Three Armenian boxers have won their opening bouts at the EUBC Youth European Boxing Championships in Bulgaria, the Boxing Federation of Armenia reported.
Artur Mkrtchyan (63.5 kg) defeated Andrey Kostenko of Ukraine in the first fight, while Aghvan Aleksanyan (86 kg) overpowered his Czech rival David Polak on Saturday.
Another Armenian boxer Erik Israelyan (60 kg) won his first bout after knocking out his German opponent.
YEREVAN. – Hraparak daily of the Republic of Armenia (RA) writes: Recent events have prompted the people of Artsakh [(Nagorno-Karabakh)] to take self-defense measures. For several weeks now, men of Artsakh have been forming detachments and taking turns monitoring the borders. Artsakh [opposition] MP Metakse Hakobyan confirmed this information:
“Yes, they have been created. And do you know why? Why there was no such thing for 30 years? Why there wasn’t in [20]16? Because at that time each and every Artsakh citizen knew that there were the RA authorities which are the guarantors of Artsakh’s security. But now the people of Artsakh realize that they are the guarantor of their security—of course, with our friends, the Russian peacekeepers… We want peace more than anyone. But realizing that [Armenia’s PM] Nikol Pashinyan and his authorities have only brought war and destruction, we are ready to go against their agenda—to defend, to defend ourselves.”
YEREVAN. – Hraparak daily of the Republic of Armenia (RA) writes: Yesterday we received a written answer from the US embassy to our written question—whether a meeting between US Ambassador to Armenia Lynne Tracy and the heads of Armenia’s banks took place in the RA Central Bank building about a month ago, during which the ambassador made a demand to the banks not try to circumvent Western sanctions and help the RF [(Russian Federation)] citizens—by which, in fact, they confirmed our news:
“The United States appreciates Armenia’s commitment to follow international sanctions, and on this issue maintains regular contact with representatives of Armenia’s banking sector. The sanctions imposed by the United States, its allies, and partners in response to the war Russia unleashed against Ukraine are the heavy price imposed on those who support the war preferred by [Russian] President Putin. They [i.e., the sanctions] have no intention of punishing ordinary Russian citizens.”
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of Armenia is currently in Gyumri.
And the “I Do Not Agree” movement is holding a respective protest in the city. Its members are holding a warning tape that reads “I do not agree,” are standing on a street, and are holding a silent protest expressing their dissatisfaction with Pashinyan’s policies.
The demonstration is overseen by a large number of police officers.
Karapet Poghosyan, the coordinator of the “I Do Not Agree” movement, announced on Facebook livestream that this is the first such action by this movement, and that they will resort to more concrete actions in the future.
13:53,
YEREVAN, APRIL 15, ARMENPRESS. Investigators revealed 6 drug trafficking syndicates that sold narcotics through Telegram and HYDRA accounts.
Hovhannes Hambaryan, the head of the department in charge of narcotics crimes at the Investigative Committee told reporters that the syndicates were running more than 30 accounts on Telegram and 5 accounts on HYDRA.
The total street value of the drugs that were found during raids exceeds 250,000,000 drams, while the syndicate’s revenue of sold narcotics exceeds 700,000,000 drams.
“In addition, three apartments were found in Yerevan that were equipped with drug production rooms. Another apartment was found that was used for making Mephedrone drug,” Hambaryan, the Head of the Department of Investigation of Crimes on Human Trafficking, against Sexual Immunity of Juveniles and Illegal Turnover of Drugs said at the press conference.
He warned that in present days narcotic buyers are able to order the drugs without even leaving their home and receive it as a post package. “Today the kind of narcotics are emerging in the black market which didn’t exist yesterday. A situation is created when these drugs start circulating in public areas and encompass a wide circle of the society, mostly teenagers, and young adults,” he said.
13:58,
YEREVAN, APRIL 15, ARMENPRESS. (Press Release, ANIF) Armenian National Interests Fund (ANIF) is glad to inform that Fly Arna, Armenia’s national airline, a joint venture company between ANIF and Air Arabia Group, today announced the graduation of its first batch as cabin crew in their brand new uniform, who successfully completed their technical and customer service training.
This graduation follows the wide recruitment campaign that took place last January in Armenia to support the launch of the airline operations. The graduated cadet consisted of 20 cabin crew members who graduated after completing their extensive initial and practical course and training.
As batch 01 is ready to embark, two more cabin crew batches are currently under training. This follows the readiness of the Fly Arna’s first aircraft that completed its paint job earlier this week.
Fly Arna is currently in the process of applying for its Airline Operation Certificate (AOC) and more details on the launch date and destinations will be shared in due course.
14:40,
YEREVAN, APRIL 15, ARMENPRESS. The First Deputy Mayor of Yerevan Levon Hovhannisyan met with the Mayor of Tbilisi Kakha Kaladze during an official visit to the Georgian capital.
The Yerevan City Hall said that Hovhannisyan’s delegation includes City Councilors Armen Galjyan (Head of the City Council’s My Step faction), Mikayel Manrikyan (Prosperous Armenia faction) and Davit Khajakyan (Luys faction).
Mayor Kaladze said that the visit of the Yerevan officials is another opportunity to outline future steps and discuss new projects. Attaching importance to the warm relations between the two sister cities, Mayor Kaladze proposed to organize Tbilisi Days in Yerevan, and Yerevan Days in Tbilisi.
Thanking for the invitation and warm reception, First Deputy Mayor of Yerevan Levon Hovhannisyan noted that Yerevan is attaching great importance to deepening of partnership with Tbilisi in various sectors. Hovhannisyan said that organizing the culture days in the two capitals will convey new quality to both the friendly relations as well as collegial ties.
The sides also discussed the sectors which have the potential for mutually-beneficial and effective partnership for the benefit of the residents of the two capital cities.
16:19,
YEREVAN, APRIL 15, ARMENPRESS. Member of Parliament Taguhi Tovmasyan, the Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights and Public Affairs, organized a discussion with participation of journalists regarding the bill drafted by ruling Civil Contract party MPs on amending the Law on Mass Media.
The legislation drafted by Civil Contract’s Artur Hovhannisyan and Lilit Minasyan would empower state bodies to withdraw the accreditation of journalists if they are deemed to have violated “disciplinary rules” of relevant bodies.
The President of the Union of Journalists Satik Seyranyan opposed the bill, saying : “They had to clearly define the grounds for accreditation in order for the conduct of journalists to be predictable and that journalists know in which cases they could face withdrawal of their accreditation, otherwise the area is open and any government agency can arbitrarily decide and remove undesirable journalists or get rid of undesirable questions. They should’ve clearly mentioned the grounds in which case the accreditation can be withdrawn. There is a problem of the demand for the law’s certainty, the grounds aren’t clearly defined, therefore, if there are no grounds then with what will they be guided to make the decision on withdrawing the accreditation?”
Journalist Sevak Vardumyan concurred, saying he doesn’t know in which case he could face withdrawal of accreditation from parliament. “Suppose I laugh a bit loudly in the corridor or hit someone, or push the microphone too close to someone, will I get my accreditation revoked?”
Vardumyan also argued that this bill creates the opportunity of arbitrary decision-making for the relevant bodies.
The Chairman of the Committee for Protection of Freedom of Speech Ashot Melikyan also agreed. “This approach ought to be abandoned. The legislation should not provide for the suspension or withdrawal of a journalist’s accreditation.”
MP Tovmasyan in turn complained that the ruling party MPs aren’t holding discussions with the media representatives regarding legislations that concern them.
She said this problem must be regulated in the media sector. “Each editorial board should assume obligation, develop and publish rules of ethics for them, and the state bodies will be able to follow the maintenance of the rules which the media themselves developed,” she said.
Tovmasyan proposed to organize a petition and ask the government to issue a negative conclusion to the bill and also apply to the authors of the legislation with a request to revoke it.
16:25,
YEREVAN, APRIL 15, ARMENPRESS. Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan held a telephone conversation today with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, the Armenian Foreign Ministry said.
The sides discussed the preparations for the upcoming official visit of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to Russia.
The implementation process of the agreements reached by the 2020 November 9, 2021 January 11 and November 26 trilateral statements was also discussed.
The ministers also touched upon the creation of the commission on delimitation and border security issues between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Ararat Mirzoyan highlighted the importance of Russia’s mediation efforts, also as an OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair country.
Issues relating to regional and international security were also discussed.
16:50,
YEREVAN, APRIL 15, ARMENPRESS. ARMENPRESS’s arts journalist Angela Hambardzumyan is among the distinguished reporters who were recognized by the Union of Writers for their coverage of the cultural events organized by the organization during 2021.
Union of Writers President Edward Militonyan presented certificates to ARMENPRESS’s Angela Hambardzumyan, Public Television’s Nune Aleksanyan, RFE/RL Azatutyun’s Gayane Danielyan, Aravot’s Vova Arzumanyan, Irvunk’s Nune Zakaryan, Grakan Tert’s Shake Yeritsyan and writer, reporter Hovhannes Avdaryan. The Third Armenian Channel, Shant TV, Zinuzh Media and Public Radio were also given certificates of acknowledgment.
Notable events organized by the union in 2021 include the Book Giving Day and the World Poetry Day events and the 125th anniversary of birth of Charents.