2021 February 15

Daily news wrap-up

Feb/15/2021: (1) Seismologists about recent quakes. Two faults: Yerevan and Pambak-Sevan-Syunik. Which one is more dangerous? (2) Three new quakes today (3) Industry stats (4) Anti-corruption busts (5) Crime drops in Yerevan (6) Pro/Anti govt Rallies (7) Dadivanq & borders (8) Cancer treatment (9)..
by ar_david_hh

---

Your 12-minute Monday report in 2876 words.

what caused Saturday's 4.9M quake? / Yerevan & Pambak faults / new seismic map / earthquake stats

Academy of Sciences said: nature has reminded us that we live in a seismically active region. The first one struck the Sevan mountain range borders near the Shorja settlement. The other one, on Saturday, near Masis. They were ~4.7M.

These earthquakes are associated with two different seismically active faults (?) in different tectonic structures. The first quake was related to Armenia's longest Pambak-Sevan-Syunik active fault, while the second one with Yerevan's deep fault.

Both are known to seismologists after extensive international research and are part of models/maps approved in 2018 by the government. That data was used to create Armenia's seismic bypass map in 2020.

According to the seismotectonic model, the maximum earthquake strength in the Yerevan deep-fault can reach 6M. This fault is typical with a high number of weak-medium earthquakes.

In the Pambak-Sevan-Syunik fault, however, it can be much more powerful and reach 7.5M. For comparison, the 1988 quake was 6.9M.

Globally, there are up to 25 annual quakes that are above 7M, and 180 above 6M. Armenia has 300 annual earthquakes with mostly under 2M.

Yerevan's first recorded quake was in 1910 at 4.5M (6 bal). Another strong one was in 1937 with 4.8M (7 bal).

We will further examine the last two earthquakes and provide more details and publish the data in scientific magazines.

Emergency Ministry: 100 aftershocks were recorded after the Saturday quake.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1043459.html , https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1043468.html

seismic resistance in schools and kindergartens

We learned yesterday that 46 schools are being rebuilt with seismic resistance in mind. The Emergency Ministry examined 26 schools and kindergartens in Yerevan after the Saturday quake and believes that buildings are strong enough. No cracks were formed on the main structures. Some existing cracks were deepened.

Mayor Marutyan said 12 kindergartens underwent a renovation recently, with another 6 planned for this year. Another 15 will be renovated with energy-efficiency in mind.

https://youtu.be/xZVISdxC_y8 , https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1043392.html , https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1043439.html

Emergency Ministry summons a meeting

Ministry and various agencies discussed various civil defense measures they would need to take in the event of war or other emergencies, to secure food supplies, etc.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1043466.html

another 2.3M earthquake hits Yerevan region

2.3M quake struck 17km south of Yerevan, with 10km depth. The strength was felt like 2-3 bal in the capital. This was presumably in the Yerevan deep-fault.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1043490.html

the second earthquake hits Shorjha

3.3M quake hit the eastern Sevan region, near Shorjha. This is where the very first significant earthquake hit a week ago. This is the second significant quake today.

https://factor.am/338934.html , https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1043507.html

An hour later, another 2M aftershock hit near Shorjha. The second quake in Shorjha today.

https://factor.am/338940.html

industry & mining stats in 2020

The volume of industrial output was $4.234B in 2020, or -0.9% YoY.

The mining sector +11.6%. Manufacturing industry -3.9%. Electricity/gas/steam +0.1%. Water/sewer/waste processing industry -13.9%.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1043411.html

Դու ադամանդ ես

Economy Ministry met diamond and jewelry businesses to discuss zeroing the customs rate for 2 years, as part of an EAEU program. They discussed a possible 0% customs rate for < 0.3-carat diamonds. Various businesses presented their arguments in favor and against.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1043449.html

IKEA and H&M in Armenia, plz thank you

Economy Minister Qerobyan met the Swedish ambassador Patrick to discuss ongoing reforms, joint agricultural programs, and trade.

The Minister emphasized the importance of Swedish IKEA's and H&M's entry into the Armenian market. They also discussed the venture capital program in Armenia; Swedish firms have been invited to participate.

Patrick said the Swedish firms have expressed interest to take part in Armenia's planned digitization campaign, waste processing (big if true), and airport services.

https://factor.am/338890.html

NSS busts perverted fraudster who targeted soldiers' families

NSS says: an Armenian resident opened a Facebook account under "Aziz Muradov" and pretended to be an Azeri. He contacted female relatives of several missing soldiers and claimed to know the location of their missing sons, and that he would provide a tip in exchange for nude videos. He threatened to "kill the hostage" if the offer was turned down.

The perpetrator was arrested. He conferred. The court approved the arrest. There were a dozen victims.

Arm twist: https://youtu.be/rvgOVnwQQds?t=107

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1043406.html

crime dropped in Yerevan / 2020 stats

Yerevan prosecutors: overall -7.1%, totaling 13,892 incidents. 50.4% were resolved.

Very heavy crimes -7.8%. Heavy crimes -14%. Both saw a 5% improvement in solve rate.

There were 11 murders compared to 17 in 2019. The solve rate was 78%.

There were 10 more attempted murder incidents YoY.

Intentional physical harm -18%.

Home burglaries -31% (well shiyet everyone was home). Solve rate improved by 9%.

30% more apartment complex buildings have installed code-based security locks, as part of prosecutors' campaign to prevent crime.

Road incidents resulting in injuries -23%.

Road incidents resulting in death -18%. Prosecutors have plans to launch a new preventative program.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1043455.html

Tag: #crime #CrimeStats #YerevanCrime #CrimeRate

Pashinyan supporters hold a gathering in Gyumri

A group of Gyumri residents gathered in support of the 2018 revolution and PM Pashinyan. They held a prayer for those who died during the war. "We are marking the beginning of Revolution 2.0. The situation is chaotic in Armenia, but everything will be resolved.

Exactly 30 days ago, Shirak [Gyumri] became the first province to reject Vazgen Manukyan. He called us "hobos" and more recently "scum". Unlike him, we won't use offensive language. Today we will only say one word: do we support Manukyan or not?"

During the speech, presumably an opposition activist threw an egg at those on the stage. The gathered crowd chased and beat him. The police intervened.

https://factor.am/338906.html , https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/206739

opposition holds a gathering, promises lynchings / "Nikol still has a chance to save his life if he leaves now"

Opposition PM candidate Vazgen Manukyan will make his "one-on-one" meeting with supporters a daily thing. "We are turning the Freedom Square into our office." In addition to occasional large rallies, Manukyan wants to hold smaller frequent gatherings. "Meet me at 5 o'clock today," he told supporters.

Another opposition figure, the former PM Hrant Bagratyan, said that Pashinyan still has a chance to live if he resigns now. "When we come to power, Nikol will be arrested. There will be lynch trials. Everyone will be held accountable, including Nikol and president Sarkissian," said Bagratyan. "Everyone is against Nikol today. Nikol still has a chance to save his life if he leaves now."

https://factor.am/338817.html , https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1043441.html , https://youtu.be/n5SSai62Ups

Tags #Lynching #DeathThreat #HateSpeech

General prosecutor about the courts' recent practice of releasing suspects

Recently, several opposition figures were arrested after making physical threats. The courts found that many of them were not supposed to be arrested, and released them.

General Prosecutor to his subordinates: file your paperwork accurately. Write the reasons for arrest clearly. Every court verdict will be examined. If we find that the verdict is valid and the arrest was illegal, you could be held accountable. If the court verdict appears to be wrong, we will challenge it and petition to reprimand the judge.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1043471.html

Zaruhi Postanjyan is charged with false crime report

Yerkir Tsirani opposition party leader Zaruhi Postanjyan has a record of making deranged statements about various political figures.

A week ago she gave an interview to Hayeli media club and stated that Pashinyan and his wife had long dreamed about "giving away the lands", and that they wrote about it in 2008, and that they conspired to do so after receiving bribes.

The investigators launched an investigation to check the truthfulness of her statement. She visited a police station for questioning, where she continued to insist about the conspiracy and crime, but refused to further cooperate in written form.

Investigators decided to treat it as a false report of a crime and charge Postanjyan with Code 333.2.1.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1043483.html

anti-corruption: two IRS agents busted with bribery

Authorities said: IRS inspectors took a bribe from a food business that violated the law to cover it up. They were caught while accepting the latest ֏40K installment of the bribe. The suspects are arrested and charged with felonies.

Dozens of other businesses testified that the aforementioned inspectors took a total of ֏1.4M in bribes since last year.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1043489.html

church celebrates the Great Fast

Catholicos Garegin B: In this special time of our spiritual life, we are called to follow the message of the apostle, to walk in the light of self-examination, to reflect on mistakes, to correct shortcomings, with feelings of repentance. Repentance is the path from weakness to recovery.

Full: https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1043416.html

people are allowed to visit Dadivanq monastery

AM-RU-AZ reached an agreement to allow Armenian churchgoers to visit

the Dadivanq monastery again. It's located in the adjacent Qarvachar region, which went under Azeri control after the war. A Russian peacekeeping station was installed next to the monastery to accompany churchgoers.

https://youtu.be/YqROpBiPpX8

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1043394.html

Azerbaijan will soon launch the railway construction

There used to be a railway route in southern Karabakh during Soviets. Azerbaijan plans to rebuild 100km of railways in the Horadiz-Zangilan (furthest south) region soon.

In the future, when the regional trade routes are unblocked, it can connect Nakhijevan to mainland Azerbaijan. It could also connect Armenia to other countries via Azerbaijan.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1043447.html

border residents raise complaints about sounds of gunfire

Human Rights Ombudsman said the Azeri border guards fired shots while being located close to Syunik borders two days ago, and that it often disturbs the nearby population. "This is one of the reasons why Azeri soldiers must move further away from the roads on the border," wrote HRO.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1043412.html

The army said there were some shots fired but they weren't aimed at the Armenian side. "The NSS border forces have not recorded border incidents on Vorotan-Davit Bek road section."

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1043474.html

After shots were fired in the air, more Russian troops were installed on that section of the border, in addition to other Russian troops who were already there. The location is near Agarak village, which is ~9km from Kapan.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1043487.html

soldiers will receive career training classes

Another initiative will help 18-30yo people, who took part in the war, to enter the labor market. The "New Chapter" initiative was created by the "Armenian Human Resources Association". Participants will receive orientation classes and have their skills assessed. The program will take into account the demand in the job market.

400 have already registered, out of 1,000 planned.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1043388.html

up to 110,000 Artsakh residents have already returned home

Artsakh president's office has calculated that between 105-110 thousand residents have repatriated, with another 35-40 thousand still residing in Armenia.

Beglaryan: From the 35-40 thousand refugees in Armenia, around 10 thousand have decided they won't be returning, despite not losing their homes in Artsakh.

10 thousand others who lost their homes are in Artsakh and currently reside in housing subsidized by the government. It's hotels, motels, rental apartments, houses in villages, etc.

Housing is the primary issue right now, followed by social and household aid, followed by physical and mental therapy.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1043433.html , https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1043443.html

Education Ministry finalized the pre-school expansion program

As part of the government's push to have >70% of children attend preschools by 2023, the Education Ministry formed a plan to launch preschool services in rural areas that do not have such centers today. The Ministry finalized and approved the plan on how it should be done. Each settlement can choose an option that suits best:

Option 1) the services are 3.5-4 hours, no daytime sleeping, up to 30 kids in a group. This option suites for settlements that are big enough to have dedicated municipality or cultural centers.

Option 2) 8-hour service for 15-20 kids if the settlements has extra funds.

Option 3) 4-4.5 hours if the settlement has <15 kids, no city call or cultural centers. Can be done at a private house that meets requirements.

There are a total of 8 options. The Ministry will issue financial grants soon.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1043432.html

millions will be vaccinated soon

Not humans, but animals. The "Agricultural Services Center" began shipping vaccines against "foot-and-mouth" and other diseases to provinces. Some 1.3 million animals will be vaccinated soon against one of the most dangerous illnesses that has the potential to cripple meat exports completely if left untreated. The adult cattle are vaccinated twice a year.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1043399.html COVID stats

2802 tested. 88 infected. 90 healed. 1 death. 4211 active.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1043401.html

president returns

Armen Sarkissian has not fully recovered yet, but he returned to Armenia on Saturday. He had gone to London for foot surgery.

https://factor.am/338603.html

AM-RU routine air flights resume

Airline companies are granted permission to make 4 weekly flights between Yerevan and Moscow. It's a result of a new Armenia-Russia-Belarus initiative to test passengers and share test results via a new app.

https://factor.am/338655.html

San Francisco's eldest resident has passed away

Lyusi Mirigyan was 114. San Francisco Chronicle has an article:

https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/San-Francisco-s-oldest-resident-dies-at-age-114-15948083.php

https://www.panarmenian.net/arm/news/290282/

humanitarian cargo deliveries during the pandemic year

The volume of aid decreased last year due to COVID and reduction in flights, going from $111M to $25M. At the same time, it multiplied from several countries, especially during the war.

France sent +95% more, totaling $1.2M in aid. Czechia sent +62% ($62K). China +39% ($3.4M).

The aid from the US declined by -41% but was still the largest in size, totaling $5.2M. The second largest was Germany with $4.6M. Russia sent $100K.

The most common items were chemicals and items related to the chemical industry, totaling $12.6M (-25%). Textile aid increased 2.1 times.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1043391.html

mama bear and քոթոթ's are caught on a wildlife nature camera

https://youtu.be/BaOwU3xKywk

daily life in Artsakh capital Stepanakert

https://youtu.be/Uh8-6BopDn0

Shushi museum's carpets will be displayed in Yerevan

The oldest one is 350 years old. You can watch them at Alexander Damanyan's Institute beginning on February 20th. The carpets were evacuated out of Shushi on November 1st.

https://www.panarmenian.net/arm/news/290312/

re: new Yerevan mini-buses begin serving route-38 / fixed salary

Mayor Marutyan: 11 additional 8-meter buses entered service today. They travel through Tsarav Aghbyur, Center, and Yerevan Thermal. New routes will be served every 2 weeks. We'll keep you updated.

You have to pay while boarding. The box only accepts ֏100 coins. The electronic system will be implemented soon.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1043438.html

The drivers will get paid a fixed ֏180K salary. One driver said he is satisfied with it. "It's important that it's fixed so the driver won't have to worry about the number of passengers. I like the requirements for proper attire and no-smoke. We must finally learn to live and act orderly."

Many passengers aren't aware yet that they must pay while boarding. Passengers not having 100-dram coins is the biggest problem right now.

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/206693 ,

new shows on H1 public TV / cybersecurity & media literacy / retro movies / comedies

H1 says they signed contracts with the following public figures to take part in various Spring shows: Felix Khachatryan, Garik Papoyan (rock musician-comedian), Samvel Martirosyan (the cyber-security guy you always see in the news), Artavazd Yeghoyan (actor, translator), Karen Kocharyan, Vice Miss Europe 2005 Lusine Tovmasyan, singer Aram MP3, humorist Hovhannes Davtyan.

Karen Kocharyan and Artavazd Yeghoyan will host a retro show about old Armenian films.

Cybersecurity experts Martirosyan will teach media literacy.

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/206695 , https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/206726

new program for early diagnosis of various tumors is launched / new child cancer rates

Cancer Center chiefs Danielyan and Tamamyan: The list of methods used to diagnose cancer has expanded in Armenia. For the first time, a more extensive evaluation of the early diagnosis of various tumors, the state of metastasis, and the effectiveness of treatment, will be done with PET-CT.

Armenia's first palliative center for pediatric cancer will soon open in Armenia. This is a great achievement. It's a wonderful center.

Cancer is one of the primary causes of death among the adolescent population around the world. Armenia records ~90 new cases annually.

In Armenia, 7.5 out of 10 children defeat cancer. That rate was only 4 during the 1990s. It's a result of sleepless nights and hard work by the doctors. 80% of children recover in rich countries, while only 20% in poor countries. Armenia is comparable with developed countries despite spending much less. In recent years, most patients stayed and received their treatment in Armenia after the diagnosis.

The "City of Smile Foundation" played a big role in helping <25yo patients. They created several groups specialized in various types of cancer. 400 children received care in the past 3 years. Total of ֏700M in aid.

The Yolyan Hematology Center and the City of Smiles launched a joint program "We are together in this struggle". Kids in cancer centers will send postcards to fellow kid patients in 557 medical centers, wishing each other strength and success.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1043422.html , https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1043423.html , https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1043437.html , https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1043445.html , https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1043448.html , https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1043456.html

today in history

1794: France adopts its flag

1965: Canada approves its current flag

2011: Lybian civil war begins

charity concert

National Academic and Philharmonic Orchestras will give a charity concert on February 17th. The proceeds will go to www.1000plus.am.

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/206710

donations to Artsakh & recovering soldiers

www.1000plus.am (recovering soldiers & their families)

www.HimnaDram.org (for Artsakh & Armenia)

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

archive of older news

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

disclaimer

All the accused are considered innocent unless proven guilty in the court of law, even if they "sound" or "appear" guilty.

---

Link to original report and comments: https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/lkng86/feb152021_1_seismologists_about_recent_quakes_two/