2022 August 31

Daily news wrap-up

Aug/31/2022 __ Interview with economy minister; +19.4% growth; exports; reforms; Russians __ Anti-corruption: $47 million asset forfeiture, offshore scheme __ Ethnic cleansings by Azerb. __ Leaders meet in Brussels __ Iran relaxes rules __ Tsarukyan captures Mt. Ararat __ Stray dogs __ Edu. reforms
by ar_david_hh

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15 minutes, 3849 words.

AI, show us a picture of Gagik Tsarukyan riding a skunk on Mt. Ararat

https://i.imgur.com/neXjTXN.png

anti-corruption: authorities seek confiscation of $47 million from ex-governor of Syunik and associates, accused of using offshore schemes

Prosecutors have asked the court to initiate an asset forfeiture case against the controversial Serj-era governor Surik "Liska" Khachatryan and 5 of his associates.

The authorities said they want to confiscate:

▶︎ 2 houses, 1 apartment, 1 commercial building in Yerevan. 1 building in Goris. 3 vehicles. A total of $3.8m.

▶︎ company shares

▶︎ $1.5m balance left from illegal transactions

▶︎ $5.9m in illegal cash, the legal origins of which could not be explained by the suspects' income.

▶︎ $11m in receivables, loan ownership

▶︎ $24.9m that was transferred to an offshore firm

[read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1091387.html)

controversial director of a sanatorium owned by the Defense Ministry is retiring

Defense Ministry owns a sanatorium called Mountainous Armenia. Its director Koryun Yeghiazaryan, nicknamed "Serj's Aro" for his close ties with ex-president Serj, has submitted his resignation.

In 2009, a businessman from Voskehat accused Yeghiazaryan of a hostile takeover of his gas station business.

The documents showing the "sale" of the gas station indicate that Yeghiazaryan's son and associates later sold it to Catholicos's brother.

[read,](https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/243110)

anti-corruption: ex-mayor of Surenavan is charged with illegal sale of 39 hectares of community lands

Authorities: The 2017-2021 mayor, without the city Council's approval, decided to independently organize land auctions. He forged documents to claim the auctions were approved by the Council. The fake documents were submitted to the Cadastre Committee for registration. He also illegally legalized illegal structures.

The ex-mayor is facing 16 felony counts. He is barred from leaving the country. //

[read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1091417.html)

interview with Economy Minister Kerobyan about tourism and economy

Reporter: Exports and economic activity are on the rise despite the appreciation of the dram against the dollar. In Q2 the economy +13%. Is this a record growth?

Kerobyan: Yes. Based on the Q2 data from 100 countries, Armenia is...

Reporter: Don't say #1...

Kerobyan: #1. Then came Colombia and Saudi Arabia. In July the economy +19.4%, and in January-July +13.1%.

Reporter: What is driving this?

Kerobyan: First of all, we cannot ignore the favorable geopolitical factors, but let's not forget that in January-February, before the war in Ukraine, the growth was 12%. Our efforts to improve the business climate have played a significant role.

In construction, we have a very serious growth, and it came after 1.5 years of systemic efforts to reform the construction legislation.

Reporter: But many construction firms complain today.

Kerobyan: They want it even better, but it has significantly improved if you compare it to what we had 2 years ago. The processes are faster, more transparent, and digitized. This is helping to grow the sector.

Reporter: Exports +82% in July, and +40% in January-July. How is this possible if the dollar has dropped and our products became more expensive? Combined with logistics issues, wasn't this suppose to hurt our exports? Maybe we should just strengthen dram?

Kerobyan: Good question. The issue is not only in the exchange rate, but more importantly in economic productivity. You know that we have launched reforms to drastically raise our economy's productivity.

The average Armenian worker produces $6.8/hr, which is 7x lower than in Europe. To address this, we have launched 3 programs:

1) State subsidies for companies to purchase equipment to modernize their production. We have already launched it and it's doing great. Many industries are taking advantage of it.

2) The government [has a new program](https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/wh55ub/friday_news_summary_from_armenia_aug52022/) to pay Armenian companies to hire highly skilled workers with foreign experience or degrees from the world's top universities.

Reporter: But that package hasn't gone into effect yet. How do you explain the July growth?

Kerobyan: That's for the future, but the increase in productivity and changes in the labor market is already visible. We will have better data at the end of this year, but today we already see that companies are taking steps to raise productivity or reduce costs.

There is also a vacuum of certain product categories in the Russian market. Our companies are taking advantage of this. Textile +200%, beverages and food sector is also up, and high-tech exports are up. But most importantly, the share of mineral exports has reduced from 60% to 30%. We are developing certain branches of the processing industry, such as diamond making, jewelry, chemistry, pharma, solar production, etc.

We want to provide subsidies to our IT sector to alleviate the negative effects of dram's appreciation. Here is a little secret: the state subsidy program for modern machinery will allow companies to borrow in dram and convert it to a dollar for the purchase. This should help strengthen the dollar a bit. I believe it's harmful if the dollar is below 450. Today it's 400.

Reporter: Services +27%. Critics say it's not because of your efforts, but because of Russian arrivals.

Kerobyan: And why do you think Russians chose Armenia?

Reporter: They didn't have many options?

Kerobyan: Wrong. Thanks to the post-2018 democratic reforms, we created a more open business environment in Armenia, allowing creative people to feel comfortable in Armenia. It is because of these reforms that many Russians chose Armenia for their long-term activities. We see that the majority of them have not been disappointed.

Our immediate efforts to attract and help them adapt in Armenia have also played a major role. Russians have formed 300 large companies and 2,500 small ones, along with their employees and turnover all registered in Armenia.

And if we're talking about services, let's not forget about tourism as well. In July, tourism finally almost reached the 2019 level. Here is another little secret: all hotels were fully booked in several cities in July.

With the help of the Foreign Ministry and NSS, we have simplified the visa regime for 50 countries. We saw an immediate result. There is a great demand in the hotel industry.

Reporter: Former deputy PM Vache Gabrielyan [2014-2018] predicts that Russians will quickly leave and take their money with them, causing serious challenges for our economy.

Kerobyan: Love the dude, awesome economist, but his predictions are always wrong. I remember in early 2021, while I was discussing the high economic growth, he claimed that Armenia's economy had no potential. I agree with him that we need to grow the potential, but since I myself was a businessman before becoming a minister, I see the pathways to raise the potential and productivity in a short period.

In as little as 1-3 months, we can raise many companies' productivity by 50%-100%, simply by improving certain procedures. Investments can raise their productivity even more.

Reporter: So you don't believe there will be a sudden exodus of Russians once the war is over?

Kerobyan: I don't. Russian economists were recently discussing various economic growth scenarios in Russia for the next 10-15 years. None of them fare well under the sanctions, but I don't want to discuss that because we are taking steps to develop our own economy, to have the environment for Indians, Russians, and others to find the conditions they need to create and thrive in Armenia.

Reporter: Got anything else to add?

Kerobyan: Surmalu blast should be a wake-up call. It's time for Armenians to take the rules and safety more seriously. It is difficult to grow the economy in a country where the society is not growing.

Reporter: But the January-July statistics are proof that we can remain բառադարի and still have nice economic growth.

Kerobyan: Nevertheless, we need to improve ourselves.

Reporter: You got trashed for the decision not to provide material assistance to businesses that lost property during the blast.

Kerobyan: We provide aid to individuals who got hurt, but for businesses it's different. They need to purchase insurance.

Reporter: Not everyone can afford it.

Kerobyan: The ones in Surmalu could.

[watch,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvlcHxg4d1M) #Economy

Armenian farmers are replacing tractors with drones to spray crops with pesticide | VIDEO

The trees are planted densely, so farmer Gagik can't use heavy equipment like a tractor without damaging them. A better solution is a drone with a video feed.

He hired a drone company for ֏20,000/ha. That's more expensive than hiring a tractor, but he found that drones are more efficient and in the end, it costs the same. Drones are also able to more evenly distribute the liquid. The drone requires 20x less water than the tractor, said the drone company.

The drone company launched its operations 3 years ago. More and more farmers are hiring them today. It takes one farmer from a village to hire them, the rest feel ջիջիլ. The company has so far sprayed 2,000 hectares this year.

Another advantage of a drone is that it doesn't mess with the bees. Tractors had to be used before dawn in order not to harm the hives.

[watch,](https://youtu.be/oxuN44wtY48) [read,](https://www.1lurer.am/hy/2022/08/31/%D4%B4%D6%80%D5%B8%D5%B6%D5%A8%D5%9D-%D5%A1%D5%B5%D5%A3%D5%B8%D6%82%D5%B4-%D5%A1%D5%B6%D6%85%D5%A4%D5%A1%D5%B9%D5%B8%D6%82%D5%B6%D5%A5%D6%80%D5%A8-%D5%A3%D5%B5%D5%B8%D6%82%D5%B2%D5%BF%D5%A1%D6%80%D5%A1%D5%AE%D6%84%D5%B6%D5%A5%D6%80-%D5%A5%D5%B6-%D5%BD%D6%80%D5%BD%D5%AF%D5%B8%D6%82%D5%B4/786104)

Iran is lifting certain import restrictions

Iranian businesses got the green light to use crypto for imports in a bid to bolster trade in the country. The government will also regulate crypto mining.

Iran is also ending a yearslong ban on car imports. They hope it can help a chaotic market tormented by monopolies and affordability issues. The import of fully assembled cars was banned in 2018. They have since imported Chinese car assembly kits.

[read,](https://cointelegraph.com/news/iranian-businesses-get-the-green-light-to-use-crypto-for-imports) [read,](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/8/30/why-iran-is-ending-its-years-long-ban-on-car-imports)

the pandemic mafia: authorities bust an attempt to evade taxes while importing masks and gloves

IRS reports: We received a tip that a family-owned business planned to import large quantities of masks and gloves from an EAEU country, while intentionally undervaluing the product in the declaration documents.

With a court order, the trucks were searched upon reaching the Bagratashen checkpoint. The $460k cargo, which they claimed was worth $87k, has been confiscated. //

The IRS wants you to know that even if you are importing from an EAEU country, your trucks can be searched at any time, so better behave.

[read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1091389.html)

update: fireworks will be banned for the general public

The bill was drafted in 2020 and unshelved after the blast of fireworks storage in Surmalu.

QP Tigran Avinyan: The goal is to prohibit the use of fireworks during private events, if it's going to disturb the entire neighborhood. I can't name any other civilized city on the global map where you have fireworks every evening during restaurant parties.

I respect that you were born today, buddy, but it's not the neighbors' fault that you were born on this day. District leaders should have the ability to prohibit fireworks shows.

Only licensed companies will be allowed to import and store fireworks, through a strict process. The fireworks will be registered.

If we hear fireworks coming from a restaurant, that means someone either smuggled them or a licensed company sold them illegally. //

The parliament will vote on the bill when the summer break is over.

[more,](https://factor.am/548457.html) [more,](https://youtu.be/ypScn8pubVw) [read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1091405.html)

observations by UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination include cases of human rights violations committed by Azerbaijan against Nagorno-Karabakh

Artsakh Ombudsman: We note with satisfaction that the observations include cases of gross human rights violations committed by Azerbaijan during the aggression against Artsakh in 2020 and beyond.

Concerns voiced by the Committee regarding the incitement of racial hatred and propagation of racist stereotypes against ethnic Armenians, including by Azerbaijani government officials, as well as the lack of proper investigation, are the best evidence that discriminatory policies in Azerbaijan are implemented at the state level.

All the other cases pointed out by the Committee, such as grave human rights violations committed by the Azerbaijani military forces against prisoners of war and civilians, including extrajudicial killings and torture, are carried out in accordance with the discriminatory state policy of Azerbaijan.

The observations presented by the Committee are part of the systematic and large-scale discriminatory policy of Azerbaijan against the people of Artsakh pursued for decades.

The implementation of the discriminatory policy of Azerbaijan at the state level indicates that the path chosen by the people of Artsakh and the independent state-building have no alternative.

We believe that the international recognition of Artsakh has matured as a manifestation of fulfillment of the international community’s obligation to take effective measures to prevent gross human rights violations. //

[read,](https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1091420.html) #EthnicCleansings

U.S. urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to intensify diplomatic engagement

State Department: Intensify diplomatic engagement so you can achieve a comprehensive peace agreement. We remain committed to promoting a secure, stable, democratic, prosperous, and peaceful future for the South Caucasus region.

[read,](https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1091365.html)

Russia urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to continue the tripartite diplomatic dialogue, disses the "fake efforts" by Europe

Russian MFA: We continue to work with Yerevan and Baku to unblock regional transport links. The work within the agreed trilateral formats is of substantive nature. We are also providing consulting support with border delimitation.

The EU's activeness in the South Caucasus is determined by geopolitical ambitions. They don't have a real desire to contribute to improving the AM-AZ relations.

These are fake initiatives of Europeans that are more like usurping the laurels of the mediation, with nothing underneath. On the other hand, Russia's efforts are bringing concrete results.

Reporter: A Turkish official recently stated that Turkey and Russia have agreed that the "Zangezur corridor" will open soon.

Russian MFA: I have no information about the contacts between the Turkish official and his Russian partners. I can only say that Russia continues the substantive work with Baku and Yerevan aimed at unblocking the transportation ties in South Caucasus, and the work implies a package solution on concrete routes.

They should be based on the principles of sovereignty and respect for Armenia and Azerbaijan and should contribute to the security and economic welfare of the region.

Reporter: Tell us about EAEU and Azerbaijan.

Russian MFA: There is a strong potential to develop EAEU-AZ relations. We see great prospects. It will also be useful for the normalization of AM-AZ relations.

[read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1091395.html) [read,](https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1091395.html) [read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1091398.html)

Michel hosted Pashinyan and Aliyev in Brussels

They discussed topics relating to the release of POWs and locating the missing persons, border demarcation and stability, unblocking of communication routes, improving AM-AZ relations, and other issues relating to Nagorno-Karabakh.

The leaders agreed that foreign ministers would continue to work on the development of a peace agreement. The foreign ministers will meet within a month.

The next meeting of border demarcation commissions will take place in Brussels in November.

Pashinyan and Aliyev will meet again in November.

... Charles Michel's statement after the meeting:

It is positive to see that quite a few steps have been taken to implement the agreements reached during our last meeting.

▶︎ Today we agreed to step up the work to advance the peace treaty, and tasked the Foreign Ministers to meet within one month to work on draft texts.

▶︎ I stressed to Azerbaijan the importance of release of Armenian detainees.

▶︎ We reviewed progress on the delimitation of the border and how best to ensure a stable situation.

▶︎ We reviewed the progress of discussions on the modalities for unblocking the transport links.

▶︎ It is necessary to prepare the population on both sides for long-term sustainable peace. Public messaging is critical in this regard. In a sensitive situation like this, every word spoken in public is obviously listened to by the other side.

▶︎ The EU will continue to push for the advancement of economic development of both countries.

[read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1091440.html) [read,](https://www.consilium.europa.eu/de/press/press-releases/2022/08/31/press-statement-by-president-charles-michel-following-the-trilateral-meeting-with-president-aliyev-of-azerbaijan-and-prime-minister-pashinayn-of-armenia-31-august-2022/)

more Armenians will study their neighbors' languages: Azeri, Turkish, Georgian, Farsi

Education Ministry issued awards to a group responsible for organizing the classes for Armenian students.

Ministry: Together, we have embarked on an important mission to understand regional languages, so we can protect our interests in those regions.

This is part of the government's 2021-2026 Plan. The efforts to organize the classes began last year. Field experts were invited to help develop the curriculum. It's for high school students only.

In May we conducted a survey in all schools to understand the level of interest in a 3rd foreign language. Around 400 students gave a positive response, mostly to studying Azeri and Turkish. //

[read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1091396.html)

Armenia and India mark the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations

Pashinyan: Peace-loving and democratic India could play a positive role in the fair resolution of problems facing the world and our regions.

Our ties have received a new impetus in recent years. The mutually beneficial cooperation is growing in various areas day by day. The Armenian-Indian inter-governmental commission is effectively operating. There is close cooperation in education, defense, trade, etc.

We appreciate the caring attitude of Indian authorities towards the Armenian community and heritage.

Armenia, like in the past, is ready to support friendly India on different international platforms. //

Indian FM Jaishankar: Best wishes to my Armenian colleagues and the people of Armenia. May our long-standing friendship continue to grow. //

... Armenia's progress can be linked with India in the emerging new world order: analyst

Analysts: Our relations are based on centuries-old friendship. Armenia should look not only at China's Silk Road project, but also at India. Its North-South International Transport Corridor is presenting a serious bid in the newly forming world order.

India is following in China's footsteps with a focus on international trade. They are openly discussing these plans, and Iran and Armenia will play an important role in our region.

The experience of the previous era shows that the progress of the Armenian people was always connected with India. That’s where new ideas on Armenian statehood and constitution were born. In the 16-17th centuries, Armenians traveled to India and returned with fresh ideas. //

[read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1091375.html) [read,](https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1091374.html) [read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1091374.html) [read,](https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1091382.html)

governor of Russia's Omsk province visited Gegharkunik

Burkov and Sargsyan signed a memorandum to establish a roadmap for cooperation. They discussed investment opportunities in the province. The governor learned about renewable energy and greenhouse projects in Gegharkunik.

50,000 Armenians, mostly from Gegharkunik, live in Omsk today.

[read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1091402.html)

students in Russia are no longer allowed to use phones in classrooms

Only during breaks, or in the event of an emergency. The Education Ministry described it as an attempt to reduce distractions during classes. You can chat with your child during a break, said the minister.

[read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1091403.html)

how many 1st-grade students will attend classes in Armenia on September 1?

Approximately 40,000 (similar to 2014 and 2015). The real number will be known on September 10. The kids were born in 2016.

[read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1091416.html) [read,](https://topnews.mediamall.am/?id=92188)

Yerevan subway trains will arrive more frequently in the morning, starting tomorrow

School resumes tomorrow. The trains will arrive every 4.5 minutes instead of 6, between 8-11 am.

[read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1091426.html)

Armenia moving away from the old tradition of having unified "10A", "10B", "10G" classrooms

As you [already know](https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/x1upab/your_tuesday_news_digest_aug302022/), the planned education reforms are being experimented in several regions of Armenia. The new state standards will go into effect next year for students in grades 2, 5, 7, and 10.

The traditional class model is changing. Once you reach high school, you will be required to take the mandatory subjects, but the rest can be modified so you can add more hours to your preferred major, presumably while simultaneously participating in new career orientation clubs.

The flexibility to modify your schedule means you won't be in the same classroom with the same students anymore. There won't be unified 10Ա, 10Բ, classrooms. Ունենալու ենք տարբեր առարկաների ուսուցմանը մասնակցող տարբեր խմբեր.

This successfully experimented in Tavush, said the deputy education minister.

... teachers will be required to work less to be considered full time

If today the teacher is required to work 22 hours for մեկ դրույք, it will reduce to 18 hours in elementary school, and 20 hours in middle-high schools.

[read,](https://factor.am/548603.html) [watch,](https://youtu.be/RluF1FLVja8?t=7)

pet dogs with owners bit A LOT MORE than the stray dogs that were neutered and released on the streets by the city: last week's stats

One city department had reported 45 biting incidents in the capital last week, while another department reported only 14.

It turns out the discrepancy was caused by one of the departments including biting incidents involving non-stay dogs, a pet biting someone indoors.

In Vanadzor there are approximately 2,000 stray dogs on the streets. The city has allocated additional resources to capture and treat them starting in December. The residents complain about the loud noise and aggressive behavior. The goal is to neuter 70% of dogs to reduce population growth.

[read,](https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/243133) [read,](https://www.azatutyun.am/a/32012671.html) [watch,](https://youtu.be/LGGxKBnOcOY)

Gyumri Day will be celebrated on Friday

▶︎ A craft and art fair will be held on Rustaveli St., in the historic district.

▶︎ A concert by young artists in Taterakan Square.

▶︎ An event in Avetik Isahakyan House-Museum at 12:00 pm, followed by another in Hovhannes Shiraz House-Museum half an hour later.

▶︎ [full schedule,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1091380.html)

Tsolak Koshtoyan's ancestors came from Erzrum. He is a fifth-generation silverminter. | PHOTOS

[read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1091415.html)

a Tesla driver without a license fatally struck a famous woman

Authorities: The deadly incident happened yesterday on Tumanyan St. The 25yo Tesla driver ran over a pedestrian who was unable to regain conciseness and died hours later in a hospital. The driver did not have a valid driver's license. //

The victim was Manana Aslamazyan, the former general director of InterNews. She was a former member of Russia's Federal Competition Commission tasked with TV and press affairs. She was removed from the Commission in 2004 together with Vladimir Pozner, and had to move to France, then Armenia.

The driver was sober and called the emergency hotline after the incident. He is under arrest.

Traffic fatality stats can be found in [Tuesday news digest](https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/x1upab/your_tuesday_news_digest_aug302022/).

[read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1091386.html) [read,](https://shamshyan.com/hy/article/2022/08/31/1221174/) [read,](https://factor.am/548321.html)

NSS conducted an anti-terror operation in Yerevan's Sasuntsi Davit train station; exercises

Let us know if you find an abandoned suspicious item in a public place, wrote the agency. It is unclear whether they lost a suspicious-looking item during the exercises, or they just sayin'...

[read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1091401.html)

women's European chess championship is underway

Lilith Mkrtchyan is 4th, Elina Danielyan is 5th. Monica from Poland is still the leader. The tournament will soon end.

[read,](http://chess-results.com/tnr652617.aspx?lan=1&art=1&rd=10&turdet=YES&flag=30)

Armenian athletes won so many World and European medals that most people have lost the count by now

175 medals this year, with 44 in August alone (including 22 gold).

[read,](https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/243153)

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/x2lyqe/aug312022_interview_with_economy_minister_194/