Tag: Armenia

Pelosi condemns ‘illegal’ Azerbaijan attack on Armenia

YEREVAN, Armenia (AFP) – US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Sunday condemned what she described as an “illegal” attack by Azerbaijan on Armenia that sparked the worst fighting since their 2020 war. Baku and Yerevan have accused each other of starting Tuesday’s border clashes, which claimed the lives of more than 200 people. “We strongly condemn those attacks — on behalf of Congress — which threaten (the) prospects of the much-needed peace agreement,” Pelosi told […]

Nearly 100 killed in Armenia-Azerbaijan border clashes

by Mariam HARUTYUNYAN with Emil GULIYEV in Baku Agence France-Presse YEREVAN, Armenia (AFP) — Armenia and Azerbaijan reported nearly 100 troop deaths Tuesday in their worst fighting since a 2020 war over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region. The last wave of fighting over Azerbaijan’s tense Armenian-populated enclave ended in a fragile truce brokered by Russia. But on Tuesday, the defense ministry in Baku said “50 Azerbaijani servicemen died as a result of Armenia’s large-scale provocation,” while […]

Armenian blast death toll rises to 16

YEREVAN, Armenia (AFP) — The death toll from an explosion at a bustling market in the Armenian capital Yerevan rose to 16, Armenia’s emergency situations ministry said on Tuesday. Sunday’s blast at the Surmalu wholesale market also injured 60 people after it caused a fire and the collapse of a building. “Sixteen bodies were found during search and rescue efforts,” the ministry said in a statement, adding that 18 people were still missing. Officials said […]

Armenia police detain 300 at anti-government protests

  Yerevan, ARMENIA (AFP) — Police in Armenia on Tuesday detained nearly 300 opposition supporters who tried to block streets in the capital Yerevan, which has been gripped for a month by anti-government protests. Since mid-April, opposition parties have been staging rallies demanding Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s resignation over his handling of a territorial dispute with Azerbaijan. On Tuesday morning, hundreds of opposition supporters attempted to block streets across central Yerevan, an AFP journalist witnessed. […]

Armenia declares state of emergency over coronavirus

YEREVAN, Armenia (AFP) — Armenia on Monday declared a nationwide state of emergency over the coronavirus, announcing additional social distancing measures and travel restrictions. “In order to contain the spread of the virus that threatens lives and public health, the government has decided to declare a state of emergency,” Justice Minister Rustam Badasyan told a televised cabinet meeting. Armenian nationals will be banned from leaving the country through its land borders and public gatherings of […]

Armenia confirms first coronavirus case

YEREVAN, Armenia (AFP) — Armenia on Sunday confirmed its first case of coronavirus, an Armenian citizen who recently returned from Iran and who was in stable condition in hospital. Around 30 people who had been in contact with the patient had also been placed in isolation, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on Facebook. Neighboring Azerbaijan registered its first case of the COVID-19 virus on Friday, a Russian who had also arrived from Iran. On […]

Armenia PM’s bloc takes lead in snap parliamentary polls: early resul

YEREVAN, Armenia (AFP) — The electoral bloc of Armenia’s acting premier Nikol Pashinyan was in the lead according to early results in Sunday’s snap parliamentary elections triggered by the reformist leader, who is aiming to cement his political authority in the post-Soviet country. The bloc led by Pashiniayn’s Civil Contract party had 70.25 percent of the votes,  and in second place with 9.15 percent was the Prosperous Armenia party, according to results from 25 percent […]

Armenian protest leader set to be elected PM

by Irakli Metreveli Agence France Presse YEREVAN, Armenia (AFP) — The Armenian parliament is due to elect a new prime minister Tuesday with opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan set to take the post after spearheading weeks of mass protests against the ruling party. The vote will be Pashinyan’s second attempt to get elected as premier after the ruling Republican Party narrowly blocked his first bid on May 1, despite initially promising not to stand in the […]

Tens of thousands of Armenian protesters shut down capital

YEREVAN, Armenia (AFP) — Tens of thousands of Armenians on Wednesday converged on the capital, blocking roads and government buildings, as popular anger exploded over the ruling party’s rejection of opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan’s premiership bid. In an unprecedented show of defiance, protesters paralyzed Yerevan, with nearly all streets closed to traffic and many stores shut, AFP correspondents reported. The road linking Yerevan with its airport was also blocked. © Agence France-Presse

Armenia’s acting PM rejects talks with opposition leader

YEREVAN, Armenia (AFP) — Armenia’s acting head of government Karen Karapetyan on Friday rebuffed talks proposed by opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan who says he is the only possible candidate for prime minister. Karapetyan’s refusal to negotiate came after he spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone Thursday. The Moscow-allied ex-Soviet country has been in the grips of a political crisis over the past weeks, with veteran leader Serzh Sarkisian quitting after a decade in […]

Armenia celebrates as veteran leader quits amid protests

by Mariam Harutyunyan Agence France Presse YEREVAN, Armenia (AFP) — Armenia’s veteran leader Serzh Sarkisian resigned on Monday after mass protests against his election as prime minister with sweeping powers, sparking celebrations across the impoverished country. Last week lawmakers voted for Sarkisian as prime minister after he served a decade as Armenia’s president, triggering political turmoil in the Moscow-allied nation of 2.9 million people. The opposition said the move was designed to extend his chokehold […]

Ruling party set to win Armenia vote: central election commission

YEREVAN, Armenia (AFP) — Armenia’s ruling party was set to win the first parliamentary elections since the adoption of constitutional reforms transforming the country into a parliamentary republic, according to official results released on Monday. With votes tallied from 50.4 percent of precincts, the central electoral commission said pro-Russian President Serzh Sarkisian’s Republican Party was leading the main opposition coalition, led by wealthy politician Gagik Tsarukyan, by 50.43 to 28.29 percent.