Category: 2022

Armenpress: Artsakh’s parliament issues statement

Aram Torosian

Artsakh’s parliament issues statement

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 20:36, 5 April, 2022

YEREVAN, 5 APRIL, ARMENPRESS. The National Assembly of the Artsakh Republic adopted a statement at the April 5 special sitting, noting that in the current conditions only by reaffirming the obligation of the Republic of Armenia to act as the security guarantor of Artsakh and the creation of an atmosphere of pan-Armenian unity can create sufficient conditions to guarantee the future of the Armenian people in their Motherland.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the parliament of Artsakh, tge statement says, “The National Assembly of the Artsakh Republic, as the highest representative body with the primary mandate of the people of Artsakh, expressing the opinion and position of a wide range of socio-political circles, calls for a pan-Armenian consolidation on issues related to the fate of Artsakh.

We are convinced that the Republics of Armenia and Artsakh, having the full support of the Armenian communities of the Diaspora, becoming one fist, can jointly face the regional challenges, defending our national interests.

In this difficult period of geopolitical realities, when Azerbaijan, trying to thwart the Russian peacekeeping mission, continues to regularly fire at Armenian settlements, blows up the gas pipeline, tries to intimidate civilians living in their homeland, continues to occupy new territories, the National Assembly of Artsakh reaffirms the will and determination of the Artsakh people for their vision of a national liberation struggle which began in 1988 based on the right to live freely in their historic homeland.

By the declaration of September 2, 1991, and then through a nationwide referendum, the people of Artsakh formed the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) in accordance with all international norms. Throughout the 30 years we have gone through victories and failures. As a result of the war that was imposed on us on September 27, 2020, which lasted for 44 days, we suffered human and territorial losses. But nothing and no one can deprive us of the right to self-determination, to decide our own destiny. Bowing to the memory of all the martyrs of our struggle, we declare our devotion and readiness to be consistent in the processes of international recognition of the Artsakh Republic and restoration of its territorial integrity.

After the 44-day war of 2020, our security environment has changed fundamentally, and the fragile peace established in the region is maintained through the efforts of the Artsakh Defense Army and the Russian peacekeeping forces. As the events of the last 1.5 years have shown, our enemies continue their plan to evict Armenians from Artsakh. In the current conditions only by reaffirming the obligation of the Republic of Armenia to act as the security guarantor of Artsakh and the creation of an atmosphere of pan-Armenian unity can create sufficient conditions to guarantee the future of the Armenian people in their Motherland.

Dear compatriots,

The key to the existence of the Armenian statehood and the security of the Armenian people is in Artsakh.”

California State Bar will investigate Armenian genocide victim payments

Emil Lazarian
Los Angeles Times
April 5 2022
BY HARRIET RYAN, 

MATT HAMILTON

APRIL 5, 2022 UPDATED 4:42 PM PT

The chief prosecutor for the State Bar of California said Tuesday that the agency was taking a fresh look at attorney conduct in landmark Armenian genocide reparations cases following a Times investigation that detailed corruption and misdirection of funds in one of the settlements.

“The State Bar is reviewing these cases to determine whether there is any new information that would warrant further action,” said the bar’s Chief Trial Counsel George Cardona, a former federal prosecutor appointed last year to lead investigations and prosecutions at the agency that regulates the legal profession in California.

The bar previously disciplined one attorney and attempted to discipline two others in connection with the genocide litigation.

“There was a terrible injustice done when descendants of those murdered in the Armenian Genocide were denied their rightful settlements,” Cardona said in his statement. He described those already prosecuted as “most directly responsible for these misappropriations” but added, “the State Bar has the responsibility to take action when it becomes aware of new evidence.”

Cardona’s announcement in a statement to The Times comes after four California lawmakers, including U.S. Rep. Adam B. Schiff (D-Burbank), called for a probe into the misconduct the newspaper outlined.

The report last month drew on newly unsealed court records to explain how a $17.5-million settlement in 2005 for heirs of genocide victims was marred in subsequent years by a claims process that rejected 92% of applicants and sent money to sham claimants, relatives of a settlement administrator and a lawyer with no official role in the case. It also revealed irregularities in the distribution of charity funds, including more than $750,000 that Armenian church groups say they never received.

Three Armenian American attorneys — prominent Los Angeles lawyers Mark Geragos and Brian Kabateck and Glendale attorney Vartkes Yeghiayan — were lead counsel in the case. The bar received complaints about the three lawyers and others over the last decade from claimants and members of a court-appointed settlement board, according to court records and complaints submitted to authorities.

The bar took no action against Geragos or Kabateck but filed disciplinary cases against Yeghiayan and his wife, for allegedly funneling settlement money to family members, their law firm and nonprofits they controlled.

Yeghiayan died before trial. His wife was cleared by a bar review panel.

An attorney from Beverly Hills who had endorsed and deposited settlement checks made out to heirs of genocide victims, Berj Boyajian, was suspended from the practice of law and later resigned. He was convicted in criminal court of two counts in connection with making false statements to the bar.

Representatives for Geragos and Kabateck have told The Times they did nothing wrong, that they were not responsible for approving or denying claims and that others, including those prosecuted by the bar, bore the blame for the fraud in the case.

Kabateck said Tuesday that he had cooperated with the past bar probes and would continue to do so “because we have nothing to hide.”

“The true demonstrable facts are that our firm engaged in no wrongdoing of any kind,” he said in a statement.

Harriet Ryan

Harriet Ryan is an investigative reporter for the Los Angeles Times. Since joining the paper in 2008, she has written about high-profile people, including Phil Spector, Michael Jackson and Britney Spears, and institutions, including USC, the Catholic Church, the Kabbalah Centre and Purdue Pharma, the manufacturer of OxyContin. Ryan won the Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting with colleagues Matt Hamilton and Paul Pringle in 2019. She previously worked at Court TV and the Asbury Park Press. She is a graduate of Columbia University.

Matt Hamilton

Matt Hamilton is a reporter for the Los Angeles Times. He won the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting with colleagues Harriet Ryan and Paul Pringle and was part of the team of reporters that won a Pulitzer Prize for its coverage of the San Bernardino terrorist attack. A graduate of Boston College and the University of Southern California, he joined The Times in 2013.

U.S. Embassy in Armenia urges Azerbaijan to release all Armenian prisoners

Emil Lazarian
Panorama
Armenia – April 5 2022

On March 29, U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Lynne Tracy met with relatives of Armenian servicemen who were captured in 2020 and 2021 – some of whom have received long sentences from Azerbaijani courts, some whose fates are currently unknown, the U.S. Embassy in Armenia said in a statement on Tuesday.

The discussion focused on human rights issues, including the eight point of the November 2020 trilateral ceasefire statement by Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Russia on the exchange of prisoners of war, hostages and other detained persons, and dead bodies as well as the Geneva Convention.

“We urge the release of all prisoners as well as increased efforts to obtain information about the fate of missing servicemembers, including from the 1990s, noting the pain of families who do not know their loved ones’ whereabouts or fate,” the statement said.

Analyst: Tuesday’s rally in Yerevan a good chance for component parts of society to start shaping an agenda

Emil Lazarian
Panorama
Armenia – April 5 2022

Armenian political analyst Hrant Melik-Shahnazaryan, head of the Voskanapat Analytical Center, stresses the need for the formation of political society and new agendas in Armenia.

“Our society is not political. It is highly politicized, but not political. This is a big problem, which brings about many other problems,” he wrote on Facebook on Tuesday.

His comments came ahead of an opposition rally to be held in Yerevan’s Liberty Square on Tuesday evening.

“Let’s speak about today’s rally, for example. People have basically one question: “What is the opposition going to do?” At the same time, this question contains a number of other, mainly rhetorical sub-questions: “Do we have to march through the entire city, gather and listen to speeches, and then go home once again?” This is not good,” Melik-Shahnazaryan said.

The analyst stresses political society itself sets the agenda and then finds the forces to serve that agenda. “There are such attempts in Armenia, of course, but the situation described above really dominates. Even many public figures are driven by this logic, demanding radical action from others instead of proposing political solutions themselves,” he noted.

“Today’s rally in Yerevan is a good chance for the component parts of society to finally start shaping an agenda. We do not need a lot of people in the square, but the presence of elites. Intellectuals should come and, to put it in modern language, hold a casting. We need to see who among the speakers can be trusted with political leadership. And those who aspire to this leadership must, in their turn, avoid slogans and populist statements, trying to offer real and effective ways out of the situation.

“In other words, today we are facing an extremely important problem to form political society, new agendas, and to find leaders who fit these two points. I think the rally planned for tonight could be a good start to solving this problem. I hope it will be the case,” Melik-Shahnazaryan said.

Mourinho campaigning to keep Henrikh Mkhitaryan amid contract talks

Emil Lazarian
Panorama
Armenia – April 5 2022

Coach José Mourinho is campaigning to keep Roma star Henrikh Mkhitaryan amid contract talks, The Cult of Calcio reports.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan decided the contest between Sampdoria and Roma with his fourth goal of the season. Despite past disagreements with José Mourinho, he has continued to serve a key role. However, his contract runs out in June.

The coach invited the parties to reach an agreement in his post-game remarks to Sky: “I want him to stay, and I think the management and the player are on the same page. Mino Raiola is enamored with his clients. If Mkhitaryan wishes to continue playing with Roma, his agent will make it happen.”

According to previous reports, the versatile attacker asks for a two-year contract and to confirm his current salary. Instead, the front office prefers reducing it considering his age. The 33-year-old makes €4M. He penned a short-term deal last summer.

Rally in defense of Artsakh held in Glendale

Hagop Kamalian
Panorama
Armenia – April 5 2022

The Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Western US Central Committee, ARF Shant Student Association and Armenian Youth Federation on Monday held a rally outside the Armenian Consulate in Glendale, California in defense of Artsakh.

The rally was organized by the ARF Western US Central Committee, Yerkir.am reported.

Those gathered expressed support for Artsakh and the rally to be held in Yerevan on Tuesday evening.

Members of student and youth unions, community leaders, political scientists, and others delivered speeches at the event.

Seyran Ohanyan: Armenian nation has not put up with unacceptable concessions

Vanyan Gary
Panorama
Armenia – April 5 2022

Armenia’s former Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan, who is now an MP from the opposition Hayastan faction, urged people to join Tuesday’s opposition rally.

The rally of the Armenian opposition in defense of Artsakh is scheduled to be held in Yerevan’s Liberty Square on Tuesday evening.

“Dear compatriots, fellow servicemen and like-minded friends,

As agreed, we are meeting in the Liberty Square at 6:30pm today to show that the Armenian nation has not come to terms with the unacceptable concessions imposed on it,” he wrote on Facebook.

5165 Movement demands Artsakh recognition

Bedik Zaminian
ARMINFO
Armenia – April 5 2022
Marianna Mkrtchyan

ArmInfo.The 5165 Movement has demanded that Armenia’s Parliament initiate a process of recognition of the Republic of Artsakh and start work aimed at international  recognition of the country. 

The movement leader Karin Tonoyan said that no attempts should be  made to persuade people that recognition of Artsakh will cause a war. 

“This issue must be on the agenda of all political forces.  Recognition will save Artsakh and our dignity. I want to tell our MPs  that Armenia de facto recognized Artsakh long ago as a number of  international agreements have been signed. But since we are sure that  Nikol Pashinyan has never defended our national interests, we are  applying to Parliament and demanding Artsakh’s recognition.    

“On September 27 we did not recognize Artsakh. And war broke out. So  let no one try to deceive us into not recognizing Artsakh,” she said.   

Forecast: Peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan will no longer be concluded under the auspices of Russia

Emil Lazarian
ARMINFO
Armenia – April 5 2022
David Stepanyan

ArmInfo.Unlike the Tripartite Statement that ended the 44-day war, the peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan will most likely not be concluded under the  auspices of the Russian Federation. A similar opinion was expressed  to ArmInfo by chief researcher of the Institute of World Economy and  International  Relations of the Russian Academy of Sciences,  orientalist Alexey  Malashenko.

On April 6, the head of the Armenian government Nikol Pashinyan will  visit Brussels, where he will meet with head of the European Council  Charles Michel and Ilham Aliyev. It should be noted that on the eve  of his visit, Pashinyan announced his intention to agree with Aliyev  on the start of peace negotiations.

“In this light, I consider it important to emphasize that the EU  peace initiatives in the Armenian-Azerbaijani vector of Western  policy take place in parallel and in undoubted connection with the  Ukrainian vector. And the undoubted absence of a causal link between  them in this case plays absolutely no role in the eyes of the West.  Moscow’s reaction to what is happening is still incomprehensible. It  can be said that the EU initiatives in the Caucasus do not meet with  much opposition from Russia. The latter suggests that a change in the  situation in the South Caucasus without the participation of Russia  against the background of Ukraine is natural and even expected,” he  noticed.

At the same time, Malashenko considers obvious significant  differences in the price of the expected peace for the participants  in this process: Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkey, which, in his  opinion, is of secondary importance for the main moderator of the  peace process – the EU, at best. In the analyst’s opinion, the main  thing for Brussels is its own interest, the desire to gain a foothold  in the South Caucasus, take control of some regional processes and,  of course, achieve all this by weakening the presence and mediation  of Moscow.

“And it is quite natural that, among other things, the EU is  primarily trying to achieve this goal in the region through the  promotion and signing of an agreement on peace between Yerevan and  Baku. And this is against the background of the existence of two  tripartite statements and a commission for their implementation with  the participation of the Russian Federation. And I do not at all rule  out the achievement of specific Pashinyan-Aliyev agreements in the  Charles Michel format, which the OSCE Minsk Group will subsequently  join in, as Armenia wishes,” the Russian analyst summed up.

Opposition: The idea of "equitable withdrawal of troops" is part of the policy of peaceful surrender of territories

Ekmekjian Janet
ARMINFO
Armenia – April 5 2022
Alina Hovhannisyan

ArmInfo.The idea of “equitable withdrawal of troops” is part of the policy of peaceful surrender of territories Tigran Abrahamyan, MP from the “I have the honor” bloc,  stated this during his speech at an opposition rally. < This must be  prevented, there is no other way!>, the parliamentarian said. In  this regard, he noted that such ideas can only be put forward by  people who have no idea about the features of life in the border  regions and settlements.

Noting that the idea of  equitable withdrawal of troops was voiced by  the head of the Armenian government not only on the situation in  Artsakh, Abrahamyan stressed that the Sotk-Khoznavar, Syunik,  Gegharkunik, Vayotsdzor, and Yeraskh sectors in the Ararat region are  under actual threat.

The parliamentarian said that today Armenia has no alternative to the  modernization of the Armed Forces, the creation of a modern  technological army. However, the authorities, in response to such  calls from the opposition, as Abrahamyan further noted, only increase  funding for the law enforcement bloc, in particular the Police, the  Investigative Committee, and the Prosecutor’s Office. The MP assessed  such actions of the current government as nothing but the latter’s  desire to maintain power, rather than to ensure the safety of the  citizens of Armenia and Artsakh.

Speaking about the upcoming meeting between Nikol Pashinyan and Ilham  Aliyev, Abrahamyan said that said that the expectations of achieving  good results are in vain, taking into account the absence of a strong  security system and a strong army.