2021 September 28

Daily news wrap-up

News - Sep/28/2021: Russia is against negotiating Artsakh status for now; OSCE to visit Stepanakert __ Russian drones in Artsakh; exercises in Arm. __ Army reforms in Parl. __ Geopolitics __ Diasporan activist training __ PACE resolution __ Sweden to help w/courts __ Anti corruption __ Remittances++
by ar_david_hh

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Your 13-minute Tuesday report in 3236 words.

Parliament hosted diasporan activists tasked with promoting repatriation and Armenian interests

The Diaspora Committee launched the "Diaspora Youth Ambassador" program with the help of the Jinishian Memorial Foundation. The program aims to create a network of Armenian youth (22-25yo), who will have the opportunity to become Diaspora representatives in their respective communities around the world.

The members will spend two weeks in Armenia, where they will be taken to various cultural-historical sites to strengthen their ties to the homeland. Upon return, they will produce Armenia-related content for international media, and will promote the repatriation of Armenians.

Parliamentary Education Committee chief QP Gabrielyan hosted the activists today. He spoke about passing a new law next year that will help boost repatriation.

The activists suggested implementing targeted repatriation, based on the diasporans' profession. They discussed expanding the availability of Armenian language classes abroad, and recruitment of more teachers.

The activists said they would like to have a representative in the Parliament and more active involvement during elections. The Committee chief said he will organize discussions about the suggestions.

More: https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/221876 https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064245.html http://diaspora.gov.am/en/programs/19/Diaspora-Youth-Ambassador

update: prosecutors are investigating over 800 army individuals over 2020 war / Loss of cities, avoiding duties, Shushi attack, etc.

The aviation chief was recently charged, in case you missed the Sunday report.

Prosecutors: the 800 individuals, including ranking officials, were charged with crimes relating to...

1) Violations during the recruitment process [e.g. helping a relative avoid conscription].

2) Taking bribes to move soldiers from their army base to a safer location.

3) Illegally acquiring weapons and transporting them to Armenia during and after the war.

4) Ignoring combat duties that would have detected the enemy's attack in time.

5) Circumstances about enemy's advancement to Shushi after capturing southern settlements of Mekhakavan/Horadiz/Hadrut, and the commanders of Armenian units in these areas.

6) Reports from parents, journalists, and others about Hadrut, "Lele-Tepe", Mets Tagher, Shushi, Taghavard directions.

7) Abuse of power, inaction, or bad commands by army officials.

8) Defrauding families of POWs.

9) Claims that the Armenian government sold Artsakh to Azerbaijan for billions of dollars.

10) etc.

NSS alone has interrogated 150 people, including Artsakh president Arayik and commanders, about the battles in Shushi. There were dozens of confiscations and searches.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064187.html

VIDEO: CSTO is holding Thunder-2021 military exercises in Armenia

Special forces and their K-9 buds conducted training on how to respond to narcotrafficking. Mountain terrain, raids with helicopters, armored vehicles, etc.

Plot: a group of armed pablos infiltrated Armenia with tons of narcos. They plan to use Armenia as a transit country. Find, neutralize, and provide medical aid.

https://youtu.be/ik50eUmLuWQ https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064258.html

Armenian soldier wounded after a ceasefire violation by Azerbaijan on Gegharkunik border

The incident happened at 11:30 near Kut village. Private Garnik Abrahamyan's shoulder injury is non-life-threatening. Prosecutors launched a felony case.

Armenian MOD: Azerbaijani authorities acted in clear violation of international laws and carry responsibility for inflicting a gunshot wound to an Armenian serviceman.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064239.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064253.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064255.html

VIDEO: Russian peacekeepers are using Orlan-10 and Forpost drones to monitor the region

The Orlan drones are launched from Kamaz trucks. The live feed is sent to the command center for analysis. Forpost drones are being also used for other purposes.

https://youtu.be/mx3zdMCeGRE https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=918234648773715 https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064213.html

update: Iran responds to Ilham Aliyev about the Iranian army drills

Yesterday we learned that Aliyev complained about Iran holding army exercises right next to the border with Azerbaijan, after Azerbaijan captured two Iranian truck drivers as a hostage, with intent to pressure Iran to suspend direct cargo deliveries to Artsakh.

Iranian MFA responds: we have a good and respectful relationship. We spoke about this during the UN session and agreed to use the appropriate platform in the future.

The Iranian military exercises are a matter of sovereignty, meant for stability and peace for the whole region. Iran will not tolerate any display of Zionism at its borders and will take any action necessary for its national security. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064268.html

Parliamentary Defense Committee will soon discuss the army reforms

MOD officials will visit Parliament within two weeks to discuss the planned and ongoing reforms.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064211.html

Parliamentary Defense Committee still doesn't have a deputy president, as Kocharyan re-nominates a failed candidate for 5th time

HD MP Ghazinyan did not pass the first Q&A session to become the deputy. There were also complaints about him using personal insults at colleagues. The ruling members of the committee asked the opposition to nominate someone else.

Kocharyan has since re-nominated Ghazinyan 4 times, and was rejected 4 times, amid complaints that the process is wasting time instead of focusing on defense issues.

Today was Ghazinyan's 5th failed attempt. The ruling party members threatened that if Ghazinyan is nominated again, they will push a legal amendment to limit the number of failed nominations to two, so they can move on.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064225.html

gas news

Turkey has two gas contracts with Azerbaijan. The one about 6.6B m^3/year had expired in April and was not renewed until now. SOCAR representative did not reveal the conditions of the new contract.

In Europe, the gas prices have reached historic $1,030 levels. It was $614 earlier this month.

https://factor.am/422293.html https://factor.am/422338.html

geopolitical kerfuffle (you think I'm exaggerating? watch this...)

Syria accused Turkey and U.S. of plundering its natural resources, and that the presence of Turkish troops in the north is illegal. "Idlib has turned into an incubator for terrorists," said Syrian MFA.

U.S. accused Turkey of backstabbing NATO allies and getting too close to Russia again, and threatened with sanctions if they purchase more Russian S-400 missiles. The first batch was delivered in 2019.

Turkey accused Russia of violating the 2019 agreement on not bombing rebels/terrorists in northern Syria. Russian airstrikes have recently intensified, possibly related to Turkey's vocal support for Ukraine in the Crimea issue.

Turkey accused the U.S. of arming Kurdish PKK and YPG groups in Syria. Turkey views YPG rebels as being a PKK affiliate, and accused the U.S. of "arming terrorists".

The jury has found R Kelly guilty of multiple counts of trafficking and nasty behavior. You better believe his ass can fly to jail.

Putin and Erdogan will meet in Russia tomorrow. The Artsakh conflict is on the agenda.

A National Interest article called for the U.S. to sanction Azerbaijan until Aliyev returns every POW. "Nagorno-Karabakh: A Year of U.S. Failure in the South Caucasus. Azerbaijan and Turkey launched their assault on Nagorno-Karabakh to continue the Ottoman project of more than a century ago. Silence encourages them and others."

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064214.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064216.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064220.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064226.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064236.html https://nationalinterest.org/feature/nagorno-karabakh-year-us-failure-south-caucasus-194492

OSCE co-chairs will hold meetings in Artsakh capital Stepanakert

... in addition to Yerevan and Baku, announced Russian MFA Lavrov today. The MFAs of Armenia and Azerbaijan recently met in New York during the UN session. There is an agreement to resume OSCE visits in the region.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064227.html

Russia does not support discussions around Arstakh's legal status, FOR NOW

A reporter asked Lavrov to comment on the French and U.S. co-chairs' statements about the need to negotiate a status for Artsakh.

Lavrov said the emphasis should be on the return of POWs, removal of landmines, and return of IDP/refugees, adding that he wouldn't expect more ambitious plans at this phase.

In other news, Aliyev reminded that Azerbaijan will not agree to any status for Artsakh.

https://youtu.be/bsC0JhxsXu0 https://factor.am/422558.html

PACE resolution suggests the creation of a demilitarized zone on borders

Yesterday we learned that PACE approved the pro-Armenian resolution about the conflict, POWs, humanitarian mission in Artsakh.

It includes a suggestion made by the Human Rights Ombudsman of Armenia. The paragraph reads: "negotiate on a process of delimitation and demarcation of the border and examine the possibility of creating a demilitarized zone with the presence of a peacekeeping or military monitoring force."

It's about areas where the civilian settlements are very close to borders so residents are often disturbed by shots being fired in the air.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064192.html

PACE resolution is against the isolation of Artsakh

Artsakh Ombudsman: we welcome the fact that PACE used a report prepared by us while discussing the topic of preservation of Armenian cultural heritage in the region.

We also welcome the fact that it referenced resolution 2240 about the need for free access to "grey zones" for monitoring agencies, and the grey zone population having equal human rights. //

https://factor.am/422440.html

Azerbaijan complained about the "biased" PACE resolution

... suggesting it had "Armenian falsifications and slander". They welcome certain parts of it but decided to vote against it after pro-Armenian parts were added.

https://factor.am/422534.html

anti-corruption: one episode of North-South highway corruption investigation concludes / seven suspects charged with crimes

In case you missed the Sunday report, the authorities concluded the investigation of STONES construction company run by Gagik Tsarukyan's associates. The story is one of the many pre-2018 corruption episodes uncovered recently. Authorities revealed more details...

Prosecutors report: during the M1 Talin-Gyumri road construction, the officials at several construction firms and construction advisory firms, aided by several IRS workers, committed forgery to overbill, evade taxes, and launder money.

֏2.7B in damages were done. ֏1B has since been recovered.

Charges are pressed against [Gagik Tsarukyan's] Multi Group director Sedrak Arustamyayn and several of his associates. The IRS agents were charged earlier. The case has reached the court. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064221.html

cooperation memorandum is signed between Armenian and Swedish judicial systems

Justice Ministry and Supreme court had earlier met the representatives of the Swedish court. Today the Supreme court chief Jhangiryan signed a memorandum to cooperate towards increasing public trust in courts, training/aiding judicial candidates and judges, strengthening the ties between judges and journalists.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064203.html

Freedom House urges authorities to end the enforcement of the insult law

Personal insults were against the law but recently the "hard" ones (not the "idiot" type) were recently made a felony if they were used against officials or journalists for doing their duties. Similar laws existed for judges. The main goal was to address the toxic environment on social media. One individual has since found himself at the center of police attention for writing a curse under Pashinyan post. Freedom House has urged authorities to suspend the enforcement of the law because it's too heavyhanded.

https://factor.am/422433.html

interview with Justice Minister Karen Andreasyan

Q: what's on the agenda?

Five programs:

1) Legal reforms to cleanse the judiciary of corrupt judges.

2) Penitentiary system with new model and morals. This will not only include a new facility with new conditions, but the new staff will have a different attitude.

3) Digitize the whole judicial system to improve the efficiency of all agencies that operate in the field.

4) Use the Georgian model to establish "Houses of Justice" that will provide various high-quality services all in one place.

5) Make the Judicial Compulsory Enforcement Service so effective that it will actually bring "profit" and lose money, which could then be used for further reforms in the system.

Q: are there new anti-corruption reforms on the agenda? Are the ones enacted after 2018 sufficient?

We must continue to help develop the Corruption Prevention Commission with additional aid and technologies; CPC is the most active mechanism against corruption.

It's also important to finish the creation of the new Anti-Corruption Committee and anti-corruption courts. The Ministry is doing a lot of work in this direction.

Q: how do you plan to increase public confidence in the court?

The Supreme court and individual judges play a big role here. The Supreme court should have consistent and strict disciplinary proceedings against judges. It should evaluate the morality of judges.

Vetting will also increase trust in the judicial. The existing legislation does not allow us to apply the new system retroactively, so we're currently working on reforms before launching talks with international colleagues to ensure the amendments are in line with international standards. [He's probably referring to, I believe, Venice commission's 2019-2020 advice not to apply "strict" vetting on "old" judges. The govt decided to vet new judges but the system is insufficient, according to NGOs. It appears the Ministry is still working on this.]

Q: do you see a need for Constitutional reforms?

There will be discussions with public-political circles about constitutional reforms. The process has already begun. There were meetings with parliamentary and non-parliamentary parties, legal scholars, NGOs, and dozens of journalists.

We need their opinion about parliamentary vs semi-presidential vs presidential system, merging the Supreme and Constitutional courts, etc. A model will be drafted to launch a process involving experts.

Q: are you satisfied with the newly establish police patrol? What are the flaws that you plan to work on?

The service was launched on July 7. It's a brand new service with a new philosophy, staff, educational background, and equipment. There has been positive feedback from the public but certain flaws need to be addressed.

For example, traffic control on intersections, responding to complex road incidents. We continue to work with civil society and our partners from the U.S. and EU to address these issues. In the coming months, the new police patrol will be available in Lori and Shirak provinces.

Q: any planned reforms in penitentiary and probation system?

There will be certain reforms that will serve as the axis for the transformation of the penitentiary system. The first is the optimization of penitentiaries. I won't open the parenthesis now but you will soon see the results.

In line with the policy adopted by the government, we must have re-socialization programs in all penitentiaries.

We will continue to combat the criminal subculture within penitentiary to prevent the existence of the "privileged".

All inmates in a civilized society deserve quality healthcare. We will work on this.

We will strengthen the probation institute. It must have the necessary tools and trained staff.

Minister Andreasyan during a university lecture: Armenia will become one of the best countries with the best economy and strong army if its citizens refuse to tolerate corruption. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064183.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064244.html

Kocharyan & Co's multi-million dollar bribery trial postponed again

Ex-president Kocharyan and HD MP Gevorgyan (his aide) are accused of taking bribes from a miner. Gevorgyan's lawyer had earlier resigned so they had to present a new one today.

Today the court had to meet the new lawyer. However, lawyer Alexander Kochubaev was not present. Another lawyer Lusine Sahakyan said she will take the job.

Defendant Gevorgyan and his new lawyer wanted to complain about Gevorgyan not being allowed to leave Armenia for the PACE assembly session, but the judge said "not now". The defendants protested and complained that today's trial could have been delayed by a week without a problem.

Gevorgyan also revealed that his fellow PU MP Mamijanyan was supposed to attend the PACE session to raise the topic of Armenian POWs, but he refused to go in solidarity with Gevorgyan. [4D chess: Gevorgyan is the REAL captive 🤔🤔🤔. In relevant news, the topic of POWs was raised by other Armenian MPs in PACE.]

Gevorgyan's new lawyer has been given a week to read the documents and assume the role of attorney.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064228.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064233.html

PHOTO: Yerevan is installing baby fences on some busy intersections so adults won't commit suicide by crossing in the wrong place

It's in areas where there is no crosswalk. Orbeli-Kievyan, Abovyan-Moskovyan, etc.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064270.html

remittance transfers for January-July period of 2021 / U.S. transfers skyrocket

$1.146 billion came in. That's +28% or $253 million more than last year.

$663 million went out. That's +6.5%.

Last year's decline was due to seasonal workers' inability to travel to Russia. The doors opened this year, leading to an increase.

Russia: $463M (+16%)

U.S.: $314M (+70%)

Kazakhstan: $48M (up 4.3 times)

Germany: $39M

France: $34M

UAE: $13M

Ukraine: $10M

Spain: $8M

China: $1.4M

Turkey: $1M

The share of remittances from the U.S. has increased from 21% to 27%.

Russia accounted for 40% share, down from 45%.

https://hetq.am/hy/article/136115

COVID stats

4988 tested. 772 infected. 425 healed. 13 deaths. 12567 active.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064191.html

Healthcare Minister Avanesyan:

Hospitals are still under stress. We had to increase the bed capacity and convert more hospitals to treat COVID. Delta leads to more hospitalizations and more critical patients.

As for why the cost of the $30 PCR test was cut in half ahead of the October 1 requirement, its pricing is not within the authority of our Ministry so I can't comment. There may be private market-related reasons. There used to be many complaints about PCR being too expensive.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064208.html https://factor.am/422225.html

ex-Healthcare Minister Arsen Torosyan helped fellow passengers during a flight

The QP MP was traveling from Athens to Yerevan when flight attendants used the speaker to ask if there are any doctors who could approach and help a passenger in an emergency.

Torosyan gave assistance to three Armenian and Greek passengers. Something about the change in altitude causing panic and stress.

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/221835

first Pediatric Palliative Care Center of Armenia opens in Yerevan

Funded by the City of Smile Foundation, located in the Yolyan hematology center,

Yolyan director: we needed this for decades. When the patient was staying in the department with 30 other patients it was difficult to organize palliative care, while home treatment was complicating the issue even more because of other children living in the home.

City of Smile director: by cooperating with one of the leading clinics of the world and seeing their care center, we realized that we really needed to have one in Armenia.

Healthcare Minister: there are cases when even the best doctors are powerless to do anything. What matters is that all children and adults be surrounded with care and their loved ones until the end. Having this kind of center is extremely important. //

Bishop Bagrat Galstyan read a prayer.

Full: https://youtu.be/MDbtKzs6OBM https://youtu.be/_96EMsoECpU https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1064222.html

VIDEO: 48 more settlements will be connected to a 24-hour water network

Haykavan is one such settlement. Only 30% of its 400 households had a stable delivery. It had corroded pipes.

Works have begun in 48 towns and villages to replace pipes, rebuild reservoirs, new sewer, chlorine disinfection, etc.

The eventual goal is to ensure 24/7 water for 100,000 residents. It's part of an €81M co-subsidy program by the Armenian government and European banks.

https://youtu.be/fy20F_ETGuU https://factor.am/422275.html

Women's World Chess Championship: Armenia vs Azerbaijan ends in a 2-2 draw

The group: Russia 4pts, Armenia/India 3, ...

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/221806

Argentina launches a chamber of commerce in Yerevan

The embassy will use it as a business platform to promote trade and investments. Special attention will be drawn to many young Argentine specialists who come to Armenia and seek to get integrated into the labor market.

For over a decade, Argentina was among the 5 top investors in Armenia, mostly through the diasporan community.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064184.html

pablo without picasso

Someone swallowed a bag of cocaine to smuggle it from Brazil to Armenia.

The Armenian IRS, which also handles customs, was tipped about it. The traveler's cargo examination at Zvartnots airport did not find anything, so they opted for a "very personal" pat-down: he was driven to a clinic for a medical examination.

The x-ray fund 746 grams of cocaine worth $300,000 stored in his stomach, in a plastic bag. It must have been there throughout the entire 24 hours journey.

IRS advises against doing this because the bag can break and lead to accidental overdose.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064209.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/pxeoi2/news_sep282021_russia_is_against_negotiating/