Category: 2022

Former Armenian Defense Minister Davit Tonoyan, who is currently in custody, has denied Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s statement that the latter learned about the shortage of helmets and ballistic vests in the army shortly after the start of the 44-day war.

“I solemnly declare that the demand for weapons and military gear of the armed forces, including helmets and ballistic vests, is laid out in the Arms and Military Equipment Development Program, which was last approved by the Armenian government during Nikol Pashinyan’s time in office,” Tonoyan said in a statement on Monday.

Speaking in the parliament on April 13, Pashinyan said that several days after the start of the 44-day war in Artsakh, he first learned that the Armenian army had problems with helmets and bulletproof vests.

Nver Kirakosyan and Artur Avagyan, who are participants of the 44-day war in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) in 2020, started an open-ended hunger strike in Yerevan’s Liberty Square on Monday morning.

They announced plans to go on a hunger strike late on Sunday, joining the protest in support of Artsakh held indefinitely by MP Artur Vanetsyan, leader of the opposition With Honor faction, and dozens of other opposition activists, since Sunday evening.

“The hunger strike is aimed at drawing the attention of our generation to the situation around Artsakh and to push for practical steps. The move is radical, spontaneous, but relevant to the situation,” Kirakosyan wrote on Facebook, stressing that it is not politically motivated and calling on young people to join them.

Vanetsyan, however, urged them to end the hunger strike.

“I can feel the pain and anger of the boys who lost their fellow soldiers in the 44-day war. The guys consider their actions an adequate response to the situation, but I urged them to stop the hunger strike,” the opposition leader said.

The protest comes after Nikol Pashinyan’s statement that the international community is pressing Armenia to “lower the bar on the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh’s status” and recognize Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.

The opposition Hayastan bloc supports the protest launched in Yerevan’s Liberty Square indefinitely by oppositionist Artur Vanetsyan and considers it part of decentralized actions to remove Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and his team, Hayastan faction MP Aram Vardevanyan told reporters in the square on Monday.

“The Hayastan bloc has a clear-cut action plan, which will be unveiled to the public in the near future,” he said. “Our steps have to be well planned and coordinated.”

“We have found ourselves in an extremely difficult situation, but I strongly believe that we will get out of it and the “rubbish” policies will no longer have a place in our reality,” Vardevanyan stressed.

He addressed all those who were disappointed and discouraged in the recent period, adding it does not help improve the situation.

“You really have to wake up and get out of numbness. We really need to be united to achieve the desired outcomes,” the MP said, urging people to join the protest.

Armenian MP Taguhi Tovmasyan from the opposition With Honor faction dismissed the Armenian authorities’ peace agenda as a “dangerous trap” amid Azerbaijan’s policy to erase traces of the Armenian heritage in Artsakh.

Below is the full statement issued by Tovmasyan on Monday, 18 April marking the International Day for Monuments and Sites.

“Today marks the International Day for Monuments and Sites.

For decades, we have been witnessing how Azerbaijan, in blatant violation of international law and its committeemen’s within the UN and the Council of Europe, has been deliberately destroying the Armenian cultural heritage and carrying out cultural genocide by various means.

Barbaric destruction of churches, monuments and cemeteries is taking place, while attempts are being made to ascribe Armenian monuments to the Albanian culture.

During and after the 44-day war in 2020, these crimes gained new momentum and reached enormous proportions. Steps to eradicate the Armenian identity and Christianity in Artsakh go to show once again that the peace agenda is only a dangerous trap for us.

At various meetings on the sidelines of my visit to the United States, I passed on to congressmen the reports of the Artsakh ombudsman about Azerbaijan’s destruction of Artsakh’s cultural heritage and the hate propaganda. The civilized world must respond to Azerbaijan’s genocidal actions.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday will hold talks with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who will pay an official visit to Russia, TASS reported on Monday, citing the Kremlin press service.

The sides “plan to discuss key issues of the further development of Russian-Armenian relations of strategic partnership and alliance,” the press service reported. Besides, Putin and Pashinyan will consider the implementation of the agreements between the Russian, Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders on Nagorno-Karabakh of November 9, 2020, January 11 and November 26, 2021, including measures to restore economic and transport ties in the region, it added.

Earlier, the press service of the Armenian government reported that Pashinyan planned to travel to Russia on April 19. The leaders discussed preparations for the meeting in a phone call on April 9.

Families of the servicemen from the D-20 artillery regiment killed during the 44-day war in Artsakh demand that the Prosecutor General’s Office of Armenia open a criminal case against Nikol Pashinyan and probe his latest statements.

“Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s statements made in the parliament on 13 April make it clear that the large-scale hostilities unleashed against the Artsakh Republic by Azerbaijan on September 27, 2020 began at his instigation as well as due to abuse of power by him,” Anahit Manasyan, the mother of a fallen soldier, said, reading out the text of the crime report outside the Prosecutor General’s Office.

She cited Pashinyan’s statement on April 13: “They ask me, ‘Could you have prevented the war?’ Yes, we could have prevented it, as a result of which we would have had the same situation, of course without the casualties.”

The relatives claim that Pashinyan, knowing about the possible war and its consequences, deliberately did not prevent it. “Moreover, by his inaction and failing to fulfil his obligations, he induced Azerbaijan to unleash a large-scale war,” the report said.

Manasyan added that they would put pressure on the law enforcement authorities to initiate criminal proceedings and hold Pashinyan to account.

Around 60 parents have joined the initiative.

On April 15, on the eve of the Armenian Cinema Day “Anahit” Film Awards took place with the support of the legendary Armenian ARARAT brandy.

ARARAT brandies have always supported both Armenian and international significant cultural events by uniquely documented the brightest moments of triumph.

“Anahit” Awards was founded in 2016 by the Armenian National Film Academy. By uniting professionals of the Armenian film industry, Armenian National Film Academy awards the most promising pictures, which on the long run draws a huge perspective for them to seek new success on the leading film awards worldwide.

The celebrated moments of the festive award were accompanied by the legendary Armenian ARARAT brandies.

“To the degree, brandy-making is an art of portraying the present for the sake of future joy. I believe, that in that sense, it is similar to filmmaking. Masters from both industries leave their unique trace in history – in the chronicles of brandy-making as well as in the rich archives of the Armenian Cinema,” says Serge Khachatryan, Chief Operating Officer of Yerevan Brandy Company.

“The birth of the Armenian Cinema was set on April 16, 1923, with the decision to establish State Cinema institution. Armenian filmmakers have their significant role in the history world cinema. Founded by the Armenian National Film Academy, the 3rd “Anahit” Film Awards took place to promote and to mark the progress of the Armenian Cinema. We are all delighted to announce that the celebration was festive. Indeed, this bright event became possible thanks to our partners, especially Yerevan Brandy Company, who stood by our side by intertwining the taste and warmth of the legendary brandies with the magic of films,” says Ruben Jaghinyan, the President of Armenian National Film Academy.

The winner of “Anahit” Film Awards for the best picture is “Should the Wind Drop” (Ani Vorskanyan as producer), for the best director is Nora Martirosyan, for the best actress is Lily Elbakyan for her role in “Chnchik” and the award for the best actor went to David Hakobyan for his role in “Should the Wind Drop”.