The crowd was estimated at 30,000, and what started as a demonstration in support of the country’s military turned into an anti-government protest. 

Tens of thousands of Azerbaijanis demanding war with Armenia protested in Baku, challenging the government to take a harder approach to the conflict and breaking into the country’s parliament building.

The unprecedented protest came following three days of fighting on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border and the deaths of at least 11 Azerbaijani soldiers, including Major General Polad Hashimov. The outpouring of rage, partly directed against the government, illustrates how difficult it will be for the authorities to control the patriotic fervor that has arisen as a result of the clashes, the worst violence between the two sides in years. 

The protest appeared to be spontaneous and unorganized. It grew out of a funeral on the evening of July 14 for one of the fallen soldiers in the Akhmedli district of Baku. Mourners then began marching toward the center of the city, gathering others as they walked, local independent media reported. 

The protesters chanted slogans “Karabakh is ours,” “End the quarantine and start the war,” “Commander-in-Chief, give us weapons,” “Karabakh or death,” “Najmaddin resign,” “We will not leave until Karabakh is liberated.” Najmaddin Sadigov is the chief of staff of Azerbaijan’s Armed Forces.

Congressional condemnation of Azerbaijan’s latest attack against Armenia continued to grow on Wedneday, as reports emerged from the region of more than 15 casualties during the worst cease-fire violation since the April, 2016 Azerbaijani incursion against the Republic of Artsakh, reported citing the Armenian National Committee of America.

“Azerbaijan is once again attempting to start a war with Armenia,” said Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone (D-NJ). “Azerbaijan’s constant use of caustic rhetoric aimed at Armenia and Artsakh are part of a concerted effort to provoke another conflict.”

Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) shared his support for Armenia’s right to territorial integrity and Artsakh’s calls for self-determination.  “I stand with Armenia as they protect their territorial integrity. Azerbaijan and Turkey must respect the Armenian/Azeri border, respect the aspirations of the Armenian people of Nagorno Karabakh, and should deescalate this conflict immediately,” stated Sen. Markey.

House Intelligence Committee Chair Adam Schiff (D-CA) was the first U.S. House member to condemn Azerbaijan’s attack.

“I am very concerned by the recent provocative and destabilizing actions taken by Azerbaijan in recent days along the Armenian border, including the shelling of Armenian soldiers,” stated Rep. Schiff.

“These acts risk the lives of soldiers and civilians and raise the danger of a spiraling conflict that could be devastating to the region, particularly in the midst of a global pandemic. These actions must also be viewed in context of Azerbaijan’s consistently bellicose rhetoric towards Armenia and Artsakh, and its refusal to allow international monitoring of their borders. I urge the State Department to make clear to all parties the need for restraint and diplomacy, and reduced tensions,” concluded Rep. Schiff.

Central California Congressman TJ Cox (D-CA) noted “Azerbaijan’s recent attack on the region of Tavush, Armenia is a violation of the ceasefire agreement between the nations, as well as a result of Azerbaijan’s refusal to allow international monitoring of their borders. The US must take a firm stance in condemning this threat to peace.”  Rep. Cox cited his support for an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act, led by Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA), that would prohibit funds from being used to send defense articles or services to Azerbaijan.

Senior House Foreign Affairs Committee Member Brad Sherman (D-CA) noted, “I am very concerned by Azerbaijan’s provocations along the #Armenian border. Such actions put the lives of soldiers and civilians at risk. Unfortunately, these actions do not come as a surprise given Azerbaijan’s increasingly bellicose rhetoric towards Armenia & #Artsakh.”

“The ANCA welcomes these powerful Congressional condemnations of Azerbaijan’s attack,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian, “We thank each of these Senate and House leaders and look forward to supporting legislative opportunities in the coming days and weeks to more forcefully challenge Baku’s escalating aggression.”

The ANCA has issued a nationwide action alert calling on Congress to condemn Azerbaijan’s latest attacks and to support pro-peace initiatives in the region including the enactment of the Royce-Engel proposals (removal of snipers from the line of contact, increased deployment of OSCE monitors, and the placement of gunfire-locator mechanisms to identify the aggressors in the conflict).  Armenia and Artsakh have both agreed to the Royce-Engel measures; Azerbaijan remains the only obstacle to their implementation.  The ANCA alert also calls for continued U.S. aid to the Republic of Artsakh to fund life-saving de-mining programs carried out by The HALO Trust.  Take action. anca.org/alert

US bio-tech company Moderna Therapeutics announced the publication of an interim analysis of the open-label Phase 1 study of mRNA-1273, its vaccine candidate against COVID-19, in The New England Journal of Medicine, Armenpress reports citing Moderna.  

This interim analysis evaluated a two-dose vaccination schedule of mRNA-1273 given 28 days apart across three dose levels (25, 100, 250 µg) in 45 healthy adult participants ages 18-55 years, and reports results through Day 57. Results from participants in the initial dose cohorts who received both vaccinations and were evaluated at pre-specified timepoints reaffirm the positive interim data assessment announced on May 18th and show mRNA-1273 induced rapid and strong immune responses against SARS-CoV-2.

mRNA-1273 was generally safe and well-tolerated, with no serious adverse events reported through Day 57. Adverse events (AEs) were generally transient and mild to moderate in severity. The most notable adverse events were seen at the 250 µg dose level, with three of those 14 participants (21%) reporting one or more severe events. Solicited systemic adverse events were more common after the second vaccination and occurred in seven of 13 (54%) participants in the 25 µg group, all 15 participants in the 100 µg group and all 14 participants in the 250 µg group. The most commonly reported systemic adverse events following second vaccination at the 100 µg dose were fatigue (80%), chills (80%), headache (60%) and myalgia (53%), all of which were transient and mild or moderate in severity. The most common solicited local adverse event at the 100 µg dose was pain at the injection site (100%), which was also transient and mild or moderate in severity. Evaluation of clinical safety laboratory values grade 2 or higher and unsolicited adverse events revealed no patterns of concern.

The general operative situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border is relatively calm from 18:00. As reports , Artsrun Hovhannisyan, the head of the command-staff faculty of the Military University after Vazgen Sargsyan of the Ministry of Defense, former spokesman of the Ministry of Defense, said this during a briefing in the Crisis Information Center in Ijjan.

“At the moment, the general operative situation is relatively calm. And that relative rest actually started at 18:00, there are very few shots, at least not of large caliber. In other words, we have a decrease in tension, “Hovhannisyan said.

The Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia reported that the servicemen of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan attempted to cross the state border of the Republic of Armenia in the direction of Tavush in a UAZ car on July 12 at around 12:30 p.m. “After the warning of the Armenian side, the Azerbaijani servicemen left their UAZ car and returned to their positions. At 1 p.m. “In 1945, the servicemen of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces repeated the attempt to occupy the border position of the Armenian Armed Forces, using artillery fire, but were pressured by the Armenian side, suffering losses and being thrown back,” said Shushan Stepanyan, spokeswoman for the Armenian Defense Ministry. There are no losses.

Later, Shushan Stepanyan informed that the Azerbaijani side resumed shelling in the direction of the same Armenian position, where hours ago they tried to cross the Armenian-Azerbaijani border in a UAZ car. “The Azerbaijani side has resumed shelling from 82 mm mortars and tanks in the same direction. “The military-political leadership of Azerbaijan will bear all the responsibility for the escalation of the situation,” he said.

On the morning of July 13, Shushan Stepanyan had already reported that after a two-three-hour break, the enemy resumed provocative actions, continuing to shell in the direction of the Armenian positions. As a result of the operations unleashed by Azerbaijan, three servicemen of the Armenian side were wounded, two of whom are not in danger of death.

The spokesperson of the Ministry of Defense Shushan Stepanyan had informed that on the night of July 14 the movement of the enemy tank was observed from the combat positions of the RA Armed Forces, which was stopped by the fire conducted by the Armenian side. The enemy has been targeting the settlements since July 13. The Azerbaijani Armed Forces fired 3 projectiles from 82 mm caliber grenade launchers in the direction of Chinar settlement from 7 to 120 mm caliber grenade launchers. Azerbaijan targets Berd civilian infrastructure with strike ATS. There are no victims.

On July 14, in the northeastern part of the Armenian-Azerbaijani state border, servicemen Major Garush Vemiri Hambardzumyan and Captain Sos Paylaki Elbakyan were fatally wounded by enemy fire. Later, conscripts, junior sergeant Smbat G. Gabrielyan and junior sergeant Grisha Vahani Matosyan were killed by enemy fire.

Azerbaijani defense ministry reported the death of Major General Army Polad Gashimov and Colonel Ilgar Mirzoev during aggravation of the situation on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border.

The information was confirmed by Azerbaijani deputy defense minister, Lieutenant General Kerim Veliyev, Azerbaijani media reported.

Lebanese TV reporter of Armenian descent Neshan Der Haroutiounian will stand trial in Lebanon for ‘insulting’ Turkey, The Arab Weekly reported.

“Recent developments have shown that even Lebanon, where Turkey has no military presence or shared borders, is not immune to Ankara’s interference,” the publication noted.

Lebanese political sources said that Turkish prosecutors’ claims against Der Haroutiounian for “insulting” the Turkish president are part of ongoing confrontations between Lebanese Armenians and Turkey, which is accused of committing the Armenian Genocide from 1914 to 1923.

According to Lebanese news agency NNA, which refers to the public prosecutor’s office, Der Haroutiounian will appear in court in Beirut.

The trial is scheduled for October 8.

Der Haroutiounian has been charged in connection with his statement during the “Anna Heek” (This is how I am) program that aired on the Al Jadeed satellite channel.

He has hosted former Environment Minister Wiam Wahhab.

Wahhab said in the interview that the Turkish president was “sly” before the campaign against Der Haroutiounian began.

In turn, a Lebanese national intervened in the program and attacked Der Haroutiounian, saying “Neshan, the refugee, showed his racism,” referring to the journalists’ Armenian origins.

Der Haroutiounian responded to the provocation: “A son of a million malicious people … Erdogan, the regime, the Ottomans, and the Turks.”

“If you consider me a refugee, then I am more Lebanese than you, and I am proud of my country, Lebanon, more than you are,” he added.

Later, the Turkish embassy intervened in the situation by organizing protests outside the Al Jadeed TV channel building.

Protesters with Turkish flags chanted slogans in support of the Ottoman Empire and Erdogan, demanding Der Haroutiounian apologize for “insulting” the Turkish president.

Observers say that Turkey has been able to take advantage of Lebanon’s political vacuum caused by the growing social and economic crisis.

According to them, Ankara managed to penetrate the country and form a lobby to silence critics of Ottoman history and Erdogan’s expansionist policies in the region, which affects Lebanon, Syria, and the rest of the Mediterranean.

Observers warned of the risks posed by Der Haroutiounian’s trial, not only for Lebanon but for the entire region. They noted that Turkey seeks to create a media, political, and legal lobby to prevent any criticism of its old or new colonial policies.

The Azerbaijani armed forces kept Armenia’s north-eastern border under repeated attacks on Monday, firiing three projectiles from a 120 mm caliber mortar in the direction of the village of Chinari (Tavush region).

One of the bullets hit a house; two fell into the yard. There are no casualties, according to Shushan Stepanyan, the Defense Ministry’s spokesperson who shared the news on Facebook.

In earlier comments to Tert.am, Stepanyan reported about three wounded soldiers in Sunday’s exchange of fire. Two more persons, reportedly police officers on duty, were earlier known to have been hit in gunfire. All the five have suffered light physical damage not threatening a lethal outcome, the spokeswoman said.  

‘Should we be worried about the United States?’ the influential publication asks

Ad Age’s At the Newsstand spotlights notable ad-supported print media.

Der Spiegel, Germany’s leading news magazine and the largest-circulation newsweekly in Europe, is out with a cover story that decries President Donald Trump’s incendiary approach to governing. The cover illustration depicts a hubristic Trump holding a match in the Oval Office, while outside, as seen through the window behind him, Washington, D.C. burns. The cover headline, “Der Feuerteufel,” translates literally as “the fire devil” but is used to mean firestarter or firebug, while the subhead, “Ein Präsident setzt sein Land in Brand,” translates to “A president sets fire to his country.”

In promoting the cover across social media, the magazine—one of the most influential journalistic institutions in Europe—is sharing a statement that translates as, “George Floyd’s death triggered a wave of protest. Many blacks, already on the losing side due to the coronavirus, are fed up with everyday racism in their country. And what is Donald Trump doing? He’s fueling hatred to distract from his own failure. And trying to secure his reelection with highly questionable methods.”

Der Spiegel has also published an English-language version of its cover story—written by Guido Mingels, Roland Nelles, Ralf Neukirch, René Pfister and Marc Pitzke—under the headline “Democracy on the Defensive in Trump’s America.” The story’s subhead reads “Coronavirus, economic collapse and now mass demonstrations for racial equality: The United States is facing a trio of deep crises. Instead of offering leadership, President Donald Trump is exacerbating divisions and showing authoritarian tendencies. With the presidential election still several months away, the country’s health is at stake.”

A key passage in the story:

Trump and his political accessories are using the rhetoric of authoritarianism. Militarized police forces haven’t just been using violence to quell plundering and rioting, they have also been attacking peaceful demonstrators. Journalists have been arrested as well.

Should we be worried about the United States? Is a fundamental shift taking place in a country that is synonymous with deeply rooted democracy? The current chaos on the streets of America isn’t just the product of the country’s economic and societal tensions. The president himself has repeatedly exacerbated those conflicts with his rhetoric. Trump, it seems, needs the chaos. He feeds off it.

Few other democratically elected leaders have as much power as the U.S. president, a reality that can lead to abuse. Trump has made personal loyalty the most important qualification for those with whom he surrounds himself. He harbors deep admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin and once voiced his support for the violent crushing of the pro-democracy protests on Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, saying it was a sign of strength.