2022 June 24

Daily news wrap-up

Jun/24/2022. Your daily news digest.
by ar_david_hh

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13 minutes. 3418 words.

interview with acting Supreme Judicial Council chief Gagik Jhangiryan

Get the context about the conflict between the former and current SJC presidents in [June 20 news digest](https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/vgxrh1/jun202022_news_armenia_is_preparing_for_starlink/).

Reporter: Vardazaryan released a 15-minute tape. Is that how long your conversation lasted?

Jhangiryan: The event lasted over 2 hours so he cherrypicked the published parts. Vardazaryan wanted me to get fired, too. He has asked the SJC to launch an ethics case against me. The SJC panel asked him to share the unedited tape for examination, but he has refused to provide it.

Reporter: Why did he refuse?

Jhangiryan: Revelation of certain parts of that conversation would place him in a very unfavorable situation. The dinner took place almost 1.5 years ago but I remember the topics that were discussed. Certain things are absolutely not good for him.

Reporter: Example?

Jhangiryan: I will not publicly make any accusations at this time. Whatever was released is already being investigated by authorities. We will discuss it publicly afterward. I'm confident that if he publishes the full tape, he will find himself in a dire situation.

Reporter: Critics say the conversation goes against the spirit of efforts to reform the branch, therefore you should resign.

Jhangiryan: I've submitted a resignation 3 times in the past: in 1997 as the first deputy justice minister, in 2000 as the military prosecutor while overseeing the investigation of the October 27 terrorist attack, and in 2008 when I joined the opposition movement [against Kocharyan and Serj], realizing that I would be fired the following day. I was elected as a member of this SJC after the November 2020 attack against the state buildings and parliament president (Mirzoyan), and the subsequent arrests of suspects.

You also remember Vardazaryan's message to the judges at the time, after which all the riot suspects were released from jail. Moreover, after Vardazaryan's call, many judges even ruled that there was no probable cause against the suspects. It's no coincidence that only a few people have so far been sentenced, because the entire judicial process was broken.

Reporter: This was all organized by Vardazaryan?

Jhangiryan: I did not say that. I'm just explaining what the situation was in the judiciary when I came to SJC. You also remember at the time how low the public trust was towards the judiciary. The entire system was submerged into politics under Vardazaryan's presidency. He never publicly spoke against these events. I've dedicated all my life to the law. Armenia's first effort to reform the judiciary was drafted by me in 1994-1995. As a military prosecutor, I was able to ensure that only certain judges that I knew we could trust would hear cases relating to soldiers. I know that sounds wrong today, but at the time it was necessary so we could at least have impartial trials when it came to our soldiers. After the 1994's reform efforts, the second came in 2008 when I was in jail. It was published in 2012 with the help of the U.S. State Department and the U.S. Embassy. I know the problems in the judiciary from the inside. So when I was offered to join SJC in 2020, I saw it as an opportunity to separate politics and the judiciary.

Reporter: What about your conversation with Vardazaryan?

Jhangiryan: My goal was to advise Vardazaryan to voluntarily resign from the president's position so the SCJ can elect a replacement. This was necessary because Vardazaryan had politicized the branch. I was there to negotiate.

Reporter: Whose idea was it?

Jhangiryan: Mine. Even though he used to be my student and I gave him the legal license, our relations were already strained prior to these events. He was publicly claiming I had no right [due to age] to [be in SJC]. I tried to never reply to his claims in a confrontational way. The recorded conversation took place during a dinner organized by a common friend. We had to resolve the conflict. My goal was for Vardazaryan to voluntarily resign so the judiciary could exit politics. I've negotiated with many murderers and crime suspects during my career. The way you do it is by introducing emotional elements. For example, you can hear me berate the title of SJC president: Why do you even need to cling to this crappy position?

Reporter: You are heard saying that you are forced to convince him to resign. Forced by the government?

Jhangiryan: No. I carry on my shoulder a debt to do this, to clean the system.

Reporter: In the tape you say you have the power to open and close criminal cases.

Jhangiryan: How else do you think I could convince Vardazaryan to voluntarily leave? If he thought that after leaving the system he would be subject to criminal investigations, do you think he would voluntarily leave [and give up immunity]? This is a psychological tactic.

Reporter: Կու՞տ եք տվել։

Jhangiryan: Այո․ I can't even know how many cases there are against him. I do not have the power to launch or suspend criminal cases against him. Notice in the tape that he is surprised and asks wheater I could truly control the general prosecutor to be able to give him such guarantees. That's when I jokingly respond "Not only that. I can control presidents, too." That was a joke. The goal was to make him believe there would be no criminal cases against him after his resignation.

Reporter: Vardazaryan talks about deadline guarantees that no criminal cases would be filed against him if he resigned by then.

Jhangiryan: I told Vardazaryan that I'm aware of his claim about being advised to resign, but I didn't go there to "force" him. I couldn't force him to resign also because he was my "superior". He was the president at the time, while I was an SJC member. SJC is a complex structure. Vardazaryan had to leave because of November 2020 events and politicization, but the only way to achieve his removal was for three SJC members to launch an ethics case against him for his actions, but the deadline to launch that process had already expired. I was there to convince him to leave voluntarily. Let him publish the entire conversation. 10-20 minutes into our conversation I knew he was recording me because of the way he was speaking. You can hear me mention [jokingly] that we are being recorded. His goal was for me to state on whose behalf I was speaking to him. He was expecting me to give some high-ranking public official's name. But as I told him, I was speaking on behalf of myself and I wanted him to speak on behalf of himself.

Reporter: Did Vardazaryan send you some letter before the SJC made the decision to terminate his duties [last week]?

Jhangiryan: Yes. After the SJC members launched an ethics case against Vardazaryan [unrelated to these latest events], one of the SJC members informed me that Vardazaryan wanted to give me a personal letter. I asked the member to bring the letter but I refused to accept it. I asked the member to take the letter to the SJC meeting and open it in front of everyone. Vardazaryan learned about this and asked the SJC member to send the letter back. I assume in that letter Vardazaryan was threatening me to publish the audio tape if the SJC terminated his duties. [Context: Vardazaryan made some statements about the Constitutional Court before these events. Several SJC judges found his statements unethical and launched an ethics case against him. Jhangiryan is suggesting that Vardazaryan attempted to use the audiotape as blackmail in an attempt to convince SJC not to terminate his duties.]

Jhangiryan continues: But I knew there was nothing illegal in our conversation so the blackmail didn't deter me from proceeding with his termination process.

Reporter: You express hatred towards Kocharyan and ARF in the audiotape. Shouldn't you be impartial? Shouldn't the branch be impartial?

Jhangiryan: The branch must be impartial. It was a private friendly conversation and I, as someone who was directly persecuted and sentenced under the former administration, do you think I would say something nice about them in private? I don't care if they return, I have great relations with some of the former administration members. I just don't want the old values to return.

Reporter: Even if there is nothing illegal in what you said during that dinner, what about the ethical aspect?

Jhangiryan: Vardazaryan has asked the SJC members to launch an ethics case against me. The SJC has asked him to send the unedited tape. In any case, the statements I made in that tape are not ethically "punishable offense" because they were made in private. You can say a few things to your wife in privacy, the SJC cannot take action against it if it's not a public statement.

Reporter: Do you want Vardazaryan to release the full conversation?

Jhangiryan: I urge him to give the full tape to SJC and law enforcement, but I have major doubts he will.

[video](https://youtu.be/KBnPsA5PXqM)

anti-corruption: army official is charged with embezzling ֏2.5m worth of vehicle fuel

ACC reports: The 2016-present commander of a military unit abused his powers in 2021-2022 to embezzle fuel coupons belonging to the base. He has confessed and repaid the stolen amount. //

[article](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1086834.html)

anti-corruption: authorities charge 3 cops with fabricating multiple citations against the same driver

ACC reports: From 2020 to 2021, three road police officers repeatedly wrote fake citations worth $300 against the same innocent driver in Mikhailovka (Lori), with the intention of boosting their performance rating. The three cops are charged with crimes. The case is in court. //

[article](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1086851.html)

anti-corruption: 28 people are charged with buying a driver's license

ACC reports: 28 people paid bribes to a road police official in exchange for skipping the hands-on exam.

We learned that a Spitak resident took ֏3m from several residents in 2020-2021, half of which was transferred to a ranking road police official in Yerevan. The latter gave a driver's license to the residents without them having to prove their driving skills.

All 28 residents have confessed. The criminal case has reached the court. //

[article](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1086809.html)

anti-corruption: authorities arrest a forestry official and several others after uncovering large-scale illegal logging

ACC reports: Instances of illegal logging were discovered in ArmForest's Vanadzor branch. The head of the local forestry branch instructed his subordinate to grant several residents unimpeded access to forests for illegal logging. The residents gave a bribe for each cubic meter of wood.

90 trees were cut: beech, maple, pine, etc. The financial damages amounted to ֏6m.

The forester and 3 accomplices have been arrested and charged with crimes. //

[article](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1086806.html)

several municipalities will be required to publish certain information on their website after a court ruling

Freedom of Information Center of Armenia had filed a lawsuit against several municipalities for not publishing some information. The court sided with the municipalities in 2018, but it was successfully appealed this year.

Ashtarak, Armavir, Gavar, Hrazdan, Kapan, Yeghegnadzor, and Ijevan will be required to publish information about public services, budget, staff, nature protection, etc.

[article](https://factor.am/526713.html)

update: American cancer research firm Netcracker/BostonGene will launch a research & development center with thousands of employees in Armenia

The company representatives met the government [on Wednesday](https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/viejdu/jun222022_news_us_to_invest_120m_in_armenia/).

BostonGene recently opened an office in Yerevan. Their main activity is to develop a system that provides oncologists with data for diagnosis and personalized treatment of cancer patients. The company is considering the possibility of creating a research center of Netcracker Technology in Armenia.

On Friday the Healthcare Ministry hosted Michael Feinberg, the co-founder of Netcracker/BostonGene. They discussed the possible opening of an R&D center with thousands of employees. At the moment the companies employ 360 people in Armenia.

[article](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1086805.html)

update: classrooms won't have more than 25 students starting 2026

Education Ministry: Amid the ongoing efforts to hire more teachers and build new schools, we have drafted an amendment to limit the number of students in elementary and middle classes to 25, and in higher classes to 20, to improve the quality of education.

Currently, the maximum is 35 but it's often higher.

The law will go into effect in 2026 when the new infrastructure is ready.

Different classes can join and take arts and gym courses together, but each class will have its separate STEM and other courses. Teachers will receive a bonus the size of 50%-75% of the minimum wage for the merged classes.

[article](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1086811.html)

Economics University rector to students: self-educate

Rector Galoyan: ASUE has always been the second university in the country in terms of applicants and admissions. Half of the top-10 most in-demand majors were offered by us.

The interest in ASUE has gradually increased, especially in the last three years. Last year we reformed and modernized the Bachelor's programs with the help of the Central Bank, the national center for professional education quality assurance, and our experts.

We now have a training and certification process for the staff. It's mandatory every 3 years.

For a long time, the Finance and Management courses were the most popular in our university, but in recent years we've seen more interest in marketing and STEM.

[continue](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1086824.html)

some dipshit attempted to smuggle marijuana from U.S. to Armenia via FedEx

Armenian customs agents found 1.3 kilograms of weed in a box. They were placed inside metal containers.

[video](https://youtu.be/YC05Wk-vGIA)

update: electoral code will be reformed; only IDs will be accepted

[Read details about reforms in Thursday digest](https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/vj7ofs/jun232022_news_president_shares_details_of_secret/). One of the changes is about making ID cards the only document valid at voting stations.

Informed Citizens NGO: This will address some of the problems. Eventually, we have to move from visual-based identification to one that is chip-based.

Today, you can vote with a copy of a passport. This is risky. A person can vote on behalf of someone else. Visual identification is often inaccurate.

The ID card solves this problem because they read the microchip, along with the fingerprint unique to that person.

We are not ready yet to make ID cards the only voting document because over half of our citizens don't have one yet. This is a long-term goal.

The state should encourage citizens to obtain an ID card. For example, salary and pension could require an ID card. //

[article](https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/239574)

Armenia, Greece, and Cyprus signed a memorandum to cooperate on diaspora issues

They will exchange experience, organize joint culture and education events, and promote youth programs.

[article](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1086863.html)

Armenian Assembly of America welcomes the nomination of Kristina Kvein for the next U.S. ambassador to Armenia

The Assembly thanks to the departing ambassador Tracy for her continuous attention to Syunik province, and calls for more USAID assistance to Syunik and Artsakh.

[article](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1086874.html)

the White House will again waive Section 907 to provide military aid to Azerbaijan

ANCA: The decision again emboldens President Aliyev to continue his illegal imprisonment of Armenian POWs, deadly attacks against Artsakh, and ongoing occupation of sovereign Armenian territory. We will continue to work with US Senate and House leaders to zero-out US military aid to Azerbaijan and restrict presidential waiver authority of Section 907.

[article](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1086799.html)

CIS republics will form a joint humanitarian demining unit

Russia's Shoygu announced the decision that was reached during a recent CIS meeting. He praised the "multilateral ties" between the republics.

[article](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1086835.html)

Lavrov visited Azerbaijan to discuss the unblocking of regional routes and border demarcation

Lavrov: There is progress in the unblocking of communication links. We are discussing with the Armenian side to choose the most convenient [automobile route](https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/veplk4/jun172022_news_sweden_to_train_armenian_judges_uk/). Russia will assist with this process. Hopefully we will see the results soon.

Lavrov: Russia is ready to provide consultation to the AM-AZ border demarcation commissions. We have specific suggestions. Let's discuss them.

Bayramov: We recently signed a contract to purchase 20,000 tons of railways from Russia for the construction of the Horadiz-Aghbend railway. One-third of the contract is complete.

[article](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1086810.html) [article](https://factor.am/526603.html)

Turkey arrests arson suspect on the 4th day of raging fires in Marmaris forests

Scenes of burning woodland near the Aegean coastal resort of Marmaris sparked fears of a repeat of last year's fires.

They arrested a suspect who confessed to burning the forest out of frustration due to family issues.

[article](https://factor.am/526576.html) [article](https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/wildfire-southwest-turkey-rages-dashing-hopes-it-was-contained-2022-06-23/)

IMAGE: Yerevan installs a net to catch garbage flowing through Hrazdan river

It's part of efforts to keep the Yerevanyan Lake clean from your diapers.

[article](https://factor.am/526792.html)

French singer Zaz is in Armenia

She will give a concert tomorrow in Hrazdan stadium, as part of the HAYA music festival.

Zaz: I've always valued the advice given by Aznavour, but I never followed his advice to learn English. I'm touched to be in Aznavour's homeland. The people are warm and full of love here. >!not on roads, lady... not on roads!< //

The Saturday concert will launch with a performance by Armenia's Eurovision representative Roza Linn and young musician Parg.

Zaz became famous after her 2010 song [Je veux](https://youtu.be/0TFNGRYMz1U).

[article](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1086861.html)

international basketball tournament "SADA Cup" launched in Yerevan

The Armenian team scored a 94-59 victory in the first game against Team USA. [You can watch it here.](https://youtu.be/Tey0wfy8QnE)

Rex Kalamian, coach: We did a really great job in this game. I'm happy with the result because we played like a big team. Andre Spight Mkrtchyan was unbeatable.

[article](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1086796.html)

Iraqi airlines FlyBaghdad launches Baghdad-Yerevan direct flights

Every Thursday.

[article](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1086797.html)

Belgian resident wins Tokyo district mayor elections

A Japanese woman, who has been residing in Belgium for a decade, traveled to Japan back and forth to run a campaign. The progressive challenger defeated the incumbent conservative mayor with just 200 votes. She will be the mayor of Suginami, Tokyo.

>Her win came as a huge shock, and despite her opposition taking constant jabs at her residency, her progressive agenda stressing less privatization and more citizen participation made an impression on voters.

[article](https://news.yahoo.com/japanese-woman-wins-tokyo-mayorship-235443573.html) [article](https://news.yahoo.com/woman-belgium-elected-mayor-tokyo-111518594.html) [article](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jun/21/tokyo-mayoral-surprise-win-candidate-satoko-kishimoto-living-belgium)

Armenia wants to learn from South Korea

IRS bosses from around the world met in Brussels during an international conference. Armenian and South Korean officials met to discuss cooperation.

Armenia will send agents to study Korea's experience with customs risk management and electronic services.

[article](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1086825.html)

5 injured from an explosion at an auto repair shop in Yerevan

The accident resulted in the driver and 4 mechanics being hospitalized with serious burns. They are in critical condition. One patient has burns on 65% of the body.

[video,](https://youtu.be/1MYxQof_8Uc) [article,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1086830.html) [article,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1086843.html) [article,](https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/239561)

the Holy Mt. Ararat waged an all-out assault on Yerevan on Thursday

Meteorologists have learned details about [yesterday's "bad weather"](https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/vj7ofs/jun232022_news_president_shares_details_of_secret/).

▶︎ The thunderstorm clouds were formed on the sloped of Mt. Ararat before traveling towards Yerevan.

▶︎ The satellite and radars show that it was 16km tall with -60C temperatures at the top. The cloud contained a tornado that ripped away trees and condo roofs in several districts.

▶︎ A month's worth of rain fell in just 20 minutes.

▶︎ This intensity is quite rare for Yerevan at this time of the year - happens once a decade. Expect heavy rains in many parts of Armenia for the next 5 days. The cold stream coming from the Black Sea will keep the temperatures low until July.

▶︎ Big tree gone. [image](https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/239555)

▶︎ Aztecs have predicted this.

[article](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1086813.html)

today in history

-1312: Mursili 2 launches a campaign against the Kingdom of [Hayasa-Azzi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hayasa-Azzi) (Hittite: Ḫaiaša, Armenian: Հայասա)

+109: Roman emperor Trajan inaugurates an aqueduct that channels water from Lake Bracciano, 40 kilometers of Rome.

1571: Spanish navigator Miguel Legazpi founds Manila, the capital of the Philippines.

1812: Napoleon's La Big Mac Armée crosses the Neman river, beginning the invasion of Russia.

1934: The capital of Ukraine is moved from Kharkiv to Kyiv.

1935: Yerevan Puppet Theater opens its doors.

1939: Siam is renamed Thailand.

2006: Armenia wins chess Olympiad.

2013: Ex-PM of Italy Silvio Berlusconi is sentenced to 7 years in prison after being found guilty of engaging in sex with an underage prostitute and abuse of power. He will successfully appeal the verdict later.

2021: A condominium collapses in Surfside, Florida, killing 98 residents. A tourist videotaped the water damage in the garage minutes before the collapse.

[article](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1086781.html) [article](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_24)

top-10 bestseller children's books in May

5) Փիսիկի գանգատը, Tumanyan

4) Ով է ապրում տնակում, Vladimir Suteev

3) Շաղգամը, by Atabek Khnkoyan

2) Колобок

1) Շունն ու կատուն, by Tumanyan

[article](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1086686.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/vjyvqh/jun242022_your_daily_news_digest/