Charges against Lieutenant-General Jalal Harutyunyan, a former commander of the Artsakh Defense Army, have been dropped, Armenia’s Investigative Committee said.
A court in Yerevan stopped his prosecution following a military expertise, Investigative Committee spokesman Gor Abrahamyan told 168.am on Monday.
Harutyunyan was indicted on two counts of “careless attitude towards military service.”
The HayaKve initiative has asked the Central Electoral Commission of Armenia (CEC) to give a green light to a bill on Artsakh and the Armenian Genocide.
Under the 2018 referendum law, a citizens' initiative may submit a draft law to the CEC, get its approval and introduce it in the parliament after collecting 50,000 signatures.
The HayaKve initiative handed over a package of relevant documents to the Electoral Commission on Monday.
The bill seeks to make the recognition of Artsakh as a part of any other country and the renunciation of the Armenian Genocide recognition crimes against the constitutional order, lawyer Aram Orbelyan told reporters outside the CEC headquarters in Yerevan.
The CEC can reject the application only if it finds any violations after studying the documents, he said.
"A preliminary study of the documents has been carried out today, so far no obvious violations have been detected, but a detailed study is to be conducted. I don’t think the CEC is likely to reject it. The problem is to confirm it and make a formal decision,” Orbelyan added.
ARS of Eastern USA board member Mary Andonian administers the oath to the inaugural ARS “Sevan” Chapter members
TAMPA, Fla.—The Armenian Relief Society of Eastern USA announced the establishment of the ARS “Sevan” Chapter in Tampa, Florida. This becomes the 35th chapter under the leadership of the ARS of Eastern USA, which spans across 14 states and the nation’s capital, Washington.
“The ARS ‘Sevan’ Chapter is poised to make a lasting impact through their initiatives, joining hands with their fellow chapters and the ARS network to support and uplift the Armenian people in their time of need,” expressed chairperson of the ARS Regional Executive Board Caroline Chamavonian. “With our united efforts, the ARS continues to write a remarkable chapter in its longstanding history of humanitarian service.”
A special oath ceremony administered by ARS of Eastern USA regional board member Mary Andonian was held on Saturday, June 3, where new members Carolin Avedissian, Lena Kotchounian, Lucine Melikian, Lizette Nalbandian, Sarah Vartazarian and Diana Vartazarian officially joined the ranks. Also in attendance was long-time member of the region Angele Manoogian who conveyed her congratulatory remarks and provided a brief history of the ARS mission since its establishment.
The ARS “Sevan” Chapter becomes the second chapter in the state of Florida, standing alongside the established ARS “Sosseh” Chapter near Boca Raton, Florida. This momentous addition strengthens the ARS presence in the Sunshine State, amplifying the organization’s capacity to address the needs of the Armenian community.
The ARS of Eastern USA extends its heartfelt congratulations to the founding members of the “Sevan” Chapter and expresses gratitude to the Tampa community for their continued support and enthusiasm. With the new chapter’s establishment, the ARS reinforces its commitment to advancing humanitarian endeavors and fostering unity and solidarity among Armenians in Tampa and beyond.
The Supreme Spiritual Council of the Holy See of Etchmiadzin was held from June 5 to 8
The Holy See of Etchmiadzin again called on Armenia’s authorities to refrain from taking steps that would endanger Artsakh and the Armenian nation.
The Holy See’s Supreme Spiritual Council convened in Etchmiadzin from June 5 to 8 and over the weekend published a statement expressing concern over the “disastrous developments around Armenia and Artsakh.”
The statement said that the SSC specifically was concerned about “the danger of genocide threatening the people of Artsakh as a result of the blockade and the encroachments on the sovereign territories of Armenia.”
In its statement, the SSC also “emphasized that the authorities of Armenia should refrain from actions that violate the dignity of the nation and oppose the humiliating ambitions and demands of foreign enemies with realistic and exclusively pro-Armenian positions, resolutely defending the non-negotiable right of the people of Artsakh to self-determination.”
The meeting, which was also attended by Artsakh Foreign Minister Sergey Ghazarian, “expressed its support to the people and authorities of Artsakh, noting also that the just right of the people of Artsakh to live freely and independently will find protection within all national frameworks.”
This rebuke of Armenia’s authorities was the second time in a month that the Holy See of Etchmiadzin was vocalizing its concern for Artsakh’s right to self-determination.
Late last month both Karekin II, the Catholicos of All Armenians and Aram I, the Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia separately cautioned the Armenian government against undermining Artsakh’s independence and right to self-determination.
They called Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s statement that Armenia has committed to recognizing Azerbaijan’s 86,600 square kilometers of territory—that includes Artsakh—“unacceptable.”
“By recognizing the Republic of Artsakh as a part of Azerbaijan, the Armenian authorities would inevitably leave our brothers and sisters in Artsakh facing a new genocide and loss of the homeland,” read a statement issued by the Supreme Spiritual Council of the Holy See of Etchmiadzin after convening an emergency session in May.
“On December 10, 1991, Artsakh already expressed its collective will for sovereignty through a referendum, which was followed by a decision, on July 8, 1992, by the Supreme Council of the Republic of Armenia, which re-emphasized the sovereignty of Artsakh,” said the Cilician Catholicosate at the time.
“According to international law, a nation has the right to self-determination. Therefore, the just right of the people of Artsakh to determine for themselves cannot fall victim to attempts to establish a comprehensive peace within the region and to recognize the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan,” the Antelias statement added.
Rep. Adam Schiff speaks at an Armenian Genocide commemoration event at the Montebello Martyrs Monument on Apr. 22
WASHINGTON — Congressman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) sent a letter to President Biden last week urging him to act quickly and decisively to address the ongoing situation in Armenia and Artsakh as Azerbaijan continues to launch attacks and administer a blockade of the Lachin Corridor, creating a human rights crisis in the region.
In the letter, Schiff expressed concern over the escalating threat of ethnic cleansing and genocide faced by the people of Artsakh and Armenia at the hands of the despotic Aliyev regime.
The letter also expresses concern that Artsakh has been used as a bargaining chip in the peace talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan, without any representation.
“The people of Armenia and Artsakh deserve a just and lasting peace. This will only be possible if the United States and the EU partners involved in talks remain committed to upholding democracy, human rights, the rule of law, and to respecting the legitimate rights of the people of Artsakh. We must take immediate measures to condemn ceasefire violations by Azerbaijan; call on Azerbaijan to immediately and unconditionally release all Armenian prisoners of war; hold Azerbaijan accountable for the ongoing blockade of the Lachin Corridor, including through sanctions and cutting off aid; and ensure the protection and right to self-determination of the people of Artsakh, whose people have spoken with one voice that they will not give up on their right to independence and a peaceful life with dignity” wrote Rep. Schiff.
Schiff has long been a vocal advocate for the United States to use all available means, including sanctions and restriction of aid, to stop Azerbaijan from using force, threats, and terror to expel and annihilate the citizens of Artsakh and take control of Artsakh or Armenian territory.
In April, Schiff introduced a resolution in Congress calling for the U.S. recognition of Artsakh’s independence and self-determination.
Below is the complete text of the letter.
Dear President Biden,
In the South Caucasus we face a crisis of democracy, human rights, and the international rules-based order. After marking the 108th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in April with pledges of “never again,” today the democratic and peaceful people of Artsakh face the real threat of ethnic cleansing and genocide at the hands of an autocratic Azerbaijani regime.
Azerbaijani President Aliyev continues to use force, threats, and terror to expel or annihilate the citizens of Artsakh and take control of the Armenian territories, without consequences. Not only has Azerbaijan tightened the chokehold around the people of Artsakh, but Azerbaijani forces continue to violate the territorial integrity of the Republic of Armenia by violating its sovereignty through an ongoing occupation that commenced in May 2021. Meanwhile, the United States’ positive statements on peace talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan are perplexing and appear detached from the reality on the ground. Ignoring Azerbaijan’s ongoing violations of the 2020 trilateral ceasefire statement and international law, and Aliyev’s increasingly hateful and threatening rhetoric toward Armenians, makes the United States complicit in the unfolding disaster. Your administration must take action to defend democracy and human rights before it is too late.
I am deeply concerned by the latest news that reveals Artsakh has been used as a bargaining chip in the peace talks, without any representation. This contravenes U.S. values and international law. Article I of the UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights states, “All peoples have the right of self-determination.” The Republic of Artsakh declared its independence with near-unanimous consent in a referendum on December 10, 1991, consistent with their rights under the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States (1970) in accordance with the UN Charter, following Azerbaijan’s deprivation of the fundamental rights of the region’s Armenian population and use of force.
Unilaterally handing over the independent Republic of Artsakh to its oppressors will discredit the entire peace process, call into question U.S. commitment to international standards on self-determination and Responsibility to Protect, and create conditions for continued war and ethnic cleansing or genocide against the people of Artsakh.
The fragile security and humanitarian situation in Artsakh is deteriorating, with fresh reports of attacks by Azerbaijan in violation of the ceasefire statement almost daily and continued restrictions on freedom of movement along the Lachin Corridor. These actions reveal the genocidal intent to ethnically cleanse Armenians by forcible emigration from their historical homeland. For nearly six months now, Azerbaijan has blockaded the Lachin Corridor, the only road connecting Artsakh to the outside world. The effect has been devastating to the
population, rendering 120,000 individuals without access to food, medical supplies and services, consistent gas and electricity, and essential human rights such as freedom of movement. Azerbaijan has ignored rulings from the European Court and the International Court of Justice, which ordered1 Azerbaijan to “take all measures at its disposal to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both directions.” Instead, Aliyev has taken provocative steps to further tighten the noose around Artsakh’s civilian population by unilaterally establishing an Azerbaijani checkpoint, under the watch of Russian peacekeepers who had assumed the responsibility to ensure the security and free movement of Armenians through the Lachin Corridor, which he openly brags about.
This is a clear violation of the 2020 trilateral ceasefire statement and has disrupted the delivery of even minimal lifesaving humanitarian aid and medicine. There are new reports2 that Artsakh will soon also face a water and energy crisis, as a key reservoir dries up and Azerbaijan refuses to allow the repair of electricity cables. Though the U.S. government, EU, and Russia have condemned the blockade and called for the corridor to be opened to regular traffic, Azerbaijan has ignored such statements for months. The time for statements has clearly long passed. The United States must immediately use other tools to press Azerbaijan to return to compliance with international law and order, by imposing sanctions and visa restrictions and cutting off assistance. If the United States remains committed to peace, this issue must be front and center in all communications regarding the situation in the South Caucasus region.
Against this backdrop, at a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on May 23,3 the USAID Assistant Administrator in the Bureau for Europe and Eurasia shared that Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan had publicly “asserted Armenia’s recognition of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, which was an important first step that the team has put on the table. And this assertion is inclusive of Nagorno-Karabakh.” She said, “That is progress.” I find it shocking that a determination on the sensitive issue of the status of Artsakh, made without any input from the people of Artsakh or its elected leaders, would be considered a “first step” by the U.S. government, while Azerbaijan continues its blockade of the Lachin Corridor. No serious talks can take place while the innocent civilian population there continues to live in terror.
Officials of the democratically elected government of Artsakh, which has held free, fair, and transparent elections, continue to voice their desire to engage in peace talks with Azerbaijan, as an equal partner through an internationally recognized format, and in the presence of strong international guarantees for security, the right to self-determination, human rights, and the implementation of the parties’ obligations. The security and rights of the 120,000 Armenians living there cannot be guaranteed under the authoritarian rule of Ilham Aliyev, who orchestrated the ethnic cleansing of thousands of Armenians in Shushi and Hadrut during the 2020 conflict.
Over the years, the atrocities committed by Azerbaijan against Armenians have been nothing short of deplorable, from the torture, mutilation and killing of Armenian civilians, soldiers and prisoners of war to the destruction of religious and cultural sites in Artsakh in an attempt to erase or falsify history. Armenians in Armenia, Artsakh, and the diaspora have memories of unspeakable horror, and of the murder of people they knew and loved. Furthermore, years of hateful, racist anti-Armenian propaganda have been woven into the very fabric of Azerbaijani society, which led to attacks and massacres on ethnic Armenians in Sumgait, Baku, and Kirovabad, and more recently the 44-day-war in 2020 and subsequent attacks, where Azerbaijani forces targeted and murdered innocent Armenians in Artsakh.
Instead of taking any steps to build confidence or show good faith in negotiations, Aliyev confirmed many people’s fears in his May 28 remarks4 in which he threatened the democratically elected leaders of Artsakh, stating, “Either they will bend their necks and come themselves or things will develop differently now…everyone knows perfectly well that we have all the opportunities to carry out any operation in that [Nagorno Karabakh] region today.”
Furthermore, in a clear and blatant threat which cannot be enabled nor tolerated by the United States, Aliyev demanded Armenians of Artsakh to become “loyal and normal citizen[s] of Azerbaijan,” the resignation of Artsakh’s elected leadership, and the dissolution of Artsakh’s institutions (like the Parliament) which have been functioning democratically for 30 years.
It is clear from Aliyev’s May 28 statements that he feels justified and supported in continuing on his current course with the backing of the United States, Russia, and the international community. He stated, “international organizations have completely agreed with our position of late.” He then continued his threats against Armenia, stating, “Let them know that we can see Armenian villages from here. We can see those villages, so they shouldn’t forget about that.” Just two days later, the State Department issued an upbeat statement5 “welcom[ing] President Aliyev’s recent remarks on consideration of amnesty.” Notably absent is any condemnation of the ongoing blockade of the Lachin Corridor, of Azerbaijan’s transparent threats of military action, and aggression against Artsakh.
The people of Armenia and Artsakh deserve a just and lasting peace. This will only be possible if the United States and the EU partners involved in talks remain committed to values of democracy, human rights, rule of law, and respect the legitimate rights of the people of Artsakh.
We must take immediate measures to condemn ceasefire violations by Azerbaijan; call on Azerbaijan to immediately and unconditionally release all Armenian prisoners of war; hold Azerbaijan accountable for the ongoing blockade of the Lachin Corridor, including through sanctions and cutting off aid to Azerbaijan; and ensure the protection and right to self-determination of the people of Artsakh, whose people have spoken with one voice that they will not give up on their right to independence and a peaceful life with dignity. We urge you to make clear to all parties – including Azerbaijani officials – that no final decisions on the status of Artsakh can be made without representatives of Artsakh at the table on equal footing. It is the right of the people of Artsakh to live free of political, cultural, and economic oppression, and as a protector of democracy, the United States must continue to support and stand with the people of Artsakh to achieve the recognition it deserves among all nations.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. I stand ready to work with the Administration in support of the people of Armenia and Artsakh.
Sincerely,
Adam B. Schiff Member of Congress
The Lachin Corridor remains blockaded since Dec. 12
Azerbaijan has been blockading Artsakh, through the closure of the Lachin Corridor, for six months. The Artsakh Human Rights Defender published an updated version of a report detailing violations of human rights since December 12, when the blockade began.
Through graphs and charts, the report provides a comprehensive overview of the dire conditions and ongoing provocation by Azerbaijan against the people of Artsakh.
Some of the basic data is presented in below, highlighting the human rights violations during the past 182 day:
In addition to the continuous and multiple violations of the provisions of the Tripartite Statement of November 9, 2020, the mandatory execution of the decision of the United Nations International Court of Justice on ensuring unimpeded entry and departure of people, cars and cargo along the Lachin corridor has not been implemented by Azerbaijan, which once again is breaching international values and principles.
Furthermore, the Azerbaijani side resorted to new aggressive actions which resulted in human losses and new sufferings among Artsakh people. Since April 23, the Azerbaijani side has installed an illegal checkpoint near the Hakari bridge.
Consequently, the international community has not only the right, but also an indisputable obligation to implement the decision of the International Court of Justice by practical means as soon as possible and to prevent future Azerbaijani crimes, including the new planned and brutal crime against humanity.
All the violations of Azerbaijan against the people of Artsakh are carried out within the framework of its state policy of racial discrimination (Armenophobia) and are deeply directed against their right to self-determination and the fact of its realization, aimed at finally resolving the conflict to their advantage via ethnic cleansing based on the “no people, no rights” logic.
The systematic and consistent policy of ethnic hatred pursued by Azerbaijan, which manifested itself both during the aggression against the people of Artsakh in 2020 and after the establishment of the ceasefire regime, indisputably proves that any status of Artsakh within Azerbaijan is tantamount to ethnic cleansing of Artsakh and the genocide of the Armenians of Artsakh. Therefore, in the context of the Artsakh conflict, the right to self-determination is equal to the right of people to live in their homeland.
The fundamental right to self-determination of the people of Artsakh, as well as the Azerbaijani encroachments and threats against their physical existence on the basis of racial discrimination are more than sufficient grounds for the protection of the people of Artsakh by the international community, as well as the international recognition of the Republic of Artsakh based on the principle of “remedial recognition.”
John Bejian in high school
In 1938, in Providence, Rhode Island, John “Johnny” Bejian was a 17-year-old with a very specific dream. Most of his friends wanted to be as talented as the phenomenal baseball player Joe DiMaggio, as famous as the legendary dancer Fred Astaire, or as popular as the iconic entertainer Bing Crosby, but Bejian wanted to live his passion for sports by becoming a sports announcer.
Born on June 12, 1921, in Providence, Bejian was the pride and joy of his parents Charles and Margaret Bejian. They were both born in Armenia, and like so many Armenians, they were forced to leave their beautiful homeland, forced to leave everything they had, forced to leave everything they loved. Bejian had two sisters, Peggy and Valencia, who adored their brother and were always there for him.
By the age of eight, Bejian was already interested in sports. At the time, the “Providence Grays” were playing in Minor League Baseball (MiLB), and the “Providence Steam Rollers” were playing in the National Football League (NFL). In 1928, the Steam Rollers won the NFL Championship, and in 1929, the Steam Rollers made history by being the first team to host an NFL game at night, under floodlights. Like most kids, Bejian would sometimes dream about the future and picture himself commentating a baseball game. Someday, somewhere, somehow, the world would hear his voice ending a live broadcast with a traditional: “Thanks for listening. Goodnight, Providence.”
Bejian later attended Central High School in Providence and was a remarkable student. He was always eager to learn, loved playing baseball and was one of the most popular students. According to all, Bejian was a born leader; he was the class president and president of the student council. Following his graduation in 1939, he worked for a jewelry manufacturing company and was then employed by the Nicholson File Company on Acorn Street, Providence. That’s when Bejian made a decision that changed the course of his life. Knowing that freedom was in great danger and knowing that an entire generation would be needed to stop the forces of evil, Bejian decided to join the US Army Air Corps and said goodbye to his beloved family.
2nd Lt John Bejian
Second Lieutenant John “Johnny” Bejian became a proud member of the 836th Bomb Squadron, 487th Bomb Group, 8th Air Force and served his country as a B-24 navigator. Mission after mission, this true Armenian American hero put his life on the line to liberate Europe. Being assigned to a bomber crew was basically a death sentence during World War II. More than 26,000 members of the 8th Air Force were killed during the war, and more than 20,000 were wounded. The average life expectancy of a bomber crew rarely exceeded 15 missions. Bejian knew that every mission could be his last one, but like so many brave young men, he did what he had to do.
On June 20, 1944, Bejian and his crewmates took off from England and headed toward Germany. Their mission was to travel deep into enemy territory and destroy an oil refinery near Hanover. Everything was going according to plan, but suddenly, all hell broke loose. German anti-aircraft fire struck the American bomber, perforating its fuselage and killing Bejian instantly. He was only 23 years old. On that fateful day, Providence lost one of its true heroes, but heaven gained an angel. Bejian was initially buried at the Cambridge American Cemetery in England, but in 1948, he was repatriated to Rhode Island and is now resting in peace next to his parents at North Burial Ground in Providence.
John’s gravestone at North Burial Ground, Providence, RI
To honor this true Armenian American hero in a meaningful way, I contacted three Major League Baseball teams—the St. Louis Cardinals, the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Cleveland Guardians—all of which displayed a tribute message on their scoreboards during their respective games against the Atlanta Braves on April 3, the Chicago White Sox on April 9 and the New York Yankees on April 11. I don’t know how many spectators at Busch Stadium, PNC Park and Progressive Field saw these special tributes, but I’m sure Bejian saw them, and that’s the most important.
The scoreboard tribute displayed on April 11, 2023 at Progressive Field, stadium of the Cleveland Guardians
So many years have gone by since that fateful mission over Germany, but here we are Johnny, still missing you, still thinking about you, still talking about you, and still honoring you. Happy Birthday, Johnny. Rest assured that your legacy and memory will live on forever.
The California
Courier Online,1- Pashinyan
Refuses to Resign, DespitePrecipitous
Decline in his PopularityBy Harut
SassounianPublisher,
The California
Courier
www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com
www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com2- Glendale: 3 arrested as
protesters outside board meetingclash over
LGBTQ curriculum3- Fallen
Soldier’s Mother Freed After Judge Hands Down Suspended Jail Term4- Letter to the Editor
****************************************************************************************
1- Pashinyan
Refuses to Resign, DespitePrecipitous
Decline in his PopularityBy Harut
SassounianPublisher,
The California
Courier
www.TheCaliforniaCourier.comTwo polls were conducted in Armenia recently, giving the people
a chance to express their views on various issues, including the sharp decline
in Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s popularity.The first survey was conducted January 23-March 4, 2023 by
the Center for Insights in Survey Research, a project of the Washington,
D.C.-based International Republican Institute. This scientific survey, based on
a random sample of Armenia’s
population, was funded by the United States Agency for International
Development (USAID).Question: “Do you think Armenia is heading in the right
direction or wrong direction?” 52%: wrong direction (up from 11%-14% in 2018 when
Pashinyan first came to power); 36%: right direction (down from 72%-73% in
2018).Question: “How satisfied or dissatisfied are you with the
pace of democracy in our country?” 17%: satisfied; 46%: dissatisfied; 35%: no
change.Question: “How much interest do you have in politics?” 43%:
very much or somewhat interested; 57%: not at all or somewhat not interested.Question: “How would you evaluate the prevailing mood of the
Armenian population?” 44%: future will be better or somewhat better; 55%:
insecurity, worry, fear for the future, total disappointment, and disbelief in
any improvement.Question: “Which politician or public person do you trust
the most?” 64%: none; 14%: Nikol Pashinyan; 3%: Ararat Mirzoyan; 2%: Robert
Kocharyan; others 2% each.Question: “Which political party or alliance, if any, you
would vote for if national parliamentary elections were held next Sunday?” 47%:
would not vote or refused to answer or don’t know; 17%: Civil Contract; 5% Armenia Alliance;
4%: Public Voice party; 2%: Prosperous Armenia party; 2%: ARF Dashnaktsutyun;
others 1% each.Question: “How satisfied or dissatisfied are you with the
following institutions?” Armenian
Apostolic Church,
54%: very or somewhat satisfied; 40%: very or somewhat dissatisfied; Prime
Minister’s office, 38%: satisfied (down from 82%-85% in 2018); 61%:
dissatisfied (up from 13-17% in 2018).Question: “How do you feel about the direction of each of
the following spheres during the past six months?” Freedom of speech, 56%:
improved a lot or somewhat improved (down from 73%-83% in 2018); 18%: regressed
a lot or somewhat regressed (up from 3%-6% in 2018); 26%: no change (up from
19% in 2018). Foreign policy, 37%: improved a lot or somewhat improved (same as
2019); 33%: somewhat regressed or regressed a lot (up from 17% in 2019); 26%:
no change (down from 39% in 2019). Armenia’s policy on Artsakh, 10%:
improved a lot or somewhat improved (down from 32% in 2019); 69%: regressed a
lot or somewhat regressed (up from 18% in 2019); 18%: no change (down from 45%
in 2019). Direction of fight against corruption, 43%: improved (down from 82%
in 2018); 22%: regressed (up from 2% in 2018); 32%: no change (up from 14% in
2018).Question: “What do you think is the biggest success of the
government in the last 6 months?” 43%: none; 21%: don’t know or refused to
answer; 6%: development of diplomatic relation; other minor issues.Question: “What do you think is the biggest failure of the
government in the last 6 months?” 21%: don’t know or refused to answer; 15%:
closure of Lachin Corridor; 9%: overturning the Artsakh issue; 8%: national
security of Armenia
and border issues; 7%: loss of territories; other minor issues.Question: “What are the things Pashinyan’s government must
achieve in the next 6 months?” 23%: improvement of army conditions; 22%:
protection of Armenia’s
national security and borders; 16%: creation of jobs; 15%: establish peace;
13%: opening of Lachin Corridor; 13%: Pro-Armenian settlement of the Artsakh
issue.Question: “To what extent is corruption a problem?” 73%:
very large or somewhat large problem; 25%: somewhat small, very small or no
problem.Question: “How do you evaluate the relationship between Armenia and…?”
96%: France (very good or somewhat good); 91%: Iran;
88%: United States; 86%:
European Union; 84%: China;
80%: Georgia; 50%: Russia;
44%: Ukraine; 23%: Turkey; 4%: Azerbaijan. The relationship
between Armenia and Russia has gone
down from 87%-92% in 2018 to 50% good in 2023. The relationship between Armenia and Turkey
has gone up from 1%-11% in 2018 to 23% good in 2023, while 75% of Armenia’s
citizens (down from 85% in 2018) consider the relationship bad.A second poll was carried out in May 2023 by the Marketing
Professional Group, affiliated with Gallup International. This is a scientific
survey based on a random sample of Armenia’s population.Question: How do you evaluate Nikol Pashinyan’s recognition
of Artsakh as a part of Azerbaijan?
3.8%: definitely positive; 5.4%: rather positive; 63.4%: not positive; 18.5%:
rather not positive; 8.9%: no answer.Question: Do you think it is possible for Artsakh Armenians
to exist as an ethnic minority in Azerbaijan? 2.8%: yes; 5.6%: rather
yes; 77.7%: no; 8.7%: rather no; 5.1%: no answer.Question: “Which of these judgments do you agree with?”
32.8%: Pashinyan is trying to conduct a balanced policy with the West and Russia; 20.5%: Pashinyan is trying to integrate Armenia with Europe, the West and NATO circles;
14.7%: Pashinyan is aiming to bring Armenia
closer to Azerbaijan and Turkey; 12.9%: Pashinyan’s actions are directed
to push Russia out of Armenia; 19%:
no answer.Question: “Given Armenia’s internal and external
challenges, is it necessary to hold extraordinary parliamentary elections and
form a new government?” 41%: definitely necessary; 18.9%: rather necessary;
12.2%: rather not necessary; 19.5%: not necessary; 8.5%: no answer.Question: “Turkey
expressed its displeasure at the placement of the Nemesis statue in Yerevan and as a first
step closed its airspace to Armenian flights. Do you think the Armenian
government or city officials should give in to Turkish pressures and dismantle
the memorial dedicated to the Nemesis heroes?” 82.5%: definitely no; 7.7%:
rather no; 2.6%: definitely yes; 3.5%: rather yes; 3.5%: no answer.Question: “Did you participate in the 2018 revolution?” In
the 2023 survey, 62.6%: no; 37.4%: yes. In the 2018 survey, 91%: yes; 9%: no.Question: “Is it right for protesters to block streets and
movement of cars?” In the 2023 survey, 44.5%: yes; 50.8%: no. In the 2018
survey, 87.1%: yes; 8.7%: no.Question: “Five years have passed since the revolution: In
the meantime, how well were your expectations realized?” In the 2023 survey,
3.8%: fully realized; 21.5%: partially realized; 18%: partially not realized;
52.1%: not realized. In the 2018 survey, 14.4 %: fully realized; 64.2%:
partially realized; 7.6%: partially not realized; 10.9%: not realized.Question: “Evaluate Prime Minister Pashinyan’s performance.”
In the 2023 survey, 5.4%: fully positive; 13.4%: rather positive; 24.2%: rather
negative; 47.1%: negative; 10%: no answer. In the 2018 survey, 45.4%: positive;
46.2%: rather positive; 3.9%: rather negative; 2.4%: negative.We all have our personal opinions, but it is important to
know what the citizens of Armenia
think about these issues. There are major changes in their perceptions from
2018 to 2023.****************************************************************************************
2- Glendale: 3 arrested as protesters outside
board meetingclash over
LGBTQ curriculumA furious debate over how gender identity and sexual
education should be taught to children and protected in schools unfolded on
Tuesday, June 6 at the night meeting of the Glendale Unified School District
(GUSD) School Board.At 5 p.m. a crowd of more than 200 gathered outside GUSD
headquarters. The crowd stood in two physically and ideologically divided camps
with a row of Glendale
police officers between them. The protest swelled in size and intensity and
police set up physical barriers between the two sides and around the building’s
entrances.Several police helicopters circled overhead. Glendale Police
Department officers locked down the building at one point after a fight broke
out outside. Police called all staff to return to the building, declared an
unlawful assembly and cleared a crowd from the parking lot. On one side were
protesters opposed to teaching children about sexual identities in
school—including a large number of Hispanic Americans and Armenian Americans—
holding American flags and signs that said, “Leave our kids alone.” On the
other side were LGBTQ+IA advocates speaking a message of inclusion.The school board’s agenda included a resolution celebrating
Pride month, but the agenda had no items related to curriculum changes or
gender policies.Law enforcement arrested three individuals amid the mayhem
after the protest “exceeded the bounds of peaceful assembly,” for various
charges including unlawful use of pepper spray and willfully obstructing
officers in the course of their duties the Glendale Police Department announced
Tuesday night.Attendance at the meeting was capped at 75 public speakers
who, over the course of several hours, shared their views on the district’s
LGBTQ+IA inclusive curriculum, on allowing students to select their own
pronouns, and on transgender students’ access to bathrooms and locker rooms.“I’m here on the side of parents who want to keep the focus
in schools on academics rather than on sexual orientation, or on so-called
gender identity, which is a fake, made-up concept with no basis in material
reality and does not help kids get ahead in life,” said Alyssa Cohen. “LGBTQ+,
those letters represents a harmful ideology that’s impacting kids’ education.”GUSD on Monday, June 5 further released a statement and FAQ
in response to criticisms raised by the anti-LGBTQ+IA activists. “Recently,
intentional and harmful disinformation has been circulating about what is being
taught in our district and the ways we serve our students,” said GUSD
Superintendent Vivian Ekchian. “This includes disinformation about LGBTQIA+
curriculum, sex education, and supporting transgender and gender nonconforming
youth. We have absolutely no agenda. We are not in the business of converting
anyone’s child.”At GUSD, tension has grown for more than a year over the
district’s approach to gender and sexuality identity. In a recent statement,
Ekchian said that GUSD is committed to “providing a safe, inclusive environment
where every child can learn and thrive” and follows “all laws and policies
established by the California
legislature and Department of Education.”In elementary school, GUSD students are not taught specific
information about LGBTQ+IA or gender identity, but are taught lessons on
diversity and about different types of families. In secondary school, GUSD
students are taught about the contributions of LGBTQ+IA Americans in their
social studies curriculum as required by the state in Senate Bill 48.The district’s policies of allowing students to select their
own gender pronouns, and use the restroom of the gender with which they
identify, are also in line with California
state laws. Since 2013, state law and the interpretation of state law by the
California Department of Education have mandated that students have a right to
ask to be referred to by a name or pronoun that might be different from that on
their official record.California
law requires that, “students shall have access to the restroom and locker room
that corresponds to their gender identity asserted at school.” No student is
ever forced to disrobe or change clothes in front of any adult at school.Governor Gavin Newsom issued the following statement after
Monday’s reports of violence outside of a Glendale Unified
School District board
meeting: “I spoke with Superintendent Ekchian and I want to thank her and the
Glendale Unified School Board for standing tall against this organized campaign
of hate. In California,
we celebrate the beauty of pluralism — how our diverse communities, heritages,
and identities belong and, together, make us whole. Glendale represents the best of this
commitment, but the hate we saw on full display last night does not,” said
Newsom in the statement.“What should have
been a routine vote — simply recognizing Pride Month for the fourth year in a
row — turned to violence. The words of the resolution did not change from years
past, but what has changed is a wave of division and demonization sweeping our
nation. With hate on the rise nationally, we must rise together in California to affirm what both Pride Month and Immigrant
Heritage Month represent — that in the Golden State,
no matter who you are or what diverse community you are from, you belong,”
Newsom concluded in the statement.Many people spoke out during the meeting about the
importance of embracing the LGBTQ+IA community as did members of local advocacy
organizations including GALAS LGBTQ+ Armenian Society, the Armenian American
Action Network, Southern California Armenian Democrats and the LA LGBT Center.“My experience as a young LGBTQ+ student was made difficult
because I did not see any representations of what it meant to be gay,” said
Erik Adamian, a former GUSD student and board president of the GALAS LGBTQ+
Armenian Society. “We are in full support of our public schools’
acknowledgement that diverse families and LGBTQ-plus identities exist, and we
ask our community members and allies to push for safe and welcoming schools for
all students.”Planned performances by students, listed on the meeting
agenda, were scrapped due to safety concerns expressed by the Glendale Police
Department, said Board President Nayiri Nahabedian.“I feel like that’s a huge loss for all of us in this room,
and watching online, to not get to celebrate children because of arguments
adults are having about politics,” said GUSD parent Amanda Shiroh. “So I wanted
to recognize those children who didn’t get to be here today and express a great
gratitude to all of you (school board members) for supporting our inclusive, diverse
community.”The heated meeting came on the heels of a June 2 protest at Saticoy Elementary School, where parents
objected to a book reading that explained same sex parents. LGBTQ advocates
organized a counter-protest. Days before the reading, a transgender teacher’s
Pride flag was burned at Saticoy Elementary School in North Hollywood, California.
The flag burning incident is under LAPD investigation.On Thursday, June 8, the Armenian Sisters of Academy in Montrose, California
(which falls within the Glendale
school district) issued a promotional statement “in support of the GUSD parent
voices who are speaking out against the sexualization of our children. The
actions of public schools have highlighted the incredible differences between
the curriculum, which is based on political ideologies, and our school, based
on the Christian faith and the Armenian culture.”“Don’t let the public education system steal your children’s
minds away from you,” said the statement. “Especially in these times devoid of religion
and morals, consider us for your child’s education. You will recognize how
important a decision this was not too long from now.”****************************************************************************************
3- Fallen Soldier’s Mother Freed
After Judge Hands Down Suspended Jail TermBy Robert
Zargarian(RFE/RL)—A woman accused of attempting to “kidnap” Prime
Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s son was freed on Friday, June 10 after a court in Yerevan gave her a
four-year suspended prison sentence at the end of a short trial. Gayane
Hakobian, whose son Zhora Martirosian was killed during the 2020 war in
Nagorno-Karabakh, walked free because of pleading guilty to the accusation
strongly denied by her until then. She avoided talking to the press after the
announcement of the guilty verdict. The final session of the trial took place
behind the closed doors.The lawyers who represented Hakobian for the last two weeks
said earlier in the day that she has fired them because of disagreeing with
their defense tactic. They did not deny that she struck a deal with
prosecutors.“There is a conflict between Mrs. Gayane’s and our
positions,” one of the lawyers, Hovsep Sargsian, told reporters. “We planned on
continuing our defense aimed at her acquittal, but Mrs. Gayane is of a
different opinion now.”Hakobian already replaced other lawyers who represented her
right after her arrest on May 17, which sparked angry protests by several dozen
other parents of fallen soldiers and hundreds of their sympathizers. That move
fueled speculation that she is cooperating with what the protesters condemned
as a politically motivated investigation into her argument with Ashot
Pashinyan.Armenia’s Investigative Committee charged Hakobian with
tricking the prime minister’s son into getting in her car and trying to drive
him to the Yerablur Military Pantheon where her son was buried along with
hundreds of other soldiers killed in action. Pashinyan jumped out of the car on
their way to Yerablur.The grief-stricken woman insisted at the start of her trial
on June 5 that Ashot Pashinyan was not forced into her and that she only wanted
to talk to him at Yerablur.The high-profile trial began hours after the Court of
Appeals moved Hakobian to house arrest. The lower court judge presiding over
the trial promptly issued a new arrest warrant demanded by the prosecutors and
Ashot Pashinian. The latter told the judge that she committed a “grave crime”
and must remain behind bars.Armenian opposition leaders and other critics of the
government claim that Nikol Pashinyan ordered Hakobian’s arrest in a bid to
muzzle the families of deceased soldiers who have staged demonstrations over
the past year to demand his prosecution on war-related charges. Hakobian
actively participated in them.Pashinyan triggered the regular demonstrations in April 2022
when he responded to continuing opposition criticism of his handling of the
disastrous war with Azerbaijan.
He said he “could have averted the war, as a result of which we would have had
the same situation, but of course without the casualties.” The soldiers’
families say Pashinyan thus publicly admitted sacrificing the lives of at least
3,800 Armenian soldiers.****************************************************************************************
4- Letter to
the EditorDear Editor:
Finally we witness some show of spine and self respect when
Nikol Pashinyan in his interview with CNN Prime News of Check Republic has said
that, “In the Russia’s war with Ukraine Armenia is not Russia’s ally.”
Putin’s secretary Dimitry Peskov acknowledged the announcement and said, “We
accept this as an information…”.Well, I suppose it is payback time. During the 44-day War,
our so-called trusted ally Russia,
did not lift a finger to help Armenia.Sincerely,
Armine Koundakjian
Torrance,
Calif.****************************************************************************************
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Yerevan /Mediamax/. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia issued a statement which says that "the military-political leadership of Azerbaijan is preparing the ground for another aggressive actions and ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh.”
The statement runs as follows:
“For a long time, the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan has been spreading daily fake news about ceasefire violations by the Defense Army of Nagorno-Karabakh in the zone of responsibility of Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh.
It is noteworthy that in the information materials published by the Russian peacekeepers, ceasefire violations only by Azerbaijan were recorded.
Taking into account the already well-established experience of Azerbaijan to provide “informational support” before carrying out the next acts of use of force and to artificially ascribe responsibility for future actions to the other party from the outset, the Republic of Armenia has serious concerns that the military-political leadership of Azerbaijan, despite all its own obligations, is preparing the ground for another aggressive actions and ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh.
We call on the peacekeeping forces of the Russian Federation to strictly follow the observance of the ceasefire regime and investigate all the incidents voiced by Azerbaijan, publicly presenting the entire situation on the ground. ”
Raffi K. Hovannisian, Armenia’s first minister of foreign affairs, is the founding chairman of the Heritage Party.
YEREVAN — Meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, followed by French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz this month, the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan keep announcing that a peace deal over the ancient but embattled territory of Mountainous Karabakh is imminent.
Whether or not a peace deal is ever reached, however, peace itself is condemned to fail.
I should know
In March 1992, as the newly independent Armenia’s first minister of foreign affairs, I negotiated the original international mediation for peace, security and status in Karabakh.
As the Soviet Union began to crumble, Karabakh — or Artsakh in Armenian — had declared its independence from Soviet Azerbaijan, and then the USSR in toto. And the deadly war that ensued, whereby Baku endeavored to reverse the rights to self-determination and sovereignty by force — rights that Armenians had exercised under controlling Soviet legislation as well as the Montevideo Convention on the rights of states — created a complex situation.
But we got to work.
At the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe’s (CSCE, later OSCE) 1992 meeting of foreign ministers in Helsinki, the summit decided — by consensus — to accept the charge of hosting the Karabakh peace process in order to determine, pursuant to the precepts of the Helsinki Final Act, the region’s ultimate status at a future conference in Minsk.
Hammered out by required consensus and inspired by the specific mandate of achieving sustainable peace, the final document contained three key points:
The first was to take the conflict outside of the East-West axis — or, rather, place it neatly into a new cooperation zone — and, ultimately, bring in the United States, Russia and also France to co-chair what later came to be known as the Minsk Group.
The next was to respect human rights and dignity, bringing a halt to Azerbaijan’s ongoing land blockade between Armenia and Karabakh by opening a humanitarian corridor.
Finally, to guarantee the success of the peace process, was ensuring the participation of not only Armenia and Azerbaijan but also the elected officials of Mountainous Karabakh.
So, when a tripartite ceasefire among Azerbaijan, Karabakh and Armenia was eventually agreed in May 1994, there was real hope in its longevity, hope that a final diplomatic solution would be had — and that the Minsk Conference might, indeed, at last be convened.
But alas, there were other plans.
After growing tensions and skirmishes along the border, under the cover of COVID-19 and the 2020 U.S. presidential elections, in September of that year, Azerbaijan unleashed a multipronged war not only upon what it considered its “breakaway” Republic of Mountainous Karabakh, but against the Republic of Armenia as well — something that, 105 years after the Armenian Genocide, many in the country feel would have been impossible without the military, intelligence, logistical and special-ops support of ethnic cousin and NATO ally Turkey.
Russia then brokered a ceasefire in November, introducing a peacekeeping operation and leaving Azerbaijan occupying nearly half of Karabakh and swathes of the sovereign Republic of Armenia.
This was a reversal of the first negotiation point — taking the conflict outside of the East-West axis.
Then, the Lachin corridor was shut down. And as a result, the Artsakh Republic and its 120,000 surviving residents — a quarter of them children — have been left in a choke hold, with Russian peacekeepers looking ambivalently on for nearly six months now.
This was a reversal of the second point — respecting human rights and dignity.
And this isn’t just a flagrant violation of the original CSCE/OSCE mandate either, it also flies in the face of a binding judgment by the International Court of Justice, which demanded Azerbaijan open the corridor and return it to its status quo ante, pending a final settlement of the matter.
Crucially, the recent turn of events has seen Karabakh’s Armenian administration lose its seat at the table too. Far from the right to self-determination and its guarantee, and respect for a nation’s legitimate path to sovereignty, today Mountainous Karabakh is under attack today from all sides.
And this final reversal was of the most vital negotiation point — the right of the Armenians of Karabakh to take part in decisions about their own destiny.
Yet, somehow, a deal over their fate is soon to be closed. And this deal is currently being negotiated on the one side by Ilham Aliyev — Azerbaijan’s dictator-president, who is using oil-and-gas leverage abroad to dictate terms — and on the other by Nikol Pashinyan, Armenia’s own democrat-turned-petty dictator who refused to abdicate after being defeated in the disastrous war, and is now preparing to cling to to power by capitulating to Azerbaijan.
If Aliyev and Pashinyan do not get prison, they will win a peace prize. Yet still, there will never be peace in Karabakh.