Sixty citizens applied for medical assistance after the clashes between Police and protesters in Sari Tagh district late on Friday. According to Police, 165 people were detained, of whom 26 were later arrested. The rest were released.
Using truncheons, stun grenades and smoke bombs, police broke up a rally held in support of the gunmen, who seized an Armenian police station on July 17 and are currently holding three medics hostage.
A number of in clashes.
A number of journalists have been reported injured, when covering the clashes between Police and protesters at Khorenatsi Street and Sari Tagh district of Yerevan.
Journalists of Radio Liberty Karlen Aslanyan and Hovhannes Movsisyan were attacked by unknown men in civilian clothes. Their badges were seized, the camera was broken.
Journalist of 1in.am website Mariam Grigoryan and cameraman David Harutyunyan were injured in clashes.
Correspondent of Armenia TV Aghvan Asoyan and cameraman Albert Galstyan were beaten by unknown in Sari Tagh. Their camera and microphone were seized and broken.
Photo journalists of agency were also at the epicenter of events.
According to a report from RIA Novosti, the cameraman of the Russian Life TV has also been injured.
Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland concerned over hostage crisis in Yerevan.
“I follow with concern the events taking place in our member state of Armenia, where for several days already, an armed group has taken hostages in a police station in Yerevan,” the Secretary General said in a statement.
“I would like to recall that in states governed by the rule of law, all conflicts should be resolved through political dialogue with a respect for democratic norms and standards,” the statement reads.
“I therefore call on all those concerned to put an end to this dangerous situation without delay, and to return to the use of democratic means. Democracy, human rights and the rule of law must prevail. The freedom of assembly must be fully respected,” Thorbjørn Jagland said.
Dozens were reported injured in clashes between police and protesters at Khorenatsi Street and Sari Tagh district of Yerevan.
According to preliminary data of the Ministry of Health, more than 30 people have been hospitalized.
The Police used special means to disperse rallies at Khorenatsi Street and Sari Tagh district.
The U.S. Embassy continues to monitor the ongoing standoff in the police building in Erebuni and the ensuing protests.
“We reiterate our call for all parties to exercise maximum restraint, act within the confines of the law, and work for a peaceful resolution of the standoff. We are deeply troubled by the ongoing hostage situation, and call for the immediate, safe, and unconditional release of medical personnel held captive since Wednesday, and any others who may wish to leave the police building in Erebuni,” reads a statement on the Embassy’s Facebook page.
“We reiterate that threats and violence are not acceptable means of achieving lasting political change in Armenia. We urge the Armenian government and security forces to maintain order in a manner that upholds ALL Armenian citizens’ rights to freedom of expression and to peaceful assembly, and to ensure that all individuals detained by the police receive just treatment and are afforded due process under the law,” the Embassy said in a statament.
The trailer for “Ithaca,” a film based on William Saroyan’s 1943 novel “The Human Comedy” has been released.
The film tells the story of a 14-year-old telegraph messenger (Alex Neustaedter) in upstate New York whose older brother (Jack Quaid) is overseas fighting in World War II. Ryan and Hanks play their parents.
The film featuring Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks will hit theaters September 9, 2016.
A request submitted by independent MP Mostafa Bakri has called on parliament and the government to recognise the the death of 1.5 million Armenians at the hands of the Ottoman state in 1915 as a ’genocide,’ reports.
Independent Egyptian MP Mostafa Bakri said that he and 336 MPs have called on parliament to approve a draft resolution in favour of recognising the death of 1.5 million Armenians at the hands of the Ottoman state in 1915 as a ”genocide.”
”Parliament must hold a special session on this subject because it was a crime of mass extermination that should be condemned by all world parliaments,” said Bakri.
“New historical evidence has exposed the slaughter of 1.5 million Armenians at the hands of Ottoman Turks between 1915 and 1922,” Bakri said, adding that his proposal “comes after the German parliament voted last month in favour of recognising the 1915 massacre as a genocide, and many other countries are expected to follow suit.”
Turkey does not officially recognise that the Armenian genocide took place. Following Germany’s recent recognition of the genocide, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan recalled Turkey’s ambassador to Germany for “consultation,” with the Turkish government saying that the move by Berlin was “null and void.”
Bakri concluded that “while the Ottomans committed the 1915 massacre, the Erdogan regime is now moving to commit another crime against his political opponents and minorities that seek independence.”
The proposal comes after another Egyptian MP, Emad Mahrous, demanded on Sunday that the government grant political asylum to exiled Turkish opposition figure Fethullah Gulen.
Mahrous accused Erdogan of exploiting the failed coup against him this month to detain hundreds of his political opponents and turn Turkey into a Muslim Brotherhood dictatorship.
Talaat Khalil, an MP who supported Bakri’s draft resolution, told reporters that genocide should be condemned by all world governments and parliaments.
“Besides, the perpetrators must admit their crimes or even apologise for them,” Khalil added.
”But it is clear that the arrogant Erdogan regime will never admit that this massacre [took place] because he believes himself to be a new Ottoman sultan,” said Khalil.
Khalil added that Egypt had close relations with both the Armenian people and the Turkish people.
”Egypt has always been a shelter for the Armenians since the 1915 massacre,” said Khalil, arguing that “out of its political responsibility, Egypt’s parliament must move to recognise the [genocide] against Armenians.”
Khalil concluded by saying that “this should not be taken as a hostile move by the Egyptian parliament against Turkey, but should be seen as a move that comes out of purely humanist considerations.”
Relations between Turkey and Egypt have been strained since the 2013 ouster of Egypt’s Islamist president Mohamed Morsi, a member of the Muslim Brotherhood group and a close ally of Erdogan’s AKP government. Erdogan has repeatedly slammed Morsi’s removal as an “unacceptable coup.”
Armenian ambassador to Tehran said his country is willing to make investments in the Iranian Jewelry industry, reports.
Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to the Islamic Republic of Iran Artashes Tumanyan made the remarks during a meeting held in the Iranian capital with Head of Tehran Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture Masoud Khansari.
The Armenian official said Yerevan is a pioneer in area of jewelry turning adding “Armenian traders are also eager to participate in Iran’s IT industries.”
He also noted that Aremenia’s Central Bank holds proposals for monetary and banking ties between the two countries.
Tumanyan recalled the inked MoU for holding Armenia’s specialized exhibitions in Tehran saying “the first edition of the exposition will be held in Tehran International Permanent Fairground within months providing Armenian industrial and financial firms with the opportunity to introduce their capabilities.”
Ambassador of Armenia to Tehran enumerated further venues for bolstering bilateral ties including internet provision, livestock and poultry industry.
Head of Tehran Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture Masoud Khansari, for his part, referred to great economic and industrial potentials held by the two parties noting “identifying venues for cooperation can play and important role in expanding bilateral relation between Tehran and Yerevan.”
The Iranian official, while recalling Armenia’s presence in the Eurasian Union, added “mutual collaboration between the two states must lead to joint participation in third-party markets.”
“Development of economic relations between the two countries requires targeted policies like strengthening the joint chambers of commerce and conducting joint exhibitions as well as the deployment and adoption of trade delegations between the two sides,” Khansari recommended.
Armenia will take part in the later this month.
From 28 to 31 July, the 37th Euroradio Folk Festival (EFF) will be held in Estonia, in conjunction with the 24th Viljandi Folk Festival, where some 50 artists/bands will perform (Armenia, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Croatia, South Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Norway, Ukraine, Poland, Ireland, Portugal, Russia, Switzerland, Spain, Slovenia, Iceland, Sweden, Finland). Of that total, the EFF is represented by 27 groups entered by 21 EBU Members and Associates and selected by Estonian Public Broadcasting to be recorded and offered to EBU Members and Associates as part of the Euroradio concert exchange.
In a ceremony broadcast live by EBU Members Estonian Television and Estonian Radio, Toomas Hendrik Ilves, President of Estonia, will deliver the opening remarks at the 37th Euroradio Folk Festival (EFF), to be held from 28 to 31 July. Taking place in Estonia for the first time ever, this annual EBU event, launched in 1980, will be held in conjunction with the 24th Viljandi Folk Festival, presenting the best of folk and traditional music from Europe and well beyond.
Other featured speakers at the opening ceremony will include the CEO of Estonian Public Broadcasting, Margus Allikmaa, and the Euroradio Head of Music, Pascale Labrie.
Kanteles, fiddles, accordions, balalaikas, throat singing, yodeling: these and many more can be heard at the annual Euroradio Folk Festival, where bands and artists redefine the frontiers of folk music through their ethno, jazz, traditional and crossover projects. More than a mere festival, this event is a platform presenting the incredible diversity of musical genres and sounds of all lifestyles in European folk music. It aims to preserve the unique tradition of local and regional roots, while being open to the latest trends, migrations and encounters. It reflects the lives of Europeans in all their richness: who we are, where we come from, and where we are going.
Since it was launched in 1980, the Euroradio Folk Festival has been an unprecedented opportunity for over 2,000 vocal and instrumental musicians to present the multitude of traditions in Europe, but also other continents, and connect with one another. Thanks to the Euroradio network concert exchanges, many artists have become known far beyond their borders.
The theme of this year’s Viljandi Folk Music Festival is devoted to one of the most beautiful and expressive natural sound in the world – the woman’s voice. But why women, one might ask. Does that not hint at inequality and discrimination? Older Estonian folk songs have always been strongly influenced by the gender binary. You can usually identify whether the songs were sung by women or men based on the themes and motifs. These themes are still relevant today because these songs were sung straight from the hearts of our ancestors and we are able to listen to them today thanks to archival records and notes. This year, we are concentrating on what out female ancestors used to sing.
This year the folk festival will welcome around 150 journalists from all over the world.
On the kind invitation of Estonian Traditional Music Centre and EBU, Public Radio of Armenia will also take part in the 37th Euroradio and 24th Viljandi Folk Festivals. Armenia and Public Radio of Armenia will be represented by “Nubar” Folk Song and Dance Ensemble. The oncert will take place on July 30, at 20:00 at Traditional Music Center, Viljandi, Estonia.
Watch the live gala show on July 28, 2016 at 19:00 (GMT) on the official website of Public Radio of Armenia ().
Armenian Traditional, Folk Dance-Song Ensemble “Nubar” is a unique Armenian ensemble that is revealing the already forgotten folk songs giving them a new sound and a new soul. “Nubar” is preserving and disseminating the Armenian folk traditions, songs and dances revealing the specifications of Armenian traditional music. From time to time the ensemble organizes outdoor master classes for public attendance teaching the passers-bye the art of Armenian singing and dancing.
The main goal of “Nubar” is to preserve the heritage of our ancestors and pass it from generations to generations. From this point of view that is symbolic that all the members of the Ensemble are young enthusiastic people who are willing to be well aware of their roots and save their identity.
“Nubar” was founded in 2006 in Yerevan, Armenia. Lusine Nazaryan is the founder and artistic director of the Ensemble. This year the Ensemble is celebrating its 10th jubilee anniversary. The band has recorded 2 CDs with folk and ethnographical songs of different regions of Armenian. It has an outstanding repertoire and gives year-round concerts in Yerevan, Armenian regions, Artsakh, Georgia, as well as participates in various festivals both in Armenia and abroad. The Ensemble is always invited to have a participation in the local traditional events, fests and concerts, among these are the annual “Gutan” national song and dance festival, Dvin Festival for Armenian-Iranian friendship, Fresco International Festival of Cinematography, “Armenia on the Crossroads of Peace” annual international festival, etc. Up to now the Ensemble has given concerts in all the 10 administrative divisions – regions of Armenia and in the capital Yerevan. The Ensemble is actively involved in the activities of Armenian Public TV and Radio, including the New Year events, music programs, charity concerts, etc.
Different districts in Damascus, including the Armenian-populated Bab Tuma neighborhood came under rocket attack yesterday, the Aleppo-based Kantsasar newspaper informs.
According to SANA, five people were killed, dozens were injured.