2022 August 18

Daily news wrap-up

Thursday news briefing from Armenia. Aug/18/2022.
by ar_david_hh

---

10 minutes. 2685 words.

Day 5: explosion at Surmalu shopping center

Hospitals continue to treat 4 victims of the [Sunday blast](https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/wpbiqj/your_monday_news_digest_from_armenia_aug152022/) caused by 4+ tons of fireworks. They will be discharged in the coming days. The Healthcare Ministry is fully subsidizing their treatment.

Over a thousand rescuers and volunteers have taken part in the rescue and debris removal efforts. They saved 10 people and found 16 bodies.

16 dead, 62 injured (plus 2 firefighters), hundreds needed first aid and psychological support, 1 remains missing. The rescuers know where to look for the missing person. 90% of the debris is now removed; they have reached the epicenter of the blast.

... the cause

After analyzing the available evidence and reviewing the footage from the scene, the authorities have confirmed that the cause of the blast was negligent storage of explosive firework materials, and not a terrorist attack, said the Investigative Committee chief.

It started as a fire with lots of smoke. People began to run. Then the fire reached the fireworks depot.

... investigation

It is still unclear who exactly stored the 4+ tons of fireworks. Multiple businesses rented storage from Surmalu. The building itself was in poor condition, caught fire in 2021, and the owners were told to fix fire hazards and safety violations, but the owner had requested more time to comply.

Media report: A business owner who rented space in Surmalu and became a victim of the 2021 fire had asked the prosecutors to shut down the shopping center, but they didn't.

Prosecutors: The accusations against us are groundless and manipulative. First of all, prosecutors had no authority to shut down the shopping center. After the April 2021 fire, the inspectors ordered a comprehensive fire and safety examination of the building {and found [dozens of violations](https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/wpbiqj/your_monday_news_digest_from_armenia_aug152022/) which led to the owner being fined $100 and ordered to fix the problems by the end of the year}. The 2021 fire victim's lawyer later sent a letter to us. We directed the letter to the inspectors with the request to address the issues raised by the lawyer, and informed the lawyer about it. [Continue](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1090613.html) //

Inspection agency: We ordered Surmalu owners to fix the problems [no sprinklers, no smoke detectors, illegal cables, etc.] by the end of 2021. The law does not require us to conduct the follow-up check immediately. We scheduled it for Q3 2022. It would not have been possible to do so sooner because the agency is overloaded with work. //

Investigators will soon question the owner and operators to find out who stored the explosives and wheater it was legal.

... burglar targets the first responders

Reporter: Is it true that the deputy Emergency Minister's vehicle was burglarized?

Official: Yes. The Deputy and others rushed to the scene on Sunday. He parked the vehicle near the scene. Hours later he returned to find a broken window and a missing backpack with documents and a wallet. Moreover, the following day one of the volunteer rescuers had his car burglarized as well.

... conspiracy theories target Russia

The context in [previous news digest](https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/wqxtnw/your_wednesday_news_recap_from_armenia_aug172022/). Russia wants the Armenian government to publicly criticize anti-Russian political forces that circulated conspiracy theories linking Russia to the Sunday blast.

Russian MFA today: We had a constructive discussion with the Armenian foreign ministry today. We are waiting for the official response. //

[read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1090564.html) [read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1090566.html) [read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1090568.html) [read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1090575.html) [read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1090613.html) [read,](https://factor.am/545023.html) [watch,](https://youtu.be/xQ43T1E-CG4 [watch,](https://youtu.be/avNCcCp-2MQ?t=429) [watch,](https://youtu.be/5EFKjLk9uvo?t=9)

police detained the man who used fireworks during the mourning day on Wednesday

Entertainment shows are prohibited on Wednesday and Thursday to mourn the victims of the blast. Someone defied the ban and used fireworks in Arabkir district yesterday.

The police caught the man. He turned out to be a foreign citizen who claimed not to be aware of the ban.

The parliament will soon discuss a bill to ban the sale of fireworks to the general public.

[watch,](https://youtu.be/oeHMPglLvWM?t=3) [read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1090599.html)

police have reportedly learned the true identity of Colonel Audbekus Niderman

[Last month](https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/w2a2l3/jul182022_this_is_your_monday_news_digest_from/) someone made a fake report about a bomb planted in president Levon Ter-Petrosyan's house. The hoaxer identified himself as Colonel Audbekus Niderman.

Emergency Ministry official today: We've received approximately 27 bomb hoaxes this year, the vast majority of which came through electronic communication. Most of it was emailed to the Yerevan municipality. The last two were emailed to Ministry. Law enforcement is working on it.

There was a call about Gyumri, and a while ago president LTP's residency was also targeted. The police have identified a suspect. Identifying hoaxers located outside Armenia will take longer. //

[watch,](https://youtu.be/avNCcCp-2MQ?t=1725)

Government approves a bill to allow Yerevan inspectors to immediately confiscate illegal street vendors' property, because fines aren't working

Minister Sanosyan: Yerevan and other settlements have a problem with illegal sales on sidewalks. No matter how many fines they write, the issue persists.

Yerevan authorities have drafted a bill that will give them the right to also confiscate food, animal, and toy vendors' properties, and launch legal proceedings. [Flower sellers won't be targeted. The city inspectors will confiscate the products and then launch a court proceeding to keep them. Confiscated food will be destroyed immediately.]

Yerevan mayor Hrachya: We analyzed the streets for 2 years and found that the existing law is insufficient to combat street sales. Inspectors issue fines but the vendors return hours later. Most of the street food sellers aren't villagers, they are resellers.

We are often unable to collect the fines. 90% of the time the vendor doesn't have a property registered under their name. We believe the solution is to confiscate the product they sell on the street. These reforms will allow us to finally address the longstanding issue.

We often don't know how safe the gas canisters used by cotton candy sellers are. Others sell live animals.

Pashinyan: Our primary issue is the establishment of institutes and higher standards in Armenia. We must raise certain standards without compromise because we all know that poor standards eventually lead to disaster.

The same is true about the army. Today we look back and wonder why we tolerated the compromises for years. Knowing that our army had certain negative "processes", we've always been hesitant to "touch the army". This compromise later blew up in our face, didn't it? Every time you make a compromise, it ends up blowing up on your face. Every day I receive new information about incidents and processes about the 2020 war, and every time I refuse to believe that it could be true. It's impossible to comprehend. It is all a result of settling for low standards. Let's not offend the army, let's not offend this and that. We created all these "holy" untouchable institutes in which the officials could do whatever they wanted.

The COVID-19 virus spread -- at least officially -- from animals. We have unlicensed street vendors selling animals in Yerevan, which could lead to another pandemic, after which we will all gather together and pray for those who died from the new pandemic, while cursing the state for neglecting safety.

Let's agree that we need standards in Armenia. //

[watch,](https://youtu.be/xQ43T1E-CG4?t=2747) [read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1090582.html) [watch,](https://youtu.be/Jua6X48tSqg?t=2393)

Artsakh Defense Army is using drones to spy on Azeri soldiers, according to Azerbaijan

Azeri MoD: Our airspace is under constant surveillance. Last Saturday we forced a quadrocopter operated by Armenian forces to land. It attempted to carry out a surveillance mission against Azeri soldiers stationed in Shushi. //

[read,](https://www.azatutyun.am/a/31994295.html)

U.S. reiterates the need for a negotiated, comprehensive, and sustainable settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict

US State Department: The recent increase in tensions underscores the need for a comprehensive settlement of all remaining issues related to or resulting from the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. We are going to remain committed to working with the parties. We will continue to do so bilaterally, but also with like-minded partners in the EU and through our role as an OSCE Minsk co-chair to help the countries find that long-term comprehensive peace.

Reporter: Do you still see the same level of historic opportunities you were seeing three weeks ago?

US State Department: We absolutely still see an opportunity here despite the recent setbacks. We always recognized this was never going to be a linear process. We believe that through continued dialogue, continued engagement, including at the senior levels, we will be in a position to do everything we can to help advance that long-term comprehensive peace.

[read,](https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1090546.html)

NSS will install border crossing checkpoints on Armenia-Azerbaijan state border: bill

Armenia and Azerbaijan plan to lift the border blockade. On the Armenian side, Armenian and Russian agents are expected to check and monitor the traffic passing through Armenia.

Pashinyan earlier this month: Azeris can cross our border to reach Nakhijevan as long as it's in accordance with our law. We will guarantee the security of their traffic. We have Armenian customs and border checkpoints in several directions and we told Azerbaijan that at any time they can cross and establish a connection with Nakhijevan. It can be through Gazakh-Ijevan, Vardenis, Sisian, Yeraskh, Goris, it doesn't matter. What matters is the stipulation and legal procedures: passport checks, customs checks, and security guarantees with the help of the Russian side. //

The NSS has drafted a relevant bill to organize the aforementioned.

Bill: New border crossing points will be established to organize the travel of persons, cargo, and transport vehicles. The new checkpoints are planned to be established in the direction of Gegharkunik (Sotk-Kelbajar, automobile), Ararat (Yeraskh-Sadarak, automobile), Syunik (Karahunj-Eivazli, automobile). //

[read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1090589.html) [read,](https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/wg7mr5/your_thursday_news_digest_from_armenia_aug42022/) [read,](https://www.civilnet.am/news/671543/%d5%b0%d5%a1%d5%b5%d5%af%d5%a1%d5%af%d5%a1%d5%b6-%d5%af%d5%b8%d5%b2%d5%b4%d5%a8-%d5%b0%d5%a1%d5%b5-%d5%a1%d5%a4%d6%80%d5%a2%d5%a5%d5%bb%d5%a1%d5%b6%d5%a1%d5%af%d5%a1%d5%b6-%d5%bd%d5%a1%d5%b0%d5%b4%d5%a1%d5%b6%d5%ab%d5%b6-%d5%a5%d6%80%d5%a5%d6%84-%d5%b6%d5%b8%d6%80-%d5%a1%d5%b6%d6%81%d5%a1%d5%af%d5%a5%d5%bf-%d5%af%d5%bd%d5%bf%d5%a5%d5%b2%d5%ae%d5%ab/)

Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey will simplify customs procedures for railway transport

They signed an agreement to exchange primary information electronically to simplify and expedite the customs procedures for the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway.

>At the same time, due to mutually agreed modern methods of customs control, time will be saved, which will create conditions for the comfortable movement of goods

>The agreement, which is also important in terms of increasing the attractiveness of transport corridors, will have a positive impact on increasing logistics opportunities for economic operators

[read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1090603.html) [redacted]

Government allocates an additional $1.9 million for infrastructure projects in 15 settlements in provinces

Minister: We have thus far subsidized 288 projects worth $19.7 million. Today's payment is mostly for capital expenditures for new roads, parks, playgrounds, renovation of kindergartens and state facilities, pipelines, street lights, etc.

... villages to have roads that resemble the local nature

Pashinyan: Let's stop using bitumen plates in parks and alleys. Their upper layers wear out very quickly. I've seen it with my own eyes during the last trip. Replace them with stone. Yes, it will cost more to build, but it will last much longer.

Minister: You instructed in 2020 to use locally produced tuf and basalt. Municipalities began actively using them starting in 2021, including for village roads. They use mostly tuf stone, as long as it's thick enough.

Now we plan to use limestone in settlements near limestone production factories. It will be beautiful if each settlement uses rocks native to its geography.

Stones will cost 3-5x more than asphalt, but certain stones basically never wear out. And if one rock goes bad or the base of the road needs adjustment, we only need to fix a small area.

Pashinyan: The goal is to use stones native to the province. Do take into account the longevity of stone road while calculating the overall costs. And we don't seem to have a shortage of stones in Armenia...

Minister: Believe me or not, we do. The stone mines are not producing enough for sidewalks and road plates. We even have construction companies who have difficulty finding curbstones. This is because many basalt producers have found it more financially beneficial to grind the stone into щебень (macadam). Many other basalt producers' products don't meet quality standards.

Pashinyan: We're gonna have to address these issues one by one. This year the IRS has outperformed with the collection, but we face challenges when the time comes to spend it on capital projects. //

[watch,](https://youtu.be/xQ43T1E-CG4?t=1249) [read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1090576.html)

Government allocates $2.6 million to install the 3rd layer of asphalt on Tatev-Aghvan alternative road in Syunik

The construction firm will fix the areas with potholes and then lay the third layer of asphalt, which will make the road more suitable for heavy cargo trucks traveling to-from Iran.

Minister: The alternative road in Syunik was designed in 2019 but it wasn't meant to handle interstate cargo traffic. The construction company built it in 2020 but it had flaws, which have now been fixed. They are laying the final 3rd layer today.

Pashinyan: Who paid to fix the flaws?

Minister: The construction firms. We only paid for the additional infrastructure adjacent to the road.

Pashinyan: Is the road fully smooth now? Are we installing the final layer?

Minister: Yes. One of the firms has already installed 6km. Today's financial allocation is to continue the work.

[watch,](https://youtu.be/xQ43T1E-CG4?t=2372) [read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1090578.html)

update: half of the 161 residents of Berdzor (Lachin) have been relocated

There were 70 families in Berdzor as of August 5. Efforts began recently to relocate them by August 25. Half of them have already resettled in Artsakh and Armenia. Others are packed and waiting for the buses. Some families decided to move the graves of their relatives as well. There is a plan to launch a new Lachin corridor between Stepanakert and Goris.

[read,](https://factor.am/544995.html)

we won't move an inch until the new Lachin road is operational: Russian peacekeepers

[Yesterday we learned](https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/wqxtnw/your_wednesday_news_recap_from_armenia_aug172022/) that Armenia is building its section of the road that will connect to the Lachin corridor. It will be a gravel road for now, until the asphalt is ready by May.

Russian embassy official: The peacekeepers will not move an inch from the existing Lachin corridor until the new road is operational. There is an agreement in this regard. The parties are in touch. The Nov. 9 agreement explains the process: build the corridor, and before it's operational, the peacekeepers begin deploying on the new 5km corridor, around the new road. //

The reporters attempted to clarify wheater that means Russian peacekeepers will leave the existing corridor when the gravel road is operational, or when the asphalt road is fully ready next year. Artsakh's Security Council only said "when the construction is complete".

The Russian embassy official also said they are ready to increase the number of peacekeepers if Yerevan and Baku give their permission.

[read,](https://www.azatutyun.am/a/31993014.html) [watch,](https://youtu.be/v1QdOdTtk6M) [read,](https://www.panarmenian.net/arm/news/302123/)

another Azeri war veteran commits public self-immolation

He survived the suicide attempt in front of a regional administration building and was taken to a hospital in serious condition. The man accused the government of neglecting veterans. This was the 3rd self-immolation in 2 months.

[read,](https://www.azatutyun.am/a/31994336.html)

🚨 քիրմինալնի խռոնիկի 🚨

Russian police: Customs agents at Vnukovo airport have foiled an attempt by Russian and Armenian citizens to smuggle out 225 kilograms of gold worth 800m rubles to the United Arab Emirates.

The first group was to fly to Yerevan with the gold in their carry-on. Yerevan was chosen because it's an EAEU state and its citizens are not subject to customs control.

After passing through customs, while in the neutral zone, the Armenian group was supposed to meet the second group and exchange the carry-on suitcases. //

[read,](http://arka.am/en/news/society/russian_customs_officials_foil_an_attempt_by_armenian_and_russian_citizens_to_smuggle_out_225_kg_of_/)

several Armenian schools will teach Georgian starting this year

It won't be just the schools near the borders. Details of the cultural project later.

[read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1090597.html) [watch,](https://youtu.be/35-FWuGdcOQ?t=222)

Europea League: Pyunik vs Seriff

Armenia's soccer champion is playing against the Moldovan champion. Pyunik recently suffered a defeat and was downgraded from the prestigious Champions League to Europe League, but not after becoming the first Armenian team to successfully advance multiple rounds.

The [lights went out](https://youtu.be/Uf6uJInCp8A) in Hanrapetakan Stadium ahead of the match. The tribunes are chanting "Pyunik, Yerevan, dum-dum-dum-dum, dum-dum".

The match ended 0:0. They will meet for the second one in Moldova on August 25.

[watch,](https://youtu.be/Uf6uJInCp8A)

Emma Poghosyan wins gold in U15 European weightlifting championship

The 81kg athlete lifted 91+115 kilos.

[read,](https://www.panarmenian.net/arm/news/302127/)

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.

---

Link to original report and comments: https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/wrt3gc/thursday_news_briefing_from_armenia_aug182022/