2022 February 16

Daily news wrap-up

News Digest - Feb/16/2022: Documentary about terrorist cells recruited by Turkey & Azerb. in 2020 __ Heritage Index 2022 __ CPC vs officials __ Constitutional reforms __ Bill about occupied territories gets green light __ "Chipping" the cows __ Neighborhood news __ CEPA __ New tech labs __ iSnitch
by ar_david_hh

---

This is your 12-minute Wednesday digest in 2969 words.

today in history

1919: NYC airs the first film about the Armenian Genocide titled [Auction of Souls](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0009892/). It's based on the account of survivor Aurora Mardiganian.

1965: long jumper [Robert Emmiyan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Emmiyan) is born. He won multiple gold and silver medals in World and European championships. His 8.86-meter jump in 1987 is the current European record.

1968: The emergency department in [Haleyville, Alabama](https://fayettecountyga.gov/911_communications/history) accepts the first-ever "911" call. The choice of the specific number, 911, was based primarily on cost factors, the comparative ease with which telephone company equipment could be modified to accept the number. Great Britain was the first country to establish a universal emergency number in 1937.

2006: Europe condemns the destruction of Armenian cross-stones in [Jugha cemetery](https://iwpr.net/global-voices/azerbaijan-famous-medieval-cemetery-vanishes) by Azerbaijan.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1075662.html

bill to officially recognize every lost land as "occupied" proceeds in Artsakh parliament for a final vote

It passed a parliamentary committee yesterday. Today the 31 MPs voted unanimously to approve the draft bill, which requires another vote. The content is explained in [yesterday's news](https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/stcvk4/news_feb152022_kochayrans_bribery_trial_reaches/). It applies to lands lost in 1991-1994, 2016, and 2020.

Justice MP: This resolution is a direct response to the so-called "Shushi Declaration" between Turkey and Azerbaijan. It sends the message that the lands are Armenian and that we haven't forgotten about our cultural heritage that's being vandalized on occupied territories today. //

United Homeland MP: After the 2016 clashes, some immoral public officials unregistered their sons from Artsakh's military commissariat to register them in Armenia, while de-facto maintaining residency in Artsakh. I will publish the full list once it's finalized.

Some of them had used corrupt doctors to declare themselves as medically unfit for service. There were also those who fled Artsakh in 2020.

The Armenian government and opposition, while fighting against each other, have revealed a series of details about the history of the negotiation process. What our people have learned is that despite our 1994 victory, for decades, they discussed the giveaway of the liberated 5+2 regions to Azerbaijan in exchange for discussing Artsakh's status sometime in the future. Meanwhile, the "not one inch" principle was being wrapped around the heads of officials and ordinary people. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1075684.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1075686.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1075699.html https://youtu.be/ZJ0Y6X2uGWE https://factor.am/476259.html https://youtu.be/zXFwV3R0L9Y

Azerbaijan's criminal case against Artsakh president has no international legal basis: Justice Minister

Andreasyan: Any reasonable person understands that it's legally baseless because the people of Artsakh organized self-defense during the war unleashed by Azerbaijan. Prosecution for self-defense is illogical. //

[Context.](https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/stcvk4/news_feb152022_kochayrans_bribery_trial_reaches/)

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1075700.html

Artsakh army will conduct firing exercises until May

Official: Exercises will be held by the Defense Army to improve the military skills of citizens of the Artsakh Republic. Public office staff and employees of large organizations will take part.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1075671.html

Azerbaijan arrested several ranking army officials

They are accused of embezzling $5.9M. Foreign analysts believe it's done to help the pro-Turkish military wing so the Azeri army can finalize its transition to the "Turkish model". Analysts believe there will be few large-scale corruption busts because most of it was committed by Aliyev loyalists.

www.civilnet.am/news/650184/ադրբեջանում-բարձրաստիճան-զինվորականներ-են-ձերբակալվել/

Armenia blocks an erroneous deportation attempt of an Armenian citizen from Russia to Azerbaijan

A sloppy judge in Russia looked at the defendant's place of birth (Azerbaijan) and assumed he was an Azeri citizen, while in fact, he is an Armenian. Without the intervention, he could have been deported to Azerbaijan, said Armenian prosecutors. The suspect was subsequently deported to Armenia.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1075688.html

documentary film sheds light on the terrorist cells recruited by Azerbaijan and Turkey during the 2020 war

Turkey and Azerbaijan financed and recruited members of terrorist groups from northwestern Syria and Libya to fight against Artsakh in 2020.

Pashinyan's office and Orbeli research center prepared a 20-minute documentary about the militants and the testimony by those who were captured alive during the battles.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2194366900732587 https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1075707.html

research uncovered financial transactions made by ISIS terrorists via Turkey

MASAK financial crime council has a report about ISIS using Turkish cities, mainly Gaziantep and Şanlıurfa, to make the transfers.

[Gazientep, a town not far from the Syrian border, is also where the militants were gathered by Turkish authorities before being sent to Azerbaijan in 2020.]

A Turkish dual citizen was identified as an explosive seller whose devices were used in 2015 in Libya. He frequently crossed the border with Syria.

More: https://factor.am/476609.html

worker strikes spread across Turkey amid a worsening economy

65 strikes in 40 days, according to academics at EÇT. Istanbul and southeastern Gaziantep had the most strikes. The most active were workers in textile, delivery and petrochemistry industries.

Amid skyrocketing inflation, the government recently raised the minimum wage but those who were earning more than the minimum got a much smaller raise, leading to more strikes.

70% of Turkish youth want to live abroad.

https://bianet.org/english/labor/257797-worker-protests-in-turkey-65-strikes-in-40-days https://factor.am/476309.html https://factor.am/476590.html

Armenia accepted refugees last year. Anyone from Turkey and Azerbaijan?

260 individuals asked for refuge last year:

118 from Iran (40 granted so far)

52 Iraq (9)

27 Syria (20)

14 Cuba (1)

7 Russia (4)

6 Turkey (3)

1 Azerbaijan (0)

etc.

Armenia is revamping its migration services as part of CEPA agreement with EU

You may recall that some programs about migrant shelters and services were recently implemented in Armenia. It's part of a bigger process.

The UN and International Organization for Migration joined the government today to launch a new migration management program as part of AM-EU CEPA.

Official: The 2-year program, co-financed by the EU, will reform our migration services by using the European experience. It'll address 3 important areas:

First, the current decentralized migration system will be consolidated to improve efficiency.

Second, the migration office staff, police, and border agents will be retrained.

Third and most importantly, we'll receive help with digitization, without which it's pointless to talk about good management. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1075669.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1075708.html

MOONQ techno-school will open in Artsakh to teach, manufacture, and export tech products

YES Education Foundation: Martuni will have a technoschool to help students become competitive in the labor market. The best path to having a secure Artsakh and developing economy is the production and export of tech products.

[Moonq technoschool](https://www.facebook.com/TechnoschoolArtsakh) will allow the youth in the Martuni region to receive modern tech education in after-school hours. We'll also expand the YES foundation's existing education programs to include 12 Artsakh communities.

At first, we'll use a mobile lab to travel around and enroll students. The school facility will be renovated to host 300. We'll then purchase the equipment and invite experts to teach, many of whom have already applied. Our minibus will provide transportation to students.

It's being done with donations. We've collected ֏28M necessary for the foundation. The goal is to reach ֏67M. We have a donor who transferred ֏4M that was meant as a birthday present.

Industry players such as Service Titan, Mantashov, Armenian Code Academy, M.A.M are interested in the project. //

More: https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1075672.html

engineering lab with drone classes opens in Parakar (Armavir)

Labor Ministry: The AEF lab will provide free education to war participants and high schoolers in Parakar and 9 villages. It's great that 100 applicants have already registered in just a couple of days.

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/231288

VIDEO: Armenian team finishes second in Youth Techno Art competition held in Uzbakistan

The bionic hand made by Armenian high schoolers was chosen for second place by the jury.

https://www.technofest.uz/en/zoom

https://youtu.be/bteqQblnSxE

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/231313

Constitutional Reform Council will invite 5 industry experts

A few weeks ago a commission tasked with constitutional reforms was dismissed and replaced with a "final" Council that will begin expert discussions. It's a bipartisan group, although parliamentary opposition parties have refused to take part.

Member Dadunts: The Council will invite legal experts. The candidates will present their experience and explain what they believe the problems and solutions are with the current Constitution, as a way to check their level of knowledge. The candidates will be rated by the Council members; the best ones will be chosen.

Member Justice Minister Andreasyan: The UN has advised us not to require the candidates to declare their opinion about the current Constitution ahead of time, to ensure the Council doesn't "cherrypick". The UN also advises candidates to present certain ethics/morality-related information. We'll also collect and present reform suggestions from the diaspora.

... "pocket judges have no place in courts"

Minister Andreasyan during Q&A: the ministry has been petitioning the Supreme Court Council to discipline judges. It's an objective and necessary process. There are times when citizens ask us to help sanction an unethical judge but we turn down the plea because our case would be legally weak.

When we try to discipline a judge, we're accused of "pressuring" the judiciary. When we don't do it, we are accused of "not cleaning the judiciary as promised". None of these accusations have an impact on our work. No one can pressure the Justice Ministry to stop the process of disciplining the judges. The opposition figures who today portray themselves as the "great defenders of judges" must have some shame and not hinder this normal process. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1075679.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1075685.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1075691.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1075694.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1075703.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1075703.html

Corruption Prevention Committee "audited" 210 public officials last year

Pashinyan held a meeting with anti-corruption agency members to discuss the implementation of anti-corruption suggestions made by GRECO and OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) in 2021.

Pashinyan: Always keep an eye on it and discuss the suggestions. We need institutional reforms that will raise the public trust towards the judiciary.

CPC: 210 officials and family members, including 139 judges, had their wealth declarations analyzed by CPC last year. Several cases were referred to prosecutors and to the Justice Ministry to pursue disciplinary measures.

We received 45 claims and launched 3 proceedings about ethics violations and conflict of interest.

103 public office candidates underwent an ethics/morality background check. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1075745.html

anti-corruption: ex-Syunik governor Surik "Liska" Khachatryan's assets are frozen and could be confiscated

Prosecutors: Surik, his wife, two sons, and two associates have been invited to explain the origins of [suspicious properties](https://youtu.be/dbBFX7KXOpE?t=59) as part of an asset forfeiture investigation. The court has authorized the freezings. //

Surik Khachatryan was the governor of Syunik province under Serj administration. There have been several criminal cases involving his family members since 2018. Khachatryan was accused of using mafia tactics during his tenure.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1075687.html https://youtu.be/dbBFX7KXOpE?t=4

Kocharyan-ARF alliance will resume its participation in international diplomatic meetings

They boycotted every international meeting in December because their MPs were under arrest under the suspicion of corruption and voter bribery. After the Constitutional Court ruled that the immunity also applies to MP candidates, the now-MPs were freed during their pretrial period. This has addressed "most" of the complaints that the HD alliance had, so they are ending the diplomatic boycott.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1075749.html

inspectors uncovered ֏16M in damages to nature

From illegal mining to wildlife damage, inspectors recorded 39 violations within the past two weeks.

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/231299

MOD Papikyan discussed military cooperation with the French military attaché

MOD: Thanks for the help with returning POWs and the efforts to stabilize the region. //

AM-FR bilateral cooperation in the defense sphere was discussed.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1075737.html

the next 3+3 regional cooperation meeting will be held in Iran

Reporter: We recently learned that the next meeting will be held in Tehran. What are your expectations? Will this platform help solve any problems?

Iranian analyst: Iran had suggested this format during the 2020 Karabakh war. It's similar to what Turkey suggested later. 3+3 will help countries discuss their stance and issues relating to challenges in the region.

I firmly believe that the South Caucasus has entered a new era after the 2020 war. We have a chance to restore Soviet-era communications including the Armenia-Nakhijevan-Iran railway.

The 3+3 will help solve issues relating to Kur and Araks rivers, launch North-South and Gulf-Sea trade routes, reduce border tensions, etc.

Reporter: Georgia is missing. Is this a problem?

Iranian analyst: I regret their decision not to participate. They would benefit from 3+3. If the Armenia-Iran railway reopens, it's best for Georgia to connect, too.

Their issue is with Russia, but nothing prevents them from joining 3+3 under the condition that they won't discuss the Abkhazia issue. They've held multiple meetings with Russia after the 2008 war to discuss non-Abkhazian issues, so why not under 3+3?

More: https://factor.am/476569.html

red scare episode 4: Turkish-owned businesses registered in Armenia

Some opposition figures suggested that an abnormally large number of Turkish citizens visited Armenia recently. Another one was about properties purchased by Turkish nationals. Fact-checkers, siting statistics, would later dismiss the alarming claims.

The next claim was about Turks running businesses in Armenia. The media investigated and found 454 records, many of which were duplicates and were registered decade(s) ago, with many being owned by ethnic Armenians.

The most notable one is Murad Sar, a construction material factory founded in 2004. It paid $1.3 million in taxes last year. Former Premier Tigran Sargsyan and Pashinyan promoted the company in 2012 and 2021.

www.civilnet.am/news/650276/թուրքիայի-քաղաքացիների-բիզնեսները-հայաստանում․-նախարարի-պնդման-հետքերով/

Armenian and Ukrainian companies held a business forum to discuss areas of cooperation

They spoke about the efforts by the Ukrainian-Armenians to develop the electric vehicle charging network in Armenia, etc. Embassy officials from both countries expressed willingness to aid the businesses.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1075720.html

Russian parliament: recognize the independence of Donetsk & Luhansk; Putin: no I will not

The recognition would be against the Minsk protocols, said Putin's spokesman.

https://tass.ru/politika/13724229

Belarus to Armenia: you guys misunderstood, Lukashenka wasn't trying to offend you

Lukashenko was boasting about his alliance with Putin and the "Union State". He wants Ukraine to return under the sphere of Russian influence. He also said Armenia has "nowhere to run", earning criticism from Armenian government members.

Belarusian MFA to a reporter: Watch his interview fully. There is no word about forcing Armenia to integrate into any union. I don't get the talk about "diplomatic scandal". //

Belarus believes that EAEU and other platforms that promote closer ties between the members will attract more states because of "benefits".

https://tass.ru/mezhdunarodnaya-panorama/13723793 https://factor.am/476344.html

COVID stats

6.6k tested. 1.8k infected. 2.6k healed. 28 deaths.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1075681.html

Heritage Foundation Economic Freedom Index 2022

Armenia's economic freedom score declined last year. Armenia ranks 58th, one position below Italy.

Georgia 26

Armenia 58

Azerbaijan 75

Turkey 107

>Scores for tax burden and government spending are relatively high, but rule of law and labor freedom exhibit weaknesses.

Monetary Freedom and Government Integrity were the two areas that scored progress, with property rights, judiciary, etc. scoring lower points.

http://arka.am/en/news/economy/heritage_foundation_ranks_armenia_58th_freest_economy_in_world/ https://www.heritage.org/index/ranking

how did Armenia's 17 banks do in 2021?

More assets and capital, fewer loans:

Total capital ֏958B (+7.6%)

Total actives ֏7T (+6.7%)

Loans ֏3.9T (-5.1%)

Fewer loans were issued because of the pandemic and war. Many loans were pardoned. There is a recovery trend in Q4.

https://www.panarmenian.net/arm/news/298509/

Tucker Carlson is mad about green M&Ms not being slutty enough, but Armenia has much bigger problems to worry about

Someone has been smuggling weed into an Armenian prison hidden inside brown M&Ms. The chocolate was promptly confiscated by greedy correctional officers.

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/231267

Yerevan residents are holding bad drivers accountable with an app

You wouldn't download a good driver, would you?

A new app was recently activated in Yerevan that allows residents to film bad drivers and upload them to the police. It applies to 12 types of traffic violations: driving on the opposite lane, throwing trash from a window, driving on red, etc.

There are some intentional limits. The app is disabled if you're near a traffic camera (which means Nikol can see your location when you open the app), the content must be high quality (TikTok needs this), the submitter receives a temporary suspension if they file inaccurate reports against the same vehicle multiple times (anti-targeted harassment).

540 reports were filed in the past 7 months. It led to 174 citations.

https://factor.am/476455.html

a giant child was born in Artashat

4.6 kilos or 10.1 pounds. The average is 3.5kg, according to Google.

The 55cm boy was named after his grandfather Husik. He will probably drop the "ik" when he grows up. You realize he is going to kick your ass later if you make comments about him now, right?

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/231303

how about doing all the paperwork in one office without running around and paying bribes?

Armenia has been trying to implement the Georgian model that allows residents to take care of various documents all in one place. IRS, passport, registration services, archives, etc.

Justice Minister's adviser: In 2020 we began creating administrative centers to provide multiple services in one place. They exist in Yerevan, Ijevan, Gyumri, and the one in Vanadzor will open tomorrow. Every province will have these by 2026 as part of the government's program.

Over time, a new civic center model will form. There is a great demand for it. The existing offices serve 2,500 residents every month.

Part of the reform is to make front office staff completely independent from the back office. Whom you deal with during the visit isn't going to be the "decision-maker". //

More: https://youtu.be/0Aaf7hWGvbc https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1075709.html

Nikol wants to microchip and track every cow in Armenia 🤔🤔🤔

Economy Ministry & officials: This year we plan to tag and register 800,000 large cattle. It is necessary to have comprehensive information about the cow and its movement. That will ensure the following:

- Prevent disease dangerous to humans

- Traceability of foods of animal origin

- New international markets for Armenian dairy/meat

The tagging will start this year and end in 2025. The government has allocated the funds. The purchase of ear tags equipped with QR codes has begun. The tag contains info about the cow's vaccination status and origin.

The tagged cows can be insured and used as collateral. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1075705.html

more

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

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

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

---

Link to original report and comments: https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/su72bl/news_digest_feb162022_documentary_about_terrorist/