Category: 2023

 11:32, 22 March 2023

YEREVAN, MARCH 22, ARMENPRESS. Two Russian servicemen sought medical attention at a Goris hospital Tuesday evening , the provincial authorities revealed Wednesday.

The Syunik Governor’s Office said in a statement that the two “ethnic Russian” soldiers had “mild non-firearm [related] injuries to the head.” It did not elaborate on the injuries.

The authorities added that the two soldiers were treated at the Goris Medical Center and immediately discharged.

The statement comes after multiple unconfirmed reports on social media claiming that 1 Russian soldier was killed and another injured in an Azerbaijani shelling.

 11:59, 22 March 2023

YEREVAN, MARCH 22, ARMENPRESS. French senator Valérie Boyer has reiterated solidarity and deep friendship with the Armenian people amid the Azeri blockade of the Lachin Corridor.

“Azerbaijan has been blocking the Lachin corridor for 100 days, cutting off Nagorno-Karabakh and its 120,000 inhabitants from the rest of the world, in general indifference. I have a thought for all the Armenians and I want to show them once again my solidarity and my deep friendship,” the senator tweeted, along with a photo of herself at the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial in Yerevan during an earlier visit.

 12:52, 22 March 2023

YEREVAN, MARCH 22, ARMENPRESS. The Azerbaijani Armed Forces opened gunfire at farmers in Nagorno Karabakh Wednesday morning.

The Nagorno Karabakh Ministry of Internal Affairs said in a statement that H. Hartyunyan, A. Ghahramanyan, M. Jivanyan, G. Ghukasyan, K. Davtyan, A. Adamyan and D. Davtyan, all farmers from the town of Tchartar, were carrying out agricultural work in the vineyards in Tchartar when they came under Azeri fire. The shooting happened around 09:30.

The farmers are unharmed.

The agricultural works were suspended due to the gunfire from various kinds of weapons by Azerbaijani military forces from an outpost adjacent to the vineyards.

The Nagorno Karabakh authorities said they notified the Russian peacekeepers on the Azerbaijani gunfire targeting civilians.

 13:40, 22 March 2023

YEREVAN, MARCH 22, ARMENPRESS.  A senior Biden administration official has called for de-escalation and an end to violence between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

“Broadly speaking, what we’ve said before is we urge all sides here to de-escalate,” National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby said at a press briefing when asked on the Biden administration’s position on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. “We don’t want to see any of this violence, and we want to see all sides take appropriate steps to de-escalate the tension and to stop the violence.”

Kirby declined to give an answer when asked whether or not the U.S. views the presence of Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno Karabakh as a cause for concern.

 14:07, 22 March 2023

YEREVAN, MARCH 22, ARMENPRESS. EU-members Italy, Greece and Bulgaria imported Azerbaijani gas worth around €15,6 billion in 2022, Interfax reported citing data from Eurostat.

In 2021, Azerbaijan’s gas exports to EU countries totaled only €3,8 billion.

In 2022, most of the Azeri gas (€13,2 billion) was bought by Italy. The figures for Greece and Bulgaria stood at €1,9 billion and €383 million respectively. Azerbaijan plans to further increase its gas exports to the EU.

 14:17, 22 March 2023

YEREVAN, MARCH 22, ARMENPRESS. The development of relations with neighbors is among Iran’s foreign policy priorities and Armenia is of great importance in this policy, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Ali Bagheri Kani said at a press briefing in Yerevan.

“I am visiting Armenia at the invitation of my colleague as part of consultations, and yesterday and today we had productive discussions with my Armenian colleague, as well the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia. Iran’s stable position in the issue of establishing sustainable peace in the region was underscored during these discussions. And during our meetings we underscored that Iran is always a reliable partner in establishing peace and security,” Ali Bagheri Kani said.

The Iranian Deputy FM said that the regional countries themselves are the guarantors of peace and stability, and that the presence of foreign forces can’t ensure the stability and peace because these forces pursue other goals.

When asked about the ongoing Azerbaijani blockade of Lachin Corridor and occupation of sovereign territories of Armenia, as well as the fake narratives on “Western Azerbaijan” and “Southern Azerbaijan”, the Iranian Deputy FM said: “God has created diplomats in order to achieve the establishment of stability through peaceful dialogue. I assume that the leaders of the regional countries are wise enough to choose dialogue for resolving issues. And Iran will use its entire capacity and potential to give a solution to the issues through peaceful dialogue.”

 14:36, 22 March 2023

YEREVAN, MARCH 22, ARMENPRESS. Lawmakers representing the ruling Civil Contract party did not participate in a vote on Wednesday initiated by the opposition seeking the ouster of Justice Seda Safaryan, effectively blocking the motion.

The opposition Hayastan faction submitted a motion for removing Constitutional Court Judge Seda Safaryan from her position for what they describe as violations of requirements on holding office at the time of her appointment. The opposition MPs claim that Justice Safaryan failed to renounce her entrepreneurial interests after she assumed office in December 2022, violating the requirements of the law. By law, justices are required to abandon any business interests or entrepreneurial activities within thirty days after taking office. Justice Safaryan took office 16 December 2022 and her entrepreneurial interests were officially renounced only on 27 January 2023.

However, MP Arusyak Julhakyan cited State Revenue Committee data claiming that Safaryan had indeed notified the authorities on suspending her activities and the issue is due to formalities regarding paperwork. The opposition dismissed the explanations and still demanded her removal.

Ruling party MPs announced that they will not take part in the vote. The number of votes garnered by the opposition MPs was insufficient for the motion to pass.

 15:05, 22 March 2023

YEREVAN, MARCH 22, ARMENPRESS. The Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan has spread another disinformation claiming that the Armenian side, accompanied by Russian peacekeepers, transported troops and ammunition along the Stepanakert-Ghaybalishen-Lisagor forest road.

In a statement released Wednesday, the Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) Ministry of Internal Affairs said that actually only civilians and humanitarian goods are transported between the settlements of Artsakh, accompanied by peacekeeping troops.

“The Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan has spread another disinformation claiming that the Armenian side, accompanied by Russian peacekeepers, transported troops and ammunition along the Stepanakert-Ghaybalishen-Lisagor forest road.

In fact, only civilians and humanitarian goods are transported between the settlements of Artsakh, accompanied by peacekeeping troops.

We should remind that the normal communication between the capital and some villages of Shushi region has been interrupted since December 12, 2022, due to the blockade of the Stepanakert-Goris interstate highway by Azerbaijan.

Taking into account the complex geographical [terrain] of that mountain road, the traffic is organized with large and [high-clearance] vehicles, which the Azerbaijani side tries to misrepresent as military transport.

The Russian peacekeepers fulfilled their function, [stipulated] in the Tripartite Statement of November 9, 2020. Taking into account the sabotage attack on Artsakh police officers on March 5 and the additional security risks, the Russian side ensured the safe movement of civilians and cargo,” the Artsakh Ministry of Internal Affairs said in a statement.

 16:04, 22 March 2023

YEREVAN, MARCH 22, ARMENPRESS. The Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has adopted a statement regarding the unlawful blockade of Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijan, Armenian delegate to PACE Vladimir Vardanyan said on March 22.

Vardanyan said he will present details soon.