2021 October 12

Daily news wrap-up

News - Oct/12/2021: Serj's suspicious Baden-Baden trips & Kocharyan's $3M bribery trial __ MOD officials charged __ Doctors arrested for fake vax cards __ Church urges followers to get vaxed __ Restrictions? __ New buses arrive __ Iran-Armenia __ Azerb. reportedly fires officials after farmer murder
by ar_david_hh

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Your 10-minute Tuesday report in 2640 words.

COVID stats

7472 tested. 903 infected. 897 healed. 43 deaths. 16959 active.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1065339.html

Artsakh introduces restrictions due to COVID numbers

Universities will switch to distance learning. Public events and indoor public areas will require masks. Open-air events cannot have more than 120 participants.

Full list: https://factor.am/427512.html

19% of Shirak's adult population is vaccinated with at least one dose

Moderna turned out to be quite popular. The province was given 3,100 shots; doctors hope Armenia will receive more. Shirak residents aren't too picky when it comes to the vaccine maker, said a doctor.

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/222839

the church urges the public to get vaccinated

Father Yesa: vaccination does not pose any spiritual danger. This is the official stance of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Many clergy members have already been vaccinated. None of them have claimed it's against the religion. //

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/222892

Parliament MPs urged residents to get vaccinated, with subtle "threats" that laws could otherwise tighten

Vladimir Vardanyan: Europe has switched to stricter rules that prohibit access to some public places without a PCR or vaccine. These measures are much more decisive, and more effective, than the ones taken in Armenia and neighboring states. //

Ruben Rubinyan: we lost 43 people today. The world doesn't have anything better than the vaccine right now. Even if it's not 100% effective, it significantly reduces the risk of infection and hospitalization.

[In response to a reporter being combative about vax/PCR/mask mandate:] I urge the "political elites" and media not to promote those who spread fake propaganda about vaccines. The media must act responsibly. I would like all political parties to unite and urge the public to get vaccinated.

If PCR tests were made free, they would defeat the purpose of encouraging vaccinations.

Denmark is one of the most prosperous countries. Denmark is 80% vaccinated. Denmark must know something if they are one of the most prosperous countries. //

Sona Ghazaryan: this isn't a choice between "vaccine" and "no vaccine", it's a choice between life and death. I'm in close touch with the medical industry. They've been facing bed shortages in the past three days. People wind up in ICU after rejecting vaccines. I haven't seen a single vaccinated person in ICU. We haven't had a single death among the vaccinated. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1065355.html https://youtu.be/g1oTAYbt5hA https://youtu.be/wKcz7w0Kk2w https://youtu.be/mLT0XuvP-bQ

entering the Parliament building will soon require a vaccine or PCR test

... announced the Parliament president Simonyan today. He said the vaccine/PCR mandate could soon apply to many other public places, too.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1065358.html https://youtu.be/mLT0XuvP-bQ

crackdown on fake vaccination cards

The police in Martuni (Gegharkunik) detained a nurse for distributing fake vax cards to residents. She confessed.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1065360.html

National Security Services busted several medical officials with falsifying residents' vaccination status

NSS reports: officials at several Yerevan medical centers, who were tasked with organizing the vaccination process, falsified records to claim they provided medical care and vaccines to several patients who, in reality, were not in Armenia at the time of alleged services.

The suspects did not administer the vaccines, then falsified the ARMED medical database to add the unvaccinated residents' names as being officially vaccinated.

Six felony cases in six medical centers. Three arrested. One of them is already charged with a felony. The investigation continues to uncover the full circle. //

The news comes days after Pashinyan's announcement that law enforcement is conducting undercover raids to uncover vax fraud.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1065400.html

մեծերի գլխից բռնեք: authorities reveal details from investigation around Serj's trips to German resort city Baden-Baden

Context: On August 25, a ruling party MP revived the public debate about Serj's frequent trips to Baden-Baden. Critics have long claimed that Serj would take suitcases with cash to the resort city on his presidential jet, and gamble it away. Serj denied gambling, saying his trips were only recreational in nature. He referred to critics as "low-culture" fools who "cannot appreciate the historical-cultural significance of Baden-Baden". A media outlet recently checked his flight records and reported that he made 16 trips to Baden Baden on the presidential jet in his 10 years as president. He went there on April 5, one day after the April 2016 war, ahead of the April 6 official trip to Germany.

The SIS and prosecutors have since been collecting reports about the alleged gambling trips. It appears charges will be pressed for "illegal use of resources" [presidential jet]. The charges are not related to "gambling".

SIS reports: a felony case was launched for making numerous unjustified trips with the presidential jet, at taxpayer expense, between 2008-2017, after a report submitted by the head of Informed Citizens NGO. It's about some of the trips that were organized with violations. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1065356.html https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/q45oh4/oct82021_armenias_lawsuit_vs_azerb_in_hague/

trial resumes for Kocharyan and his aide's $4 million bribery case

The two are accused of taking bribes from a miner. They deny wrongdoing. In the last episode, co-defendant HD MP Armen Gevorgyan changed his lawyer and complained about not being allowed to leave Armenia for the PACE session.

Today the defense asked the court to lift the arrest on Gevorgyan's bank account because he wants to refund the $1,000 that he had received from the Parliament for the PACE trip. He ended up not using it. The judge said they cannot discuss lifting assets at this stage.

Gevorgyan asked for permission to leave Armenia to attend the next PACE session on December 1. It was revealed that Gevorgyan can hold meetings online without the need to leave the country, but he said the meetings where he is introduced to fellow members require a physical presence (he is a new delegate). The same was true for the previous PACE session. The judge refused to lift his travel restrictions. Gevorgyan described himself as a "hostage".

The judge said they are now entering the phase to hear the final part of the indictment. The session was interrupted when Gevorgyan's lawyer left the room in protest. The judge sanctioned the lawyer for "illegal conduct". The next session is on October 19.

Full: https://youtu.be/ucE-uyQ3Ph0 https://factor.am/427285.html https://factor.am/427285.html https://factor.am/427302.html https://factor.am/427342.html https://factor.am/427357.html

anti-corruption: authorities bust more Defense Ministry officials over 2008 property fraud

The police reports: the Defense Ministry owned a ֏180M land, a former military base, in Stepanavan. It was against the law to transfer ownership.

In 2008, the MOD officials sold it to a resident for only ֏58M, while the Cadastre officials illegally authorized the transaction by changing the land's purpose from "not for sale" to "residential". ֏122M in damages to the state. A felony case is launched. //

https://factor.am/427360.html

provinces prepare for municipal elections / temporary mayors are appointed

Mayors are elected for 5 years. The last one was on October 10, 2016. That means their duties end today. There is a few-week gap this year between the upcoming elections and old mayors' departure date, so temporary mayors had to be assigned by Pashinyan in several settlements today (Gyumri, Vanadzort, Jjermuk, Vayk). In Vanadzor, the temporary mayor will not run as a mayor so there won't be an issue with "unfair incumbent advantage". In Gyumri, the temporary mayor is an experienced official serving since 2005.

Independent Observer NGO urged the authorities to properly inform the departing mayors on how the termination process works by notifying them ahead of time. The NGO urged for "consistency" while appointing new temporary mayors or re-appointing the current ones, to address the questions on why some are "leaving" and some are "staying".

There will be elections in several settlements. Under the new rules, they will be mostly similar to Parliamentary elections: vote for a party instead of an individual candidate.

https://factor.am/427469.html https://factor.am/427537.html https://factor.am/427320.html https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/222882

update: Yerevan official discusses the November 1 law that will require pet owners to vaccinate and ID/chip their pets

It's meant for reducing aggression, illnesses, and homeless pets. Details in yesterday's post. A city official discussed it in more detail:

https://youtu.be/4wKGSguCDU8

PHOTOS: oooof... some of the new 8.5-meter buses arrive in Yerevan

Yerevan had placed an order to manufacture 211 buses. 53 of them have arrived. The rest are still in Georgian port. They will replace marshrutkas and serve new routes.

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/222876

ex-Healthcare Minister Arsen Torosyan had to help another resident with first aid

Lada Priora ran over a pedestrian in the Baghramyan-Moskovyan intersection of Yerevan. It just so happens that Arsen Torosyan was there to provide first aid. Torosyan had recently treated Armenian and Greek airplane passengers during a flight in another incident. CAN YOU GIVE THE MAN A BREAK?

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/222935

LHK party leader Edmon Marukyan was involved in a fight

Marukyan said: I was parking near the office when someone approached. I rolled the window down to speak. It turns out he mistook Facebook for real life, thinking that uttering insults in real life will go unanswered. At one point he threatened me but I grabbed his arms to subdue him. He left.

Hopefully, the atmosphere of hate will end one day. We expect to be able to travel without armored vehicles.

Everyone should realize the weight of their words and not insult the person in front. They have to answer for every word.

By the way, [Kocharyan-Serj] Antifake media outlet reporters were there and recorded the incident after I exited the vehicle. // [but did they KNOW they were supposed to be there? j/k]

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/222934

update: the zeolite device to clean Lake Sevan water will be ready in a month

Read September 9 report for context. The Ministry recently hired a group of scientists to create a device that can kill dangerous algae and prevent the lake's swampification. Scientists have been working on cheap and safe absorbing materials, including natural polymers.

It turns out manufacturing the device isn't cheap. The scientists contacted their Russian colleagues for assistance and were able to find a solution. The prototype will likely be a small device due to its cost and technical complexity, said a scientist.

The device will be ready in a month. Thankfully, they won't have a chance to test it this year because of insignificant amounts of algae in the lake right now. It usually blooms in late summer.

They have already tested the water cleaning substance in a lab, and "it left no trace of algae".

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1065318.html

MIT engineers create plants that glow in the dark

In the future, you might not have to deal with light bulbs for reading or going to the toilet at night.

>By embedding specialized nanoparticles into the leaves of a watercress plant, they induced the plants to give off dim light for nearly four hours. They believe that, with further optimization, such plants will one day be bright enough to illuminate a workspace.

https://news.mit.edu/2017/engineers-create-nanobionic-plants-that-glow-1213

Byurakan Observatory signs a cooperation memorandum with Artsakh Science Center to strengthen the country's scientific potential

They will operate a lab and promote space science among the youth.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1065341.html

Armenia and Vatican sign a memorandum for cultural cooperation

President Sarkissian's Italy trip continues. He met a Cardinal and signed an agreement to hold joint studies around cultural issues.

https://youtu.be/yAY2ZX_ItU4 https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1065331.html

High Tech Minister met the Iranian ambassador to discuss cooperation

The main topic was around the existing projects. They spoke about organizing meetings for industry experts and students. Iran was invited to participate in the upcoming DigiWeek 2021 event in Armenia.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1065354.html

Kocharyan-ARF alliance nominates MP Ghazinyan for 7th time and gets rejected again

Parliamentary Defense Committee needs to elect a deputy chief and it has to be from opposition blocs. The deputy's position is largely ceremonial in nature, said a ruling MP last week.

They said HD Ghazinyan was rejected because he lacks a "basic understanding of how the army works and how it's structured, and never served in the army". The opposition said they won't back down, and that Ghazinyan is their choice. Ghazinyan was re-nominated and re-rejected again today.

The Commission members will travel to border regions soon.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1065376.html https://youtu.be/N6b-aRjSeY0

Parliament President Simonyan: I have information that Azerbaijan has fired the participants responsible for the murder of Artsakh farmer on Saturday, an investigation was launched.

Details in yesterday's post. A civilian was killed near the border despite peacekeeper's assurances it would be safe. It's unclear where he got the information from but it was likely passed from the Russian side. Simonyan recently visited Moscow and met with Duma officials who were helping Armenia to repatriate POWs and with other humanitarian issues.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1065369.html

Defense Ministers of Armenia and Russia met in Moscow

They discussed army cooperation and regional affairs.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1065329.html

Pashinyan met Putin in Moscow

Pashinyan thanked Putin for the invitation. It's their fourth meeting this year. They will discuss various topics before joining for lunch.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1065385.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1065406.html

GRAPHS: 5 charts show Russia’s economic highs and lows under Putin

Energy prices have had a profound effect on Russia's economy.

Weak: families' disposable income, inflation, GDP per capita.

Strong: high employment rate.

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/10/11/russias-economy-under-president-putin-in-charts.html

Foreign Ministry of Iran says they have proof that terrorists were transferred to Azerbaijan

Iranian MFA's spokesman said they even have phone conversations featuring the terrorists. "We informed the Azeri side that this is unacceptable and their ranking army officials promised to take our concerns into account."

During the war, Armenia and the Middle East reporters published phone conversations involving jihadists recruited by Turkey and Azerbaijan.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1065414.html

Foreign Ministry of Iran: war was not the best way to restore Azerbaijan's rights in Karabakh

https://factor.am/427549.html

12 Azeri-Iranian activists will be imprisoned and flogged in Iran for inciting riots and fighting the police during the 2020 Artsakh war

... in the city of Ardabil near the border with Azerbaijan. They will serve 14 years and be flogged 74 times.

It was over a pro-Azeri-army gathering organized on September 29, 2020, during the war. The authorities had dispersed and arrested dozens at the time.

https://factor.am/427431.html

Iranian general prosecutor visited Armenia

It's the first visit in eight years. They will discuss ways to improve interstate communication, reduce wait times in the legal system, better combat narcotrafficking, counter any threats that terrorists might pose to the region especially after Azerbaijan's recruitment of terrorist cells in 2020.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1065412.html

Foreign Minister of India visited Armenia

As stated yesterday, they plan to discuss regional trade routes and other topics.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1065410.html

explosion at a chemical plant kills 1 and injures 20 in western Turkey

There was a sulfuric acid leak.

https://bianet.org/english/print/251725-explosion-at-a-chemical-plant-claims-one-worker-s-life-in-bursa

Armenian-Turkish singer Sibil is declared a goodwill ambassador for the City of Smiles Foundation to help children with cancer

Last year she joined Argentinian TV personality Leo Momjian for an online concert-fundraiser for children.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1065380.html https://mirrorspectator.com/2012/02/14/armenian-singer-from-turkey-sibil-to-make-metropolitan-new-york-debut/

a virtual tour in Armenian Genocide Museum:

http://www.genocide-museum.am/arm/12.10.21.php

PHOTOS: Artsakh traffic police switches to a new uniform

It's more comfortable during cold months.

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/222919

soccer coach Caparros: "the fight continues"

Armenia lost to Romania in a crucial match in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers. The team was downgraded from 2nd to 4th place in the group.

Germany 21

Romania 13

Macedonia 12

Armenia 12

Iceland 8

Liechteinstein 1 (that's the չարաբաստիկ one point they got from Armenia)

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1065336.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification_%E2%80%93_UEFA_Group_J

today in history

1492: dumbass Columbus lands in the Bahamas, expecting to find Hindus. NATO accuses Russia of manipulating Columbus's GPS signals in the Atlantic.

1792: New York holds the first-ever "Dumbass Columbus Day".

1901: president Theodor Roosevelt renames "President's House" to "White House".

1928: legendary dudukist Jivan Gasparyan is born. 20 albums, thousands of recordings, 20,000 performances.

1931: statue of Jesus opens in Rio de Janeiro.

1940: German army invades Romania (GOOD... not rooting for Romania after yesterday's salty soccer defeat).

1960: Nikita Khrushchev brandishes a shoe during a UN General Assembly meeting.

1992: Armenian soccer team plays its first international match as an independent team, against Moldova. (destined to be together)

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1065317.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.

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Link to original report and comments: https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/q6ud6o/news_oct122021_serjs_suspicious_badenbaden_trips/