2021 June 7

Daily news wrap-up

News - Jun/7/2021: (1) Hadrut treason: two confess to selling army secrets to Azeris; drone strike deep within Armenia (2) Settlements to produce their own solar energy (3) Election campaign: Levon, Kocharyan, Pashinyan (4) Border news (5) Commander Serj and Wild Wild Rob (6) Housing subsidies
by ar_david_hh

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This is your 12-minute Monday report in 2948 words.

settlements to run publicly-owned solar farms to increase their budgets

The Utility regulator gave Artik settlement a license to produce 600 kW solar energy. "Artik is the first settlement to have the opportunity to use the clean, green, and free energy to provide additional income to its budget."

It's a small-scale pilot program for now. The municipality will sell the generated electricity to Armenia's main electric grid. The project is co-funded by the EU.

The Utility regulator will, from now on, have a separate licensing system for settlements.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1054625.html

AYG-1: giant solar investor met Deputy Premier to discuss ongoing projects

Masdar is a UAE-based large investor's global branch specialized in solar. Deputy Premier Avinyan met Masdar's representative to discuss the latter's participation in ARG-1 solar farm construction.

Report: Masdar and the State Interest Fund of Armenia signed an agreement in 2019 to explore the construction of 400MW solar farms. This program secures 200MW production at the cost of 2.9 cents per kWh.

The station will be in Talin and Dashtem. 85% owned by Masdar, 15% by the State Interest Fund of Armenia. It's a $174 million worth investment that will take 2 years. It will create jobs directly and indirectly.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1054663.html

treason in Hadrut and the rear / unit commander worked for Azeris / shared locations of air defense units

NSS report says: A former military man with multiple medals and awards joined another citizen and traveled to Turkey under the pretense of finding a job. They were recruited by Azeri intel while in Turkey.

From that point on, the two friends established direct communication with each other to split the duties, the bribes, and to help each other with the crime. They received instructions from Azeri intel.

After the preparatory work, they traveled from Turkey to the third state where they met high-ranking Azeri intel agents to sign a contract and receive specific orders. The agreement was signed in the Azeri embassy in the third state. They agreed to work against Armenia and were given nicknames and prepayments.

gathering info

To act in secrecy, they gave the Azeris their phone numbers issued in Turkey and other details about internet apps. They subsequently received orders from Azeris to photograph Armenian military units, the stationed equipment, troop numbers, personal details of commanders, locations of air defense units near important objects.

They also photographed important objects such as water dams, hydros, strategic heights, shelters, troop movements. This was transmitted to Azeris via the phone apps.

2020 war begins

Afterward, when the war began on September 27, in order to carry out the tasks set forth by Azeri intel, one of them registered as a commander of a volunteer military unit and went to Hadrut battlefield and continued to collect and transmit secret info until late October. He took photos and shared other details about air defense units, missiles, positions, etc.

southern crack

This allowed the enemy to pinpoint the location of important military tech to make precision strikes against the tech and personnel. This caused significant damage to the combat effectiveness of Armenian forces and did not allow them to go forward with the plans.

Favorable conditions were created for the enemy to break through the line of defense in the southern direction and further advance into the depths of Artsakh.

S-300 drone strike?

One of the agents transmitted photos and other info about the location of a զենիթահրթիռային missile system stationed deep in the rear, which allowed the enemy to use a drone to destroy it. [the NSS video indicates that this is about the destruction of Armenia's S-300 unit, it's similar to an earlier shared video]

they confessed

The two confessed after being arrested. They asked for leniency [on video]. A dozen raids were conducted in their residences. Communication tools, mobile phones, video recorded by them, and other evidence was found.

[They were promised $20,000 but were only paid $4,500, said one of them on video.]

Video: https://youtu.be/TjxNY1M_AFc?t=53

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1054589.html https://www.panarmenian.net/arm/news/293400/

Azeris withdraw fortification equipment after June 7 incident

MOD: Azeris attempted again to use tractors to fortify their positions within Armenian territories near Gegharkunik's Verin Shorja borders. Armenian forces took counter-measures to stop the engineering. The work was suspended. Azeris moved the equipment to their territories.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1054628.html

update: Foreign Ministry resignations continue

The Deputy Ministers have also resigned. The MFA Ayvazyan and one deputy minister resigned earlier.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1054666.html

Putin discussed Karabakh conflict with the president of Council of Europe

They spoke about the implementation of November 9 statements, unblocking regional trade routes, humanitarian aid for the population.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1054665.html

Armath Airborne - first drone workshop in Dilijan

A military college in Dilijan launched an educational drone workshop where young students can produce and test drones equipped with high tech. The goal is to have on in 65 settlements of Armenia and Artsakh.

https://factor.am/379320.html

electoral campaign enters its final stage / parties to ramp up propaganda

Electoral Commission: we wish you all the best of luck. We urge parties and voters to respect the rules and not to insult each other.

NSS to parties: we are watching. Play fair. We will find out if you forge documents or distribute bribes.

Human Rights Ombudsman: respect each other and don't use insults to prevent tensions. Knock it off with the fake social media accounts that promote violence.

President Sarkissian: be restrained, respect the voter and opponent. Do not deepen the tensions. Don't use dishonest tools. Law enforcement has special duties to uphold the law. //

The court ruled in favor of Kocharyan to reinstate his personal book's promotional posters after the Electoral Commission earlier found it in violation of campaign rules because it was deemed as electoral propaganda. Critics said the Commission was right for taking down Kocharyan's posters but did not properly clarify "why", hence the court verdict siding with Kocharyan. One NGO believes the Commission intentionally left a "loophole" by not clarifying its stance in court.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1054580.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1054583.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1054587.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1054592.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1054597.html https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/215599

Tsarukyan's BHK party shares a message:

Our campaign slogan is "Safe homeland, powerful state". It's no coincidence because today the top priority is security, and only then economic development and powerful state. Tsarukyan will travel across Armenia. We urge our opponents to refrain from hate speech.

Our program includes plans for a balanced development of 10 provinces, affordable housing for young families, decent salaries and pensions. We know how to achieve these goals.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1054644.html

Tsarukyan met voters in his stronghold Abovyan city and promised various programs (mortgage, etc) for residents. "I always turn out to be right when I say something."

https://youtu.be/hsAn-DXFehU https://youtu.be/wLbdohXXoLg

Kocharyan+ARF alliance released a message to voters:

Focus on our programs. It has a huge potential to raise the country. Infect people with a positive mood so that hope and dignity will enter the home of every citizen. Forget about the current government, they are not on our agenda, let's focus on what needs to be done, let's focus on the future.

Do not give in to the provocations of the government which is trying to organize illegal clashes. In just 14 days we will open a new page in Armenia. We will definitely have secure borders and stable peace.

Full: https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1054598.html

political parties publish campaign travel schedule for today

Pashinyan: Parakar, Ejmiatsin, Gai village, Geghakert, Metsamor, Mrgashat, Pshatavan, Armavir village, Qarakert, Armavir city.

Kocharyan+ARF: Agarak village, Meghri, Qajaran, Kapan.

Serj+Vanetsyan: Dilijan, Yerevan.

Edmon Marukyan: Cascade, Goris.

Tsarukyan: Abovyan, Nor Hachn.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1054606.html

Levon Ter-Petrosyan has a couple of things to say

Levon about Armenia's allies: Armenia does not have allies in the Karabakh conflict. The public and most political forces have not yet grasped this because of the propaganda in the past 30 years. I wrote 25 years ago that Armenia does not have an ally in the Karabakh conflict.

Now some claim that if not Russia then the US, Iran, or China will be the ally. That means we don't want to take lessons from our old and recent histories. We made a mistake 100 years ago, but 70 years of Soviet times have passed, the Karabakh Movement learned from old mistakes and secured victories in the 90s. Sadly, we could make the old mistakes again.

Levon's message to teammates: Be calm and coldhearted. Don't escalate arguments with opponents regardless of what they say. Your arguments are more powerful. Let them say "քաչալ շուն" all they want.

There will be public debates participated by us. Journalists will try to provoke you but do not fall for it. Say what you have to say calmly. I will give a press conference. They can bombard me all they want. I'm not afraid of bombardmen if this is the army we have.

Levon's party: we should switch to a semi-presidential system. The parliamentary system doesn't work for countries like ours; we are at war. The parliamentary system is unable to resolve the issues we face today. A semi-presidential system is necessary so that the commander-in-chief can make rapid decisions. The parliamentary system does not allow for this to happen.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1054660.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1054653.html https://factor.am/379343.html https://youtu.be/4uPrVW70HXU

https://factor.am/379418.html

Kocharyan also supports unblocking regional trade routes

Kocharyan in Agarak: we support unblocking communication routes but we are against a "corridor". The 1999 Meghri corridor accusations against me are propaganda. Do not believe in lies. Those who accuse me are the ones discussing the Meghri corridor... It would not be normal for us to be against railway and road communication.

Kocharyan about roads: we should have launched the North-South highway project not from Ararat valley but from Syunik: the most difficult area.

Kocharyan about negotiations: the right way to negotiate is not to give hope and not to take it away. This administration said they would turn Shushi into capital, thus depriving Azerbaijan of hope that they could achieve something diplomatically. By doing so, they provoked a confrontation. [Pashinyan earlier accused Kocharyan of continuously giving Azeris more and more hope and promises, including Shushi one day being part of Azerbaijan]

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1054614.html https://factor.am/379199.html https://factor.am/379279.html

Kocharyan declares his income and property ownership:

1 apartment (195m2) in Stepanakert and 1 in Yerevan's Isakov Blvd (1715 m2).

Received $53k in a corporate bond, $78k (?) in interest from bank deposit, $199k from Russian SISTEMA company.

Owns $3.8 million. Holds 0.0306% of SISTEMA company shares.

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/215620 https://www.gofundme.com/rob

Pashinyan traveled across Armenia and had a few things to say

Pashinyan about productivity: labor productivity is very low in Armenia. The average worker produces $6/hour, twice lower than other EAEU bloc countries, ten times lower than the EU.

The government should help increase efficiency, for example, through the use of technologies to replace manual work. Farmers should use tech to improve their efficiency.

Pashinyan about democracy: The strongest motivation for our participation is that the people should not lose the sense that they own the country. Those who say "կրելու են" [Kocharyan] will կրել their punishment instead.

Pashinyan about ending monopolies: the number of construction wood importers doubled since 2018 because we ended monopolies. Nobody can stop you from importing or exporting materials today. This wasn't the case before 2018; you had to have special "connections".

Pashinyan about Armenia's development: An era for peaceful development can open for Armenia so that the Armenian people can live freely and create in their homeland. But peace is not only external but also internal. The snap elections are meant to secure internal peace. By voting #3 you vote for yourself, against the thieves that conspired against Armenia.

Pashinyan about education: in the next 5 years we will build over 300 kindergartens and 300 schools, in addition to what's under construction today.

Pashinyan about war casualties: the death toll is under 4,000. Can you explain why the [former regime] continues to use 5-7,000 numbers? What is the point of adding to the death toll? They became Azerbaijan's lawyers in Armenia. Azeri government can point out and says look, it's Armenians who say that, it's Armenians who say the deaths were a result of Armenians themselves, it's Armenians who provoked and started a war, it's them who committed war crimes.

The former regime has been acting as Azerbaijan's lawyer since 2021. Meanwhile, we tried to protect the homeland from the disgraceful negotiation process inherited from them. But even during the war they were calling generals and telling them to move the forces to Yerevan for a coup instead. And to this day they continue with their efforts to move the war into Armenia. We must not let this happen. They want to incite civil war. Vote against that on June 20.

Infrastructure Minister: the former regime hired a couple of "journalists" to travel across Armenia and film damaged roads to manipulate and prove that we haven't done anything. Didn't we inherit those roads from you? What were you doing for 30 years? The money you collected wasn't for the army, wasn't for the roads, what was it for?

Pashinyan responds to Serj's statement that he would have committed suicide if he was in Pashinyan's place: Serj Sargsyan was the #1 public official tasked with security in 1999 when the despicable October 27 terror attack happened. I don't remember Serj cutting his veins.

Here is the list of people murdered during Serj's tenure as NSS chief: Armenia's general prosecutor, the commander of internal forces, commander of police forces, the Prime Minister, the parliament president and deputies, minister, MPs. And? Can you explain why he hasn't shot himself in the head?

Pashinyan responds to Kocharyan saying he would rather fight Pashinyan with a weapon (duel) instead of holding a debate: The situation is sad. He has to take up arms personally because Nairi Hunanyan is in prison [October 27 terrorist].

Full: https://youtu.be/gwVI89jnGco

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1054607.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1054611.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1054613.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1054630.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1054631.html https://factor.am/379283.html https://factor.am/379308.html https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/215676 https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/215618

Aram Sargsyan does not rule out cooperation with other parties

Vazgen's brother Aram (Republic Party): we only have external enemies. The election results will show the winners and proportions. We were not a supporter of the Parliamentary system. This system requires very fast elections because governments may be unable to form coalitions, or coalitions could fall.

Coalitions will be necessary in our case. That will depend on the number of MPs the parties gain. It's difficult to predict. The enemy is at our doorsteps; we don't rule out cooperation with like-minded parties under such circumstances.

We must gradually reduce our reliance on Russia because Russia is not our ally. We must diversify our foreign policy.

Q: is there a chance you could join Kocharyan?

We have categorically opposite approaches and differences in terms of ideology. The public would not understand such an alliance. //

The Republic party came up with an "innovative" idea. Their campaign booths have flyers with the detachable bottom where the residents can write their opinions on what the party should do.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1054622.html https://factor.am/379174.html https://factor.am/379177.html

LHK's Edmon Marukyan campaigns in Yerevan:

We plan to capture the majority of 40% of undecided voters. We will bring internal peace and prevent clashes. That's our main goal. If the unity does not win, the enemy will.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1054621.html

Armenia and Georgia will resume passenger railway connection next week

It was suspended because of the pandemic. Gyumri-Batumi on June 15. Georgia hopes to accept Armenian tourists.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1054615.html

demographic improvement program gains popularity / housing

Labor Ministry gives housing subsidies to families with children. Applications sharply increased this year.

Ministry: the program launched in July 2020. By the end of the year, there were 414 beneficiaries. This year so far we have 1043 beneficiaries. The program is meant to boost demographics. It has three components:

First. A one-time payment to purchase or build housing in provinces.

Second. The government subsidizes 90% of the mortgage downpayment insurance costs.

Third. A one-time subsidy to help repay the mortgage when a child is born.

The government increased the 1H21 budget from ֏526m to ֏696 to meet the increased demand. Applicants are mainly from Yerevan, Kotayk, Lori, Ararat, and Syunik. It's not necessary for the family to have multiple children to apply. The number of children affects the size of aid.

Full: https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1054618.html

app: Red Book of Armenia

Now you can learn about the endangered species and plants in Armenia with an app, announced the Nature Ministry today. They worked with the German GIZ agency to create it.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1054593.html

COVID stats

2448 tested. 32 infected. 141 healed. 5 deaths. 3154 active. 46.5K vaccinated.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1054596.html https://www.civilnet.am/news/619736/հայաստանում-կորոնավիրուսի-դեմ-պատվաստվել-է-46-503-մարդ/

tourism continues to gain pace post-pandemic

Smart Travel Armenia agency: it's slowly activating again after the war and pandemic. We are trying to offer new ideas and routes. Two large Russian groups made a reservation. They are excited for Goris-Tatev-Khndzoresk direction, they will travel all over the place.

Diving Group CEO: Sevan attracts divers with its depth, altitude, and lack of big waves. Arpi is also nearby; it's great for training newbies.

Goris's Yeghegnut hotel: despite the tensions, tourists nonetheless choose us for their vacations. We have tourists right now, with more reservations for the future. They are mainly from Russia, Ukraine, and France.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1054588.html

Week 16: new books published by Armenian publishing houses

Armenian author: Գրողի տարածը, by Vahe Ghukasyan

Translated: Dracula, by Bram Stoker. The OG book about the vampire.

Children's: Arija, by Armen Grigoryan. It's about love and friendship.

Documentary: Չխրատվող ժողովուրդը, by Garegin Nzhdeh himself. He talks about Armenians' character and historical mission.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1054581.html

public service announcement

The weekend news was posted late last night, early in the morning. In case you missed:

https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/nu5gzu/weekend_news_jun62021_1_any_voter_bribery_reports/

Все Новости за 6 июня 2021 (translated by Impossible-Ad-)

https://www.reddit.com/r/ArmDailyReports_RUS_/comments/nua8fo/все_новости_за_6_июня_2021/ end of report

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/nul372/news_jun72021_1_hadrut_treason_two_confess_to/