Category: 2021

Turkey, Azerbaijan Begin Joint Military Drills in Kars

Kajoyan Gevork

February 2,  2021



Turkish and Azeri forces began “Winter 2021″ joint military drills in Kars on Feb.1

Turkey and Azerbaijan kicked off what they are calling “Winter 2021” joint military drills in Kars, bordering Armenia.

The exercises that began on Monday will run through February 12, and according to the Turkish Defense Ministry, they are intended to ensure combat coordination and capabilities under winter conditions.

Reportedly, Moscow is closely following the military drills with some pro-government Russian media outlets expressing concerns about the drills being held so close to Armenia’s border.

On Saturday, a joint Russian and Turkish ceasefire monitoring station opened in Aghdam, with leaders from Azerbaijan, Turkey and Russia in attendance for its inauguration.

The Turkish Defense Ministry posted a video on Twitter showing two combat helicopters saluting the Turkish flag above Kars.

Turkey and Azerbaijan held similar military drills in the summer in Azerbaijan. At the time Turkey left behind some of its prized military equipment, including Bayrakdar drone, which were late used to attack Artsakh positions by Azerbaijan.

WATCH: Portantino Says Calif. Should Begin Divesting from Turkey

Emil Karabekian

February 2,  2021



[See Video]

California State Senator Anthony Portantino, in an interview with Asbarez Editor Ara Khachatourian on Tuesday said, California should begin the process of divesting from Turkey.

The remark was in response to a question regarding legislation passed by both houses of the California legislature and signed by the governor, calling on the state to divest from Turkey.

Portantino, who has visited Artsakh on several occasions, also said that the State of California must continuously reaffirm Artsakh’s right to self-determination, since the state was one of the first to recognize Artsakh independence.

The senator also discussed several measures to assist California residents as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to ravage the state. He discussed renter and landlord relief efforts, opportunities for small business loan. Portantino emphasized the need for comprehensive mental health education in the schools, highlighting the toll the pandemic has taken on especially younger Californians who have had to learn remotely and limit their interactions under the state stay at home mandates.

Portantino also discussed the Assembly District Election Meetings, commonly know as the ADEMs, which provide registered democrats an opportunity to run for seats in the California State Democratic Party structure. He explained that the elections allow grassroots activists to become part of the state party’s decision-making process. The deadline to turn in ballots for the elections is Wednesday, February 3.

Asbarez: South Australia Recognizes Artsakh, Condemns Azerbaijan and Turkey

Talar Tumanian

February 2,  2021



South Australia recognizes Artsakh

ADELAIDE, Australia—South Australia became the second state in Australia to recognize the rights to self-determination of the Republic of Artsakh, condemning Azerbaijan and Turkey for their invasion of the country’s indigenous Armenians in a motion passed with a vote in the House of Assembly, reported the Armenian National Committee of Australia.

The motion follows one passed by the New South Wales Parliament’s Legislative Assembly in October 2020, and similarly “calls on the Federal Government to also recognize the Republic of Artsakh as the only permanent solution to the conflict to avoid further attempts of such military aggression”.

Member of Parliament Tom Koustantonis moved the historic motion, which also called out “the actions of President Erdogan of Turkey and President Aliyev of Azerbaijan in their pursuit of a policy of Pan-Turkish nationalism, which has previously led to genocide and which now threatens the Armenian population of Artsakh with ethnic cleansing”.

The House of Assembly considered a proposal to “adjourn the debate”, however this was defeated by the casting vote of the Speaker. The debate resumed and resulted in a vote – without dissent – in favor of the motion.

ANC-AU Executive Director Haig Kayserian thanked the Armenian Cultural Association of South Australia for its grassroots advocacy.

“We were proud to support members of Adelaide’s dedicated Armenian community for their tireless efforts on the ground, which have ensured South Australia’s parliament has joined a growing number of legislatures around the world supporting the legitimate rights to self-determination of the Republic of Artsakh,” said Kayserian.

“Mr. Emil Davityan and the President of the Armenian Cultural Association of South Australia are a credit to the greater Armenian-Australian community and were a pleasure to work with to achieving this wonderful outcome for our heroic brothers and sisters of the Armenian Republic of Artsakh,” he added.

“We thank Mr. Tom Koustantonis and Ms. Jayne Stinson for championing this motion and extend our gratitude to all parliamentarians who supported its passage in the name of human rights,” said Emil Davityan.

“South Australia’s Armenian community wanted to play its part in supporting the people of Artsakh, bringing attention to the critical humanitarian issues in the region and contributing to an enduring and peaceful settlement to the conflict. The community thanks all who supported it in its endeavors.”

The Motion in full reads as follows:

That this House:

(1)Notes the actions and belligerence of Azerbaijan towards the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Artsakh in commencing military action on 27 September 2020.

(2)Notes the serious concerns that have been raised from Armenian-Australians regarding the existential threat to the indigenous Armenian population of the Republic of Artsakh by this military action, and in any attempts by Azerbaijan to prevent the peaceful resettlement of the indigenous Armenian population following agreement to a provisional ceasefire on 9 November 2020.

(3) Notes the serious concerns raised by Armenian-Australians and independent international organizations regarding the risk of Azerbaijan destroying sites of global cultural and historical significance.

(4)Condemns the actions of President Erdogan of Turkey and President Aliyev of Azerbaijan in their pursuit of a policy of Pan-Turkish nationalism, which has previously led to genocide and which now threatens the Armenian population of Artsakh with ethnic cleansing.

(5)Calls on the Federal Government to condemn these attacks and advocate its support for the safety and security of the Republic of Armenia and Artsakh.

(6)Recognize the right to self-determination of all peoples including those of the Republic of Artsakh and calls on the Federal Government to also recognise the Republic of Artsakh as the only permanent solution to the conflict to avoid further attempts of such military aggression.

Artsakh Foreign Ministry calls on all countries to be ‘extremely’ careful in their statements on NK conflict

Emil Lazarian
Panorama, Armenia
Feb 2 2021

The Foreign Ministry of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) on Tuesday issued a statement, calling on all countries and organizations to be “extremely” careful and correct in their statements on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The statement reads: 

“Recently, we have witnessed an information campaign by Azerbaijan, which, in an effort to demonstrate alleged international support for the Turkish-Azerbaijani armed aggression against Artsakh, disseminates messages about congratulations by representatives of some international organizations and political circles of a number of countries on the “liberation” of the so-called “occupied” territories by Azerbaijan.

Leaving aside the question of the credibility of these statements, we nevertheless consider it necessary to note once again that the armed aggression unleashed in September 2020 by Azerbaijan with the support of Turkey and with the participation of international terrorists against the Republic of Artsakh has led to numerous sufferings: thousands of innocent citizens of Armenian nationality were killed and injured, hundreds are missing, are now in captivity, have become hostages, have been subjected to torture, inhuman and degrading treatment, and the Armenian cultural heritage is being destroyed.

We call on all countries and organizations to be extremely careful and correct in their statements on the Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict, to avoid statements that may negatively affect the international efforts for the comprehensive settlement of the conflict, maintenance of peace and stability in the region, as well as hurt the feelings of thousands of people.

Diplomatic etiquette cannot and should not serve as a basis for statements that can be considered in the context of legitimizing and consolidating the occupation of the territories of the Republic of Artsakh and justifying internationally wrongful acts.”

176 lawsuits filed against media and reporters in Armenia in past two years – CPFE

Maghakian Mike
Panorama, Armenia
Feb 2 2021

In July-December 2020, a total of 176 lawsuits related to the media and journalists were filed with the courts in Armenia, of which 94 were submitted in 2019 and 82 in 2020. Out of those 176 lawsuits, 127 were accepted for proceedings (68 in 2019, 59 in 2020), the Committee to Protect Freedom of _expression_ (CPFE) said on Tuesday, presenting the results of its monitoring.

In the past two years, the CPFE, with the support of Justice for Journalists international organization, monitored court cases involving media outlets and journalists. The course of the examination of those cases, the arguments and the legal reasoning presented by the parties, the content of the judicial acts, as well as some statistical data were studied and analyzed.

The need for this monitoring was conditioned by the fact that 2019 was unprecedented in terms of the number of lawsuits against journalists and media outlets, and this trend continued in 2020, which caused serious concerns in the media. In addition, in the conditions of deep judicial crisis in the post-revolutionary period, such a study acquires a higher degree of topicality, the committee said.

This study was conducted to find out to what extent courts comply with the Armenian legislation, international legal acts, the rulings of the Constitutional Court of Armenia, the Court of Cassation and the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), whether the courts apply the same approaches in their practice and whether judicial acts take into account the role of the media and journalists in a democratic society.

During the monitoring exercise, the cases on which at least one or more judicial acts were adopted were subjected to expert analysis. Hence, the total number of such case amounted to 21. It should be noted that the judgments on 12 cases entered into force, that is, the disputes were resolved, and in 9 cases more than one act was passed, but the court proceedings are still in progress.

Out of the remaining 106 cases, 5 (3 cases in 2019, 2 cases in 2020) were dismissed because the plaintiff withdrew the claims, in 2 cases a conciliation agreement was signed between the parties (both in 2019), and in 5 cases, the lawsuit was left without examination, on the grounds that one of the parties did not appear in two consecutive sessions (4 in 2019, 1 in 2020). As for the remaining 94 cases no judicial act was adopted as of December 31, 2020.

Based on the results of the monitoring, the CPFE has come up with legislative proposals.

Armenian opposition movement to hold rally outside parliament on Wednesday

Emil Lazarian
Panorama, Armenia
Feb 2 2021

The opposition Homeland Salvation Movement has announced that it will hold a rally outside the Armenian parliament building on Wednesday, February 3.

“The [ruling] My Step bloc of the National Assembly, led by the government and its traitor leader, continues its anti-national and anti-state activities.

“A special sitting of the National Assembly will be convened on February 3 at the initiative of the government, with anti-state bills on the agenda,” the coalition of 17 opposition parties said in a statement on Tuesday.

“We call on citizens to gather at the entrance to the National Assembly on Karen Demirchyan Street on February 3, at 10am, to raise our voices in protest against the anti-national activities of the ruling bloc,” the statement reads.

Artsakh releases names of 116 more fallen troops

Arpi Talalian
Panorama, Armenia
Feb 2 2021

The Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) Defense Ministry on Tuesday, February 2, released the names of 116 more Armenian servicemen killed repelling Azerbaijani attacks during the 2020 war.

Grigoryan Arthur Vardan, born in 1985
Reservist Martirosyan Arthur Aleksey, born in 1971
Reservist Beklaryan Aram Rafayel, born in 1969
Avetisyan Levon Misak, born in 1995
Khachatryan Armen Avetis, born in 1997
Harutyunyan Masis Arthur, born in 1996
Mheryan Volodya Sanasar, born in 1997
Mesropyan Narek Armen, born in 1989
Ghazaryan Ashot Serzhik, born in 1974
Sargsyan Sergey Melik, born in 1982
Sargsyan Ivan Suren, born in 1985
Abaghyan Arayik Nikolay, born in 1987
Gevorgyan Erik Armen, born in 1997
Nazaryan Davit Raphael, born in1985
Alaverdyan Arthur Ararat, born in 1992
Poghosyan Gagik Daniel, born in 1995
Manukyan Garik Sargis, born in 1994
Saghatelyan Aleksan Harutyun, born in 1996
Reservist Gasparyan Rustam Rafik, born in 1961
Reservist Gevorgyan Armen Ashot, born in 1970
Reservist Margaryan Asri Arthur, born in 1997
Gevorgyan Suren Karen, born in 1997
Sargsyan Erik Armen, born in 1998
Muradyan Eduard Armen, born in 2001
Sahakyan Narek Karen, born in 2001
Grigoryan Davit Armen, born in 1997
Reservist Hakobyan Hakob Rafayel, born in 1992
Volunteer Kolozyan Zhirayr Zhora, born in 1961
Volunteer Hovakimyan Samvel Arthur, born in 1997
Volunteer Ghukasyan Vruyr Radik, born in 1976
Volunteer Margaryan Grisha Lukashin, born in 1956
Volunteer Stepanyan Harutyun Kamo, born in 1974
Volunteer Mnatsakanyan Sevak Bakhshi, born in 1988
Volunteer Harutyunyan Arthur Armen, born in 1979
Volunteer Avagyan Tigran Armen, born in 1991
Volunteer Karapetyan Vakhtang Boris, born in 1974
Arutyunov Henry Artem, born in 2000
Simonyan Aram Seyran, born in 2001
Abrahamyan Gagik Arthur, born in 2001
Mehrabyan Aren Mher, born in 1997
Lemeshko Grigor Igor, born in 2001
Petrosyan Sipan Radik, born in 2001
Baghumyan Edgar Vrezh, born in 2002
Khanamiryan Hunan Marat, born in 1988
Malkhasyan Arman Vagharmen, born in 2000
Khunoyan Aghasi Aramayis, born in 2001
Shakaryan Narek Arturik, born in 2002
Martirosyan Vrezh Mukuch, born in 2000
Muradyan Aram Varuzhan, born in 2002
Khachatryan Armenak Bagrat, born in 2001
Knyazyan Artush Yeghishe, born in 2001
Mirzoyan Arthur Aramayis, born in 2000
Petrosyan Ashot Eduard, born in 1997
Poghosyan Rustam Ishkhan, born in 1995
Nersisyan Nerses Arturik, born in 2000
Hovakimyan Radik Vruyr, born in 2000
Kartashyan Hakob Arthur, born in 1999
Grigoryan Hayk Aren, born in 2001
Stepanyan Hrachya Gagik, born in 1983
Levonyan Levon Karen, born in 2000
Sukiasyan Arthur Gagik, born in 2001
Zhamharyan Arthur Vardan, born in 1996
Zalinyan Arthur Seyran, born in 1993
Volunteer Petrosyan Levon Ruben, born in 1991
Khachiyan Hovhannes Arthur, born in 1988
Hayrapetyan Artashes Garnik, born in 2001
Manasaryan Gevorg Davit, born in 2001
Yeghiazaryan Vigen Arsen, born in 2001
Arshakyan Tigran Khachik, born in 2000
Matinyan Samvel Hamlet, born in 1996
Khachatryan Lyova Shiraz, born in 1991
Simonyan Hovik Khachatur, born in 1986
Margaryan Garik Levon, born in 1993
Nersesyan Armen Yuri, born in 1975
Davidyan Hovhannes Vladik, born in 1994
Musaelyan Vyacheslav Roman, born in 1988
Avetisyan Torgom Zinavar, born in 2002
Petrosyan Karen Yurik, born in 2000
Badalyan Hamlet Gagik, born in 2001
Khachatryan Arsen Sevak, born in 2002
Mkrtchyan Zaven Vachik, born in 2000
Grigoryan Hayk Gagik, born in 1998
Tsatryan Aramayis Gagik, born in 1987
Mahroyan Arthur Mamikon, born in 1998
Grigoryan Arthur Arman, born in 2001
Aleksanyan Vahe Vazgen, born in 2001
Reservist Hovhannisyan Azat Arsen, born in 1996
Ktryan Zhora Samvel, born in 1996
Sargsyan Artak Serob, born in 2001
Khachatryan Khachatur Harut, born in 2001
Reservist Ghukasyan Tigran Lentrush, born in 1974
Volunteer Yesayan Paruyr Aramayis, born in 1972
Volunteer Satunts Tigran Martun, born in 1963
Volunteer Garakyan Seyran Grisha, born in 1973
Martirosyan Artashes Arman, born in 2002
Barseghyan Vrezh Frantz, born in 1973
Muradyan Henrik Arthur, born in 2001
Margaryan Edgar Vyacheslav, born in 2001
Davtyan Arman Mher, born in 2002
Melikbekyan Suren Vardan, born in 1998
Aloyan Azat Karen, born in 2001
Harutyunyan Andranik Henrikh, born in 1969
Hakobyan Davit Arthur, born in 2001
Harutyunyan Khachik Hrant, born in 1994
Movsesyan Gevorg Tigran, born in 1998
Vardanyan Karen Vahagn, born in 2001
Reservist Amirbaryan Arthur Vyacheslav, born in 1972
Karapetyan Samvel Armen, born in 2000
Karapetyan Artyom Abraham, born in 1977
Nazaretyan Arman Vakhtang, born in 2001
Tamoyan Samvel Tamo, born in 2001
Hovhannisyan Tigran Hrachya, born in 1981
Aharonyan Aleksander Valeri, born in 2000
Stepanyan Zaven Hovik, born in 2001
Reservist Ghevondyan Ghevond Armen, born in 1992
Reservist Muradyan Vagharshak Sargis, born in 1989

Ombudsman: Azeri military puts up "Welcome to Azerbaijan" sign on Armenia road

Chmshkian Vicken
News.am, Armenia
Feb 2 2021
(PHOTOS)
14:02, 02.02.2021

Azerbaijani authorities continue to violate the internationally recognized rights of the border residents of Armenia; the Office of the Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Armenia (RA) has noted this in a statement.

“In particular, the Azerbaijani military have placed a sign reading ‘Welcome to Azerbaijan’ in Azerbaijani and English, as well as Azerbaijani flags on the inter-community road leading from Armenia’s Kapan city to Chakaten and a number of other villages; that is, connecting peaceful settlements.

Therefore, it is obvious that the mentioned steps of the Azerbaijani military were taken in a way that violates the rights of the residents of the RA border settlements, openly intimidating them (first of all, children, women).

This situation cannot contribute to peace in the region in any way, it only causes tension, violates the internationally recognized rights and interests of civilians, guaranteed by the RA Constitution.

Reports on these facts will be sent to international organizations—including the OSCE, the UN, the CoE [(Council of Europe)] (with the necessary evidence),” the statement message also reads in particular.

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan’s office calls on supporters not to protest outside court

Khondkarian Raffi
News.am, Armenia
Feb 2 2021
Armenia ex-President Kocharyan’s office calls on supporters not to protest outside court
10:40, 02.02.2021

It is again Tuesday, and another court session on the case of Armenia’s second President Robert Kocharyan and several other former senior officials will take place today.

Will Kocharyan attend this court hearing? And is another demonstration by his supporters expected outside the court?

Yerevan.Today asked these questions to Bagrat Mikoyan, the coordinator of the office of the second president.

“Yes, the President will attend the session, but we ask all our friends and teammates not to hold a protest in front of the court building. I believe that this trial being a farce is a long-proven fact, and [therefore] there is no need to endanger the health in this cold weather to record it once again,” Mikoyan said.

Armenian arms dealer "Patron Davit" arrested after court upholds National Security Service’s motion

Alex Jidarian
News.am, Armenia
Feb 2 2021
Armenian arms dealer “Patron Davit” arrested after court upholds National Security Service’s motion
16:07, 02.02.2021

The Yerevan court of general jurisdiction today upheld the motion of the National Security Service of Armenia to arrest Davit Galstyan (a.k.a. Patron Davit), who is an arms dealer and a monopolist businessman in Armenia, Galstyan’s attorney Armen Harutyunyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Earlier, the National Security Service had issued an official press release stating that arms dealer, businessman Davit Galstyan had been apprehended and taken to the Investigation Department of the National Security Service on suspicion of embezzlement of particularly large amounts of money.

Galstyan is charged with embezzlement in particularly large amounts under the criminal case instituted and being investigated by the Investigation Department of the National Security Service.