2022 August 22

Daily news wrap-up

Monday, Aug/22/2022. Your daily news summary from Armenia.
by ar_david_hh

---

Good evening. Today's news digest is 16 minutes, 3989 words. Follow so you won't miss it.

a former employee, armed with a grenade and handgun, broke into Masis city hall on Friday after an alleged dispute with the mayor

The 36yo man nicknamed "losht" (big ears), who was a former municipality council member, called the police and reported that he had a conflict with a group of municipality employees and that he and 10 others could "soon die".

Hours later, while wearing a tanktop and sandals, he broke into the municipality building. It was a late evening with only a janitor and guard in the building. Mayor HHK Davit Hambardzumyan was on a vacation.

The man, armed with a handgun and a grenade, pushed the guard away and broke into the mayor's office on the 4th floor. Cops encircled the building and launched negotiations.

Police: The two employees present in the building were safely evacuated. During the negotiations he threw a grenade from the window into the backyard, causing damage to 2 parked vehicles but no injuries to humans. His family members were brought to convince him to surrender. Two gunshots were heard from the building. Special forces stormed the room and found him dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. //

Residents claimed the man was under the influence of a substance. The family denied it.

Family members: Edward was not a "terrorist". He had problems with the mayor and others. They used to be friends with the mayor; he was from the same team.

He was told to meet someone to settle certain things. I don't know where this meeting was supposed to take place. He then told us "I will go to a meeting with the mayor". The meeting never took place. He claimed they lied to him. //

The family doesn't trust the local police and believes they are shielding the mayor. The family doesn't believe the man shot himself. "They killed him," said the distraught mother, who revealed that his son had gotten into a conflict several months earlier and shots were fired at him and his vehicle.

The mayor denied any involvement with the incident. His deputy mayor was asked to comment on why he wrote that the suspect was "neutralized" before the police released a statement. He claimed he rushed, misunderstood the situation, and didn't realize that the man had died from a self-inflicted wound.

[watch,](https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=609469884158155) [watch,](https://youtu.be/1-kaE2qirBc?t=6) [watch,](https://youtu.be/GdZ_UB18pLk?t=10) [read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1090705.html) [read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1090707.html) [read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1090735.html) [read,](https://news.am/arm/news/716724.html) [read,](https://www.aysor.am/am/news/2022/08/20/%D5%94%D4%BF/1999238) [read,](https://www.azatutyun.am/a/31999294.html) [read,](https://factor.am/545439.html)

U.S. FBI's legal attaché visits Armenia

▶︎ Armenia's law enforcement officials hosted Heather Bergey's delegation on Monday to discuss joint efforts to solve heavy crimes. Armenian officials thanked their colleagues for their recent assistance. They discussed programs to retrain Armenian agents.

▶︎ U.S. DOJ's anti-narcotics official was in Yerevan to meet the head of Armenia's IRS. They spoke about the ongoing reforms to improve Armenia's canine facility and train more dogs that detect narcotics.

[read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1090832.html) [read,](https://factor.am/545769.html)

Armenia is making progress in the rule of law and justice: U.S. Department of State

Bureau of International Narcotics: Armenia has been trying to balance its relationship with the region and Western institutions to overcome the legacy of Soviet institutions. The 2018 revolution brought to power a new government with an explicit anti-corruption mandate and a strong desire to improve the criminal justice system, in stark contrast to the previous corrupt, Russia-influenced, oligarchical regime. [SHOTS FIRED, SHOTS FIRED]

GOOD: There is progress on rule of law and justice, police reforms, anti-corruption, fighting financial crime, and an increasing emphasis on upholding human rights.

BAD: Too few judges, outdated laws provide investigators with limited tools to build strong cases, and organizations remain territorial and unwilling to advocate for resources.

GOALS: We seek to support Armenia in its effort to tackle institutional corruption in its criminal justice sector through establishing strong foundations for new anticorruption institutions, revitalizing Armenian law enforcement to meet international best practices and employ a new model of service-oriented policing.

[original,](https://www.state.gov/bureau-of-international-narcotics-and-law-enforcement-affairs-work-by-country/armenia-summary/) [read,](https://factor.am/545765.html)

Anti-Corruption Committee uncovers embezzlement of community lands worth $11 million

ACC: We found instances of embezzlement of municipal and state lands worth ֏4.5b. Six individuals, including a former Cadastre Committee official and his colleague, are charged with crimes.

G.M. worked at the Cadastre office in 2007-2014 and developed friendly relations with colleagues. Together with an accomplice, he conspired to steal 80,000 m^2 land pieces.

The conspirators informed their family members about the illegal scheme, and they agreed to take part. The officials proceeded to falsify land auction records and forge municipal documents and signatures.

The two ex-officials are under arrest. The accomplices are also charged. The investigation continues. //

[read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1090810.html)

anti-corruption: auditor accuses "negligent" Yerevan officials of depriving the city of $16.9 million in additional revenues in 2011-2021

State Supervision Service: We concluded the audit of activities relating to urban development. It was launched amid complaints against certain processes.

The findings reveal that as a result of negligence by Yerevan officials, the budget was deprived of an additional ֏6.2b in revenues. The officials extended the construction permits of companies that violated the deadlines, but failed to collect the fines from 2011-2021.

Additionally, in 2018-2021 the mayor of Yerevan made a [legal] decision to legalize 2,500 illegal structures but failed to collect ֏0.7b in associated penalties. //

[read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1090815.html)

Real Madrid uses Armenian singer Rosa Linn's now-viral Eurovision song in a tribute clip dedicated to one of its departing players

The Spanish club thanked midfielder Casemiro for GG in the TikTok video.

[watch,](https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=563605565497351) [read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1090724.html)

European Championship: Armenian gymnasts win multiple gold and silver medals 🥇🥈

▶︎ Harutyun Meridinyan won the gold in the Pommel Horse exercise. [Watch him spin his massive titanium balls around.](https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=415945953859897)

▶︎ Legendary Arthur Davtyan won silver in Vault. His elder brother Vahagn finished 4th.

▶︎ (Junior) Eric Baghdasaryan won the gold in Parallel Bars.

▶︎ (Junior) Hamlet Manukyan won 2 silver medals in Pommel Horse and Rings.

[read,](https://www.europeangymnastics.com/news/6-nations-golden-munich2022-junior-apparatus-finals) [read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1090754.html) [read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1090756.html) [read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1090764.html) [read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1090766.html) [read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1090767.html) [read,](https://www.dailysentinel.com/anpa/sports/image_48272bf1-32e5-5ca9-9d84-a5f0fd58abee.html) [watch,](https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=415945953859897)

Armenian boxers return with 6 medals from the European championship held in Turkey

Gold: Hamest Afrikyan 🥇, Sammvel Siramargyan 🥇

Bronze: Vahram Dovlatbekyan 🥉, Tigran Hovsepyan 🥉, Alenn Stepanyan 🥉, Hayk Ghahramanyan 🥉

Boxing Federation chief: Armenian boxing is making history. The Armenian anthem was played in Turkey for the first time. The boys could have done better if it wasn't for the emotional tensions associated with the host country. These youngsters have a great future ahead of them. //

[read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1090765.html)

🥇 Armenian Greco-Roman wrestlers return home with gold and silver medals from European Championship 🥇

87kg Vigen Nazarhyan is the U20 champion. 60kg Suren Aghajanyan won silver. Both athletes competed against Iranian wrestlers.

[read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1090821.html)

Yerevan municipality donates an apartment to wrestling world champion Malkhas Amoyan after [learning](https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/vhnazu/jun212022_news_armenia_wants_to_invest_in/) he lives in a 68 m^2 apartment with parents and siblings

The new one a 92 m^2 apartment on Leningradyan St.

[read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1090825.html)

a miner organized a public hearing ahead of the geological examination of natural reserves in Gladzor (Vayots Dzor)

Metal Gold company rep.: We plan to carry out technological tests and extract small amounts. The goal is to study the ore and the most optimal extraction methods. The previous tests were performed 50 years ago. If the results are positive, we will apply for a mining permit. //

The miner complains that the public hearing was repeatedly delayed for invalid reasons. They were able to hold one today. Residents who are for and against the project expressed their views.

[watch,](https://youtu.be/Tzuvoly1Pag) [read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1090806.html)

COVID stats last week

6.5k tested, 1.9k infected, 1.6k healed, 5 deaths, 2.4k currently sick.

[read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1090786.html)

French retailer Carrefour will freeze prices on 100 products until December to tackle inflation

The moves follow pressure from President Emmanuel Macron’s government for businesses to do more to curb rising prices. France's 6.5% inflation is the highest since the early 1990s.

Carrefour has a supermarket in Armenia but the price freeze appears to be for France only.

[read,](https://www.reuters.com/article/france-inflation-carrefour-idAFL8N2ZY112) [read,](https://www.coinspeaker.com/carrefour-freeze-prices-inflation/) [read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1090802.html)

1,700 cargo trucks are stuck on the Upper Lars border checkpoint between Georgia and Russia

There are no jams for passenger transport as a result of the recently opened additional lanes.

[read,](https://factor.am/545575.html)

update: Armenian traffic will not be suspended when Azeri cargo/passenger convoys travel to Nakhijevan via Armenia

Context and location of the border crossing points can be found in [August 18 news digest](https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/wrt3gc/thursday_news_briefing_from_armenia_aug182022/). It's part of the efforts to unblock the regional communication routes.

There is also a plan to resume railway traffic between Armenia and Azerbaijan through Nakhijevan. During USSR, Armenia made 80% of its railway transfers via the Yerevan-Nakhijevan-Baku-Russia railway, which Yerevan is trying to unblock today despite opposition by domestic opposition.

[read,](https://factor.am/545969.html) [read,](https://www.aliqmedia.am/2022/08/19/78087/)

Russia, Azerbaijan, and Iran will simplify customs procedures for cargo transit

The trio signed an agreement on Monday to streamline the cargo transfers at the borders. It's meant to use electronic tools to accelerate and simplify customs procedures for the participants.

[read,](https://factor.am/545824.html) [redacted,]

EU is discussing with banks the financing of Armenia's North-South highway project

EU ambassador Wiktorin: We are discussing various ways to support the construction with the help of banks. The EU and EBRD bank have already supported the implementation of the initial phase of this major project.

We are also supporting other projects in Syunik. With the help of the European Investment Bank, we will assist the two COAF youth centers in Syunik. This is in addition to Team Europe's support for small and medium enterprises.

The next project is the "Green Yerevan" signed in 2021. The capital will receive eco-friendly buses and will have better waste management. //

[read,](https://factor.am/545741.html)

rescue efforts continue in Surmalu shopping center to find the missing person

3 people remain in the hospital. Only a 40 m^2 area is left to scan to find the only missing person. Rescuers repeated today that they might never be able to recover his body because of the close proximity to the blast. The temperature was up to 1,000C at the time of the blast. Firefighters had to spend 20 hours in this area. There height of the ash at the epicenter is 1.5 meters. "Հնարավոր է, որ մարմինը մոխրացած լինի:" They will search one more day before making a decision.

Rescuer: We had several untrained volunteers at the site who made things worse. We had to waste 10 minutes yelling "silence" at them so we could hear any sounds coming from the rubble. If you want to volunteer, you must take classes first. //

[read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1090762.html) [read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1090820.html) [watch,](https://youtu.be/vNhfFw3SPnQ) [read,](https://factor.am/545956.html)

2 Azeri soldiers blew up on a landmine in Lachin Corridor

They were transported to a hospital with wounds. Armenia shared the landmine maps last year so it's unclear why they keep blowing up.

[read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1090789.html)

Armenia's economic activity +13% in Q2 2022

Report: In Q2 2022 the GDP was ֏1.899t, against ֏1.484t of the previous quarter. Compared to the Q2 of 2021, the GDP grew by 13%.

GDP per capita was ֏641k ($1,424) in Q2 2022, while in the previous quarter it was ֏501k.

Financial & insurance sector +667% (?)

Information & communication sector +30%

Construction +30%

Accommodation & catering +28%

Transport & warehousing +24%

Administration & related activites +23%

Professional, scientific & technical activities +18%

Education +14%

Retail trade, auto repair +13%

Culture & recreation +12%

Manufacturing +10%

Mining -9%

Agriculture -1%

[read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1090826.html) [read,](http://arka.am/en/news/economy/armenia_s_gdp_grows_by_13_in_second_quarter_of_2022/) [read,](https://armstat.am/en/?nid=12&id=01510)

the export of dried fruits skyrocketed in H1 2022

The export of dried fruits grew 8x from last year. There was also growth in the export of alcohol, canned fish and food. Some decline in cheese and fresh veggies. Overall, the agri-food exports grew: $507 million vs $382 million.

[read,](https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/242512) [watch,](https://www.facebook.com/watch/?ref=external&v=751024792836444)

interview with EU ambassador Andrea Wiktorin

Reporter: How do you feel in Armenia and how have you spent these 3 years?

Ambassador: I was the German ambassador from 2007-2009 before returning as the EU ambassador in 2019. There was a big change in the atmosphere in the country. There are many positive steps we have been taking together in cooperation with Armenia. Overall very positive and I enjoyed the visits to the provinces. Afterward, we all ended up in the same challenging situation with the COVID, war, and the 2021 political turmoil. It was a busy period. I am still optimistic. I like Armenia, the countryside. I have been to Syunik several times in the last few months, not to mention other provinces.

Reporter: What do you like the most about Armenia?

Ambassador: Armenia has ancient traditions, culture, and impressive monuments. For me, the most impressive is the people, the variety of characters, and the vibrant cultural scene.

Reporter: 2022 marks the 30th anniversary of AM-EU diplomatic relations. How would you assess the current level of partnership?

Ambassador: It was 10 Aug 1992 when the relations were formally established. In the beginning, we had a lot of cooperation via Tacis (EU's technical assistance program for CIS republics). I was here when we opened this EU Delegation in February 2008. The [Lisbon Treaty](https://www.eeas.europa.eu/armenia/who-we-are_en), which entered into force in 2009, was an important milestone. In 2017 we signed the CEPA cooperation agreement which entered into force in 2021. It came after the failed Association Agreement of 2013. Armenia and the EU have the possibility to cooperate in all areas. As the Armenian government put it, it's the "blueprint for the Armenian reforms process."

Reporter: EU's GSP+ trade benefits [ended](https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/qru5wd/news_nov112021_pashinyan_about_alternative_roads/) for Armenia last year. Did this change have a significant impact on trade relations?

Ambassador: Armenia's recent economic development has allowed the country to progress from lower to middle-income, according to the World Bank. This is very good news. GSP+ was meant to support sustainable development. The moment you are a middle-income country for 3 years, you lose the GSP+ benefits, which is a unilateral trade concession by the EU. Starting this January, Armenia can no longer benefit from the preferential import tariffs. In terms of consequences, it's too early to tell. Let me underline that only the imports of Armenian goods into the EU are affected, but via CEPA we open the door in other directions, which I hope will have a positive effect on the Armenian economy. Right now we are the second biggest trade partner after Russia. New mechanisms are included in our cooperation, with the aim of having a better regulatory environment, better product standards, creating a better business climate, stronger intellectual property rights,

[continue,](https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1090770.html)

Gyumri is also taking steps to eliminate unauthorized street trade

[Last week](https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/wrt3gc/thursday_news_briefing_from_armenia_aug182022/) the Government approved a bill to allow city inspectors to confiscate products sold by illegal street vendors, instead of simply issuing a fine. Yerevan administration believes the reforms will finally allow them to address the decades-long issue of people selling food and using dangerous gas canisters under unsafe conditions.

Gyumri municipality: As a result of the coordinated campaign by the food safety agency, police, and the municipality, we stopped the sales in several central streets. The problem persists in other parts of the city.

Before the raid, we offered the vendors alternative options for sales. The raids will launch in the "58" district when the construction of the new market ends. At the moment, we are the only city in Armenia that has carried out the raids at this scale.

It's for the safety of our residents. We need to break a few habits for the sake of public health. //

[read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1090736.html)

before & after pics: Yerevan is removing unauthorized and ugly signs installed by businesses at the entrance

Sidewalk signs require a permit.

[photos,](https://factor.am/545465.html)

flashback 2019: "STARMUS 5 - A Giant Leap" science festival

This is the last installment of a mini-series covering the previous festivals, ahead of September's STARMUS 6 in Yerevan.

The festival, attended by 50 high-profile scientists, opened with Hans Zimmer’s homage to the Apollo Missions. The Stephen Hawking Medal was awarded to Elon Musk, Buzz Aldrin, and others. Elon Musk made an acceptance speech online from the Kennedy Space Center, where the Falcon Heavy rocket was about to be launched.

Armenia's President Armen Sarkissian was the first sitting world leader to be allowed to participate in the festival because he is a physicist. [Sarkissian speech is here.](https://youtu.be/POEQu42XmG4) The organizers, headed by co-founder Garik Israelyan, announced that the next festival will be held in Yerevan.

Buzz Aldrin said the far-reaching goal of the upcoming Artemis space program is the mission to Mars. Artemis mission is covered in [August 9 news digest](https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/wkdpgs/your_tuesday_news_digest_from_armenia_aug92022/). Buzz Aldrin said that Stephen Hawking once told him that humanity must colonize the Moon before reaching Mars.

Aldrin: I was in his office and I had been anxious that we should make a continuous orbit between Earth and Mars. He said, in that computerized voice of his, ‘colonize the Moon first’ and I realized that there are so many things we need to do before we send people to Mars and the moon is absolutely the best place to do that.

Astronaut Harrison Schmitt: Beware of lunar dust, though. It could cause an allergic reaction. I was responsible for collecting samples from the Moon's surface during Apollo 17. The first time I smelled the dust I had an allergic reaction. The inside of my nose became swollen, you could hear it in my voice. // >!Nice!<

The symptoms gradually went away, and he had no allergic reaction by the 4th time he sniffed the dust. It apparently caused a more severe reaction in others.

Eugene Cernan is one of the two final people to walk on the Moon. He scratched the initials of his daughter Tracy into the lunar regolith. Since the Moon does not have weather conditions and rain, the initials should stay there for a long time. Eugene Cernan is officially an intergalactic graffiti vandal.

[continue,](https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1090595.html) [more,](https://www.starmus.com/festival/5)

a cooperation memorandum is signed between the National Academy of Sciences and STARMUS

NAS is officially a partner of the upcoming STARMUS 6 festival in Yerevan. "Այս միջոցառումը հատկապես մեծ նշանակություն կունենա երիտասարդ գիտնականների համար: Հենց այսպիսի միջոցառումներով մենք պետք է փորձենք մեր երիտասարդ գիտնականներին ուղղորդել, պահել գիտության մեջ:"

[read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1090818.html)

ARF-Kocharyan alliance denies spreading leaflets that support the annexation of southeastern Ukraine by Russia

Someone spread leaflets in Yerevan last week with the HD alliance's logo. The leaflets say "Crimea is Russia, Donbas is Russia, Mariupol is Russia, Tskhinvali is Russia, Zhaporozye is Russia", etc.

ARF called it a provocation and denied having involvement with the propaganda. The police said no one has filed a complaint so they aren't investigating it.

[watch](https://youtu.be/C_jzqKeiTj0)

Kremlin's pro-Azeri adviser survives an assassination attempt, daughter dies

Alexander Dugin's daughter died in a vehicle explosion. Dugin was supposed to be in the car but changed his plans at the last moment. The vehicle was parked in an area where the security cameras were disabled 2 weeks ago.

Russia has accused Ukrainian agents of using a remotely activated explosive. Ukraine denies the accusations. On Monday, Russia named a Ukrainian woman as the primary suspect, who allegedly entered Russia in July with Donets license plates, detonated the bomb, then fled to Estonia with her daughter on Sunday. The woman allegedly attended the same evening event as the Dugin family shortly before the blast, and was allegedly renting an apartment in the same condo as Dugina. The claims could not be independently verified.

Former Russian MP Ilya Ponomarev, however, claims the bombing was organized by an underground Russian partisan group known as "National Republican Army", whose goal is to overthrow the Putin regime.

... Dugin and his daughter are staunch supporters of Azerbaijan.

Azeri government-linked websites mourned Dugina's death and highlighted her recent pro-Azeri lobbying in Russia.

Alexander Dugin in July 2018 interview: 2017 showed us that the world is no longer unipolar. Russia has proved that it is one of the poles of a multipolar world.

Azeri leadership deeply comprehends all the global changes. Aliyev demonstrates himself as an attentive leader, who seeks to take an active stance on all those global transformations. In 2017, he proved that he is not an object, but a subject of politics. He played a big role in Russia's rapprochement with Iran and Turkey.

Baku becomes a holder of special shares, and Armenia will remain on the periphery. Yerevan needs to urgently board this departing train so it can take its rightful place in the geopolitics of the region.

It is necessary to solve the Karabakh issue, which restrains Azerbaijan's potential. This will be a new take-off in Russian-Azerbaijani relations. The breakthrough happened more than a year ago – the decision to transfer Nagorno Karabakh's five districts to Azerbaijan was developed in 2016. The process of implementation of these agreements is being bogged down, mainly from the Armenian side.

Armenia is our ally without a doubt, but we can't sacrifice our global geopolitical interests for the sake of such a local formation as Armenia. We pledge to preserve Armenia's sovereignty and identity, but it should not be a stumbling block in our relations with Turkey and Azerbaijan.

Therefore, it is necessary to transfer five districts to Azerbaijan in 2018. Otherwise, forget about all the negotiation efforts. [Armenia's refusal to hand over the 5 regions] will be very offensive and unpleasant for Russia, because it can affect the rapprochement with Azerbaijan. Strengthening Azerbaijan is an opportunity to strengthen our ties with Turkey and Iran. //

Alexander Dugin after the 2020 war: Putin and Aliyev worked hard to build a model that led to such a positive result for Baku in Karabakh. The efforts were simply titanic. We helped Azerbaijan to return to Karabakh. We have fulfilled our task, we are waiting for the next step from Azerbaijan. Now it's up to Baku. //

As of writing this, Ukraine is killing Russian soldiers with mortars made in Azerbaijan and drones made in Turkey, while Russia's support among the Armenian population has reached a new low amid a perception of lack of support.

[read,](https://web.archive.org/web/20201224174730/https://report.az/en/karabakh/alexander-dugin-it-is-necessary-to-return-five-regions-to-azerbaijan-in-2018/) [read,](https://www.theamericanconservative.com/how-did-armenia-lose-nagorno-karabakh/) [read,](https://www.civilnet.am/news/669970/ադրբեջանը-ուկրաինային-զենք-մատակարարո՞ւմ-է-պնդումների-հետքերով) [read,](https://jamestown.org/program/russia-turkey-compete-to-entice-azerbaijan-into-their-geopolitical-plays/) [read,](https://www.thedailybeast.com/darya-dugina-daughter-of-putin-propagandist-alexander-dugin-killed-in-car-bomb-reports-say) [read,](https://news.yahoo.com/darya-dugina-killed-partisans-national-185407641.html) [redacted,] [read,](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/aug/21/ex-russian-mp-claims-russian-partisans-responsible-for-moscow-car-bomb) [read,](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/08/21/alexander-dugin-daughter-daria-dugina-russia-ukraine-war/) [redacted,]

exodus from Russia

Anywhere between 0.3m to 3.8m Russians left the country because of war. The exact number is still unknown. The average refugee is 32yo, while 80% have a higher education degree.

The exodus is comparable to the initial migration out of Russia when the USSR collapsed and 1.2m people left the country.

Where have all the Russians gone?

Turkey 25%

Georgia 23%

Armenia 15%

Israel 3%

...

Finance sector employee Pastukhov: We realize that there's no way we can return to Russia anytime soon. Once we get in, we might not be able to get out. Staying outside seems to be the safest option for now.

[read,](https://finance.yahoo.com/news/realized-no-way-return-russia-100000135.html)

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/wv5dvw/monday_aug222022_your_daily_news_summary_from/