Category: 2022

Armenian sides refutes Azerbaijani claims of ceasefire violation

Toneyan Mark
Public Radio of Armenia
Armenia –
, 10:54

 Less than a minute

The Armenian Ministry of Defense has refuted a fresh misinformation by the Azerbaijani side.

“The statement of the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan claiming that last night units of the Armenian Armed Forces fired from different caliber firearms at the Azerbaijani military positions located in the eastern part of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border is misinformation,” the Armenian Defense Ministry said.

It noted that the situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border is relatively stable and is under the full control of the Armenian Armed Forces.

French city of Montpellier dedicates park to Armenia

Markos Nalchajian
Public Radio of Armenia
Armenia –
, 11:03

 2 minutes read

A large park near the City Hall of Montpellier, France, has been named after Armenia as a sign of Armenian-French friendship.

The park was inaugurated by the Mayor of Montpellier Michaël Delafosse and the Ambassador of Armenia to France Hasmik Tolmajian. The Mayor of Montpellier, the Ambassador of Armenia to France, the Honorary President of the Armenian Association of Montpellier, Professor Gerard Dedeyan of the University of Paul-Valerie in Montpellier, as well as representatives of the Armenian community organizations of Montpellier Gohar Galstyan and Hovhannes Sargsyan made speeches at the event.

Ambassador Tolmajian thanked the Montpellier City Council and Mayor Delafosse for naming one of the city’s central parks after Armenia, emphasizing that it is a tribute to the strong friendship between Armenia and Montpellier, which dates back to the Middle Ages, when active contacts were established between the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia in and the historical Languedoc region of France. In this context, the Ambassador also mentioned the solemn hospitality shown to the last Armenian King Levon V Lusinyan in Montpellier.

The Ambassador expressed gratitude to the Mayor and the City council for the adoption of the resolution on the recognition of the Artsakh Republic after the 2020 war, in defense of the people of Artsakh and their rights. The Ambassador also mentioned the dynamic and active patriotic activities of the Armenian community of Montpellier and Armenian organizations. In this context, she stressed the significant contribution of Professor Dedeyan in strengthening the cooperation between Armenia and Montpellier in recent decades.

“Montpellier has very strong ties with Armenia since the Middle Ages. It was one of the first cities in France to erect a monument in memory of the Armenian genocide. We wanted to reaffirm this link by naming the park near the town hall, Armenia Park,” Mayor Michaël Delafosse said.

“Montpellier is alongside Armenia to preserve the sovereignty of Artsakh. Our city has an alley named after the heroic Missak Manouchian, whose courage and commitment to France must be recognized by bringing him into the Pantheon,” he added.

The speeches were followed by a cultural program, during which poems by Yeghishe Charents, songs by Charles Aznavour and a number of other Armenian authors were performed by the children of the Montpellier Armenian Association School.

After the event, Ambassador Tolmajian made a note in Montpellier’s Golden Book.

Yerevan metro paralyzed amid protests

Maghakian Mike
Public Radio of Armenia
Armenia –
, 12:39

 

The operation of the metro in Armenia’s capital Yerevan has been paralyzed amid civil disobedience actions.

The citizens carried out a protest action in Yeritasardakan metro station this morning, disrupting the metro traffic.

The metropoliten says the doors of all stations are closed to avoid overcrowding.

For weeks the opposition Resistance movement has been holding protests, demanding Prime Minuster Nikol Pashinyan to step down.

Italian lawmakers visit Armenian Genocide Memorial

Garnik Tadevosian
Public Radio of Armenia
Armenia –

The delegation of the Italian Parliament visited the Armenian Genocide Memorial on May 18 accompanied by a group of Armenian lawmakers deputies and the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Italy to Armenia Alfonso Di Rizzo.

The guests were greeted by Lusine Abrahamyan, Deputy Director for Museum Works of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute, who presented the history of the memorial.

The Italian MPs laid flowers at the eternal flame commemorating the victims of the Armenian Genocide and observed a moment of silence in memory of the innocent victims of the Armenian Genocide.

Members of the Italian delegation also toured the Armenian Genocide Museum, got acquainted with the permanent and temporary exhibitions. At the end of the visit, they made notes in the Book of Honorary Guests.

Armenian FM holds meetings at the European Parliament

Karakhanian Suren
Public Radio of Armenia
Armenia –

Օn a working visit to Brussels, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan held a meeting with Vice-President of the European Parliament Eva Kopacz.

The interlocutors emphasized the further expansion and deepening of the Armenia-EU partnership based on common values. Eva Kopacz highly assessed the reforms carried out by the Government of Armenia towards democratic development and expressed her support for them.

Ararat Mirzoyan noted that the current year has been quite active in terms of promoting Armenia -EU cooperation: meetings of the Bureau and Standing Committees of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly were held in Yerevan in February and the third meeting of the Armenia-EU Partnership Council at the end of April, and the fourth meeting of the Armenia-EU Partnership Council is scheduled to be held on May 18.

Regional security issues were also discussed. Minister Mirzoyan presented Armenia’s position on the steps towards establishing regional peace and stability, as well as on the comprehensive and lasting settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The Armenian side stressed the importance of resolving the humanitarian issues resulting from the 44-day war, in particular, the need for unconditional repatriation of the Armenian prisoners of war and civilians held by Azerbaijan, the preservation of Armenian cultural and religious heritage in the territories currently under the control of Azerbaijan.

During the meeting, Ararat Mirzoyan presented the latest developments in the Armenia-Turkey normalization process.

The Foreign Minister of Armenia also held meetings with Andrei Kovachev, Fabio Massimo Castaldo and other Members of Parliament.

During the meeting with MEP Fabio Massimo Castaldo, Ararat Mirzoyan awarded him with the Medal of Honor of the First Degree of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for his significant contribution to strengthening inter-parliamentary relations between Armenia and the European Union.

Opposition protests resume in Yerevan

Chmshkian Vicken
Panorama
Armenia –

The Armenian opposition resumed peaceful protests in Yerevan early on Wednesday morning.

Groups of protesters again blocked a number of streets in the city, including the road leading to the Nor Nork district, to force PM Nikol Pashinyan from office.

The opposition began a large-scale civil disobedience campaign on May 2, blocking key streets and street intersections in the Armenian capital to disrupt traffic and step up pressure on Pashinyan’s government.

Minor among detained protesters in Yerevan

Elizabeth Jabejian
Panorama
Armenia –

A minor was among the opposition protesters detained by the Armenian police on Wednesday, MP Elinar Vardanyan from the opposition Hayastan faction said.

The riot police detained 277 people at peaceful opposition protests in Yerevan on Wednesday morning.

“After the release of a group of detained activists, we were about to leave the Erebuni police station when a new car drove up, with chants of “Artsakh, Artsakh!” heard from the vehicle,” she wrote on Facebook.

“We are meeting another group. Chants of “Armenia without Nikol!” can be heard at the police station. A 14-year-old child is among the detainees,” the deputy said.

Armenian opposition leader slams police over excessive force against protesters

Vanyan Gary
Panorama
Armenia –

Artur Vanetsyan, the leader of the opposition Homeland Party and With Honor (Pativ Unem) parliamentary faction, has shared a video on police brutality against opposition protesters in Yerevan.

“Dignified Armenian citizens have held peaceful protests across Yerevan since early Wednesday morning,” he wrote on Facebook.

“The police have again used disproportionate force. According to preliminary data, over 300 people have been detained. We won’t give up, we won’t get tired.

“They won’t get away with it. The struggle continues and the victory is just around the corner,” Vanetsyan said.

Arrested father of Armenian fallen soldier hospitalized

Antonian Lara
Panorama
Armenia –

LAW 15:56 18/05/2022 ARMENIA

Garik Galeyan, the arrested father of Armenian soldier Mkhitar Galeyan killed in the 44-day war in Artsakh, has been taken to hospital, his lawyer Vahan Hovhannisyan says.

Galeyan was arrested early on Wednesday morning for “breaking into a military unit, gravely insulting and hurting” an army officer. His bother and another man reportedly involved in the incident turned themselves in to the police.

The lawyer told reporters that Garik Galeyan underwent complex heart surgery around two weeks ago. He stated that the man could not speak and was in a serious condition.

The lawyer rejected the charges against his client as “baseless”, adding the investigator has provided no clarifications on them.

Hovhannisyan said that a motion to remand Galeyan into custody had likely been filed to the court. He asked the Prosecutor’s Office to stop the illegal prosecution and withdraw the motion.

Armenian opposition MPs file motion for release of fallen soldier’s father

Emil Lazarian
Panorama
Armenia –

LAW 16:35 18/05/2022 ARMENIA

Armenian opposition MPs Artur Vanetsyan, Armenuhi Kyureghyan and Tigran Abrahamyan have filed a motion for the release of Garik Galeyan, the father of fallen soldier Mkhitar Galeyan, Vanetsyan said on social media.

Galeyan was arrested early on Wednesday morning for “breaking into a military unit, gravely insulting and hurting” an army officer. He was later taken to hospital due to deteriorating health.

The lawmakers visited the General Military Department of Armenia’s Investigation Committee to file the petition.

“Honor and glory to the parents of heroes! Eternal memory to our fallen brothers!” Vanetsyan wrote on Facebook.