USA decided to render assistance to the Armenians who suffered and still suffer from domestic violence. For that purpose USA Agency of International Development allocated 476. 367 $ to Armenia. But the sum was given to 6 social organisations and not the state. The organisations envisaged to place refuge at disposal of sufferers from domestic violence, to render consulting and other services. Sometimes...

October 27 trial began today and was recessed for an hour right away. Defendant Nairi Hunanyan asked for break to consult with his defence counsel. He gets ready for making a statement today . After recess the Court will examine MPs Suren Khachatryan and Hermine Naghdalyan, October 27 case victims if they appear before the Court.

“If I would be told that something like that could happen, I’d treat such a statement as nonsense. Though it is not so surprising that Nairi Hunanyan was the very person who committed such a crime”, said MP Artak Grigoryan today at the hearing on the October 27 terrorist action. The MP has been familiar with the defendant since the beginning of Karabakhi movement. “He was known as romantic...

Defendant Nairi Hunanyan’s father has filed motion to the court asking to allow him to meet with his son. However, the motion was declined.

MP Suren Khachatryan testified today at the October 27 terrorist action trial. He gave the testimony particularly on Armen Armenakyan murder. “It was not only a murder of 8 individuals, but also a conspiracy against the nation”, he said.

Armenian government made a decision on privatisation of 6 boarding-houses, where refugees from Azerbaijan has been living for years. As a result of privatisation, 160 families are to be provided with apartments. The decision on privatisation of more than 70 state-owned petrol stations was made as well.

Today, Yerevan’s residents were deprived of the opportunity to get “Aravot” newspaper. The thing is that someone has bought up the greater part of the newspaper’s 5,000 copies. Such an action is believed connected with the photograph placed on the front page of the newspaper, where one of the candidates for the leading post in local government elections was depicted.

“So far no overseas citizens have been involved in drug trafficking in Armenia”, Home Ministry official Alexei Hakobyan said at the anti-drug seminar held Thursday. He also finds it a very comforting fact that only a single teenager has been involved in drug trafficking for past decade. Hakobyan says there is no problem of juvenile drug traffickers in Armenia now. Moreover, he doesn’t consider...

“The terrorists had nothing to do at Parliament Hall an hour later the crime on October 27 ” ,- today Smbat Ayvazyan, former Minister for State Revenue and October 27 case victim announced at the Court. He comprehended it just the crime day, so some MPs, including him, refused to take part in “action of rendering harmless the terrorists” . “It was obvious there were people outside the terrorists were waiting for” ,- he testified....

Upcoming elections were on the top of the agenda of the round table held Tuesday by National Centre of Strategic Resources. The Centre was trying to learn how much the Election Code corresponds to the criteria of democracy. Ph. Dr. Hrayr Tovmasyan thinks the Code formally meets international standards of election right. There is a secret system of voting as well as contest principle in the Code, he...

“I’ll wait till October 21 and if the Court doesn’t give me a chance to meet my father, I …” ,- today defendant Nairi Hunanyan threatened at the Court. He didn’t dwell on what exactly he would do. According to him, “a dangerously explosive situation of unforeseen consequences is growing at the Court” On October 21 Hunanyan won’t demur the judge. His challenge was declined today because of being “groundless” . Hunanyan...

Today Parliament Vice-Speaker and October 27 case victim Tigran Torosyan refused to testify before the Court “on the grounds of supposition” only . “Taking into account both importance of the case and my respect to the Court I don’t want to make conjecture” ,- he announced after Prosecutor Hakob Martirosyan had wondered “what he would do if ?…” Tigran Torosyan became more angry when the Prosecutor explained importance of his...

Our prophecy came true. The monument to Arno Babajanyan will be left at the same place. Yerevan Mayor Robert Nazaryan made such kind of decision, basing on the report introduced by Chief Architect Narek Sargsyan. Mr Sargsyan has made the report of the protocol of pro and con speeches which were made at the closed session of the Arts Council Commission. The monument will be dismantled today or tomorrow...

From early morning water-cannons are cleaning Yerevan’s central streets, as Armenian capital marks its 2784 anniversary today. But it isn’t the only reason of today’s cleaning – the first Russian President Boris Yeltzin arrives in Yerevan. Festivities are to be held in the capital’s various districts. Opening ceremony will take place in Erebuni district at 17:00 local time. Then, in 19:00, a concert with Opera Theatre performers is to...

Armenia’s authorities have put up their candidate against current head of Yerevan’s Kentron district and Armenian Nation-wide Movement member Ararat Zurabyan for upcoming local government elections. “I think Zurabyan is able to overcome such a kind of obstacles”, ANM board member Aram Manukyan said at the meeting held by Kentron community. The republic prominent intellectuals such as Tigran Levonyan and Svetlana Navasardyan were present...

Today defendant Nairi Hunanyan was going to comment upon Justice Minister’s statement regarding his nomination for candidature of Armenian presidency . But he didn’t succeed to do that. Judge Samvel Uzunyan stopped him saying he ” prohibits any statement on election campaign “. Hunanyan said he would make his statement public by his defence counsel. Advocate Ashot Sargsyan, Karen Demirchyan’s assignee thinks “the Court must second...

“2 years are good term for hearing “A1+” case in European Court ” ,- Tigran Ter-Yesayan, “A1+” barrister as well as Chair of International Union of Armenian Advocates says. He arrived at a conclusion taking into account the terms for cases before the Court – 7 years. A case is brought for consideration within 3 months and each phase lasts rather long. The members of British Advocates’ Union are in Armenia. Today they met Armenian...

The Arts Council for Arno Babajanyan’s monument couldn’t make a decision by a secret ballot. The Commission has introduced Mayor only a protocol of speeches of various standpoints. The Arts Commission discussed 2 versions - either to leave the monument at the same place by making some changes or to move it to another place . Yesterday Mayor Robert Nazaryan after having consulted with the Commission...

Today Internal Affairs bodies informed the Court they haven’t fulfilled demand on bringing to Court Smbat Ayvazyan , former Minister of State Revenue and October 27 case victim. According to them, Ayvazyan hasn’t been to Yerevan since October 7 and will be back on October 13 . The statement caused surprise of trial participants and journalists. The point is that Ayvazyan was seen both 2 days ago and this morning near “Republic” party office...

Today, Public Dialog and Development Centre held a seminar on freedom of speech in Armenia. The seminar participants exchanged views on PACE 1304 resolution on Armenia commitments. A number of the resolution provisions related to journalists were discussed. All the participants found the resolution shallow. There are even insulting journalists provisions in the resolution. “The situation over the...

Television and Radio National Commission is to announce a new tender for broadcasting frequencies on October 15. Today, the Commission set terms for competition, specifying that the competition for “Armen-Akob”, “TV-5” and “Yerevan TV” channels’ frequencies licensing will have a broad direction without special restrictions while aspirants for other channels frequencies should meet specific conditions. Those TV companies directed to...

Caucasus Forum on struggle against gender violence is to be held in Yerevan from November 25 to December 10. Representatives of Armenian, Georgian and Azeri organisations are to attend the event. Open Society Institute allocated $20,390 to this forum organisation. Some prominent men are also expected to be present at this female-led event. The males aren’t chosen yet. But speaking on eligibility...

Armenian Finance and Economy Minister Vardan Khachatryan made a statement saying journalists have misunderstood and distorted what he said at the briefing held a week ago. On journalists’ version, speaking on Armenia’s expected membership in WTO, the minister said, that American side created certain obstacles for Armenia’s membership in the organisation. Khachatryan assures he has just said “the republic entrance in WTO is suspended because...

Advocate Hamlet Avetisyan, the newly-appointed counsel for defence for defendant Karen Hunanyan won’t solicit for delay of October 27 trial. He has decided “to look through the case materials properly” during the trial . He has changed his mind after having talked with Hunanyan. Karen Hunanyan said “trial deferment runs counter to his interests” .