2021 September 27

Daily news wrap-up

News - Sep/27/2021: Armenia continues to build the case for Karabakh independence per "secession for salvation" __ Memorial events __ Iran triggers Aliyev __ Another pro-Armenian PACE resolution __ Changes in Artsakh telecom __ Garden of Life __ STATS: economy, salaries, travel __ Judge in trouble
by ar_david_hh

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Your 13-minute Monday report in 3321 words.

in case you missed the Sunday news report

https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/pwb2ua/news_sep262021_authorities_charge_armys_aviation/

Armenia continues to commemorate the victims of 2020 war / Dozens of Azeri officials & soldiers charged with war crimes, recruiting & financing terrorism, use of chemical weapons against civilian settlements

The memorial events began yesterday with [1] and monument installations in Armenia and Artsakh. A minute of silence was held in Armenia, Artsakh, the Russian embassy, and elsewhere.

Ranking Armenian officials, U.S. ambassador Tracy, and others paid a visit to the Yerablur pantheon. The war took the lives of 3,781 soldiers and civilians, with 253 others still missing.

Azerbaijan, too, held a [2] dedicated to their 3,000 fallen soldiers.

Artsakh MFA: during the 44-day war, Azerbaijan violated international conventions and used illegal weapons against civilians and infrastructure. The majority of Artsakh is currently occupied.

The criminal trio was stopped thanks to the placement of Russian peacekeepers. But even after the ceasefire, Azerbaijan continued its Armenophobic and aggressive policies, in gross violation of all agreements and international norms. We still have many POWs and captives who are kept in inhuman conditions. Armenian cultural heritage is being destroyed in the occupied territories. The ceasefire is often violated.

Our goal remains the international recognition of the Artsakh Republic, de-occupation of Artsakh lands, resumption of OSCE negotiations with the full participation of Artsakh representatives, development of relations with other countries and institutes. //

LHK leader Edmon Marukyan: Armenia can raise the issue of holding Azerbaijan responsible for the war in various international criminal courts. At the same time, it's important for Armenia to discuss peace with Turkey. Having a dialogue with your neighbor doesn't prevent you from strengthening your army. Turkey and Azerbaijan have so far shown an unwillingness to have peace, by making certain demands.

In Armenia, we need an honest public discussion on how and why things led to defeat. //

Armenian prosecutors: we have filed criminal charges against 40 Azeris for committing war crimes by...

- using illegal and chemical weapons against civilian settlements during the war

- intentionally targeting civilians

- holding captive and killing civilians and soldiers after signing the ceasefire

- vandalizing historical-cultural monuments or cemeteries motivated by ethnic hatred

- making public calls to justify genocide against ethnic Armenians

- recruiting thousands of international terrorists with the help of Turkey

- financing terrorism

- shooting down a Russian army's Mi-24 helicopter near Yeraskh, which killed two individuals and wounded one.

Among the 40 suspects are ranking members of political-military leadership and hired terrorists. Two of them [terrorists recruited from northern Syria] have already been found guilty and sentenced. //

Armenian MFA: it is impossible to guarantee the physical security and right of life of the ethnic Armenians of Artsakh under the jurisdiction of Azerbaijan.

With the direct involvement of Turkey and hired militants, Azerbaijan launched a war against the Artsakh Republic, with the intention to deprive the people of Artsakh of the right to live freely and safely in their homeland and to control their destiny.

The war was accompanied by many violations of international laws, war crimes, and mass atrocities committed by Azerbaijan. During the war, Azerbaijan intentionally targeted civilian settlements and infrastructure, including by using illegal weapon types.

It resulted in civilian deaths, including in the capital Stepanakert. All these crimes have been meticulously documented and presented to international institutes. We will continue the work in various platforms.

The 2020 war was a pre-planned military aggression to exterminate the Armenian population with the goal of removing the Nagorno Karabakh conflict from the international agenda. This is evidenced by Azerbaijan's policies before and after the war, when the Azeri authorities enacted Armenophobic policies, rejected measures that would strengthen peace, and illegally accumulated large quantities of weapons.

This, and Azerbaijan's declaration that "Karabakh no longer exists" after the war, confirm that Azerbaijan never intended to resolve the conflict peacefully.

90,000 Artsakh Armenians had to flee their homes. The majority have since returned home, but 40,000 people lost their homes and face humanitarian challenges.

Azerbaijani authorities continue the hostile policies towards the people of Artsakh. In the areas that went under their control, they are renaming Armenian settlements, destroying religious and cultural monuments.

These crimes, and the ethnic cleansings of the Armenian population, prove once again that it is impossible to guarantee the physical security and the right to life of the Armenians of Artsakh under the jurisdiction of Azerbaijan.

To resolve the conflict, it is necessary to decide Artsakh's status, by taking into account the inalienable right to self-determination, physical security, and the return of the population to all territories of Nagorno Karabakh [that includes Shushi and Hadrut]. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064083.html https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/221757 https://youtu.be/nEIVqWzevLs https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064086.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064115.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064090.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064119.html https://factor.am/422050.html https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/221784 https://youtu.be/SoyHeFkZMQo

PACE accepts a resolution about the humanitarian consequences of the 2020 war, Azerbaijan's actions, POWs, free access to Artsakh, Azerbaijan's destruction of Armenian monuments in Nakhijevan and elsewhere, ...

An Irish delegate prepared the report. "During the last six-week war, more than 3,900 Armenians, more than 2,900 Azeris, were killed or missed in action, as well as many civilians were killed. More than 91,000 Armenians and 84,000 Azeris have been displaced."

In the draft resolution the Assembly reminds that by joining the Council of Europe in 2001, Armenia and Azerbaijan pledged to use exclusively peaceful means to resolve the conflict. Therefore, the 2020 war is a violation of those commitments, which must be properly addressed by the Council of Europe.

PACE reporter: Armenia reported that as of August, Azerbaijan has returned 103 POWs and Armenia had returned 21 POWs. Both sides claim they have returned all POWs, but Armenia says there are more being held captive in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan has two categories for captives: captured during and after the ceasefire. 45 out of the 62 Hadrut captives are still in Azerbaijan. 30 other captives were returned in June and July. //

The reporter said he was not allowed to visit the POWs. The report urges Azerbaijan to share more POW info with ECHR and Armenia.

It has been proposed for Azerbaijan to release all captives ASAP.

Greek MP Katrougalos: Armenia held the second consecutive democratic election. This is a case for positive expectations. The second elections were held amid a toxic environment. Our observers found that the elections were democratic. It also met European standards, with the exception of the minimum passing thresholding being too high at 5%/7% for parties/alliances. Overall, freedom was ensured and the campaigns received TV coverage. //

Representative QP Rubinyan: the PACE resolution was accepted. Despite Azerbaijan's attempts to exclude the term Nagorno-Karabakh from the documents, we were able to change the document's title to include "Nagorno Karabakh conflict". Azerbaijan and Turkey voted against it.

The important parts of resolution are:

1) Armenia and Azerbaijan joined the council in 2001, thus assuming responsibility to resolve the conflict peacefully. Therefore, the 2020 war was in violation of the obligations and will receive an appropriate response from the Council of Europe.

2) The assembly notes the concerns sent to the PACE Committee of Ministers by the ECHR on March 16, regarding 188 captives (some of whom have since been repatriated). The assembly finds that the 8th clause in the Nov 9 agreement meant to exchange all captives, regardless of what the other side accuses the POWs of being [Azerbaijan refers to Armenian POWs as "terrorists"].

The assembly is deeply concerned about the fate of 30 Armenian captives who were seen or photographed alive while in captivity but are currently missing. The assembly is concerned about reports that they were murdered. Azerbaijan is urged to expedite the investigation and provide more info to ECHR and Armenia.

3) Assembly is concerned about the condition of 45 Armenian captives who were recently sentenced to prison terms.

4) Assembly urges Azerbaijan to release captives ASAP.

5) Assembly cites disturbing evidence that Azerbaijan, with the help of Turkey, used Syrian mercenaries.

6) Assembly regrets the lack of international presence in the region as a result of an entry-related dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan. It refers to Resolution 2240 about ensuring free access, including to "grey zones", for members of assembly and UN.

7) It reminds that all residents of Council of Europe member states, including those living in conflict zones, have equal protection under the human rights conventions, including through appropriate monitoring mechanisms.

8) Acknowledges that residents near the border are routinely bothered by ceasefire violations. Urges free access for humanitarian agencies to provide aid to residents.

9) Condemns the post-1991 destruction of Armenian cultural heritage in Nakhijevan, targeting of churches in Artsakh during the 2020 war. It has deep concerns around the fate of Armenian crosstones and other religious monuments that went under Azeri control.

10) Resolution expresses concerns around the Azeri regime's fabricated propaganda to present Armenian cultural sites as being "Caucasian Albanian". UNESCO has been urged to investigate the fabrications.

11) Talks about racism and intolerance. Specifically about Azerbaijan, which was criticized by another committee regarding the treatment of minorities. It talks about the [Saddam park] in Baku and other instances of intolerant rhetoric against ethnic Armenians. Assembly urges Azerbaijan to remove the "stereotypical" caricatures of Armenian soldiers in the [Saddam Park].

12) Assembly urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to ensure international agencies have free access to Nagorno Karabakh. //

https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1064154.html https://factor.am/421839.html https://factor.am/422038.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064172.html

Tags: #PACE

George Soros's Open Society Foundation in Armenia: we will continue to draw the international community's attention to Baku's crimes.

The foundation will continue the efforts to repatriate POWs and hold Azeri military-political leadership accountable, said the report.

https://factor.am/421611.html

Ilham Aliyev is upset about Iran's military exercises on borders / Reveals the reason why they took the Iranian truck drivers hostage

Context: Azerbaijan took two Iranian cargo drivers hostage while they were driving on the Armenian road that passes through Azeri-held areas east of Syunik. Iran is unhappy and called for their immediate release. Then came the Iranian military drills on the Azeri border. Rumors were circulated about Azeris firing a shot at an Iranian helicopter with the latter allegedly avoiding a hit, but this was likely fake news.

Saddam Hussein: Iranian cargo trucks have always traveled to Karabakh and we've always expressed our dissatisfaction. We use drones and satellites to monitor the traffic.

We saw that the traffic continued after the war. I instructed MFA to discuss it with the Iranian ambassador in July. We didn't want to escalate it.

After these talks, we learned that Iranian trucks began using Armenian license plates to enter Karabakh. We sent an official note of protest to Iran. Still, around 60 Iranian trucks traveled to Karabakh between Aug 11-Sept 11.

We decided to take control of the road to prevent this. This lead to the truck flow to Karabakh reaching zero. People complain that we tax the trucks. Don't we pay taxes when we enter other countries?

As for Iranian military exercises, this is very unexpected because this has never happened in the 30 years of our independence. It's their right, but when we analyze it, we see that this has never been done before. Why hold the exercises now and why on our borders? Why no exercises during the "occupation" of Karabakh. //

https://factor.am/421906.html

Tags: #CargoDriver #Iran

Yerkrapah veterans & volunteers held a gathering to pay tribute to fallen soldiers

Young member: we owe it to you guys to finish the job you started. We swear before the khachkars erected in your memory that the land, where your blood was shed, will not be left to the enemy.

https://youtu.be/-IueEXjAL_g https://factor.am/421710.html

France released a statement about resuming Artsakh negotiations:

France will spare no effort to contribute to the resumption of dialogue within OSCE, aimed at lasting settlement and the stabilization of the situation. The Embassy of France in Armenia held a moment of silence in memory of the victims of last year's bloody conflict. //

Similar messages came from U.S. and EU.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064140.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064173.html

first president Levon met Russian ambassador Kopyrkin

They exchanged thoughts around regional security and cooperation. Earlier Levon met the president of Artsakh and the ex-president of Kyrgyzstan.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064152.html

Armenians protested outside the Azeri embassies in Washington and Lebanon

https://youtu.be/M6I7t_Qf-Hc https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064171.html

Georgia wants to be a platform for Armenia-Azerbaijan negotiations

Georgian Premier reminded about their efforts to organize the swap of POWs/maps, and offered the two neighbors to use Tbilisi as a platform for future talks.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064139.html

VIDEO: works will soon begin to design and create a new "Garden of Life" in Yerevan

During the Independence Day ceremony, Pashinyan announced plans to create a new "Garden of Life" park in the territory of Yerevan's Botanical Garden, dedicated to soldiers. Already-grown trees will be planted. These trees were placed on display in Republic Square.

The Garden of Life will cover a 25-30 hectare area and will house trees dedicated to the war victims. There will be a "main tree" (Tree of Life) that will symbolize the lives of all martyrs. It won't be a "memorial". It will be a park where people can gather and kids can play.

Pashinyan visited the square where the trees are held before their planting. He was shown the park's plan. "Here, in the heart of this bright square, wrapped in Armenian flags and guarded by the guard of honor, these trees will be moved to the botanical garden, symbolizing the beginning of a new era in the history of the Republic of Armenia, the beginning of an era of peaceful development," said Pashinyan.

https://youtu.be/RjCmxz4gr8Y https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1235487766956560 https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064128.html

Artsakh's cellphone service monopoly "Karabakh Telecom" will have a new owner

KT is the only operator in the country. It's preparing for major ownership change. It launched operations in 2002 and signed a 30-year deal with the government. Its founder and shareholder is Lebanese businessman Pierre Fattoush.

Fattoush had also owned 20% of the Viva Cell carrier in Armenia, before selling it to Russian MTS in 2020.

KT was the only carrier in Artsakh. After the 2018 revolution, Artsakh's then State Minister Arayik Harutyunyan (now president) held discussions with the KT owner about selling it. Arayik Harutyunyan urged Armenian carriers to enter the Artsakh market. [there have long been complaints about monopoly and artificial high fees in Artsakh.]

During the 2020 war, president Arayik announced that KT's management went under state control. It is still true today.

On September 6, Mkhitar Mirzoyan was appointed the general director of KT. He represents the state.

Q: what's the current status of KT's ownership?

Director Mirzoyan: We're in a transitional phase. There is a sale process. More info will be available later. The new owner might appoint a new director.

Q: is TEAM Telecom the new owner? (it's a new ISP in Armenia that recently broke away from UCOM ISP)

Director Mirzoyan: I don't think so. Details will be available later. //

Artsakh's Economic Competition Commission president said they are reviewing the ownership transfer. The new owner will be ArtsakhTel CJSC, registered in Yerevan on July 6. This company's director and shareholder is Arsen Khachatryan. In 2012 he founded "Էյչնեթ Ltd" which operates the brand 'Fastnet'.

https://www.civilnet.am/news/634122/ղարաբաղ-տելեկոմ-ի-սեփականատերը-փոխվել-է-նոր-գնորդը-հայտնի-է/

tax collection in 1H2021

Collected ֏790B, +10% YoY. It was ֏52B more than expected.

Spent ֏866B, +13% YoY.

The deficit was ֏76B instead of the expected ֏179B. This was a result of more tax revenues and fewer expenditures in some areas.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064121.html

STATS: average salary and unemployment in the first half of 2021

Average salary +5.4%. It reached ֏196,400 or $400.

Public sector +3.9% to ֏168k

Private sector +5.9% to ֏210k.

The actual salaries, while taking into account the covid-inflation, were -0.3%.

The number of officially registered unemployed rose by 1.6%.

http://arka.am/en/news/economy/average_salary_in_armenia_rises_by_5_4_the_number_of_unemployed_people_also_on_the_rise/

economy grew by 4.9% in January-August

Industry +1%

Construction +7.1%

Services +5.3%

Foreign trade +12.7%. Exports +21.8%. Imports +7.7%.

Electricity production -1.5%.

Product prices +6.4%.

$1 = ֏514 in average

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064118.html

COVID stats

5183 tested. 462 infected. 565 healed. 13 deaths. 12235 active.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064102.html

famous singer Hayko is still in emergency room with COVID

Singer Arsen Grigoryan visited him in hospital. "There is a positive change since yesterday." The media says Hayko remains in a critical condition in ICU.

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/221759 https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/221749

408,000 vaccinations so far

264k first and 144k second dose.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064111.html

88% of Emergency Ministry workers have been vaccinated

That's 3,157 people.

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/221772

Finance Minister Khachatryan about the economy in 1H2021:

We recorded an increase in turnover, inflation, and tax collections. Things turned out to be more favorable for Armenia and its trade partners than was initially expected.

After a decline in January-February, the economy began recovering, reaching +5% in the first half. Almost all sectors grew, especially the services, trade, construction, agriculture, and industry.

Most of the industrial growth came from mining, while the agricultural from crop production.

Copper prices skyrocketed, which also had a positive impact on economic activity.

Վարկերի ծավալը վերջին ամիսներին նվազել է: Հունվար-հունիսին շատ բարձր հարկային վճարումներ են եղել. 10.3 տոկոս՝ նախորդ 6-ամսյա ժամանակահատվածի համեմատ:

Food and alcohol prices grew 7.7%.

Foreign trade +13%. Exports +23%. Imports +8%.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064113.html

Zvartnots air travel statistics for the January-August period

2019: 1,972,000

2020: 600,000

2021: 1,355,000

During this period, 702k left and 653k arrived. A large negative balance is expected because this is when work migrants always leave before returning in November.

https://hetq.am/hy/article/136104

reforms in judicial, anti-corruption, and digitization fields were discussed between Justice Minister and U.S. ambassador

Minister Andreasyan hosted ambassador Tracy and praised America's role in helping Armenia with the ongoing reforms.

Tracy described the cooperation with the Ministry as excellent. She was impressed by the work done by the newly reformed police unit.

They discussed USAID programs.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064142.html

disciplinary hearing against the judge who freed the man suspected of brutally beating Parliament President Ararat Mirzoyan during the November 10 riots

Justice Ministry had asked the Supreme Court to reprimand the Appeals Court judge Sergey Marabyan for releasing the man who was charged with beating Ararat Mirzoyan. Doctors were able to save Mirzoyan's life after surgeries. Authorities said it was a murder attempt because the suspects left Mirzoyan's body after mistakenly believing he was already dead.

At the time, several judges freed multiple suspects allied with the former regime. This raised the ire of government circles who called for judges to be investigated for pro-ex regime bias.

The Appeals Court judge had ordered to free the suspect in the Mirzoyan case, claiming that the suspect was not at the crime scene. The ruling was later struck down by the Cassation Court.

Now the Ministry wants the panel of judges to punish their fellow judge.

https://factor.am/421881.html https://factor.am/421898.html

talks resume about replacing the dated Nubarashen penitentiary with a new facility

Deputy Premier Papikyan and Justice Minister Andreasyan were sent to prison today (just visiting). They learned about living conditions, food, visiting rooms. The officials discussed the possibility to build a new facility.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064160.html

courses will be held in Yerevan to teach you how to weave a carpet

Education Ministry: the 3-month courses are dedicated to carpet and will help you gain in-depth knowledge of fabric art. It's done in cooperation with the Hovhannes Sharambeyan Museum of Folk Arts.

You will learn about the origins of various carpets, geography, how it's weaved and painted, etc. It launches on October 6. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064127.html

European Heritage Days festival was held in Armenia on weekend

Musicians and ranking officials gathered at Yererouk basilica, located on the Armenia-Turkey border (where the lady's nose is). It is one of the earliest surviving Christian monuments in Armenia and was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Ministry official: the Armenian people have contributed to the spread and preservation of European values. It is not a coincidence that the architectural masterpiece Yererouk was founded in the 5-6th centuries when our ancestors were already translating Aristotle and Platon.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064112.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yererouk

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/pwp2b2/news_sep272021_armenia_continues_to_build_the/