2021 July 2

Daily news wrap-up

News - Jul/2/2021: (1) Anthrax story takes a weird turn (2) Voter bribery details (3) Murica chasing Turkey (4) Russia to export Orion drones (5) Turkish Pablo busted (6) Armenian POWs get milder sentences (7) Schiff's $52m aid (8) Record high temps, water shortage (9) First solar farm w/tracking
by ar_david_hh

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This is your 12-minute Friday report in 2988 words.

anthrax in Shirak and Gegharkunik

As we learned yesterday, three people in a remote village south of Lake Sevan were hospitalized with anthrax, the "mild" type on the skin. The authorities began collecting dead animals and vaccinating others over a week ago.

By Friday, there were five more patients diagnosed with mild-medium severity anthrax in Gyumri hospital. They are from village Isahakyan, south of Gyumri, near the AM-TR border. They are all farmers who butchered and skinned animals.

The Isahakyan village mayor revealed that 12 large and small animals had died from a disease earlier. The veterinarians began vaccinating the cattle again. They have not recorded new deaths as of writing this.

Anthrax can transfer from human to human and through other means of contact, said a doctor. The 5 infected men are butchers, while 2 women handled the meat for cooking and processing. They noticed that the animals were showing signs of weakness and decided to butcher them before they die, without suspecting that they were dealing with anthrax. They sold the meat to local residents.

The village mayor said the village's animals were vaccinated, and that it's possible the disease originated from the soil. "This year is hotter, we have pasture shortage. Maybe the cows accidentally ate the soil contaminated with anthrax bacilli."

The authorities took samples from the soil. They do not rule out the mayor's theory because the anthrax bacilli can "survive in the soil for centuries and emerge later".

The last time Shirak had a significant anthrax problem was in 2004 when Aygabats village's animals began dying. At the time, a large hole was dug for cremating and burying the cattle, before covering them with chlorine and concrete. "But anthrax can still emerge out of the soil a hundred years later."

This morning, the village's veterinarian was found dead in an apparent suicide by hanging. A suicide note was found in his pocket. The authorities are investigating whether someone drove him to suicide. His relatives later revealed that he had attempted suicide several months earlier but they prevented it. There is no evidence linking this incident to the anthrax story.

https://youtu.be/93Ti5fKeLek https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057268.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057188.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057274.html https://factor.am/389506.html https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/217655 https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/217657

woman charged with bribing voters on behalf of Serj's Pativ Unem alliance / Spitak Poultry

Investigators said: Arjut (Lori) resident N.A. offered bribes to several co-villagers in exchange for voting for the PU alliance.

She works at Spitak Poultry. Its shareholder's son was on Serj's PU alliance ballot as an MP candidate.

On June 18, she offered a $40 bribe to a co-villager but the latter refused to accept it. She then invited another villager to her apartment and offered to cancel the $20 debt in exchange for a vote.

She has been charged with felony Article 154.2.4.2. The investigation is over. The case is sent to prosecutors for court filings.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057210.html

condo manager charged with bribing residents to vote for Serj's Pativ Unem alliance

Investigators said: VV and ShD are condo managers in Yerevan's Malatia-Sebastia district. On June 5, the manager met a resident and gave a $40 bribe in exchange for a PU alliance vote. The other manager decided to speak with the voter's family for similar purposes. The bribe money was discovered and confiscated during the raid.

The two managers also offered a bribe to another resident on June 5, but the resident refused to accept it because they did not want to vote for PU.

The two condo managers are charged with felonies. The investigation is over. The papers are sent to prosecutors for court filing. //

[This is probably the alleged bribery case reported by an election observer. At the time, Serj's party complained that they were being "persecuted" in Malatia district.]

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057256.html

Goris cultural center director charged with forcing workers to participate in Kocharyan-ARF rally, and for obstructing their participation in Pashinyan rally

Investigators said: Gusan Ashot cultural center director in Goris (Syunik) invited his workers for a work meeting on June 7 and informed them about Kocharyan's (HD alliance) upcoming visit. He instructed the librarian and the staff to attend the HD meeting.

On June 15 the director learned that the aforementioned librarian planned to attend Pashinyan's rally in Goris, and threatened to fire her if she did.

The director has been charged under Article 149.1.2.1&2 and has been arrested. The investigation is over. The case is sent to prosecutors for court filing.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057214.html

Kocharyan and Serj are challenging the election results in Constitutional Court

The paperwork has been filed. They asked judge Vahe Grigoryan to recuse himself due to his past activities as a lawyer relating to Kocharyan's March 1st trial.

Kocharyan's lawyer says they found an issue in 109 polling stations with 4,000 voters allegedly missing signatures. Kocharyan's ally said there were people who signed up as voters on the election day but were not officially located in Armenia according to NSS's [border-crossing?] records.

The Electoral Commission did not find major violations that could affect the results. The Court will summon the commission for Q&A.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057195.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057243.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057248.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057255.html

U.S. adds Turkey to list of countries implicated in use of child soldiers

The U.S. found that Turkey provided aid to Syria-based militant organization "Sultan Murad", one of the terror cells that Azerbaijan recruited during the 2020 Karabakh war. This group was found to have used children in Syria.

This is the first time a NATO member has been placed on this list. This could result in restrictions on certain security assistance and commercial licensing of military equipment unless Joe Biden waives the ban.

In case you missed yesterday's news, Trump's National Security Adviser John Bolton, Jeb Bush, and others have joined an initiative called the Turkish Democracy Project, to help export freedoms to Turkey.

John Bolton: It's time to sound the alarm on Turkey. Under an authoritarian leader, a once-reliable NATO ally is turning its back on democracy and embracing Russia.

https://news.yahoo.com/u-adds-turkey-list-countries-171657565.html

YouTube removes Turkish official's video for containing "hate speech" directed at Armenians

Erdogan's PR department chief gave a speech earlier during an anti-Armenian event relating to the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. YouTube has removed his clip. It angered the Turkish regime. The PR guy went on Twitter to rant.

https://factor.am/389656.html

Azeri court sentences 14 Armenian POWs

Two of them received a 4-year sentence over alleged "illegal border crossing", while 12 others will serve a 6-month term.

The prosecutors initially planned to press "terrorism" charges, which could lead to decades of imprisonment but ended up dropping the serious charges and opting only for lesser ones.

In reality, none of the soldiers had crossed the Azeri border illegally. They were illegally captured by Azerbaijan in Artsakh's Hin Tagher and Khtsaberd village heights in December 2020. Nine out of 62 have already returned to Armenia.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057286.html https://factor.am/389770.html

U.S. Congressman Adam Schiff about a $52 million aid for Armenia and Artsakh:

We have been able to secure more than $52 million in funding for Armenia and Artsakh in the recently introduced House Foreign Affairs spending bill. This investment will support democratic, economic, and energy reforms.

We must push the Biden administration to take action to end Azerbaijani aggression and secure immediate release of all Armenian POWs, some of whom have been tortured.

https://www.facebook.com/RepAdamSchiff/posts/10157900672111831

Putin and Macron discussed the Karabakh conflict

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057290.html

IRS busts a Turkish citizen with smuggling $11 million heroin to Armenia

IRS, NSS, and Russian border guards examined a truck, operated by a Turkish citizen, after it entered from Iran through the southern border of Armenia.

The customs examination uncovered 119 bags of heroin hidden in the roof. This is the second large heroin bust in recent times, with the latest one involving a massive 365kg load.

The driver is arrested. The authorities are trying to uncover the full circle.

https://youtu.be/GiD757VvnG0?t=10 https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057215.html

в России начнут выпускать ударные беспилотники на экспорт (Russia will begin to manufacture and export striker drones)

A Russian arms company will launch serial production of striker drones for export beginning in 2022. This is going to be the first factory in Russia specialized in the serial production of striker drones.

In the first phase, it will produce dozens of Orion drones annually, meant for surveillance and attack. The company needs to find 1,500 workers to launch the production this Autumn.

The construction of the 45,000 m^2 factory began in April. Its goal is to turn the Orion-E done into a competitive product in the international market. These drones are already being supplied to the Russian army under the name "inokhodets" (Pacer?) and are being used by Russians in Syria.

Orion drones can fly long distances at medium altitudes for a day(s). Its striker version comes equipped with universal warheads that can penetrate moving or stationary targets.

The cruising speed is 200km/h. The maximum takeoff weight is 1150kg. The load is 200km. Max altitude 7km.

https://ria.ru/20210702/bespilotniki-1739516520.html https://factor.am/389421.html

Halo Trust humanitarian de-miner organization conducted controlled explosions in Artsakh

The demining operations continue in Artsakh. Several organizations and agencies are involved.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057208.html

China denies Azeri media reports claiming its ambassador discussed "Zangezur corridor"

The Chinese ambassador in Armenia called his colleague in Azerbaijan and learned that the latter did not make such statements.

Ambassador Fan Yong: China has good relations with Armenia and Azerbaijan. We hope the conflict will be resolved diplomatically. China will do anything in its power to achieve this. We will try to ensure border security.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057218.html https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/217649

COVID stats

3656 tested. 118 infected. 95 healed. 1 death. 2744 active.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057202.html

update: suspect arrested in the armed robbery of CREDO financial agency in Yerevan

An armed masked man stole millions from the financial agency's Malatia branch on Monday. The police have identified and arrested the suspect, a 40yo resident of Yerevan.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057265.html

abusive husband facing jail time

A drunken husband has been beating his wife for years in Alaverdi city. The first known instance was in 2015, but she did not report it to the police.

The authorities decided to go after the husband, regardless of whether the wife presses charges or not, after learning about the latest domestic abuse episode in 2021.

The husband has been charged under felony Article 118 and is facing between a ֏100k fine to 2 months in jail.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057204.html

inspection body will oversee employer-worker relations

An agreement was signed between the Union of Manufacturers & Entrepreneurs of Armenia and the Health & Labor Inspection Body of Armenia. It's in addition to worker-employer relations written in the law.

Per the agreement, the Inspection Body will gain the ability to audit to ensure employment contracts meet the legal requirements, things relating to hiring workers and having an illegal workforce, respecting workers' vacation rights, paying salaries appropriately, fulfillment of obligations under collective agreements, etc.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057234.html

seismic protection agency will operate separately from the Emergency Ministry

Pashinyan signed an order to run the seismic agency as a separate government-run organization, instead of it being part of Ministry, so it will "better cooperate with international partners", and for other reasons.

https://factor.am/389723.html

traffic cop is busted with corruption

The police reports: on May 26, the traffic cop stopped a driver in Zvartnots airport area for a violation. The driver offered to pay him in cash (wink wink) if he ignores some of the serious violations, to which he agreed. The cop is facing felony charges.

https://factor.am/389686.html

is it getting really hot in here, or is it just me?

Meteorologist Gagik Surenyan: it's gonna be hot again in July because of the heatwave traveling towards Armenia. 2-3c above the average, reaching 41c.

But unlike in June, we will also have cold waves coming from the Black Sea.

The humidity is low, the temperatures are high. This will result in plants rapidly losing their water. Be sure to hydrate your plants and yourself.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057207.html

the weather is much hotter than predicted earlier this year / how did it affect Lake Sevan? / La Nina Nino Mimino

In March, meteorologists predicted favorable weather for water accumulation and irrigation. Pashinyan had expressed hopes to see record water levels in Lake Sevan by June-July.

However, an abnormal heatwave and shortage of rainfall were observed since May. The snow melted gradually, without a significant volume of flow, there was no formation of surface flow.

Meteorologists: Rivers lost significant water in June. Azat River recorded 5x less water exit, while and 2.5x less was observed in the Hrazdan basin.

Reservoirs also suffered. The 5 large reservoirs hold 210 million m^3 less water than last year, and 350 million m^3 less compared to 2019.

Last year the government declared "water scarcity" near the Lake Sevan basin, specifically in rivers Qasakh, Hrazdan, Azat, and Akhuryan...

This has not yet resulted in major agricultural issues. The affected territories are mostly non-irrigated zones, which are vulnerable. The collection of hay suffered in some areas.

In June, 53 million m^3 water was drained from Sevan for agriculture; that's 3.5 centimeters of the lake. Another 8 centimeters vaporized due to heatwave. Sevan is currently 4 centimeters below its 2020 mark.

Q: what is causing these temperatures?

Meteorologist: normally, the heat in Armenia comes from the Middle East beginning in July. But this year we began recording heatwaves in June. This June was the hottest in our recorded history by all metrics.

The main cause is tied to the shores of Brazil and Argentina. There are two waves: El Nino and La Nina.

The La Nina is the cold wave. When it weakens, it leads to a rise in ocean water temperature, which directly affects the weather in various parts of the globe.

More: https://youtu.be/OI5VivToA2M https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057220.html https://factor.am/389442.html https://youtu.be/OgKli_XRr_E

Pashinyan forms a commission tasked with combating the negative effects of drought and water shortage

The group will also help form a strategy for improving irrigation efficiency.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057273.html

չկա չարիք առանց բարիքի / first solar tracking system in the region

The sunny weather on the Lake Sevan basin attracts solar panel investors. Tsapatagh settlement (east of Sevan) has 13ha of land with a solar farm. It's built by Optimum Energy, at the request of Tufenkian Foundation, with the help of ACBA bank, by using the Spanish and Chinese experience.

These panels have a tracking system to face the sun at all times, to maximize efficiency. It's the first tracking system in the region.

The farm with 14,000 double glass panels has a peak 5,787kW power with an annual 12.3 million kW/h production.

Optimum Energy rep.: this farm can simultaneously feed 100 villages size of Tsapatagh. Its effectiveness is observed between 8:30am - 5:30pm. It's smart enough to protect itself from strong winds by changing the angle.

Tufenkian Hospitality rep.: the region has issues with access to gas and energy so we decided to switch to eco-friendly solar. It is powering the nearby hotel.

Video: https://youtu.be/3tYP-b7JJcM?t=14

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057262.html

Yerevan's new transport fleet will have electronic payment system in coming months

Mayor Marutyan: the new buses are now serving Route 97 (formerly 37). All 100 compact-sized new buses are now in service across nine different routes. They have significantly eased the transport problem. Their utilization allows us to draw conclusions for future reforms.

Another 211 mid-sized buses will arrive in a few months. You pay with a 100-dram coin while boarding. In a few months, we will have an electronic payment system. //

Some of the interviewed passengers are glad they don't have to deal with "զդաչի ունես ապե" while exiting the bus. RIP "Երկու հատ ստացի մեկը հետո կիջնի". A driver said he is happy that his salary no longer depends on the number of passengers he picks up.

Video: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=352333799796208

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057226.html

Artashat will have a new athletics track with international standards

The government allocated ֏72 million to build a new track. The construction begins in the coming days. "This will make Artashat a sports hub. Our athletes will have better results in international competitions," said deputy Education/Sports Minister and Karen Giloyan.

They will disassemble the old track that was built in 1980s, will install water removal drains, etc.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057260.html

video: Gyumri is washing its statues

https://youtu.be/Bn8pjpB8xE0

10km sections of Yerevan-Goris-Iran road is being renovated

Near Kapan and Vorotan settlements. It's expected to finish this year. The construction of other parts is expected to launch soon.

Photos: https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/217627

Iran and Armenia discussed the construction of the second high-voltage electric network between the states

The Armenian ambassador to Iran met the Iranian Energy Ministry. They spoke about sending delegations in the coming months.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057227.html

Goldmoney Asian Rapid: Levon Aronian defeats world champion Magnus Carlsen

He will play in the finale against Vladislav Artemiev.

https://sportstar.thehindu.com/chess/goldmoney-asian-rapid-online-chess-aronian-stuns-magnus-carlsen-ding-liren/article35108110.ece https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057285.html

Armenian Soccer Federation wants to create a Professional Soccer League

HFF has contacted FIFA to form a new Professional Soccer League. Some documents are ready. HFF cooperated with colleagues in Belgium, Ukraine, Russia, and Kazakhstan.

HFF contacted soccer clubs to see if they are interested.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057232.html

there will be concerts dedicated to 100th anniversary of Arno Babajanyan

The State Philharmonic Orchestra will perform Arno's music in several Yerevan parks between July 3-9. Date and time in the article...

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057198.html

top-10 bestseller documentary books in May

10) Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, by Yuval Harari

9) The right to struggle, by Monte.

8) Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future, by Ashlee Vance

7) The cafe on the edge of the world, by John Strelecky

6) The power of habit, by Charles Duhigg

5) The leader who had no title, by Robin Sharma

4) Shameful Act, by Taner Akcam (Turkish writer talks about the Armenian Genocide)

3) Life and freedom, by Robert Kocharyan

2) Who will cry when you die?, by Robin Sharma

1) The monk who sold his Ferrari, by Robin Sharma

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057133.html

yesterday's news

https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/obvaw5/news_jul12021_1_security_official_army_reforms/

Перевод на русский by Impossible-Ad-

https://reddit.com/r/ArmDailyReports_RUS_/comments/oc452f/новости_армении_за_1_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

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Link to original report and comments: https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/ochl35/news_jul22021_1_anthrax_story_takes_a_weird_turn/