2021 July 14

Daily news wrap-up

News - Jul/14/2021: Copper exporters suspected of tax evasion & export schemes; new $151m/yr fee __ Armenia's low-cost national airlines __ Border shootout __ Constitutional Court wraps-up elections trial __ Anti-corruption: mayor, surgeon __ Sports & Culture news __ Macron __ Free stroke surgery
by ar_david_hh

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Your 11-minute Wednesday recap in 2765 words.

Nakhijevan border shootout: Armenia and Azerbaijan sustain casualties

MOD reports that this morning Azeris attempted to use equipment to build new positions on the north-western Nakhijevan borders (Yeraskh). The Armenian army took steps to prevent the engineering work.

Azeris responded by targeting the Armenian positions. During the shootout, one Armenian contractor (38yo) was killed, and one Azeri was wounded.

The MOD warned that the Azeri military-political leadership will bear full responsibility. MFA accused Azerbaijan of creating new hotspots to destabilize the region.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1058121.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1058153.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1058165.html https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/218523

Shushi borders

Artsakh HR Ombudsman reported that Azeris fired shots into the air near the Shushi borders on Tuesday. Armenian soldiers took "preventative measures" to silence the opponent.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1058110.html

Artsakh Army denies using machine guns near Shushi borders

The Army denied the Azeri reports about opening fire at Azeri positions on Shushi outskirts.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1058134.html

two soldiers go missing near borders amid heavy fog

The unarmed soldiers were driving a vehicle when the communication was lost. The weather conditions were foggy. It is believed that they accidentally crossed into the Azeri side.

Armenia contacted Azerbaijan, with the Russian mediation, to check whether the soldiers had crossed the border.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1058160.html

Deputy Premier Avinyan: Azerbaijan must withdraw from Armenian territories before we can discuss border demarcation

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1058176.html

the head of Security Council is appointed as the first deputy Foreign Minister

Pashinyan aide presented Grigoryan at MFA: congratulations on the new position. Due to last year's events, the MFA's role is important in internal and external life.

Armen Grigoryan: it's fair to say I already have experience working with some of you here today. We have done work during this time. The Security Council has been working with MFA. I thank you for your work.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1058113.html

Constitutional Court is hearing closing arguments before ruling on election results / "no one can escape responsibility tomorrow", judges are told

The sides presented their reasoning on why the election results should be validated or invalidated, the mandates redistributed or kept as they are.

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While speaking with judges, Serj's representative ex-Justice Minister Davit Harutyunyan "predicted" that the verdict will make him feel "internal injustice" but "life will continue".

He then pressured the court by saying the verdict will define Armenia's path, and that the court will be responsible for "depriving Armenia of ability to discuss and defend Armenia's state interests" if the court upholds Pashinyan's 71 MP mandates.

Haruthyunyan then told judges "leadership comes at a price: you must be willing to pay the price while taking responsibility for your share. No one can avoid responsibility tomorrow by avoiding it today."

Court president Dilanyan responded to Harutyunyan's confrontational rhetoric saying although he understands Harutyunyan as a human and the tactic he chose during the trial, it is "unacceptable" for Harutyunyan to discredit the court's verdict before it's even made. "A trial in a high court is not about satisfying interests or individual suspicions. This is where we discuss the dispute over the elections."

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Serj's representative Harutyunyan cited the Netflix series "How to Become a Tyrant" to draw parallels with Pashinyan. In response, Pashinyan's presentative cited the 1995 movie Underground by Kusturica, "people were kept underground for years, they lied about their status, they were oppressed, plundered, and humiliated, while those above the bunker were talking about homeland and noble values", responded QP Badasyan.

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While responding to complaints that voter lists are "inflated", the Electoral Commission chief agreed that the voter lists could be problematic due to the way they are formed, but they are not "artificially" inflated.

He said the methodology used for creating voter lists does not take into account whether the person is living in Armenia or not. The lists include adult citizens who have residency registration in a database.

After hearing all the arguments, the court left to prepare a verdict within three days.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1058130.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1058128.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1058138.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1058144.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1058146.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1058151.html https://youtu.be/JMhzjGRTDhg https://youtu.be/f9ly0f9HioI https://factor.am/393602.html https://factor.am/393600.html https://youtu.be/xsVhQh0oeW4 https://youtu.be/T8CAkd2oODg https://youtu.be/5Bz0w5PPRLs https://factor.am/393854.html

prosecutors ask Electoral Commission to strip Goris mayor of immunity

Context about Goris mayor Arush Arushanyan and the charged he was facing earlier. He is a Kocharyan-ARF alliance member. More recently, some of his Goris colleagues (mayors of adjacent towns/suburbs) were implicated in voter bribery cases. Prosecutors have now launched a similar case against Arushanyan.

Prosecutors' report: we gathered evidence that the mayor of Goris (Syunik) Arushanyan attempted to bribe more than two Qarahunj residents to vote for the Kocharyan-ARF alliance, but was unable to finish the crime for reasons beyond his control.

Moreover, Arushanyan used his office to prevent Qarahunj voters from exercising their free will. He used the residents' dependence on his office to pressure them to vote for the Kocharyan-ARF alliance.

Mayor Arushanyan is facing multiple felony counts. Since Arushanyan himself won the MP's mandate as part of the aforementioned alliance, prosecutors contacted the Electoral Commission for permission to arrest him. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1058131.html https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/nzv4vw/news_jun142021_1_general_babayan_about_1990s_and/

Tags: #mayors #VoterBribery #elections

NSS raided Zangezur copper factory in Syunik, again

Several employees were taken for questioning. Not many details from officials.

Recently we learned about a similar raid in connection with a high-ranking Zangezur department official. Qajaran mayor was also implicated.

During the elections, election observers received complaints alleging that Zangezur factory workers were pressured to attend Kochayran's rally and to skip Pashinyan's, and that the work schedule was manipulated to prevent workers from attending Pashinyan's rallies. At the time, Pashinyan promised that law enforcement would investigate the claims.

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/218520

update: government to raise taxes on copper exporters / new Sovereign Wealth Fund / suspected export pricing schemes

Days earlier the government announced plans to raise copper export taxes, citing rising global copper prices. They believe the miners get superprofits, which is unfair to the public.

Armenia's largest copper miner/exporter is the Zangezur factory, which has close ties with the former regime, so some have naturally wondered whether the tax hike is also related to that.

The government expects an additional ֏75 billion ($151 million) in annual revenues from the tax hike. The tax, however, will decrease again if the global copper prices go down.

The additional revenue is to be spent on developing the industry, creating a copper manufacturing ecosystem, and a Sovereign National Fund.

Ind. MP (ex-BHK) Smbat Bagratyan: the planned changes will create a more competitive condition in the mining industry. The mining sector has superprofits. In some countries, they pay even more taxes. We should have raised the taxes sooner.

Q: some argue this decision was made against the Zangezur factory for political reasons.

Bagratyan: this isn't about politics. This ruling will prevent Zangezur from using various shady schemes to export copper. Right now there are suspicions that the copper exported from Armenia is intentionally sold cheap, then resold at a higher price by an intermediary company.

The new rules will introduce transparency in the volume of exports and the price it's being sold at. Establishing a licensing fee system will allow local companies to purchase copper and sell it abroad at higher prices. This will reveal the "true" price.

If you have nothing to hide, you will sell it for a higher price locally, and not at the price that you sell abroad. This ruling can force the cards to be revealed, and the pricing schemes that have existed for years to come to an end. They will no longer be able to evade taxes. //

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/218463 https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/oj1i1y/news_jul122021_govt_raises_taxes_on_miners_copper/

Tags: #copper #zangezur

new Police Patrol's first real test was a "high-speed chase" in Yerevan

A Lexus was placed on the wanted list. One of the police patrols spotted it and instructed the driver to stop but the latter accelerated and drove away, initiating a chase.

The vehicle was stopped at Arshakunyats and Garegin Nzhdeh intersection without injuries. The vehicles were damaged. The 28yo driver, who was a burglary suspect, was arrested.

video: https://youtu.be/ucvpTH1Xcfw?t=3

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1058139.html

Armenia's road repair quality-control department shares its experience with Russian colleagues

Russian RosDorNII representatives visited Armenia to exchange experience with road work. They presented their experience with digital services on roads, and studied their Armenian colleagues' experience in construction oversight.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1058178.html

3.1M earthquake near Armenia-Georgia border

It was felt in several northern settlements of Armenia.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1058124.html

weighlifters receive new training equipment ahead of Tokyo Olympics

Weighlifting coach Pashik had earlier asked Pashinyan for new equipment. After some transportation delay and temper tantrum by Pashinyan, the Education/Sports Ministery recently delivered the equipment to athletes.

Coach Pashik believes the new equipment will last 30 years and will help win new medals because, unlike the old equipment, these are the same ones used during major sports events. (circle weight plates instead of square ones /jk)

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1058132.html

Yerevan will preserve monument-buildings in Firdus district / illegal attachments to be removed

Decades ago the govt decided to launch a new project in the historical Firdus (33rd) district. Some residents were given compensations to leave. Some buildings had to be demolished. At the time, the government identified 11 buildings with cultural significance and placed them on the preservation list.

In 2020, the government added another building on 80 Firdus address to the cultural list.

Education/Culture Ministry: all of the aforementioned buildings were added to the protection list in their full shape and form. Any structural strengthening work requires a permit. [Context: some activists were concerned that the building was going to be demolished.]

At the same time, the examination has revealed that some people built illegal structures within these historical buildings over the years. They caused significant damage to the exterior, too.

We decided that these illegal structures, specifically the ones built in later stages, should be removed. As part of this project, we agreed with construction companies to return several inner backyards on Tigran Mets St. to their original look.

The monument-building on Hanrapetutyun 46 is the only one in the immediate construction zone. Last month we approved its strengthening and repair project. It's a class-4 dangerous structure in an emergency state. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1058142.html

video: Yerevan municipality continues demolishing illegal buildings

These are no longer small budka kiosks. They are after stone and concrete structures.

https://youtu.be/CXUURn0p-L4

video: heavy rains flooded Yerevan streets

https://youtu.be/hRBiKWz1Snk?t=8

Pashinyan congratulated Macron on Bastille Day

He spoke about AM-FR friendship, how France stood by Armenia historically, how the French people struggled two centuries ago to pave way for democracy, about Armenia's current efforts to strengthen democratic institutes and the rule of law. He wished the French people peace and prosperity.

The French ambassador Jonathan thanked Pashinyan for the kind words and said that the 2018 Armenian revolution also paved way for strengthening democracy.

Jonathan congratulated Pashinyan and Armenians on the elections, saying it was a strong democratic message that will open new cooperation avenues with France.

The two discussed the border conflict and the need to resume the Karabakh negotiations.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1058116.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1058181.html

French president Macron will visit Armenia

France wants to cooperate in the energy, high tech, industry, and education fields.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1058181.html

free stroke surgery services will expend in Gyumri and Vanadzor

In 2019 the government made stroke surgery free of charge. Around 1,000 people have received the care.

Doctors observed a clear improvement. If in the past a damage to large vessels would result in 2/3rd of patients dying or becoming severely disabled, then nowadays 70% of them can take care of themselves.

The number of patients has been increasing, so does the budget...

2019: ֏650m

2020: ֏870m

2021: ֏1.1b

The govt plans to retrain experts in Gyumri and Vanadzor to make the services available beyond the capital.

Doctors observed a tendency of more younger people being admitted with stroke. While most elderly patients are men, among the young patients it's mostly women with pregnancy complications, systemic issues, and the use of contraceptives.

Stroke can be prevented 90% of the time if the risks are managed. Blood pressure, cholesterol levels, excess weight, diabetes.

2005: 4k stroke deaths

2010: 3k

2015: 2.4k

2019: 2k

The outlook is much better when the patient is treated within 3-4 hours of developing symptoms such as sudden severe complaints, speech distortion, numbness, sudden severe vertigo, vision problems, and anything similar that developed instantly and not over a period of days.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1058143.html https://youtu.be/9GgDbwxYqlY

anti-corruption: eye surgeon is busted after demanding cash for a free service

NSS and police report: Kanaker-Zeytun hospital's ophthalmology clinic's surgeon was supposed to treat a child who qualifies for free healthcare. Instead, he demanded $500, then negotiated it down to $450 (generous lad).

Months later, during the second surgery on the same patient, he demanded another $560. The surgeon was detained while accepting the $560. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1058190.html https://youtu.be/35ci_80T3-c

COVID stats

5001 tested. 189 infected. 86 healed. 3 deaths. 3198 active.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1058118.html

Armenia and Germany are intensifying tourism cooperation

70 German experts from media and tourism fields will visit Yerevan next month as part of the Economy Ministry's cooperation with the German DRV travelers' association. They will hold a forum in Armenia.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1058114.html

Armenian travelers will no longer have to quarantine in Abu Dhabi

Armenia is on the Green List. The visitors will have to give a PCR test upon arrival.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1058119.html

Armenia will have a new national low-cost airlines carrier, and it's up to you to choose its name

Air Arabia is the largest carrier in the Middle East and North Africa.

President Sarkissian hosted UAE Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed al Thani, who is the president of Air Arabia board, and the CEO Adel Abdullah al Ali. He has been negotiating with them for a while.

Air Arabia and the Armenian State Interest Fund signed an agreement to create a new Armenian national carrier.

Sheikh Abdullah believes the new airlines will strengthen the trade-business ties between Armenia and UAE. The first flights are scheduled for 2022.

Pashinyan hosted Sheikh Abdullah: I'm glad that after several months of negotiations between Air Arabia, Armenia's Civil Aviation, and Armenian State Interest Fund, we were able to bring this ambitious program to life. We are ready to help the carrier to increase traffic, investments, tourism, and to establish modern services in the civil aviation industry. //

Sheikh Abdullah: this project will help develop your civil aviation market. We consider Yerevan an interesting partner. The new carrier will be priced like low-costers while providing high-quality services. //

Civil Aviation chief Revazyan: we will finally have a national low-cost carrier. It's a difficult task because this field is very competitive. That's why we involved world-class experts. //

Armenian State Interest Fund: Armenia's share in the project is over 50% but Air Arabia will have the decision-making powder. The carrier will not ask for any "privileges", but at the same time, it will be the only one to have the label "national carrier". //

The carrier's name has not been chosen yet. Avinyan said they will hold a public survey beginning July 14 to pick a name. FlyMy McFlyFace sounds good enough? Press X to submit it to nametheairline AT anif.am (official public address).

https://youtu.be/UvLPon6F4CQ?t=30 https://youtu.be/QmJZ4rqSp_s https://youtu.be/Sope_96EaG0 https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1058163.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1058175.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1058185.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1058189.html

Tags: #aviation #NationalCarrier

discussions to reconstruct the Stepanavan airport

... were held between Infrastructure Ministry and Czech company Balus Tech. The latter presented its upcoming projects in Armenia. They discussed the reconstruction of Stepanavan airport and production of small aircrafts.

They will meet again to discuss it in detail.

https://factor.am/393862.html

Lufthansa representative visited Armenia

Deputy Premier Avinyan met Lufthansa reps to discuss increasing air traffic in the post-pandemic era, and the establishment of more direct flights to various cities. They also discussed topics relating to Armenia's Civil Aviation.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1058166.html

correction on the Supreme Court Judicial Department story

The head of the department will leave the job on July 19. In yesterday's post, I wrote "he left on June 19".

Nine of the judicial department members are accused of forging travel logs to defraud the state. Two of the suspects are judges.

Greek scientist claims his new laser weapon can shoot down drones

It beams a laser at 5-20km altitudes and can strike the target every three seconds, says the report. "It also allows passive detection of targets, including drones, naval vessels, missiles, and helicopters."

https://youtu.be/BFHtirWOMlg https://greekcitytimes.com/2021/07/14/greek-laser-weapon-drones/ https://factor.am/393783.html

Kim Jong-Un's boat with a pool and water slides

https://www.google.com/maps/place/39%C2%B009'40.1%22N+127%C2%B026'43.4%22E/@39.1611456,127.4451693,88m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x0!8m2!3d39.1611294!4d127.4453968

today in history

1099: crusaders siege Jerusalem

1789: French revolution begins with the storming of the Bastille castle

1862: the tsar's regime arrests Mikael Nalbandyan, the author of the anthem lyrics

1888: testing of first dynamite by Alfred Nobel (peace prize my a$$)

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1058100.html

yesterday's news

https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/ojodbs/news_jul132021_anticorruption_wave_mayors_bribery/

Перевод на русский by Impossible-Ad-

https://new.reddit.com/r/ArmDailyReports_RUS_/comments/ojzmsg/новости_армении_за_13_июля_2021/

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/okd7zy/news_jul142021_copper_exporters_suspected_of_tax/