’ Regardless of who you are, a former gambler who placed bets casinos using the people’s money, or a former high-ranking official who has accumulated millions from several different ventures.”
 
Taron Simonyan, a member of the Enlightened Armenia opposition faction, also views Minasyan’s statements as an attempt to justify and divert attention from himself. But the opposition still feels that the country’s authorities need to respond to the statement addressed to them.
 
Independent deputy Arman Babajanyan also does not trust the version described in the video message:
 
“It seems a long shot that the Armenian authorities, in particular, Nikol Pashinyan, could somehow make him an offer only a year after he rejected the first one – and not just him, but the whole system that Minasyan clearly represents.”
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Number of confirmed COVID-19 cases reaches 2,884 in Armenia, 2 new deaths reported

Emil Lazarian
News.am, Armenia
May 7 2020

11:24, 07.05.2020

YEREVAN. – As of Thursday 11am, a total of 102 new cases of the novel coronavirus were recorded in Armenia, the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports.

Overall, 2,884 cases of COVID-19 are confirmed in the country as of Thursday morning.

A total of 28,017 tests—1,186 in the past day—have been conducted so far, and 1,648 people—an increase by 48 in one day—are currently being treated.

According to the latest data, 1,285 COVID-19 patients—50 people in the past day—have recovered thus far, whereas 42 others—increased by 2—have died in Armenia from the disease.

Two more persons who were diagnosed with the coronavirus have died of other illnesses. There are now a total of 9 such cases in the country.

Armenian ombudsman: It’s unacceptable to use family tragedy to collect likes

Boshkezenian Garik
Panorama, Armenia
May 7 2020

Armenian Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman) Arman Tatoyan expressed concern over the discussions that followed Tuesday’s tragic incident in Yerevan in which a man threw his child out of a 9th-floor window and then jumped himself grabbing another, and the dissemination of private information.

A statement issued by the ombudsman reads:

“After the tragic death of a father and his children, private information and even photos from the scene are spread on the Internet. Moreover, in some cases, it is done in such a way that a person’s private life and family tragedy become a subject of obvious exploitation. The ongoing “discussions” are looking for culprits, targeting the wife in some cases.

I am deeply concerned about the approach of certain websites and social media.

It is unacceptable to collect likes or ensure views by using the family tragedy and sharing photos of the dead children from the scene

We need to keep in mind that such a move causes pain and suffering to those families. Moreover, in this way we create an opportunity for the photos that emerge on the Internet to always accompany people throughout their lives, with all the negative effects arising from it.

Such phenmena are also unacceptable in terms of values, perceptions and negative consequences in the society.

I offer my condolences to the relatives of the deceased.”

World Bank Supports Innovative Social Assistance Project in Armenia

Karagyozian Lena
India Education Diary
May 7 2020
By India Education Diary Bureau Admin
–

May 7, 2020

New Delhi: World Bank Country Manager for Armenia, Sylvie Bossoutrot, and President of the Armenian Association of Social Workers (AASW), Mira Antonyan, signed a Grant Agreement for the “Promoting Social Inclusion and Self-Reliant Livelihood Activities in Armenia” project. Funds for the project are generously provided by the Japan Social Development Fund (JSDF) through a three-year grant of $2.7 million.

The project has been designed by the World Bank in partnership with the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs of Armenia and will be implemented by the Association of Social Workers – a non-governmental, not-for-profit national professional representative body of social workers in Armenia.

“We are pleased to sign this Agreement with a civil society organization, as a recipient and implementing agency for this Project supported by a Japanese Grant,” says Sylvie Bossoutrot, World Bank Country Manager for Armenia. “This project will aim to better integrate vulnerable people and help them become active participants of society by improving their employment opportunities.”

“On behalf of Japanese Government, I would like to highlight the extreme importance of this project”, says Yun Yamada, Ambassador of Japan to Armenia. “I am deeply convinced that this project contributes to the enhancement of the life of vulnerable people, especially in the regions of Armenia, through the capacity building of social workers and vocational training for targeted people.”

The project is expected to help increase access to social assistance benefits and services and provide self‑employment support to about 11,000 vulnerable members of society in urban and rural communities in Ararat, Armavir, Kotayk, Lori and Shirak regions of Armenia. Beneficiary selection criteria will favor Family Benefit Program (FBP) recipient households with a disabled member(s), children up to 5 years old, and a working age adult with high motivation.

“The project objectives are strongly aligned with current reform agenda of the Government, especially from the perspectives of encouragement of employment and entrepreneurial initiatives of vulnerable groups as the most reliable way to overcome poverty,” says Zaruhi Batoyan, Minister of Labour and Social Affairs of Armenia. “The Ministry will continue its support to the project implementation to promote beneficiaries’ self-reliant livelihood mechanisms.”

Specifically, this project will support:

Developing a social case management system to assess beneficiaries’ needs and refer them to various types of services including, provision of medical assistance, emergency support, access to educational institutions for children, professional and life skills training, psychotherapeutic and social rehabilitation services, as well as legal advice. This innovation will leverage the individualized case management approach to reach out to the most vulnerable and marginalized population, reaching around 6,000 family program recipients.
Enhancing self-employability of around 300 beneficiaries through business training and provision of grants, which could help them graduate out of the Family Benefit Program. The main types of businesses supported will cover areas such asagriculture, production/processing (of food/non-food goods), accommodation and food service, arts and culture, entertainment, and trade. Additionally, this component will support placing FBP beneficiaries in the existing self-employment programs, as well as providing them with capacity building, knowledge sharing, and advice on self-employment opportunities. Overall, this component will support around 5,000 vulnerable members of society.
The proposed activities will strengthen the role of community-based and territorial social workers for improving access of families to available social assistance benefits and services. Under the project 200 social workers will receive methodological support and capacity building to implement effective social case management in target areas.

The JSDF was established by the Government of Japan and the World Bank as a mechanism to provide direct assistance to the poorest and most vulnerable groups in eligible World Bank countries. The aim is to enhance their capacities, strengthen their empowerment and participation in society and economic life.


Former Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan invited to the April War Investigation Committee

Boris Nahapetian
Arminfo, Armenia
May 7 2020

ArmInfo. Former Prime Minister of Armenia Karen Karapetyan has been invited to the committee to investigate the events of the April war of 2016. On May 7, Chairman  of the Committee Andranik Kocharyan stated this in an interview with  reporters. He said that the meeting will be held on May 11 at 1:00pm.

To note, the parliamentary commission to investigate the  circumstances of the April war in Karabakh was created in 2019. The  Committee included representatives of all factions of the National  Assembly. The purpose of its work is to identify possible errors,  shortcomings or inaction on the part of the then authorities during  the aforementioned period of aggravation of the situation at the  border, which led to the death of more than 100 Armenian servicemen.

The Committee has already questioned the third president of Armenia,  Serzh Sargsyan, former Minister of Defense Seyran Ohanyan, former  Minister of Defense of Artsakh Levon Mnatsakanyan, head of the  General Staff of the Armed Forces of Armenia Artak Davtyan, while  former chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Armenia Yuri  Khachaturov refused to attend the meeting of the committee.

Construction of a new solar farm began in the Saravan region

Parkev Tvankchian
Panorama, Armenia
May 7 2020

On May 6, construction officially began on the “Areg Energia” solar farm in the Saravan region of Vayots Dzor, the Office of the High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs  reported. The High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs Zareh Sinanyan, Vayots Dzor Regional Governor Ararat Grigoryan, Honorary Consul of Cyprus in Armenia Armen Khachatryan, Diaspora Armenian businessman, co-investor Ashot Mkrtchyan and others were present at the groundbreaking ceremony. The idea for the investment arose ten months ago when well-known local Armenian businessmen from Cyprus, David and Alexander Petrosyan and Ashot Mkrtchyan met with High Commissioner  Sinanyan and became inspired by the changes in Armenia. After which they came to the homeland, studied the legislative and investment fields, and began to implement the idea.

As the source said, the $ 9 million solar farm situated on a 36-acre plot of land in Saravan, at an altitude of 1,720 meters above sea level, will be completed in a year’s time.

High Commissioner Sinanyan highlighted the investment policy adopted by the Armenian Government and the fact that investors are able to earn a significant profit in Armenia. The Office of the High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs is always ready to support Diaspora investors and any problems they may encounter. 

Co-investor, Ashot Mkrtchyan noted that they have turned their attention to the homeland and if successful, investments will be made in other spheres as well. In a video message, representative of the Armenian community in the Cypriot House of Representatives, MP Vardges Mahdesyan expressed his confidence that the experience of the Republic of Cyprus in the field of solar energy will greatly contribute to the success of the investment. According to the Cypriot-Armenian MP, this initiative will promote the development of Armenia-Cyprus relations, strengthen homeland-Diaspora ties, and contribute to the development of Armenia’s economy.

Cypriot-Armenian businessman and co-investor David Petrosyan praised the activities of the Office of the High Commissioner and the role of Zareh Sinanyan in making the investment possible. According to the businessman, this initiative is especially valuable in terms of ensuring Armenia’s energy security.

Canada fully supports and the peaceful resolution of the conflict and the OSCE Minsk Group process – Foreign Affairs Minister

Albert Nalbandian
Panorama, Armenia
May 7 2020

In a letter addressed to the Armenian National Committee of Canada (ANCC) on May 4th, Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Hon. François-Philippe Champagne clarified Canada’s position on Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), reported the ANCC.

Contrary to the diplomatically irresponsible and one-sided tweet published by the Canadian Embassy in Ankara, following the General Election held in the Republic of Artsakh on March 31st, Minister Champagne clearly stated that Canada fully supports the OSCE Minsk Group Process, the peaceful resolution of the conflict and the principle of self-determination – amongst others – as outlined in the Helsinki Final Act.

“While I regret any concern that this tweet may have caused the Armenian National Committee of Canada and the Canadian-Armenian community, I would like to reassure you that there has not been any change to our long-standing position on Nagorno-Karabakh” said the minister in his letter.

“We are satisfied to see that the Minister has restored the balance vis-à-vis Canada’s position on this issue of paramount importance to Armenian-Canadians, effectively overriding the lopsided and foreign-influenced tweet published by the embassy in Ankara” said Hrag Tarakdjian and Shahen Mirakian, co-presidents of the ANCC.

“The position of Canada remains based on our strong and consistent support for the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group’s work toward a negotiated solution, and our position does not prejudge the outcome of this process. Canada agrees with the Minsk Group that there can be no military solution to the conflict and that any resolution must take into account the Helsinki Final Act. We want peaceful societies, and we will support the solution, when achieved.” Concluded the minister in his letter addressed to the ANCC.

“There is still a lot more that needs to be done on this issue and the ANCC will continue to stand at the forefront and work with our government to ensure that the fundamental human rights of the people of Artsakh are protected and upheld” concluded Tarakdjian and Mirakian.

The source reminds, that on April 3rd, the ANCC forwarded a letter to Minister Champagne, raising serious concerns regarding the tweet, asking for its retraction and for the Minister to recall the ambassador for his irresponsibility and inability to uphold Canada’s balanced foreign policy.

Mystery surrounding family of former Armenian ‘super-minister’

Anna Tamamian
JAM News
May 6 2020
 
 
 
 
06.05.2020
 
JAMnews, Yerevan
 
Businessman Gurgen Khachatryan, chairman of the Board of Directors at the telecommunications company Ucom, and also co-founder of the Galaxy group, has gone on the run after becoming the central figure of a criminal investigation in Armenia.
 
The authorities accuse Khachatryan of abusing his position of power and embezzling an especially large sum of money.
 
It is still unknown exactly what section of the law he is being charged under. But it’s already clear that the charge against Gurgen Khachatryan is connected with the activities of his father, former Minister of Finance and head of the State Revenue Committee Gagik Khachatryan.
 
According to the investigation, Gagik Khachatryan’s sons created a company that won public tenders for information technology services with practically no competition, as they were helped by the structures headed by their father.
 
Gagik Khachatryan himself was arrested on charges of abuse of power and embezzlement on an especially large scale.
 
Now both father and son are accused of embezzling $3,000,000 in budgetary funds and of receiving a bribe in the amount of $22,000,000.
 
Gurgen Khachatryan says that the authorities are just trying to confiscate his Ucom shares.
 
Before he went into hiding, Gurgen Khachatryan publicly stated that the persecution was unlawful and said that he was being pressured “at the state level”.
 
On May 3, the court decided to arrest Khachatryan. But the court’s decision has not yet been implemented, as soon after, the defendant disappeared. The National Security Service of Armenia let him slip away.
 
Details on the accusations
 
On May 4, the National Security Service put Gurgen Khachatryan on the wanted list.
 
The report on the case gives specific figures of the damage caused to the state by the Khachatryan family.
 
Over the course of 12 years, from 2008 to 2020, the company entered into many profitable contracts.
 
In particular, as is stated in the National Security Service, the company purchased 19 “software modules at high prices.”
 
They cost the state 4,283,580,000 drams (about $8,000,000). Investigators say the real value was 2,777,410,417 drams ($ 4,500,000).
 
Investigators believe that the 1,506,169,583-dram discrepancy ($3,000,000) went straight into the pockets of the official’s sons.
 
To hide the source of the money and to launder it, the entire amount was cashed and transferred to Ucom through a third party.
 
In 2011, $22,400,000 was transferred to the account associated with the Khachatryans, and to conceal the transaction, the amount was written off as two loan agreements.
 
Khachatryan’s lawyers insist that these were indeed loans, that their term has not yet expired, and that the amount is subject to repayment.
 
The role of the Ucom company
 
Gurgen Khachatryan and his family own the majority of the shares in this telecom company.
 
On April 10, the founders of Ucom, brothers Hayk and Alexander Yesayan, voiced their disagreement with the development strategy pursued by other shareholders. This referred mostly to the Khachatryan family, although the company also has other shareholders with a smaller percentage of the shares.
 
The Yesayan Brothers themselves own only 6% of the shares. They tried to buy back the other 94% of the shares in order to gain control of the company. Having been refused, both resigned from their management positions within the company.
 
After some time, Gurgen Khachatryan stated that people were trying to take the company away from him and threatening to arrest him, and demanded that international organizations to look into his case:
 
“I was told very clearly that if I do not agree, they will accuse me of committing a particularly serious crime and arrest me. And then they will do the same to by my brother, other family members, relatives and loved ones.”
 
Gurgen Khachatryan did not specify who exactly was giving these threats.
 
However, a spokesman for the prime minister responded to his statement immediately.
 
On her Facebook page, Mane Gevorgyan wrote that the Khachatryan family had previously expressed their willingness to return the stolen funds.
 
“Gagik Khachatryan and his sons led the corrupt mafia system operating in Armenia for many years, as a result of which they illegally accumulated several hundred million dollars in state funds,” wrote Gevorgyan.
 
She says that because of this, if Gurgen Khachatryan sells his shares, the government believes that he should transfer the entire sum to the state budget of Armenia as compensation for the damage caused to the state during the years of his father’s work.
 
Where could Gurgen Khachatryan be hiding?
 
Khachatryan’s lawyers say that they do not know where Gurgen Khachatryan has hidden. At the moment, leaving Armenia is no simple task, as the borders were closed after the state of emergency was declared due to the coronavirus.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Sports: Discovering young talents: Barca Academy Moscow’s Armenian ex-pupil

Parkev Tvankchian
News.am, Armenia
May 7 2020

By Samvel Sukiasyan

NEWS.am Sport continues presenting the young Armenian football players who play abroad, but dream of playing for the Armenian national team one day.

Midfielder Arman Manukyan, 12, who spent several years at Barca Academy Moscow, plays for the Chertanovo football academy of Russia.

“Arman was born in Moscow, started playing football at the age of 6,” his father, Hayk Manukyan, told NEWS.am Sport. “My son started his [football] career at the Lider club in 2014, and a year later he was named the best midfielder of the Megasphere Autumn Cup tournament.

In 2016, Arman trained at the Yerevan Football Academy.

In 2017, he moved to Barca Academy Moscow, where he played under Jordi Gratacos. Arman has participated in a number of international tournaments—in Dubai, Valencia. His assist at the Audi Cup tournament was recognized as the best.

In the summer of 2018, my son participated in the Summer Cup Armenia tournament.

In April of last year, Arman participated in the Barca Academy International Tournament in Catalonia as part of Barca Academy Moscow, in which Karen’s team took the 5th place among 52 teams.

Then Arman moved to the Chertanovo Academy, where he plays in the position of a playmaker.

My son, who will turn 13 this month, is looking forward to an invitation from the national youth team of Armenia; it will be a great honor for our family.”


Chess: Nations Cup: Armenia’s Aronian becomes hero of the day with two wins

Ani Basmajian
Panorama, Armenia
May 7 2020

Armenian GM Levon Aronian became the hero of the day scoring 2 out of 2 with wins over Vidit Gujrathi from India and Leinier Dominguez from Cuba in the 3rd and 4th rounds of the FIDE Chess.com Online Nations Cup.

China continues to dominate the field. However, in round 3 they were on a verge of losing against Russia after Artemiev defeated Wei Yi in mere 25 moves. Ding Liren saved the day winning against Nepomniachtchi to level the score. In round 4 the rating favorite convincingly defeated India and are leading the event by two match points, FIDE reported.

The rough start continues for team India. They lost both matches and sit in the cellar of the tournament table. Europe, on the contrary, bounced back winning both matches, most importantly against the US team in round 4 which helped them climb to the shared second spot.

The FIDE Nations Cup is being played on May 5-10. Six teams – Europe, Russia, India, China, USA, and the Rest of the World – play an online rapid team competition featuring some of the world’s leading chess players.

Aronian plays for the European team together with Garry Kasparov, Anish Giri, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Anna Muzychuk, Jan-Krzysztof Duda and Nana Dzagnidze.

The Superfinal is played on May 10.