Soldier Arrested for Shooting Fellow Conscript in Karabakh
On Sept. 7, conscript Lendrush Nazlukhanyan has been arrested in the criminal case into the death of Nagorno-Karabakh...
'We Find it Hard to Believe...' US Analysis of 2009 Yerevan Mayoral Election
"Voter turnout was highest in the Territorial Electoral Commissions (TECs) most ridden with allegations of fraud...
Clash in Court between Police and Defendants Charged with Theft
The trial in the case of Armen Martirosyan, Karen Karapetyan and Petros Hakobyan accused of several accounts of...
Former US Ambassador on Sargsyan's and Kocharian's Political/Economic Pyramids
"Armenian politics is winner-take-all, and this very much applies not only to the political spoils, but very often to the leading business and economic spoils...
Human Rights Campaigner Refused to Sign Statement Condemning Army Abuse
Helsink Association for Human Rights President Mikhaeil Danielyan told Epress.am Wednesday that he is surprised local human...
Downtown Yerevan Streets to be Closed on Sept. 11
From 6 am to 11 am on Sept. 11, due to a rehearsal of the parade dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the Republic of...
Dead Soldier's Parents Don't Know Their Son Died
Amberd Mayor Manvel Babayan only told the parents and family members of Hayk Mkrtchyan, the 19 year-old soldier who died earlier today at his outpost in Nagorno-Karabakh, that the boy had been seriously wounded, reports Hetq Online. Only Hayk’s brother Ruben knows that the boy will not be returning home. His mother still clings to the hope that her son will recover and be united with them in the Armenian village of Amberd. The boy’s father, Vasil, who has been working in Russia for the past year, only knows that his son was severely wounded. He plans to fly back to Armenia tonight. Neighbours, who know the truth of the matter, told Hetq that they just cannot bring themselves to tell the mother and sisters what actually has happened. No one from the Etchmiadzin army commissariat, where Hayk was conscripted, has seen fit to make the trip to Amberd and break the news to the soldier’s family. One Amberd resident said it was a shame the way the army has failed to take responsibility for the soldier’s death and is calling on local residents to protest in front of the Government Building in Yerevan. Local residents as well don’t want to break the news to Hayk’s mother Yeranuhi. We spoke to Ruben at a neighbour’s house, so that Yeranuhi and other family members would not overhear the truth. Ruben kept his emotions in check, hitting the door with his clenched fist. The brother told us that no one had yet paid the family a visit from either the army commissariat of the Ministry of Defense. Colonel Hakob Azatyan, from the Etchmiadzin Commissariat, told us that he had personally informed family members about Hayk’s death. “The relatives know that their boy is dead. I told them personally. As to whom I told specifically, let’s not discuss such details on the telephone,” Colonel Azatyan said. Local residents told us that earlier today one of the relatives called up the commissariat to verify that an accident had taken place. This was the extent of Colonel Azatyan’s “message”. Ruben told us that he had gone to Nagorno-Karabakh to see his brother on Aug. 14 and that Hayk had told him that everything was fine. Hayk was supposed to have been drafted in Nov. 2010. The first medical examination uncovered a head scar and doctors suspected that the boy might suffer from psychological problems. Hayk was examined a second time and eventually drafted a month later. Ruben told us his brother wanted to serve in the army and would go to plead his case personally to the commissariat if he was rejected. “Hayk decided to go to Russia after being discharged from service. He wanted to work and save enough to buy a car, Ruben said. Rumours are spreading in Amberd that Hayk was killed by another conscript by Gyumri. Given that no official information has been forthcoming from the defense ministry such hearsay is bound to spread even further. Photo: Hetq Online
Demolishing Kiosks in Armenian Capital Put on Hold, Say Kiosk Owners
The fate of a few kiosks on Papazyan St. in Yerevan is still uncertain. Recall, 9 of the kiosks were demolished upon...
Armenian Broadcaster Hopes Azerbaijan Will Be Able to Host Eurovision
There are issues related to the city where Eurovision 2012 will be held and alternative places are being discussed, said...
Turkey Set to Sign Military Pact with Egypt
The deal should be clinched when Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan visits Cairo next Monday...
'We Would Have Been Surprised Had Pashinyan Won Any Election': US Embassy
US Embassy observers noted "widespread intimidation, low-scale violence, and cases where individuals outside the...
Temperatures Expected to Drop in Yerevan Tonight
A cold southeasterly front is expected in Armenia today, reports Meteo TV.