2022 May 11

Daily news wrap-up

May/11/2022 - Your daily news digest. || Armenia forming tech reserves; engineers & army || Russian reporter recalls Shushi battle || Armenia is suing Azerb. in World Court for ethnic cleansing || Pashinyan reveals more negotiation details; Russia & West || Anti-corruption: $13m || Student bribery
by ar_david_hh

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13 minutes. 3367 words.

Russian military correspondent from ANNA News recalls the 2020 battle of Shushi

Alexander Kharchenko: The battles began a month earlier and the Armenian army had sustained significant losses by that point. They were unprepared for this type of warfare. Azeri drones had total control of the air.

Reporter: Turkish and Israeli drones. They bought $6 billion worth of Israeli drones.

Kharchenko: Yes. They had large reserves of drones and shells. They would even target two soldiers with high precision if they were seen standing together. Armenian soldiers had been fighting for a month and were too exhausted to defend Shushi.

Reporter: What day was this?

Kharchenko: The fights within city premises began on November 6. Azeri soldiers climbed the rocks, installed sniper pairs, and targeted the defenders. The Armenian side was expecting them to come from the road located on the side. They got caught off guard and did not organize properly. We tried entering the city in the evening but we weren't allowed because of the risk; there was a fog and neither side knew where the enemy was. On November 7 Armenian soldiers retreated to the outskirt and took positions near the prison. There is a hill with a cross there. Armenians took up positions there and decided to defend it as a symbolic move. The hill was encircled several times but Azeris couldn't capture it. Armenians held on to it until the end.

Reporter: Until the end?

Kharchenko: Yes. They kept it. There were 4 such hills located between Shushi and Stepanakert. Azeris attempted to storm this "cross hill", but after the unsuccessful attempts, they gave up and decided to advance to Stepanakert. They were able to capture 2 small hills but Armenians stopped them on the last hill to Stepanakert. The defenders stood on the "cross hill" encircled until the end.

Reporter: Couldn't the drones get them?

Kharchenko: The drones mysteriously stopped working, as if someone snapped his fingers and they were no longer as effective. I don't know how.

[sources](https://youtu.be/miTmSAAGHvc)

there are plans to involve more engineers and techies in the military industry

The Union of Advanced Technology Enterprises marked its 21st anniversary. It has 121 member companies.

Director QP Hayk Chobayan: The Union must consolidate its entire potential to serve the state's needs. We will soon implement the Comprehensive Defense & Security System and the formation of tech reserves.

The tech field has 29,000 experts. We plan to form a technology reserve, a mobilization system, which will hold military and education exercises annually. This platform will allow the engineers to directly take part in the creation and experimentation of high-tech weapons.

The funding system must undergo reforms. We must focus on technologies of dual-use, things that can be used in military and civilian fields. //

[video](https://youtu.be/qXBHDp_5MGg), [source](https://www.1lurer.am/hy/2022/05/11/ԱՏՁՄ-ն-մտադիր-է-տեխնոլոգիական-ռեզերվ-ստեղծել/720165)

ranking army general arrested after shooting incident in Artsakh capital Stepanakert

Shots were fired yesterday in Veratsnund Square in Stepanakert. The bullets hit a car. The police is treating it as hooliganism and illegal use of a weapon. The suspect is under arrest. He is General Samvel "Oganovski" Karapetyan.

Artsakh president's office: The president has received numerous letters supportive of the general, and the president himself values the general's contributions to the homeland, but no one is above the law and the president cannot intervene. //

[sources](https://www.civilnet.am/news/661101/ստեփանակերտի-հրապարակում-կրակոցների-գործով-ձերբակալվել-է-գեներալ-սամվել-կարապետյանը/) [sources](https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/236778) [sources](https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/236802)

the $63 million mansion forfeiture case in the U.S. was just the tip of the iceberg: anti-corruption

Armenian prosecutors cooperated with U.S. authorities to launch the confiscation of a $63 million Los Angeles mansion belonging to Serj-era minister Gagik Khachatyan. The latter denies wrongdoing.

Meanwhile, in Armenia, prosecutors proceeded to submit a confiscation case against Khachatryan's associate Galust Grigoryan.

Prosecutors list the properties, worth almost $14 million:

- An area of public significance in Yerevan, 2 apartments, 1 garage, 1 vehicle. They are valued at $3.1 million.

- Garage and apartments in Yerevan valued at $1.2m.

- Income from the participation/sale of a company, worth $1.6m, plus $7.9m the origin of which cannot be explained.

Grigoryan is a suspect as part of the money laundering and forgery case involving Gagik Khachatryan and others. //

[sources](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1082892.html)

as they say, karma is a b_tch

Syunik's embattled Serj-era governor Surik "Liska" Khachatryan has a son who was accused of falsifying medical records in 2018 to claim he had mental problems so he could avoid military service. He was reportedly registered in a database of persons with mental problems.

Fast forward to 2022. Prosecutors say that Surik's sons, and a few others, somehow kept their driver's licenses despite being registered in the mental database. They are investigating to find out if it's negligence or conspiracy.

[sources](https://factor.am/509836.html) [sources](https://www.azatutyun.am/a/29410316.html) [sources](https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/236787)

opposition held anti-Pashinyan rallies, encircled Yerevan municipality

The protesters, led by former administration members, encircled and shut down the exits of Yerevan municipality. They [attempted to break into](https://youtu.be/MkIdVzudESQ?t=154) the building but were stopped by the police wall.

ARF Artsvik: The people have decided to encircle it. We don't want to forcefully enter and commit violence. We want municipality workers to join us.

Reporter: The shift will end soon. Will you unblock it so workers can go home?

ARF Artsvik: Those who decide to join us can exit and join, no problem.

Reporter: And if they won't want to join you? Can they leave?

ARF Artsvik: Look at this [shows the crowd encircling the entrance]. How can anyone exit the building and leave? It's difficult to say. We respect the workers. This is a message for them to join us.

Reporter: Can you guarantee workers' free movement?

ARF Artsvik: Yes. Fully. No problem. This is a temporary action. //

The police chief contacted the encirclement organizer ARF Saghatelyan. The latter said they won't back down. The police accused the organizers of violating municipality workers' rights. "We will ensure their free movement," said a deputy police chief.

The municipality's Head of Information Department said the vast majority of workers are in their offices, and that "no one expressed a desire to leave and join protests".

[sources](https://factor.am/509641.html) [sources](https://youtu.be/BMY6BaYObbI) [sources](https://factor.am/509889.html) [sources](https://factor.am/509893.html) [sources](https://youtu.be/fWMX61uYU38) [sources](https://youtu.be/2wHCoYMgmJs) [sources](https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/236829) [sources](https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/236830)

audio leak allegedly shows attempts to bribe Agrarian University students to join anti-Pashinyan protests | 2,000 students with $2 each for one rally

Report: The leaked audio is a conversation between the Chairman of the Student Council at Agrarian University and two individuals, one of whom is presented as a professor.

The professor offers the Student Chairman to join the protests. The latter asks if money is being offered. The Student Chairman wonders how much it would cost to bring 2,000 students. The answer is "depending on the type of participation they will have. If you can organize a revolt in the university, that's one thing, but if you come and close two intersections, that's another thing."

It was offered to pay ֏2 million for 2,000 students to take part in one rally. That's about $2 each.

The university has confirmed the identity of the professor, and added "we are an apolitical institute".

The Student Chairman also confirmed that he was the second party in the conversation. The conversation took place last week. He claims it wasn't him who recorded it. He says in the end he refused the bribery offer. There were two meetings. He cited "curiosity" as the reason for his decision to meet again to discuss the alleged bribery in detail.

The opposition denied offering bribes. The prosecutors are investigating. //

In the audio, the Student Chairman is heard laughing when he learns it's "$2 each".

[audio leak](https://youtu.be/BXE-eLbcgyI), [article](https://factor.am/509878.html)

Tags: #bribery

Yerevan will have two new subway stations, and hundreds of electric buses

Tigran Avinyan is the head of the state-run ANIF fund. He also plans to run for mayor next year.

Avinyan: Beside the planned Ajapnyak metro station, there will be another intermediate station near the Petak shopping mall. The city will also purchase 250 electric buses.

These programs will transform Yerevan's entire transport system and address air pollution, a major problem in the city. Yesterday we met EBRD bank representatives to discuss this and other topics. //

[sources](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1082926.html)

Armenia and Iran discussed energy, trade routes, water

Iran's Energy Minister Ali Mehrabian visited Armenia and praised the high-level cooperation and friendship between the states.

He met Armenia's Nature Minister to discuss eco-protection, tourism, and successful joint works on the river Araks on the border.

Armenia's Deputy Premier said Armenia can become a gateway for Iran to connect to EAEU. They discussed the North-South corridor construction progress.

Iranian Minister criticized Turkey for building water reservoirs on the Araks river without agreeing with neighbors.

[sources](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1082930.html) [sources](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1082943.html) [sources](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1082951.html) [sources](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1082955.html)

new village is being built to relocate residents whose homes will be left underwater after the construction of the large Kaps Reservoir

Officials visited Amasia enlarged settlement to learn about the area that was selected for the construction. Jradzor settlement, with 75 homes, will be built on 40 hectares. The ground preparation is underway.

[sources](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1082950.html)

DAY 2: Pashinyan's Netherlands trip

Yesterday he met "friends of Armenia" and gave them medals and awards for their efforts to strengthen interstate relations, Genocide recognition, and Artsakh's rights. There were cultural events and an opening ceremony of a monument. Today he met the Premier. He also met Dutch officials and discussed the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, among other topics.

[sources](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1082876.html)

...during the Brussels meeting, in the presence of Charles Michel, Aliyev promised to release a group of POWs but this hasn't happened yet: Pashinyan

Pashinyan revealed this during a meeting at the Netherlands Institute of International Relations, in response to questions. "This is a practice of using people for political purposes and making them a subject of trade, which is condemnable. [...] It’s impossible to talk about peace by ignoring the humanitarian side of the issue," he added.

[sources](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1082933.html)

U.S. Secretary Anthony Blinken discussed the release of Armenian POWs during a call with Ilham Aliyev

They spoke about steps that can be taken to establish peace in the region, demarcate the borders, resume communication routes, and return POWs.

[sources](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1082976.html)

...Pashinyan about Azerbaijan's aggressive policies towards Nagorno Karabakh:

[Mentions the Parukh invasion, loudspeakers, removal of Armenian inscriptions from churches, and termination of gas supplies.] Azerbaijan's goal is to ensure Armenians have no rights or there are no Armenians in Nagorno Karabakh. This is not an exaggeration.

Our stance is that Nagorno Karabakh is not a territorial conflict, which is how Azerbaijan is attempting to portray the conflict. This is an issue of people's rights. That is our message to the international community. We must protect the rights of the people of Nagorno Karabakh.

Under this context, we adopted a policy of peace in the region. We must establish peace, then resolve the problems. Some Armenians mistakenly believe that the peace agenda is an agenda of "treason". We disagree.

Easy paths do not lead to good outcomes. We have chosen the difficult but the right path. We need to open an era of peace in the region. For this, it is necessary to unblock the communication routes and establish a connection with Azerbaijan. //

[sources](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1082957.html)

... Pashinyan confirms: Azerbaijan agreed to include Armenia's 6-point counterproposal to the negotiation process

Pashinyan: We must unblock the communication routes in the region so the railways and roads can operate between AM and AZ. We launched a dialogue with Turkey and agreed to meet without preconditions.

We need the international community to hear the voice of people living in Nagorno Karabakh, who are fighting for the right to live in their homeland. Armenia has chosen peace; we will delimit and demarcate our borders. Azerbaijan sent a 5-point proposal. We saw nothing unacceptable, but it did not address certain issues such as Nagorno Karabakh's security, rights, and the final status.

So on April 6, with the mediation of EU's Charles Michel, we discussed that issue with Aliyev. I told Aliyev that the 5-point proposal is not unacceptable, and that if Azerbaijan agrees and we include our proposals, we can launch the negotiations. Lately, Azeri officials are trying to form the impression that only their proposals will be on the table. This is contrary to the agreement reached in Brussels. We are ready to launch the negotiations. Our representatives will soon meet to discuss the border demarcation process. We are on a difficult but right path. //

[sources](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1082938.html)

Armenia supplements lawsuit against Azerbaijan in UN's World Court, accusing it of ethnic cleansings in Nagorno Karabakh

After Azerbaijan's invasion of Parukh (Artsakh), on April 25 Armenia sent evidence of ethnic cleansing to World Court. It includes details about Azerbaijan's use of loudspeakers to terrorize civilians to force them to leave, gas termination to cause a humanitarian crisis, etc.

The lawsuit argues that the residents are targeted because of their ethnicity. Pashinyan had earlier announced plans to use the UN lawsuit(s) against Azerbaijan as a tool to strengthen Armenia's case during the Nagorno Karabakh status negotiations.

Expert Ara Ghazaryan: I haven't had the opportunity yet to read the complaint in full, but it does contain facts about the policies aimed at ethnic cleansing. The loudspeaker incidents, Azerbaijan's refusal to investigate it, the official policy of military action against civilians, racial discrimination, ethnic cleansings etc. //

Armenia also sent new evidence to ECHR regarding the illegal actions toward Armenian POWs.

[more in video](https://youtu.be/cId6_PPYEJI), [article](https://factor.am/509911.html)

Tags:

Pashinyan about Armenia's relations with Russia and West:

Azerbaijan goes to the West and says "Look, Armenia is a pro-Russian country", in an attempt to damage our relations with the West. At the same time, they go to Russia and tell them "Look, Armenia is a pro-Western country, look how they are building ties with the West". Azerbaijan claims the government in Armenia was brought to power by the West through a color revolution.

In reality, Armenia is a strategic ally of Russia while also gradually deepening relations with the West. EU is Armenia's main partner in the democratic reforms.

Not only must we carry out multilateral policy but we must also be able to manage the risks that are emerging as a result of carrying out this policy. We are guided by the national interests of Armenia. //

[sources](https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1082934.html)

Pashinyan about corruption:

We eradicated systemic corruption in Armenia and continue to fight against various forms of corruption. Armenia has registered major progress in this area over the past 4 years, and the Netherlands has supported us throughout this process.

Today, democracy is Armenia's main brand, and this is not my assessment. These realities have been recorded by international institutes. In 2021, for the first time, Armenia was classified as a country with electoral democracy. This is an important achievement.

According to the latest index, Armenia is the 51st in the world with freedom of speech and media, ahead of 10 European countries. //

[sources](https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1082935.html)

Pashinyan delegation met Dutch businesses to discuss investment opportunities in Armenia

Pashinyan spoke about the fight against corruption, democratic reforms, and efforts to ensure peace in the region.

Pashinyan: Agriculture is one of the most important sectors for us. We are expecting investments from the Netherlands because we see how this field is developed in your country.

You can take advantage of our EAEU membership. IT is also an important and rapidly developing sector. //

Director of the Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers: The presence of many guests and organizations at this meeting shows that Armenia really is a very attractive country for doing business.

[sources](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1082903.html)

HYEPROSPECT innovative industrial community will be built in Armenia's Abovyan and Arzni

Members of government met Abovyan leadership to discuss the investment plan by HyeProspect CJSC. It envisages the construction of an industrial community with new infrastructure focused on innovation, education, services, and relevant facilities.

It will include residential, education, healthcare, agricultural, and production districts. The latter will be a free economic zone specialized in EAEU markets.

The government invited diasporan experts from the iGorts program to coordinate some of the efforts.

[sources](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1082915.html)

group of diasporan repatriates returned to their native village and planted trees

They gathered at the No. 1 school in Sarukhan (Gegharkunik) to plant trees in the backyard. The event was organized by one of the repatriates who returned from Chelyabinsk (Russia).

They planted 120 bardi and 20 apricot trees. They dug a bottle with a note in it and promised to return 10 years later to check on the trees. The school will take care of upkeep.

[sources](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1082916.html)

the cop who ran over a pregnant woman in Yerevan is facing additional charges, prosecutors seek arrest

A police vehicle struck a woman while accompanying Pashinyan's motorcade a few weeks ago. Although an ambulance was called, the officer decided not to stop because he believed the rules prohibited him. He returned to the scene hours later. He wasn't charged with "hit and run", so the prosecutors didn't/couldn't arrest.

The investigation has concluded. "Hit and run" will be added to his charges. Prosecutors will ask the court to arrest him.

[sources](https://factor.am/509976.html)

this school in Shoghakat has solar panels on the roof now

The €32,000 project was co-financed by the government of Lithuania and the municipality. The construction lasted two months. The opening ceremony was on Wednesday, attended by the Lithuanian ambassador, Gegharkunik governor, and others.

The station will cover the electricity and heating costs with surplus revenue. "This can be an example of other schools."

[photo](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1082924.html)

no QR codes or vax cards are necessary to enter public venues starting tomorrow

[sources](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1082906.html)

after 4 months of torturing the public, Gagik Tsarukyan's Jesus Committee has finally chosen the design of the proposed mega-statue

Gagik: the people and the commission members chose the same design. I congratulate sculptor Armen Samvelyan. I'm glad we had participants from Armenia, Artsakh, and Diaspora.

Armenia must be able to present itself to the world in a new way. We are a nation with ancient culture, ancient literature, and ancient history, the world should know us that way. //

There are rumors it might be installed on Mt. Hatis in Kotayk. It's one of the candidates. They will choose an accessible location with new roads.

[See the design.](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1082905.html) [sources](https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/236818)

if you build it, they will come

The music school in Arevshat (Ararat) underwent renovation after many years of operating in poor conditions. It was revamped as part of a program titled "Come to the village, there is life in the village."

The number of students enrolled in classes grew by 50% after the renovation, announced the director. Composer Ara Gevorgyan and his students attended a concert as part of the opening ceremony.

The school serves the residents of Arevshat and 11 neighboring villages. It is the home of folklore bands who often represent Armenia during international events.

[photos](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1082886.html)

Aznavour Classique: international guests will arrive to perform his music

It's a joint project by Aznavour's daughter Kristina, conductor Nikola Simoni, and Armenia's State Symphony Orchestra. Pianist and family friend Eric Bershon, who performed with Aznavour for two decades, will join them.

May 14, 9 pm, Hamalir complex. All proceeds will be donated to Aznavour Foundation's "Grants for Injured Soldiers" program.

[official](https://visityerevan.am/events/details/288/en/), [interview with Kristina](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1082900.html)

today in history

1997: Chess computer Deep Blue defeats world champion Gasparyan Garik.

[sources](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1082877.html) [sources](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_11)

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.

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Link to original report and comments: https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/unihxw/may112022_your_daily_news_digest_armenia_forming/