”Armenian National Movement and the powers originating from it having strong influence on Opposition apply the means stolen from people and the finance of some Western powers and using patriotic calls as a cover crave for revenge, which will again throw the state into a chaos”, Yuri Manukyan, Chairman of United Communist Party of Armenia, announced at a press conference. {BR} He thinks...

At 6:00 PM Parliament Speaker Arthur Baghdasaryan is holding a round table discussion with participation of all the political parties. Galust Sahakyan, Chair of Republican Party of Armenia, announced he wouldn’t partake in the discussion since Parliament Speaker in person didn’t invite him. So Sahakyan thinks Baghdasaryan didn’t find RPA participation in the round table discussion...

”Justice” Bloc member Aramazd Zaqaryan who went on hunger-strike in “Yerevan-Center” Criminal-Executive establishment on April 24 keeps striking. {BR} Advocate of the arrested informed Zaqaryan has been hunger-striking for the third day despite the persuasion of the head of the establishment to cease it. Let’s remind that Aramazd Zaqaryan was arrested within the criminal...

According to PACE Chairman Peter Schieder, the issue of Armenia is in agenda since there is demand for it. {BR} In his press conference Mr. Schieder said during the discussion for Armenia’s part violence against the Media representatives will be considered, too. In this session Armenian President won’t make a speech unlike his Azeri colleague. Robert Kocharyan’s speech in Council of Europe is expected in June.

This evening “Justice” Bloc secretary Victor Dallaqyan will meet Parliament Speaker Arthur Baghdasaryan. {BR} According to Ruzan Khachatryan, press secretary of People’s Party of Armenia, Baghdasaryan told Dallaqyan that the agenda is open and any issue Opposition suggests will be discussed. In what case Opposition will stop the meeting scheduled tomorrow? “If the conditions...

The preliminary investigation for murder case of the Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan brutally murdered by an Azeri officer in Budapest is not over yet. Most probably, it will end in 2-3 weeks. Representative of victim’s assignee, advocate Nazeli Vardanyan, who has recently returned from Hungary, informed journalists. {BR} She will also right the Armenian officer Hayk Makuchyan, who fortunately...

Today Court has rejected the protest of Advocate Robert Grigoryan over changing the preventive punishment for Suren Surenyantc, arrested within the criminal case instituted against “Justice” Bloc. {BR} Let’s remind that Surenyantc was accused of calls for forced seizure of power and insulting Authorities.

Parliament sitting has started today with 90 MPs. Independent MPs Manuk Gasparyan, Emma Khudabashyan and Sasun Michaelyan were present. Some issues discussed last week were put to voting and were passed at the second stage. Armenian Justice Minister David Harutyunyan introduced the bill on “Holding Meetings, Rallies and Marches”. {BR} It is to remind that a few days ago Natalia Vutova,...

CE Bureau session in Strasburg has started today. It wasn’t first clear whether the European structure would discuss the recent political developments in Armenia. {BR} Our correspondent asked Armenian delegation member Shavarsh Kocharyan the same. He answered it is probable and it depends on how much CE leaders are inclined to raise it. Armenian delegation member Armen Rustamyan was asked...

”Republic” Party leader Aram Sargssyan answered the questions of a Turkish journalist near Genocide Monument. {BR} According to him, the Armenian-Turkish frontier must be opened but Turkey must solve the problem since Armenia considers no obstacles for settling it. “Turkey was and will be our neighbor. It will be nice if we remain good neighbors”.

On Friday, Armenian Prosecutor General Office confirmed the fact of American citizen Arthur Vardanyan arrest.{BR} The office source says formal charge is already brought to Vardanyan. He is charged with two counts of repeatedly using his Armenian passport while being a US citizen, illegally crossing Armenian borders, participating in the opposition staged rallies and making inciting calls to coup.

National assembly Speaker Arthur Baghdasaryan, speaking at Friday’s news conference, said the best way out of deadlock is dialogue.{BR} At the same time, he rejects confidence referendum idea saying tactic of ultimatums should be abandoned. He views impeachment as premature demand. In his opinion, there are no reasons for impeachment in the republic. Baghdasaryan also finds it wrong to wash...

Armenian national Assembly Speaker Arthur Baghdasryan convened a news conference today to state he reiterated his stance against persecutions. He also voiced condemnation at the criminal case instigated against the Justice alliance.{BR} He said he was also opposed to criminal charges brought to General-Lieutenant Vagharshak Harutyunyan. Political issues should be solved only on political field, he...

New Timesparty leader Artak Yeghiazaryan was arrested in Armenian town of Armavir near his home.{BR} Two hours later he was charged with insulting policemen and sentenced to five days in jail. The party says the illegal arrest of Yeghiazaryan is a politically motivated step and condemns persecution of political activists.

Harutyun Shiklanyan, 81, has decided to return the medals received from British Ambassador in 2003 for the bravery shown in World War II.{BR} “I can’t come to terms with the fact of humiliation of my nation he said referring to British Ambassador’s recent statement that the 1915 events shouldn’t be called genocide. I think after such a statement several thousands people had...

Confidence referendum can lay ground for the opposition dialogue with the authorities, said the opposition leaders at a news conference held Friday. At the same time, they are convinced the authorities are not interested in any dialogue and only made this word commonplace by using it repeatedly without putting any sense in it.{BR} People Party member Grigor Harutyunyan reminded Armenian intellectuals’...

Homeland Popular Front came up with a statement on Friday condemning assault on Socialist Forces leader Ashot Manucharyan.{BR} “Armenian President is fully responsible for such a terror. We demand to stop man-hunting and to release political prisoners”, the statement says. It is also said in the statement that illegitimate authorities’ attempts to intimidate citizens are doomed...

The police keep on persecuting political activists and opposition-minded people. Justice alliance members say after Wednesday’s peaceful rally 22 were taken in police custody, 13 of them are to stand trial, 25 were fined, 100 were abducted and their present whereabouts are unknown.{BR} Eyewitnesses say people are being captured in the street by men dressed as civilians, then put in cars without...

On Friday, human rights activist and the Armenian Helsinki Association head Mikael Danielyan, who was severely beaten three weeks ago, speaking at a news conference in Yerevan, called the assault on him as a state order and state terror.{BR} Danielyan told journalists despite president Kocharyan’s instruction to trace the offenders, the case investigator had visited him in the hospital when...

A number of Armenian youth organizations reacted to the assault on Socialist Forces leader Ashot Manucharyan, who was beaten Wednesday by unidentified males, by issuing a statement.{BR} “We demand the masterminds and perpetrators of that vicious action to be tracked down and prosecuted”, the statement says. The organization’ members gathered today in the street, where Manucharyan...

Considering the unprecedented political persecutions, violence and arrests that took place in the Republic of Armenia during the last weeks as a direct result of political corruption manifested at the presidential and parliamentary elections, Center for Regional Development/Transparency International Armenia{BR} appeals to international community to condemn the above-mentioned actions undertaken...

A U.S. citizen Arthur Vardanyan was taken to the Prosecutor General Office on Thursday as witness on the case against the opposition Justice alliance.{BR} Vardanyan is the Justice leader Stepan Demirchyan's friend, who was in Yerevan and attended the opposition-staged rally. As interrogation started he felt bad because a diabetic problem and was rushed to a hospital.

Justice Ministry Press Secretary Ara Sahgatelyan said Friday the Republic party member Aramazd Zakaryan, who is Karabakh war veteran and disabled, intended to start hunger strike tomorrow.{BR} Aramazd Zakaryan was charged with insulting officials and will be kept in detention two months while waiting his trial.

Ashot Manucharyan was taken to Rehabilitation Department of Nor Norq Hospital with face and eye injuries. He was medically treated there. {BR} Learning about the accident National Democratic Union Chair Vazgen Manukyan came to the hospital. “Will anyone think this to be by accident? That’s impossible”, he said. As to the fact Ashot Manucharyan didn’t partake in the Opposition...