2022 April 21

Daily news wrap-up

Daily news digest. Apr/21/2022: || MOD selling unused properties worth several hundred millions $ to buy weapons || Anti-corruption uncovered billion $ abuse || Was it a mistake to stop the war? || More judicial & prison reforms || $242m invested in Moscow || Sports tournaments || and more
by ar_david_hh

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8 minutes. 2028 words[.](https://i.imgur.com/u96iYBc.jpg)

Defense Ministry to sell unused properties worth several hundred million dollars to make weapons purchases

The government is selling 72 properties in Yerevan and the provinces. It includes a former Ministry building, unused facilities, lands, a small airport, etc.

The decision was made during a closed-door session last week. It was planned to do this earlier but the Finance Ministry had objections, citing some laws. It was ultimately decided that the properties can be sold through the State Property Management Committee to buy weapons.

A nonparliamentary opposition member said it would have been faster if the sale was done by Defense Ministry itself instead of sending the cash to the budget first. An expert disagreed.

source

opposition leader believes Pashinyan made a mistake by stopping the war, should have regrouped the troops in Kelbajar & Lachin

PU leader Arthur Vanetsyan: Pashinyan said he signed the Nov. 9 agreement to prevent the encirclement and capture of 25,000 soldiers. If we had 25,000 soldiers, we should have moved them to defend Karvachar and Berdzor [Kelbajar and Lachin].

Aliyev recently announced that had the war not been stopped on Nov. 9, it could end differently because the Azerbaijani army was exhausted and did not have the necessary weapons.

Moreover, the primary reason for our defeat was the unprotected air.

Starting Nov. 2, the air was somewhat protected. Special equipment and air defense devices were brought [as reported by Russian reporter WarGonzo and I believe Babayan or Artsrun]. We could move the troops freely and reorganize along a new defense line. [Here the opinions differ because it was reported that the air protection stopped working after a few days. There was also a claim that it wasn't air protection but instead favorable weather that helped Armenian soldiers in early November.] //

[source](https://www.panarmenian.net/arm/news/299806/)

authorities have uncovered $950 million in corruption and other damages during investigations since 2020

Prosecutors report: The majority of the ֏455b damage was related to corruption and economic crimes. ֏49b ($100 million) has been recovered.

Permission to freeze assets was obtained for 240 real estate properties, 119 personal properties, 45 pieces of land, and financial resources.

In Q1 2022 we recovered 2.5x more assets than in the entire 2021. {probably includes the massive [Zangezur copper plant](https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/t4j3tk/mar12022_armenias_zangezur_copper_reserves_were/) bust.} //

[source](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1081160.html)

anti-corruption raids continue in the Emergency Ministry

Recently we learned about the arrest of Emergency Minister Piloyan. He is among 8 officials suspected of bribery and corruption. The number of suspects has reached 20.

[source](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1081167.html)

Swedish National Courts Administration sends envoy to discuss support for Armenia's judicial system

Justice Ministry hosted SNCA representatives to discuss efforts aimed at judges' professionalism and public trust. SNCA will share its experience with a retraining program for current and prospective judges.

They discussed the ongoing judiciary reforms in Armenia.

[source](https://factor.am/502364.html)

Justice Ministry wants to abolish the practice of sending juvenile inmates to "the hole" as disciplinary punishment

Ministry: A bill was drafted to reform the prison code. In Armenia, the juvenile inmates can be sent to the punishment cell. The European court and NGOs advise us that it should be used as a last resort. Therefore, we decided to exclude the use of the punishment cell as a disciplinary sanction. There are two other disciplinary tools that can be used.

... the same about inmates who harm themselves

Justice Ministry received advice from Human Rights Ombudsman and an anti-torture committee. Currently, inmates who commit self-harm can be sanctioned by being sent to the punishment cell. The bill aims to prohibit that, by replacing punishment with psychological support.

[source](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1081197.html) [source](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1081192.html)

PODCAST: you may qualify for a mortgage subsidy if you have a child or plan on having one

Three demographics-oriented programs went into effect in July 2020, and have since provided housing assistance to over 3,000 families.

Labor Ministry official: The first program is a one-time financial aid for families with two or more children. They can buy or build a house in provinces. 544 recipients.

The second is a downpayment program for families with at least one child, in Yerevan and provinces. 762 recipients.

The third is a childbirth aid. The family receives a mortgage subsidy when they have a child. 1753 recipients.

To this day, we have paid >$4 million in assistance. This year's budget is >$2 million but could increase because of an unprecedented volume of applications. //

[continue](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1081141.html)

Armenia will host the 2023 European Weightlifting Championship for the first time

The Education/Sports Ministry had earlier negotiated to host the European Boxing championship in Yerevan this year (May 21), also for the first time.

[source](https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/235533)

Armenia's Erik Israelyan wins gold in European Junior Boxing Championship

Hamlet Adamyan and Ares Hakobyan won silver in different weight categories.

[source](https://factor.am/502293.html) [source](https://factor.am/502359.html)

Menorca 2022 chess tournament begins

Armenia is represented by Hayk Martirosyan and Shant Sargsyan. They both won in the first round. Ապրեք․ There will be 7 rounds. 137 players are competing.

[source](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1081161.html)

COVID stats

3287 tested. 6 infected. 14 healed. 0 deaths.

[source](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1081148.html)

update: ArMed eHealth app is updated to show patient visits and payment details

Details in [March 17 news digest](https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/tgibhu/mar172022_new_armenian_ski_resort_to_compete_with/). Healthcare Ministry is revamping the mobile app so patients can see details about their prior visits, the sum paid through insurance and out-of-pocket, etc.

One of the goals is to reform the medical database to ensure accurate and complete patient records so doctors can make accurate diagnoses in the future.

[source](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1081163.html)

Healthcare Ministry formed a taskforce to study and prevent cardiovascular diseases

Half of the deaths in Armenia are due to cardiovascular problems. A webinar was organized today, attended by prominent cardiologists and public officials, to discuss cholesterol levels and other problems. A group of experts will study ways to treat and prevent diseases.

[source](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1081187.html)

traditional torchlight march will be organized in Armenia and Artsakh on the eve of genocide remembrance day

19:15, April 23. ARF has announced that Robert Kocharyan will be joining the march. Pashinyan's deputy chief of staff accused the opposition of politicizing the march.

[source](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1081169.html) [source](https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/235479) [source](https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/235496)

open-air concert will be organized in front of Yerevan Opera on April 23

There will be a chant and other spiritual music, dedicated to the 107th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. This will be the first concert under this format, said the organizers.

[source](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1081177.html)

IMAGES: a square in France is renamed in honor of Armenian Genocide victims

A square and cross-stone in honor of the memory of the Armenian Genocide victims were inaugurated in the central part of the city of Nimes, France. The Mayor and Armenian officials were present.

[source](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1081172.html)

VIDEO: of course someone did something stupid in Yerevan this week

The statue/bust of Komitas was vandalized in Yerevan's Arabkir district. Komitas was a prominent Armenian musicologist who survived the genocide.

[source](https://youtu.be/3uvHFwQVXWE)

U.S. city of Southfield (Michigan) proclaims April 24 Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day

Ապրեք.

[source](https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1081181.html)

IMAGE: firefighters were able to extinguish an apartment fire in Yerevan condo

They had to raise a tall-ass ladder to the 10th floor of a condo on Republic Street. The fire was extinguished an hour later.

[source](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1081155.html)

IMAGE: Yerevan Zoo has new inhabitants

The terrarium will house Glossolepis incisus (found in one of the lakes in Guinean island) and Հնդկական դանակ (Indian knife). The latter is shaped like a knife and can be found in freshwaters in Southeast Asia.

[source](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1081166.html)

Turkey will reduce reliance on Russian (and possibly Azerbaijani) gas

Turkey consumed 60 bcm last year. Almost all of it was imported: 33% from Russia, <10% from Azerbaijan.

They had earlier discovered 540 bcm reserves in the Black Sea. $10b will be invested to extract it. The newly built facility will process up to 20 bcm annually, or about a third of domestic consumption.

Additionally, Turkey will take a $1b loan from a German bank to finance the purchase of liquid gas from the US and Europe, to reduce reliance on Russia.

[source](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-04-20/turkey-nears-landmark-lng-loan-in-shift-from-russian-natural-gas) [redacted] [source](https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/235466)

EU's Klaar met Armenian and Azeri officials to discuss unblocking communications

Klaaar: Excellent meetings yesterday with Azerbaijan's deputy PM Mustafayen and today with Armenia's deputy PM Grigoryan about the reopening of communications. Good to see a strong commitment from both sides. //

[source](https://twitter.com/ToivoKlaar/status/1517144521833730049)

IMAGE: Azerbaijan is building part of the road that will replace the Lachin road

The new road is supposed to take a detour in Lachin and near Shushi. The Armenian side has not yet launched the construction on its side.

[images](https://factor.am/502193.html)

a large business delegation arrived from Belarus

Contracts worth $20 million were signed between private businesses from Armenia and Belarus. They will cooperate in industry and agriculture. Joint projects will be founded in Armenia.

[source](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1081201.html)

Armenian businesses have invested $242 million in Moscow since 2017

Moscow officials discussed the 2017-2022 investments from EAEU republics. Of the $2.8b investments, 60% came from Kazakhstan, 29% Belarus, ~9% Armenia, 2% Kyrgyz.

[source](https://www.panarmenian.net/arm/news/299797/)

Jordan sent a delegation to Armenia

Former president Alen Simonyan hosted Jordanian senators on Thursday to discuss multi-polar partnership programs and regional conflicts.

[source](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1081173.html)

VIDEO: authorities begin enforcing vehicle weight limits on Yerevan-Armavir highway

Scales were installed on the road to weigh heavy trucks. The practice began in 2006 and was activated in 2020. Illegally heavy trucks can cause accidents, and damage bridges and roads.

[source](https://www.1lurer.am/hy/2022/04/21/Թույլատրելիից-ավելի-բեռ-փոխադրող-բեռնատարների-վարորդները-կտուգանվեն/706882)

VIDEO: mini-tornado terrorized the streets of Spitak and nearby roofs

[source](https://youtu.be/rXRG_WjvW0w?t=7)

VIDEO: thousands of beehives will be donated to Armenian beekeepers

The first batch of beehives was imported from Russia for farmers in Chambarak and Vardenis, as part of a "Honey-Money" UN program. The residents will receive training and give an exam.

[source](https://youtu.be/AruUxsWNhK0)

VIDEO: the TV tower in Russia's Nizhny Novgorod lit up in Armenian flag colors during Pashinyan's official visit on Wednesday

[source](https://youtu.be/pFU--7D__Cs)

Polli: an Armenian movie about a boy and his dog will premier on May 5

Director Artyom Harutyunyan's new film [released a trailer](https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=3123137494613329). Lots of forests, hunters, and one doggy.

[source](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1081191.html)

another airplane bomb hoax

Someone called and claimed that the Yerevan-Moscow flight had a bomb. Nothing was found. 3-5 similar calls have been made in the past several weeks.

In other news. Serbian jets were also grounded for similar reasons. Without providing evidence, Serbian president Vucic accused Ukraine and an unidentified "EU country" of being behind a series of hoax bomb threats that grounded a dozen Serbian jets. Ukraine called the accusation "baseless" and "untrue".

Ukraine urged Serbia to join the sanctions against ~~Serbia~~ Russia. Serbia responded saying "We are continuing these flights literally out of principle, because we want to show that we are a free country and we make our own decisions. Do not decide for us when to cancel flights."

Armenian authorities have not named any suspects. No evidence these incidents are related to the ones in Serbia.

[source](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1081202.html) [source](https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2022-04-18/serbia-accuses-ukraine-and-unnamed-eu-country-of-air-serbia-bomb-hoaxes) [source](https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-air-serbia-russia-hoax-bomb-threats/31809815.html)

Taliban bans TikTok

What part of "Taliban bans TikTok" do you not understand? They did so because TIkTok's "filthy content" was "misleading the younger generation".

[source](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1081188.html)

Taliban bans PUBG video game

PUBG was also "misleading the younger generation". WRONG GUNS, WRONG BOMBS, HARAM BUNS.

[source](https://gandhara.rferl.org/a/taliban-bans-tiktok-video-game-pubg/31814523.html)

two Armenian billionaires are on Forbes's "88 richest Russians" list

42) Andrei Oghajanyants with $2b. Founded the "Badoo" matchmaking website.

82) Samvel Karapetyan with $1.1b. Owns the "Tashir" chain.

[source](https://factor.am/502238.html)

today in history

1965: National hero commander Tatul Krpeyan is born.

[source](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1081134.html) [source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April_21)

more

The news in русский (by Impossible-Ad-).

News archive: http://www.armeniapedia.org/wiki/Daily_Anti-Corruption_Reports Donations: soldiers' families, humanitarian aid, US tax-deductible donation.

The accused are innocent unless proven guilty in the court of law, even if they "appear" guilty.

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Link to original report and comments: https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/u8w1sv/daily_news_digest_apr212022_mod_selling_unused/