2022 June 7

Daily news wrap-up

Jun/7/2022. Your daily news digest from Armenia || Healthcare & law enforcement reforms, public survey, tech & science events, geopolitics, and more
by ar_david_hh

---

12 minutes. 3208 words.

today in history

1099: First Crusade is underway. The Siege of Jerusalem begins. It will end a week later with the Crusaders' victory against Fatimid Caliphate.

1683: Armenian writer/musician [Paghtasar Dpir](https://hy.wikipedia.org/wiki/Պաղտասար_Դպիր) is born. եղել է գրականության նորոգության ժամանակաշրջանի առաջավոր գործիչներից։

1905: Sweden and Norway break up. United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway was a personal union of the separate kingdoms of Sweden and Norway under a common monarch and common foreign policy.

1952: Turkish novelist [Orhan Pamuk](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orhan_Pamuk) is born. His books were burned in Turkey after he spoke about the Armenian Genocide.

1975: Sony launches Betamax, the first magnetic tape video cassette recorder for consumers. Two years later JVC will launch the VHS format.

[article](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1085305.html) [article](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_7) [article](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Jerusalem_(1099))

Armenian and Georgian soccer legends will hold a farewell match in Yerevan on June 16

A concert is planned before the match and during half-time. Tickets are already on sale for $1-$2. All proceeds will be donated to charity.

Team Armenia: >!Yura Movsisyan, Marcos Pizzelli, Edgar Manucharyan, Robert Arzumanyan, Karlen Mkrtchyan, Gevorg Kasparov, Artur Edigaryan, Levon Hayrapetyan, Valeri Aleksanyan, Arthur Sarkisov, Ararat Arakelyan, Samvel Melkonyan, Vahagn Minasyan will be among the players. Roman Berezovsky will be the player-manager.!<

Team Georgia: >!Levan Kobiashvili, Aleksandr Iashvili, Gocha Jamarauli, Jano Ananidze, Georgi Demetradze, Otar Martsvaladze and others will represent the Georgian team. The coach of the team is David Mujiri, the assistant coach is Mikhail Kavelashvili.!<

[article](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1085339.html) [article](https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1085125/)

Armenia's soccer team is preparing for tomorrow's Nations League match in Scotland

They beat Ireland a few days ago. Can they do it again? It starts at 10:45 pm Yerevan time.

[article](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1085307.html)

lightning strike disables a water pumping station, leaving many residents of Yerevan and Armavir without water

The incident at the Shor-Shor water source left several districts of Yerevan and villages near Yerevan without water for several hours.

[article](https://factor.am/519833.html)

update: several people are still in hospital after [Friday clash](https://youtu.be/OcYHoAwB6Ms) between street opposition and police

[Context in Sunday news digest](https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/v5w9k9/jun52022_your_weekend_news_digest_multimillion/). Protesters were seen throwing rocks and using pipes against the wall of officers. Dozens were hospitalized.

Healthcare Minister: The majority of patients were officers. 70% of patients have been discharged. One citizen underwent surgery and is feeling better. Most cases were blunt force trauma. //

... authorities press charges against 15 suspects over Friday clash

10 of them are under arrest.

[article](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1085333.html) [article](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1085395.html) [video](https://youtu.be/G4ddcd-tHcs?t=17)

11 soldiers injured after Kamaz truck overturns in Vayots Dzor

One of them sustained broken bones. The others sustained light injuries.

[article](https://factor.am/519999.html)

big graduation party led to dozens being hospitalized with food poisoning

A group of 65 students, teachers, and parents gathered in Kotayk to prepare BBQ pork and chicken, with salads and թաշախուստ. A few dozen of them ended up in a hospital. Many are still being treated. Samples were sent to lab for examination.

[article](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1085376.html)

Biden's advisor Jake Sullivan about Nagorno Karabakh negotiations

Sullivan praised the historic diplomatic efforts between Azerbaijan and Armenia toward lasting peace and expressed support for Charles Michel's efforts.

He conveyed the readiness of the U.S. to engage closely and support progress through a variety of means, including OSCE MG.

[article](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1085347.html)

European Parliament adopts a resolution on Turkey, calling it to recognize the Armenian Genocide and "behave"

The resolution expresses concern about Turkey's foreign policy direction in recent years because it contradicts the EU's foreign and security policies, "including in the Caucasus".

The resolution appreciates the Armenia-Turkey diplomatic dialogue and urged EU leaders to actively assist the process.

It calls for Turkey to take pave the way to ensure a true reconciliation of Armenian and Turkish people, and to protect Armenian cultural heritage in Turkey.

It calls on Turkey to take steps to help ethnic Armenians and other minorities struggling in Turkey.

It urges EU leaders to consider a ban on Turkish "Grey Wolves" extremist organization.

448 AYE, 67 NAY, 107 Absent

[article](https://www.1lurer.am/hy/2022/06/07/Եվրախորհրդարանը-բարձր-է-գնահատել-Թուրքիայի-և-Հայաստանի՝-երկկողմ-շփումներ-սկսելու-որոշումը/737390))

Azeris have stopped firing shots at an Armenian village in Tavush province, so the residents are concerned something might be "wrong"

Berd village is 8km from the border. Ceasefire violations were a frequent thing before and after the war. It has been calmer lately. Construction began last month to build a Russian peacekeeping base in Berd.

Last year Pashinyan reminded [Russia] that the Armenia-Russia military agreement envisages the protection of Armenian borders in every part of the country, and not just Syunik and Yeraskh.

[article](https://factor.am/520115.html)

deputy premier and U.S. ambassador discussed the unblocking of communication routes in the South Caucasus

Grigoryan and Tracey spoke about bilateral relations, the ongoing police reforms in Armenia, and the plans to form an Interior Ministry which will be tasked with discovering and penalizing landlords who use ugly wallpapers instead of paint.

[article](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1085364.html)

about the plans to form a new Interior Ministry

Informed Citizens NGO: The need for this ministry has been felt for a long time. There is a popular misconception that the police agency will cease to exist. In reality, the police will become part of the ministry.

This is needed because today the police department is tasked with both policing and developing policies. This cannot happen. The police forces and policymakers should be separate. Imagine if there was no MOD, and CoGS was tasked with everything. That wouldn't lead to anything good.

... Armenia used to have an Interior Ministry, but

it was just the police under the name "Interior Ministry". In 2003 they renamed the ministry to police, without functional reforms.

Now, we will have a civilian ministry that will have a non-civilian agency (police) reporting to it. The minister will be tasked with making policies, but not firing members of the non-civilian department (officers). For example, when there are protests, it will be the police department chief that makes decisions, not the minister.

... we will have fewer but better police officers

This will improve the efficiency of the system. We already see this with the recent introduction of Patrol Police. It has fewer officers, yet the number of drunk driving busts has skyrocketed, and it's not because people started to drink more. We have a 500% increase in the capture of wanted persons. Fewer officers, but with better quality.

We are witnessing fundamental changes in Lori and Tavush provinces after the introduction of the new police. Within the first week, the officers towed away vehicles belonging to Vanadzor mayor, governor's father and aide, Stepanavan mayor. There is no culture of respecting laws in Lori.

... why was this police reform implemented so late?

It wasn't that late. The process began in mid-2020 and coincided with the pandemic and war. The commissions operated even during the war. The officers' training process began in 2021. //

[article](https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/238493)

Tags: #PoliceReforms

head of Constitutional Court invites the head of Venice Commission to Yerevan

Malaurie will arrive tomorrow at the invitation of Dilanyan. This will be one of her first official visits abroad.

Venice Commission was formed in 1990 after the fall of the Berlin wall. It is one of the Council of Europe's advisor bodies.

[article](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1085316.html)

... What's your primary source of information?

TV 46%, Social media 32%, news websites 14%, family 3%.

... Most trusted TV outlets

24% H1 (public TV)

20% ArmeniaTV

19% none

16% Shant

3% ArmNews

3% TV5

2% Yerkir Media

... what do you use the internet for?

27% Facebook, 18% messaging & calls, 13% entertainment media, 13% news, etc.

... which websites do you use?

37% Facebook

31% YouTube

1% Twitter

... does social media have a positive or negative influence on Armenia?

14% positive, 56% negative, 24% neutral

... achievements and failures during Levon Ter-Petrosyan administration

Achievement: 24% Karabakh war victory, 20% Armenia's independence, 51% none

Failures: 31% energy crisis, 25% economy, 13% inability to use the war victory

... achievements and failures during Kocharyan administration

Achievement: 31% economic growth, 3% construction, 51% none

Failures: 22% terror attack in parliament, 13% March 1st, 12% excluding Karabakh leaders from the negotiation table, 10% giving Armenia's assets to Russia

... achievements and failures during Serj administration

Achievement: 8% political stability, 3% balanced foreign policy, 72% none

Failures: 21% land losses in 2016 war, 16% worsening poverty, 11% inability to resolve Karabakh conflict, 8% corruption, 6% none

... achievements and failures during Pashinyan administration

Achievement: 12% breath of democracy and hope, 11% anti-corruption, 8% strengthening democracy, 6% end of the atmosphere of fear and securing free speech, 6% road constructions, 4% free elections, 43% none

Failures: 59% losing Karabakh war, 14% inability to stop the war, 6% none

[Of all leaders, Serj scored by far the worst results when it came to achievements.]

... Ի՞նչ ուղղությամբ է զարգանում Հայաստանի ներքին քաղաքականությունը

78% everything will be alright, 15% it will never get better

... highest and lowest trusted institutes

Highest: Ombudsman, army, healthcare

Lowest: media, legislative, executive

... is the government fair to people like you?

44% yes, 56% no

... do you believe you are able to speak up your mind?

80% yes, 20% no.

... has the 2018 revolution fulfilled your expectations?

44% yes, 56% no

... is Armenia a democracy?

78% yes with certain flaws, 22% no.

... how satisfied are you with your life?

63% fully, 16% not at all, 21% neutral

... do you support a formation of a union with Russia and Belarus?

34% yes, 37% no, 16% neutral, 12% don't know

... who is Armenia's best friend?

36% France (was 17%), 35% Russia (was 57%)

... who is Armenia's biggest enemy?

46% Azerbaijan (was 75%), 46% Turkey (was 22%).

... was the 2020 Karabakh war inevitable?

66% yes, 34% no

... do you believe there is a risk of another war?

53% yes within a decade or less, 9% no, 19% the war hasn't ended.

.... possible options for Karabakh status

79% part of Armenia, 60% independent state, 23% part of Russia, 1.5% jointly administered by Armenia and Azerbaijan, <1% part of Azerbaijan

... do you support the idea of launching direct transportation between Armenia and Azerbaijan?

18% yes, 66% no, 16% neutral.

... would a transport connection between Nakhijevan and Azerbaijan provide economic opportunities for Armenia?

36% yes, 55% no, 9% neutral, . [The question seemingly excludes the benefits Armenia would get from the simultaneous unblocking of the north-south link.]

... where do you work?

31% public sector, 26% business owner, 25% private sector,

... what can you afford?

4% everything, 9% lots of things including refrigerator and washing machine, 41% food and clothing, 28% food, 18% not even food.

... would you leave Armenia if you could?

56% temporarily. 30% permanently (that's also the % who said they are looking for work).

... how much should your salary be to have a normal life?

Around a third said ~$600. Another third said ~$1,000.

[article](https://www.civilnet.am/news/664103/հայաստանի-առջև-ծառացած-ամենակարևոր-խնդիրը-խաղաղության-պակասն-է․-հարցում/) [source](https://www.crrc.am/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Բարոմետր_պրեզենտացիա_2021_PDF_Final-Final.pdf)

EMERGE 2022: Armenian startup declared winner under "Health Tech" category

The international tech conference was held in Yerevan's Sundukyan theater. 250 startups took part. The winners were announced in multiple categories. They received Amazon AWS credits and other benefits.

Armenia-based [Way2AR](https://way2ar.com/) won the HealthTech category. "We create augmented and virtual reality projects for marketing, sales, and training," says their page.

[article](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1085401.html)

Polytechnic University is raising science professors' salaries by 75%-95%, plus bonuses for publishing articles: Board member Tigran Avinyan

1 դրույք (720 ժամ) ֏540k.

1.5 դրույք (1080 ժամ) ֏810k.

ազդեցության գործակից ունեցող հանդեսներում հրատարակված մասնագիտական հոդվածների համար կտրամադրվի ֏150k-֏350k պարգևավճար:

There will be a new ֏50m budget for scientific grants.

[article](https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/238456)

ethnic Armenian Nobel Prize winner to visit Armenia next week

Dr. [Ardem Patapoutian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ardem_Patapoutian) (born in Beirut) is an Armenian-American molecular biologist and neuroscientist. He is known for characterizing receptors that detect pressure, menthol, and temperature. Last year he won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine jointly with a colleague.

Economy Ministry has invited him to visit Armenia on June 13-17 for Science & Business Days 2022. Other prominent Armenian scientists will also be present.

[article](https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/238507)

Armenian low-coster FlyOne wants to expand flight destinations to include Beirut and Tehran

That could happen this year. They are also considering other Middle Eastern destinations in the future.

The company representative said the travel demand outweighed the supply, which led to the recent spike in ticket prices to/from Russia.

... Turkey restored FlyOne's permit to use Turkish airspace to reach Europe with the help of Armenia's Foreign Ministry: FlyOne rep.

The Yerevan-Lyon and Yerevan-Paris flights over Turkish air will resume on June 17. It was suspended in May.

[article](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1085361.html) [article](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1085361.html) [article](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1085349.html) [full video](https://youtu.be/MI19wC8I9e0)

European Wizz Air low-coster launches Larnaca(Greece)-Yerevan flights

Twice a week.

[article](https://www.1lurer.am/hy/2022/06/07/Wizz-Air-ավիաընկերությունը-մեկնարկել-է-թռիչքներ-Լառնակա-Երևան-Լառնակա-երթուղով/737132)

forest protection agencies will run background checks on job applicants to find out if they have a criminal record relating to nature

There has been a wave of corruption and abuse of power investigations against forest protection agents in recent years. Many times it's the officials tasked with protecting forests who were committing or abetting the illegal logging.

Prosecutors investigated the records and sent suggestions to ArmForest (HayAntar). ArmForest administration has issued a decree to branch leaders to introduce new background checks during the hiring process to learn if the applicant has a record of abusing an office or crimes relating to forests.

Besides the background checks, which will be done "to the best of our abilities", applicants will be asked to answer whether they have a relevant criminal record and certify it with their signature.

[article](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1085359.html)

13km Vardavank-Khndrats-Agarak road is being renovated in Kapan (Syunik)

The road connects the three villages located near the border, east of Kapan. The metal bridge will also undergo renovation. The road will be ready this year. The government has received a warranty from the construction firms.

... speaking of warranty

Parts of the alternative cargo road in Syunik, which was built last year to substitute the border road, were of low quality because construction speed was prioritized at the time.

This is why the Ministry ordered the firms not to install the final third layer yet. After the winter and rainy season ended, the ministry asked the firms to begin the repairs and the installation of the third layer to strengthen the asphalt.

[article](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1085362.html) [video](https://youtu.be/rkoER9pgSdw)

Artsakh budget revenues were 14% above expectations

President Arayik held a meeting with IRS boss Poghossyan. The latter reported that in January-May the tax agency collected ֏16b, which was 14.3% above the expectations.

The government is working on legal amendments to simplify tax rules for small and medium enterprises.

[article](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1085382.html)

3,200 families have so far received mortgage subsidies from the government as part of new social programs aimed at boosting demographics

Labor Ministry: The state has increased the budget by ֏400m because of the unprecedented number of applications this year. The initial budget was ֏1.2b which was proportionately distributed in the quarter. The funds were all spent by mid-May.

Three demographics programs were introduced in July 2020:

1) միանվագ աջակցության ծրագիր. For families with 2 or more kids տրամադրվում է ֆինանսական աջակցություն մարզային բնակավայրում անշարժ գույք ձեռք բերելու կամ տուն կառուցելու համար. (583 recipients so far)

2) կանխավճարի ապահովագրության ծրագիր for families with at least 1 kid. Աջակցությունն ուղղվում է կանխավճարի և ապահովագրավճարի մարմանը. (830 recipients so far)

3) երեխայի ծննդյան աջակցության ծրագիր. When a new child is born, հիփոթեքային վարկ մարող ընտանիքում նոր երեխա ծնվելու դեպքում է տրամադրվում, և որն ուղղվում է մայր գումարի մարմանը. (1,837 recipientns so far)

[article](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1085344.html)

anti-corruption: Nubarashen clinic director is accused of taking 30% of employee wages every month

Authorities reports: From 2013 to 2022, the director of Yerevan's Nubarashen clinic demanded the doctor-therapist to pay 30% of wages as a bribe, in exchange for "no headaches" and not losing the job. The director took ֏5.8m ($13,400) in total.

The director also hired another employee in 2014 in exchange for receiving 30% of their salary. He took ֏6.6m ($15,000).

The case is sent to Anti-Corruption Committee for further investigation. //

[article](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1085378.html)

healthcare reforms: Armenia's doctors must be licensed and retrained starting next year

Ministry recently announced plans to improve the quality of care by requiring doctors to undergo a certification process and keep their skills up-to-date.

Minister Avanesyan today: We plan to introduce a certification program for medical workers starting January 1, 2023. It is important to improve the knowledge and skills of our medical staff.

Before it begins, around 30,000 active medical workers will update their knowledge to receive certificates so they can continue to work. //

... the government will allocate another $11 million to Healthcare Ministry to cover state-subsidized medical care for citizens

Every year the ministry calculates an estimated amount it believes it will need to cover the free medical services for citizens. The government then issues the funds (which are separate from the ministry's budget), then makes adjustments throughout the year to allocate more if necessary. There is usually a waiting line for free medical services. Next week the government will allocate ֏5.2b to cover such expenses.

... healthcare expenditures amounted to ֏158b ($364 million) last year

The initial plan was ֏114b, but an additional ֏44b was spent mostly on COVID.

The healthcare funding was up by ֏16b compared to 2020.

90,000 people received medical care last year.

... the state is financing the reconstruction of 6 medical facilities

Avanesyan: World Bank is financing the construction of Martuni and Yeghegnadzor hospitals. Another 6 are being constructed with the state budget.

The largest one is a program to completely rebuild the National Center for Mental Health, which will take 4 years.

The others are the Nork Infections hospital, Sisian, Talin, Tsaghkahovit, and Charentsavan centers. Constructions began last year.

Sisian center was supposed to be rebuilt, but the examination revealed unfixable seismic and other problems, so we decided to build a completely new facility. //

... healthcare budget has drastically increased in recent years, but we still need the reforms in the health insurance system: Minister

Avanesyan: The healthcare budget drastically increased in recent years and we didn't have a decline in our services despite the pandemic and war. The trust of our citizens in the state-funded services has further strengthened, which is also proven by the increase in their applications.

However, we need a prepaid healthcare budget, which is the introduction of a health insurance system. As you know, we have included the development of an insurance system concept in our program. It will be introduced phase-by-phase in Armenia. The resolution will be sent to parliament for discussions in about a month. //

Read more about the planned universal healthcare in [May 30 news digest](https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/v1atcm/may302022_your_daily_news_digest_from_armenia/). You can tap on my username and "follow" in order not to miss the digests, or [use this](https://twitter.com/DailyDavo/).

[article](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1085320.html) [article](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1085324.html) [article](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1085325.html) [article](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1085329.html) [article](https://factor.am/519897.html) [article](https://factor.am/519897.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.

---

Link to original report and comments: https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/v791gf/jun72022_your_daily_news_digest_from_armenia/