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Sputnik News Service

May 20, 2019 Monday 4:32 AM UTC

Armenian President Urges to Respect Law After Pashinyan Calls for Blocking Court Entrances

 

Armenian President Armen Sarkissian has urged the nation to show restraint and respect the constitution in light of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s calls for blocking entrances to court buildings across the country on May 20.

 

On Saturday, a court in Yerevan ruled to release former Armenian President Robert Kocharyan under guarantees of former and incumbent presidents of the non-recognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. The next day, Pashinyan, on his Facebook page, called for blocking court buildings' entrances on Monday morning in protest of the ruling.

 

"I call on all citizens of Armenia, regardless of their social and political status and position, to show calm and restraint, I urge [you] to observe the constitution and laws," Sarkissian said in a statement, published on his official website.

 

The president added that he was currently on a working visit abroad, adding that he maintained constant contact with the relevant state agencies.

 

"I urge that prudence and tolerance should prevail these days," he added.

 

Kocharyan, who served as president from 1998 to 2008, was charged with attempts to overthrow Armenia's constitutional order by suppressing opposition protests on March 1-2, 2008. He has denounced the accusations as fabricated.

 

The protests were held by supporters of then-presidential candidate Levon Ter-Petrosyan, who rejected the results of the February 2008 election, won by Kocharyan’s ally Serzh Sargsyan.

 

The rallies led to clashes with police and army who dispersed protesters. Ten people were killed and around 200 were injured.

 

Pashinyan, in turn, was on Ter-Petrosyan’s campaign team and took part in the rallies. He was arrested in 2009 after a year-long manhunt and jailed on charges of fomenting unrest but was pardoned in 2011.

Interfax

May 20 2019

Armenian PM claims conspiracy brewing against govt, warns of tough countermeasures

There could be a conspiracy brewing against the Armenian government in the form of a war in Nagorno-Karabakh and the cession of some territories, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said.

"There are particular forces representing the former corrupt system that are trying to provoke disagreements, tension, and enmity between the peoples of Armenia and Karabakh. Using their corrupt ties, they have launched deceitful propaganda against the government of Armenia and against the prime minister personally," Pashinynan said at a conference attended by the military, judicial, and political leaders on Monday. 

Having analyzed this, "I see far-reaching plans, up to provoking a conspiratorial war, ceding some territories, and putting the blame for this on the Armenian government," he said.

"These actions are reminiscent of high treason. As prime minister of Armenia, guarantor of security of the Republic of Artsakh [the Armenian name for Nagorno-Karabakh], and commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces in wartime, I will take the toughest possible measures to eradicate these conspiratorial intentions," Pashinyan said.

Pashinyan additionally called for setting up a parliamentary investigative commission to analyze the circumstances of the 2016 outbreak of violence in Nagorno-Karabakh.

"It is time to set up a parliamentary investigative commission to examine the circumstances of the April 2016 war in order to receive answers to questions concerning us," he said.

Armenpress.am

 20 May, 2019

His Holiness Garegin II addresses message on current situation in Armenia, calls on citizens to show calmness, avoid violence

His Holiness Garegin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, addressed a message on the current situation in Armenia, urging citizens to show calmness and avoid violence, the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin told Armenpress.

The message reads:

“Dear faithful, 

We are deeply concerned over the situation in the Republic of Armenia in the past several hours.

The achievements recorded in our country in the direction of strengthening democracy, human rights and legality can be maintained only through strengthening the spirit of brotherhood and love.

We appeal to all the children of our nation to show calmness, to avoid violence and to put every effort through peace, spirit of national unity and love for each other to overcome the challenges facing us.

Dear faithful, we believe in your conscience and high consciousness of your responsibility towards the future of the Homeland.

Our prayer is that through mutual understanding and solidarity in our blessed country, all the existing disagreements and contradictions be solved through God’s support.

Heavenly Blessings and Divine Wisdom to Us All”.

On May 19 Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan called on citizens to block the courthouses across the country starting from May 20 early morning.

The PM also announced that he is going to address the nation at 12:00 in a live broadcast.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

[the Armenia Church in Turkey dancing to the government's tune]

Public Radio of Armenia

May 21 2019

Turkish Constitutional Court to take on the issue of Armenian Patriarch's election 

On May 22 the Turkish Constitutional Court will consider the issue of failure to elect an Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople for over a decade, Ermenihaber.am reports.

The late Patriarch Mesrob Mutafyan’s inability to perform his duties from 2008 prompted the Armenian community to initiate a process of election of his successor. However, the Turkish state declared in 2010 that a new Patriarch could not be elected as long as the acting Patriarch was alive and allowed to elect a General Vicar. Archbishop Aram Ateshyan was elected to the post that had never existed before.

After years of discord Ateshyan lost a re-election, but Istanbul Governor’s office declared the elections invalid.

Elections can now be held after Patriarch Mesrob Mutafyan passed away on March 8, 2019. However, during the preceding 11-year period, a number of court decisions were made regarding the patriarchal elections that were appealed on the grounds of "violation of freedom of religion and conscience."

At the May 22 hearing, the Constitutional Court will examine the fairness of those decisions and the complaint filed against them.

Panorama, Armenia

May 21 2019

Garo Paylan meets with Armenian boy tricked into converting to Islam

Istanbul-Armenian MP Garo Paylan, representing the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), has met with the Armenian boy forcibly converted to Islam on live TV, Ermenihaber reports.

The 13-year-old child, named Artur, was tricked into converting to Islam by famous Turkish theologian and TV personality Nihat Hatipoglu during his Ramadan program. The boy was also renamed to Nihat during the live show broadcast on 11 May.

Paylan posted a photo from the meeting on Facebook, writing: “I met Artur. He is quite well. I will always be there for him and will do my best to protect him from evil.”

Earlier, the lawmaker said he would file a complaint to the Prosecutor General's Office over the case.

Speaking to Ermenihaber, the teen’s mother said he is baptized and attends Armenian church.  

[the issue is between UEFA, Arsenal Football Club, Azeri Football Management and the Azeri government authorities: so where on earth does this line of reasoning come from? The Armenian Ministry only informed and was not involved in any decision making. All the criticisms attributed to Armenia list the very things the Azeris practise! ] 

Trend.az

22 May 2019

Leyla Abdullayeva: Yerevan uses Arsenal player of Armenian origin for its provocative purposes

Baku Azerbaijan

Yerevan uses the Arsenal player of Armenian origin for its provocative purposes, spokesperson for Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry Leyla Abdullayeva, said.

Her remarks came in response to a statement made by Armenian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, who said that Arsenal player Mkhitaryan would not go to Baku.

Azerbaijan has informed that security will be fully ensured for all players who will participate in the final match of the UEFA Europa League in Baku on May 29, including the player of the Arsenal football club G. Mkhitaryan , as well as all the fans, she said.

"Personally, as a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry, in response to questions addressed in this context, I have repeatedly noted that Azerbaijan does not generalize sport with politics. It is not the first time that Azerbaijan hosts prestigious sporting events, and athletes of Armenian origin also participated in numerous sporting events held so far in our capital", Abdullayeva noted.

According to her, the statement of the Armenian Foreign Ministry speaks of the country's attempts to turn sport into a political tool due to internal political problems.

“The participation of the Armenian Foreign Ministry in such a plan is only regrettable. Unfortunately, this step once again clearly demonstrated that Armenia is not ready to prepare the people for peace, as noted in the statements of the co-chairs of the Minsk Group. Unfortunately, Armenia uses an Arsenal player of Armenian origin for its provocative purposes. It also demonstrated that first of all the Armenian people need to prepare for peace. It is unthinkable and ridiculous that the mono-ethnic country, Armenia, which conducts ethnic cleansing in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, accuses Azerbaijan of racism. The coexistence of different religions and ethnic groups in an atmosphere of peace and tolerance in Azerbaijan is well known throughout the world. The high-level organization of the final match of the UEFA Europa League in Baku, acquaintance with foreigners (both football players and fans) going to our country with the real situation in Azerbaijan will be the best answer to the unfounded accusations of the Armenian Foreign Ministry,” said Abdullayeva.

Headline in Evening Standard of 22 May 2019:

'We'll win it for absent Mkhitaryan' 

Aubametang says forward's decision not to travel to Baku makes them more determined

PanArmenian, Armenia

May 21 2019

Russian-Armenian scholar among Forbes 30 under 30 

Forbes magazine has published a rating of the most promising Russians under 30 (30 under 30). Among them is author of research in the field of physics Elizaveta Melik-Gaikazyan, listed in the Science and Technology category.

According to the publication, 27-year-old Elizaveta graduated from the Physics Faculty of Moscow State University.

“As part of an international group of scientists, she is developing new materials for solar cells and LEDs,” the article says.

“The article on a new method of spectroscopy was published in the prestigious journal Scientific Reports: their creation is much cheaper than others used in this area.

“Melik-Gaikazyan received a SIPGA scholarship from the Singapore Agency for Science, Technology and Research.”

The 30 Russians are represented in the categories Entrepreneurs, Finance and Investments, Management, Sport and Cybersport, Science and Technologies, Arts, Music and Cinema, Social Practices, Fashion and Design, New Media.