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Now There Are 10: Two, including teenage conscript, succumb to March 1 wounds
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Over the weekend a young military conscript assigned to Armenian police died in hospital of wounds he sustained six weeks earlier.
Tigran Abgaryan, 19, was in active service in police troops and was on the line of duty when thousands of protesters clashed with police in central streets of Yerevan on March 1.
And on Monday news was released that civilian Samvel Harutyunyan, 29, had also died of head wounds.
Abgaryan was transported to hospital with gunshot wounds and remained in intensive care at Mikaelyan Hospital until last Friday when his heart stopped around 6.30 p.m.
Police spokesman Sayat Shirinyan said Abgaryan died of gunshot wounds and numerous injuries he received during protestor-law enforcement clashes.
According to the hospital’s deputy director Onik Melkonyan, Abgaryan was admitted with shrapnel wounds in the neck caused by a bullet. He said that since March 2 doctors have been in a struggle to save his life.
During the surgery, doctors reportedly found out that the teenager’s spine had also been damaged.
Harutyunyan, who leaves behind a 20-year old wife and six-month old daughter died of severe trauma to the head. His father says the family thought Hartuyunyan had been arrested and was not aware of him being unconsious in a hospital until four days later.
Daily News
New President Appoints Two Key Ministers
Since 2007, 46-year-old Ohanyan was chief of the general staff of Armenia’s armed forces, first deputy defense minister. Before that, he occupied different high military posts in Nagorno-Karabakh, including the post of Nagorno-Karabakh’s Defense Minister. Ohanyan has the title of Hero of Artsakh.
Woman Power: Jailed oppositionists’ relatives raise concerns before Europe
A group of Armenian women claiming that their jailed relatives are political prisoners are set to turn areas near major European embassies and representations in Yerevan into scenes of their daily protests as a prestigious pan-European organization’s key body is discussing Armenia this week.The wives and other relatives of jailed opposition members continued their protest on Tuesday near the French Embassy in Yerevan. Tomorrow it will proceed near the Embassy of Germany and on Thursday, the day when the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) is due to review the situation of democratic institutions in Armenia, women plan to hold a picket near the Council of Europe’s Yerevan office.
News
Issues of importance in the country and region
MFA to Step Aside: Vartan Oskanian announces plans to serve outside government
It is widely believed that he will be replaced by Armenia's ambassador to France Edward Nalbandian.
In a farewell address to his staff and junior diplomats Thursday, the 53-year old native of Syria (who came to Armenia from the US and took an Armenian citizenship) underscored his intention to remain in Armenia and to continue public service, though he did not specify.
The Other Sargsyan: PM Tigran in, political "independent" to lead government
“Under his leadership the government will, indeed, realize ambitious programs in the years to come,” the new president stated at the April 10 meeting of the Cabinet as he formally introduced the new premier to ministers. “I am simply convinced of that.”
In an unstable internal political situation, assuming the post of the prime minister, which had been a talking point for a long period, Armenia’s new prime minister expressed his gratitude, saying that he realizes well that “this is a great responsibility.”
What Women Want: Wives of arrested lobby for husbands
Melissa Brown, the American wife of former Foreign Minister Alexander Arzumanyan, says that when last summer her husband was arrested on money laundering charges, she understood that illegal and groundless arrests would later be applied against others as well.
Whither NKR?: Where will the new president lead Karabakh?
Levon Ter-Petrosyan demonstrated the readiness for unilateral concessions that staggered even the Azerbaijanis and advocated the initial two variants of settlement presented by the Minsk Group of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in 1997: “Nagorno-Karabakh is a state and territorial entity within Azerbaijan.”
Law or Politics?: ANM branch chairman faces serving Sargsyan’s term in prison
Rubik Voskanyan 49 waits for the court decision in Nubarashen penitentiary in Yerevan.Armine Martirosyan, his wife, says the dried blood of her husband still stains the clothes she brought back from the prison after he was arrested. Says she will use the clothes as evidence in his court trial that Voskanyan was beaten into submission.
Fare Treatment: New taxi laws not yet ready for traffic
According to Armenia’s Law on Automobile Transport, adopted in early 2007 and a subject of controversy last year, foresees a special licensing process for taxis in Armenia.
The process of licensing, which began on June 22, 2007 and was to have been completed by August 1, 2007, was prolonged until April 1, 2008. But still not all taxi services and private taxi drivers have a license.
Outside Eye
A non-Armenian's view of life in his adopted home
Solo Performance: President Sargsyan takes a stand on his first day in power
Standing on the Opera House steps with his people kept at a safe distance and his dignitaries presumably viewing via video feed, President Serzh A. Sargsyan looked very, very, alone.
He had been president for about 30 minutes and this was his first act, to assume Commander in Chief status of the Republic of Armenia Army and for his troops to salute their new chief parade-style.
Features
Peoples and Events of Interest
Commentary of the Times: Azerbaijan is flexing its political muscle as Armenia deals with tension at home
The regime of Ilham Aliyev is flexing its political muscle unashamedly these days while political tensions continue in Armenia. Baku claims a historic victory following the vote in the United Nations after the General Assembly adopted a resolution asserting the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and demanding the withdrawal of Armenian military forces from Nagorno Karabakh. In Yerevan the political crisis remains largely unresolved as arrests of dissidents continue and international observers urge dialogue and reconciliation.At the United Nations the vote on the Azerbaijan resolution was less than significant. The 39 nations that voted in favor, almost exclusively came from the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC), Turkey, and Baku’s three post Soviet republic partners that make up the regional coalition called GUAM.
Hearth Holders, Plus . . . : Karabakh women defend their rights for “gender self-determination”
But the teachers did not share the minister’s views on morality and declared that they are not going to follow his instructions. The order raised noisy protest and almost turned into scandal. The minister was taken aback and trying to justify himself said that he did not mean trousers, but meant provocative clothing.
Dangerous Passages: Underground water channels in Gyumri blamed for series of collapses
The cause of the cavity of about 1.5 meters in diameter in the center of the street is yet unknown, while the cracked earth reminds Gyumri residents of the devastating 1988 earthquake, which killed more 30,000 residents of the Shirak province.
New Buzz in Mobile Service: ArmenTel becomes Beeline
Large- and small-sized banners carrying the advertisement of the new brand name, Beeline, could be seen throughout the country on Monday.
Vimpelcom Co., a leading mobile phone operator in the territory of Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) that owns a 100 percent stake in ArmenTel CJSC, long ago planned to bring the Beeline brand to Armenia.
Research in Ruins: Tigranakert project threatened by lack of finances
“We even addressed Prime Minister Sargsyan to get financing, but the letter was sent to the Ministry of Finance, which replied there are no means [for that purpose]. We have even appealed to the Union of Businesspeople, Hayrusgazard (Armenian-Russian Gas Industry) and VivaCell but have not received a response.
Sport
If an Armenian kicked it, lifted it, wrestled it, etc. you?ll find news of it here
Sport: Top-flight FC’s kick off national championship
Matches of the other three pairs over the weekend produced the following results: FC Ararat Yerevan beat FC Kilikia 5-0, FC Mika Ashtarak beat FC Shirak Gyumri 3-1, FC Gandzasar Kapan ended their home game against FC Banants Yerevan in a goalless draw. The second round is due on April 19, with Kilikia taking on Mika, Ulis entertaining Ararat, Banants and Shirak playing on home ground against Pyunik and Gandzasar, respectively.
Photo Of The Week
Since April 9, Inauguration Day, and throughout this week residents of Yerevan can witness spectacular air balloon races in the morning. In the evening Republic Square offers music and treats and the huge colorful balloons on display.
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