2021 October 25

Daily news wrap-up

News - Oct/25/2021: Zangezur shareholder files lawsuit vs. Russian shareholder __ Pashinyan on 2022 budget: large-scale infrastructure, demographics, science & education, army __ Armenia-Cyprus AYE, Iran-Azerbaijan NAY __ Anti-corruption: ex-mayor & funeral boss __ Covid & vaccination stats __ Space
by ar_david_hh

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13-minute read. 3296 words.

Zangezur plant shareholder files a lawsuit against fellow shareholders to reverse the partial nationalization

Russian miner GeoProMining recently purchased 60% of the shares and proceeded to donate 15% to the Republic of Armenia. They also agreed to invest $4B to build a new copper smelter and other projects.

Before these events, another Russian shareholder had unsuccessfully attempted to purchase that 60% that was up for grabs. This second Russian shareholder is Mikhail Zurabov, the former healthcare minister of Russia. He 12.5% of shares.

Mikhail Zurabov filed a lawsuit against GeoProMining after the 60% went to the latter. The court has temporarily frozen GeoProMining's shares pending investigation. Zurabov wants to obtain GeoProMining's 45% and Armenia's 15%.

Zurabov is represented by prominent lawyer Aram Orbelyan, who represented Robert Kocharyan in the "March 1st" trial. Orbelyan said this isn't politics, "just a dispute between private shareholders".

https://www.civilnet.am/news/636871/զանգեզուրի-պղնձամոլիբդենայինի-նոր-սեփականատիրոջ-բաժնետոմսերը-հայտնվել-են-կալանքի-տակ/

government representative visits Zangezur copper plant after the partial nationalization

Deputy Premier Papikyan: considering the fact that the government now owns 15% of Z, we visited the plant today to learn about its activities and to discuss future plans. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1066435.html

Armenia and Cyprus reaffirm readiness to cooperate

Parliament leaders of Armenia and Cyprus discussed the regional conflicts.

Alen Simonyan: The Armenian side will do everything in its power to further deepen inter-parliamentary collaboration. We thank Cyprus for unanimously condemning Azerbaijan's violation of the ceasefire in Artsakh. We support a peaceful solution to the Cyprus problem. //

Annita Demetriou: As Cyprus and Armenia are both victims of Turkey’s intransigence, it is vital that we establish stronger bonds on an inter-parliamentary, international and European level. Talks will begin soon. //

Alen Simonyan then met the Defense Minister of Cyprus. The parties noted the existence of mutual understanding and support between the two countries, particularly the effective cooperation in international structures on advancing the genocide prevention agenda.

Alen Simonyan met the Foreign Minister of Cyprus.

Simonyan: Armenia will continue to support Cyprus in international organizations. We are in favor of a peaceful settlement through negotiations. We attach great importance to the upcoming Cyprus-Armenia-Greece parliamentary cooperation format. //

The two also discussed tourism and economic cooperation.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1066408.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1066424.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1066426.html

Azerbaijan blocks several pro-Iranian religious websites

Several Shiite clerics were arrested last week, associated with one of the five websites that have now been blocked in Azerbaijan. Their YouTube activities have also been prohibited.

Iranian ambassador condemned Azerbaijan for collecting taxes from Iranian cargo drivers

Iran's ambassador to Armenia: we expect Azerbaijan to stop the taxation even before the end of the construction of the new alternative road in southern Armenia. //

Deputy Premier Papikyan: the strategically important southern Tatev-Aghvan road will be ready by the end of November

Several other Syunik roads will be ready by Spring 2022.

The tenders for the Sisian-Kapan and Kajaran-Agarak sections of the North-South highway will launch soon, with the aim of starting the construction in 2022.

Armenia will build an industrial park for Iranian cargo

Head of IR-AM Chamber of Commerce: there is great enthusiasm in Iran about developing economic relations with Armenia. They are interested in transport, infrastructure, agriculture, and IT. We have some issues while communicating during cargo transfers, and there is a lack of storage for Iranian drivers.

Economy Minister: we plan to build an industrial park for Iran. It will have a customs storage facility. We should organize meetings between private sector representatives of Iran and Armenia. Iran could export products to EAEU via Armenia.

https://factor.am/432683.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1066410.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1066355.html https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1066362.html https://www.panarmenian.net/arm/news/296255/

Armenia might join European Migration Network with observer status

Discussions were held in Yerevan between Armenia's Migration Service and EMN. The purpose of EMN is to share fresh information about migration and asylum with the policy-makers in the EU.

Armenia is ready to share and receive information with the European network.

https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1066383.html

Pashinyan about budget revenues in 2022:

+17% vs 2021, +25% vs 2020.

Revenues ֏1.946T (+17%), expenditures ֏2.190T (+10%).

[[2021 September 30|Read more about the 2022 budget here.]

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1066356.html https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1066360.html

Tags: #Budget2022

Finance Minister: expenditures related to debt repayment will amount to 2.7% of GDP in 2022

Debt repayment and service will require ֏517B next year: ֏303B for debt repayment, ֏214B for debt service interest repayment.

Foreign debt [currently $8.5B] will account for 69% of all debt by the end of 2022. One of the biggest problems is that a significant portion of the foreign debt is in foreign currency, so currency changes can have a negative impact. //

https://factor.am/432410.html https://factor.am/432654.html

Pashinyan: capital expenditures will increase by 55% in 2022, reaching ֏347B

We expect 7% economic growth for 2022. Despite the unstable political and security environment in 2021, our economy is surpassing all the growth forecasts.

We have a record-high number of paid jobs in September - a total of 651,141. That's +3% from last year.

Despite the high inflation, the wage fund increased by 15%. The salary per-capital rose 12% or ֏23.7k.

Construction +7%. Services +5%.

I hope that several major investment programs will be successfully completed, the target of which is to make Armenia from a country exporting raw mining resources to a country having a long chain of strong metallurgy and metal processing.

Unblocking of regional infrastructures could qualitatively change the content and structure of Armenia’s economy. //

Armenia currently relies on Georgia's mountainous Upper Lars checkpoint for land exports, where problems happen too often, especially in the winter. The problems result in Armenian agricultural goods not reaching Russia, or no longer being competitive upon the arrival.

Armenia hopes to use Azeri railways to connect to Russia and Iran (via Nakhijevan). There were discussions that a railway would be necessary to make large-scale metal exports economically viable. There are also plans to improve communication between Georgia and Russia, which would benefit Armenia.

Pashinyan: we plan to rebuild and restore 500km of roads in 2022

The budget for infrastructure development will +32%, reaching ֏278B.

There will be various-sized reservoirs that will significantly increase irrigation water supply. The budget for drinking water improvements will +35%, reaching ֏11.5B.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1066362.html

Pashinyan: Armenia will consistently move on the path of creating a professional army

We have no intentions to conquer territories. Every year, we will use more Border Guards to protect the borders, while moving on the path of creating a professional army [stationed away from borders and constantly training]. The attractiveness of the military service will be raised to improve the image of an officer.

Defense budget is +11% for 2022, reaching ֏345B.

We need not just a strong army, but also a formation of a favorable external environment around Armenia and Artsakh. The resumption of OSCE negotiations and unblocking of regional communication routes will help overcome enmity.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1066361.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1066360.html https://factor.am/432364.html

Pashinyan: 2022 funding for science will +83%, education +27%

The money allocated for scientific themed research is 2.5 times more, comprising ֏6.7B.

We need long-term investments in science and education. The increased budget for education will also help with the construction of new education centers. 120 schools and kindergartens are currently being built or renovated.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1066368.html https://youtu.be/7st2zJSmJjA

Finance Minister: over 30% of EU's €2.6B aid will be implemented through the private sector

It could be in the form of EBRD bank giving a sum to an Armenian bank, which would then be invested into Armenia's economy. This sum will not be reflected in the budget law that's being discussed.

On the other hand, the ~70% of the aid that will come through the state budget, through sovereign loans, will be mostly about infrastructure. Pashinyan has already announced the upcoming launch of the tender process to find construction firms for the North-South project in the south.

https://factor.am/432418.html

Central Bank will continue with efforts to curb inflation next year

Finance Minister: 2021 will end with a high inflation rate but the CB will do everything possible to bring it down to a manageable level. High inflation has a negative effect on the economy.

The CB recently increased the interest rates by 0.25%. This can lead to overall higher loan interest rates, which can hinder economic activity. The situation wasn't unexpected. We expected high inflation for this year. //

Economy Minister: we work hard but the high inflation cancels out most of the efforts. It's overall 8.9% but higher in the food sector. It obviously worries us.

We are trying to address it through consultations with various partner countries, primarily from EAEU, but also Ukraine and South America. We want to make normal-priced products available for Armenian companies. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1066399.html https://www.panarmenian.net/arm/news/296261/

deputy president of Central Bank about the 2022 budget:

The draft budget is quite ambitious and expects a significant acceleration of economic growth potential amid plans for large-scale investments in infrastructure, human capital, and export-oriented industries.

The rapid recovery of demand will continue in 2022, influenced by internal and external factors. Unlike in 2021, the growth in internal demand will be a result of increased investments from the government and the private sector.

As a result of the economic recovery, continuous improvements in tax policies, and legal reforms, the tax-to-GDP indicator is expected to grow by 0.9% point, which is significant.

The debt-to-GDP ratio is expected to reduce to 60.2%.

As for the risks, it's important to ensure that the planned smooth consolidation isn't accompanied by issues with inefficiency, partial implementation of the capital investments, and problems with private investments. The smooth consolidation and compliance with established fiscal rules will reduce state debt and ensure macroeconomic stability. //

More: https://factor.am/432476.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1066387.html

demographics program will soon pay $100/mo for the duration of 6 years, for every 3rd and subsequent child

Pashinyan: the 2022 budget will address many important issues. As announced during the electoral campaign, the $100/mo aid program will start on January 1. The goal is to help the new families and to encourage those who already have 2 children to have more.

The 2022 budget alone cannot solve all the problems but we need to establish strong economic and security foundations in the coming years as a priority. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1066365.html

1,000 out of 38,000 teachers participated in the new voluntary exam process to receive a 30-50% raise

Half of the participants scored high enough to get a raise. The low participation rate was due to uncertainty on what would happen had they failed, and the possible stigma associated with failure. Teachers were taking this exam for the first time and didn't have materials to refer to. [NO SHPARGALKA???? oh the tables have turned on you, Comrade Khachatryan]

The government could soon give teachers multiple attempts if they fail, and other encouragements, to boost participation. It's part of the efforts to improve the education quality in schools while addressing the issue of low wages.

https://factor.am/432630.html

anti-corruption: authorities uncover bribery and fraud involving the director of a city-run funeral agency

NSS reports: a joint investigation with Yerevan officials has revealed that the director of the funeral services at "Special Service for Population" non-profit had demanded and received large bribes.

Although the city had already subsidized the burial costs for the families, the director demanded and took ֏1.4M from them.

The director also collected ֏780K in legal fees but did not deposit it in the organization's account.

Two officials are facing criminal charges for the scheme. The court has authorized their pre-trial arrest. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1066372.html

anti-corruption: authorities conclude the corruption investigation against the ex-mayor of Dilijan

Investigators said: in 2006, the ex-mayor, city auditor, and city's financial department chief announced plans to hold an auction to lease a large building for a price significantly below the market value, for the duration of 40 years, in exchange for the winner to renovate the building.

They ended up giving the building to a company belonging to the family member of one of the aforementioned officials, despite the fact that it did not offer to renovate the building as it was required by the contract. The lease was only ֏1.5M/year for the 2611 m^2 multi-story structure.

The structure was then sub-leased to others. The city ended up receiving ֏46.5M less than what it was supposed to, in addition to the missing renovation. The mayor received and laundered ֏19M in bribes.

The mayor also gave the city's excavator and cargo truck to be used by his relatives without compensation. When he learned about the corruption investigation, he attempted to forge documents to claim there was a legal agreement.

The mayor did not have the right to give mining licenses at his discretion, but that didn't stop him from signing four agreements with his friend in 2013-2016. It gave ֏2.2M worth of sand materials to his friend for free.

The ex-mayor of Dilijan is facing 6 criminal charges; he is out on bail. His accomplices are also charged with corruption. The case has reached the prosecutor's office for court filing. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1066407.html

Tags: #mayors

Supreme Court will not discipline the judge who freed the man accused of trying to murder Parliament Speaker Ararat Mirzoyan

Several people were charged with assaulting and attempting to kill Ararat Mirzoyan last year, outside the Parliament building. The lower court decided not to jail the man before his trial. The Appeals Court judge sided with the lower court. The Cassations Court later overturned the Appeal judge's verdict, siding with prosecutors.

The Justice Ministry then asked the Supreme Court, headed by Gagik Jhangiryan, to discipline the Appeals Court judge for alleged unethical behavior. Today the Supremes found that the judge's actions did not violate the ethics code.

https://factor.am/432577.html

COVID stats

14k tested. 1.2k infected. 1.2k healed. 42 deaths. 27.3k active.

police will increase mask enforcement

$20 fine for not wearing it indoors or on public transport. Vaccinated or healed people are also required to wear one.

Healthcare Ministry wants the school break to extend by a week

Universities have been advised to switch back to distance learning.

Education Ministry accepted the advice and asked universities to switch to remote learning until November 15. The break for 1-12 grade students will last until November 7, a week longer.

how many vaccinations as of last week?

588k in Armenia. 242k in Yerevan.

China 75%

USA 57%

Turkey 57%

Azerbaijan 42%

Russia 32%

Georgia 24%

Iran 23%

Armenia 6%

ex-Healthcare Minister Torosyan recommends Moderna for 12+ age group

He wants the Ministry to approve the age group for vaccination. He plans to vaccinate his daughter when it becomes possible.

half of the Yerevan State University staff has been vaccinated

Prominent professor Yurik Gabrielyan has died from COVID.

ex-Presidential candidate and ALM TV owner Tigran Karapetyan's death was also from COVID

A few weeks ago he was infected and discharged, allegedly after testing negative. A few days ago he tested positive again and was taken to hospital in critical condition where he died. The 76yo politician, who had Parkinson's, was unvaccinated.

many Russian citizens purchased fake vaccine certificates before being infected and dying in hospitals

80% of those who took Sputnik V and ended up in the hospital, did not actually take the vaccine, but purchased a fraudulent card instead. There are ways for doctors to tell if the person was actually vaccinated.

People spend money on the fake card, then get infected and die, complained Alexander Ginzburg, the director of Gamalea institute in Russia.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1066364.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1066392.html https://factor.am/432678.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1066423.html https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/223336 https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/223424 https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/223520 https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/223577 https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/223634 https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/223674 https://www.panarmenian.net/arm/news/296297/ https://www.panarmenian.net/arm/news/296336/

Artsakh could soon introduce restrictions to encourage vaccination

State Minister Beglaryan: it has gotten worse lately. We're seeing dozens of new cases every day. Hospitals currently have 140 patients, 76 of whom are in serious, and 10 in critical condition. There will be a bed shortage soon.

One of the four recent deaths was a 40yo healthy woman; COVID damaged her lungs. Any one of our relatives can be next. This is why it's important to respect safety rules. We must show public intolerance towards those who do not follow the safety rules because they are endangering everyone else.

I encourage you to get vaccinated without hesitation. It reduces the chance of dying or falling seriously ill by orders of magnitude. It doesn't matter how many rumors are spread about COVID. The indisputable fact is that societies with high vaccination rates have many times fewer serious cases and deaths. The U.S. and Russian experts recently confirmed this.

I do not rule out the possibility of introducing measures to somewhat "force" vaccinations, as it's being done in many developed countries.

Do not fall for conspiracy theories about vaccines. The false rumors can be as deadly as the virus itself. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1066439.html

women have been asked to defend their families from anti-vaccine conspiracy theories

Medical University rector: Armenia has around 1.2 million Healthcare Ministers. Dear women, each one of you are the healthcare minister of your family. Your caring hands maintain the family's health. We, the medical workers, need your help today.

Please help the White Army [doctors] by encouraging your family members to strictly follow safety rules. Do not allow non-professional rumors about vaccines to enter your house. Protect your castle from ignorance. Explain to your family members that vaccines are the only way to defeat the pandemic. We can defeat COVID together. //

https://factor.am/432589.html

PHOTO: this is what COVID's Delta strain looks like under a microscope

Russian scientists published the first-ever actual image of the mofo.

Video: https://youtu.be/dQw4w9WgXcQ

Photo: https://ria.ru/20211025/delta-shtamm-1756079785.html

two seatbelts: one for body, one for mouth

Social media circulated a video of an unmasked policeman giving a ticket to an unmasked driver. Hypocrisy or justified?

Police gives details: the policeman stopped a taxi driver who was not wearing a seatbelt and didn't have the mask on, despite transporting passengers. The policeman isn't required to wear a mask while standing in an open area, while the taxi driver is, while driving. The driver received two tickets: one for seatbelt, one for mask. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1066420.html

mini-moron in BMW slams into parked vehicles while fleeing the police

The incident happened in Yerevan's Mashtots-Pushkin intersection. The driver, who was a child, was asked to pull over for not having license plates.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1066393.html

what do young Armenians prefer to do in their free time?

88% prefer to spend it on the internet. (better than breaking vehicles)

62% often meet their friends. (better than breaking vehicles)

59% listen to music. (better than breaking vehicles)

31% watch TV. (better than breaking vehicles)

28% read book. (better than breaking vehicles)

21% play video games. (better than breaking vehicles)

46% never create artistic work: that's 59% of men and 31% of women.

47% never play sports. 48% of 16-18 age group play sports, compared to 29% the 22-24 group. 23% of boys, 14% of girls.

28% of young respondents have a job. 22% are university students. 15% are school students. 13% are searching for work. Extensive research by US, UK, and Australian scientists shows that when a full-time student works part-time, they do better in the job market in the future.

https://www.civilnet.am/news/636360/հայաստանի-երիտասարդների-զբաղմունքը՝-թվերով/ https://youtu.be/aeA5n_ufnSk

PHOTO: the 211 brand new mid-sized buses have arrived in Yerevan

They will join new and existing public transport routes by the end of this year, after undergoing a licensing process in EAEU.

https://factor.am/432484.html

Armenia issues the first license to a company for space activities

A law was approved in March 2020 to boost Armenia's scientific, tech, and economic potential relating to the space industry.

High-Tech Ministry issued a license to GeoCosmos. They will be exempt from certain taxation. "The generations will remember you as the first company to be licensed. Hopefully, other companies will follow in your footsteps," said the Ministry.

GeoSpace conducts aerial scans that can be used for defense, forest and water management, and for other purposes.

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/223633

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/qfuegm/news_oct252021_zangezur_shareholder_files_lawsuit/