Category: 2022

The Armenian Defense Ministry has denied Azerbaijan’s accusations of cross-border shooting. Also, it says Azerbaijan itself violated the ceasefire in the border area last night.

“The statement of the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry alleging that the Armenian army units opened fire on Azerbaijani combat positions deployed in the eastern section of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border on the night of 15-16 July is disinformation,” the ministry said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the Azerbaijani military fired at Armenian positions in the border area, also using large-caliber firearms.

“The Azerbaijani fire was suppressed after Armenia’s retaliatory measures,” the statement said.

His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, has expressed concern over the recent developments in Armenia.

“In particular, the developments concerning the Armenian-Turkish negotiations and the ban on ARF Bureau member Mourad Papazian’s entry to Armenia are disturbing,” he said in a Facebook post on Friday.

“Such developments can negatively affect relations between Armenia and the Diaspora. Clear and complete information must be provided to the public,” Catholicos Aram I said.

Opposition Hayastan alliance member Narek Mantashyan has been taken to hospital from prison, his lawyer Alexander Kochubaev said on social media.

He was hospitalized late on Friday due to heart issues caused by elevated blood glucose levels, the lawyer said.

“The current authorities have come to realize that they can no longer keep people in prison on trumped-up charges and are making every effort to cause their death,” Kochubaev wrote.

"Judge Karen Farkhoyan never bothered to hold an emergency hearing in a month to consider the motion over the incompatibility of Mantashyan's health condition with arrest, while the state has clearly failed in its function of ensuring his health," the lawyer said.

Narek Mantashyan is accused of involvement in mass riots in Yerevan on 10 November 2020.

The opposition Hayastan alliance has extended condolences on the demise of film producer Armen Grigoryan, who was critical of Armenia’s government.

Grigoryan died during his trial in Yerevan on Friday. The cause of his sudden death is yet to be established after a forensic examination.

“Armen Grigoryan, who had been placed under arrest at the request of the National Security Service (NSS) from May 17, was another victim of the regime and the tyranny growing in the country with each passing day,” the bloc said in a statement on Saturday.

“Human rights, dignity and freedom are of no value to the authorities who crack down on free speech and political dissidents through arrests and repressions.

“Armen Grigoryan was courageously and tirelessly fighting for our dignity, justice, homeland and statehood as well as the release of his brothers being held in captivity,” the alliance said.

It described him as a “bright and compelling” man.

“Armen Grigoryan was certainly one of the precious victims of our struggle for the homeland.

“We would like to offer our condolences to Armen Grigoryan's family and friends on his untimely and tragic death. His memory will remain bright in our hearts,” Hayastan said.

Mayor of Yerevan Hrachya Sargsyan has filed a lawsuit against Hayastan bloc MP Ishkhan Saghatelyan, one of the opposition leaders. 

Saghatelyan is accused of holding an "unauthorized rally" in Yerevan under Article 180.1 of Armenia’s Code on Administrative Offences. 

The suit says he failed to notify the community head of the demonstration in a manner prescribed by law. 

The case was filed on July 15, according to DataLex portal.

The Armenian opposition held another rally in Yerevan on Friday evening.

A court in Armenia is set to issue a ruling in the Zangezur Mining vs. Zangezur Copper-Molybdenum Combine (ZCMC) case in the near future, while Armenia’s government has already “put up with” the idea of losing the case, Pastinfo reported on Saturday.

Former Russian Health Minister Mikhail Zurabov, who owns 12.5% of the ZCMC shares, sued the mining giant, asking the court to invalidate the sale of its 60% shares to Russian billionaire Roman Trotsenko’s GeoProMining Gold. The decision to unfreeze the shares has already been overturned.

On September 30, 2021, Industrial Company JSC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Roman Trotsenko's GeoProMining, mysteriously acquired 60% of the ZCMC shares and promptly donated a quarter of that stake to the Armenian government. The granted 25% of the shares make up 15% of the ZCMC equity. Trotsenko’s company acquired the shares immediately after they were unfrozen by an Armenian court.

“Our sources tell us that Nikol Pashinyan is somewhat disappointed, since he has realized that Trotsenko, who has been targeted by U.S. sanctions, has “let him down”. He has warned against any interference in the case as well as any corrupt deal favoring GeoProMining,” Pastinfo said.

“Our government sources report that Pashinyan's tough stance is also attributed to the reports that Trotsenko and his team have decided to sell another "property" they own – the Agarak Copper-Molybdenum Combine – to the Zangezur Copper-Molybdenum Combine at a price much higher than normal in order to solve their personal financial problems. Moreover, the idea apparently belongs to ZCMC Director General Roman Khudolin.

“Another important fact is that the U.S. Embassy has also warned Pashinyan that Roman Trotsenko is on their black list, i.e. he is among the sanctioned Russian businessmen. This has also affected Pashinyan's position. According to our diplomatic source, Pashinyan has been urged, "Don't flirt with Trotsenko."

“The government experts have studied the court case and have concluded that the Zangezur Mining's lawsuit is well grounded and any meddling to win the case will have negative consequences both on the investment environment and international courts, where the government is likely to lose huge sums,” the media outlet says.