US Envoy Laments ‘Apathy,’ Urges More Civic Activism in Armenia
US Ambassador John Heffern on Monday complained about what he described as widespread voter apathy in Armenia and urged its citizens to be more active in fighting for democratic change, RFE/RL’s Armenian service reports. Heffern cited a recent US-funded opinion poll which suggests...
Politician Distributes Barley in Villages Ahead of Elections: Paper
National Assembly vice chair, Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) member Samvel Balasanyan (pictured) continues his election campaign charity work in the villages of the Armenian province of Shirak. After distributing barley through the hands of the Republican Party of Armenia village mayors...
Not All Voters will Accept Bribes, Believes Party Leader
The United Armenians party, which has entered the parliamentary race on a party-list basis, is a pro-state party, Ruben Avagyan, leader of the party with a list of only 29 election candidates, told Epress.am today. “That is, if a pro-government party serves the chair and its pocket,...
Armenian Politician in Baku: Yerevan is Ready to Make Concessions
“Of course the existing status quo [on Karabakh] cannot be eternal. After each round of talks we hear statements that Azerbaijan has allocated large sums of money to weapons,” head of the Armenian delegation to Baku Vahan Hovhannesyan told journalists at the 2nd plenary...
New Vehicle Registration, Driver Licensing Office to Cut Wait Times (PHOTOS)
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan today attended the opening ceremony of the Yerevan Registration and Control Department of the RA Traffic Police, where he became acquainted with the work aimed at improving the department’s activities, the process of vehicle registration and driver’s...
British Queen’s Counsel to Assess Freedom of Expression in Armenia
The state has to assume responsibility for freedom of expression, said Queen’s Counsel, barrister Gavin Miller in Yerevan in his speech on the topic of “Free Elections and Free Speech as Essential Conditions for a Democratic Society” at a seminar and training titled...
Azerbaijan Doesn’t Need Israel’s Help at Eurovision
“Azerbaijan does not need the assistance of the foreign special services, as well as Israel’s special services,” Azerbaijani Presidential Administration Social and Political Department Chief Ali Hasanov told the Baku-based Trend news agency today. Some foreign media...
Azerbaijan Provides Full Guarantee of Security for Armenia Delegation
An Armenian delegation of 13 people will attend the 2nd plenary session of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly to be held in Baku later this week, member of the Azerbaijani delegation to Euronest PA, MP Fuad Muradov told Baku-based Trend news agency on Wednesday. He said the Armenian...
Russian Plane Crash Kills 31 Out of 43 On Board
A passenger plane crashed in Siberia shortly after taking off Monday morning, killing 31 of the 43 people on board, Russian emergency officials said. The 12 survivors were hospitalized in serious condition, AP reports. The ATR-72, a French-Italian-made twin-engine turboprop, operated by...
Ashton Kutcher to Play Steve Jobs in Biopic
Ashton Kutcher is to play Steve Jobs in a forthcoming indie biopic. Variety claimed that the “Two and a Half Men” star will play Jobs in the independent film “Jobs”. Joshua Michael Stern is to direct a script by Matt Whiteley, and filming is likely to start in...
UK Internet Users to Pay to Allow Government to Spy on Them
The UK government is preparing proposals for a nationwide electronic surveillance network that could potentially keep track of every message sent by any Brit to anyone at any time, an industry official briefed on the government’s moves said Sunday, AP reports. Plans for a massive...
Myanmar Opposition Claims Landslide Election Win
Aung San Suu Kyi claimed victory Monday in Myanmar’s historic by-election, saying she hoped it will mark the beginning of a new era for the long-repressed country, The Wall Street Journal reports. Suu Kyi, 66, spoke to thousands of cheering supporters who gathered outside her...
Mashtots Park: Police Forbid Tent to be Pitched, Despite Human Rights Defender’s Insistence
Environmental and civic activists protesting the construction of shops in a central Yerevan park resumed their non-stop sit-in on Mar. 31. According to statements issued by local civic initiatives “We are the owners of this city” and “Our city,” due to the heavy...
Occupy Mashtots Park Activists Come Armed But Kiosks Still Standing (PHOTOS)
Environmental and civic activists who for one-and-a-half months have been protesting shop construction in a central Yerevan park said on Saturday that they are prepared to remain in the park until police officers are convinced that their actions are lawful. Recall, environmental and civic...
Main Opposition Bloc Outlines Slate of Reforms at Pre-Election Rally
“The Armenian National Congress [HAK], perhaps, is the only political force in Armenia that doesn’t need to present a special election platform,” said HAK leader Levon-Ter-Petrossian at a rally organized by the opposition bloc earlier this evening — but then dedicated...