2021 November 12

Daily news wrap-up

News - Nov/12/2021: High-profile shooting __ Arm-Swiss no double taxation __ New roads & labs in Syunik __ Interview with Artsrun __ Cooperation w/India & Iraq __ COVID restrictions __ Foreign Affairs: Cyprus, Paris, CIS __ List of Zangezur copper plant shareholders __ Restrict wild animals in zoo
by ar_david_hh

---

This is your 13-minute Friday briefing in 3227 words.

the current owners of Armenia's largest taxpayer Zangezur copper plant

Russian businessman Roman Trotsenko recently donated 15% of shares to the Republic of Armenia, and launched negotiations about building a new copper smelter. Trotsenko also runs the GeoProMining gold mine.

Here is the current list of Zangezur shareholders:

32.4% Trotsenko (GeoProMining)

15% Republic of Armenia

15% Zangezur copper plant itself

12.4% ex-Healthcare Minister of Russia Mikhail Zurabov, who is suing fellow shareholders to get more shares

8.1% Mirzaaziz Musakhanov (from GeoProMining)

7.5% Mher Poloskov (ex-general director of the plant)

4.5% Roman Khudolin (from GeoProMining)

2.5% Kocharyan alliance MP Vahe Hakobyan's family

2.5% Gurgen Ambaryan

Mirzaaziz Musakhanov is a new shareholder. He bought some shares from his GeoProMining colleague Trotsenko. Musakhanov represents the $23 billion "Novaport Group" which owns 16 airports in Russia.

https://www.civilnet.am/news/639324/զպմկ-ն-ներկայացրել-է-իր-իրական-սեփականատերերին/

PHOTO: Armenia-Cyprus Friendship Park inaugurated in Nicosia

Speaker of the House of Rep. Annita Demetriou opened the statue symbolizing the friendship. Members of the Armenian community, ambassador, and Cypriot officials were present.

MFA Mirzoyan sent a note of gratitude and commented on the Cyprus issue: "Armenia's support for Cyprus has remained clear and never had any ambiguity. I hope that negotiations will resume in the near future and we will witness the reunification of the island. I highly value the immense efforts by the government of Cyprus in the efforts to recognize the Armenian Genocide."

https://en.armradio.am/2021/11/11/armenia-cyprus-friendship-park-inaugurated-in-nicosia/ https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1068002.html

CIS republics held a meeting

Russia's Premier: our economies are gradually recovering. In 1H2021, the mutual trade increased by 27%, external trade by 25%. //

Armenia's deputy Premier: many people lost their homes and civilian objects were destroyed because of the war launched by Azerbaijan. Despite the commitments made on Nov 9, Azerbaijan continues to torpedo the implementation of the agreement. There are still many POWs. It is a direct violation of the Nov 9 statement and international law. Azerbaijan also distorts the provisions of the Jan 11 statement by exaggerating the "corridor" idea. //

During the meeting, the representatives of Armenia and Azerbaijan argued over the Artsakh conflict.

Azeri rep.: the conflict is behind us, Karabakh is part of Azerbaijan.

Armenian rep.: the conflict cannot be resolved by force. Azerbaijan should take a construction stance and abandon the aggressive rhetoric and hostile policies. The conflict should be resolved under the OSCE Minsk Group mandate.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1068032.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1068033.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1068049.html

Defense Minister Karapetyan and India's ambassador discussed defense cooperation

The ambassador presented the new military attaché who will represent India (residence is in Moscow).

The parties discussed various fields and agreed that certain cooperation agreements should be signed. "High-level visits should be planned." Knowledge exchange and joint military exercise topics were also discussed.

Armenia signed a $40M weapons deal with India in 2020 to obtain Swathi weapon location radar. The deliveries began earlier this year, according to Indian sites.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1068060.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1068062.html

update: interview with military expert and wartime spokesman Artsrun Hovhannisyan about the planned war commission

Reporter: was it only the army's fault that we lost, or wrong decisions were made?

Artsrun: the commission will find the main reasons, but I think everyone has made mistakes. But did the command inherit a very strong army and lost only because of bad decisions? Of course not. There are many details. We need to put the emotions aside and investigate. It's been a year but people are still emotional, I don't see any serious discussions in the public. Emotions are understandable but we need a clear-minded investigation.

Reporter: the opposition says if you take part in the commission, it won't be an objective investigation because you are partly to blame because you were lying.

Artsrun: those are political accusations. They ignore everything else and focus on the topic of information delivered to the public. If that's what their priority is, then I'm very concerned about our future.

Reporter: they say the information was one of the problems.

Artsrun: then why don't they start from the topics that are a lot more important, such as satellite surveillance, army building process, mobilization, before they reach the information topic? They don't speak that way. I meet many ordinary citizens on the street who are sober and understand this, yet public officials who were supposed to be sober, are not.

Reporter: tell us about the final days in the battles for Shushi.

Artsrun: as I've said earlier, I received a report that we lost control over most of Shushi on the evening of November 7. On November 8 I received reports from multiple sources, including soldiers on the ground, who confirmed that we were able to recapture the city. [This is the day when he wrote "Remember this day". ]

The next day, on the morning of November 9, as I was waiting for the final confirmation of securing the city, I learned that we lost the city again after an enemy operation. We had successes on November 8 but it wasn't as significant as we had thought. The enemy had several thousand troops, we had around a thousand. The investigation will reveal how we lost, recaptured, and lost again.

Reporter: critics argue the enemy took Hadrut but you didn't report it for several days.

Artsrun: the problem isn't just with Hadrut. The information that was coming from the army and general staff was very often contradictory. Sadly, I myself learned many times that the info channel that I was using was often contradicting the reality. [In his previous interview linked above, Artsrun called for the formation of an Info Forces in the military to address these problems.]

Reporter: so it was disorganized?

Artsrun: the command system was badly damaged.

Reporter: critics say 80% of what you said was a lie.

Artsrun: not true. Show me where the 80% lie is. Who came up with that 80% number? I did what anyone else would have done. Critics shouldn't tell us fairy tales today with political motivations. These are the same people who wrote under my Facebook posts during the war and encouraged me to inflate the enemy's losses. Why are they talking different things today?

Reporter: a ruling party member said that president Arayik Harutyunyan made errors. For example, when many guys were supposed to fight, they moved to the city instead, and Arayik did not stop them.

Artsrun: you just cited one episode that should be investigated, since someone is accused of something. We need to put the emotions aside and investigate without jumping to conclusions and cursing each other, be it Arayik, Onik, Pashinyan, or anyone else.

Our biggest problem during the war was chaos. The command system was damaged, and mobilization troops (not the regular army) were unprepared for this type of warfare. By the time you figure things out, it's too late. This has been a problem in all wars in the past 50-60 years. We are no different than others. We need to patiently work on it.

Reporter: when did you learn about the impending war?

Artsrun: there were concerns in August. I know that several MOD-CoGS meetings were held, but I was not present. The CoGS office ordered the troops to be brought to high alert on September 25 [two days before the war]. I haven't seen the document so I don't know what level of alert it was.

I was in the front lines on September 26 and I saw that the troops were on high alert, but whether it was sufficient or not will be revealed by the war commission. I think the Artsakh Defense Army troops should have been brought to a state of full defense, and whether that was done, or they were only strengthened, will be revealed. But the general staff did, in fact, issue an order. //

https://youtu.be/qrSm2wiQRYk https://factor.am/440773.html https://youtu.be/vZE7CCG004I?t=435

MFA Mirzoyan's Paris trip continues

Mirzoyan and Armenia's defense departments met their French counterparts during a conference about the Libyan conflict.

Mirzoyan met the UNESCO director Audrey Azoulay. He raised the issue of Armenian cultural sites that went under Azeri control, and Azerbaijan's deliberate campaign of destruction and identity distortion. "The implementation of preventive steps by the international community is simply imperative." The Minister cited a 1954 Hague convention and emphasized a need to send an independent evaluation mission to Artsakh. Mirzoyan criticized Azerbaijan for blocking the UNESCO mission.

Mirzoyan met representatives of the Armenian-French CCAF organization to discuss diaspora relations and regional topics.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1068009.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1068010.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1068011.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1068034.html

new roads for Syunik villages; 500km field & interstate roads

Infrastructure Minister Sanosyan: the road construction continues in Syunik. It will include strategically important roads, North-South's Sisian-Kajaran section, and simple roads traveling through the fields.

Next year we will draft the construction of 500km of field roads; some of them will be built next year. [Pashinyan recently announced plans to address the poor land utilization in Armenia, blaming it partly on inaccessible lands]. There will be inter-community and interstate road projects as well.

Right now we're working on better roads connecting bordering Vorotan, Bardzravan, and Shurnukh villages to the new main road. They have some connections today. There will be other roads besides these. We've been working on these roads for quite some time now. [Bardzravan mayor revealed yesterday that 5km of ground work was done ahead of asphalting efforts.] //

Syunik governor's office: [before the new village roads can be asphalted] we've been using vans to deliver food to residents of Bardzravan, Shurnukh, and Vorotan. False rumors were circulated by the deputy mayor of Goris who claimed that the government has been ignoring the delivery and that he was the only one taking care of it. Also, a false report was circulated about a dialysis patient in Bardzravan being unable to receive medical care. The patient rarely resides in Bardzravan. He recently moved from Yerevan to Kapan where he's receiving care. //

Deputy Premier Papikyan visited the area where the news roads are being built to connect the three villages to the main road. The existing roads are gravel, so not every car can travel. This has caused problems for teachers/students/traders who need to reach nearby towns.

In other news. The police denied reports that the newly built Tatev road is "paralyzed" due to "slight snow that caused a traffic jam the end of which cannot be seen". The police said the road is open. They warned about foggy and icy roads in several regions of Armenia.

In other news. Deputy Premier Mher Grigoryan met the representatives of the Asian Development Bank to discuss the construction of the North-South highway, water, and telecom projects, and the creation of the right business culture in Armenia.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1068029.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1068035.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1068047.html https://youtu.be/Gyza7kYQTY4 https://factor.am/440972.html https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/225191 https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/225131 https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/225139

Pashinyan about the $100M provincial development projects:

We've invested $100M since 2018. This is separate from the usual investments that would usually resolve small problems in settlements. This is about subsidy programs.

In 2018 I vowed that the government will not reject the financing of any reasonable project. The more the settlement co-invests, the more we do. This $100M is something that communities had never received before, and not a single penny was embezzled by us.

We built kilometers of roads not for elections, but for the people. We did not discriminate settlement.

Those who today accuse us of "cutting off parts of Syunik" should answer why only 4% of Syunik school-age children had access to kindergartens and preschools. Can you imagine that only 4 out of 100 children in Syunik had the opportunity to go to kindergarten as of 2018?

Today we're talking about ֏9 billion education investments in one Syunik community alone. Without counting Yerevan and Gyumri, this is the single largest education investment in one community in Armenia's history. We will do this in every community. //

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/225135

Kapan Technology Center opens in Kapan (Syunik)

The facility is located in the Polytechnic University branch.

Rector Vardanyan: with the help of newly established engineering, IT, and robotics laboratories, it is possible to implement quality education and create a research environment in the region. This will help young students and startups. //

It's co-financed by local and international partners, and coordinated by a taskforce formed by the Premier's office to investigate and find solutions to Syunik's problems.

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/225196

Iraq wants to increase cooperation with Armenia

Iraqi rep.: Iraq loves Armenians. We want Armenian construction and energy companies to help rebuild Iraq. We are ready to support Armenian companies.

Economy Minister Kerobyan: we're interested as well. We will help our companies to participate in the rebuilding process in Iraq. //

Kerobyan presented recent licensing reforms done in Armenia aimed at helping businesses, and suggested for Iraq to do the same to help Armenian companies to enter the Iraqi market.

They also spoke about Armenia's plans to produce and export Sputnik Lite vaccine.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1068078.html

Armenia and Switzerland sign memo to eliminate double taxation

Finance Ministry signed an agreement with the Swiss representative to eliminate the double taxation of income and property.

>dividends will be taxed at preferential rates. The memo, in particular, provides for increasing the participation threshold from 25% to 50% and lowering the taxation rates for dividends to 0-5% respectively in case of secured investments.

Swiss rep.: We have long-standing diplomatic relations and many joint initiatives with Armenia. I welcome the steps taken by your administration to improve the business environment and stimulate private investment. //

http://arka.am/en/news/business/armenia_and_switzerland_sign_memo_to_eliminate_double_taxation/

COVID stats

11.4k tested, 1.3k infected, 2.0k healed, 70 deaths, 28.6k active.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1068006.html

Armenian Church: get vaccinated and stop reading fake news

The supreme council of church summoned a meeting and expressed concern about the high death toll. They reminded the followers that receiving a vaccine is not against the religion. "Personal freedom should be equated with public responsibility in order not to endanger the lives of others."

The church urged the Healthcare Ministry to combat misinformation about vaccines and their side effects.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1068075.html

seniors might HAVE to get vaccinated

Healthcare Ministry confirmed reports that it's possible that very soon the entry to HayPost post office will require a vaccine card. It's in order to convince more seniors to hurry with the vaccination [because seniors visit the post office for their pensions], confirmed the Ministry.

Moreover, the Ministry said there could be similar requirements in other public facilities.

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/225150

Parliament held a vaccine day to encourage its staff

The photographer who always captures MPs being vaccinated was herself vaccinated today. THE TABLES HAVE TURNED, and someone took a photo of her being vaccinated.

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/225195

Education Ministry advises universities to resume in-person classes

YSU has announced they will resume the in-person classes, while the Economics university will continue with distance learning for now. The universities had switched to distance learning on October 26 due to the raging pandemic.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1068030.html https://factor.am/440639.html

fully vaccinated Armenians will be exempt from entry ban and test requirement while visiting Sweden

www.schengenvisainfo.com reports that the amendments will go into effect on Monday.

Vax certificates issued in Armenia are equivalent to the EU Digital certificate. They can be checked and verified in the same manner as the EU certificates.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1068004.html

pro-Europe "Republic" party nominee becomes the mayor of Meghri

Last week we learned about the Aram Sargsyan's Republic party's failed attempt to form a coalition with Pashinyan's QP, and their ongoing negotiations with General Samvel Babayan's Azatakan party.

Since the election results were close, none of the parties had enough city council votes to elect a mayor... until now.

Republic's Bagrat Zakaryan took the Oath today after Samvel Babayan's party agreed to form a coalition.

The southern town of Meghri was formerly ruled by the Kocharyan alliance.

https://factor.am/440593.html https://armeniasputnik.am/20211111/bagrat-zaqarjann-yntrvel-e-meghri-khvoshvoracvats-hamajnqi-ghekavar-35221211.html

EU program to develop provincial communities

Local empowerment of actors for development in Lori and Tavush regions is an EU-funded project covered in detail on November 9 news post. It's about the formation of groups of experts that will help develop their provincial communities.

Another conference was held today, titled "Community leaders for economic development". EU, UN, and Armenian government representatives were present. This marks the beginning of the second phase of this project.

Infrastructure Minister Sanosyan: we just marked the 25th anniversary of the process of formation of our communities. It was a complex process that continues today with the ongoing community mergers.

Meanwhile, we must help develop them, make more services available. The main goal of this program is decentralization. //

https://factor.am/440652.html

Armenia signs an agreement with Horizon Europe / Armenian scientists to become eligible for EU's largest funding program

Education Ministry: according to the newly signed agreement, Armenia becomes a country fully associated with the "Horizon Europe" program. Our scientists are eligible for the opportunities of the EU's largest funding program with a budget of $95.5 billion. This is an important step for the development of Armenia's national research system. //

This program, which replaces the "Horizon-2020", will last until 2027. It gives Armenian scientists the opportunity to integrate into the European scientific area and use its infrastructure to participate in international research.

https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1068074.html

what is taking so long?

Pashinyan formed a taskforce to examine ways to expedite the customs process at the border. The taskforce consists of members of IRS, 11 state agencies, and the World Bank.

IRS official: we need a detailed description of all business processes so we can form a reform model. Each agency will describe how it handles customs paperwork, and how long it takes. We'll find ways to eliminate redundancy. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1068067.html

migration service "raided" several Yerevan hotels and detained 11 undocumented immigrants

They were taken to the police's visa/passport department for questioning.

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/225143

six shot in Yerevan's Kanaker district in a conflict involving a criminal subculture figure and former MP's family

The police received a report at 2:50 am on Thursday about multiple people being shot in the backyard of a house. Four people were pronounced dead. Several guns and dozens of shells were found at the scene.

One of the deceased was a known figure in the criminal world, with the nickname "Kanakertsi tuy" (~~poison~~ tuy from Kanaker). The property where the shooting happened belongs to a former MP Artush Simonyan (Serj's HHK party). The ex-MP was among the dead. His wounded son was taken to a hospital.

Five suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident. Four of them are the sons of the deceased ex-MP, one of whom happens to be the former director of Yerevan Zoo Vladimir Simonyan.

https://hetq.am/hy/article/137707 https://bavnews.am/քանաքեռում-4-սպանվածներից-մեկը-քրեակա/ http://www.parliament.am/deputies.php?sel=details&ID=27 https://www.azatutyun.am/a/31556688.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1068022.html https://factor.am/440664.html https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/225153

government wants to ban the use of some wild animals in the zoo

Nature Ministry: we drafted a bill to reform the law about wild animals. The extinction of some wild animals is seriously damaging the protective function of the biosphere. The new law will prohibit the use of some animals in the zoo.

Senior citizens will be allowed to catch fish for non-commercial purposes, for fun. //

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/225181

European Team Chess Championship

Armenian men's and women's teams will soon play their first matches against Belgium and Croatia respectively.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1068007.html

top-10 bestseller translated books in October

10) Ես մինչ քեզ, by JoJo Moyes

9) Անվերջանալի գիշեր, by Agatha Christie

3) Մանյունյա, by Narine Abgaryan

2) Զուլալի, by Narine Abgaryan

1) La Bohème. Անցած օրեր, by Charles Aznavour

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1068000.html

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.

---

Link to original report and comments: https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/qsksfi/news_nov122021_highprofile_shooting_armswiss_no/