2023 October 24

Daily news wrap-up

MOD Papikyan could have a French adviser on military reforms // Interview with Samvel Babayan // Armenia will reform its "rigged" television ratings agency // Calls grow to ban Russian channels in Armenia after a propaganda piece // Solar = 9% of electricity
by ar_david_hh

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Armenia will send officers to France for training // France will continuously audit Armenian army needs

[Monday news](https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/17eut0h/northsouth_trade_route_via_syunik_agreement/) has the context. Armenia will acquire three units of GM-200 air defense systems for now, and other systems in the future.

FRANCE: These medium-range air defense systems are designed to detect drones and missiles within a 250 km radius. They are quite popular in our army. They are being used for detection and analysis. They are the best in the market.

An Armenian delegation will visit France shortly to learn how to use them. This is the first stage of our military support to Armenia. We will continuously audit the needs of the Armenian army.

Our cooperation is also in the field of military education and army reforms. In 2023-2024 we plan to support the reforms in the defense apparatus of Armenia and help with the education of the ground and air defense troops.

Armenian students will attend French military schools and study the French model for the professional army. Cooperation agreements will be signed between military universities.

French experts will visit Armenia to train officers on accurate shooting, mountain and field battles. We have proposed assigning a French officer as an adviser to MOD Papikyan to help with the reforms.

[source,](https://hetq.am/hy/article/161416)

interview with Nagorno-Karabakh opposition leader Samvel Babayan, the former head of Nagorno-Karabakh army

REPORTER (CivilNet): France will sell GM-200 air defense systems, the Mistral "Igla" alternatives, and help with reforms. What will these weapons change on the ground?

BABAYAN: I don't know which generation of these weapons we will receive, but they could help us "close the air". In 2021 I wrote a letter to Pashinyan about the need to cooperate with this French company. I don't know if this cooperation was based on that letter or not. This company has very good radio-electronic systems that can suppress drones and prevent them from entering a certain zone. I'm glad that we are finally buying the detection and destruction systems.

REPORTER: This system is for destroying objects flying in low altitudes. Was it the right decision to purchase those?

BABAYAN: Yes, but I still want to know the weapon's generation.

REPORTER: Armenia has a unified air defense system with Russia. After the arrival of French air defense systems, how will they work, and how will they integrate? Will the Russian army receive information provided by the French radars? Are we replacing the AM-RU joint air defense system with AM-FR?

BABAYAN: There is no joint Armenian-Russian air defense network today and has not existed for years now. We did not receive help from Russia. Armenia has decided to refresh its own air defense network by acquiring weapons that Armenia finds necessary. We shouldn't have to coordinate this process with Russia. We transferred funds to Russia but they haven't delivered the weapons because of the war in Ukraine. We can't sit down and wait until they are ready.

REPORTER: Is it possible to use a mix of weapons from Russia, India, and France?

BABAYAN: Yes. If all your air defense is French, all the artillery is Indian, and another category uses Russian weapons, then I don't see a conflict there.

REPORTER: You recently stated that there is still a chance to hold negotiations with Azerbaijan. In turn, President Shahramanyan stated that he had not dissolved Nagorno-Karabakh. Are the two of you talking about the same thing?

BABAYAN: I was referring to the separate negotiations I was holding with Azerbaijan before the attack. Today I no longer believe that it's possible to resume these NK-AZ negotiations because Azerbaijan and Armenia aren't very inclined to accept that anymore.

QUESTION: About the recent protests and fights in front of the Nagorno-Karabakh government office in Yerevan.

BABAYAN: I believe it was necessary to form a special agency to take care of refugees' needs but the [Nagorno-Karabakh] administration was again jealous and started playing a circus. They even brought up my name and claimed I sent the protesters there. I urge the population not to believe these sick individuals. President Shahramanyan, who formerly served as the head of state security, personally knows the protesters who got arrested. They are the former servants of ex-President Arayik Harutyunyan. They launched a propaganda campaign to defame me by claiming that all I've ever wanted was power. Leave my name out of this circus now.

REPORTER: Why is there a campaign to "discredit" you?

BABAYAN: They don't have an actual plan, they don't know what the solution is to come out of this situation, so they need to find a boogieman. They have committed crimes in Nagorno-Karabakh so they need to pin the blame on someone else. There is a criminal investigation in Armenia. I hope we'll find out the details of how they surrendered the country.

REPORTER: What is your plan?

BABAYAN: Build special communities in Syunik to allow the refugees to live and feel at home. This must be done by a special "Office" that should be formed specifically for humanitarian and other needs of refugees. We should not allow a second "government of Nagorno-Karabakh" to be present in the territory of the Republic of Armenia.

REPORTER: Many refugees do not want to settle in Syunik because of safety concerns.

BABAYAN: Give them higher living standards, a new house, and a smart farm through a leasing program, and they will agree. Today people are surrendering their French passports to move and live in unsafe Israel because of higher living standards. People prioritize the economy and living standards. They see how unsafe the whole world is. Create better livable conditions and they will come. The government of Armenia has not done this yet. Syunik's climate is close to Nagorno-Karabakh's: Martuni=Meghri, Martakert=Ghapan, Goris=Askeran.

REPORTER: Azerbaijan wants a trade corridor through southern Armenia. Could Azerbaijan attempt to take it by force?

BABAYAN: No. This is about a Meghri-Nakhijevan road, railway, or even an oil/gas pipeline. Azerbaijan has declared itself a transit state and wants this route because it needs to stay relevant in a few decades when the oil revenues end. Armenia would also benefit from this route as long as it's not a "corridor". Aliyev's adviser recently announced that Armenia misunderstood Azerbaijan and that they didn't mean a sovereign corridor, and that they only want a trade route. Azerbaijan reiterated the same during the 3+3 meeting yesterday. The unblocking of routes would connect Armenia to Iran and the Black Sea. China wants the Silk Road to travel through the Caspian Sea; we could connect them to Europe. We're talking about $150 billion worth of traffic. It'll be beneficial for us. We must also build a platina on Araks on the AM-IR border. Sadly the Armenian government is not doing enough to realize this project.

REPORTER: You led the Nagorno-Karabakh defense army during the most difficult times in the 1990s. The September 19 attack lasted only a day. Do you think the Defense Army could have resisted longer?

BABAYAN: Yes. And after about 6 more days of resistance, Azerbaijan would have agreed to a ceasefire under much better conditions for us. We did have the means to defend ourselves for longer.

REPORTER: The Nagorno-Karabakh government did not like you because they were afraid of you. What is preventing the government of Armenia, who is more friendly towards you, from appointment you to ranking military positions?

BABAYAN: The Armenian government and I have different views. Our policies differ.

REPORTER: You don't seem to own a business and don't have a "regular job". What is your source of income?

BABAYAN: My children operate businesses. They are taking care of me and my spouse.

[source,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hq3qTqQN6nM)

Russian parliament indefinitely postpones recognition of Armenian driver's license for work and business in Russia

The bill to grant benefits to Armenian drivers was adopted during the first hearing in 2022 but failed to proceed through the final stage.

RUSSIA: The adoption of this law does not correspond to Russia's interests at present. Armenian government should take steps to consolidate the status of the Russian language in Armenia if they want these benefits. The latest decisions are not at all aimed at the development of relations in that area. //

Business drivers from the following states have the benefits: Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan because the "status of the Russian language is constitutionally enshrined" in those states.

[source,](https://arka.am/en/news/business/state_duma_indefinitely_postpones_recognition_of_armenian_driver_s_license_for_work_and_business_in_/) [source,](https://www.civilnet.am/news/755004/ռդ-պետդուման-հետաձգել-է-հայկական-վարորդականների-ընդունման-օրինագիծը/) [source,](https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/272089)

fact-checker: Russian state media presented dozens of instances of fake news and manipulations while covering Armenia and the Armenian government; anti-Armenia rhetoric; "Western Azerbaijan"

Conspiracy theories, fake news, personal insults, calls for Azerbaijanis to settle in "Western Azerbaijan" (Armenia), etc. That's the content of various Russian shows these days. The propagandists even falsified Vladimir Putin's own speech to blame Armenia for the loss of Nagorno-Karabakh, which took place under Russian watch. The Russian TV show invited an opposition figure from Armenia to throw mud.

PM Pashinyan, his cabinet members, pro-Western political figures, various analysts and NGOs from Armenia were targeted and referred to as puppets of George Soros. Styopa Safaryan, a pro-Western figure, urged the Armenian government to shut down the broadcasting of Russian channels in Armenia. Such calls have been growing lately. Read more about it [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/17cmxad/survey_russians_are_more_sympathetic_towards/). Even the head of Armenia's Free Speech Committee believes that Russian state media's anti-Armenian coverage is a national security threat because there has been rhetoric against Armenia's sovereignty and independence as a state.

GAREGIN MISKARYAN (politician): After what they did yesterday, banning Russian TV channels in Armenia is fully justified for their clearly anti-Armenian, hostile, and manipulative coverage. Will you ever shut them down or not? [tagged PM Pashinyan] //

GAYANE ABRAHAMYAN (ex-ruling MP): Our hostile ally's anti-scientific and anti-journalistic porno broadcasted yesterday is the best opportunity to remove Russian channels from our public multiplex. We must not allow them to rape the brains of our public.

IOANNISIAN (NGO chief): People from Armenia went to Moscow and asked Armenia to be sacrificed. After [the failed Yerevan mayoral candidate representing ex-regime] Andranik Tevanyan's speech at the Russian propaganda channel, it is obvious now that the Robert Kocharyan wing is nothing more than a Russian agent cell operating within Armenia. These people demonstratively swallow the fact that Russia has betrayed Armenia and is trying to sacrifice us for its joint interests with Azerbaijan and Turkey. Moreover, these Armenian figures are asking Russia to use their hands to sacrifice Armenia so they can personally benefit from it. Know the difference between "opposition" and "foreign agent". //

... Armenia summons Russian ambassador to hand a note of protest

The decision was made after the airing of the aforementioned show on 23 October 2023 on Russian state media "Perviy Kanal".

[source,](https://fip.am/23655) [source,](https://fip.am/23663) [source,](https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/272056) [source,](https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/272061) [source,](https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/272064) [source,](https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/272066) [source,](https://factor.am/703872.html)

under GRECO recommendation, Armenian government wants to establish an appeals process for judges who get warning/termination

If the bill is approved, the judges who are terminated or reprimanded for various violations will be able to request an appeals process within two months. The judges who hear the appeal cannot be the same individuals who had earlier reprimanded the judge.

[source,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LJ3AeI2qcU)

anti-corruption: Armenian parliament wants to reform the TV rating industry to end a "monopoly" that allegedly operated a scheme to enrich channels owned by the former regime

Ruling MP Misak Gabrielyan: This resolution will help protect the TV channels' financial streams. A bit of background: for many years, the financial distribution of advertisement money was essentially handled by a single company. This company issued the ratings to channels. International advertisers also relied on this company to decide where to spend their money.

Under the proposed bill, if the majority of TV channels operating in the public multiplex reach an agreement, they could form a Council that will then choose the company or companies that calculate the ratings. The TV channels will have oversight.

The measuring company will be required to provide the data for free to the national TV and radio regulatory body. This information is about the number of ads, length of ads, etc.

Recently, some of the TV channels ordered an international audit of the company issuing the ratings today. The audit has found that the measurements are false and the financial distributions were done unfairly. Some very specific channels were the primary beneficiaries of these false measurements.

Ruling MP: This was a premeditated scheme designed to increase the political influence of certain TV channels while keeping others under their control by "supplying ads". This also allowed them to monopolize the ad industry and control the prices. This resolution will liberalize the market.

MP Misak Gabrielyan: It worked like this: I'm the government, ARF is part of my coalition, so I'm going to give the TV channel "Yerkir Media", owned by ARF, a rating boost so they can receive the ad revenues. This was the description provided by other TV channels that complained about unfair practices.

[source,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53a22JYMQnw) [source,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uT7hTQ1PQQ) [source,](https://factor.am/703665.html)

how much electricity was generated in Armenia in January-August?

Total: 5.900 billion kWh

Solar: 0.538 billion kWh

Share of solar energy in the same period of:

2022: 3%

2023: 9%

The share grew rapidly thanks to new installations and the inclusion of existing installations that were not calculated before.

[source,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UL5vR2t-4MI)

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Link to original report and comments: https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/17fmv76/mod_papikyan_could_have_a_french_adviser_on/