Category: 2021

Armenia lifts requirement of wearing masks outdoors

Maral Chavushian
Public Radio of Armenia
Dec 17 2021
, 15:34

 1 minute read

Armenia lifts the requirement of wearing masks outdoors as the number of Covid cases tends to decrease, the Ministry of Health informs. It will still be mandatory to wear masks indoors.

Masks will not be mandatory for children under 5 and people with chronic respiratory diseases: asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema or bronchitis, severe respiratory failure, chronic heart failure (stages C and D) provided that the mentioned persons have a document proving the relevant medical condition.

Direct participants and speakers at events hosted by the President of the Republic of Armenia, the Catholicos of All Armenians, the Prime Minister, the Speaker of the National Assembly, the President of the Constitutional Court and the President of the Supreme Judicial Council will also be exempt from wearing masks. The rule does not apply to journalists and service staff.

Wearing of masks will not be mandatory during exercising or cycling, as well as in specially designated areas for outdoor recreation and beaches, mountains, forests, but not in city parks, botanical gardens and zoos, historical and cultural sites.

TV hosts can also choose not to wear masks, given they are alone in the studio. People with hearing and speaking disorders, mental and behavioral disorders, cognitive disorders are also exempt from wearing masks.

The issue requires consensus decision: Armenia MFA on discussions of granting Azerbaijan an observer status in EAEU

Elizabeth Jabejian
Public Radio of Armenia
Dec 17 2021
, 13:19

 1 minute read

As of now, no country has applied for observer status in the Eurasian Economic Union, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Vahan Hunanyan told Armenpress.

The comments come in the wake of discussions on granting observer status to Azerbaijan.

“The procedure of granting an observer status in the Eurasian Economic Union is defined by Article 109of the 2014, May 29 treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union. Granting a status of an observer to any country requires a consensus decision, preceded by consultations within the Union aimed at finding out the economic appropriateness of that particular step,” Hunanyan said.

During the recent meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council on December 10, the first President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev, who is also the honorary chair of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council, said Azerbaijan could become an observer in the EAEU.

At a press briefing on December 15, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova positively assessed Nazarbayev’s proposal, stating that the cooperation of Azerbaijan and EAEU would contribute to boosting mutual trade and implementing large-scale infrastructure programs.

The Eurasian Economic Union comprises Armenia, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Moldova, Uzbekistan and Cuba hold an observer status in the Union.

Nations League: Mkhitarayn confident Armenia can fight all opponents

Alex Nanijanian
Public Radio of Armenia
Dec 17 2021
, 12:45

 1 minute read

Armenia captain Henrikh Mkhitaryan is confident the team is able to fight against all opponents in the Nations League.

Armenia will face Ireland, Scotland and Ukraine in group 1 of League B in the next edition of the UEFA Nations League

“I think it’s not the easiest group, but it could be even worse. We know Republic of Ireland very well and have “very good” memories about them,” Henrikh said ironically.

Armenia was left out of Euro 2012 play-off after referee Iturralde Gonsalez incorrectly red-carded Armenian keeper Roman Berezovsky. Replays showed Berezovsky blocking the shot with his chest but the referee had made his decision and uncapped Arsen Petrosyan had to be introduced with holding midfielder Edgar Malakyan sacrificed.

“We’ll play against Scotland for the first time. As for Ukraine, Armenia has played against them on many occasions. And though the last meeting was in early 2000s, we know them very well. I think we are capable of fighting against these teams. If we manage to stay in B league, it will be a success,” Mkhitaryan said.

Serious threats to democracy: Ombudsman comments on situation with Armenia’s local self-government bodies

Garo Vardanian
Panorama, Armenia
Dec 17 2021

Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman) Arman Tatoyan commented on the situation with local self-government bodies of Armenia, noting that the recent developments are fraught with serious threats to one of the key principles of democracy – the right to elect and be elected.

In a public post on Facebook late on Thursday, the ombudsman stated that the actions against the local government officials elected by the people set a dangerous precedent.

The public is either not provided with proper explanations or no explanations at all, he stated.

“All this is mainly covered up by "political processes" or "criminal proceedings," setting a dangerous precedent,” the ombudsman noted.

Tatoyan highlighted that the right to vote in local elections is guaranteed by Article 48 of the Armenian Constitution and the international commitments of the country.

“The right to vote is the cornerstone of democracy, and that's it,” he said.

The ombudsman’s comments came after the arrest of Mamikon Aslanyan, a former mayor of Vanadzor, whose bloc defeated Armenia’s ruling Civil Contract party in this month’s local elections, gaining 39 percent of the vote. He has been charged with abuse of power and fraud.

Azerbaijan jamming cellular communications in Artsakh

Emil Lazarian
Panorama, Armenia
Dec 17 2021

People in Artsakh are experiencing problems with mobile connections as a result of frequency jamming by Azerbaijan, Artsakh’s Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure said in a statement on Friday.

"Failures in cellular communications are caused by frequency jamming by the enemy. Steps are being taken to resolve the issue through negotiations," the statement says.

The ministry urges people to refrain from “inappropriate manipulations”.

Our aim is to uphold the law not to make the judges serve certain people – Gegham Manukyan

Ani Tigranian
Panorama, Armenia
Dec 17 2021

"After the change of power in Armenia and the staff cleansing, the state administration in Armenia has been filled with unexperienced people," opposition lawmaker Gegham Manukyan stated during a protest outside the the Supreme Judicial Council on Friday. 

The participants demand the Council stop lawlessness in the country amid political persecutions  launched against number of heads of communities who claimed victories during the recent local elections. 

Manukyan stressed that the policy adopted by authorities is not aimed at attracting young and prospective specialists to work at the public service but occupying the state institutes by proponents of the current authorities of Armenia. 

The lawmaker referred to constant legislative changes which are often adapted to ongoing needs of the ruling force, thus turning the state administration into a field of experiments. He stressed public keeps exercising pressure on members of the Supreme Judicial Council. 

"The aim of this protest action is to uphold the law not to make the judges serve certain people," Manukyan stated, adding their actions would continue.

Opposition announces a plan to dismiss Prosecutor General Artur Davtyan

Shushan Frangulian
Panorama, Armenia
Dec 17 2021

Opposition lawmaker from "Armenia" bloc Artsvik Minasyan announced on Friday that a process for dismissal of the country's Prosecutor General Artur Davtyan is launched.  "Stop following those who issue unlawful instructions. You took the oath and should stay committed to it," Minasyan stated during a protest action held outside the Prosecutor General's Office.

He then stressed that numerous lawsuits considered at courts are disrupted by the Prosecutor's Office as prosecutors are reluctant to resist the treacherous authorities. 

"Numerous cases have been filled containing sufficient elements and facts of particularly serious crimes, while the Prosecutor General's Office tries to ignore them. It is no coincidence, you are now involved in indecent activity of instituting criminal cases against people who are persecuted for their political views, who stand firm for the defense of the state and resist the authorities led by one person," said Minasyan. 

"As deputies of the National Assembly, as opposition and the ones who are ready to realise the desire of the majority of the Armenia people we start a process of Prosecutor General's dismissal," said Minasyan.

Armenian HRD warns of election processes threatening democracy

John Hovhannisian
PanArmenian, Armenia
Dec 17 2021
– 11:49 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenian Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan believes that "whatever is happening lately with local governments is fraught with deep dangers to the basis of democracy, the right to vote."

There have been many cases recently when criminal cases are initiated against the leaders of the political forces that won local elections. Arrests and detentions happen too. On December 16, former mayor of Vanadzor Mamikon Aslanyan became the latest politician to be arrested.

"Extremely dangerous interventions are carried out against local government officials, elected by the citizens of the Republic of Armenia, through political and law enforcement processes, in connection with which the public is either not given proper explanations or no explanations are given at all," the Ombudsman said.

"I remind everyone that the right to vote in local government elections is guaranteed by Article 48 of the Armenian Constitution, in accordance with Armenia's international obligations."

Yerevan State University electing new rector, protest being staged at main building

Ani Kharatian
News.am, Armenia
Dec 17 2021
12:04, 17.12.2021

Rector elections are scheduled at Yerevan State University (YSU) Friday, in which only one candidate will run: the government’s nominee and acting rector Hovhannes Hovhannisyan.

A while ago, Hovhannisyan and minister of defense Suren Papikyan, who is also Chairman of the YSU Board of Trustees, came to the YSU main building together.

In this regard, a group of youth are staging a protest in the building. They are holding banners protesting the politicization of Armenia’s universities.

One of these youth announced over the loudspeaker that they will continue their fight until they achieve their goals.

According to them, defense minister Papikyan has no place in the post of Chairman of the YSU Board of Trustees.

Armenia Ombudsman issues statement about his term of office and claims of the authorities

Emil Lazarian
News.am, Armenia
Dec 17 2021
23:15, 17.12.2021

To date, my term of office as Human Rights Defender of Armenia is due to my persistence and the loyalty to my oath, and it is not the achievement or manifestation of goodwill of anyone or any political force. This is stated in the statement issued by Human Rights Defender of Armenia Arman Tatoyan.

“I have to respond to the claims that several deputies of the ruling faction of the National Assembly have been making in their public speeches and interviews for a long time now, attempting to create an impression or show that the fact that I am still serving in office is due to their ‘tolerance’.

Moreover, they state that the ruling faction has never given an evaluation of the activities of the Human Rights Defender, presenting it as an achievement.

I responsibly declare that such claims are inaccurate.

During my term of office as Human Rights Defender, especially after the war, there have been different forms of influence prohibited by law, starting from the demands presented by several high-ranking officials to stop or essentially minimize the activities due to the situation after the war and ending with seizure of the cars of employees of the Office of the Human Rights Defender by the government’s decision in order to reduce our opportunities, the consistent attempts to make the Office of the Human Rights Defender financially dependent and the campaigns against the Defender, including with the participation of high-ranking officials of the government and legislature.

Irrespective of all the hardships, I have never presented and will not present myself as a victim and have only done my job as a human rights activist, under apolitical and unbiased principles,” Tatoyan wrote.