Armenia: Metsamor police officers in 2023. on December 18, they approached Rashid Avdoyan, who was smoking in the central park of Armavir, and warned him not to smoke. The citizen apologized, stating that there was no warning sign about the prohibition of smoking, and he did not know about the ban. The police said that this time, they are only giving a warning; next time, they will be fined. While leaving, the police asked the citizen’s name and phone number. A few days later, the citizen received the decision to be fined 50,000 drams.

The decision to bring him to administrative responsibility was a surprise for Rashid. Always smoked in that area. During the visit of the police, other citizens also smoked in the area, because they never came across any prohibition notices. According to the citizen, the police clarified that there are cameras installed in the area and they are using them. Meanwhile, those cameras are not installed to fine citizens, but for security.

According to Rashid, the police did not inform him that they were fined, but a warning was announced, which he accepted. Meanwhile, the police identified the citizen without an identity document, name, surname and phone number, without properly informing about it.

Rashid Avdoyan states that he did not sign any document, including under the administrative offense protocol. First, the police did not offer to sign, and then the procedure for bringing administrative responsibility and appeal was not explained to him. He learned that he was fined only after receiving the decision.

Rashid Avdoyan was fined for violating the requirements of Article 6, Part 1, Clause d of the Law “On the Reduction and Prevention of Health Damage Due to the Use of Tobacco Products and Their Substitutes”, that is, it is prohibited to use tobacco products, tobacco product substitutes (except for medical purposes) use of tobacco product substitutes) by the community in children’s playgrounds and play parks.

The citizen reports that he smoked in the park, away from the children’s playground.

Spokesman of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Narek Sargsyan, told “Hetk” that on December 18, the citizen himself handed over his personal data, address, year of birth, to the police officers. There was no need to ask for a phone number.

According to N. Sargsyan, the protocol was drawn up on the spot, but the citizen refused to take his copy. He was told on the spot that there will be an administrative hearing on December 25, but R. Avdoyan refused to take the summons and appear at the hearing.

We asked Narek Sargsyan if there is any evidence that the citizen was notified about the administrative proceedings, to which N. Sargsyan conveyed that he was notified on the spot, no additional summons was sent.

Suppose we accept the clarification of the ministry, which contradicts the information provided by the citizen. In that case, the important question remains open: how will it be proven that the citizen was actually aware that an administrative proceeding was initiated against him and was properly notified about it?

Rashid Avdoyan claims that he was not informed about the proceedings and the fine. They did not ask the address of the residence either. He himself said that he is from the village next to Armavir, he was not informed about the ban, but he did not mention the name of the village, nor the address of the house.

We asked Davit Khudatyan, head of the extended community of Armavir, whether there are designated smoking areas in the parks of Armavir or whether there are signs prohibiting smoking.

The head of the community clarified that there are no separate areas. There are no signs posted in the parks either, but they regularly post papers stating that smoking is prohibited.

“To be honest, at this moment, I don’t know how many of them are left or not, but we have pasted them with self-adhesive papers several times; I think some of them have been preserved,” says Davit Khudatyan.

The main image was created using DALL·E 3

Source: https://hetq.am/hy/article/163386?utm_content=bufferae1d4&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Armenia’s National Commission on Television and Radio has suspended the license of Tospa, the broadcaster of Sputnik Armenia radio, for thirty days following remarks by Russian TV personality Tigran Keosayan in November deemed “offensive” to Armenia.

The Russian embassy in Yerevan criticized yesterday’s decision, arguing the measure was taken to push Armenia further from Russia.

Sputnik Armenia is a subsidiary of the Russian state-owned Sputnik news agency.

The Commission writes that Keosyan, during a November 17, 2023 radio program, referred to Armenia and its people in “mocking and derogatory terms”, adding that Keosyan, a foreign commentator, has no moral right to make such assessments.

The Commission writes that Keosyan’s claims and opinions were false and caused “panic” in Armenia.

Sputnik Armenia has hit back, calling the suspension decision unfounded.

While Sputnik Armenia acknowledges that Keosyan voiced harsh criticism of Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan, accusing him of betraying the country, the station disagrees that this was a call for violence.

“Does Pashinyan really think that he will remain alive after this betrayal?”, Keosyan asked during the program. 

Keosyan is married to Margarita Simonyan, editor-in-chief of the international channel Russia Today and a loyal supporter of President Vladimir Putin. 

The Commission also fined Tospa 500,000 drams (US$1,200).

The Armenian church was looted and vandalized in Sodertalje, Sweden, Swedish media report.

Valuable items, which have both financial and spiritual value, were stolen from St. Mary’s Armenian Apostolic Church.

The police are investigating the incident.

Lusine, a member of the Armenian community in Sweden, had written on X that earlier there were a series of attacks on Armenian graves in Sweden, also on her, and now—on the aforesaid church.

This is not a chain of coincidences. This is deliberate targeting and intimidation, Lusine had added.

The Armenian church was looted and vandalized in Sodertalje, Sweden, Swedish media report.

Valuable items, which have both financial and spiritual value, were stolen from St. Mary’s Armenian Apostolic Church.

The police are investigating the incident.

Lusine, a member of the Armenian community in Sweden, had written on X that earlier there were a series of attacks on Armenian graves in Sweden, also on her, and now—on the aforesaid church.

This is not a chain of coincidences. This is deliberate targeting and intimidation, Lusine had added.

Everything is very clear, there is even no need for discussion; the [presidential] decree on dissolving the Republic of Artsakh just needs to be canceled. Artak Beglaryan, the former Minister of State of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), stated this in an interview with Armenian News-NEWS.am.

“I don’t know why this topic is getting so heavy. It’s just a question of cancellation mechanisms as to which one is more preferable. Either through a new [Artsakh] presidential decree or through the Supreme Court. Of course, it should be with the new decree of the president, which is very fast, without prolonging, without long procedures, without being dependent on other actors, etc.,” Beglaryan said.

“It is preferable that it happens before January 1 [i.e. when the aforesaid decree comes into force]. But it has no legal significance. Its significance is informational, political because it’s all the same. The decree of September 28 does not cause any legal consequences because it is unconstitutional, the [Artsakh] president has no authority to dissolve the republic. Secondly, it was signed under the threat of violence [by Azerbaijan], which was confirmed by both the president and the NA [National Assembly)],” added the former minister of state of Artsakh.

According to Beglaryan, there is no legal matter here, but there is a matter of perception and political message, especially to the international community.

“It is necessary to show political will and give that clear message that we [i.e. Artsakh] continue to function as of January 1. Even if it [i.e. the decree] is not cancelled, it doesn’t change anything; the state bodies of Artsakh continue to function,” said the former state minister of Artsakh.

In recent weeks, Armenian and regional political landscapes have witnessed significant events prompting contemplation on their interconnections. Discussions about potential snap elections in Armenia have permeated both pro-government and certain anti-government circles, while Azerbaijan, led by Ilham Aliyev, has already declared snap elections in February.

The chronological examination of the past weeks reveals a complex web of events. Following the ethnic cleansing of Artsakh in September, amid efforts to assist forcibly displaced Armenians, the focus of “Civil Contract” shifted to securing the position of Yerevan City Mayor. Subsequently, Avinyan, aligned with Pashinyan, assumed the mayoral role. Notably, recent actions, including the removal of the elected Mayor of Alaverdi, indicate strategic moves aligning with the discourse of potential snap elections.

Authoritarian leaders typically consolidate control over key cities and communities ahead of elections to secure favorable outcomes. In this context, the steps taken by “Civil Contract” align with such a political strategy.

Zooming out, the visit of James O’Brien, Assistant Secretary at the US State Department’s Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, to Baku on December 6 underscores geopolitical dynamics. O’Brien’s bypassing of Yerevan amid tensions in US-Azerbaijan relations suggests a calculated move by the US. Unlike Pashinyan’s Armenia, Azerbaijan engages in diplomatic exchanges based on mutual interests, reflecting their pragmatic approach.

The mutual needs of Azerbaijan and the US come into focus. Azerbaijan seeks acknowledgment of its actions in Artsakh as legitimate, closing the Artsakh issue definitively. Simultaneously, the US aims to create challenges for Russia in the South Caucasus, leveraging a potential “peace treaty” between Armenia and Azerbaijan under the Western umbrella.

Bilateral agreements on the exchange of prisoners of war follow O’Brien’s visit, benefiting both Aliyev and Pashinyan. For Azerbaijan, these elections mark the first where votes extend from occupied Artsakh, while for Armenia, they signify the first election post-occupation. Aliyev and Pashinyan appear poised to solidify a status quo where the Republic of Artsakh ceases to exist, advancing their countries’ interests at Armenia’s expense.

In this intricate geopolitical situation, Pashinyan is positioned to secure another “iron mandate” for the proposed “peace treaty,” seemingly untouched by concerns raised over Alaverdi, Gyumri, Yerevan, or the potential snap elections by both the US embassy and the EU delegation.

Source: 301.am

The Armenian authorities are “packaging” the peace treaty [expected to be signed with Azerbaijan] in such a way that after 20-25 years my grandchildren will go to war [against Azerbaijan].

It seems to them [the Armenian authorities] that they are going for peace; but it’s not peace, it’s war! You’re just delaying it from one generation to the next. Samvel Babayan, former Secretary of the Security Council and former Minister of Defense of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), stated this in an interview with Armenian News-NEWS.am.

“There was a genocide 100 years ago, and any president of Armenia who tries to recognize the territorial integrity of Turkey becomes a traitor. He goes abroad, gets hit with tomatoes and eggs. Even today, the [Armenian] diaspora almost completely disdains today’s incumbent [Armenian] authorities,” said Babayan.

“I say: if there are literate, thinking people in Azerbaijan so that our [two] peoples, who have been fighting each other for 300 years, do not continue to fight for another 300 years, we should play our ‘game.’ For so long we have not decided, the superpowers have decided, which have promoted their interests. I propose that we play our ‘game’ in coordination with Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan needs to realize that Artsakh should be an autonomous republic, that people [should] return, there [should] be peace, the two peoples [should] reconcile. The region [should] follow the path of economic, political, and logistic integration; this is our future,” added Samvel Babayan.

Based on the 2022 census findings in Armenia, the country’s total permanent population stands at 2,932,731 individuals, with 1,548,250 being women and 1,384,481 being men. The Statistical Committee of Armenia released these statistics.

During the same period, the current population indicator was 2,869,438 people.

Comparing the 2022 census data with the previous 2011 census in Armenia reveals a decline in both current and permanent population figures. Specifically, in contrast to the 2011 census, the permanent population has decreased by approximately 86,023 individuals. In 2011, the permanent population was 3,018,854, and in 2001, it stood at 3,213,011 people.