14:06,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 21, ARMENPRESS. The Aurora Humanitarian Initiative announced that a special series of events will be held from May 8–10, 2024 in Los Angeles, CA. The events, including the 2024 Aurora Prize Ceremony and the Human Rights and Humanitarian Forum, are being organized in partnership with The Promise Institute for Human Rights at UCLA.

The events are co-chaired by Dr. Noubar Afeyan, Co-Founder of the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative, Founder and CEO of Flagship Pioneering, and Co-Founder and Chairman of Moderna, and Dr. Eric Esrailian, UCLA professor and Chief of the Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Division of Digestive Diseases. Dr. Esrailian, also an Emmy-nominated film producer and entrepreneur, led the efforts to establish The Promise Institute for Human Rights at UCLA in 2017.

“We are honored to join forces with The Promise Institute for Human Rights to support outstanding humanitarians and human rights defenders putting themselves at risk to help others,” said Dr. Afeyan. “Over the past eight years, Aurora has fostered a global network of like-minded individuals committed to this important work, and we look forward to the events in Los Angeles to further elevate the voices of grassroots activists everywhere and show the world the power of each individual to bring about positive change.”

“The 2024 Aurora Prize events in Los Angeles will offer guests and participants a chance to express their appreciation to those who selflessly help others in need. People will hopefully come away inspired to channel that gratitude into action, join us in this global movement, and contribute to our common cause,” said Dr. Esrailian, co-chair of the events. “By shining a light on the best of humanity, which often emerges in the darkest of times, we intend to raise awareness – both in the US and around the world – of ordinary human beings whose sense of compassion and justice motivates them to do extraordinary things.”

The 2024 Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity Laureate will be announced during the Aurora Prize Ceremony, with the Laureate selected from the Aurora Humanitarians shortlisted in September 2023.  The prize award will enable the Laureate to continue the cycle of giving and supporting grassroots humanitarians and organizations that give a second chance to people in need. 

The Human Rights and Humanitarian Forum and other events will bring together leading experts in the field for insightful discussions on a range of topics including gender justice, women’s empowerment, global health crisis and education.

 14:40,

 15:08,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 21, ARMENPRESS. The Azeri national arrested in Russia pursuant to an international arrest warrant issued by Armenia is wanted for crimes against humanity, war crimes, mercenaryism and aggression, his lawyer has said.

Kamil Zeynalli’s lawyer Alekber Garayev told Azeri media that his client is wanted by Armenia under Article 135 (crimes against humanity), 147 (mercenaryism) and 149 (aggression) of the Armenian Criminal Code.

Other media reports said Zeynalli is also wanted under Article 140 (war crimes committed through prohibited methods of warfare).

Azeri national Kamil Zeynalli, who has been arrested by Russian police in Moscow, is wanted by Armenia, police earlier confirmed to Armenpress.

Zeynalli is on Armenia’s interstate wanted list, Ministry of Internal Affairs spokesperson Narek Sargsyan told Armenpress. He did not elaborate. “The mentioned individual is on the interstate wanted list on a murder charge,” he said.

Zeynalli, who is apparently a former member of the Azeri military, claimed on social media that Russian police told him that he has been arrested pursuant to an international arrest warrant issued by Armenia. The Azeri national is scheduled to make a court appearance in Moscow on February 22, according to the reports. Zeynalli claims that he could be extradited to Armenia.  He was placed under arrest at the Domodedovo airport and then booked at a police station.

The general prosecution of Armenia, however, told Armenpress that they don’t have any official information about Zeynalli’s arrest in Moscow.

According to unconfirmed media reports, Kamil Zeynalli is suspected of war crimes committed during the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war when he fought from the Azeri side against Armenian forces, particularly of killing and beheading an elderly civilian hostage. According to the media reports Zeynalli is a recipient of Azeri medals for his military service.  According to the reports, the man is now a 'blogger' and a ‘fitness trainer’.

 15:49,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 21, ARMENPRESS. The 20th February marked 1 year since the European Union Mission in Armenia (EUMA) deployed to Armenia. The Mission is tasked with patrolling and reporting on the situation on the ground on the border with Azerbaijan.

To this day, EUMA has conducted over 1720 patrols contributing to enhanced security and stability on the Armenian side of the bilateral state border with Azerbaijan, the EEAS said in a statement. 

EUMA contributes to human security in conflict-affected areas in Armenia and through its presence on the ground aims to build confidence among the local population in border areas. The Mission is exclusively civilian and unarmed, operating as an impartial actor. Through its reporting to Brussels, it has contributed to a better understanding of the situation on the ground. It also plays an important role in support of EU high-level efforts for Armenia-Azerbaijan normalisation.

On 11 December 2023, the EU Foreign Affairs Council agreed to strengthen the observation capacity of EUMA within the Mission’s existing Area of Operation by increasing its presence on the ground from 138 staff to 209.

Head of EUMA, Markus Ritter said:

‘’The reinforcement of the Mission and increasing the number of staff enables us to conduct more patrols, contributing to overall security and stability in the region. We are conducting daily patrols to observe and report the situation on the ground. On this special day, I want to acknowledge the valuable work of the Mission’s personnel and thank the 23 EU Member States who are contributing staff to the mission. I also want to thank Canada for sending their first expert to EUMA. I would like to convey my sincere appreciation to our Armenian friends and partners for their warm welcome and the excellent cooperation during the past year.’’

EU Civilian Operations Commander Stefano Tomat said:

“I am very proud of what has been achieved by the mission so far.  It has conducted its activities with exemplary professionalism. EUMA’s presence on the ground is proof of EU engagement for peace and stability in the region.”

The EU Ambassador to Armenia Vassilis Maragos said:

“I want to thank EUMA staff for their dedication. EUMA helps to ensure an environment conducive to normalisation efforts and has made a worthy contribution to stabilizing the situation around Armenia."

EUMA operates from Headquarters in Yeghegnadzor, with six Forward Operating bases in Kapan, Goris, Jermuk, Yeghegnadzor, Martuni and Ijevan. The Mission will open a Liaison and Support Office in Yerevan in spring 2024. The mission has a two year mandate which runs until February 2025.

Speaking at a February 21 press conference, Ritter said, “We remain committed to our mandate as an impartial actor, in support of the EU’s efforts for normalization in this region.”

He added that the mission has contributed to de-escalation of the tension and reduction of the number of incidents.

 16:04,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 21, ARMENPRESS. Armenia has received new proposals from Azerbaijan on a peace treaty, Secretary of the Security Council Armen Grigoryan has said.

“In response to our January 4 proposals, Azerbaijan has sent its variant, and we continue to work,” Grigoryan said at a press conference.

He said that there is still some “regress” in the Azeri proposals, which the Armenian Foreign Minister earlier spoke about.

 16:17,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 21, ARMENPRESS. Russian authorities have released Azerbaijani national Kamil Zeynalli after briefly detaining him at a Moscow airport pursuant to an Armenian international arrest warrant, his lawyer has said.

Kamil Zeynalli’s lawyer Alekber Garayev told Azeri media that his client is wanted by Armenia under Article 135 (crimes against humanity), 147 (mercenaryism) and 149 (aggression) of the Armenian Criminal Code.

Other media reports said Zeynalli is also wanted under Article 140 (war crimes committed through prohibited methods of warfare).

The general prosecution of Armenia, however, told Armenpress that they don’t have any official information about Zeynalli’s arrest in Moscow.

Zeynalli is on Armenia’s interstate wanted list, Ministry of Internal Affairs spokesperson Narek Sargsyan told Armenpress. He did not elaborate. “The mentioned individual is on the interstate wanted list on a murder charge,” he said.

 16:27,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 21, ARMENPRESS. EU Civilian Operations Commander Stefano Tomat has described the EU Mission in Armenia (EUMA) activities as “impressive” and said that he is proud of the work that has been done during its 1st year.

“I am sure that the EU monitoring mission is bringing important contribution to Armenia and the region, which symbolizes the EU’s involvement for peace and stability,” Tomat said at an event dedicated to the 1st anniversary of EUMA.

“The number of border incidents decreased during the past year, and we can conclude that the EU monitoring mission has had its contribution in this positive development. But there are still challenges. The recent disinformation campaigns targeting EUMA underscore the difficult environment where the EU mission works. And in this sense, I’d like to reiterate our words of gratitude to EU member states for their support to the mission,” he added, noting that EUMA aims at building trust and doesn’t have aggressive goals.

 16:32,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 21, ARMENPRESS. The EU monitoring mission did not have access to the area where Azerbaijan’s latest aggression took place in Syunik province, Secretary of the Security Council Armen Grigoryan has said.

He said that Russian border guards have presence in that area, but they failed to prevent the Azeri aggression.

“When the latest incident took place in Nerkin Hand, the EU monitoring mission didn’t have access there, unlike the Russians, and Russia itself is present there, and it couldn’t prevent the incident,” Grigoryan told reporters.

He said that EUMA definitely has stabilizing role in the region and Armenia fully supports the mission.

He said he is aware that Russian border guards have prevented EU monitors from entering Nerkin Hand, and that he has already addressed the matter.

4 Armenian soldiers were killed and another wounded on February 13 when Azeri forces opened fire at an Armenian military post near Nerkin Hand, Syunik.

 16:40,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 21, ARMENPRESS. Armenia and Azerbaijan plan to hold new meetings on the level of foreign ministers and deputy prime ministers, Secretary of the Security Council Armen Grigoryan has said.

He said that the peace treaty remains a priority for Armenia.

Speaking at a press briefing, Grigoryan said the agreement on the new meetings was reached in Munich after PM Pashinyan and Azeri President Aliyev’s meeting. “The issue is being discussed, but at this moment there is no clear information on the date and location of the meeting,” he said.

Armenia remains committed to the peace agenda and will consistently advance it, Grigoryan added.

 16:52,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 21, ARMENPRESS. The EU Mission in Armenia (EUMA) is implementing its mandate and accusations of carrying out any other activities are baseless, EU Ambassador to Armenia Vassilis Maragos said when asked to comment on the Azerbaijani foreign ministry’s statement on EUMA.

“Our mission has a very clearly defined mandate. It is deployed on the Armenian side of the international border with Azerbaijan, and is exclusively engaged in what is outlined in its mandate, to ensure its presence, to carry out patrols, with the goal of helping to ensure peace in the region. This is what we’ve always been doing. Any other accusation or slander on engaging in any other activities are absolutely baseless,” he said when asked by Armenpress to comment. 

Maragos added that all EU member states support the mission. “We are resolutely aiming for strengthening peace and stability in the region,” the EU ambassador said.

On 12 February 2024 the Ambassador of the European Union to the Republic of Azerbaijan, Peter Michalko, was summoned to the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Azerbaijani foreign ministry accused EUMA of being exploited as an “anti-Azerbaijani propaganda tool,” and becoming an agent of "binoculars diplomacy.”