12:56, 13 December 2023

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 13, ARMENPRESS. Armenia and Azerbaijan did not exchange prisoners as of Wednesday noon almost a week after the agreement was reached.

Azerbaijan has to release 32 Armenian prisoners in exchange for Armenia's release of two Azerbaijani servicemen under the agreement.  

Asked to comment, a senior Armenian lawmaker on December 13 declined to give specific timeframes of the exchange. “First of all, I wouldn’t want to mention specific timeframes,” Member of Parliament, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs Sargis Khandanyan said at a press briefing when asked on the delay and whether Azerbaijan has breached the deal. “The logic and perception is that the process should take place in the nearest time. There’s been no signals indicating that Azerbaijan has abandoned its obligation. After all, this is an obligation assumed in a written form, in the present tense, that Azerbaijan is releasing 32 prisoners. I assume there are some organizational issues which are in process and we must expect it to happen in the nearest time,” Khandanyan said.

 14:48, 13 December 2023

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 13, ARMENPRESS. There’s been no change in the agreements between Armenia and Azerbaijan concerning the prisoner swap, Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan has said.

“There’s been no change in the agreements. As of this moment everything is proceeding according to the agreements. There were two components, the release of prisoners and the conference related to climate change. The conference officially ended yesterday, and today we can already expect the implementation of the second component. We have no grounds to say that Azerbaijan won’t adhere to the agreements,” Mirzoyan said.

Meanwhile, Azeri media reported that the prisoner exchange is expected on December 13.

Azerbaijan has to release 32 Armenian prisoners in exchange for Armenia's release of two Azerbaijani servicemen under the agreement.

 13:08, 13 December 2023

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 13, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan has met with his Estonian counterpart Margus Tsahkna in Yerevan.

A joint press conference is expected to take place after an extended-format meeting.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Estonian FM visited the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial to commemorate the victims of the Armenian Genocide.

 15:28, 13 December 2023

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 13, ARMENPRESS. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna has vowed to start a process of official recognition of the Armenian Genocide in the Estonian parliament.

“On a meeting with Armenian foreign minister Ararat Mirzoyan I emphazised that it’s Estonian dept to Armenia that we haven’t recognized genocide against Armenian people & I will start the process in Estonian parliament,” Tsahkna said in a post on X.

Margus Tsahkna visited the Tsitsernakaberd Armenian Genocide Memorial in Yerevan on December 13.

 15:43, 13 December 2023

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 13, ARMENPRESS. This year the Armenia-Estonia relations were distinguished by rather active political dialogue, mutual visits, contacts in international platforms and political consultations, Armenian FM Ararat Mirzoyan said at a joint press conference with his Estonian counterpart Margus Tsahkna in Yerevan.

He said they expressed willingness to take steps to maintain the dynamics of development of ties and enhance the agenda.

“Today we had the chance to discuss a rather broad circle of issues. In addition to the enhancing political dialogue, we attached importance to the economic component of bilateral ties, as well as maximal use of potential for the development of close cooperation in targeted areas,” Mirzoyan said, pointing out opportunities for exchange of experience and joint projects in IT. “Of course this sector is greatly connected with education and science, where we also have the potential to combine our capabilities,” he added.

The Armenia-EU partnership was also discussed.

The expansion of the European Union Mission in Armenia (EUMA) and Estonia’s participation in it was highlighted in context of regional stability.

Mirzoyan reiterated Armenia’s readiness to deepen relations with the EU as much as the EU will find it possible.

 16:32, 13 December 2023

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 13, ARMENPRESS. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said Wednesday he discussed with his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan the issue of EU visa liberalization for Armenian citizens.

The Estonian FM expressed hope that the visa liberalization will be achieved next year.

He said that the discussion also focused on political cooperation, including on the readiness to work on the steps for joining the EU.

“This is difficult. We’ve worked on this for several decades, and here we are also ready to support, to train your staff, to support these processes in a practical arena,” he said.

 18:55, 13 December 2023

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 13, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan received the delegation led by Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna.

 The Prime Minister welcomed the visit of the Estonian Foreign Minister to Armenia and emphasized the close cooperation of the governments of the two countries in all directions. Nikol Pashinyan emphasized the exchange of experience related to the institutional reforms implemented in Armenia, taking into account the effective steps of the Estonian government in that regard, the  Armenian Prime Minister’s Office said in a readout.

According to the source, Margus Tsahkna emphasized the willingness and interest of the Estonian government to develop cooperation with Armenia, including in the direction of promoting reforms.

The  parties discussed the humanitarian problems that  forcibly displaced persons from Nagorno-Karabakh face and emphasized the importance of international community’s support  in overcoming them.

It is noted that during the meeting the interlocutors touched upon  the processes taking place in the region, in particular, the process of regulating Armenia-Azerbaijan relations and the "Crossroads of Peace" project presented by the Armenian Government.

Ideas were also exchanged on the Armenia-European Union cooperation and its further development.

Margus Tsahkna conveyed to Armenian PM the invitation by the prime minister of his country to pay an official visit to Estonia.

 13:42, 13 December 2023

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 13, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has congratulated Donald Tusk on his election as Prime Minister of Poland.

“Congratulations Donald Tusk on becoming Poland’s Prime Minister! Looking forward to further enhancement of the Armenia-Poland cooperation at bilateral and multilateral levels, as well as to the close partnership in the framework of the EU, built on our shared values and democratic ideals,” Pashinyan said in a post on X.

Tusk previously served in the position of Prime Minister from 2007 to 2014. He served as President of the European Council from 2014 to 2019.

 15:02, 13 December 2023

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 13, ARMENPRESS. Armenia and Azerbaijan are discussing the withdrawal of their troops from the border, foreign minister Ararat Mirzoyan has said.

Speaking at a joint press conference with his Estonian counterpart Margus Tsahkna, Mirzoyan said that the December 7 agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan isn’t the only confidence-building process.

“This isn’t the only confidence-building agreement that was discussed. Other ideas have been, and will be discussed too. For example, around the withdrawal of troops from the Armenian-Azerbaijani interstate border. We believe that the withdrawal of troops will really have a positive impact and will help to avoid a new possible escalation. I’m not saying that we have an agreement here. This is an idea that is under discussion,” Mirzoyan said.

He expressed hope that Armenian-Azeri mutual steps would positively impact the normalization process.

“The main process is the negotiations process around the peace treaty. I think Azerbaijan must return to the negotiations table in the format of meetings. We’ve had the opportunity to say that most of the work is done, and now we need to meet and agree around final wordings related to significant issues,” Mirzoyan said.

 13:17, 13 December 2023

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 13, ARMENPRESS. A Russian woman arrested in Yerevan on suspicion of disorderly conduct has attempted to escape from police custody by jumping out of a window, authorities said Wednesday.

The suspect, Y. Maximovskaya, a citizen of Russia, was arrested by police last week for disorderly conduct in Yerevan. She’s been jailed in pre-trial detention since.

As part of the criminal proceedings initiated by the Investgiative Committee’s Erebuni and Nubarashen Department in Yerevan, the suspect was taken to questioning on December 12. Around 21:30, the suspect asked the detectives if she could use the restroom. She was escorted there by the detective, who waited outside.

The suspect attempted to escape the detention facility by jumping out of a small window in the restroom. She fell on a roof and sustained injuries. The woman is now being treated at a hospital for spinal disc trauma, the Investigative Committee said in a press release. 

A criminal case on attempted prison escape has been initiated.