Category: 2021

Over the past two months, Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region’s Professional Network hosted several virtual events to raise funds for Artsakh, as part of its “Strength in Numbers” Initiative. The events drew in young professionals who participated in these events, while simultaneously assisting those organizations that are doing humanitarian work in Artsakh.

“The ANCA Professional Network has directed its focus on the humanitarian crisis that has unfolded in the homeland,” remarked Alina Sarkissian, Co-Chair of the ANCA-PN. “By contributing to long-lasting relief for the families displaced by the war, we aim to showcase effective ways for professionals in the United States to create a positive impact on those who have suffered the heaviest consequences of this war,” she continued.

The first event, an Online Virtual Concert, took place on December 10, featuring up-and-coming musical talents, Yeva and Vazgen Barsegian. The repertoire included modern renditions of Armenian classics and folk music, which filled the hearts of the attendees. During the event, Dickran Khodanian, previous ANCA-WR Communications Director also reported his experiences from the homeland. ANCA-PN donated $1,500 from this event to Armenian Relief Society’s Amanor Program, aimed at providing Christmas toys to children from Artsakh during the holiday season.

A week later, the ANCA-PN organized a Trivia Night. The competition pitted 10 groups against each other and revealed the participants’ depth of knowledge. The night quickly turned to a lively contest, where groups were competing to answer a series of questions about Artsakh’s history and culture. By the end of the night, a group ascended to the top, claiming their rightful place as the champions of the trivia night. ANCA-PN donated $1,650 from this event to Project Hope Armenia for its ongoing projects in Artsakh.

After a short Christmas Break, ANCA-PN launched a 3-week event series that focused on wellness and mindfulness. The series titled “Mindfulness Saturdays,” featured a yoga session with Mary-Rita Sarkissian, a fitness work-out session with Lara Bedrossian, and meditation and sound bath with Seta Avedissian and Torkom Ji. A total of $825 from these events was donated to the Armenian Wounded Heroes Fund to assist with the rehabilitation and physical recovery needs of wounded soldiers.

To stay up to date with ANCA-PN’s upcoming events, you can follow their facebook or instagram pages.

YEREVAN (Azatutyun.am)—Opposition leaders accused the Armenian parliament of undermining judicial independence on Wednesday as it approved a government proposal to hire new judges who will deal only with corruption cases or pre-trial arrests of criminal suspects.

A relevant bill drafted by the Ministry of Justice calls for the selection of up to 21 such judges for Armenian courts of first instance. Three other new judges specializing in arrests or corruption-related offenses would be appointed to the Court of Appeals.

Government officials have said that the new judges would reduce the workload of courts increasingly overwhelmed by pending criminal and civil cases. According to Justice Minister Rustam Badasyan, they should also hand down “more objective” rulings on arrest warrants demanded by investigators.

In recent months Armenian judges have refused to allow law-enforcement bodies to arrest dozens of opposition leaders and members as well as other anti-government activists. Virtually all of those individuals are prosecuted in connection with angry protests sparked by the Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s handling of the autumn war in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Pashinyan charged in December that Armenia’s judicial system has become part of a “pseudo-elite” which is trying to topple him after the disastrous war.

The National Assembly passed the government bill in the first reading by 83 votes to 17 with one abstention. Both opposition parties represented in the parliament rejected the bill, saying that the authorities should address instead the far more pressing security challenges facing Armenia and Karabakh.

“These issues are not addressed because the authorities have what they see as a much more important agenda: how to increase the number of judges approving arrest warrants,” said Naira Zohrabyan of the opposition Prosperous Armenia Party.

Lilit Makunts, the parliamentary leader of Pashinyan’s My Step bloc, rejected the criticism. “I want to remind that the government takes on a weekly basis new measures to overcome consequences of the war,” she said. “We do not contribute to a better [security] environment by delivering fiery speeches here and trying to spread alarm among our citizens.”

Several other opposition groups denounced the government bill in stronger terms and rallied hundreds of supporters outside the parliament compound in Yerevan in a bid to scuttle its passage. Their senior members claimed that Pashinyan’s administration wants to install loyal judges who would duly allow the pre-trial arrests of their political opponents.

The protesters scuffled with riot police after blocking a major street adjacent to the compound. Several opposition activists were detained on the spot.

The crowd then marched to the main government building surrounded by several rows of riot police.

The National Salvation Movement staged another demonstration in front of Armenia’s parliament complex on Tuesday protesting a number of bills being debated in parliament that would drastically alter the country’s judiciary in favor of the ruling My Step bloc.

“Remember the changes the government was enacting around this time last year,” said Armenian Revolutionary Federation member and head of the news division of Yerkir Media Gegham Manukyan. “While ignoring all the problems in the country, they wanted to form a Constitutional Court that was to their liking. And now they are doing the same thing: ignoring all the problems, they are busy with something else. That is why this protest is taking place․”

In an emergency session that began at around 11 a.m. local time and lasted to the evening hours, the Armenian parliament’s ruling My Step faction unilaterally voted to alter the make up of Armenia’s courts, by deciding to appoint judges who they claimed would be neutral. The parliamentary opposition took part in the debate but voted against the measures.

Some of the protesters also complained about the recent rhetoric by My Step faction lawmakers, which they likened to “pro-Azerbaijani” statements.

Kristine Vardanyan, a member of the ARF Youth Organization of Armenia Central Executive, said that she and other supporters of the National Salvation Movement wanted to strip those lawmakers who have made recent statements that call into question the Armenian origins of Shushi and Hadrut.

“We are only in favor of depriving such deputies of their mandate, despite the fact that the country has more important problems,” said Vardanyan. “They are killing our dream. They are killing our efforts to reclaim what we have lost.”

The parliament building was surrounded by a large number of police and other law enforcement officials.

The protesters marched to Republic Square, where they were also met by a large number of law enforcement, including officers of the special services.

While at parliament, Armenian special security forces detained Manukyan, as well as ARF Youth Organization Central Executive members Hovhannes Stepanyan, Gor Sargsyan and ARF “Nikol Aghbalyan” student union member Taron Manukyan and others.

On Tuesday evening leaders of the National Salvation Movemenet, Homeland Party chairman Artur Vanetsyan, ARF Supreme Council of Armenia chair Ishkhan Saghatelyan, Prosperous Armenia Party leader Gagik Tsarukyan and the movement’s candidate for prime minister Vazgen Manukyan met with former presidents Serzh Sarkisian and Robert Kocharian.

Saghatelyan told 168.am that no specific changes to approach were discussed during the meeting with the two former presidents, adding the the National Salvation Movement plans to continue its protests and civil disobedience actions.

“We are going to continue out efforts with more vigor until we oust this evil—the government,” Saghatelyan told 168.am.

The ARF Supreme Council of Armenia chairman said that his party will take part in snap parliamentary elections only after Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s resignation and the installing of a temporary national accord government.

“No one is opposed to snap elections, but they cannot take place while Pashinyan is prime minister,” explained Saghatelyan, who also denied any suggestion that there were tensions among opposition forces making up the National Salvation Movement.

Kocharian and Vanetsyan have indicated that their parties would take part in snap elections called by Pashinyan, while Sarkisian has said his Republican Party of Armenia would boycott such elections.