2022 June 23

Daily news wrap-up

Jun/23/2022 news \\ President shares details of secret satellite project \\ Thousands of reservists to exercise again \\ FlyArna opens office \\ Election reforms pt. 2 \\ Easier citizenship \\ Crooked cop arrested \\ Heavy winds and flooding \\ Ferry cargo \\ Jobs, salary, roads \\ No cash, plz
by ar_david_hh

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11 minutes. 2930 words.

Dutch businesses will visit Armenia to discuss agriculture and IT

Dutch-Armenian Business Days will launch in Armenia on July 6, organized by the Netherlands, followed by the opening ceremony of the Dutch-Armenian Chamber of Commerce.

Embassy: The embassy in Armenia is new, it opened only 1.5 years ago. We will firstly present our economic priorities. We want the public to know there is an embassy in Armenia, and that it has an economic section. We have a very good support program for businesses. //

[article](https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1086687.html)

other meetings

▶︎ Pashinyan hosted the German ambassador to discuss modern agriculture and water, energy projects, and regional conflicts.

▶︎ Education Minister hosted the World Bank representative to discuss [education reforms](https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/viejdu/jun222022_news_us_to_invest_120m_in_armenia/) and the digitization of universities.

▶︎ Education Ministry hosted representatives of the British Council to discuss programs aimed at promoting English in Armenia's education sector.

▶︎ Parliament speaker hosted his Austrian counterpart and discussed institutional reforms in Armenia, the AM-EU CEPA agreement, and visa liberalization. "We are interested that the people of Nagorno Karabakh live in favorable conditions. In this sense, you can consider Austria as a reliable partner," said the Austrian official.

[article](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1086755.html) [article](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1086757.html) [article](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1086759.html) [article](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1086772.html)

helping students visualize the Armenian history

Visual Armenia Foundation is working on an interactive map for students studying Armenian History. Teachers will be able to use the map to make classes more interesting.

For now, it will have an interactive map showing the location of famous sites and events, their history, and information about events that were simultaneously unfolding in other parts of the world.

[article](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1086693.html)

VIDEO: authorities issued a $50 citation to Yerevan resident after a tourist recorded her dumping trash into a flowing water

[video](https://youtu.be/ISfu1h9kaCg) [article](https://www.panarmenian.net/arm/news/301089/)

anti-corruption: authorities arrested a crooked cop

ACC reports: Evidence was uncovered that in March 2021, a senior inspector at the road police department examined the documents of a driver in Vanadzor and demanded a $40 bribe to ignore the fact that the driver had no license and insurance. The officer is arrested and charged. //

[article](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1086698.html)

election reforms

QP MP Hovakimyan presented a bill that will make amendments to how the elections are held. It's mostly needed to address problems that became apparent after last year's reforms, he said. There will be amendments to the draft bill after public discussions.

... no more pen

MP: When the proportional electoral system was being implemented for municipal elections, it was proposed for the parliament-style "pick one ballot and cast your vote" approach to be held only in settlements with a population above 70,000.

In smaller settlements, you take a ballot that contains every candidate's name and use a pen to mark your choice.

The experience shows that in settlements where voters had to use the pen approach, the number of invalid ballots was significantly higher. There was also a risk of illegal interference and voter pressure by local goons. The proposed amendment will expand the parliament-style ballot system to smaller settlements as well.

... ballots in hospitals

The amendment proposes to end the practice of using mobile ballot boxes for patients in hospitals. There are great risks of abuse associated with this practice. It also risked the electoral commission members' health during the pandemic. The mobile ballot boxes will, however, remain available for persons under arrest.

... cameras with live feed will be required during municipal elections

Currently, it's only required for parliamentary elections. Our practice shows that cameras have a major preventative power. //

... voters should present the ID card to vote: Pashinyan

Pashinyan: There are tensions associated with the use of different types of documents, such as passports, biometric passports, and ID cards. It is necessary to use ID cards during the elections and to make the process as digital as possible with the use of scanners at each voting station, to prevent manipulations.

The voter arrives at a station, scans the ID, casts the ballot, and the system records that the voter has already participated in order to prevent them from voting again at another station.

This will also solve problems associated with voter lists [presumably inflated lists]. Only people who have appeared and applied will have an ID card. //

... other

Some other changes relate to more time to print ballots, closing a loophole that in some cases prevents municipalities from holding the first council session in the event no party wins 50%, etc.

[article](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1086705.html) [article](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1086718.html) [video](https://youtu.be/kKEU2l5N4Hk) [video](https://factor.am/526005.html) [video](https://factor.am/526029.html)

government approved a resolution to streamline the process of obtaining citizenship

▶︎ It's about documents relating to obtaining citizenship or renouncing a child's citizenship.

▶︎ The application forms will ask fewer questions because most of the requested info is unnecessary.

▶︎ օտարերկրյա պետություններում գործող ՀՀ բոլոր դիվանագիտական ներկայացուցչությունների և հյուպատոսական հիմնարկների համար կսահմանվի երդման արարողությունը կազմակերպելու և իրականացնելու հնարավորություն և ընթացակարգ։

▶︎ The reforms will address a deadline mismatch between various agencies so the process of examining and approving the case can fit within the 90-day deadline.

[article](https://www.panarmenian.net/arm/news/301093/)

what will happen if every opposition MP resigns from parliament?

The ruling party has >50%, which means the parliament will continue to function.

[article](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1086748.html)

thousands of army reservists will be retrained from August 1 to October 30

The army will summon 1,444 citizens as part of a now-routine practice to retrain the reservists en masse. Hundreds of vehicles will be "borrowed" from various military agencies.

The goal is to prepare reserve officers from the pool of NCOs with higher education, retrain former soldiers, etc.

[article](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1086762.html)

Armenia's new national carrier FlyArna opens its first office in Yerevan

It's located in Zvartnots's former VIP lounge. The office has areas for conferences and leisure. The first flight is scheduled for July 3rd. [You can already buy the tickets.](https://www.flyarna.com/en)

A basic two-way trip to Egypt costs $240, or $300 if you want a meal and more baggage allowance.

[article](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1086764.html)

how is the other FlyOne Armenia airlines doing half a year later?

FlyOne private airline was launched last year with investments from Moldova and Armenia. The first flight was in December. The company has transported 100,000 passengers in these 6 months.

They plan to acquire more jets and add new routes. At the moment they fly to Chișinău, Moscow, Sochi, Lyon, Paris, Istanbul, Beirut, and Tiflis.

[article](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1086699.html)

Armenia is negotiating with an international logistics giant to obtain a sanctions waiver to conduct ferry cargo transfers to/from Russia

The Upper Lars land checkpoint between Georgia and Russia is usually jammed, so the Armenian government recently announced plans to pay Armenian businesses to use Georgia's Black Sea port as an alternative route to Russia.

Economy Minister Kerobyan: Many European companies have sanctions against Russia. The APM, one of the largest logistics companies in the world, also has sanctions. We are currently negotiating so these sanctions won't apply to our ferries, before we launch the program.

[article](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1086740.html) [video](https://youtu.be/9XwgsxrJ47Q)

update: the fugitive mafia boss who escaped Armenia and launched a Crusader movement from abroad turns out to be a Russian citizen, won't be extradited

Read the [June 22 digest](https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/viejdu/jun222022_news_us_to_invest_120m_in_armenia/) if you missed the story. Don Pipo is wanted for allegedly organizing an assassination plot against his enemies. He ran to Russia last year. Armenian authorities had asked Russia to organize his extradition but received a rejection because Pipo turned out to be a Russian citizen. He was released from detention by Russian authorities.

[article](https://factor.am/526336.html)

what medical exams will the public bus drivers undergo?

Yerevan mayor recently announced that to protect public safety, bus drivers will undergo routine health screenings. One driver recently died from natural causes. Drivers already have their blood pressure and alcohol levels taken every morning, but the city wants more in-depth checkups and preventative care.

The drivers now qualify for a healthcare package that will provide free screenings once a year:

▶︎ Blood & urine

▶︎ EKG

▶︎ Abdomen, pelvis, thyroid ultrasound

▶︎ Vision care

▶︎ Therapist consultation

[article](https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/239423)

another day, another group of tourists lost their way

This time it's the French. Five hikers wanted to see the forests near Parz Lake. They were found alive by the rescuers.

[article](https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/239475)

VIDEO: strong winds damaged roofs and ripped trees in several districts of Yerevan

Emergency crews were dispatched. The bad weather caused a temporary disruption in TV and radio broadcasting across the country.

[video](https://youtu.be/c-B5G_vDXNk) [article](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1086778.html) [article](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1086774.html)

VIDEO: heavy floods in Azerbaijan

Floods were reported in several regions with major damages done in the Geranboy region and Aghjakend village.

[video](https://youtu.be/RcQz7K92e6I?t=4), [video](https://youtu.be/VQxdVfpXqFs?t=80), [video](https://youtu.be/wtfPQqzj36E) [article](https://factor.am/526015.html)

Uncle Samvel has collected ֏40b ($97m) more in taxes than expect, in H1 2022

Finance Minister: As of June 22, the tax revenues are nearly ֏911b, which is +30% from last year's period. Even if we exclude the additional revenues from the extra mining tax that we implemented recently, the increase is 25%. This is a result of several factors, including improvements in tax administration.

... what will they do with the cash?

While discussing the 2023 programs, we said that in the event we find additional resources, some of the 2023 infrastructure programs could be implemented this year. These include programs in education, healthcare, and physical infrastructure. //

[article](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1086704.html)

Pashinyan about employment and salaries in May:

In May there were a record 673,000 paid jobs in Armenia.

+38,000 vs 2021

+72,000 vs 2019

+125,000 vs 2018

The total salary fund was ֏160b. That's +65% from 2018.

Մեկ աշխատողի հաշվով the average salary was ֏238,000: +12% vs 2021, +27% vs 2019, +34% vs 2018. //

[article](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1086707.html) [video](https://youtu.be/eZtE6PHb0po)

sports school named after boxer Vic Darchinyan will open in Vanadzor

Pashinyan: After the recent discussions to open a sports center named after Arthur Abraham in Yerevan, we decided to open another one named after Vic in Vanadzor. We should speak with our champions and involve them with the development and management process.

[article](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1086708.html)

government made amendments to the approval process of infrastructure projects

They want to restructure when and how the paperwork and design process is held so the construction phase can launch sooner.

Another amendment is about how construction companies are paid. Sometimes several settlements join their efforts to present one large project to receive federal subsidies. If multiple companies build different sections, and one of them is slow or makes errors, under current rules the other construction companies would have to wait for the errors to be fixed to get paid. The amendments will ensure timely payments to "good" companies.

Some villages use stone plates instead of asphalt on the road. The feds will increase the size of the subsidy by 5% to cover 50%-70% of such projects.

Pashinyan: Village roads must be properly maintained and kept clean after their construction. We are spending millions to build them, and we will continue to do so, but on the other hand, after it rains or the wind brings debris it needs to be cleaned. If not, every 6 months we're going to deal with a thick layer of dirt.

We will work with municipalities to address this. The construction plan should include a maintenance plan. Even if the village has one asphalt road, it needs to be cleaned and serviced regularly.

Infrastructure Minister: The merger of settlements allows every community to have a servicing agency now. Every community now shares its equipment to help villages that are part of the enlarged municipality. Moreover, we have so far distributed $19.5 million worth of equipment to enlarged municipalities.

[article](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1086709.html) [article](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1086710.html) [article](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1086762.html) [article](https://factor.am/525985.html)

government approved the $120m grant from US, aimed at strengthening democracy and economy

Read [Wednensday digest](https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/viejdu/jun222022_news_us_to_invest_120m_in_armenia/) if you missed it.

Arayik Harutyunyan: The grant aims to support Armenia's reforms aimed at democracy ($69m) and economy ($51m). It will help the government with the fight against corruption, justice reforms, and public administration reforms.

Pashinyan: This is a very important agreement for investments. We approve it.

[article](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1086715.html)

who will be the next U.S. ambassador to Armenia?

It's time for the U.S. to nominate new ambassadors in about a dozen states. Lynne Tracy's term in Armenia is expiring.

In Armenia, Joe Biden is considering Kristina Kvien, the former acting ambassador to Ukraine, with extensive work experience in the economic wing of diplomacy. She has also served in the UK, EU, Russia, Russia, Thailand, and Philippines.

[article](https://www.panarmenian.net/arm/news/301074/) [article](https://www.civilnet.am/news/665795/հայաստանում-ամն-նոր-դեսպան-կնշանակվի/) [article](https://www.1in.am/3130848.html)

reminder: in one week, many financial transactions will need to be made electronically

House, loans, cars, and any transaction above ֏300k, all medical payments, etc.

Hospitals will have cash machines. The patient can insert cash and send the now-electronic payment to the hospital's bank account to create a paper trail. In the future, once the government sees that the public has by and large switched to card payments, these cash terminals will be removed.

[article](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1086732.html)

we want to build satellites in Armenia: President Khachaturyan

Reporter: When did the process to launch our first satellite begin?

Khachaturyan: Pashinyan recently said the project was kept secret but I think it's time to reveal more details. We [at the time he was the High-Tech Minister] launched the process in October 2021 during a meeting. Pashinyan and 2 others knew about it. The project was implemented by the High-Tech Ministry with very few participants. Towards the end of the year, more government members became informed about the plan. All the agreements were reached by January.

Besides the ability to have our own satellite and process photos, the main goal is for us to develop the space industry as a whole. We will soon have a satellite control center.

Reporter: The satellite has successfully established contact with Earth.

Khachaturyan: Yes, and I think we will soon have the first photos. At the moment we are instructing experts located abroad on how to control the satellite for us, until we build our control station in Armenia.

Reporter: The opposition says the satellite isn't good enough, it's not "ours", why did you choose Americans and not Russians to fly it, etc.

Khachaturyan: The critics are not experts, or they are insufficiently informed. Azatutyun outlet released a great mini-documentary that answers some of the questions. Why SpaceX and not Russia? Because SpaceX is quite affordable today and they have mastered this task. We have agreements with Russia's Roscosmos around other things, but they aren't specialized in this particular type of project.

This is the beginning. Having a communication satellite will require a lot more resources and effort. We are gathering space industry experts at the moment. You are welcome to join if you know the industry. We want to build satellites in Armenia. //

[Read Khachaturyan's previous satellite revelations in June 17 digest.](https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/veplk4/jun172022_news_sweden_to_train_armenian_judges_uk/)

[article](https://factor.am/525841.html)

ex-president Armen Sarkissian's son attempted to buy McDonald's business in Russia after the Ukraine invasion

McDonald's sold its Russian business to licensee Alexander Govor in May. Five others were competing for the acquisition. One of them was Sarkissian's son. Sarkissian has two sons: Vardan and Hayk. It's unclear which one attempted to buy it.

[article](https://factor.am/526295.html)

Armenian film producer Eric Esrailian elected as Board member of US-based Academy Museum of Motion Pictures

It's a museum in Los Angeles dedicated to the history, science, and cultural impact of the film industry.

Esrailian is a filmmaker, philanthropist, and physician. He is among the several new board members.

Ted Sarandos, co-CEO of Netflix: We are thrilled to welcome the extraordinary leaders, who have already done so much to advance our industry through their commitment to diversity, innovation, and excellence. As members of our board, they will support and guide the Academy Museum in realizing its ambitious mission of increasing public appreciation for the arts and sciences of moviemaking and exploring the ongoing, multifaceted history of film.

[article](https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1086713.html)

there was apparently a swimming world championship?

Armenia's freestyle swimmer Arthur Barseghyan crossed 50m in 23.46 seconds and finished 43rd out of 90.

[article](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1086754.html)

India will build a gallery in Gyumri

Education Ministry and Gyumri officials hosted the Indian ambassador today to discuss the construction of a gallery museum in Gyumri. The idea was born after the Indian Foreign Minister's 2021 trip to Armenia.

The Minister enjoyed the dozens of art pieces about India by painter Sargis Khachaturyan, and decided to help build a separate gallery that will serve as an Armenian-Indian cultural center.

They are choosing a location. It could be in Charles Aznavour Square. The construction will begin in 6 months.

[article](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1086724.html)

citizens of Ecuador will be allowed to visit Armenia without visa

The Government gave its approval today. Ecuadorians can stay 180 days a year without a visa. Armenians can also stay in Ecuador without a visa.

They are working around a similar agreement with Peru and other Latin American countries in the region.

[article](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1086762.html)

FIFA ranking: which countries have the strongest national soccer teams?

211) San Marino

178) Moldova >!blart!<

128) Azerbaijan

92) Armenia

82) Georgia

42) Turkey

23) Iran

3) Argentina

2) Belgium

1) Brazil

[article](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1086717.html) [article](https://www.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/)

in case you missed

Yesterday's news in English, русский (by Impossible-Ad-). Archive by Armeniapedia. Donate to Armenia & Artsakh here

The accused are innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law, even if they "appear" guilty.

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Link to original report and comments: https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/vj7ofs/jun232022_news_president_shares_details_of_secret/