On Monday, 24 March 2003, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) took part in the repatriation of two civilian prisoners, two Azerbaijani minors, organized by the authorities concerned. The operation took place at the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the Tavush / Gazakh region. Prior to their repatriation, both minors confirmed to ICRC delegate their wish to return to their...

Gretta Sargssyan, /Vazgen Sargssyan’s mother/, has been on the sit-in near the president’s residence for 8 days. Galust Sahakyan, Parliament majority head and “Republican” Party Co-Chairman advises “Mother Gretta not to use the ordinary manners of struggle as she is the one, having given birth to the commander and men of courage“. Gretta Sargssyan didn’t hear the TV-persuasion of Sahakyan. But she has a response to him: “There is...

The first national deliberation on “Struggle against money laundry and terrorism financing” began today. OSCE and UNO Office for Drugs and Crime, together with CE and Armenian Government are the organisers of the meeting. On March 24-25 70 participants of the conference will discuss the legal and administrative means on struggle for money laundry and terrorism financing. OSCE Office for Co-ordinating Economic and Environmental Activity, UN...

But Harutyun Khachatryan considers “Shant” the best of the dulls TV and Radio National Committee fined “Shant” TV Company by 200.000 drams. 3 times at the pre-election campaign – February 8, 10, 16, “Shant” broke the rules of pre-election propaganda. For 3 times the advertisement for Aram Karapetyan has been shown without “political advertisement” on. Director for “Shant” programs says the reasons were of technical character....

The ordinary “careless scrape” roused by Authorities, took place today. The employees of IA Territorial Department and State Car Inspection had closed Talin part of Yerevan-Ashtarak highway since 10:00 AM. Buses and minibuses were examined thoroughly. Policemen wondered where the people were going and what for. Becoming aware of they were going to the neighbouring village to meet relatives...

Armenian youth doesn’t know how many young people there are in Armenia. Regarding this as lack of objective studies, Areg Tadevosyan, Executive of “Youth Organisations Network of Armenia”, announced today. He added data by Statistics Department are not so reliable . Today the presentation of Internet site for “Development of Youth Policy, Youth Social Organisations and Participation of Young People ” took place. The program is implemented...

On April 2 it will be a year since ”A1+” TV Company was banned from air. Despite demands and persuasions of CE, EU, OSCE, other international organisations and promises of Armenian Authorities, frequency tender hasn’t been conducted in Yerevan for a year and “A1+” re-broadcasting opportunity is artificially blocked . As a result of TV and Radio National Committee’ activity, TV channels of Yerevan are facing an obscure situation. 5...

Hearing on Central Bank suit against “Aravot” daily was held today in Center-Nork-Marash first instance court. The defending side motion on suspending the presiding judge was declined. The next session is scheduled for March 25.

Constitutional Court Chairman Gagik Harutyunyan informed till now CC discussed 12 appeals on election results. He says 6 out of them were granted . He stated the above 6 appeals were granted “mainly basing upon the election fraud volume”. Harutyunyan asked Geghamyan’s representative Ruben Hovhannissyan: “If the difference between those holding 1st and 2nd places is great, how can the irregularity volume have any impact on the election...

The Review Court today approved the punishment measure of 10-year imprisonment for Murad Bojolyan, accused of high treason by First Instance Court is right and his guilt is proved.

“A 90-year-old teacher of one of Yerevan’s schools has constantly been beating 12-year-old schoolchildren. The children are scared to complain about this even to their parents”, National Assembly juridical adviser Karine Halajyan said speaking at “Children Rights Protection Mechanisms” seminar held today by Armenian Foreign Ministry, the UN Children Foundation office and Children Rights International Bureau, Canada. Despite the fact that...

On the 15 of March the head of the Helsinki citizens’ assembly Vanadzor office Mr. Artur Sakunts was arrested. Last week unknown people attacked his office. At night of the 15th of March the office was burned. Mr. Sakunts was arrested near his office when he was taking part in a demonstration. After a shot trial he was arrested for 10 days.

Ayb-Fe news agency received today an interesting message from Sepuh, a representative of Armenian community in Iraq, where he is voicing alarm at growing threat of imminent war and asking help for Iraqi Armenians. “War is coming up. We fear to lose our shelter and our families. Who will protect us? The desperate situation we face now is aggravated by the fact that our leader Holy Father Avag fled...

5 TV Companies against TV and Radio National Committee trial was over in the Economic Court today. Suit of “ArmenAkob”, “Yerevan”, “CNN”, TV-5 and “Dar 21” TV Companies was refused. Those stations demanded Committee to give back their tender packages in closed and to fix 7 days to amend and return them. Stations substantiated their demand this way - tender was postponed once, terms for investment obligations in packages were infringed...

On March 14 in Journalists’ House “Motherhood Fund of Armenia” charitable and social organisation with participation of 30 local social organisations held a round-table-discussion on problems of large families. Fund Chairman Susanna Aslanyan says recently many programs regarding the problems of large families have been implemented. But the most essential one, the issue of legal status of those families, hasn’t been solved yet and various...

Constitutional Court began discussing the suit by Artashes Geghamyan, the former candidate for presidency. Geghamyan demands CC to declare invalid the results of February 19 elections as well as CEC decision on the second round, based upon February 25 CEC final protocol. CC member Felix Tokhyan informed he demanded CEC for 5 groups of instruments for examination -the final protocols of all the Divisional...

On March 14 the First Instance Court of Kentron, Nork-Marash Communes read out its verdict on the suit by Demirchyan’s proxy Ashot Sargssyan against CEC idleness. Judge Pargev Ohanyan decided to drop the case, basing upon the fact that the final results of the first round for the presidential elections were published on February 25 and the suit was instituted on February 27. Consequently as results...

Hearing on 5 TV companies’ suit against Radio and Television National Commission is to be continued tomorrow in Economic Court. It is lasting over the whole month and postponed three times. This time the case appeared to be closed. Judge Khundkaryan can breathe a sigh of relief now after long period of uncertainty, connected with presidential elections, and make a decision on “A1+” TV Company fate without any hesitation. Nevertheless, the...

Hundreds of people were arrested under the pretext of participation in the February 21 rally and the peaceful march after. Some of them were fined, others administratively detained “It’s terror against own people” , Hrayr Melkonyan, having been subjected to amenability, 15 days. Other people, Romik Mkhitaryan, Chairman of Shengavit territorial organisation for “Republic” Party and chief...

At today’s conference of ”February 22” social organisation Romik Mkhitaryan, Chairman of Shengavit territorial organisation for “Republic” Party, informed an accidental man was arrested for participation in rally and non-sanctioned march . All the 5 members of his family, including him, have voted for Robert Kocharyan.

Ministry of Education and Science assures this. This year’ rules of entrance were somehow changed and they haven’t yet been approved by Government. There are new professions among the examinations this year, such as “Actual Mathematics”, “Agribusiness and Marketing”, “Agrarian Policy and Regional Development” etc. Changes regarding medallists are envisaged among the rules. A separate competition will be conducted for the entrants...

The law-enforcement bodies, protecting CEC from picket participants, stole the placards and flags with “Stepan Demirchyan is our president!” on . Law-enforcement bodies didn’t deny they had stolen the posters but refused to give them back. “a thing stolen is not given back”, they said. Demirchyan’s supporters said they won’t demand to institute a criminal case against the “robbers” as they hope robbery was committed for good...

Almost the half of the 300 Armenian citizens picketing at CEC are women. They demand CEC to declare invalid the election results and restore justice, recognising Stepan Demirchyan the president of Armenia. Especially women of picket were anxious. The reason is that “Jham” of Armenia TV Company labelled them as alcoholic . “We are not alcoholics. We are hungry, unemployed, betrayed. Those...

Murad Bojolyan, accused of high treason, didn’t again appear before the Court. This time it happened because the defendant wasn’t taken to Court from insulator and not because of absence of judges . As it turned out, not only Bojolyan but also no other prisoner was let out from insulators. No sessions took place in Courts of Yerevan, said proceeding from the tensed atmosphere of home political...