Member of "Army in Reality" group Lala Aslikyan is detained

UPDATED: Lala Aslikyan has been released (see comments section for reports in English)

Breaking news (AM only):

 ՀԱՂՈՐԴՈՒՄ

2011թ. հոկտեմբերի 27-ին ՀՀ կառավարության շենքի մոտ պետք է տեղի ունենար Հայաստանի զինված ուժերում մահացած զինծառայողների ծնողների և “Բանակն իրականում” նախաձեռնող խմբի հերթական ակցիան` զինծառայողների սպանությունները բացահայտելու և գործերի քննությունը պատշաճ կերպով
վարելու պահանջով: Ոստիկանները թույլ չեն տվել, որպեսզի ակցիան կայանա նախատեսված վայրում և բռնություն են կիրառել զինծառայողների ծնողների նկատմամբ` հրմշտելով նրանց և խոչընդոտելով խաղաղ հավաքի անցկացումը: Ակցիայի մասնակիցներն արձագանքել են` արտահայտելով իրենց վերաբերմունքը ոստիկանների բռնությունների նկատմամբ:

Ոստիկանները, բռնի ուժ կիրառելով ցուցարարներից մեկի` “Բանակն իրականում” քաղաքացիական նախաձեռնության անդամ Լալա Ասլիկյանի նկատմամբ, նրան տեղափոխել են ՀՀ ոստիկանության Երևան քաղաքի վարչության կենտրոնական բաժին:

ՀՀ ոստիկանության Երևան քաղաքի վարչության կենտրոնական բաժնի մոտ, որտեղ հավաքվել են մի խումբ քաղաքացիներ` պահանջելու ազատել Լալա Ասլիկյանին, կրկին տեղի է ունեցել միջադեպ. ՀՀ ոստիկանության Երևան քաղաքի վարչության կենտրոնական բաժնի փոխոստիկանապետ Արայիկ Պետրոսյանը փորձ է արել մեքենայով վրաերթ կատարել ցուցարարների ուղղությամբ և հարվածել ԱԺ պատգամավոր Զարուհի Փոստանջյանին:

Արդեն կես ժամից ավել է Լալա Ասլիկյանի փաստաբան Ռոբերտ Ռևազյանը կանգնած է ՀՀ ոստիկանության Երևան քաղաքի վարչության կենտրոնական բաժնի մուտքի մոտ և նրան թույլ չեն տալիս մուտք գործել ոստիկանության բաժին: Մոտ 20 ոստիկան կանգնած են ոստիկանության բաժնի մուտքի մոտ, իսկ 30-ը ավելի հեռու` խոչընդոտելով ցուցարարներին մոտենալ ոստիականության բաժնի շենքին:

Breaking: Dozens of people from Armenian-American organised crime group arrested in New York and LA over major health insurance fraud

WOW. Just reported via @BreakingNews. I am, however, amused with the nickname of the detained "high-level organized crime figure from the former Soviet Union who allegedly gave protection to members of the group": "vor" (meaning "ass" - rude conversational in Armenian, or “thief"/"thief-in-law” - in Russian) - "The vor, Armen Kazarian, was based in Los Angeles."

*picture - Robert Terdjanian, by AP, via Voice of America / Armenian Service

Dozens Arrested in Medicare-Fraud Scheme

The Wall Street Journal

By MICHAEL ROTHFELD

An Armenian-American organized crime ring based in New York and Los Angeles allegedly bilked a federal health-care program for tens of millions of dollars using stolen doctor and patient identities, law-enforcement authorities said in indictments unsealed Wednesday.

Dozens of people were arrested including a "vor"—a high-level organized crime figure from the former Soviet Union who allegedly gave protection to members of the group. The vor, Armen Kazarian, was based in Los Angeles.

The group, known as the Mirzoyan-Terdjanian Organization, was taken down as part of a nationwide health-care fraud sweep that included arrests in Ohio, New Mexico and Georgia. In New York, prosecutors charged more than 40 people in schemes that allegedly fraudulently billed Medicare for more than $100 million and receiving $35.7 million in payments.

It was the latest in a string of Medicare fraud busts nationwide by the Department of Justice over the past three years. In July, authorities announced charges against 94 people in separate schemes, including one involving Russian immigrants in Brooklyn, that allegedly submitted $251 million in phony billings.

The Armenian group allegedly stole the identities of doctors and patients, including thousands from the Orange Regional Medical Center in upstate New York. The names were allegedly used to file reimbursement requests from Medicare for procedures that weren't performed at 118 nonexistent clinics in 25 states.

According to one of the indictments, some of the fraudulent Medicare billings were from a forensic pathologist, who normally does autopsies, supposedly for office visits; an ophthalmologist billing for bladder tests; an obstetrician billing for skin tests.

The charges filed Wednesday include allegations of racketeering, health-care fraud, identity theft, money laundering and bank fraud. Prosecutors said members of the Armenian group allegedly used threats of violence to collect money they were owed. One alleged leader of the group, Robert Terdjanian, allegedly threatened to "disembowel" someone who owed him money.

FBI agents arrested 20 people in New York early Wednesday and others were taken into custody around the country, said Richard Kolko, a spokesman for the agency's New York office. Lawyers for the defendants could not be immediately identified.

Jean Eckian: Breaking News / President Serj Sargsyan hooted in Paris (part 2)

*photos Jean Eckian

Jean Eckian: Breaking News / President Serj Sargsyan hooted in Paris (part 1)

With one hour of delay on the calendar envisaged, the chief of RA contemplated one minute in front of the Armenian Memorial of Paris, symbolized by the statue of Komitas. A spontaneous demonstration of approximately thousand people, with the cries of " votch, votch! (not, not!) did not obstruct the president who always preserved his smile. During the hour which preceded its arrival to the memorial, of the brawls with the police force made some slightly injureds.
Jean Eckian / Paris

*photos Jean Eckian

Armenia - Turkey: a breakthrough?

Intrigue of The Day

Here we are. Could be a sign of a breakthrough in Armenia-Turkey relations. All the main international and local news agencies now report re breaking news on protocols signed by foreign ministries of Armenia and Turkey on establishing diplomatic relations, opening the border, and general normalisation of relations between countries.

In 6 weeks, just in time for a football match (talking about 2nd round of ‘football diplomacy‘) between Turkey and Armenia, political consultations should end and the protocols sent to the parliaments for ratification.

I now read the original protocols in full. Of course, I anticipate that one of the main problems will be the so called 'historical sub-commission'. I personally do not mind joint commission to investigate archives as long as it does not aim to define whether the genocide happened or not. In the protocol, the language is very diplomatic without any clear specifications.

On the other hand, I am glad that there is no (officially stated and signed) connection of Armenia-Turkey with other conflicts' settlement, namely Karabakh. This is a positive sign. Of course, we do not know what is going on backstage, which could lead to other breaking news to come.

Armenia opposition youth attacked in downtown Yerevan

Tonight opposition youth distributing leaflets about tomorrow's rally was attacked in downtown Yerevan by unknown group of people, some reportedly wearing gun. Reports indicate that at least three youth activists were injured. Reports allege that the attackers were National Security employees disguised as civilians. In its late night statement, opposition Armenian National Congress informs about the incident indicating at "unknown attackers".

End of an era... RIP... Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson Dies

TMZ: We've just learned Michael Jackson has died. He was 50. Michael suffered a cardiac arrest earlier this afternoon and paramedics were unable to revive him. We're told when paramedics arrived Jackson had no pulse and they never got a pulse back.

Armenia: travesty of democracy No…

Another farce, another very well and brutally choreographed theatre play called ‘election’ passed in Armenia. I cannot believe I wasted my Sunday following this travesty of democracy. I cannot believe, having the all past/present examples and pretty practical working brain, I still did hope that something could be better this time. But then again, I am optimist by nature, and every time, despite every sign, trying to find something positive, even if there is none out there. The most troubling for me is that I kind of became used of it. This did not cause a feeling of outrage inside me which would normally be the case in similar situation. That’s what scaring me most.

Anyway, I am coping below my twitter updates just for the record, to get a feel of the day. I did not change anything, did not correct typos. I am copying exactly as they appeared on my Twitter page, where you can find their original versions:

http://twitter.com/unzippedblog

· To follow 'official' #Armenia Central Election Commission 'live' results re #Yerevan mayor election: http://bit.ly/MCXCz 24 minutes ago

· New prelim.res: some changes in No.2 (now - ruling coalition member BHK) and No.3 (now - opposition ANC) #yerevan #armenia 40 minutes ago

· Prelim res.: Ruling HHK is way ahead, opposition ANC and coalition BHK very close to each other. The rest - small numbers. #yerevan #armenia about 1 hour ago

· Surprise-surprise. First very preliminary results: ruling HHK No.1, opposition ANC No.2 and No.3 coalition member BHK #yerevan #armenia about 1 hour ago

· Hetq: not clear why A1+ web site is blocked. Possible reasons - hacker attack or too many visitors. http://bit.ly/YT3q1 #yerevan #armenia about 1 hour ago

· RT @onewmphoto US journalist says opposition and govern. HHK neck&neck in Malatia-Sebastia vote count until wads of ballots for HHK #yerevan about 2 hours ago

· 'Opposition will win if manage to monitor the vote count' - Levon Zurabyan. That's a big & key IF... http://bit.ly/1a80Bk #armenia #yerevan about 2 hours ago

· A1+ just uploaded a brief news report re some election violation on its youtube channel http://bit.ly/OmqkN #yerevan #armenia about 2 hours ago

· Opposition youth movement @himaarmenia reports that most popular pro-opposition A1plus Internet site was blocked. #yerevan #armenia about 2 hours ago

· 'Banditism not election' in Malatia-Sebastia district - opposition rep (Arminfo) #yerevan #armenia about 2 hours ago

· @GoldenTent I can open E-channel, but A1+ still down #yerevan #armenia about 3 hours ago in reply to GoldenTent

· RT @caucasusreports #Yerevan elections: Vote-counting abuses reported in some Malatia-Sebastia precincts http://tinyurl.com/l834c4 #armenia about 3 hours ago

· Preliminary voter turnout for #Yerevan mayor leection - 52.85% http://bit.ly/Zwyo8 #armenia about 3 hours ago

· From "civilized" to "shameful": The assessment of local observers re #Yerevan mayor election. http://bit.ly/D1GhS #armenia about 4 hours ago

· @GoldenTent same here cannot access A1plus for last half hour or so #Armenia #yerevanabout 4 hours ago in reply to GoldenTent

· First reactions on #Yerevan election by some observers and bloggers http://bit.ly/9USXb #armenia about 4 hours ago

· Widespread violations reported by Heritage party in #Yerevan Malatia district too with party rep calling to annul el. outcome there #armenia about 4 hours ago

· #Armenia opposition Heritage party reports on widespread ballot stuffing just before voting closes, in Davitashen #yerevan (Radio Liberty) about 4 hours ago

· #Armenia Prosecutor General office calls media reports on election violations and fraud a "false rumours" http://bit.ly/ZTNor #yerevan about 4 hours ago

· New series of reports by @himaarmenia about ballot stuffing, incluidng some allegedly in presence of US ambassador. #yerevan #armenia about 5 hours ago

· RT @reporter_arm Election fraud (karusel) in Shengavit, #yerevan #armenia http://bit.ly/HTfPo (video evidence) about 5 hours ago

· 'Hot' news of the day: Prosperous #Armenia party MP Zohrabyan slaps head of local election district over violations by the latter #yerevan about 5 hours ago

· #Armenia political prisoners cast their vote for #Yerevan mayor election (video) http://bit.ly/DUZ8j about 5 hours ago

· Tensions rise In #Yerevan amid election fraud claims. http://bit.ly/GHCdq #armenia about 6 hours ago

· RT @onewmphoto "...Those who cast the votes decide nothing. Those who count them decide everything" Stalin about 6 hours ago

· #Yerevan mayor election - less than 1 hour to go till vote count starts, which in past tend to be one of the most violation-prone.. #armenia about 6 hours ago

· RT @onewmphoto Good 2 c @himaarmenia (#Armenia opposition youth group) use Twitter as election violation reporting tool... #yerevan about 6 hours ago

· As of 6pm local time, voter turnout for #Yerevan mayor election - 41.66%. http://bit.ly/S2iOT #armenia about 6 hours ago

· Details re journalist of #Yerevan daily 168zham and Transp. International observer assaulted; ballot stuffing #armenia http://bit.ly/4676z about 7 hours ago

· ARF Dashnaktsutyun reports on few attempts of votig using fake passports http://bit.ly/16xkfh #yerevan #armenia about 7 hours ago

· Report: journalist of #Yerevan daily 168zham and Transp. International observer assaulted at poll. st. 8/05 No details @himaarmenia #armenia about 7 hours ago

· More reports on various #Yerevan election violations, including ballot stuffing, via @himaarmenia #armenia about 8 hours ago

· All #Armenia pro-opposition newspapers will issue a special editions tomorrow re #yerevan election. (via Lragir.am) about 8 hours ago

· Midway through: High voter turnout amid reported bussing of people from provinces. http://bit.ly/VOikG #yerevan #armenia about 8 hours ago

· Reports on clashes between ruling coaliton Republican and Prosperous #Armenia party members over #Yerevan mayor election http://bit.ly/SHuB3 about 8 hours ago

· Arminfo&FB: Progovernment OYP rep offered #Armenia opposition Heritage #Yerevan election observer Ioannisyan selling protocol of violations about 8 hours ago

· Hundreds bused to #Yerevan on polling day. http://bit.ly/e0I9g #armenia about 9 hours ago

· Lines of mini-buses outside #Armenia Football Federation office, pres. - MP Hayrapetyan #Yerevan. Reportedly from Gyumri http://bit.ly/cZFPl about 9 hours ago

· RT @ armenialiberty As per 2pm local time, ~ 30% have casted their votes for #Yerevan mayor election http://tinyurl.com/nkmy2g #armenia about 9 hours ago

· Residents of #Yerevan 9-16 district told me that local ruling party people drive old people to polling st & 'help' them to vote #armenia about 9 hours ago

· Numerous violations observed during #Yerevan mayor election http://bit.ly/PUoaP reported by Caucasus Reports project #armenia about 10 hours ago

· Gyumri mayor (ruling Republican party member) organizes convoy of "voters" to #Yerevan http://bit.ly/2g6npv #armenia about 10 hours ago

· Lines of mini-buses outside a poliing station in #Yerevan (photo evidence) - clear violation of #Armenia election code. http://bit.ly/GwwO7 about 10 hours ago

· The most common violation re #Yerevan mayor election so far seems to be related to busing people from regions to the capital. #armenia about 10 hours ago

· #Armenia political prisoners were allowed to cast their vote at #Yerevan mayor election. http://bit.ly/CvDuK about 10 hours ago

· Reports: pro-opposition newspaper CHI journalist Veziryan & 2 others beaten by MP Sargsyan bodyguards http://bit.ly/wNrAj #yerevan #armenia about 10 hours ago

· Via @himaarmenia & @arsentg reports of at least 2 separate incidents of beating pro-opposition #Yerevan election observers. #armenia about 11 hours ago

· Numerous similar to @himaarmenia #Yerevan election violations esp. busing people from other places and regions reported by @arsentg #armenia about 11 hours ago

· #Yerevan mayor election as criminal chronicle via @himaarmenia: reports on busing people from regions, bribes, ballot stuffing, open voting about 11 hours ago

Follow crucial Yerevan mayor election news as/when they happen

On 31 May Armenia related news outlets and various Internet resources will have a special working schedule to cover crucial Yerevan mayor election - “local elections of national importance”, as rightly indicated by BBC Russia.

Below are my recommended sources to follow news as/when they happen during the election day.

Online news outlets:

A1+
Tert.am
Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) - Armenia
Lragir.am
Hetq Online
ArmeniaNow
E-channel


Twitter updates:

http://twitter.com/unzippedblog
http://twitter.com/himaarmenia
http://twitter.com/onewmphoto
http://twitter.com/ditord
http://twitter.com/reporter_arm
http://twitter.com/arsentg
http://twitter.com/GoldenTent

I will post updates on my Twitter page http://twitter.com/unzippedblog. As/when necessary, blog entries will appear here on Unzipped too.

Breaking news: Armenia Today news agency coordinator beaten and shot at in Yerevan early morning

Breaking news:

Reports that coordinator of Armenia Today news agency, lawyer and human rights activist Argishti Kiviryan beaten and shot at in Yerevan 5 o'clock morning local time. No other details known.

*Via Armenia Today and Regnum

*UPDATE: in comments section, photos - Hetq Online

Armenian pro-opposition blogger detained?

UPDATE: Aramazd has now been released, his notebook was 'detained'. New developments, if any, in comments section below.

I assume it's him. This is the only news that came out, as of now. Aramazd Ghalamkaryan is opposition activist. His blog is at http://aramazd.livejournal.com/.

He is also managing http://www.nikol.am/ website.

Via Hetq Online:

Apartments of Nikol Pashinyan’s Friends Searched
[ 2009/04/11 14:15 ]
important society

Today, employees of the Special Inspection Service (SIS), searched the apartments of Aramazd Gharamkalyan and Karo Simidyan and took the two men down to the SIS offices. Mr. Simidyan’s computer was also “brought in” for questioning. “Hetq” was informed of this news by the HAK (Armenian National Congress) headquarters.

In turns out that Karo Simidyan’s son is a friend of Nikol Pashinyan, chief editor of the “Haykakan Zhamanak” newspaper, who has been in hiding ever since the March 1st events of 2008. HAK also believes that Aramazd Gharamkalyan was also detained because he too is a close friend of Pashinyan.

“Hetq” hasn’t ben able to get through to the SIS for comment. Vahe Kostanyan, the SIS press secretary told “Hetq” that he had been dismissed from his job one month ago and that the post has yet to be filled.

US formally endorses UN gay rights statement

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration is formally endorsing a U.N. declaration calling for the worldwide decriminalization of homosexuality, a measure former President George W. Bush had refused to sign.

[Unzipped: endorsed by Armenia too]

The move was the administration's latest step in reversing Bush-era decisions that have been heavily criticized by human rights and other groups. The United States was the only western nation not to sign onto the declaration when it came up at the U.N. General Assembly in December.

The Associated Press reported on Tuesday that the administration would endorse the declaration.

AFP: Washington will join 66 countries, including all the members of European Union, in backing the measure put forth by France in December, State Department spokesman Robert Wood said.

"The United States supports the UN's statements on human rights, sexual orientation, and gender identity, Wood told reporters.

"The United States is an outspoken defender of human rights and critic of human rights abuses around the world," Wood told reporters.

"As such, we join with other supporters of this statement, and we will continue to remind countries of the importance of respecting the human rights of all people in all appropriate international fora," he added.

Breaking news: Armenia deputy police chief murdered

RFE/RL: Colonel Gevorg Mherian, a deputy chief of the Armenian police, was gunned down outside his Yerevan home late on Tuesday.

Police sources said Mherian, 33, was repeatedly shot in the head by unknown gunmen as he left an apartment building in the capital where lived with his family. A senior medical official told local Kentron television that he was dead by the time an ambulance arrived at the scene.

Dozens of police and other law-enforcement officials, including Prosecutor-General Aghvan Hovsepian, rushed there shortly after the murder. The police did not immediately issue any statements.

Mherian was appointed as deputy police chief in July as part of a reshuffle of the higher echelon of Armenia’s security apparatus initiated by President Serzh Sarkisian. He had previously served as an adviser to former President Robert Kocharian monitoring the implementation of the Armenian government’s strategy of combating corruption.
***

As per Armenia Today, he was a close associate of Armenia's ex-president Robert Kocharyan.
***

A1+: Այսօր ժամը 20. 20 -ի սահմաններում Կիեւյան փողոցի վրա գտնվող իր բնակարանի մոտ, հրազենով սպանվել է ՀՀ փոխոստիկանապետ, գնդապետ, 1975թ. ծնված Գեւորգ Մհերյանը: Նա մահացել է գլխին ստացած հրազենային կրակոցից: Մեր տեղեկությունների համաձայն` Մհերյանի վրա արձակվել է 6 կրակոց: Դեպքի վայրից հայտնաբերվել են պարկուճներ, հանցագործության առարկան` զենքը դեպքի վայրում չի հայտնաբերվել:

Դեպքի վայր են ժամանել ՀՀ Ոստիկանության բարձրաստիճան պաշտոնյաներ, ինչպես նաեւ ՀՀ Գլխավոր դատախազ Աղվան Հովսեփյանը, ԱԱԾ պետ Գորիկ Հակոբյանը: Մանրամասները ճշտվում են: Դեպքի առթիվ հարուցվել է քրեական գործ: Քննությունը վարում է Հատուկ քննչական ծառայությունը, որը կոչված է բարձրաստիճան պաշտոնյաների դեմ եւ նրանց կողմից կատարված հանցագործությունների ուսումնասիրմանը եւ բացահայտմանը: Գեւորգ Մհերյանը ՀՀ փոխոստիկանպետի պաշտոնում նշանակվել է 2008թ. հունիսի 2-ին` Սերժ Սար•սյանի հրամանով: Մինչ այդ նա եղել Ռոբերտ Քոչարյանի օգնականը` իրավական գծով:

*photos - Photolur, via A1+

Armenia PACE delegation plane made a forced landing in Turkey

Due to unfavourable weather conditions in Yerevan (mist/fog), Czech airline plane with Armenian delegation at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on board, along with journalists who were in Strasbourg, made a forced landing at the airport of the Turkish city Trabzon, reports Novosti-Armenia, citing Armenian airport official. They now expect to arrive in Yerevan overnight from Thursday to Friday.

New York plane crash: Reporting power of Internet and blogging

Iconic image of New York plane crash

Telegraph - New York plane crash: Twitter breaks the news, again

Within minutes of US Airways flight 1549 ditching in New York's Hudson river, the blogosphere was buzzing with the news. Emails, Twitter messages, mobile phone photos and hazy videos about the crash flitted across cyberspace. Some reassured friends and loved ones that all was well; others simply documented the unfolding drama as all 155 passengers and crew made their way to safety using the jet's inflatable emergency chutes.

Twitter, the increasingly popular microblogging service, was, as ever, leading the pack. When dozens of New York-based Twitter users started sending 'tweets' about a possible plane crash in the city, the news spread like wildfire across the Twitterverse. Indeed, Twitter users broke the news of the incident around 15 minutes before the mainstream media alerted viewers and readers to the crash. The first recorded tweet about the crash came from Jim Hanrahan, aka Manolantern, four minutes after the plane went down, who wrote: "I just watched a plane crash into the hudson riv [sic] in manhattan".

And it wasn't just text messages that were telling the story; photos, too, were playing their part. Twitter user and iPhone owner Janis Krums was on one of the New York commuter ferries diverted to pick up the stranded airline passengers. He used his mobile phone to take a dramatic snap of the downed plane, and uploaded it to TwitPic, a service that enables Twitter users to instantly share their snaps over Twitter. "There's a plane in the Hudson," Krums tweeted . "I'm on the ferry going to pick up the people. Crazy."

His dramatic image was instantly forwarded across the Twitterverse and picked up by numerous blogs and news websites, causing the TwitPic service to crash under the sheer weight of user numbers. Noah Everett, TwitPic's founder, said it showed the powerful "snowball effect" of social media. [...]

See also - LA Times - Citizen photo of Hudson River plane crash shows Web's reporting power

*source of photo

Post deleted: (re alleged stabbing incident with Indian students in Yerevan)

Many thanks to all readers of my blog who made comments (Anonymous, Onnik Krikorian, Souren); also to all readers of my blog and my friends who were helping me to establish whether the incident happened and its circumstances.

However, as it was not possible to get confirmation of this story from other sources and taking into account the sensitivity of the subject matter, I decided to delete this post.

Thanks for your understanding!

Report: Turkish president accepts Sargsyan invitation to visit Armenia

Breaking news

So far this is the only Turkish paper reporting it:

Turkish President Abdullah Gul has accepted an invitation from his Armenian counterpart to watch the World Cup qualifier between the Turkish-Armenian national teams in Yerevan as the Turkish Foreign Ministry said the visit would contribute to renewed relations between the two countries, Vatan daily reported on Saturday.

Armenia however has not yet been informed of Gul’s decision, the report said, adding that the president is expected to make an official announcement next week.

Armenia President Serz Sargsyan invited Gul to watch the World Cup qualifying match between the two country's national teams on Sept. 6 to mark "a new symbolic start in the two countries' relations".

Gul had previously said that Sargsyan’s invitation is an example of contributions towards solving the problems that exist between the two countries and that an evaluation of the invitation was underway taking every possibility into account.

In a gesture of good faith, Armenia offered to lift all visa requirements and payments for Turkish citizens traveling to the capital Yerevan for the match, the report also said.

*Thanks to A.P. for the link.

It's official: Russia recognises Abkhazia and South Ossetia

Breaking news: President Dmitry Medvedev says Russia has formally recognised the independence of the breakaway Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

For more on the subject and possible implications for the region, Armenia and Karabakh - see my post and comments here: Russian parliament recognises Abkhazia and South Ossetia independence

Russian parliament recognises Abkhazia and South Ossetia independence

UPDATE!
Breaking news: President Dmitry Medvedev says Russia has formally recognised the independence of the breakaway Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. (26 August 2008)

Russian parliament unanimously recognised the independence of Georgia’s two breakaway regions in an extraordinary session. The decision, which is non-binding, will now be sent to Russian president Dmitry Medvedev for approval.

Should this move gets materialised by Kremlin, i.e. should Russian president formally recognise the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, this could serve an important precedent for other breakaway regions in a post-Soviet space. Regardless of differences, this move would strengthen Karabakh positions in its quest for independence.

In the meantime, BBC wonders whether this would end up as new Kosovo when independence was recognised by a substantial number of states or North Cyprus when only Turkey has done so.

French president Nicolas Sarkozy, currently holding EU presidency, has called for a special EU summit on Georgia on 1 September to discuss the situation.

Breaking news: victim of police car run over has been identified, case is under formal investigation now. The power of Internet!

Less than two weeks ago, I posted here a video evidence that clearly shows "how allegedly police car run one protester over on Paronyan street in central Yerevan".

I can now inform that victim has been identified (alive!), this fact is confirmed and now under the investigation of the Procecutor General office. Car belongs to police; driver has already been questioned. All these, despite initial denial by the Prosecutor General office which denied the very fact of run over ever occured during the 1 March events. As spokeswoman for the Prosecutor General 'admits', they became 'aware' of this case only after the video evidence was posted in Internet.

A1+ reports (in Armenian):

Մարտի 1-ի հայտնի դեպքերի ժամանակ, ժամը 21-ի սահմաններում Երեւանի Պարոնյան փողոցում, ՚888ՙ սուպերմարկետի դիմաց ոստիկանական ավտոմեքենան վրաերթի էր ենթարկել մի քաղաքացու: Մեր ունեցած տեղեկություններով, վրաերթի ենթարկված քաղաքացին բարեբախտաբար ողջ է, եւ նրան արդեն հարցաքննել են: Հայտնաբերվել եւ հարցաքննվել է նաեւ վրաերթ իրականացրած ավտոմեքենայի վարորդը:

Նկատենք, որ քաղաքացուն վրաերթ ենթարկածը փշալար տեղափոխող ոստիկանության հատուկ գնդին էր պատկանում, եւ որը հետռագայում հրդեհվել է:

Տուժողի հայտնաբերմանը վերաբերող հարցերին ի պատասխան` գլխավոր դատախազի մամուլի քարտուղար Սոնա Տռուզյանը հրաժարվեց որեւէ տեղեկություն տրամադրել, նշելով, որ քննություն ընթանում է, եւ երբ դեպքի բոլոր հանգամանքները պարզ կլինեն, այն ժամանակ իրենք կտրամադրեն ամբողջական տեղեկատվություն:

Հիշեցնենք, որ վրաերթի ցանկացած դեպք դատախազությունը մեկ ամիս հերքում էր: Անգամ գլխավոր դատախազն էր հերքում, թե վրաերթ է տեղի ունեցել: Սոնա Տռուզյանը բացատրեց, որ իրենք առաջնորդվել են հիվանդանոցներից ստացված տեղեկություններով, մարտի 1-ին եւ 2-ին վրաերթի ենթարկված քաղաքացի հիվանդանոց տեղափոխվածների մեջ չի եղել, զոհվածների մարմինների վրա էլ վրաերթի հետքեր չեն եղել: Իսկ դատախազությունը Պարոնյանի վրա տեղի ունեցած վրաերթի մասին տեղեկացվել է միայն ապրիլի 3-ին՝ մամուլից, եւ միայն այդ օրն են ինտերնետում տեսել տեղադրված կադրերը: Ի դեպ, Սոնա Տռուզյանը նույնիսկ զարմացած էր, թե ինչու այդ կադրերն այդքան ուշ են տեղադրվել, եւ նորից հորդորում էր, որ եթե կան դեպքերի հանգամանքներ պարզաբանող կադրեր կամ վկայություններ, թող ներկայացվեն նախաքննական մարմնին:

Մեր դիտարկմանը, թե մասնավորապես ակադեմիկոս Ռաֆայել Ղազարյանի կինը՝ Գրիզելդա Ղազարյանը եւ դուստրը՝ Գայանեն, դաժան ծեծի են ենթարկվել ոստիկանության կողմից. երկուսն էլ ստացել են մարմնական վնասվածքներ, ընդհուպ մինչեւ՝ կարեր Գրիզելդա Ղազարյանի գլխին,Սոնա Տռուզյանը տեղեկացրեց, որ այդ ուղղությամբ քննություն է տարվում:

Իսկ այն հանգամանքը, որ Ռոբերտ Քոչարյանը հայտարարեց, թե որեւէ իրավապահ պատասխանատվության չի ենթարկվի, այդ դեպքում ինչ իմաստ ունի քննությունը, Սոնա Տռուզյանն ասաց. ՚Նախագահի խոսքերը ես չեմ մեկնաբանումՙ: