Thursday,
Prosecutors Seek Pashinian’s Acquittal In 2008 Unrest Case
• Naira Nalbandian
Armenia - A man walks past burned cars on a street in Yerevan where security
forces clashed with opposition protesters, 2 March 2008.
Prosecutors have asked Armenia’s Court of Cassation to absolve Prime Minister
Nikol Pashinian from all responsibility for the 2008 post-election unrest in
Yerevan that left ten people dead.
Pashinian played a major role in an opposition movement led by former President
Levon Ter-Petrosian, the main opposition candidate in a hotly disputed
presidential election.
The then 32-year-old journalist was the main speaker at an opposition rally held
in Yerevan on March 1-2, 2008 amid vicious clashes between some protesters and
security forces. Eight protesters and two police officers were killed in what
was the worst street violence in Armenia’s history.
Outgoing President Robert Kocharian declared a state of emergency and ordered
Armenian army units into the capital, accusing the Ter-Petrosian-led opposition
of attempting to seize power.
Pashinian went into hiding but surrendered to law-enforcement authorities in
July 2009. He was subsequently tried and sentenced to seven years in prison for
organizing the “mass disturbances,” a charge rejected by him as politically
motivated.
Like other Ter-Petrosian allies, Pashinian was released from jail in May 2011
under a general amnesty declared by the former Armenian authorities.
Armenia - Opposition leader Nikol Pashinian addresses protesters that barricaded
themselves in central Yerevan, 1 March 2008.
A spokesman for Armenia’s Office of the Prosecutor-General confirmed on Thursday
that it has appealed to the Court of Cassation to overturn the guilty verdict in
Pashinian’s trial and declare him innocent.
The official, Gor Abrahamian, insisted that the move “has nothing to do with the
position occupied” by Pashinian at present. He said it is based on a ruling
handed down by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) last month.
The Strasbourg court ruled that Armenian law-enforcement authorities had
violated Pashinian’s freedom of speech and assembly.
The authorities radically changed the official version of the events of March
2008 shortly after Pashinian swept to power in May 2018. They prosecuted
Kocharian and three other former officials on coup charges strongly denied by
them.
Kocharian was first arrested in July 2018. He was then twice freed and twice
rearrested before Armenia’s Court of Appeals released him on bail in June 2020.
A district court in Yerevan acquitted Kocharian and the other defendants in
April 2021 after the Constitutional Court declared the coup charges
unconstitutional.
The 67-year-old ex-president has said that his prosecution is part of a
“political vendetta” waged by Pashinian. The prime minister has denied that.
Yerevan Seeks Railway Accord With Baku
• Karine Simonian
Armenia - A disused railway leading to Azerbaijan's Nakhichevan region.
Official Yerevan said on Thursday that it needs to sign a legally binding
agreement with Baku before it can start building a railway that will connect
Azerbaijan with its Nakhichevan exclave.
The Armenian government set up last month a task force that will coordinate
construction of the 45-kilometer railway estimated to cost about $200 million.
The move followed verbal understandings reached by Prime Minister Pashinian and
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev late last year.
Speaking at a weekly session of his cabinet, Pashinian reiterated on Thursday
that the Armenian side is already gearing up for the construction.
“Although technical and design works have already started, we hope that the
understandings reached will soon be registered in the form of a document so that
a de jure process also unfolds in full swing,” he said.
Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigorian, who represents Armenia in Russian-mediated
talks on transport links with Azerbaijan, defended this position.
“Before we can launch such a project there needs to be a written agreement to
that effect because it requires substantial investments,” he told RFE/RL’s
Armenian Service.
Grigorian discussed the matter with Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Alexei
Overchuk and the head of Russian Railways (RZD) state monopoly, Oleg Belozerov,
when they visited Yerevan two weeks ago. He gave no details of the talks, saying
only that the Russian and Armenian governments are closely cooperating.
RZD runs Armenia’s railway network, called South Caucasus Railway (SCR), in line
with a 30-year management contract signed with the former Armenian government in
2008. Grigorian indicated that the Azerbaijan-Nakhichevan rail link passing
through Armenia’s Syunik province will also be managed by SCR.
Kocharian Deplores Armenia’s ‘Pro-Turkish Drift’
• Nane Sahakian
Armenia - Former President Robert Kocharian speaks at a news conference in
Yerevan, .
Armenia’s political leadership is succumbing to “the Turkish-Azerbaijani threat”
instead of strengthening the armed forces and deepening military ties with
Russia, former President Robert Kocharian said on Thursday.
Kocharian, who leads the main opposition Hayastan alliance, accused the
authorities of being ready to increase “Turkish influence” at the expense of
“Russian presence” in the country.
“More than one year has passed since the war [in Nagorno-Karabakh] but during
this time almost nothing has been done to restore our army’s combat readiness
and weaponry,” he told a news conference.
In these circumstances, he said, Russia has become the only real guarantor of
Armenia’s national security.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian pledged to deepen military ties with Moscow and
embark on “large-scale defense reforms” following Armenia’s defeat in the
six-year war stopped by a Russian-brokered truce in November 2020. Russian
Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu promised continued military aid to Yerevan in
August.
Kocharian insisted that only Moscow can help Armenia rebuild its army and
develop a “new military-industrial complex.”
“We need to understand to what extent Russia is prepared for such assistance and
cooperation with Armenia. I believe that is possible but also doubt that there
are such signals or requests from our side,” he said.
The ex-president claimed that Pashinian has different geopolitical priorities
now, pointing to ongoing talks on normalizing Turkish-Armenian relations.
“Turkey will cease to regard us as an obstacle to its [regional] programs only
if it gains total influence on our political processes and policies,” he said.
“This means that Turkey must also have dominant positions in our economy and
strong influence on our political elite.
“When could this happen? When the Russian presence here starts coming to an end
and being replaced with Turkish influence.”
Kocharian’s bloc and other opposition groups have expressed serious concern over
the Turkish-Armenian talks, saying that Yerevan is ready to make unilateral
concessions to Ankara. Pashinian’s government insists that it continues to stand
for an unconditional normalization of bilateral ties.
Russia as well as the United States and the European Union have publicly
welcomed the Turkish-Armenian dialogue. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov
again discussed it with his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan in a phone call
on Tuesday.
Armenia Pressing Ahead With Road Upgrades In Strategic Region
• Sargis Harutyunyan
Armenia - Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian chairs a cabinet meeting in Yerevan,
.
The Armenian government on Thursday took the first step towards attracting
potential contractors for the multimillion-dollar construction of a new highway
in Armenia’s southeastern Syunik province bordering Iran.
The 60-kilometer highway is to connect the provincial towns of Sisian and
Kajaran. It will significantly shorten travel time between Armenia and Iran and
bypass Armenian-Azerbaijani border areas.
Armenia lost control over a 21-kilometer stretch of an existing Syunik road
leading to the Iranian border after a controversial troop withdrawal ordered by
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian following the 2020 war in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Yerevan had to hastily finish work on a 70-kilometer bypass road late last year.
Pashinian has acknowledged that it is not convenient enough for heavy trucks and
needs further upgrades.
The bypass road will presumably overlap the Sisian-Kajaran highway. According to
Minister for Territorial Administration and Infrastructures Gnel Sanosian, the
mountainous highway will include as many as 27 bridges and five tunnels with a
combined length of 12 kilometers.
“We will do everything to get large international companies seriously interested
[in the project,]” Sanosian told a weekly cabinet meeting in Yerevan.
Pashinian announced at the meeting that his government has formally initiated a
“prequalification” of prospective bidders that will be shortlisted for an
international tender for the project.
“We hope that by the end of the year we will have [selected] a company that will
carry out that work,” he said.
Pashinian also said that the 60-kilometer highway will cost Armenia “several
hundred million dollars.” Neither he nor other government members specified the
sources of funding for the project.
The government is understood to expect Western donors, notably the European
Union, to foot the bill. The EU expressed readiness last year to provide up to
600 million euros ($680 million) in grants, loans and loan guarantees for road
construction in Armenia.
Pashinian suggested on Thursday that the Kajaran-Sisian highway will link up
with another planned road in Syunik that would connect Azerbaijan with its
Nakhichevan exclave.
Yerevan and Baku disagree on the status of that road link. Azerbaijani President
Ilham Aliyev has repeatedly demanded an exterritorial land corridor passing
through Syunik.
The Armenian side rejects these demands, saying that Azerbaijani freight cannot
be exempt from Armenian border controls. Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi appeared
to back Yerevan’s stance during a January 3 phone call with Pashinian.
The Iranian ambassador in Yerevan, Abbas Badakhshan Zohouri, said later in
January that Syunik must remain a key route for cargo shipments between Armenia
and Iran even after the anticipated launch of Armenian-Azerbaijani transport
links. The Iranian side is therefore looking forward to further highway upgrades
in the strategic Armenian region, he said.
Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2022 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
Category: 2022
Congressman Adam Schiff visits Armenian American Museum construction site
Public Radio of Armenia
Feb 17 2022
The Armenian American Museum and Cultural Center of California welcomed Congressman Adam Schiff for a special tour of the construction site of the landmark center. The museum is slated to complete the Foundation Phase of construction in Summer 2022.
“I was thrilled to see all of the great progress being made at the Armenian American Museum and Cultural Center of California. When finished, the museum will draw people from all over the country and the world to learn from and appreciate the Armenian experience,” said Schiff.
“The Armenian story is an American story, one of hope in the face of hardship, of perseverance, and of new beginnings, and the Museum will help ensure that story gets told for generations to come. It is an honor to work alongside my Armenian American constituents for recognition and justice, and I’ll keep working to make certain that this museum gets the support it deserves,” he noted.
In Summer 2021, Congressman Schiff announced that $950,000 was secured in the fiscal year 2022 federal government funding legislation in support of the construction and development of the landmark center. When passed through Congress, the funding will support the ongoing construction and the development of the museum’s permanent exhibition and programming. The funds would represent the federal government’s first investment in the landmark center.
The Armenian American Museum is a world class cultural and educational institution that is currently under construction in the museum campus at Glendale Central Park. The museum will offer a wide range of public programming through the Permanent Exhibition, Temporary Exhibitions, Auditorium, Learning Center, Demonstration Kitchen, Archives Center, and more.
The mission of the museum is to promote understanding and appreciation of America’s ethnic and cultural diversity by sharing the Armenian American experience. The vision is a cultural campus that enriches the community, educates the public on the Armenian American story, and empowers individuals to embrace cultural diversity and speak out against prejudice.
TUMO box opens in Javakhk
Public Radio of Armenia
Feb 17 2022
The first sessions have started at the TUMO box in the city of Akhlkalak in Georgia’s Armenian-populated Javakhk region․ Thanks to the cooperation between TUMO and the Javakhk branch of the Armenian Relief Society, more than 200 teenagers have already registered to attend the box and acquire skills in technology and design.
“Opening a TUMO Box in Akhalkalaki is very symbolic for us. As an international location that will serve hundreds of Armenian teenagers, this new box exemplifies our mission of reaching each and every Armenian community across borders,” TUMO CEO Marie Lou Papazian said.
The Akhlkalak box is the first step towards bringing TUMO’s tuition-free education program to teenagers in Javakhk with plans for possible expansion in the future.
MEPs urge release of Armenian POWs, call for Minsk Group’s swift return to its mediating role
Public Radio of Armenia
Feb 17 2022
The OSCE Minsk Group remains the only internationally recognized format for the resolution of the Karabakh conflict, Members of the European parliament said in a resolution on the Implementation of the common foreign and security policy – annual report 2021.
In the resolution the European Parliament calls on the EU, its Member States and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission (HR/VP) to actively engage in finding a lasting settlement on Nagorno-Karabakh and to prevent a further escalation of tensions in the region, notably by pressing Azerbaijan and Armenia to address post-war issues, including the demarcation of borders and the release of all remaining prisoners of war.
The MEPs note that the OSCE Minsk Group remains the only internationally recognized format for the resolution of this conflict on the basis of the principles of territorial integrity, non-use of force, self-determination and equal rights, and peaceful resolution of conflicts.
The European Union calls for the Minsk Group’s swift return to its mediating role.
Israel’s Tourism Minister visits Armenian St. Gregory the Illuminator Church
Public Radio of Armenia
Feb 17 2022
On , His Excellency Mr. Yoel Razvozov, Israel’s Minister of Tourism, visited the Holy Sepulchre Church during which he also visited the Armenian St. Gregory the Illuminator Church.
The Minister was introduced to the history of the Armenian Church, the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the conversion of the Armenian nation.
At the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem Mr. Razvozov was welcomed by His Eminence Abp. Sevan Gharibian, Grant Sacristan, Rev. Fr. Samuel Aghoyan, Armenian Superior of the Church, and Rev. Fr. Koryoun Baghdasaryan, the Chancellor.
Armenian Crossroads: PM Pashinyan presents details of North-South, East-West project
Public Radio of Armenia
Feb 17 2022
The North-South project has been redesigned and turned into a North-South, East-West project, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at the government sitting today.
“This actually means that one of the branches of that road – the North-South, East-West, or the Armenian crossroads – will link the north to the south, i.e. Armenia to Iran. The other branch will stretch from Azerbaijan to Armenia and later to Nakhijevan and Turkey,” the Prime Minister noted.
PM Pashinyan said the pre-qualification tender for the Sisian-Kajaran section of the North-South road has been announced.
He voiced hope that by the end of the year there will be specific construction companies to carry out the work. Of course, the East-West project part has not been done, but in the context of political agreements, we will implement that part very quickly.”
The Prime Minister noted that id you know that concrete work is underway for the construction of the Armenian section of the Yeraskh-Julfa-Ordubad-Meghri-Horadiz railway.
“In fact, although the technical and design work has already started, we hope that in the near future the agreements reached will be enshrined in a document, and the process will be be developing at full pace,” he said.
The pre-qualification phase will last 70 days. “We hope that within 70 days companies will actively submit applications, after which the qualified companies will have the opportunity to participate in the tender announced for the construction works,” he said.
Sports: Yerevan to host European Boxing Championship on May 21-31
Public Radio of Armenia
Feb 17 2022
Yerevan will host the European Adult Boxing Championship on May 21-31. The Government will allocate 77,768,000 AMD to the Boxing Federation of Armenia for the organization of the event.
Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Vahram Dumanyan said considering the traditions of the Armenian Boxing Federation and development directions, the International Boxing Federation has proposed to hold the European Adult Boxing Championship in Armenia.
About 280 athletes are expected to take part in the championship, as well as the participation of their accompanying staff and other delegates, a total of about 350 people are expected to take part.
MP Tigran Abrahamyan comments on Azerbaijan’s threats to arrest Artsakh president
panorama.am
Armenia – Feb 17 2022
Azerbaijan’s threats to arrest Artsakh President Arayik Harutyunyan, which are actually about kidnapping, point to the start of a deeper and more dangerous processes than it seems at first sight, according to Armenian MP Tigran Abrahamyan from the opposition With Honor faction.
“Given that many of our compatriots were put on Azerbaijan’s ” blacklist”, these threats are not actually addressed to one person,” he wrote on Facebook on Thursday.
“Even if in terms of the international law the accusations of the Azerbaijani law enforcement agencies are baseless, the risks stemming from them are not diminished.
“In the current situation, it is up to the relevant bodies of Armenia to crack down on Azerbaijani blackmail through various international structures.
“If Azerbaijan succeeds in making its steps in this process acceptable to the international community (and is already working on it), while the Armenian authorities show indifference and inaction as usual, pretending that they have nothing more to do when it comes to the Artsakh issue, we will soon witness new Azerbaijani provocations,” the lawmaker said.
Armenian ombudsman: School in Artsakh’s Taghavard also targeted by Azerbaijani forces
panorama.am
Armenia – Feb 17 2022
Armenia’s Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman) Arman Tatoyan and his Artsakh counterpart Gegham Stepanyan visited the communities of Taghavard, Karmir Shuka, Aghavno, Khramot and others in Artsakh to collect facts about the crimes committed by the Azerbaijani military against the civilian population.
In a statement summing up the fact-finding mission carried out on February 14-16, Tatoyan says the villages of Taghavard and Karmir Shuka come under Azerbaijani gunfire almost every single day, as a result of which the houses of local residents are damaged.
“Just few days ago, on February 11, Azerbaijani forces opened fire at houses of civilians, damaging walls and roofs of the buildings. Women and children were inside the houses at the time of the shooting. The bullets hit the window of one of the houses, where young children were asleep,” the ombudsman said.
“Azerbaijani soldiers are stationed in close proximity to houses in these communities, at a distance of several hundred meters, and people are fully in their sight,” Tatoyan noted.
Moreover, the ombudsman says the school in Taghavard is under the full observation of the Azerbaijani military.
“Private meetings and discussions with teachers and students revealed that the school also comes under targeted shootings. Moreover, residents said that in Taghavard and Karmir Shuka the Azerbaijani troops are releasing special lights from their positions or vehicles on civilian homes, including inside houses, to terrorize the residents. This frequently happens especially at night or in the evening,” the statement says.
Tatoyan underlines that the Azerbaijani military is constantly preventing the villagers from carrying out agricultural work, opening fire at them, stealing their animals and creating very serious social problems for them.
All this is systematic and has far-reaching plans. The Azerbaijani troops stationed near civilian settlements do everything to create an atmosphere of despair and hopelessness.
“All facts show that the criminal actions of the Azerbaijani servicemen against the civilian population in both Armenia and in Artsakh are identical, with aggressive manifestations in Artsakh.
“It is clear to us that all this stems from the continuous policy of Armenophobia and incitement of enmity towards Armenia and Artsakh by the Azerbaijani authorities,” the ombudsman stated.
‘Don’t harm science’: Scientific workers protest outside Armenian government
panorama.am
Armenia – Feb 17 2022
SOCIETY 13:56 17/02/2022 ARMENIA
Employees of the Scientific Technological Center of Organic and Pharmaceutical Chemistry at Armenia’s National Academy of Sciences on Thursday hold a protest outside the Armenian government building.
They warn that the planned construction of a residential complex near the center will do more harm than good. They held posters reading, “Don’t Harm Science!”, “Science is Power!”, “No Science, No Future!”, “Country’s Future is Under Threat!”.
The Green Property Development CJSC plans to construct a multifunctional building in the area of a pool near the Institute of Fine Organic Chemistry located at 26/1 Azatutyan Avenue in the Kanaker-Zeytun administrative district of Yerevan. The company acquired the property in May 2019.
The protesting employees argue that the high-rise complex will threaten the existence of the Scientific Technological Center of Organic and Pharmaceutical Chemistry.
“The scientific center and the residential building in this area are incompatible. Imagine if there are excavators working, how are we supposed to work in conditions of such vibrations and noise,” they state.