by Paul Antonopoulos,

A small park in Cyprus has been dedicated to the martyrs of the Turkish-sponsored Azerbaijani invasion of the historically Armenian territory of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh).

The Eleni Theocharous-led Solidarity Movement political party and the Mayor of Strovolos, Andreas Papacharalambous, along with members of the Armenian community in Cyprus, inaugurated the park yesterday.

In a Twitter post written in Armenian, Theocharous said “we planted trees in memory of the Armenian heroes who were martyred on the way to the Artsakh struggle.”

As a result of the invasions success to capture or assume control over the majority of Artsakh, over 4,500 Armenians were killed and a further 11,000 wounded.

The Artsakh Foreign Ministry issued a statement on the 29th anniversary of the Maragha massacre marked on April 10. The full text of the statement is provided below.

“April 10 marks the 29th anniversary of the genocide of the Armenian civilian population of Maragha settlement of the Martakert region of the Republic of Artsakh committed by the armed forces of Azerbaijan.

The Azerbaijani troops, having invaded Maragha, brutally killed and tortured the local civilian population, including women, children, and the elderly.

The perpetrators were awarded high state awards, and their commander was awarded the title of National Hero of Azerbaijan, which testifies that the Armenophobic and genocidal policy in Azerbaijan is encouraged at the highest state level.

Crimes against humanity have no statute of limitations and must be condemned.

The tragic events in Maragha will remain an incurable wound in the memory of our people.”

Washington, D.C. – A bold, daring and caring individual, a visionary leader, the founder and benefactor of many charities, and devoted longtime Chairman of the Armenian Assembly of America’s Board, Hirair Hovnanian leaves behind a remarkable legacy. Hirair was an amazing leader and mentor, always ready to roll up his sleeves and tackle any challenge. Hirair’s integrity, passion, dedication, commitment, work ethic, and love of his people, were extraordinary. A successful businessman, whose generosity extended to causes around the world, Hirair felt energized by the independence of Armenia, and did everything in his power to assist the newly independent Republic. He demonstrated his commitment to Armenia by resettling in his homeland where his philanthropy extended beyond precedent. Hirair responded immediately to the 1988 earthquake and embarked upon the recovery and rebuilding of the devastated areas. A builder and developer by profession, he knew exactly the type of assistance required and established a building parts manufacturing plant to accelerate the reconstruction process. His generous contributions in support of educational and religious institutions in Armenia and the diaspora are legion. At the helm of the Armenian Assembly of America, he helped shape non-partisan advocacy, creating an example of a united voice for Armenian Americans in Washington, D.C., and strongly believed in the unique role of American leadership in advancing democracy and human rights. He lent every measure of support within his means towards the affirmation of the Armenian Genocide, including the establishment of the Armenian National Institute. He welcomed Armenian Assembly interns to his home every summer and embraced the next generation with his infectious enthusiasm for all things Armenian. Through his boundless generosity, he touched the lives of countless citizens in Armenia and Artsakh to whom he exemplified the best of the Armenian diaspora. We are all saddened by this great loss and remain immensely grateful to Hirair for his unparalleled legacy. He was the champion of every cause that benefited the Armenian people, and he never hesitated to lead from the front with unwavering dedication and commitment. May he rest in peace. The funeral service will be held tomorrow, Saturday, April 10, 2021, in Yerevan, Armenia.

Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a non-partisan, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is calling on Russia to stop denying entry to foreign reporters in the South Caucasus disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh, and is urging the United Nations and Council of Europe to ensure respect for the right to the freedom to inform.

Russian peacekeepers controlling access to Nagorno-Karabakh from Armenia via the Lachin Corridor have denied entry to at least 10 foreign journalists since February, the Paris-based media freedom watchdog said in a statement on April 9.

“A growing number of foreign journalists are being systematically refused entry by Russian soldiers,” said Jeanne Cavelier, the head of RSF’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia desk.

Cavelier warned that without international media, Nagorno-Karabakh “is liable to become a news and information ‘black hole.’”

Last fall, Azerbaijani and Armenian forces fought a brief war over Nagorno-Karabakh, an enclave that is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan but has been controlled by ethnic Armenians since the early 1990s.

The six-week fighting concluded in November 2020 with a Russian-brokered cease-fire, under which a chunk of the region and all seven districts around it were placed under Azerbaijani administration after almost 30 years of control by ethnic Armenian forces.

It also resulted in the deployment of around 2,000 Russian peacekeepers along frontline areas and the Lachin Corridor connecting the disputed territory with Armenia.

More than 6,000 people died in the fighting.

According to RSF, a French photographer, a reporter for the French TV channel M6, and a Canadian freelancer for The Guardian and CNN, were among the journalists who were denied entry in Nagorno-Karabakh since February.

The group said access to the region is also “restricted” via Azerbaijan. It cited the case of TV crews from France 24 and the European channel Arte which “made highly controlled visits from Azerbaijan and were not able to report freely.”

The Russian-brokered cease-fire agreement has no specific provision for the entry of journalists, RSF pointed out.

It said press accreditation is issued by the consulate of Nagorno-Karabakh’s separatist authorities or by the Armenian Foreign Ministry.

However, the Russia peacekeepers “grant or refuse entry to foreign citizens, who are notified of the decision on the eve of their planned visit,” while Armenians and Russians “just need to show their passports in order to enter” the region.

The Executive Director of the Open Society Foundations (OSF) – Armenia has announced her decision to resign after 20 years of service in a senior post in the civil society sector.

Larisa Minasyan will quit next Friday, April 16, the foundation confirmed earlier today.

“It was a great honor for me to head Open Society Foundations-Armenia for two decades. I am happy to have worked with a dedicated personnel, board of directors and brave colleagues over these years, passing through execptional and incredible challenges. The foundation’s activity continues to remain important also today – maybe even more than ever. My commitment at this important stage is to create such an opportunity of leadership that will guide the Foundation in the 20 years to come. I trust my colleagues’ professionalism and personal abilities and qualities in the realization of influential initiatives assisting the civil society and people in Armenia and searching for a real open society,” Minasyan said in a statement.

The commander of the Russian peacekeeping contingent in Nagorno-Karabakh, Lieutenant General Rustam Muradov said Friday, April 9 that there were no plans of returning Armenian prisoners of war from Azerbaijan the day before, Hraparak.am reports.

Muradov’s comments came after rumors about another batch of POWs returning to Armenia flooded social media on Thursday, which were later confirmed by a government spokesperson to be true. A plane did, in fact, land in Yerevan’s Erebuni military airport, except it was empty.

“[It is] false provocation. Ask them. They mislead the population,” Muradov said in response to a question about statements from Armenian officials alleging that some captives were on their way to Yerevan.

When asked if there had been such plans at all, the Russian military official said: “No. It was an ordinary, simple working visit.”

After learning that their sons were not returning on Thursday, the parents left Yerevan and blocked all the roads connecting the country to Shirak, Sputnik Armenia reported on Friday morning.

The plane that returned from Azerbaijan did not arrive empty; a Turkish-Azerbaijani delegation arrived in Armenia with Rustam Muradov, commander of the Russian peacekeeping contingent that is stationed in the Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) conflict zone to monitor the ceasefire there, Hraparak.am writes about this.

It was rumored this evening that General Muradov’s plane will land in Yerevan in an hour and a large group of Armenian prisoners of war will return home. Even the Prime Minister’s spokesperson, Mane Gevorgyan, and Deputy PM Tigran Avinyan’s office confirmed this news. RFE/RL broadcast live from Erebuni Airport in Yerevan, while ruling My Step bloc MP Nazeli Baghdasaryan boasted on the air that she was dealing with the matter of the captives.

As Hraparak.am covered the return of the captives several times, all this seemed suspicious to us. First of all, the information about the return of the captives was kept top secret, our sources were strongly demanded not to arrive at the airport early, not to write news in advance, and to come to the airport only after the flight. The Baku-Yerevan flight lasts 20 minutes, until the door of the plane was closed in Baku, we were not being told how many captives were returning and, of course, we did not give any news in advance. There was even a case when the plane was a few hours late and our camera crew waited patiently away from the airport until the flight was confirmed.

This time, however, the source of the announcement in advance, they say, was the Deputy Prime Minister, in the absence of the Prime Minister. It is said that Mane Gevorgyan asked Avinyan about the return of the captives and, receiving a positive answer, hurried to tell the good news to the reporters. Avinyan’s unrestrained behavior has put the entire ruling team in a very awkward position, which is now trying to present the plane that came without prisoners as “unfortunately, it is being delayed again.”

As for Muradov’s plane, the question arises: why did the general go to Baku if the captives would not return? Our sources say that the plane did not arrive empty at all; a Turkish-Azerbaijani delegation came to Armenia with Muradov, and whose mission is to locate the road being built in the Meghri area, so to speak, to study the area. Thus, the November 9 agreement’s all the points which are beneficial to Azerbaijan are being fulfilled with lightning speed, whereas the points concerning Armenia are being perverted, the captives are called “criminals,” the part of the road that is necessary to the Azerbaijanis is being unblocked, and the points of return of our captives are not being fulfilled.

Source: news.am

EREVAN. – Hraparak daily of Armenia writes: Yesterday another scandal arose in connection with [PM] Nikol Pashinyan’s unverified statement.

He had told [Russian President Vladimir] Putin [during their meeting in Moscow] that the [Russian-made] Sputnik V vaccine [absent the coronavirus] was registered in Armenia.

Then the minister of health tried to save him, saying: “Sputnik is not registered, but it is permitted [in Armenia],” without explaining what new status it is.

And the director of the center for drug expertise, Vilen Gabrielyan, said: “It is possible that the prime minister was not aware that Sputnik is not registered [in Armenia].”

Parents of Armenian prisoners of war (POWs) being held in Azerbaijan on Friday blocked all the roads leading to Shirak Province, demanding the immediate repatriation of their sons.

The protest came after Armenian premier’s spokesperson Mane Gevorgyan told media outlets that a group of POWs were supposed to be flown to Armenia late on Thursday.

Parents of the captured soldiers gathered at Yerevan’s Erebuni Airport to welcome their sons, however an empty plane landed at the airport.

Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinyan’s office said in a statement that their repatriation has again been postponed, because Azerbaijan is failing to fulfill Article 8 of the November 9 trilateral statement.

“We will stay here until we are given a clear response. We want to know when our children will be repatriated,” said one of the protesting parents.

Another parent underlined that the authorities’ promise to get back the POWs is not enough for them, as they could be deceived again.

“We will stay here until they bring our children back – all of 54 soldiers. We will keep all the roads leading to the region blocked,” they said.

YEREVAN. – The tense situation outside the grounds of the Ministry of Defense (MOD) of Armenia is not easing.

The relatives of the missing servicemen have been there since Thursday, and on Friday they were joined by the POWs’ relatives, who on Thursday had hoped that their sons would return on board a flight on the same day, but it turned out that no captives had been returned from Azerbaijan.

At some point, the relatives of the missing servicemen started pulling the gates of the MOD grounds, and a light scuffle ensued between them and police.

And during the tense situation, these relatives shouted, “Bring the gasoline bottles, let’s fill [them]!”

Independent MP Sofya Hovsepyan and lawmaker Narek Mkrtchyan from the ruling My Step bloc were at the scene. They told those gathered that the MOD proposed to meet with the relatives at the MOD hall. But the relatives did not agree, and they demanded that the Minister of Defense or the Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces come down and meet with everyone.

Chief of Police Vahe Ghazaryan also arrived at the scene, spoke for about ten minutes with the relatives of the missing soldiers, then entered the MOD building.

A consultation is in progress inside the ministry.

An MOD drone is video recording the whole process from above.

Earlier, Armenian News-NEWS.am reported that the relatives of the missing Armenian servicemen are outside the MOD grounds since Thursday. During the day yesterday, they closed off the entrances of the MOD building, and therefore the ministry employees were unable to leave the building.