2020 August 31

Daily news and anti-corruption report

Aug/31/2020 news: \\ Archaeologists examine a strange 1919 mass-murder \\ Corruption Committee to investigate Pashinyan \\ ex-officials & IRS agents busted. Millions $ \\ warden arrested \\ COVID vs consumption \\ sports & arts news \\ Lebanese & Syrian Armenians \\ u do business? \\ trash sorting!
by ar_david_hh

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Can archaeologists shed light on this 1919 betrayal and massacre story?

There is a village named Sotq in Gegharquniq province. It has a castle built during the middle ages that could hold a secret to a mysterious event that happened in 1919, during the 1st Republic of Armenia.

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The alleged incident took place in February 1919. The Armenian government sent a military envoy, led by legendary commander Movses Silikian's relative Arshak Silikian, to Basargechari area to negotiate and calm the local Turkish population.

Turkish population near villages Mets Masrik and Sotq villages welcomed the Armenian soldiers with peace and pledged loyalty.

Then, after having them eat and drink to bring down their guards, the locals allegedly massacred the Armenian soldiers at the orders of Samand Agha.

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The story was "forgotten" during USSR and no one could clarify the location of the incident.

The archeologists have just found dozens of skeletons in the castle area and a "brotherly" graveyard. They believe it could be related to the incident.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1026300.html

Anti-Corruption Committee to investigate Pashinyan over "defamatory comments"

In 2019, Pashinyan called the courts corrupt and "accustomed to slave-owner relations" who "need to clean up themselves" instead of "whining and looking for owners."

The former regime's activists from "Civil Consciousness" group didn't like his words and asked the new Anti-Corruption Committee to investigate Pashinyan. The Committee rejected, saying the activists didn't submit their paperwork on time.

Today the court ruled that the Committee should launch an investigation.

https://news.am/arm/news/599678.html

Goris mayor vs ex-Syunik Governor Liska

Goris mayor Arush Arushyan released a 20-minute video in which he accused his arch-nemesis HHK Surik Liska Khachatryan's (ex-governor of Syunik) circles of provoking a confrontation with him.

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"It's something they've been doing in the past several years, even before I became mayor. I've been fighting against Liska's hyenas to establish justice by returning what was stolen by them.

We fought against the criminal atmosphere in Goris which prevented families from leaving their homes after 6 pm. Today you can freely dine in the evening without worrying about Liska's hyenas."

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"The media writes about me giving away homes. They present it as corruption. In reality, I returned homes belonging to real owners who had it taken away from them illegally. An investigation concluded I wasn't affiliated with people who received the homes."

Liska's right hand man spread misinformation about me through media."

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The reason the mayor released the video is because of a recent fight involving him (allegedly against Liska's people) captured on CCTV. The prosecutors launched a felony investigation to learn details about the fight.

The 29yo mayor was elected in 2017 as a HHK candidate but quit the party after the 2018 revolution.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fr1PyhyAq-I

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4jRSumrEwSU

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1026253.html

Nubarashen prison warden arrested over inmate assault

Samvel Mkrtchyan was recently fired from the warden's position. Today he was arrested and charged with abuse of power and assisting crime. He denies wrongdoing.

It's about a story we learned earlier, about how in February an inmate was allegedly removed from his cell and handed over to other inmates so they could beat him up over a financial dispute.

The ex-warden and several prison guards are arrested over the incident.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1026263.html

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1026284.html

Serj's chief bodyguard Vachagan is hit with new charges

Vachagan Ghazaryan was charged with financial crimes after the revolution. Money was recovered. The charges were later dropped. Now the NSS has new charges against him.

He allegedly assigned a Secret Service chauffeur for his wife's personal use and used 6 policemen to guard his "Yans" restaurant.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1026258.html

A big property corruption busted

In 2010, the chief of Property Management department and his accomplices allegedly caused $1.9m in damages to the state, for personal gain.

They're accused of abusing powers to rig the price evaluation of a property that was supposed to be sold.

A felony case is launched. https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1026323.html

Several IRS officials are arrested

SIS launched a felony case against 3 IRS officials from Bagratashen checkpoint. They're accused of colluding with a businessman to let him import large quantities of oil without paying border fees.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1026293.html

Thieve-in-law gets charged with narco-trafficking

Criminal subculture gang leader A.G. is already in prison. He allegedly organized and carried out narcotics sales from his prison cell, and will face new charges.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1026295.html

Another thieve-in-law with "interesting past" is charged with the new law

Criminal subculture Mafiosi "Zap from Leninakan" has been charged with a recently-passed law, for allegedly organizing crimes while holding the highest "vor v zakone" title of a criminal gang leader.

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Zap has an interesting history. He was wanted by Czech police but PM Hovik Abrahamyan refused the extradition in 2015. Zap was later released in Armenia. There were media rumors that Zap was friends with PM Abrahamyan's son.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1026301.html

https://www.lragir.am/2020/08/31/575256/

Government won’t resolve any problem by arresting me

...said BHK leader Gagik Tsarukyan during a speech in which he accused Pashinyan administration of failing to help the public and the economy, and for "political persecution" of opponents.

Some of his detailed claims were fact-checked here.

https://www.panorama.am/en/news/2020/08/31/Tsarukyan/2351986

https://fip.am/12463

Soccer players vs cops in Cascade

Malakyan brothers from the Armenian national soccer team allegedly got drunk and beat up 4 policemen near Yerevan's cascade.

Araz Ozbilis and other players were part of the group and witnessed the event.

https://factor.am/279883.html

https://factor.am/279993.html

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/194663

Did COVID make you fat?

Food sales +9.2% in EAEU trade bloc during the pandemic. The soy sales rose 8.4 times, thus increasing the likelihood of you becoming a soyboy.

More stats: https://hetq.am/hy/article/121066

Internet vs Cellular during COVID

ISPs' internet revenues +12% (total $59m), while cellular -21% (total $43m) during 1H. The trend isn't new, but it accelerated during COVID.

More details: https://hetq.am/hy/article/121069

COVID: School rules are published

Only 1 person can accompany a child to school beginning on September 14th.

Schools will distribute masks and sanitizers but a child must already wear a mask when they arrive at school. Temperatures will be measured at the entrance.

Classes will have 10-20 kids.

Saturday is a school day.

Cafeterias are closed.

Students with some chronic illnesses cannot attend. They'll have remote or homes-schooling.

A student who has a household member with active COVID cannot attend.

School is sanitized before the day begins, with three 10-minute air ventilation throughout the day.

Every room and hall must have sanitizers. Closed-lid garbage bins for used masks.

Students wear a mask during the class and always stay in their chairs.

65yo teachers don't have to work.

More details: https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/194608

first CIS "Olympics" is canceled

Russia planned to organize the first "Olympics" for ex-USSR states. 2,500 athletes from 11 republics were supposed to compete in Kazan, Russia. It was delayed until September due to COVID. Now it's canceled.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1026257.html

Online wrestling brings medals

After a lengthy corona-break, the wrestling team finally participated in an international (online) Uzbekistan Cup.

Armenia won Gold in U20 competition, and silver/bronze during adult competitions.

InTeRneT wOrKed jUsT Fine.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1026261.html

10,000 in 10 days

The collection of Dali and Picasso arts pieces was hot. It attracted 10k people to National Gallery in 10 days. The show is over.

https://www.facebook.com/NationalGalleryOfArmenia/posts/3623240384353716

http://www.panarmenian.net/arm/news/284608/

Lebanese and Syrian Armenians

Individuals and businesses have so far donated $6m to Beirut Armenians after the explosion.

$1.4m was raised during yesterday's HyeAid charity telethon.

Dashnaks have proposed a plan to work with the govt and help repatriate diasporans.

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https://www.civilnet.am/news/2020/08/31/Լիբանանահայերին-տրամադրված-օգնությունը-կազմում-է-մոտ-6-մլն-դոլար/393774

https://www.civilnet.am/news/2020/08/31/Դաշնակցությունը-հայրենադարձության-մեծ-ծրագրի-առաջարկով-դիմել-է-ՀՀ-կառավարությանը/393747

http://asbarez.com/196508/almost-1-4-million-raised-during-hyeaid-lebanon-telethon/

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Esmiryan brothers moved from Syria to the Artsakh Republic in 2012. They have an agricultural and beekeeping business.

"We started small and served middle eastern cuisine in a cafe."

This is their story: https://youtu.be/33lAsQOATY8

28% of Armenians do business

That's a pretty high number - 6th place out of 50 - yet the productivity is one of the lowest. The most common reason for doing business is "to make ends meet due to lack of job" (#1 in Eastern Europe with this metric).

Agriculture and trade are the biggest areas. Armenia has the lowest productivity in agriculture and is in the bottom-10 when it comes to trade productivity.

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Most entrepreneurs are young, with men slightly outnumbering women.

70% of Armenians are afraid of failing, which serves as a barrier to starting a business. It's similar to Croatia.

More details: https://www.civilnet.am/news/2020/08/31/Ապրուստ-վաստակել-ոչ-թե-մի-բան-փոխել-ինչո՞ւ-են-հայերը-զբաղվում-բիզնեսով/393824

Armenian Kurds hold a picket in front of UN office

They want the UN to stop "Turkey's genocidal policies towards Kurds in Iraq. We want democracy. We want to speak our language and preserve our culture. We should unite and fight Erdogan's policies."

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1026264.html

Komitas statue in Paris...

... was defaced by vandals. Someone wrote "c'est faux" ("it's not true") on it. The Armenian embassy condemned the attack on the monument representing the Genocide.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1026244.html

Armenian humanitarian envoy to Syria...

... has cleared 33,000 m2 area of dozens of mines in August. 1,800 patients were given medical care. The Aleppo govt thanked the envoy.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1026281.html

Henrikh Mkhitaryan to stay in Roma

The soccer star will sign a contract to finalize his transfer from Arsenal to Roma.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1026282.html

Pashinyan went on 5-day vacation

He uploaded a video from king Ashot Yerkat's fortress Mantashaberd. "Do visit this place but read the fortress's history first," recommended the PM.

Video: https://youtu.be/2O5khVoaZJ0?t=18

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1026289.html

Nature Ministry raises nature fees near a lake

Earlier they complained about businesses exploiting Clear Lake (Պարզ լիճ) and dumping wastewater for years. Filtering requirements were introduced.

Now the Ministry decided to raise the nature fee by 6x for a land leaser.

Any nearby land work will require an assessment and approval.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1026317.html

Bears are rescued from a cheese factory

Mkho and Misha are now living under better conditions after being caged in poor conditions in a cheese factory for 10 years. FPWC organization has counted 20 similar bears across Armenia that need rescuing.

Video: https://youtu.be/moRuBnWm1-4

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/194617

Trash sorting across Yerevan

The capital will expand its efforts to sort the trash by installing separate bins for each type of trash (paper, plastic, glass), in 100 neighborhoods across the city.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1026315.html

Tags: #Recycle #Garbage

Human and boat remains found in lake Sevan / 1,200 B.C. graves near lake / Chemical process

This year geologists and archeologists teamed up with divers to examine the depths of Lake Sevan.

An independent diver learned about this and contacted the experts about the human and boat remains that he found in 2012.

The nail used on the discovered boat was not of serial factory production and had likely been produced by a private locksmith a few hundred years ago.

Among the discovered bones there is part of the jaw which helped to identify the victim as an adult male.

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The group of archeologists also examined tombs near the lake. Last year, they discovered 1,200 B.C. graves in the Artanish settlement near the lake.

The team uses special chemicals "for the first time in Armenia, not used elsewhere except for discovering of mines in England". It allows them to sample a small patch of soil and determine the metals and organic materials that are likely beneath. If phosphorus is detected, it's indicative of nearby human or animals remains.

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That is how they found the ancient burial site. In those days the ritual included burying personal properties, weapons, food, and jewelry next to the deceased.

One of these 4 tombstones was burglarized earlier this year, which prompted archeologists to go all-in and dig it out. That's when they found all sorts of personal items near the body.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1026236.html Check out the Sunday news wrap-up

https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/ijmv2h/aug302020_news_armenias_one_of_a_kind/

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You've read 1906 words.

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Link to original report and comments: https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/ik4ge4/aug312020_news_archaeologists_examine_a_strange/

Disclaimer: All the accused are innocent until proven guilty by the court of law, even if they may sound as being guilty. Currency in Armenian Drams ֏ unless specified otherwise. Helpful overview of Armenia's media ownership and leanings.