2022 August 10

Daily news wrap-up

Your daily news digest from Armenia. Wednesday, Aug/10/2022.
by ar_david_hh

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11 minutes. 2907 words.

crayfish... can you find them in Lake Sevan these days?

Sevan use to have large reserves of crayfish. Today Armenia has to import it.

Experts & reporters: Fungal disease is the primary cause of the crayfish decline in recent years. It loves clean water and oxygen, so it responded accordingly to the worsening water quality.

Crayfish was discovered in Sevan in the 1980s. By 2000s the reserves were so large that Armenia began exporting them. In 2016 the lake had 4,500 tons. Today it's only 78 tons.

The crayfish population grew rapidly until 2016, while the other fish were on the decline. Crayfish eventually became the only source that fed the Gegharkunik population.

Exports in tons:

2017: +234

2018: +120

2019: +8

2020: -24 (imported)

2021: -24 (imported)

A fungal disease was not the only cause of the decline. Beginning in 2014, fishers began using Chinese-made passive tools to catch them en masse, even the small ones that hadn't had a chance to lay eggs yet. The net must be at least 9cm to catch only adults, but they were using 3cm tools.

Sevan National Park chief, 2022: The use of illegal tools is what led to the population drop. We are conducting regular checks today.

If this strict enforcement continues, within 4 years we will have 60% of the crayfish population that we had 20 years ago.

[watch,](https://youtu.be/qGStEDK3txo?t=11 [read,](https://factor.am/542576.html)

borders on Wednesday

Artsakh MoD reported no significant ceasefire violations. The peacekeepers are taking steps to further de-escalate the situation.

Artsakh ends mobilization, will discharge the draftees

President Arayik Harutyunyan signed a decree to launch the demobilization of servicemen who were drafted after August 3.

[read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1089995.html) [read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1089998.html)

Artsakh security council Balasanyan visited Berdzor (Lachin) accompanied by peacekeepers and representatives of Azerbaijan

Vitaly Balasanyan's office announced that Armenian, Russian, and Azeri envoys traveled to Berdzor to discuss details relating to the construction of the new Lachin corridor.

Get the context in [Monday](https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/wjnjam/your_monday_news_digest_from_armenia_aug82022/?) and [Tuesday](https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/wkdpgs/your_tuesday_news_digest_from_armenia_aug92022/) digests. The residents of Berdzor and Aghavno will be settled elsewhere. They are currently evacuating cultural and religious monuments.

[read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1090004.html) [read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1090044.html) [read,](https://factor.am/542412.html)

interview with Artsakh politician who met the chief of Russian peacekeeping force to discuss Azerbaijan's recent aggression in Lachin

Part 1 and context about the meeting with the peacekeepers can be found in [August 5](https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/wh55ub/friday_news_summary_from_armenia_aug52022/) news digest.

Reporter: What did you discuss?

Tigran Petrosyan, opposition politician: The vast majority of Artsakh residents trusted Russian peacekeepers after the war, and would even scold those who would criticize the peacekeepers, but today they feel that peacekeepers are not fulfilling their duties. We don't know whether they "won't" or "can't".

Based on chief peacekeeper Volkov's words, they can't carry out their mission properly due to a lack of numbers and legal authorization to act. Volkov himself was complaining about it. Whether Kremlin wants to treat us as disposable change is another question.

Reporter: Is it because of Ukraine?

Politician: That's what Volkov said. He said almost all the resources were focused on Ukraine. He urged us to wait a little more. I said I believe you but your personal opinion may not match with Kremlin's.

Reporter: Did Volkov say anything about the Artsakh government?

Politician: Volkov said they have great relations with the government and they help each other. Volkov knew we represented an opposition political party. Something strange happened. In the past, peacekeepers would avoid making headlines about meeting public officials from Artsakh. But today peacekeepers themselves publicized our meeting as if they intentionally want Azeris and Kremlin to know that the locals are unsatisfied.

Reporter: Did you know that Armenians would be asked to leave the current corridor sooner than planned?

Politician: Even though Azerbaijan has routinely violated the Nov. 9 agreement in the past, this one has crossed all the lines. It's written in black and white. Some people try to interpret the situation in ridiculous ways. Azerbaijan's behavior is enabled by Russia, because Russia is the guarantor of the Nov. 9 agreement. We must demand Russia tell us honestly whether they can preserve peace or not. There are rumors that the Artsakh government and Azeri government planned everything, but I can't confirm if the rumors are true.

Reporter: Why would Artsakh government want its population in Lachin to be forced out sooner?

Politician: I don't know. There are theories. Maybe Azerbaijan controls Vitaly Balasanyan and Arayik Harutyuynyan through bribes or threats.

Reporter: What do you mean?

Politician: Maybe they promised to appoint Vitaly Balasanyan as the governor of Karabakh province of Azerbaijan, and scared Arayik Harutyunyan by threatening to arrest him. >![Is this the new hot conspiracy theory right now? Did I miss it?]!<

Reporter: Azerbaijan was building the road very quickly. Are you surprised that they decided not to wait for the 3-year deadline to end?

Politician: I'm surprised that Russians caved to their demands and passed the ultimatum to Armenia.

[video,](https://youtu.be/hhDFHeTpQJo)

state competition protection agency is investigating delivery companies Globbing, Onex, and even HayPost

Globbing, Onex, and HayPost's "Ber-Ber" services deliver products from abroad.

The regulator believes they mislead the public with characteristics of unfair competition. The deliveries take much longer than advertised, argues the regulator.

[read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1090045.html)

police begins issuing citations to business owners who install makeshift "NO PARKING" signs on sidewalks

Some business owners in Yerevan, especially near the center, are using unauthorized barriers and "No Parking" signs to reserve a spot for themselves, complaints the municipality. Sometimes they will block a traffic lane with the signs.

The city inspectors and police officers have teamed up to conduct daily checks. A warning is issued before a fine. The joint patrols will become a routine practice, said the municipality.

[read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1089992.html)

Gegharkunik governor met city leaders to discuss projects in the province

Governor: Vardenis was only able to collect 62% of the expected taxes. That's unsatisfactory and will delay the progress in the implementation of infrastructure programs co-financed by the feds. It is up to the mayor of each settlement to ensure a proper collection of taxes.

The feds are waiting for us to prepare a report about the true size of irrigated lands so they can launch the construction phase of a large-scale irrigation project. We need to bring many irrigated lands out of the shadows so the feds can calculate the true demand for water.

The lands have been misused for many years. The grasslands and pastures were leased by people who did not use them for their intended purpose. Mind you, today we have a shortage of these lands with many farmers asking to gain access to one. We will audit the contracts and cancel them if the farmer doesn't have the required number of cattle, lacks an investment plan, or misuses the lands. We must give the lands to those who truly want to use it for cattle.

The government and UEFA plan to subsidize the construction of hundreds of pitches and stadiums in Armenia. For this program to proceed in our province, we must quickly correct certain construction errors in Akunq and Tsovak.

... Vardenis will have a medical center equipped with modern tech

Hospital director: The center has received new equipment over the past year. We can provide better surgical, gynecology, x-ray, and optometry services. We've also received funds from charities to improve the working conditions. Today we are looking for more doctors and specialists.

Gegharkunik governor: We will conduct a seismic analysis of the facility. If it's sufficient, it will be renovated and re-equipped. If not, we will build a new facility.

[read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1090028.html) [read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1090029.html)

80% of hospitalized COVID patients are unvaccinated

Government: The BA.4 and BA.5 strains are active in Armenia. They are "smart" and capable of bypassing your antibodies that were formed "naturally". The antibodies formed from vaccines are 50%-60% effective and can prevent serious effects.

Your child will soon catch the virus in school and bring it home. It's time to get vaccinated. You'll find Pfizer and Sinopharm at every clinic.

[read,](https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/242017)

authorities arrested a suspected professional serial burglar in Yerevan

Police: Two weeks ago we received a home burglary report from a resident on Agatangeghos street. The burglar had used lockpicking tools to gain access to the apartment. A pair of glasses, a watch, and some cash was stolen.

A few days later a similar burglary took place in the same apartment building. The tenants left the apartment for a few hours. The burglar stole items worth $2,700.

The following day we received a report about another burglary with the same MO, but at a different location. Gold and silver jewelry were stolen.

More resources were involved to catch the burglar(s). We were able to narrow down the list of suspects. As a result, yesterday we arrested the 42yo suspect. He has a burglary conviction record. //

[read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1090043.html)

authorities investigate Armenian fuel importers and Iranian drivers over alleged tax evasion scheme

IRS: We investigated businesses that import fuel gas and diesel, and discovered that some of them have been using a scheme to evade taxes.

Several Iranian truck drivers loaded their trucks with more fuel than disclosed in the documents, then sold it to gas stations in Syunik. The gas stations, in turn, sold the fuel to larger fuel import companies.

These large fuel import companies, in turn, sold the fuel to clients in Armenia while claiming it was exported to the Artsakh Republic.

Several companies have been caught doing this. The investigation continues. //

[read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1090006.html)

TechCrunch: How an Armenian startup plans to use a new innovation to tackle the billion-dollar phishing industry

DMARC is a standard designed to protect email senders and recipients from phishing and spam. It's like transitioning from HTTP to HTTPS. The number of domains using DMARC has gone from 6m to 10m last year.

84% of all emails are spam, while a vast number of cyberattacks are carried out through phishing emails.

Gerasim Hovhanisyan was tasked with investigating a phishing attack on a multi-billion dollar company. He found no security solutions that made the use of DMARC easy for businesses, so together with Avag Arakelyan they launched a startup EasyDMARC.

They have 30k clients in 130 countries today. They recently raised $2.3m.

[full,](https://techcrunch.com/2022/08/09/how-an-armenian-startup-plans-to-use-a-new-innovation-to-tackle-the-billion-dollar-phishing-industry/)

Armenia improves ranking in Reporters Without Borders index, overtakes Georgia

Armenia has climbed 12 positions in the 2022 report, moving from 63rd to 51st.

Norway 1

Moldova 40

Armenia 51 (was 63)

Georgia 89 (was 60)

Turkey 149

Azerbaijan 154

Russia 155

Iran 178

North Korea 180

>Despite a pluralistic environment, the media [in Armenia] remain polarised. The country is facing an unprecedented level of disinformation and hate speech, especially concerning the Nagorno-Karabakh territorial dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Media landscape: The main news source are social networks. The media landscape has grown since the 2018 revolution. Independent online news sites are prospering. Most broadcast and print media remain affiliated with major political interests.

[full,](https://rsf.org/en/index) [read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1090021.html)

it's about to get deadly hot in Yerevan again

Top exports to Iraq: sheep & cigarettes

Top imports from Iraq: hot winds

The scorching hot currents will reach Armenia tomorrow. The temperatures will reach 42c in Yerevan and the nearby provinces around August 15-19. Don't forget to drink, piss, and apply sunscreen liberally.

[read,](https://factor.am/542385.html)

tourists LOVE this about Armenia, but eco-activists want to ruin the fun for everyone (perhaps for a good reason)

Պուլպուլակ can be found in most neighborhoods of Armenia. The free water is especially useful in the summer. Tourists love them.

Russian woman in Yerevan: This is what saves us. We aren't used to hot weather like this. We drink as soon as we see one. We've tried every pulpulak in the city.

Russian man in Yerevan: This is the most delicious water. It's cold, free, and tasty. We don't see this anywhere else in the world. You can't find those in Moscow, whereas in Yerevan you will find one in every backyard.

Diasporan: Love this about Yerevan. In Los Angeles, you have to ask a restaurant for a glass of water. You have to carry a bottle of water with you in Los.

Tourist from London: It's beautiful that you can find those in many locations. The water is great. //

BUT...

Pulpulaks waste 11 million m^3 of water every year, warn the eco-experts. [That's about a tenth of what the government drains from Lake Sevan to aid agriculture.]

The average pulpulak uses as much water as a family of two. There are 3,000 in the capital, and 6,500 in all of Armenia.

The water is delivered by Veolia Water utility company but they don't monitor the water loss. They have contractual obligations to deliver free water to pulpulaks. Is up to pulpulak administrators to install a valve to reduce waste, said Veolia representatives.

Veolia recently conducted an experiment by installing valves on dozens of pulpulaks in Yerevan. It ended up reducing water use by 10x. The pilot program was temporary.

Water expert: We have valves on 250 privately-owned pulpulaks today. Water is gold. Years ago the UAE sent a delegation to Armenia to negotiate about water. "Name the price," they said.

We should at least reuse the drained water. It's possible to sanitize it. It's freshwater, after all. A small sanitation station could allow the drained water to be used for irrigation or watering the streets.

Nature Ministry official: We don't have active plans to install a sanitation station, but steps are being taken to conserve water. We won't shut down pulpulaks, but if the same backyard has 5, we will let one of them operate 24/7 and install valves on the rest. We are working with the government and Veolia Water to gather resources for this project.

Some citizens: DO NOT INSTALL VALVES ON OUR PULPULAKS. They make water warmer. We will break your valves.

[watch,](https://youtu.be/1-lYwWYxE2U) [read,](https://factor.am/542574.html)

Armenia is one of top-3 destinations for Russian tourists who plan to travel in September-October

Tourism analytical center TUTU lists Armenia, Turkey, and Uzbekistan as top destinations. The average ticket to Armenia $183, Turkey $400, Uzbekistan $203.

[read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1090016.html)

Armenia's chess team is greeted at Zvartnots airport after returning from Chess Olympiad with a silver medal | PHOTO

Deputy Minister Giloyan: This silver is a historic success after a lengthy break from past achievements. This is a true sensation and one of the biggest surprises in recent sports history [players are relatively young and have lower FIDE ranking].

We thought finishing in the top 5 would be an excellent result. The boys proved that having a clear star [Levon Aronian] in the team is not required to perform well. The team succeeds when there is an organic connection between the members. The last round against Spain is a perfect example.

Player Gabriel Sargsyan: Levon Aronian has contributed greatly to our victory with his advice.

Coach Pashikyan: They did very well. I find it hard to remember a case when a team with so many points would finish second. They often win with fewer points. The competition was very fierce this year, mainly between the three teams.

We knew within the first few minutes that our team would defeat Azerbaijan. Our players' positions were stronger. //

[read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1090041.html)

Armenia's champion Pyunik FC is downgraded to Europa League after suffering defeat in Champions League

Last month Pyunik became the first Armenian team to reach the 3rd qualification round of the UEFA Champions League. They went on to lose the matches against Serbia's champion 0:2 and 0:5.

The team has been "downgraded" to the less prestigious UEFA Europa League, where it will compete against Moldova's champion on August 18 and 25.

[read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1089990.html)

today in history

1920: Ottoman sultan signs the Treaty of Sevres that divides the empire between the Allies.

[read,](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/August_10)The accused are innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law, even if they "appear" guilty.

in case you missed

Yesterday's news in English, русский (by Impossible-Ad-). Archive by Armeniapedia. Donate to Armenia & Artsakh here

The accused are innocent unless proven guilty in a 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/wl6wsw/your_daily_news_digest_from_armenia_wednesday/