2020 November 21

Daily news and anti-corruption report

Nov/21/2020 news wrap-up: \\ War in Artsakh (Karabakh) \\ Artsakh's recognition efforts \\ 7 regions \\ Russian envoy visits Armenia \\ COVID stats, vaccines, Russian aid \\ politics & demonstrations \\ aid for Artsakh refugees approved; 7000 return homes \\ Davtyan vs Hakobyan \\ troops & medals
by ar_david_hh

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Your 8-minute Saturday report in 2031 words.

Artsakh Republic's recognition

A group of French Senators had earlier drafted a bill to urge the government to recognize Artsakh. It'll be placed on the floor next week. The Senators believe Artsakh's long-term security is possible only if it's officially recognized as a state.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1035528.html

The city council of French Saint-Étienne has urged the govt to officially recognize Artsakh. They'll also donate 30k as humanitarian aid.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1035570.html

November 21st politics

10:38: PM Pashinyan met the military leadership and presented the new Defense Minister Vagharshak Harutyunyan, who served as MoD in 1999 and acted as PM's security adviser.

"We need to analyze where the mistakes were and draw conclusions. The army needs reforms, new strategy, new weapons," said PM and thanked the departing MoD Tonoyan.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=666682894043757

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1035535.html

11:20 - 17:11: Russian diplomatic envoy visited Armenia. PM Pashinyan met Russian MoD Shoygu then MFA Lavrov. PM thanked them, stating that Armenia has always received Russia's support throughout the war. "We hope to strengthen our ties with Russia not only in security but also in the military-engineering field. The military-political situation in the region is different now. It needs to be assessed in detail."

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Russian MoD presented details about the completion of the peacekeeper deployment and said they're working on bringing back the refugees safely. The topic of peacekeepers' settlement and their jobs will be discussed, in addition to the military-engineering cooperation mentioned by Pashinyan.

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Russian MoD met the newly appointed Armenian MoD to discuss Artsakh. They signed papers.

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Russian MFA Lavrov said, "We are grateful for the traditional warm welcome in Yerevan and reaffirm our support for the fraternal Armenian people. My colleagues are ready to present our approaches to economic, energy, and humanitarian cooperation, including our common efforts in the fight against COVID."

Lavrov called it unacceptable that [unnamed entities] in Armenia and abroad are attempting to cancel the November 9th peace Statement. "The signed statement is the only way to stabilize the situation. The govt of Armenia has stated that it helped to save lives and that the Armenian govt is committed to the further implementation of the agreement."

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Emergency Ministers and deputy Prime Ministers of AM and RU held a meeting to discuss humanitarian issues.

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President Sarkissian met MFA Lavrov. "Armenian people are grateful to Russia for its support during difficult times. Convey the gratitude to the President of the Russian Federation because if it wasn't for his and your efforts, we would still be losing young men today."

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1035538.html , https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1035547.html , https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1035555.html , https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1035545.html , https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1035556.html , https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1035562.html , https://youtu.be/borqV1wWWwQ , https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1035563.html , https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1035566.html , https://news.am/arm/news/614788.html

13:29: the court has released several opposition figures from the temporary detention. They were earlier detained for violating the Martial Law by organizing demonstrations.

https://news.am/arm/news/614762.html , https://news.am/arm/news/614825.html

17:21: the 16 opposition parties continue to call for PM Pashinyan's resignation. A demonstration was organized. "Ministers were changed, but changing someone does not solve the crucial issue. This does not divert our attention from our main demand for PM's resignation," said an ARF leader Gegham Manukyan.

The opposition said they won't resume the war if they come to power.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1035567.html , https://news.am/arm/news/614805.html , https://factor.am/312740.html

17:29: former regime ally and opposition "Hayreniq" leader Arthur Vanetsyan has criticized Pashinyan for not giving away the 7 regions to Azerbaijan sooner.

Vanetsyan: You should have publicly presented the deal about giving away the 7 regions, and if you were against it, you should have resigned so someone else could come and give the regions to solve the issue.

[Context: when Azeris were still in the southern Fizuli region, Armenia was asked to give away all 7 regions to Azerbaijan in exchange for peace (no Artsakh status). Since the battle intensity was subsiding down and things weren't looking critical at the time, Pashinyan and the army decided to continue the fight with the hope to defend the 7 regions from being given away.]

https://news.am/arm/news/614817.html

Artak Davtyan vs Movses Hakobyan / accusations & refutals

On Thursday a fired/resigned General Movses Hakobyan gave a press conference during which he criticized the govt and army leadership, and accused them of series of wrong decisions. You can check out that link for details about his claims. [During the press conference, he sounded politically motivated and criticized non-military figures and media outlets that are against the former regime].

The Defense Ministry then responded to Movses Hakobyan and accused him of lying on multiple claims, and also revealing some top-secret information about weapon purchases.

One of the people whom Movses Hakobyan criticized was his replacement General Artak Davtyan. The latter gave an interview and refuted the claims made by Movses Hakobyan.

Redditor VavoTK has translated the points made by Artak Davtyan here

Redditor's post:

He [Artak Davtyan] said that as chief of the operative department, he did not change the purchases planned before as Hakobyan claims. In fact, other than the already-signed contracts in the past 2 years, more ammunition, artillery equipment, MANPADS were purchased. Everything was including the SU 30-SM airplanes were bought in addition to what was already planned, and no budget was redirected in order to buy them.

Hakobyan's claim that he had made sure we have VERBA MANPADS is false, and suggested the general colonel does not say things out of thin air.

Regarding Hakobyan's idea to buy more TOR instead of OSA air defense systems. New TOR (and their equipment) systems should have been brought to Armenia now as in right now after the war according to the contract. They had accelerated the process. There were plans of buying a lot of other anti-air equipment. However the OSA systems were bought because we needed anti-air equipment that can be used immediately while for TOR we need training, we need ammunition, etc.

Davtyan asked why was Hakobyan even allowed the command center in Artsakh. Hakobyan's role, the department that he is the chief of, does not include him being in the command center and giving suggestions. He should have been concerned with what he was responsible for.

During Hakobyan's time as chief of staff, more military personnel was cut from the army, and during Davtyan's time new personnel was hired.

Regarding Hakobyan's quote that he didn't go to the front because he has qualms against General Samvel Babayan. Even if there was a small chance of helping your homeland, Hakobyan should have gone there regardless of his personal feelings towards anyone.

Addendum from Redditor: Unlike Movses Hakobyan, Artak Davtyan refused to give any political assessments, any personal assessments of our civilians and politicians. Which is always, always better coming from a military commander

https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/jxx235/megathread_news_wrapup_nov202020_artsakhs/gd2dtwu/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAYOU_nPFOk

troops, medals, and casualties

1678 out of 2425 deceased soldiers have been identified so far. The process to exchange bodies continues. 350 bodies were found since November 13th. Three Armenian civilians were killed by Azeri soldiers in Shushi. During the humanitarian searches, a wounded policeman was found alive near Shushi forests; he hid there for 6 days.

https://news.am/arm/news/614868.html , https://factor.am/312820.html

Families of missing soldiers gathered in front of a military facility in Ejmiatsin with hope and demand to learn information. They accused the local commander of returning home without bringing any news about 34 of his missing subordinates.

A family member said some of the volunteers were ill-equipped and without bulletproof vests before being sent to the front lines. A man says his relative's bus, which was transporting the troops to the front lines, was ambushed on a road. "They drove the bus through the Azeri troops then the shootout began."

"My husband and 33 others stayed to fight while the commander fled," said a woman, referring to the aforementioned incident in Zangilan (south).

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1035584.html , https://news.am/arm/news/614748.html , https://news.am/arm/news/614768.html , https://youtu.be/OEgnn7GlH1Y?t=5

HR Ombudsmen of Armenian and Artsakh prepared the fourth report on human rights violations by Azerbaijan between November 4-18. It mentions the mistreatment of Armenian POWs by Azerbaijan.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1035569.html

The army awarded several soldiers for acts of heroism. Lt. Colonel Seryoja Avinyan organized effective counter-attacks in the north, while Armen Vardayan shot 3 tanks and 4 armored vehicles. Several others used artillery to cause heavy damage to enemy infantry.

Full list: https://news.am/arm/news/614846.html

news & daily եռուզեռ from Artsakh

7,000 Artsakh refugees have returned home so far.

https://news.am/arm/news/614848.html

Artsakh President Arayik: Artsakh will continue to keep its independent status while enjoying the active support of all Armenians and the Russian Federation. To build our bright and secure future, we must look forward shoulder to shoulder. After the hard test, we have to straighten our backs.

With some restrictions, we will subsidize the citizens' utility bills for water, gas, electricity, internet, telephone for a year. We will also give furniture and appliances.

I visited Martuni today. The local admins showed me the infrastructure damage. I instructed them to launch the renovation work. We held a meeting with local municipality leaders to discuss the return to normal daily life.

https://youtu.be/BUwg7k4549o

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1035579.html

Russian peacekeepers began delivering water to three settlements in the Askeran region where the underground wells had dried out. "We will continuously help the local population. The role of peacekeepers isn't just guarding the borders," said a peacekeeping official.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1035564.html

Russia has sent the second humanitarian 35-vehicle cargo fleet from Rostov to Artsakh.

https://news.am/arm/news/614736.html

The ruins of the ancient Armenian city Tigranocerta, build in 1 B.C., is located in one of the 7 adjacent regions that will go under Azeri control. An archaeologist believes that the Azeri government will try to continue the excavations and present the new findings as "Caucasian Albanian".

However, the archeological findings that have so far been found during excavations, have been evacuated to a safe place.

https://news.am/arm/news/614842.html

The Armenian government has approved a new aid package for Artsakh refugees who had to be resettled. A one-time $623 aid will be given to each resident, including children. The money comes from the All Armenia Fund (Himnadram).

https://news.am/arm/news/614872.html

COVID stats & vaccines & Russia

+3207 tested. +1193 infected. +31 deaths. +2075 healed. 29581 active.

Russia has donated another mobile truck equipped with the capacity to test 1,600 COVID samples a day. It can also detect 300 other viruses. Earlier, Russia donated a COVID-truck that served Russian soldiers and local residents.

The chief of Russian consumer protection agency RosPotrebNadzor was part of the diplomatic delegation that visited Armenia. Healthcare Minister Torosyan thanked her for the support.

RosPotrebNadzor chief Anna Popova noted a positive COVID stabilization and a reduction trend in Armenia. "Despite all the difficulties in Armenia, you, dear colleagues, can achieve good results. It is obvious today." She invited Armenian healthcare experts to visit a COVID conference in St. Petersburg next month.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1035537.html , https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1035552.html , https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1035560.html , https://med.news.am/arm/news/27733/orakan-minchev-1600-hetazotutyun-rospotrebnadzor-y-hayastanin-sharzhakan-kensalaboratoria-e-nvirel.html , https://news.am/arm/news/614797.html

Russia sent "Sputnik V" COVID vaccine samples to Armenia for testing.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1035546.html

Armenian engineers from the "YEA Engineering" company have created a lung ventilator. The High-Tech Minister says the prototype device is being tested and will be ready by mid-December.

The efforts began during the first COVID wave. It is part of the "NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory" project. The Armenian company was among the 28 winners, out of 330 applicants, that received a license from NASA.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1035553.html

other news from Armenia

Boxer 56KG Ruben Aslikyan won bronze in the European Youth championship.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1035576.html

Aurora and IDeA foundations continue to aid Artsakh refugees. 14 programs with a $116,000 budget have been approved for families who lost their homes.

https://news.am/arm/news/614738.html

You can help Artsakh & Armenia

www.1000plus.am (soldiers' medical help)

www.HimnaDram.org (for Artsakh & Armenia)

www.ArmeniaFund.org (U.S. tax-deductible)

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Link to original report and comments: https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/jyi9dy/nov212020_news_wrapup_war_in_artsakh_karabakh/

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.