Vakhtang Siradeghyan

Every time Nicole addresses people as “dear people”, I cringe. I don’t know if people understand or not that he is lying. To be beloved means that the speaker is willing to sacrifice himself for the sake of that particular person (or persons).

And that’s why only one or two dozen people can be dear to one person: parents (grandparents), spouse, children, grandchildren (great-grandchildren), and one or two close friends. And the people can be respectable or not respectable. But since the important thing for the person clinging to the position of RA Prime Minister is not sincerity, but manipulating people, then almost everyone is “loved” by him. In the beginning, the masses of people who brought him to power were “lovable”. After the shameful defeat, the guerrilla groups he formed called “Guardians of the Revolution” remained “loved”. In the campaign for the June 2021 election, the people who attended his meetings were “loved” and voted for him. Now it is difficult to say how many people remained “loved”. perhaps the 28 percent who still, to one degree or another, trust him. But this does not prevent him from addressing everyone in the form of “dear people”.

Anyway, Nikol promised direct democracy to his “beloved people” in the spring and summer of 2018. Republic Square should also be the place of its implementation, the agora. Let me remind you, in the polis (city-states) of Ancient Greece, the agora was the people’s meeting, as well as the place of its holding, the commercial square in the center of the city. The reason for making such a promise by Nikol was the imitation of the democracy established by the former. Which was protested by all the conscious people who wanted to live in a real and not an imitation democracy. And the most active of them was the oppositionist Pashinyan, the editor of the opposition daily, a follower of the oppositionist Ter-Petrosyan since the fall of 2007, and an opposition member of the National Assembly since 2012. Said means

Surprisingly, it was done that way at first. for example, the gates blocking the National Assembly Park were removed. A number of other steps were taken that seemed to people to be real reforms. Then it should have turned out that their implementation was a fluke or, if it was serious, something to be done after the fact. And much more serious problems remained unchanged. In the self-proclaimed “bastion of democracy”, for example, the electoral rolls inherited from the past remained unchanged. The pro-Petrosyan opposition, which did not accept the results of the 2008 presidential election, talked about the existence of up to 250 thousand “dead souls”. Nothing was done to actually reform the Electoral Code either. In fact, due to the self-interest of the government, some minor changes were made anyway.

According to the mentioned law, for example, the HayaVote initiative must collect 50,000 signatures in order to present the legislative amendments it authored to the National Assembly for consideration. And if they fail in the National Assembly, then 300,000 signatures must be collected so that they are automatically put to the referendum. One of the Facebook users, Hrayr Kamendatyan compared the number of signatures needed for the referendum. It turns out that the number of signatures required for a referendum in the country described by foreigners as a “shining star of democracy” is 10.71% of the population (we are talking about 300 thousand). Whereas in typical democratic (Western) countries it is between 0.1% and 2.0% (rounded). It is clear that this is a legacy left to Nicole from her exes. But Nikol does not consider himself the founder of Armenian democracy. Therefore, the index required for direct democracy (agora) had to be changed.

I will try to help Nikol in the direction of the approval of the agora in terms of the referendum. Which implies the amendment of the Referendum Law before the completion of the “HayaVote” process. According to the current Electoral Code, overcoming the threshold of 5 percent of those who participated in the election is considered a passing threshold for the National Assembly. 1,278,656 voters took part in the June 20, 2021 National Assembly election, 5 percent of which is 64,070. Having collected the necessary number of signatures to overcome the electoral threshold (it would be 2.5% of eligible citizens), the initiative group should have the right to put the issue to a referendum. Taking into account the fact that the initiating party would have the right to do so if it entered the National Assembly under the name of a party. And the minority in the National Assembly should have the right to do so in case the legislative initiative was rejected three times by the majority. It would show how popular the given legislation is among voters. Which, at the same time, would confirm the existence of real democracy.

Of course, the HayaVote process poses a threat to Nikol’s government. And the government is trying to prevent it by all possible means. Why not try to ease its implementation with the necessary reforms? And I am not naive enough to assume that an extraordinary session of the National Assembly will be held tomorrow and the submitted proposal will be accepted. But I also realize that not doing it will be another evidence that the Republic of Armenia is not a democracy, but the rule of one person under its name. Which tends to turn into total tyranny.

Alexander Lapshin

On the website of the largest international human rights organization for the protection of journalists, CPJ published a press release about our meeting at the headquarters in New York two weeks ago.

Here I am publishing a short excerpt from the article, and in general, it clearly states that Azerbaijan, which occupies one of the last places in the world in the field of human rights, persecutes not only its own journalists but foreign ones as well. It states that the Baku regime has been found guilty by the European court and the UN of persecution, torture, and attempted murder. I think the world should know of the existence of this fascist education, buried on the banks of the Caspian Sea. And I, for my part, will talk about it everywhere and remind you.

It would be desirable for the representatives of Armenia’s authorities to refrain from statements that interfere with our common cause and the interests of Artsakh and question the right to self-determination.

Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) Human Rights Defender (ombudsman) Gegham Stepanyan stated this during Thursday’s Yerevan-Stepanakert videoconference, answering the question about some Armenia government officials and MPs’ statements regarding the recognition of Artsakh as part of Azerbaijan.

According to the ombudsman, these statements are later quoted by international partners.

“In our case, that right is equal to the right to life. Armenia’s public and officials should realize as clearly as possible what is happening, the seriousness of the threat, because an impression is created that it is not fully perceived. The reaction and calmness of Armenia and even the [Armenian] diaspora is incomprehensible to me,” said Stepanyan.

He again called to refrain from statements that go against the interests of Artsakh, adding that, “If they cannot help, at least let them not obstruct.”

Yesterday, the “Hayakve” initiative announced the start of the signature collection. The process of collecting signatures began in the Kentron administrative district building. And although the members of the initiative have 60 days to collect 50,000 signatures, according to our information, they have decided to provide this amount within the first week. Edgar Ghazaryan,

former head of the staff of the CC, and former ambassador, was also at the center district administration. We asked him a few questions. – You also joined the “Hayakve” initiative. Why did the issue of criminalizing calls to recognize Artsakh as part of another state become so relevant today? – Everything is obvious. This problem is so mature that it is difficult not to talk about it. Our country is ruled by a person who violates the legal foundations of our state, namely the Declaration of Independence of the Republic of Armenia and the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia.

Nikol Pashinyan’s theses, approaches and ideas contradict the legislation of the Republic of Armenia, therefore, it is necessary to criminalize the speech that contradicts the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence of our country. It is very symbolic that this initiative is implemented not by the initiative of the opposition deputies, but by a civil initiative. The “Hayakve” initiative was created, which at this stage envisages 50,000 signatures, as a result of which the project will enter the National Assembly for discussion. – Will a government that talks about recognizing the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, a government that does not miss an opportunity to congratulate the president of Turkey and greet the heads of enemy states, allow such a pro-Armenian initiative to be implemented? – These people are not the owners of the power, the people are the owners of the power, so the people decide through whose government and how, what initiative should be implemented. The people who occupy some positions today are just public servants who are obliged to provide quality and efficient services to our society. Obviously, it doesn’t work for them.

“Hayakve” is a set of general ideas that one should not wait for the favor of the so-called authorities, but use the opportunity to throw them out of their positions. – Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan is negotiating with his counterpart in Washington these days, no one is aware of what they are negotiating, at least we don’t know the details. In your opinion, what is Mirzoyan negotiating? – Weeks ago, Nikol Pashinyan in turn announced in Prague that the reason for the failed negotiations is that Ilham Aliyev is not ready to recognize the territorial integrity of Armenia. One of the deputy ministers of foreign affairs also stated that there are no common sides with the Azerbaijani side at the moment. Today there is no talk of negotiations, because there are no successes, and there is no need to expect successes. Expecting diplomatic success from Ararat Mirzoyan is a fantasy. Ararat Mirzoyan may be successful in vacuuming his mother-in-law’s house, but not in diplomacy. He may be successful in choosing metlakh for his new mansion, in choosing kovrolite, which wall should have what color, etc., etc., but that person cannot have any success in diplomacy. They should be kicked out of power by bringing to power people who can make decisions in the interests of the Armenian people and the Armenian states. “Hraparak Daily”

“I remain decisive regarding Artsakh”, confirms the French president

During his three-day visit to Marseille, French President Emmanuel Macron had a meeting with various influential circles of Marseille (economic, artistic, political, community, sports, cultural, commercial, scientific-educational, etc.), whom he personally invited.

That evening, at his meeting with the representatives of the Armenian community in Marseille, which was also attended by MP Saprina Akresti-Rupash, responding to the appeal addressed to him, “Mr. President, we expect a more powerful initiative, practical and not only moral”, said the following. “I have put more pressure on Aliyev and I will put more pressure on him than Pashinyan himself. The question is Pashinyan. I am the only one who has a clear position and message on the issue of Artsakh.”

To this answer to the president, the representative of the Central Committee of the ARF Western Europe, Hrach Varjapetian said. “Mr. President, as French citizens, we turn to you as our president, as well as co-chairman of the Minsk Group, and we expect you to show practical support to our compatriots from Artsakh.

We know that our friend Murat Papazian, Co-Chairman of the Coordinating Council of French-Armenian Organizations, has discussed with you the alarming and deeply worrying situation in Artsakh on various occasions, we turn to you with the same demand and the same level. It should also be clear that any conversation or intention to see the centuries-old Armenian Artsakh as part of Azerbaijan is unacceptable for us.”

President Macron from the conclusion. “Don’t doubt my determination regarding Artsakh and Armenia in general. I will continue my efforts, even if I am almost the only one in the international family with this agenda. You also know that France sent its military attaché to its embassy in Armenia for the first time, which must mean something, right? We will do our best.”

Azerbaijan Shelling and Murdering Armenian during Negotiations in Washington

“The situation can be defined as follows: either there are no negotiations, or the use of force is part of these ‘negotiations’,” political observer Hakob Badalyan believes.

During the meeting between the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan, which began on June 27, Baku used a UAV in Nagorno-Karabakh, which killed four soldiers. The Armenian Defense Ministry reports that the Azerbaijani Armed Forces once again fired at the Armenian-American plant under construction in Yeraskh. In connection with these incidents, NK demanded that the Armenian delegation “immediately stop negotiations until a full-fledged truce is established both on the line of contact with NK and on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.”

According to Badalyan, Azerbaijan cannot ignore the US, it can simply be sure that there will be a reaction to its actions. The analyst believes that the lack of reaction means “at least a loyal attitude towards the use of force by Azerbaijan.”

This is the second round of Mirzoyan-Bayramov talks mediated by US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken. It was scheduled for June 12, but was postponed at the request of Baku. The first round of negotiations took place on May 1-4. Following the meeting, a joint statement was not signed, the parties limited themselves to a press release, which stated that “positions on some key issues still diverge.”

Shelling in parallel with the talks in Washington

The Armenian-Azerbaijani talks, mediated by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, will continue until June 29.

It is reported that on the first day the Blinken-Bayrams meeting, trilateral negotiations, as well as bilateral discussions of the Armenian and Azerbaijani delegations took place.

During a conversation with Blinken, the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister said that “for the successful completion of the peace process, it is important to avoid provocative steps.” But, on the first day of negotiations in Washington, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces opened fire on the Armenian-American plant under construction in Yeraskh, and later the situation escalated in NK.

The Prime Minister of Armenia called on the international community to “take practical steps” to ensure the rights and security of the population of Nagorno-Karabakh. On Twitter, he wrote about the “high risk of destabilization in the South Caucasus.”

“Immediately stop negotiations”

The parliament of the unrecognized NKR adopted a statement demanding the Armenian delegation in Washington:

“Immediately stop the ongoing negotiations until a full-fledged truce is established on the line of contact with Artsakh and on the borders of the Republic of Armenia and documentary guarantees of its observance are provided. Otherwise, the continuation of negotiations will mean encouraging the aggressive behavior of the Azerbaijani side and privilege at the international level.”

The deputies called on the UN Security Council and the leaders of the co-chairing countries of the OSCE Minsk Group

• “to take concrete practical steps,
• impose sanctions against Azerbaijan,
• curb his aggressive tendencies,
• not be limited to expressions of sympathy, appeals and recommendations.”

Commentary by political observer Hakob Badalyan

Are negotiations possible in such an atmosphere?

“I can’t imagine what negotiations can be like in a situation where one of the parties is negotiating simultaneously with the use of force or the threat of its use. And this circumstance is not worthy of a targeted assessment by any of the mediators in the negotiations, in general by the international community.

Are negotiations possible in such a situation, or is it just an attempt to dictate conditions, where Yerevan has only one thing left to do – resist?

Negotiations should involve a certain balance of power. I mean not only military strength but also the atmospheric balance in general.”

Azerbaijan cannot ignore the US

“The shelling in Yeraskh has been going on for several days, by and large, they have not stopped. After the first shelling, when two workers were injured, the US expressed deep concern at the level of a tweet from a State Department spokesman.

But this did not bother Azerbaijan. The shooting in the direction of the plant continued even after its owners planted the flags of Armenia and the United States on the territory.

I think that Azerbaijan cannot ignore the US, it can only be sure whether the US will react or not. That’s why I’m talking about signs of loyalty. As an indicator of the effectiveness of efforts to achieve peace, I consider it important to call Azerbaijan to account for the use of force or its threat. When we do not see this, I strongly doubt the effectiveness of the peace process.”

“HAYAQVE” is a civil-legislative initiative that formulated a draft to criminalize any act that acknowledges Artsakh as part of another state on behalf of the Republic of Armenia, as well as includes the criminalization of actions that undermine the significance of the Armenian Genocide. According to this draft, any official representing the Republic of Armenia who recognizes Artsakh as part of another state or denies the Armenian Genocide shall face a prison sentence ranging from 10 to 15 years.

The basis for this initiative is derived from the Declaration of Independence of the Republic of Armenia, the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia, and the decision of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Armenia dated July 8, 1992. In order to participate, individuals are required to sign the petition at local government institutions such as regional administration, city halls, and district administration and their signature needs to be confirmed with passport data.

The Central Electoral Commission has designated a 60-day period, ending on August 19 of this year, for collecting signatures. The collection of signatures will commence on June 29 with a symbolic opening ceremony at the Yerevan Center district headquarters located at Teryan 44. There is also an electronic signature option, which has already been launched. You can get information on how to sign electronically from “Hayaqve” social media pages. It is mandatory to present a passport when signing the petition. You are not restricted to signing at your place of registration; you can sign in any village, city, region, or district. You can sign on working days from 09:00 to 18:00. All citizens of the Republic of Armenia who are 18 years and older are eligible to sign. Once 50,000 signatures are obtained, the bill must be included in the National Assembly’s agenda for a vote. If the National Assembly rejects the bill, an additional 300,000 signatures will be collected, and the project will be subjected to a referendum. Four communities outside of Yerevan, namely Amasia, Sisian, Spitak, and Dilijan, have refused to provide space for a signature collection despite it being constitutionally mandated.

Source: 301

Lusine Shahverdyan,

Yesterday, with the participation of Nikol Pashinyan in the commission investigating the circumstances of the 44-day war, “What would the poor neighbor do?” another episode of the series. In this series, the main character, with heartbreaking, self-contradictory statements, tried to convince that everyone is to blame for the defeat of the war, except for him, on whose head they are trying to break the jug and bowl of decades.

After the war, Nikol Pashinyan’s main mission has become to justify himself, to put the blame on others, and he is so entangled in his lies that he makes contradictory statements about the same thing, but he does not give up. Ditsuk announced yesterday that he was informed that the probability of war is 30 percent, while on November 10, 2020, he publicly assured that they were aware that there would be a war, but they did not know the day.

In the first series of the investigative commission’s presentation, Pashinyan, let’s remind, made a historical tour of the negotiation process, announcing that in the previous period they negotiated to leave Artsakh as part of Azerbaijan. Then people who are well aware of the negotiation process denied what he said line by line. But yesterday he made accusations in the same style against the generals of the army, making scandalous statements and revealing military secrets. Either the military has lost the war by mismanaging, spreading lies, or the lands have already been sold, giving orders to retreat, and sometimes refusing to participate in the most important operations. And he himself did everything for them: he gave medals and titles, provided weapons and money.

“One of the biggest problems recorded during the war was that our army had a problem with its methods of movement: large vehicles, large groups, high visibility. I know that debate still exists today. In many cases, we had victims not in battle, but while moving around,” says Pashinyan. During the war, Tiran Khachatryan, deputy chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, claims that it is a complete lie that we had more casualties while moving than on the battlefield. “If he can prove it, I promise to stand where he wants and say that whatever sin there is, whatever omission there is, I am guilty. Otherwise, let him stand up and say that he is to blame for everything. There is no such thing. Of course, there were lapses during the movements, but that the main losses were during them, I don’t know how to characterize the person making such a statement.

In response to the question of CP member Hayk Sargsyan, whether the army had any restrictions during the war, whether the prime minister made a decision not to use any weapons, Pashinyan said. “There were weapons, the rights related to which did not fully and completely belong to Armenia”, and he promised to give details in the closed part of the session. However, it is obvious that he was trying to make it clear that the right to shoot “Iskander” did not belong to Armenians, Russia did not give “dabro”. And this idea was circulated by the Syrians with lightning speed, when finally the Prime Minister spoke about this, and “we all understand that the limiter was not Mauritania or Tajikistan, but Russia”.

Let’s remind that after the war, Nikol Pashinyan said that the Russian “Iskander” missile fired by them exploded by 10 percent. This statement became the cause of a scandal at one time, and Moscow reacted sharply.

Tiran Khachatryan, who reacted with laughter to Pashinyan’s statement, was also dismissed from the position of deputy head of the State Security Service on the same day. Yesterday, Khachatryan insisted in a conversation with us that it is absurd, there is no such thing, only one person has the right to order the use of any weapon of the Republic of Armenia, the supreme commander. “He was the only one who had the permission to fire or not to fire weapons, it is not only about “Iskander”, but, I emphasize, all weapons, only the supreme commander has that right.” Commenting on another statement of Pashinyan, Khachatryan assured that he did not know a single high-ranking military officer who spread information that the lands were sold: don’t fight, retreat. “Perhaps there were those who made such a statement among the demobilized, but the army is not responsible for that. They were definitely not among the active military.” What about placing the blame for the defeat on the generals and the army? “That person is undecided, mixes things up, makes deliberate manipulations, it is stupid to announce such a thing,” said the former deputy head of the State Security Service. Nikol Pashinyan also assured yesterday that what the army wanted, he gave. “As a political authority, I have set a simple task before the army: tell me what you need, and you will have it. They said: Su-30 is needed, a state-of-the-art plane, I said, if you need it, you will have it. What else do you need? Do you need a title, you will have it? Do you need a medal, you will have it? Do you need money, you will have it? Do you need food, you will have it? “As a political authority, I have set a simple task before the army: tell me what you need, and you will have it. They said: Su-30 is needed, a state-of-the-art plane, I said, if you need it, you will have it. What else do you need? Do you need a title, you will have it? Do you need a medal, you will have it? Do you need money, you will have it? Do you need food, you will have it? “As a political authority, I have set a simple task before the army: tell me what you need, and you will have it. They said: Su-30 is needed, a state-of-the-art plane, I said, if you need it, you will have it. What else do you need? Do you need a title, you will have it? Do you need a medal, you will have it? Do you need money, you will have it? Do you need food, you will have it?
“For example, the army needed money, the army wanted it, but he did not give it. Moreover, there were professional and detailed justifications as to why the money was needed, for what specific purpose it was supposed to serve, but it was never transferred to the army,” Tiran Khachatryan denied this. And what about SUs? “Regardless of who requested it and on what grounds they asked for the army to acquire SUs, a criminal case has been initiated regarding this issue, proceedings are underway, I myself am a witness in the framework of these proceedings, therefore, I cannot reveal details.”

Let’s remind that days after the war, on November 19, Movses Hakobyan announced that the acquired anti-aircraft guns are without ammunition, and no anti-aircraft missile is being produced. Pashinyan also expressed a remarkable idea that he has doubts that they did not resist the enemy in order to provoke a change of power in Armenia, especially in May 2021. Probably, he forgot that on May 21, during the pre-election campaign, he personally announced that he does not intend to start a war for 30 percent of Black Lake, that they have a peace agenda.

The next “accused” is Movses Hakobyan, who was the head of the Military Control Department during the war. “We have a criminal case that a high-ranking officer spread panic and issued an order, he said: go tell them that the land has been given, you will be dragged pointlessly, get out of here. There are episodes that I personally related to, when I myself was informed at the last moment about the decision to hand over an area. We are talking about the 7th defense region, the north of Artsakh. First of all, I forbade doing that, but the advice for that decision was illegally given by a very high-ranking military officer, who, I wonder, had the right to give such advice while in a bunker. The problem is that this area is still under Armenian control. Another thing that later events proved is that I, not being a soldier, do not understand anything, but a man, being a soldier, suggested to evacuate from that region, and further events showed that he was right. But that territory is still under Armenian control. Why were such orders issued?” Pashinyan stated.

Movses Hakobyan said that he does not want to comment on “sick people”. But we insisted that the response was that perhaps the commander of the Defense Ministry reported to Pashinyan that you made such a proposal. “I don’t think that the commander of the Defense Army is sick.” Didn’t you say something like that? “I don’t have that right. Send Nikol Pashinyan to kindergarten, let him come back after learning from there, so that he knows who has what rights and what authority to give orders. And if he insists, let him apply to the prosecutor’s office, I will only be happy if they open a case,” said Hakobyan, wondering if he said something like that, why no criminal case has been opened.

Nikol Pashinyan, whose wife, according to him, expressed moral support in the command bunker from the beginning to the end of the war, yesterday also questioned Mosi’s authority to be in the bunker. “Being with shoulder strap does not mean that you can go wherever you want, you still need a business trip, an order, an order. In relation to that person (he means Movses Hakobyan), it should be checked how authorized it was for him to be in that bunker.”

Hakobyan countered: “I had the right to be where I wanted, it was right for me to be there, and Nikol Pashinyan confirmed that. If you ask him, there is a decision document about it.” Yesterday, Pashinyan tried to disprove Mossi’s claims that the plan for armaments and military purchases has changed. He insisted that it has not changed and air defense systems have been acquired. “Among those mentioned, there may have been some funds that could not be obtained, because that is our plan that we must obtain. But someone else has their own sales plan, right? It does not always coincide with our acquisition plan. This was also the reason why we thought: well, at this moment, what alternative can we get,” he said. “If he said something like that, he is an idiot, an ignoramus. Ask the prime minister, on what basis did he get the rest, if the plan hasn’t changed,” Hakobyan countered.

We noticed that many people blame the generals, that if they had said a united speech at the time, Pashinyan would not be in power today and would not have made accusations against them. “I have done what I have to do, and no one should try to teach me what to do.”

Pashinyan also spoke about the failed Lele Tepe operation. Let’s remind that he was accused of ordering to bring back the Lele Tepe hill occupied by the enemy during the April 2016 war at any cost, to show that Serzh Sargsyan gave it and he took it back, but the operation failed, we lost hundreds of victims. Yesterday, Pashinyan put the responsibility for this on the generals, particularly Seyran Ohanyan’s son Artur Ohanyan, although he did not name them. He said that the latter refused to participate in the operation, which was the reason for the failure.

We will look at other announcements later.