2021 April 15

Daily news wrap-up

Apr/15/2021: (1) $1.3b Syunik roads & tunnels (2) Sec. Council publishes Onik logs (3) Truth Commission (4) Azeris destroy mosque (5) Poll: peace, negotiations, (6) Felony cases: Court chief, Artsakh president, Major (7) New eco-landfill (8) Aid stats (9) Fewer holidays? (10) Youth hangout centers
by ar_david_hh

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Your 14-minute Thursday report in 3427 words.

ICYM: Pashinyan answered several questions relating to war and negotiations on Wednesday

https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/mqzgvn/apr142021_1_pashinyan_reveals_details_about/

Pashinyan about forming a Truth Commission, fall of Shushi, and 2016 April war:

[Have you drawn any conclusions or made army reforms after the war?]

The reforms have begun but it's a long process. I support the MPs' idea of forming a Truth Commission to answer questions about war.

I also have specific questions about the fall of Shushi. I have not said it publicly so far, but privately I raised questions over the fall of Shushi. I directed my questions to specific individuals.

We need to assess how true the military reports were. Were there any distorted facts in those reports? If yes, was it done intentionally or accidentally? There should be a Truth Commission to find answers to these questions.

The 2016 April War Investigative Commission has finalized the report. It hasn't been publicized yet because most of it is top secret. It is for the state apparatus, the Defense Ministry, the Parliament, and the Government cabinet.

It contains answers to specific questions which cannot be declassified. We examined which parts are top secret; it's about 90% of it. The report will be taken into account during future army reforms.

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/211362

Tags: #AprilReport #AprilWar

Security Council shares transcripts of meeting between CoGS Onik and Pashinyan / before and during the war

Read this for context. Pashinyan offered opposition LHK leader Marukyan to read the security council logs, but the latter refused. "It's Pashinyan who has to prove that he is telling the truth."

Security Council publishes the documents and said: back in November [after war], Onik Gasparyan claimed the following, "I was appointed as CoGS on June 8 and already by June 12, I submitted a regional analysis and our army's capabilities to Premier, and a few days later to Security Council."

However, during the June 19 Security Council session, no such report was submitted by Gasparyan. He submitted two reports, which are proven by the session's recording.

Gasparyan also said, "On the 4th day of the war, I presented our losses and our assessment, saying that steps should be taken to stop the war within 2-3 days, otherwise, under the current intensity of the war, our resources will expire quickly, and we will have weaker negotiating power on the table."

Regarding that claim, we are presenting parts of the Security Council's Sep/30/2020 recordings. This is what Gasparyan reported, "Mr. Prime Minister, essentially, the situation is unchanged from a tactical perspective. In other words, the opponent hasn't made any advancements [...] In any case, the troops are doing their job. We initiated a small counter-attack in the morning in Jabrayil direction and achieved success."

Gasparyan finished his report with this, "That is the situation. We continue to fulfill our task and we will continue to fulfill it until the end."

During the Aug/21/2020 Security Council meeting, Gasparyan reported, "In the eastern operation direction and north-eastern operation direction we can use existing resources to repel the opponent per 'not one step back' principle and to destroy their units. [...] I see the solution of most of the problems in the framework of the creation and establishment of ashkharazor army."

{Note: just four days after Onik's suggestion, Pashinyan announced the creation of the ashkharazor army on August 25. It was about involving the entire population in defense by training them. More on it here.}

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/211474 https://factor.am/359756.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1049134.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1049163.html

Azerbaijan destroyed an Artsakh mosque to build a road

An 18-century mosque was destroyed by Azerbaijan to pave way for the construction of "Khudaferi-Qubatli-Lachin" road. While being in a territory controlled by Armenians, in 2001 the Azeri government gave it the status of an architectural monument. Aliyev wants the construction crew investigated.

https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=4013178608720494&id=955086684529717 https://www.panarmenian.net/arm/news/292133/

diplomatic meetings

EU envoy visited Armenia. Toivo Klaar, Pashinyan, and EU ambassador Wiktorin held a meeting to discuss various cooperation topics. Pashinyan raised the issue of Armenophobia in Azerbaijan.

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/211481

Parliament president Mirzoyan participated in an international conference held in Moscow, during which he spoke about POWs and Azerbaijan's recruitment of terrorists during the war.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1049197.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1049196.html

President Sarkissian visited Georgia and met his counterparts to discuss business and regional affairs. "After the visit of the President, our relations will advance to a qualitatively new level," said Georgian Foreign Minister.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1049192.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1049188.html

poll: first step of resolving the conflict should be

78% return the POWs, 5% secure the borders and population, 5% clarification of Artsakh status, 2% lifting blockade.

poll: what should be the final resolution of the conflict?

35.5% Artsakh joins Armenia.

35.2% Artsakh becomes an independent republic.

19.3% Artsakh becomes part of Russia with special status.

0.6% a territory jointly managed by Armenia and Azerbaijan

0.4% joins Azerbaijan with high-level autonomy

0.3%

Artsakh becomes part of Azerbaijan

poll: can Armenians and Azeris coexist?

72% no

poll: do you support unblocking regional trade routes?

11% yes, 64% no, 13% neutral, 10% don't know.

poll: do you see a risk of a new war in Artsakh?

36% yes, 22% no, 24% war hasn't ended, 16% don't know.

poll: do you trust Russian peacekeepers with keeping the peace?

53% yes, 25% no, 16% neutral.

poll: do be believe Russian peacekeepers will stay after the 5-year deadline?

47% yes, 15% no, 35% don't know.

poll: the resolution of the conflict depends on...

Armenian government 35% (down)

Artsakh government 9% (down)

Armenian army 8% (down)

Armenian and Artsakh people 8% (down)

Azeri government 15% (down two-fold)

Azeri people 1% (down)

International big players 32% (up)

Russia 33% (up significantly)

international community 5% (same)

OSCE 6% (same)

poll: does the OSCE Minsk group play an important role?

49% yes, 30% no, 19% don't know.

should the following countries and organizations be more active or less active in the final resolution?

Russia: 69% more actively, 12% less actively, 7% must not have any role

France: 49% more, 18% less, 17% none

OSCE 40% more, 17% less, 23% none

USA 37% more, 18% less, 28% none

EU 34% more, 20% less, 29% none

Iran 26% more, 25% less, 30% none

Turkey 3% more, 4% less, 82% none

Survey conducted by CRRC at the request of CivilNet in March.

https://www.civilnet.am/news/599384/հայաստանցիների-ճնշող-մեծամասնությունը-ղարաբաղյան-կարգավորման-առաջին-քայլ-համարում-է-գերիների-վերադարձը/

Artsakh president Arayik will be questioned by prosecutors

... over a felony case relating to a violation of the Constitutional Order by an unspecified official, announced the authorities today.

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/211455

anti-corruption: army Major charged with bribery

Police report says: Jermuk police received information about the head of a local military commissariat receiving a bribe to falsify a conscript's records to exclude him from the draft. The official was monitored and arrested after taking the ֏600k bribe.

https://youtu.be/dx1QSKYShp0?t=64

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/211472

controversial Supreme Court chief Ruben Vardazaryan is facing felony charges

(Supreme Court and Constitutional Court are different)

Prosecutor: Article 51.7 states that felony cases against judges should be kept low-profile and not publicized in order to preserve their reputation and prevent pressure. We cannot share more information about his case.

Reporter: the law says you must receive permission from Supreme Court before launching a felony case against a judge. Do you have permission?

Prosecutor: there are two scenarios. If the felony case is not related to the judge's abuse of powers as a judge, then we don't need permission from Supremes. This is one of those situations. [the judge is accused of committing a crime unrelated to his duties]. //

Vardazaryan's duties have been suspended as a result of the charges. Per Supreme Court regulations, the most senior member will become the acting Supreme Court president. That's Gagik Jhangiryan as of today.

Ruben Vardazaryan is a controversial figure who recently took a barrage of criticism from the ruling and some opposition MPs. They accused the top-judge of being politicized and "pressuring subordinate judges to drop cases against opposition political figures".

It's about a message Vardazaryan shared immediately after the November 10 riots when opposition figures were arrested. Lower-court judges ended up releasing the suspects, including those accused of attempted murder against Ararat Mirzoyan.

Vardazaryan said that although the language he used had a political context (it was viewed as a jab at Pashinyan), he insisted that it was apolitical and was meant to ensure judicial independence. MPs ended up "boycotting" him by rejecting two Supreme Court judicial nominees. The topic of judicial independence was raised again. More on this story here.

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/211459 https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/211483

Tags: #SupremeCourt #Vardazaryan

Armenia is working on a new Armenian airlines

Infrastructure Minister Papikyan: steps are being taken. The company plans to launch its operations by June. I cannot publicize their name yet. There is international cooperation. Armenian capital and foreign investments are being used.

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/211465

accidents involving military and soldiers

An Armenian emergency worker, part of a crew that searches for bodies, received a wound from a mine explosion while canvassing the area captured by Azerbaijan. The Azeri soldiers provided him first aid before transporting him to Artsakh. He underwent lower foot surgery.

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/211499

An Azeri Mi-8/17 helicopter crashed in the occupied territories.

https://youtu.be/YxxOmUfZgUA?t=15

https://factor.am/359471.html

A drunk driver struck six contractor soldiers in Armenia's Kotayk region at 1:00 am last night. Two of them passed away. The driver fled the scene. The police later identified and apprehended the 34yo driver.

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/211445 https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/211443 https://factor.am/359429.html

President Sarkissian sent the bill about raising the upper defamation penalty limit to Constitutional Court

Context: The ruling party recently passed a bill to increase the upper limit for defamation penalty from $3850 to $11500, amid an increase in defamation lawsuits and public accusations (both political sides actively sue each other).

The government cabinet and opposition opposed the 3x increase, saying it could discourage journalism. The bill authors said they are only raising the upper limit and that it isn't necessarily what violators pay; "the judges usually set lower penalties".

Today President Sarkissian refused to sign the bill citing free speech concerns and chose to send it to Constitutional Court to ensure it's legal.

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/211424

https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/mcdfye/mar242021_major_education_reforms_approved/

the first sanitary landfill is being built in Armenia

Located in Kotayk's Hrazdan city, the new landfill will collect solid household waste from Kotayk and Gegharquniq provinces. The €11m project is done by the EU, EDBR bank, and the Infrastructure Ministry.

The landfill will allow sorting and recycling household waste and "will help local businesses." The landfill, which is being built with EU standards, "will have a positive environmental impact" while "preventing pollution of soil, underground water, and air."

The landfill will have administrative buildings and inner roads. Two nearby settlements will have a new waste collection service connected to the landfill.

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/211423

government allocates additional ֏7.5b to help Artsakh residents

It's for providing minimum-wage-sized monthly payments to Artsakh residents. This ֏7.5b is part of a ֏22b upcoming aid increase, which is in addition to the ֏55b that has been allocated as part of this aid program so far. "Over 101,000 Artsakh residents have received this aid."

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/211426

New Year's Day holidays could shrink to "boost the economy"

There will be 3 non-working New Year's holidays instead of 8 (?), if the Parliament approves the government bill. January 2-7 could become working days.

Economy Minister Qerobyan: We cannot afford such extravagance today. The change will help the struggling economy by growing the GDP by ֏88b ($169m) or 1.5%. The gross output volume will increase ֏123b, from which the trade will be ֏47b, industry ֏35b, services ֏34b. These are too significant to ignore.

Pashinyan: discussions to make this change have been held in the past 6 years. Let's involve the public in these discussions. This is a sensitive but very important topic. This is not only about the economy but also healthcare. We need to investigate whether during January 2-7 people truly relax or they gain new health problems (drinking and cholesterol-rich տոտիկներ?). This decision isn't set in stone; it's for the public to think about it.

Economy Minister Qerobyan: with the exception of Russia, we are the only country in the region with such lengthy holidays. Georgia, Ukraine, and Belarus only rest 2 days.

Labor Minister Mesrop: I'm against the bill in its existing form. It severely reduces the number of resting days for workers. The idea that Armenia has more resting days than regional countries is misleading. In other countries, if a holiday falls on a weekened, workers receive another day as a rest day. They are guaranteed to have the expected number of rest days regardless of calendar structure, which is not the case for Armenia, where the workers lose 3-4 of resting days annually.

Moreover, just because it's a holiday, that doesn't mean people don't shop and don't attend restaurants. Making it a working day wouldn't necessarily increase budget revenues.

Economy Minister Qerobyan: we conducted an extensive analysis of that topic. On one hand, you are correct, but on the other hand, many restaurants, shops, etc. are closed on such holidays. We relied on numbers while drafting this bill.

Pashinyan: let's submit the draft bill for discussions, shall we?

Finance Minister Atom: we need to find the right balance. I believe calculations about a ֏88b additional income are flawed.

Labor Minister: let's reduce the holidays by 3 days instead of 5. The non-working days would be January 4-7 instead of 2-7.

(The cabinet voted to approve the draft bill. Only the Labor Minister voted against.)

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/211440 https://youtu.be/UirZBjH9EZk

provinces will have innovative centers for youth entertainment and self-development / "forums"

The government approved a plan about establishing provincial centers for youth development, social entrepreneurship, cultural entertainment, and innovation.

Pashinyan: we acknowledged that most provinces do not have centers where the youth can hang out and hold discussions. Such meetings are usually only possible around a dinner table. Similar youth centers have formed without the government's help in Yerevan and Gyumri, but not elsewhere.

Education Minister Dumanyan: six centers applied and won ֏110m in grants. As part of the initiative, it's been proposed to give part of Vanadzor's library to Loft Center.

Pashinyan: these are centers where you can spend the day at concerts, expos, discussions, readings, or have a cup of tea with others.

Economy Minister: the establishment of these centers is also very important for expanding the opportunities for remote work. Many people work remotely these days. People from Lori province work for a US company, etc. They can use these centers during work.

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/211432

top-1000 largest taxpayers in 1Q21 / pre vs post pandemic

They paid ֏260b in taxes, down from ֏275b YoY. The taxes collected from the top-1000 taxpayers accounted for 78% of all taxes.

10) CPS Oil ֏2.6b (-41%)

9) Philip Morris Armenia ֏2.6b (-33%)

8) Flesh fuel ֏3b (-2%)

7) Grand Tobacco ֏3.1b (-4x)

6) MTS Armenia telecom ֏3.5b (+4%)

5) GeoProMining Gold (Sotq) ֏3.8b (-4%)

4) International Masis Tobacco ֏4.1b (-1%)

3) Zangezur copper ֏9.8b (+91% what?)

2) Defense Ministry office ֏15b (+69%) (beginning in 2020, IRS includes nonprofits and state agencies to the taxpayer list)

1) Gasprom-Armenia ֏18.7b (+5%)

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/211379

rumors and rebuttals: deputy PM Avinyan denies "helping friends" in POAK

Hetq outlet published an article about a government-run agency, stating that suspiciously, many of its members are deputy PM Tigran Avinyan's friends.

Avinyan responded: The article states that my friends became employees of Road Department POAK. It implies corruption. Regarding my part, the article is entirely false. I don't have any friends in the POAK. As for Stepan Machyan, outside of the work environment, I only met him once in my life during a general event. I don't know the rest of the mentioned people.

This is the general state of Armenian journalism. Nowadays, when public opinion is often intentionally manipulated, the outlets with quality investigative work bear more responsibility than ever. So it was strange that a trustworthy outlet such as Hetq would publish this. //

https://hetq.am/hy/article/129376 https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/211506

North-South road construction has picked up pace after 2020 slowdown

Infrastructure Minister Papikyan: the Chinese construction firm had pandemic-related issues last year. We were able to bring them back to Armenia in late-2020.

The construction of the 42km Talin-Lanjik-Gyumri section has begun. A small section was asphalted as an experiment. A weeklong lab exam will analyze its quality. If it meets standards, the company will receive permission to continue. One section of the road will be ready by Autumn.

More: https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/211441

$1.3 billion road access in mountainous Syunik

Ind. MP Babajanyan: what infrastructure projects do you have in Syunik?

Minister: the most important segment of the North-South highway network is Sisian-Qajaran-Agarak. It will have two important tunnels: Barkushat and Qajaran.

It costs over $1.3 billion (holy moly?). This is a large project. The plan will be ready in summer. There will be an auction to select a construction company in August.

As for something that's being done right now, we are building Tatev-Aghvan road that leads to Kapan, Syunik. It's an alternative road. Now there are conspiracy theories claiming that "they plan to give lands so they are building a new bypass road". This is a filthy lie. //

gas network

Ind. MP Babajanyan: several Armenian villagers, including on borders, do not have a gas network. Gazprom doesn't appear to have plans to expand coverage.

Minister: Gasprom hasn't submitted any investment plans to expand coverage but there are is a possibility they will. We believe the settlements with certain consumption potential should have it. Gas isn't the only energy source, however. Solar is one option.

alternative nuclear reactors

Ind. MP Babajanyan: do you plan to hold negotiations with the US and EU over the construction of a new nuclear plant, or is it only with Russia?

Minister: we received offers from other countries, too. I participated in an expo in UAE to learn whether there are small modular reactors. There are, but they are all stationed on water. Not a single country has one that's built on land, yet.

https://factor.am/359583.html https://youtu.be/Z8nmgwuSSWM

Tags: #SyunikRoad #nuclear #NPP

Russian expert says an earthquake cannot damage the Metsamor Nuclear Plant

It's built on a solid foundation and won't have the same issue that occurs in other structures, said an earthquake and physics expert Pyotr Shebalin.

He explains how the quake works: https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1049126.html

United States will spend an additional $8.2m to develop Armenia's infrastructure

The Armenian government approved the aid package today. It's in addition to $91.8m American aid received so far.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1049180.html

flashmob to recognize the Armenian genocide

Americans sent over 1 million signatures urging Joe Biden to recognize the genocide.

Armenians around the world launched small pickets in support of the recognition.

Photos & video: https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1049168.html

http://arka.am/en/news/politics/americans_send_over_1_million_messages_to_white_house_and_congress_on_armenian_genocide/

Aparan has a Rose City

Aparan is a sunny town. It has a new 2.5-hectare "4th generation" greenhouse for roses on the mountain slope.

The operator "Rose Field" grows 18 types of roses here. They plan to sell them in Armenia and EAEU.

Video & photos: https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1049151.html

10 million trees

... is a project to plant trees across Armenia. This weekend the Nature Ministry will plant 10,000 in the Sevan National Park. Before the event, the Park would like you to help them clean the Sevan-Yerevan-M1 highway shores from the trash. Equipment will be distributed.

300,000 will be planted in Yerevan and provinces on April 25.

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/211372 https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1049202.html

Russian peacekeepers accompany Armenian farmers in Artsakh

https://youtu.be/yqFYGNT16qc

Poland sends 3 tons of aid for Artsakh residents

It's for IDPs who lost their homes. Medical devices, first aid, etc.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1049203.html

COVID stats

4950 tested. 1014 infected. 882 healed. 23 deaths. 16236 active.

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/211422

US and WHO donate 150 oxygen compressors to help fight COVID

https://factor.am/359330.html

Armenia allocated $460m to fight COVID, help business and population

$38m came from the budget. $422m was borrowed. Part of it is low-interest loans that are expected to be repaid.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1049107.html

Healthcare Ministry asks NSS to investigate "fake news" claiming vaccine death in Armenia

The Ministry believes "fake news" about vaccines can lead to public health crises, and has asked the National Security Services to investigate an article circulated by Hayeli, which claims that one of the patients died from a vaccine.

The outlet, citing its sources, claims that the death occurred after vaccination while the article headline says the death was because of the vaccination.

The vaccination began on Wednesday with 60 patients receiving their first AstraZeneca shots. "No serious side effects," said the Ministry.

(Stand by for more Grill Bates and Microship cosplayosy theroies.)

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/211387 https://youtu.be/8Ow76LlPvX4

today in history

1948: Arshile Gorky was born. An Armenian-American painter born Vostanik Manoog Adoyan.

http://www.armeniapedia.org/wiki/Arshile_Gorky

end of report

The accused are innocent unless proven guilty in the court of law, even if they "appear" guilty.

News archive: http://www.armeniapedia.org/wiki/Daily_Anti-Corruption_Reports

Donations: soldiers' families, humanitarian aid, US tax-deductible donation.

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Link to original report and comments: https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/mrmr4j/apr152021_1_13b_syunik_roads_tunnels_2_sec/