Category: 2021

                                        Thursday, August 26, 2021
Armenian Parliament Approves Government’s Five-Year Action Plan
August 26, 2021
A session of the Armenian National Assembly, Yerevan, August 11, 2021.
After three days of acrimonious debate the Armenian National Assembly on 
Thursday approved the 2021-2026 action plan submitted by the government of Prime 
Minister Nikol Pashinian.
Only ruling Civil Contract faction members took part in the vote that went 70 to 
0 in favor of the program.
The two opposition factions, Hayastan and Pativ Unem, that harshly criticized 
Pashinian and his government’s action plan during the debate opted out of the 
vote.
Under the program presented in parliament by the prime minister the Armenian 
government, in particular, pledges to do its part in ensuring peace and 
stability in the region, raising the security and providing better economic 
conditions for citizens of Armenia.
According to Pashinian, ensuring the security, sovereignty and territorial 
integrity of Armenia, a fair solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh problem, and 
creating a favorable external environment around Armenia will remain priority 
tasks for his government.
Pashinian, in particular, pledged large-scale reforms in the army and active 
foreign policies to improve Armenia’s external security. As an important 
security factor, Pashinian singled out Armenia’s strategic alliance with Russia 
and the country’s membership in the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty 
Organization.
From the point of view of regional stability, he also noted the importance of 
continuing negotiations within the framework of the Organization for Security 
and Cooperation in Europe’s Minsk Group co-chaired by Russia, the United States 
and France aimed at determining the final status for Nagorno-Karabakh.
The Armenian leader said that opening up regional infrastructures will also be 
important for his government in the context of creating a stable regional 
environment in the wake of last year’s war in Nagorno-Karabakh, which Pashinian 
acknowledged has essentially changed Armenia’s external environment.
The Armenian premier stressed, however, that the process should not take place 
at the expense of the security and vital interests of Armenia and 
Nagorno-Karabakh.
Pashinian also said that the government program envisages the deployment of 
border troops instead of army units at some sections of the frontier and the 
establishment of a foreign intelligence service in the next five years.
In terms of the economy, Pashinian said that as part of the 2021-2026 action 
plan the minimum monthly salary in Armenia will be raised from the current 
68,000 drams ($138) to 85,000 drams ($172).
The Armenian government estimates that in 2021-2026 the average annual economic 
growth rate will be at the level of 7 percent. The plan envisages that it could 
be up to 9 percent a year “in case of favorable external conditions.”
The program envisages that by 2026 the level of poverty in the country will drop 
below 10 percent, while extreme poverty will be stamped out.
Pashinian said that Armenia will also continue to develop its infrastructure, 
including roads. In presenting the program to the government last week he said 
the European Union has made a package of 2.6 billion Euros (about $3 billion) 
available to Armenia in the next four years for that purpose. These projects, 
Pashinian said, will include the construction of a 60-kilometer-long road 
connecting the towns of Sisian and Kajaran in Armenia’s southern Syunik 
province, the construction of reservoirs and other infrastructure and education 
projects.
Pashinian said that 300 schools and 500 kindergartens will be built or renovated 
in Armenia in the next five years. He said that the government’s goal is also to 
equip all 1,400 schools across Armenia with engineering and natural science 
laboratories.
Pashinian also mentioned that every third and subsequent child in all families 
regardless of their social status will receive 50,000 drams (about $100) a month 
until the age of six.
In their speeches, representatives of the opposition continued to criticize 
Pashinian, claiming that he and his government mishandled last year’s war with 
Azerbaijan, the fight against the coronavirus and failed to ensure better living 
standards for people.
Opposition critics also claimed that Pashinian’s promise that Armenia will do 
its part to try to open “an era of peace” in the region is a prelude to “a new 
capitulation.”
Pashinian and members of the ruling party’s faction in parliament rejected the 
criticism.
The debate over the government’s action plan in parliament proceeded in a tense 
atmosphere, with three brawls breaking out between pro-government and opposition 
lawmakers.
Pashinian Says No Trilateral Document Signed On Disputed Road Section In Syunik
August 26, 2021
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian speaks at the National Assembly, August 
26, 2021
Armenia does not have a signed trilateral document on the 21-kilometer section 
of an interstate road in the southern Syunik province disputed with Azerbaijan, 
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian said in the National Assembly on Thursday.
His statement came amid reports that Azerbaijan closed the section late on 
August 25, interrupting traffic between two parts of the mountainous region.
Armenia’s National Security Service said negotiations with the Azerbaijani side, 
which were reportedly conducted by Russian border-guards deployed in the area, 
on the re-opening of the road which also provide interstate connection with Iran 
continued in the morning.
Pashinian reminded that still in his address on December 19, 2020 he spoke about 
problems related to the Goris-Kapan section and that a political decision had 
been made for which he was fully responsible.
He quoted an excerpt from his December address: “Today, Russian border troops 
and other forces are fully represented in Syunik. We are talking about the 
Goris-Vorotan-Shurnukh section, and this is a completely new security situation. 
Of course, as a result of all this, transport and logistical difficulties may 
arise, uninterrupted operation of some of our roads may become complicated, but 
these are solvable problems, we have made efforts in this direction, including 
through having a trilateral document.”
Pashinian reminded about accusations being made by the opposition that his 
government sought to sign some document “behind the people’s back.”
“Did we sign a trilateral document? No, we did not have a trilateral document,” 
he said.
Instead, according to Pashinian, the Defense Ministry announced an arrangement 
with the Russian military under which, in particular, Russian border-guards 
would be deployed at the Goris-David Bek section to ensure uninterrupted 
traffic, while Armenian and Azerbaijani border troops would be deployed on the 
opposite sides of the line of contact.”
“We did not provide information only about the sectors that could pose 
additional risks to our national security, also to avoid situations similar to 
one we have today,” Pashinian explained.
As for what happened last night on the Shurnukh section of the Goris-Kapan 
interstate road, Pashinian said: “We are talking about the 21-kilometer section, 
which was outside the territory of Soviet Armenia according to the maps of the 
Soviet Union. The Azeris came to those places and closed them, citing an 
incident in which an Azerbaijani border-guard was allegedly stabbed by people 
who came from the Armenian side. We officially say that the information about 
the stabbing does not correspond to the reality. We urge the Azerbaijani side to 
provide us with evidence of the incident so that we can understand what 
happened. But this [closing of the road] contradicts what is written in the 
Defense Ministry’s December 19, 2020 agreement that was reached between Armenia 
and Russia, by which that arrangement was confirmed. But no trilateral statement 
that I said was being prepared was eventually signed.”
At the same time, Pashinian rejected claims that part of Syunik is now 
disconnected from the rest of Armenia, noting that anticipating the situation 
the government has worked actively to provide an alternative route through what 
he described as a “normal dirt road” between Kapan and Aghvani, which he said is 
now being asphalted at a fast pace.
The State Border Service of Azerbaijan claimed on August 25 that two Armenian 
soldiers committed a stabbing attack against an Azerbaijani border-guard on the 
Goris-Kapan section of the road.
Armenia’s Defense Ministry on Thursday categorically denied that any such 
incident happened, describing Baku’s statement as a “sheer lie” and “another 
piece of Azerbaijani disinformation.”
Meanwhile, ethnic Armenian authorities in Nagorno-Karabakh today said that on 
August 25 a serviceman of Azerbaijan’s armed forces identified as Jamil Babayev 
was apprehended at an apartment in the Armenian-controlled town of Martakert. 
Officials in Stepanakert said the detained Azerbaijani soldier is suspected of 
planning to commit murders.
Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry said that Babayev, against whom a criminal case 
had been launched, left the psychiatric department of Ganja’s hospital without 
permission and presumably crossed into the Karabakh territory controlled by 
Russian peacekeepers.
Azerbaijan Blocks Major Road Connecting Two Parts Of Armenian Region
August 26, 2021
The Armenian flag flies over part of the border village of Shurnukh in the 
southern Syunik province (archive)
Azerbaijani soldiers have blocked a road, interrupting traffic between two parts 
of Armenia’s southern Syunik region, Armenia’s National Security Service (NSS) 
said on Thursday.
According to the NSS, the Karmrakar-Shurnukh section of the Goris-Kapan highway 
was closed at about 11:00 pm on August 25 while the vehicles from that section 
were evacuated.
The news about the closing of the road came shortly after a statement by 
Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry that claimed that two Armenian soldiers committed 
a stabbing attack against an Azerbaijani border-guard there.
Armenia’s Defense Ministry categorically denied that any such incident happened, 
describing the statement as a “sheer lie” and “another piece of Azerbaijani 
disinformation.”
The NSS, meanwhile, said that negotiations were underway to restore traffic 
along the road.
A 21-kilometer stretch of the road that links two Armenian towns, Goris and 
Kapan, and is also part of Armenia’s interstate connection with Iran was built 
in the Soviet times partly through the territory of Azerbaijan due to the 
complex terrain in the mountainous region.
It created no problems during the Soviet times when borders between Soviet 
republics were administrative.
After the disintegration of the Soviet Union and a 1992-1994 war in 
Nagorno-Karabakh the territory became fully controlled by ethnic Armenians who 
declared their independence from Baku in the former autonomous region and 
expanded into some territories outside Nagorno-Karabakh proper.
Azerbaijani forces regained the territory as a result of last fall’s 44-day war 
in Nagorno-Karabakh. Eventually, an arrangement was made between Armenia and 
Russia that the 21-kilometer section of the road will continue to be used by 
Armenians under the control of Russian border-guards before Armenia can build 
another alternative road for all types of transportation that will connect two 
parts of the Syunik region.
Meanwhile, Armenia’s Ombudsman Arman Tatoyan said that his office was receiving 
numerous calls from citizens complaining about the restriction of their travel.
“The presence of Azerbaijani servicemen on the roads between the communities of 
the Syunik region is a crime that violates the right of citizens to life, free 
movement and other vital rights guaranteed at the international level,” Tatoyan 
said.
Official Baku did not immediately react to the situation.
Negotiations with the Azerbaijani side on the re-opening of the road, which were 
reportedly conducted by Russian bodyguards deployed in the area, continued on 
Thursday morning.
Syunik’s deputy governor Narek Babayan told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service 
(Azatutyun) later on Thursday that the Goris-Vorotan section of the road was 
also closed. He said that negotiations on reopening both sections of the road 
were underway.
Amnesty For Citizens Accused Of Crimes Related To Military Service Discussed In 
Armenia
August 26, 2021
        • Naira Bulghadarian
Ethnic Armenian soldiers during last year’s 44-day war in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Authorities in Armenia plan to apply amnesty in regard to citizens accused of 
certain types of crimes and offenses related to last year’s war against 
Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh.
A relevant bill has been proposed by the Investigative Committee. It was 
published on a joint website of draft legal acts for public debate earlier this 
week.
The Committee said that the purpose of the measure is to show appreciation for 
the fact that citizens “stood by the armed forces” during the war.
“This shows a humanitarian approach to those who committed crimes connected with 
military service,” it said.
No exact official statistics is available yet to show how many people may be 
amnestied under the bill, but it is believed that it may concern scores or even 
hundreds.
More than 1,600 criminal cases were launched in Armenia in connection with the 
44-day war in Nagorno-Karabakh and the bulk of them concerns soldiers and 
officers who allegedly deserted, refused to perform their military duties or 
committed other crimes and offenses related to military service.
The draft says that amnestied will be citizens who are suspected, charged with 
or convicted for committing minor offenses or crimes of medium gravity both 
before September 27, 2020, when the war in Nagorno-Karabakh broke out, and 
during the period between the cessation of hostilities on November 9, 2020 and 
the lifting of martial law in Armenia on March 24, 2021.
While there is no large-scale public debate about the amnesty draft yet, early 
assessments by human rights activists appear positive.
One of them, Vardan Harutiunian, believes that among other things prisons should 
be unloaded in Armenia.
“It is not always imprisonment and punishment that corrects a person. Sometimes 
it is a social situation that changes people more,” he said.
The last time Armenia declared amnesty was in 2018. That amnesty that followed 
that year’s “velvet revolution” and was timed to the centennial of the 
establishment of the short-lived first Armenian republic concerned more than 
4,600 people.
“Any amnesty, any pardon is reconciliation in a broad sense. But we can speak 
more substantively on the current initiative when there is a finalized draft or 
an adopted law,” Harutiunian said.
Meanwhile, Norayr Norikian, a lawyer specializing in military cases, voiced 
concerns that such an act of amnesty may send a wrong message to society and 
encourage more offenses in the future.
“It may give rise to political speculations that amnesty is for those who 
refused to go to war or carry out orders during the war, those who deserted 
military posts, because if you look at the nature of offenses and crimes against 
the order of military service you may get a perception that amnesty can be 
applied in relation to persons charged under all these articles. It may turn out 
that people may get the wrong impression that the state may show a similar 
humanitarian approach towards them if they, for example, evade the army draft as 
conscripts or reservists or do not comply with orders while in service,” the 
lawyer said.
The amnesty bill was put up for public discussions until September 7. After 
that, it is supposed to go to the parliament for discussion and adoption.
Armenian Media Organizations Protest Obstruction Of Journalists’ Work In 
Parliament
August 26, 2021
        • Nane Sahakian
Parliament Speaker Alen Simonian acknowledged on August 25 that forcing 
journalists out of press booths during incidents in the chamber was unacceptable.
Media organizations have condemned Armenian authorities for removing journalists 
from a room reserved for the press in the National Assembly during several 
brawls that took place among deputies this week.
Current regulations say media representatives can only follow sessions from the 
room overlooking the chamber and enclosed by glass windows.
Security guards entered the room and forced journalists to stop recording and 
leave when brawls broke out between pro-government and opposition lawmakers 
during sessions on August 24 and 25.
Journalists and media organizations believe that such actions violate their 
rights and constitute obstruction of the work of media, which is a criminal 
offense under Armenian law.
Gevorg Tosunian, a reporter with the Civilnet news website, told RFE/RL’s 
Armenian Service (Azatutyun) that security guards used force to remove 
journalists from the room during the latest brawl even though Parliament Speaker 
Alen Simonian had not announced a break, meaning that the session was still in 
progress.
“They [security guards] gave no reasons for their actions,” Tosunian said.
Tosunian said the goal of the National Assembly leadership was probably to 
prevent the spread of the video recordings of incidents inside the chamber. But 
he said only by seeing such scenes can the public know what is actually 
happening in the legislature.
“This is our work environment. We are protected by the Law on Mass Media, just 
as we are protected by the Criminal Code, which clearly states that obstructing 
a journalist’s activities is already a crime,” he said.
Media organizations condemned the incidents, calling for an end to what they 
described as illegal restrictions and harassment of journalists.
Daniel Ioannisian, a representative of the Union of Informed Citizens, said the 
organization has appealed to the Prosecutor-General’s Office and will seek a 
criminal case.
Videos of the brawls were still disseminated by some former journalists who now 
serve as deputies, he said.
“We have all seen all the details of all these incidents through live videos, 
videos made by deputies. In fact, the public has seen it, but in the meantime 
the legal professional activities of journalists have been hindered,” Ioannisian 
said.
Simonian acknowledged during a news briefing on August 25 that journalists 
should not have been removed from the balconies.
“I consider it unacceptable to invite journalists out of the balcony in such 
situations. I have discussed it with my colleagues. God forbid, if there is 
another situation like this, I think we should not remove journalists from there 
in any way, even though it is natural that there is a fear that someone’s photo 
or video will be aired in a situation where they are being hit or toppled to the 
ground or something like that,” Simonian said.
Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
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