Thursday, April 6, 2023
Armenia Set To Join U.S.-Led Military Drills
POLAND - U.S., Polish and French soldiers stand near their armoured vehicles
during Defender Europe 2022 military exercise of NATO troops at the military
range in Bemowo Piskie, May 24, 2022.
Amid its deepening rift with Russia, Armenia appears to have decided to
participate in a U.S.-led military exercise in Europe that will start later this
month.
The U.S. Department of Defense listed Armenia among 26 countries whose troops
will take part in the Defender 23 exercise designed to “deter those who would
threaten the peace of Europe and defend the continent from aggression.”
“This annual, nearly two-month long exercise is focused on the strategic
deployment of U.S.-based forces, employment of Army pre-positioned stocks and
interoperability with European allies and partners,” Sabrina Singh, a Pentagon
spokeswoman, told reporters late on Wednesday.
“Approximately 9,000 U.S. troops and about 17,000 troops from 26 allied and
partner nations will participate and portions of the exercise will stretch
across 10 different European countries,” Singh said.
All of those nations except Armenia, Georgia, Moldova and Kosovo are members of
NATO.
As of Thursday afternoon, the Armenian military did not confirm what would be
its first-ever participation in those war games.
It was reportedly close to sending troops to the U.S.-led drills held in 2021
but opted out of them at the last minute. The Defense Ministry in Yerevan said
at the time that Armenian soldiers join only those NATO drills that simulate
international peacekeeping operations and train military personnel for them.
Germany - Armenian soldiers participate in military exercises in Hohenfels,
April 2016
Armenia’s relations with Russia, its traditional ally, and the Collective
Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) have deteriorated in recent months due to
what Yerevan sees as a lack of support from its allies in the conflict with
Azerbaijan.
Earlier this year, the Armenian government cancelled a CSTO military exercise
planned in Armenia and refused to appoint a deputy secretary-general of the
Russian-led military alliance It also rejected other CSTO member states’ offer
to deploy a monitoring mission to the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.
The unprecedented tensions have called into question Armenia’s continued
membership in the CSTO. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian claimed on March 16 that
it is the CSTO that could “leave Armenia.” A Russian Foreign Ministry
spokeswoman laughed off that remark.
A senior Russian diplomat said last week that Moscow hopes to end the South
Caucasus country’s growing estrangement from its CSTO allies.
Tensions between Russia and NATO have escalated dramatically since the Russian
invasion of Ukraine. The Kremlin said recently that the U.S.-led alliance is
increasingly “hostile” to Russia and more and more involved in the war in
Ukraine.
Armenian Speaker Apologizes For Spitting At Heckler
Armenia - Parliament speaker Alen SImonian chairs a session of the National
Assembly, November 24, 2022.
Facing a chorus of condemnation, parliament speaker Alen Simonian apologized on
Thursday to “all citizens of Armenia” for spitting at an opposition activist who
branded him a “traitor.”
“I'm sorry that I lost my cool because of the personal insult directed at me,”
Simonian said in a statement posted on Facebook.
“In connection with this incident, I want to apologize to all CITIZENS of the
Republic of Armenia,” he wrote.
Garen Megerdichian, the Canadian-Armenian activist who shouted the insult at
Simonian on Sunday, is reportedly not an Armenian citizen, meaning that the
speaker’s apology may not have been addressed to him.
Megerdichian says that Simonian ordered his bodyguards to overpower him and then
spat in his face at a popular dining area of central Yerevan.
Simonian, who is also a senior member of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian’s Civil
Contract party, has not denied spitting at Megerdichian. He was unrepentant
about his behavior until the apology, saying that he was gravely insulted and
responded accordingly.
Armenian opposition leaders have strongly condemned Simonian. Former President
Levon Ter-Petrosian said on Tuesday that he must be ousted for his “unforgivable
deed.”
Several civic groups added their voice to the condemnations on Wednesday. One of
them also demanded that prosecutors open a “hooliganism” case against Simonian
and investigate the legality of Megerdichian’s brief detention by police.
As of Thursday afternoon, Armenia’s Office of the Prosecutor-General did not
respond to the “crime report” submitted by the Union of Informed Citizens.
Neither Pashinian nor his party’s governing board has criticized Simonian over
the incident.
Simonian, 43, is no stranger to controversy. In late 2021, he made disparaging
comments about Armenian soldiers taken prisoner during the 2020 war with
Azerbaijan, angering their families. Last year, Simonian defended his mother
after she was caught on camera spitting at opposition protesters and showing the
middle finger to them from the balcony of her Yerevan apartment.
Pashinian Clings To Caution After Fresh Azeri Territorial Gains
A new Azerbaijani army position outside the Armenian village of Tegh, March 31,
2023.
Armenia should continue to exercise caution and avoid another escalation even
after Azerbaijan’s occupation last week of more Armenian territory, Prime
Minister Nikol Pashinian said on Thursday.
Azerbaijani army units redeployed on March 30 to more parts of the Lachin
district sandwiched between Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, completing a change in
the route of the Lachin corridor which began last August. Armenia’s National
Security Service (NSS) said hours later that they advanced up to 300 meters into
Armenian territory at five locations adjacent to the border village of Tegh.
Local government officials and farmers said Tegh lost a large part of its
agricultural land and pastures. Some of them said the Azerbaijani military made
bigger territorial gains than is admitted by official Yerevan.
The NSS claimed on April 1 that the situation in that border area “improved
significantly” as a result of negotiations held by Armenian and Azerbaijani
officials. Tegh residents countered, however, that the Azerbaijani troops did
not retreat from any of their newly occupied positions.
Pashinian insisted that “the situation has somewhat improved.” Only a
5-kilometer section of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border in the area has not been
“ascertained” yet, he said, adding that the two sides are continuing to
negotiate.
“Our intent has been and continues to be to avoid escalating the situation,”
Pashinian said during a weekly cabinet meeting in Yerevan.
Armenia - Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian speaks during a cabinet meeting, March
16, 2023.
“Dear people, in this volatile and uncertain global environment, we need strong
nerves and restraint in order not to succumb to forces interested in detonating
the regional situation,” he went on. “Despite all the difficulties, the
government of the Republic of Armenia tirelessly reaffirms its commitment to the
peace agenda.”
Pashinian appealed to Armenians amid a continuing uproar caused by the
Azerbaijani troop movements. The Armenian opposition has accused his
administration of doing nothing to prevent the loss of yet another part of
Armenia’s internationally recognized territory.
Opposition leaders say that the Armenian army should have taken up positions
along the Armenian side of the border section ahead of the Azerbaijani advance.
They say that instead of issuing such an order Pashinian declared on March 30
that from now on the Tegh area will be patrolled and protected by NSS border
guards, rather than army units.
Pashinian’s political opponents also blamed him for much bigger territorial
losses suffered by Armenia during border clashes with Azerbaijan in May 2021 and
September 2022. They regularly charge that he cannot defend the country and
rebuild its armed forces after mishandling the disastrous 2020 war in Karabakh.
Russian Ban On Dairy Imports From Armenia Takes Effect
• Naira Bulghadarian
Russia - A customer shops for dairy at an Auchan hypermarket in Novosibirsk,
April 7, 2022.
Russia formally banned on Wednesday imports of dairy products from Armenia amid
rising tensions between the two allied countries.
The Russian government’s Rosselkhoznadzor agriculture watchdog signaled such a
measure last week, saying that Armenian dairy companies use Iranian raw
materials banned in Russia. It said that Russia risks importing “low-quality and
unsafe products” also because of a lack of “proper oversight” by relevant
Armenian authorities.
A spokeswoman Armenia’s Food Safety Inspectorate (FSI) insisted that the Iranian
raw materials are safe for consumption.
The ban took effect on Wednesday despite what the FSI described as continuing
negotiations between the two sides. The government agency gave no details.
Khachatur Poghosian, the head of the Armenian Union of Dairy Producers, said
that the Russian customs service began enforcing the ban even before its
official entry into force. Armenian trucks laden with butter and other dairy
items were turned away from a Russian-Georgian border checkpoint earlier this
week, he told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service.
Rosselkhoznadzor issued its first warning to the authorities in Yerevan four
days Armenia’s Constitutional Court gave the green light for parliamentary
ratification of the International Criminal Court’s founding treaty. The ruling
in turn came one week after the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Russian
President Vladimir Putin over war crimes allegedly committed by Russia in
Ukraine.
Moscow warned on March 27 that recognition of The Hague tribunal’s jurisdiction
would have “extremely negative” consequences for Russian-Armenian relations.
Those relations have deteriorated in recent months due to what Prime Minister
Nikol Pashinian’s administration sees as a lack of Russian support for Armenia
in the conflict with Azerbaijan.
Armenia - A cattle farm in the Vayots Dzor province, 29May2015.
Armenian Economy Minister Vahan Kerobian told reporters last week that he does
not think Rosselkhoznadzor’s actions are politically motivated.
Suren Parsian, an economic analyst, suggested that there might be both political
and sanitary reasons for them. He said the Russian watchdog last year examined
Iranian milk imported by Armenian manufacturers and concluded that it does not
meet safety standards set by the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union.
“The thing is that the Russian side repeatedly sent complains and the Armenian
government simply ignored them,” said Parsian.
The likely economic cost of the Russian ban is not yet clear. Government data
shows that Armenia exported 9,500 tons of dairy products (mostly butter) to
Russia in 2021 and 2022.
According to Parsian, increased use of Iranian milk has turned Armenia into a
net exporter of butter. Local butter exporters earned $18 million during the
two-year period.
Dairy products make up a small share of overall Armenian exports to Russia which
nearly tripled, to $2.4 billion, last year as a consequence of Western economic
sanctions against Moscow.
Reposted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2023 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
Category: 2023
Armenpress: Russian, Turkish FMs will discuss the resumption of relations between Armenia and Turkey
20:19, 5 April 2023
YEREVAN, APRIL 5, ARMENPRESS. Russian FM Sergey Lavrov and Turkish FM Mevlut Cavusoglu will discuss the issues of deepening cooperation in Transcaucasia, including the resumption of relations between Armenia and Turkey, the unblocking of transport routes and communication, the post-conflict reconstruction of the region.
According to "Armenpress", the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation announced this, stating that on April 6-7, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Sergey Lavrov, will visit Turkey at the invitation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey, Mevlut Cavusoglu, to participate in negotiations on a wide range of topics on the bilateral and international agenda.
Asbarez: Israeli Activist Yaron Weiss Dedicates Journey Across Galilee to People of Artsakh
Yaron Weiss standing next to an Artsakh flag which he plans to carry with him throughout his five-day journey
Israeli activist and author Yaron Weiss, who has traveled extensively in the Caucasus, is starting a five-day journey across the Galilee dedicated to the people of Artsakh.
“The landscape of the Galilee, the region where I live always reminds me the landscape of Artsakh. The size of the area is also the same,” Weiss said in a Facebook post as he announced the journey.
“I remember those days when I crossed Artsakh by hiking on the ‘Janapar Trail’ – The first national trails network in the Caucasus. Unfortunately these days most of the ‘Janapar Trail’ is under hostile occupation,” he said.
“In recent months, the people of Artsakh are in difficult situation under siege. In addition tens of thousands of refugees cannot return to their homes. One of the main reasons of the worst situation is also due to the use of Israeli-made weapons that changed the balance of forces in the conflict,” Weiss added.
“To sympathize with the people of Artsakh and to raise awareness in Israel and the entire world about their difficult situation, I decided to go on a journey of crossing the Galilee from the western side in the Mediterranean Sea to the eastern side in the Jordan Valley on shores of the Sea of Galilee,” he said.
Weiss plans to hike for several days, holding the Artsakh flag in order to remind the many people that he’s going to meet along the way that “this journey is dedicated to those heroes who live in their ancient homeland despite all the difficulties. The homeland that is very similar to the Galilee.”
“I would greatly appreciate if you follow the journey on social media and share. You are more than welcome to join me on the Trail,” Weiss concluded.
Asbarez: San Diego Designates April 24 as Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day
A scene from the San Diego Board of Supervisors proclamation ceremony
The San Diego County Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted a proclamation on Tuesday designating April 24, 2023 Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day.
The proclamation ceremony was led by San Diego County Supervisor Joel Anderson, who was joined by President of the Board Nora Vargas. The event also included remarks by St. Sarkis Armenian Church pastor Very Rev. Pakrad Berjekian, community activist and advocate John Dadian, St. Sarkis Armenian Church Board member Kathy Kassardjian, and San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan.
In his remarks, Very Rev. Berjekian thanked the San Diego County Board of Supervisors for marking the Armenian Genocide, particularly in light of the imminent threat of ethnic cleansing and genocide of Artsakh’s Armenian population resulting from Azerbaijan’s ongoing blockade and aggression.
The vocal San Diego Armenian community joined Very Rev. Berjekian in welcoming this effort by the Board of Supervisors.
AW: Concerned for your children’s Armenian identity? The homeland is calling.
It was not a particular concern until after the Genocide. The idea of losing identity with one’s Armenian heritage was foreign until 1915. After all, most Armenians lived as an indigenous people on their ancestral lands in the western highlands. When you live as an ethnic group in densely populated villages and cities, retaining your identity is essentially taken for granted. You were born into Armenian families, educated at Armenian schools, taught the Christian faith of our people and embraced the culture like the fabric of your clothing. The language you spoke was the mother tongue unless you were prevented from speaking Armenian by the Turkish authorities. This was the case of my maternal grandfather who was raised in the Dardanelles and learned Armenian only when he immigrated to America. The threat to our people concerned their very human existence. It was manifested by the attempt to murder a nation. They failed, but many of our ancestors became victims (now sainted); the remainder were scattered outside their native lands and became what we now refer to as the diaspora.
After that devastating period, which continued into the 1920s, the primary concern of our rebuilt nation outside of Armenia has been cultural survival. This was not the physical survival that our grandparents experienced, but an identity survival. While continuing the struggle for justice, the diaspora took on another, almost invisible force, called assimilation. The Turkish criminals were convinced that anyone who survived the Genocide and was expelled from their homeland would eventually blend in with their host nation culture and lose their ethnic Armenian identity. They grossly underestimated the resolve of this nation to retain their soul. If the Turks had bothered to understand the Armenians, they would have discovered a history of survival that defied logic going back thousands of years. Even the concept of forced migration was not new, as the Armenians experienced a major demographic shift after the Bagratuni dynasty into the Cilician region. It was here in the land of Adana, Marash and Urfa that Armenia was reborn with the Rupenian dynasty in the 11th century and the seat of the Catholicos in Sis. Only the mass murder of the inhabitants would end their presence. My Adanatzi grandmother actually experienced three horrific massacres as did the Armenians of Cilicia. The first was in 1909 when the Adana massacres claimed the lives of over 30,000 Armenians. My grandmother, who was about nine years old at the time, was sent to live with relatives in Egypt to avoid the atrocities. She returned and lived through the harrowing times of the Genocide, particularly from 1915-1918. After the war ended in the fall of 1918, Armenians were encouraged by the victorious allies to return to their homes in Cilicia. My grandfather was a gamavor stationed with the Armenian Legion in Adana where he met, courted and married my grandmother. They experienced the final betrayal of the “allies,” who withdrew from the region leaving the Armenian population at the mercy of the marauding nationalist Turks under Kemal. Once again, there were atrocities, and the survivors were forced to leave for Syria, Lebanon, Europe or the United States.
By the mid-1920s, the survivors were establishing communities in the United States. The priority became investing in enough infrastructure to protect the identity of those children born to the survivors. They were proud Americans but morally committed to retaining that which the Turks had chosen to destroy. Soon the churches, clubs and compatriotic unions were formed to reflect a combination of retaining the past and building for the future. This has been the mission of the diaspora for nearly 100 years and now five generations. It is a difficult task complicated by a material society, secular values and intermarriage. For those Armenian parents committed to the identity retention of their children, it is the elephant in the room. How do I teach my children to establish a connection with their faith and heritage in a world that encourages us to blend? The challenge has evolved over the decades. The first generation of children born outside the Armenian homeland was the first exposed to the host nation culture. Their parents were survivors, and as such they retained the language in the home and straddled the line of a hyphenated life. They fought for America and retained a strong commitment to the Armenian community. Over time, it became more fashionable to be American here, and it is reflected as some Armenians chose a singularly American life. Being different was something to avoid. In succeeding decades, the winds shifted further as being unique became more popular and Armenian names and ethnic identity surged. A significant influx of immigrants, particularly from the Middle East, “reset” the assimilation clock. Despite these swings in the diaspora of the United States, the challenges remained very acute. Just as the rules changed in the 1920s with an emphasis on identity survival, another shift occurred in 1991. With the independence of Armenia, the diaspora took on the responsibility of assisting in nation building. It is actually, in my view, the greatest opportunity for the diaspora but remains underutilized.
I grew up during a time when Armenia was considered a “stateless” nation. Of course, there was the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic, but Armenia was not an independent sovereign state. It was not in the United Nations, and its flag was a derivation of the Soviet Union. In our community, we embraced the tri-color flag, but I learned quickly that it was not accepted by a large portion of the diaspora. It was a reflection of the past from the First Republic and our hope for the future with an independent Armenian state. It was awkward to explain to my non-Armenian friends how this great nation with a history almost without peers did not have a seat at the United Nations. I will be forever grateful that my children’s generation and their children do not have to experience this dilemma as Armenia now stands proudly as a free nation with a place on the world stage. This is why we must protect sovereignty with all our capability. Only if you experience the drought, does the rain have precious value.
It is never too late to discover the beauty of your heritage.
The homeland offers Armenian parents a unique opportunity to address the fear we feel for our children. During this time of the year, we experience the renewal of spring. Likewise, it is a time to consider the numerous youth-oriented programs in Armenia. Sending your children on any number of offerings will establish an emotional connection with their heritage. Many of us have personal experiences witnessing this phenomenon. It has long been established that connecting to your heritage in the diaspora is a choice. Unlike growing up in a village in Western Armenia where the environment leaves little choice, the diaspora offers the opportunity to simply and quietly leave your heritage behind. The buildings, programs and activities we have in this country are essentially to influence that decision that each of us will make at some point in our lives. For some, it is not a conscious decision, but more of an affinity between our interests and our heritage. Others may have a latent discovery through some experience. It is never too late to discover the beauty of your heritage. These programs all focus on giving the participant a social experience with peers and service experience in the environment of their homeland. Young people want the ability to build friendships and enjoy their journey in life. We all understand the beauty of having friends from all over the country that you meet at AYF Camp Haiastan or Camp Nubar. Imagine the impact of associating with Armenian youth from around the world together with peers from Armenia. The impact on your own personal path is remarkable. In order to connect diaspora youth to their heritage, they must find their way with an emotional experience that touches their heart. Once the emotional connection is made, the mind is open to knowledge and identity. Birthright Armenia has established a stellar reputation for individuals from 21-32 years old and has a host of options for volunteers through service and education. The AYF Youth Corps and AYF Internship offer volunteering at camps, other service programs and touring. Discover Armenia is a summer program run by the AGBU and is focused on experiencing Armenia through volunteering and service. RepatArmenia runs a number of programs such as Diaspora Youth Ambassador which combines service with personal development. The ACYOA has managed the Armenian Service Program (ASP), which offers a faith-based service experience for 18-30 year olds. The AMMA also runs summer camps where counselors and other vocational opportunities are combined with a service experience. The Paros Foundation offers Service Armenia for 17-23 year olds during the summer. They also offer a Young Professional trip in the fall. This is a small sample of the diverse and outstanding programs available.
(Photo: AYF Internship in Armenia)
I have had the distinct pleasure of seeing the results of these experiences. To witness young Armenians building a home or renovating a playground is a special moment. All of these young people return changed for the better. With their service contributions, they become a small but vibrant piece of the nation. They contribute to the bonding of the diaspora and the homeland. Perhaps most importantly, their personal development is rewarding. Many of them return to contribute to their local communities or contribute to the homeland in a different capacity. I remember a panel discussion I attended a few years ago featuring individuals who participated in some of these programs. One young woman in particular was a great example. She went to Armenia not having lived in an Armenian community but returned with the emotional connection described earlier and a passion to continue her journey.
Collectively, we need to ensure that these programs are subscribed to fully and that demand enables expansion. I am convinced that the best way to help your children with their identity journey is to participate in one or more of these superb programs. It will directly address the concerns we have as parents, and they will have an unprecedented experience. It is tragic when I read that some of these programs have openings that remain as such. There is no need to lament our concerns with a resource like Armenia and the diaspora programs available. The time is now for those with children as young as high school. Armenia is a very safe and welcoming country. The headlines in the diaspora are always the political problems and regional security concerns. Your children will enter a different world where the beauty of Armenia and their heritage thrives. We have the programs. We have the resources. Do we have the will?
Artsakh citizens prevented from returning home by Azerbaijanis
Artsakh citizens prevented from entering Artsakh (Gegham Stepanyan, April 4)
Officials in Artsakh say that a group of Azerbaijanis blocked their citizens from returning home.
These 27 Artsakh citizens have been stranded in Armenia since the start of the blockade on December 12, 2022. The Russian peacekeeping force in Artsakh had negotiated their return and arranged their transportation. On the afternoon of April 4, Russian peacekeeping vehicles transporting the citizens from Goris, Armenia to Stepanakert were held up on the Lachin Corridor for five hours by a group of Azerbaijanis.
The Lachin Corridor, the sole road connecting Artsakh with Armenia and the outside world, has been blocked for nearly four months by Azerbaijanis claiming to be eco-activists. As a result, hundreds of people who were in Armenia at the start of the blockade have been separated from their families. Some have returned home with the assistance of the Russian peacekeepers and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Only vehicles belonging to the Russian peacekeepers and the ICRC have been allowed to use the Lachin Corridor.
According to a report by the Office of Artsakh Ombudsman Gegham Stepanyan, Azerbaijanis entered one of the vehicles. Four women became distressed and fainted. They were transferred to the Stepanakert Medical Center. Three of the women have been discharged, while one remains under medical supervision. Following “fruitless negotiations” between the Russian peacekeepers and Azerbaijani protesters, the remaining 23 citizens were not allowed to enter blockaded Artsakh and returned to Goris.
Azerbaijani protesters stop Russian peacekeeping vehicles (Gegham Stepanyan, April 4)
Azerbaijan and Russia have not officially commented on the incident. An Azerbaijani news outlet reported that an Azerbaijani ambulance had transferred the four women in psychological distress to the Stepanakert hospital. Artsakh authorities said the women were transferred with the assistance of Russian peacekeepers.
“Today’s incident proves once again the whole essence of the false and fabricated claims of the Azerbaijani leadership, the behavior of obvious and undisguised lying and misleading the international community,” Stepanyan said.
The Artsakh Foreign Ministry said that the incident is the latest in Azerbaijan’s “practical implementation of their criminal plan to ethnically cleanse Artsakh.” It condemned the “inaction of the international community in the face of such serious violations of human rights,” calling it “tacit approval.”
While the Lachin Corridor remains closed, Azerbaijan has made several efforts in recent weeks to take control of routes around Artsakh by force.
The route of the Lachin Corridor was forcibly changed by Azerbaijan on March 30. Azerbaijani armed forces captured a road that has been used by Armenia since August 2022 to connect to the Lachin Corridor. Armenian authorities said that Azerbaijani forces also advanced into Armenia’s borders.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Artsakh said that, while Azerbaijan had blocked the road, the alternate Tegh-Kornidzor road is ready for use by the Russian peacekeepers and the ICRC. The road is still unpaved and under construction.
The Tegh-Kornidzor road runs within the Syunik province of Armenia and connects to the new route of the Lachin Corridor that has been in operation since August 2022.
On March 30, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan confirmed that Azeri armed forces captured several heights in the Lachin region and along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border.
“In regard with the commissioning of the new Lachin road, several high grounds between Jaghazur and Zabukh (Aghavno) villages of Lachin region, main and auxiliary roads, as well as large areas along the border were taken under the control of the Azerbaijan Army Units,” the Foreign Ministry said.
The road captured by Azerbaijani forces is a temporary road that has been in use since August 2022. Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed that the temporary road would be operational until Armenia completed construction of the Tegh-Kornidzor road.
According to the ceasefire agreement ending the 2020 Artsakh War, within three years Armenia and Azerbaijan would construct a new route along the Lachin Corridor, to which Russian peacekeepers would be deployed. The new route begins in the village Kornidzor in the Syunik province of Armenia, passes through the village Hin Shen in the Shushi district and reaches the Artsakh capital Stepanakert.
Azerbaijan undertook construction of the portion of the road that runs through Artsakh. Its crews worked rapidly to complete construction by August 2022. The Armenian side, however, delayed starting construction on the part of the road within its borders. Armenian authorities insisted that the route should be decided within three years, under the terms of the ceasefire.
On August 2, Azerbaijan demanded that Armenia halt use of the old route. Its demand coincided with border attacks on Artsakh, resulting in the deaths of two Armenian soldiers. On August 5, Artsakh authorities announced that the Armenian residents of Lachin, Aghavno and Sus, all located along the old route, would have to evacuate their homes by August 25.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan confirmed during a March 30 cabinet meeting that the route of the Lachin Corridor has been changed. He said that Armenia and Azerbaijan had previously agreed that Armenia could use the temporary road until April 1, 2023. Pashinyan said that border guards from the National Security Service (NSS), rather than from the army, will be deployed along the new Tegh-Kornidzor road.
The NSS added that Azerbaijani soldiers have not only captured the road, but have also set up posts within Armenia’s borders. It said that Azerbaijani soldiers have advanced up to 300 meters into Armenian territory at five border sections. The NSS added that the Azerbaijani forces have started to “carry out engineering work.”
These Azerbaijani posts are located near the village Tegh. Farmers have lost access to their fields and cannot work as a result, according to local officials.
This is not the first time in recent weeks that Azerbaijan has asserted control over routes around Artsakh by force. On March 25, Azerbaijani armed forces captured a strategic height near the Stepanakert-Lisagor road, placing the road under its direct line of fire. The road, which runs through difficult terrain and was rarely used in the past, was used after the start of the blockade of Artsakh to transfer civilians and humanitarian goods. It was also used to connect Stepanakert with Lisagor, Hin Shen, Mets Shen and Yeghtsahogh, villages around Shushi.
Rhode Island designates April as Holocaust and Genocide Awareness Month
Members of the Armenian community pictured with resolution co-sponsors (missing from photo is Sen. Joshua Miller). Pictured in front (l. to r.): Hrag Arakelian, Rep. Jennifer Boylan, Commissioner Kristine Donabedian, Michele Kazarian, Shahen Attarian, Sen. David Tikoian, Commission vice-chair Pauline Getzoyan, Anoush Arakelian, Steve Mesrobian, Ani Arakelian and Carol Mesrobian. Pictured in the back row (l. to r.): Levon Attarian, Steve Elmasian, Rep. Katherine Kazarian, Malcolm Varadian and Melkon Megerdichian.
PROVIDENCE, R.I.—Dozens of local community members helped the Rhode Island Holocaust and Genocide Education Commission mark the inauguration of Holocaust and Genocide Awareness Month. Held in the impressive State House Library on March 30, the program included remarks from members of the RI General Assembly who have been ardent supporters of genocide education legislation, including Rep. Katherine Kazarian and Sen. Joshua Miller, as well as Rep. Jennifer Boylan and Sen. David Tikoian, both newly elected and actively engaged with the work of the commission. Also present was longtime supporter Rep. Rebecca Kislak.
The crowd in the State House Library as Sen. David Tikoian offers remarks
The program focused on readily available resources and materials about genocides for students and the general public through local libraries across the state. In keeping with the theme, the commission displayed a wide selection of books related to various genocides, including the Native American, Cambodian, Rwandan and Armenian Genocides and the Holocaust. Copies of the book list were available for those in attendance and were distributed to public and school libraries across the state.
Commission chair Marty Cooper
Commission chair Marty Cooper opened the program with grateful acknowledgement to Governor Dan McKee and the General Assembly for their support of both the 2016 legislation requiring Holocaust and genocide education in the state’s secondary schools and the formal establishment of the commission in 2021. Cooper explained the commission’s purpose of supporting “school districts with development of curricula and professional development to enable the incorporation of genocide-related topics into their program of studies.” He noted that Rhode Island is one of the first states in the country to designate a full month to Holocaust and genocide awareness.
Cooper went on to discuss the reasons for an April genocide awareness month, including the need to remember and educate about these atrocities, to honor those who perished and those who survived, “to remember and to never forget” and to appropriately coincide with the commemoration days for Rwanda (April 7), Cambodia (April 17), the Holocaust (April 17-18) and Armenian Genocide (April 24).
“Today as we kick off April Holocaust and Genocide Awareness month in our great state, we will focus on what Rhode Island’s public libraries, including those in our schools have available to learn more about this issue,” stated Cooper. “That is why today we are meeting at the State House Library as a symbol of the state’s commitment to ‘Never Again.’”
Commission vice-chair Pauline Getzoyan
Commission vice-chair and Weekly editor Pauline Getzoyan read a special citation from Governor McKee, which reads in part: “In commemoration for your commitment and emphasis for the need of more Rhode Islanders to learn about the history of genocides, as well as discussion on how such atrocities can be greatly reduced or ended.” As a descendant of Armenian Genocide survivors, Getzoyan said her work with the commission is inspired by her maternal grandmother—Margaret Garabedian DerManuelian. Getzoyan, who was recently elected as the next chair of the commission, said her grandmother’s story of resilience, resistance and survival motivates her commitment to expanding genocide education. “Her story is nothing short of miraculous…I know she would be very proud of the work that’s being done here in the state of Rhode Island, which became her home,” said Getzoyan.
Sen. Joshua Miller
Sen. Miller offered his continuing commitment to Holocaust and genocide education in the state. He invited attendees to the introduction of the resolution, which he co-sponsored with Sen. Tikoian, in the Senate chamber designating April as Holocaust and Genocide Awareness Month.
Rep. Katherine Kazarian
Rep. Kazarian also promised her continuing support for the work of the commission, remembering how she felt during the Armenian Genocide centennial commemoration events in 2015. “There was really a buzz about us reliving through our trauma the stories of our ancestors in order to hopefully get some type of recognition,” shared Kazarian. “I remember attending those events in 2015. I remember reliving the stories and the tragedies. And I remember there being no recognition and how gut-wrenching it was. It made me feel so hopeless.” But then she recalled one of her mother’s favorite Mister Rogers quotations about looking for the helpers. She said that the helpers in 2016 were members of the current commission and the Armenian National Committee (ANC) of RI, many of whom were in attendance. These dedicated individuals and the Rhode Island legislature realized that “there was something far more powerful than recognition and that was education,” said Kazarian. This realization ultimately led to the law requiring genocide education in the state.
Rep. Jennifer Boylan highlighting the House resolution designating April as Holocaust and Genocide Awareness Month
Rep. Boylan introduced a similar resolution in the House the previous day recognizing April as Holocaust and Genocide Awareness Month and presented an official copy of it to the commission. In keeping with the special designation of April, the resolution strongly encourages “Rhode Island’s history and social science educators to incorporate lessons on past and current genocide atrocities into their curriculum and classroom discussions in order to encourage and foster a new generation with insight and the pledge to work to eradicate bigotry, prejudice, brutality and injustice.” As a Jewish American, Boylan said she has spent her entire life learning about the Holocaust. She recalled the influence of a family friend Helen Sperling, who dedicated her life to teaching tens of thousands about the Holocaust. She explained how Sperling was transported by cattle train to Buchenwald concentration camp, where she worked for years before being liberated in 1945. She would tell her audiences, “Moses brought you Ten Commandments; I am going to give you the eleventh: Thou shall not be a bystander.” Rep. Boylan wears a bracelet with those words to honor her friend and the memory of those lost in the Holocaust.
Sen. David Tikoian, Rep. Katherine Kazarian and Rep. Jennifer Boylan
“The work of the Holocaust and Genocide Commission is very personal to me,” began Sen. Tikoian, a grandson of Genocide survivors. “My grandparents Garabed Topalian and Tarvis Mesrobian arrived in America from Armenia in 1920. They arrived here as orphans – orphans because their entire family was massacred during the Armenian Genocide in 1915. It is because of their survival that I stand before you today,” he shared. Sen. Tikoian noted the forces of denial that continue to try and erase the Armenian Genocide from history, underscoring the need for education about past atrocities as the way to prevention and a more humane society. He concluded with gratitude and admiration for Cooper’s “many years of tireless advocacy on this education initiative” and his leadership of the commission. He also congratulated Getzoyan and highlighted her dedication to “carry on the important educational work and fine leadership of the commission.”
Coordinator of adult services at the Cranston Public Library Dave Bartos
Coordinator of adult services at the Cranston Public Library Dave Bartos brought the program to a fitting conclusion, highlighting the commission’s partnership with the state’s libraries. Bartos is a member of the RI Library Association Intellectual Freedom Committee, which he said works to address “the rise in censorship and book challenges taking place across the nation.” He said the American Library Association has “documented 1,269 demands to censor library books and resources in 2022,” the highest number since data compilation began more than 20 years ago and the forces against which Rhode Island has not been immune.
“The same forces that are gaining purchase elsewhere are also at work here, seeking to restrict what students can read, the history they can learn and the representation they can see,” said Bartos. “Frankly it’s becoming increasingly difficult not to feel the echoes of the past reverberating in our present.” He invoked genocide education as critical to be able to say “never again,” an active phrase. “It is not something that will just happen without building education, understanding and empathy in ourselves and our communities,” he said. Bartos expressed gratitude to the commission for its work with the libraries providing resources, including book lists and curriculum materials. He stressed the need to build community solidarity – “to commit to a society where everyone is afforded the freedom to be their authentic selves, without fear of persecution or violence.”
The Senate monitor as the resolution is introduced
Following the program in the library, attendees headed to the Senate gallery for the introduction of the Holocaust and Genocide Awareness Month resolution mentioned by Sen. Miller, which he ensured was read on the floor. Senate President Pro Tempore Hanna Gallo, also a longtime supporter of genocide education legislation, introduced the members of the commission present on the Senate floor: Cooper, Getzoyan, Barbara Wahlberg and Anne Ejnes, as well as the commissioners in the gallery: Kristine Donabedian and Steve Flynn.
Introductions of Commission members (l. to r.) Marty Cooper, Pauline Getzoyan, Barbara Wahlberg and Anne Ejnes by Senate President Pro Tempore Hanna Gallo (pictured in front of the commissioners)
“Over the last 23 years, I have seen our Rhode Island Armenian community move from fighting for inclusion of the Armenian Genocide in a Genocide Education Curriculum Bill introduced by then State Rep. Aram Garabedian to having one of our own, Pauline Getzoyan, elected as the new chairperson of the Rhode Island Holocaust and Genocide Education Commission,” shared Steve Mesrobian. “This welcome change underscores how far organizations like the ANC of Rhode Island have been able to advance our cause.”
Shahen Attarian, a student at the event, was happy to witness the passage of the Genocide curriculum. “Now I have a chance to teach my friends about the Armenian Genocide and talk about it at school,” he said. “Now people can learn about my history.”
A proud Rhode Islander, Hrag Arakelian brought his young family to the event. “It was a historic moment to witness the state I live in take such an important action towards educating our children on the worst acts of humanity, in order to stop the cycle of genocide.”
A view of the Senate gallery during the reading of the resolution
Easter Message of Fr. Mesrop Parsamyan, Primate–English AND Armenian versions
PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Chris Zakian
Tel: (212) 686-0710; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.armenianchurch.us
April 5, 2023
__________________
ATTENTION EDITOR: This message contains both English and Armenian versions of Fr. Parsamyan's Easter message. Scroll down for the Armenian. PHOTO attached, with caption immediately below.
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PHOTO CAPTION:
Primate of the Eastern Diocese Fr. Mesrop Parsamyan, in St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral, NYC.
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HEADLINE:
EASTER MESSAGE OF THE VERY REVEREND FR. MESROP PARSAMYAN
Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America
Restored by the Grace of God
Place your worries on God—for He cares about you…. Stand firm in your faith, for you know that the whole family of believers throughout the world suffers along with you. But after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace—who in Christ called you to His eternal glory—will restore you, all by Himself: make you strong, firm, and steadfast. For His is the power and glory, forever. (1 Peter 5:6-11)
With these words, the Apostle Peter reassured his Christian brothers and sisters in Asia Minor, as they lived through a time of crisis. In those days, the Church was very young; the early Christians had so much to lose—and they had no experience of history to calm their spirits. So Peter wrote to strengthen their hearts, with the wisdom he had gained from his years of service alongside Jesus Christ.
The pain of your loss is real, he told them; but you are not alone in your suffering. God always cares for you; and when the time comes, He will restore you.
What made Peter so confident that God would restore His people, no matter what befell them? The answer is: he had witnessed the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, on the first Easter Sunday. And he knew the world would never be the same.
Just think of what it means for a dead man to come back to life! It goes against the fundamental rules of the universe—where all things decay, all living creatures move towards death. Peter knew that Christ, too, had died—died a painful and horrible death. And yet three days later, he had seen Christ restored to life. And more: he heard the promise, from Christ’s own lips, that God would restore every person who placed his or her faith in the Resurrection of the Lord.
On this evidence, Peter knew that Christ conquered death to restore human beings to what they were meantto be: to make us new again.
In Jesus Christ, God took upon Himself the broken human condition—and restored it to what it was meant to be: made it new again. He brought nourishment to the hungry; healing to the sick; consolation to the grieving. To the confused, he offered an example of upright, godly behavior. To the sinful, he offered forgiveness. Finally, to the dead—the dead in body as well as the dead in spirit—Christ offered Life.
But these blessings came at great cost. Christ struggled, and endured great suffering, on our behalf. His final battle was waged on the cross—and for a time, it looked like death had won. But on Easter Sunday, “Christ was raised from the dead.” And through his victory, we were saved.
My friends, we live in a time of many trials. The world is exhausted from years of illness and isolation. Our precious homeland of Armenia and Artsakh is dealing with the perilous aftermath of war. This great country in which we live is plagued by deep moral confusion, doubt and anxiety.
We long to be restored to the way we were meant to be: to be made new again.
But there is only one power great enough to realize this hope: the power of God, in Jesus Christ. His Resurrection is the sign that God loves us, and cares for us. It is the promise that, even when we must endure trials and suffering, God has not forgotten us—and He will, in time, restore us.
That was the meaning of the first Easter Sunday. It is the reality we must embrace in our hearts today. And it is the Truth we must proclaim to the world, with conviction and love, in the beautiful words of the Armenian Church:
Krisdos haryave ee merelotz! Orhnyal eh haroutiunun Krisdosi!
Christ is raised from the dead! Blessed is the resurrection of Christ!
With prayers,
Fr. Mesrop Parsamyan
Primate
Easter 2023
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Հայց. Եկեղեցւոյ Ամերիկայի Արեւելեան Թեմի Առաջնորդ՝
ՀՈԳԵՇՆՈՐՀ Տ. ՄԵՍՐՈՊ ՎԱՐԴԱՊԵՏ ՊԱՐՍԱՄԵԱՆԻ Ս. ԶԱՏԿՈՒԱՆ ՊԱՏԳԱՄԸ
Ձեր ամէն հոգը անոր վրայ ձգեցէ՛ք, վասն զի անիկա ձեզի համար կը հոգայ… Հաստատունկացէք հաւատքին մէջ, գիտնալով որ ձեր եղբայրներն ալ աշխարհի մէջ նոյնչարչարանքները կը կրեն։ Եւ բոլոր շնորհներու Աստուածը, որ մեզ իր յաւիտենականփառքին կանչեց Քրիստոս Յիսուսին միջոցով, քիչ մը ատեն նեղութիւն կրելէ ետքը, ինք ձեզթող կատարեալ ընէ՛, հաստատէ՛, զօրացնէ՛ ու հիմնէ՛։ Իրեն փառք եւ զօրութիւն յաւիտեանսյաւիտենից։ (Ա ՊԵՏՐՈՍ 5:7-11)
Այս խօսքերով, Պետրոս առաքեալ կրկին վստահեցուց Փոքր Ասիոյ իր Քրիստոնեայ եղբայրներնու քոյրերը, երբ անոնք տագնապալից շրջանի մը մէջ կ՛ապրէին։ Այդ օրերուն, Եկեղեցին տակաւիննոր էր եւ վաղ շրջանի Քրիստոնեաները շատ բան ունէին կորսնցնելու ու պատմականփորձառութիւնը չունէին հանդարտեցնելու հոգիները։ Անոր համար Պետրոս գրեց զօրացնելուանոնց սրտերը այն իմաստութեամբ, որ ի՛նք ձեռք բերած էր ծառայելով Քրիստոսի կողքին։
Ձեր ցաւը կորուստի իրական է, ըսաւ անոնց, բայց առանձին չէք ձեր տանջանքին մէջ։ Աստուածմի՛շտ կը հոգատարէ ձեզ եւ երբ ժամանակը գայ, Ան կը վերականգնէ ձեզ։
Ի՞նչն էր որ Պետրոսի այնքան ինքնավստահ ըրաւ, որ Աստուած պիտի փրկէ իր ժողովուրդը, ինչդժուարութիւններու մէջ ալ որ անոնք ըլլան։ Պատասխանը այս է. ան ականատես եղած էր ՅիսուսՔրիստոսի Յարութեան առաջին Զատկի Կիրակիին։ Ան գիտէր, որ աշխարհը երբե՛ք նոյնը պիտիչըլլար։
Պահ մը մտածեցէք թէ ի՞նչ կը նշանակէ մեռած մարդու մը կրկին կեանքի գալը։ Տիեզերքիհիմնական օրէնքին հակառակ եղող բան մըն է ուր ամէն ինչ կը կործանուի, բոլոր ապրողէակները դէպի մահ կ՛երթան։ Պետրոս գիտէր, որ Քրիստոս եւս մահացած էր – ցաւալի եւսարսափելի մահ մը։ Բայց երեք օրեր յետոյ, ան տեսած էր Քրիստոսի կեանքի կոչուիլը։ Աւելի՛ն, ան լսեց խոստումը Քրիստոսի շրթներէն, որ Աստուած պիտի փրկէ իւրաքանչիւր անձ, որ իրհաւատքը կը դնէ Քրիստոսի Յարութեան վրայ։
Պետրոս գիտէր, որ Քրիստոս յաղթեց մահուան փրկելու համար մարդ արարածը եւ ընելու այնինչի համար, որ անոնք ստեղծուած էին, մեզ կրկին նոր անձեր դարձնելու։
Յիսուս Քրիստոսով, Աստուած իր վրան առաւ տկար ու մեղաւոր մարդկային վիճակը – եւվերականգնեց անոր որ ստեղծուած էր ըլլալու – կրկին նոր։ Ան կերակրեց անօթիները, բժշկեցհիւանդները, մխիթարեց սգաւորները։ Շփոթածներուն, ան ցոյց տուաւ ճիշդ ու Աստուածահաճոյապրելակերպը։ Մեղաւորներուն, ան թողութիւն շնորհեց։ Եւ վերջապէս մեռեալներուն – ըլլայմարմնապէս թէ հոգեպէս – կեանք տուաւ։
Բայց այս բոլոր օրհնութիւնները մեծ գինով մը եկան։ Քրիստոս պայքարեցաւ, դիմացաւ մեծտանջանքներու մեզ համար։ Իր վերջին մենամարտը տեղի ունեցաւ խաչին վրայ – եւ պահ մըայնպէս թուաց թէ մա՛հն էր որ յաղթեց։ Բայց Զատկի Կիրակիի առաւօտեան «Քրիստոս Յարութիւնառաւ մեռելներէն» եւ իր յաղթանակով, մենք փրկուեցանք։
Սիրելիներ, կ՛ապրինք փորձութիւններով լի ժամանակաշրջանի մը մէջ։ Աշխարհը յոգնած էտարիներու հիւանդութենէ եւ առանձնացումէ։ Մեր թանկագին Հայաստանն ու Արցախըվտանգաւոր պատերազմի հետեւանքներն են որ կը քաշեն։ Այս հզոր երկիրը ուր մենք կ՛ապրինք, մխրճուած է խորունկ բարոյական շփոթութեան, կասկածի ու մտահոգութեանց պատուհասի մէջ։Մենք կը ցանկանք վերահաստատուելու անոր, որուն համար ստեղծուած էինք – կրկրին նորանձեր դառնալու։
Բայց միայն մէ՛կ ուժ մը կայ, որ զօրաւոր է այս յոյսը իրականացնելու – Աստուծոյ ուժը ՅիսուսՔրիստոսի մէջ։ Իր Յարութիւնը նշան մըն է, որ Աստուած մեզ կը սիրէ, հոգ կ՛ընէ մեզ համար։Խոստումն է, որ նոյնիսկ երբ մենք փորձութիւններու եւ տանջանքներու դիմանանք, Աստուած մեզմոռցած չէ եւ ժամանակի ընթացքին Ան պիտի վերականգնէ մեզ։
Ա՛յդ էր նշանակութիւնը առաջին Զատկուան Կիրակիին։ Այս իրականութիւնն է, որուն հետ մենքպէտք է ողջագուրուինք մեր սիրտերով։ Եւ այս ճշմարտութիւնն է, որ մենք պէտք է հռչակենքաշխարհին, համոզմունքով եւ սիրով, գեղեցիկ բառերովը Հայ Եկեղեցւոյ.
Քրիստոս Յարեաւ ի մեռելոց։ Օրհնեալ է Յարութիւնն Քրիստոսի։
Աղօթարար՝
Մեսրոպ Վրդ. Պարսամեան
Առաջնորդ
Ս. Զատիկ 2023
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RFE/RL Armenian Report – 04/05/2023
Wednesday, April 5, 2023
Civic Groups Also Demand Action Against Armenian Speaker
• Astghik Bedevian
Armenia - Parliament speaker Alen Simonian (right) and his deputy Ruben Rubinian
talk during a session of the National Assembly, Yerevan, September 8, 2022.
Several Armenian nongovernmental organizations called on Wednesday for a
parliamentary ethics investigation into speaker Alen Simonian accused of
spitting at a heckler in Yerevan.
One of them, the Union of Informed Citizens (UIC), demanded separately that
prosecutors open a “hooliganism” case against him. In a “crime report” submitted
to the Office of the Prosecutor-General, the UIC said they should also
investigate the legality of a brief detention of Garen Megerdichian, an
opposition activist who branded Simonian a “traitor.”
The Canadian-Armenian activist claimed that Simonian ordered his bodyguards to
overpower him and then spat in his face after he shouted the insult in downtown
Yerevan on Sunday. Simonian did not deny spitting at Megerdichian. He said he
was gravely insulted and responded accordingly.
Armenian opposition leaders strongly condemned Simonian. Former President Levon
Ter-Petrosian said on Tuesday that he must be ousted for his “unforgivable deed.”
The civic groups added their voice to the condemnations. They said the Armenian
parliament must set up an ad hoc ethics commission to look into its
controversial speaker’s behavior and consider taking other action against him.
“They [the ruling Civil Contract party] like to repeat that they were
democratically elected, that the people gave them a vote of confidence,” said
Sona Ayvazian of the Armenian branch of Transparency International. “Surely the
people did not give them a mandate to spit at citizens.”
Civil Contract holds the majority of parliament seats and can therefore block an
ethics probe if it is initiated by opposition deputies.
Vahagn Aleksanian, a senior Civil Contract lawmaker, did not exclude that the
party led by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian will discuss the NGOs’ demand. But
he defended Simonian and complained that the civil society has not condemned
“death threats” to the government which he said have been voiced by some
opposition groups.
Vigen Khachatrian, another deputy representing the ruling party, disapproved of
Simonian’s behavior while rejecting demands for the speaker’s dismissal.
“I don’t think that this is a matter of resignation,” he said. “I think that
there should be a friendly assessment [by the Civil Contract leadership] to the
effect that this should not happen again.”
In Aleksanian’s words, the party’s governing board did not discuss the scandal
during a meeting chaired by Pashinian late on Tuesday.
Armenia’s Crime Rate Keeps Rising
Armenia - Prosecutors attend a meeting with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian,
Yerevan, July 1, 2022.
The number of various crimes officially recorded in Armenia soared by more than
24 percent last year, continuing an upward trend which critics blame on the
current Armenian authorities.
The Armenian police and other law-enforcement agencies registered a total of
37,612 criminal offenses in 2022.
According to a report released by the Office of the Prosecutor-General this
week, “serious and particularly serious crimes” accounted for about 16 percent
of them. This includes 58 premeditated murders, which were slightly down from
2021. Forty-five of them were solved, said the prosecutors.
Their report shows that Armenia crime rate was primarily pushed up by an almost
30 percent surge in “crimes of moderate severity.”
Drug trafficking cases presumably fall under this category. Their total number
nearly doubled to 1,717 in 2022, highlighting a growing problem in a country not
accustomed to widespread drug abuse.
The sharp rise in such cases is widely blamed on increasingly accessible
synthetic drugs mainly sold through the internet and, in particular, the social
media platform Telegram. Links to Telegram channels selling such drugs can now
be seen painted on residential buildings and other public areas across Yerevan.
The alarming trend has prompted serious concern from not only opposition
politicians but also pro-government lawmakers. The latter criticized the police
for not preventing it when they met with Interior Minister Vahe Ghazarian in
late February.
Armenian law-enforcement authorities have reported considerable annual increases
in the overall crime rate since the 2018 “velvet revolution.” Critics claim that
the country is not as safe as it used to be because its current government is
softer on crime than the previous ones.
Karabakh Residents Barred From Returning Home
• Ruzanna Stepanian
Nagorno-Karabakh - Russian peacekeepers are seen deployed at a section of the
Lachin corridor blocked by Azerbaijan, December 26, 2022.
Azerbaijani government-backed protesters blocking Nagorno-Karabakh’s land link
with the outside world have not allowed Russian peacekeepers to escort 27
Karabakh civilians stranded in Armenia back to Stepanakert.
A convoy of cars carrying them reportedly had to return to the Armenian town of
Goris on Tuesday night after spending five hours at the blocked section of the
sole road connecting Karabakh to Armenia.
Karabakh’s human rights ombudsman and eyewitnesses said some Azerbaijanis broke
into one of those vehicles and intimidated their mostly female passengers. Three
Karabakh Armenian women felt and unwell and passed out as a result, according to
them.
Karine Aghajanian, another passenger, confirmed reports that an Azerbaijani
ambulance transported them to a hospital in Stepanakert.
“The Russians wanted to transport them in their vehicles but the Azerbaijanis
didn’t allowed them to do that … That is why we agreed to let them do that,”
Aghajanian told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service on Wednesday.
“It’s not that they provided medical aid, the incident happened because of
them,” she said, speaking from Goris.
Harutiunian also accused the Azerbaijanis of trying to provoke Karabakh Armenian
men travelling in the convoy. “Thank God, our men … restrained themselves for
the sake of the women,” she said.
The Azerbaijani government widely publicized the transfer of the three women to
the Stepanakert hospital. But it didn’t comment on the other Karabakh residents’
failure to return home almost four months after the start of the Azerbaijani
blockade.
Karabakh’s leadership strongly condemned the Azerbaijani protesters for
“terrorizing” the civilians during the five-hour standoff. It renewed its calls
for the international community to help end the “illegal blockade” that has left
hundreds of Karabakh residents stranded in Armenia and led to serious shortages
of food, medicine and other essential items in the Armenian-populated region.
The United States, the European Union and Russia have repeatedly urged
Azerbaijan to unblock traffic through the Lachin corridor in line with the
Russian-brokered ceasefire that stopped the 2020 Armenian-Azerbaijani war. Baku
has rejected those appeals, saying that the “environmental” protesters are right
to demand an end to “illegal” mining in Karabakh.
The Azerbaijani side has allowed only convoys of the Russian peacekeepers and
the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to periodically pass through
the road. The ICRC has evacuated dozens of critically ill patients from Karabakh
to Armenia.
Reposted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2023 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
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Armenpress: PM Pashinyan calls for continued international diplomatic efforts to achieve fulfillment of ICJ ruling by Azerbaijan
11:19, 6 April 2023
YEREVAN, APRIL 6, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Thursday called for continued diplomatic efforts to achieve compliance with the ICJ ruling by Azerbaijan on opening the Lachin Corridor.
Speaking at the Cabinet meeting, PM Pashinyan said that the humanitarian situation in Nagorno Karabakh is still tense due to the closure of the Lachin Corridor. He added that gas and electricity supply to Nagorno Karabakh remains blocked as well.
The Prime Minister also spoke about the April 5 incident when a group of citizens en route from Goris to Stepanakert were barred from returning to their homes in Nagorno Karabakh.
“This documented incident once again highlights our previous assessments, and these assessments are further highlighted on the backdrop of the February 22 ruling by the International Court of Justice, according to which Azerbaijan must take all actions to fully restore the functioning of the Lachin Corridor. The incident once again recorded that the international court’s ruling remains unfulfilled and we must continue our corresponding international diplomatic efforts,” the Prime Minister said.
The United Nations’ highest court – the International Court of Justice (ICJ) – ordered Azerbaijan on February 22 to “take all steps at its disposal” to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both directions. The Lachin Corridor has been blocked by Azerbaijan since 12 December 2022.