2023 November 7

Daily news wrap-up

Military-industrial investments to grow 41 times; Info-security forces; Fortifications; Anti-drone tech /// Russia "instructed" Serj on mil. appointment /// Nagorno-Karabakh resident's story /// Bogus trial /// Incitement of violence /// Economy & tourism
by ar_david_hh

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resident of Nagorno-Karabakh recalls the invasion of their village by Azerbaijani army

The events took place on September 19 when Azerbaijan launched the violent phase of the ethnic cleansing after a 9-month-long blockade.

REPORTER: Where are you from and what can you tell us about the final days?

RESIDENT: We are from the village Sarushen [southeast]. The children returned from school at 10 a.m. and told me they were sent home because of high alert. My son was a commander in the local territorial defense forces. He went to the front. Azeris attacked the village shortly afterward. My son told us to take cover in the basement. Then the mayor sent someone to urge us to move to the nearby stadium. We were in slippers and didn't even have time to take the documents with us. We all rushed to the stadium. Then someone came and told us it was no longer safe there; we were told to hide in the nearby forest instead. Azeris were firing with GRAD, rifles, and other weapons throughout this whole time. We somehow made it into the forest and stayed there until sunset. The whole village was there. The mayor came and said it's not safe in the forest anymore and that we had to move to village Msmna [a few km north]. We later learned that Azeris had entered our village. Our people were bringing the wounded to the forest. We left the forest to village Msmna and arrived at 3 am. The mayor brought vehicles in the morning and took us to the capital Stepanakert. No one had time to take their personal belongings or documents. Everything was left behind.

There were three wounded people in our village Sarushen. During the attempt to move them to Stepanakert hospital, Azeris cut off their road and killed them with rifles. They had surrounded our village. Almost nothing was left of a victim's head.

REPORTER: How old were the wounded victims who were killed?

RESIDENT: One of them was a man approximately 70yo. Artak and the third one were 30-40, they were members of local defense forces.

REPORTER: Did you see the Azeri soldiers?

RESIDENT: We managed to run into the forest just in time, under the sounds of bullets and explosions.

REPORTER: Was anyone left in the village?

RESIDENT: [After the ceasefire] when the mayor went to recover the bodies of village defenders, he found and evacuated one disabled elderly resident who was accidentally left behind in his home.

REPORTER: Did anyone in your village die?

RESIDENT: We managed to escape in time and survive thanks to the efforts of village defenders, 12 of whom sacrificed their lives for us.

REPORTER: Did you lose anyone from your family?

RESIDENT: My husband and 1yo child died during the war in 1990s. My other son, Armen, died on September 19 while defending the village. He said he would only retreat after the evacuation of our village. Our village was only 300 meters from the frontline. It was encircled. Armen was 32 years old and had two daughters. He rests in the Yerablur Pantheon. He lived in Russia and returned to Nagorno-Karabakh to take care of some documents when the blockade began. I urged him to return to Russia but he said he'd rather die protecting Nagorno-Karabakh than in Ukraine.

[video,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xv_KDClQ_qw?t=7)

Azerbaijan kidnaps a Nagorno-Karabakh civilian, sentences him to 15 years in prison for "war crimes" despite evidence of false identification

Vagif Khachatryan was kidnapped by Azerbaijani agents from the Lachin corridor before the September 19 invasion. Khachatryan was accused by Azeri authorities of war crimes in the 1990s. A photo of another person was circulated in Azerbaijan claiming to be him.

Khachatryan denied wrongdoing and urged the court to put him through a lie detector test (polygraph). The court presumably refused and gave him a 15-year sentence. That's the maximum he could receive considering his age (>65) and the timeframe of the alleged crime.

Armenian government condemned the verdict, calling it illegal and against international norms. International organizations have repeatedly rated Azerbaijan as having one of the worst and least independent court systems in the world.

Freedom House about Azerbaijan:

>The judiciary is corrupt and subservient to the executive. Judges are appointed by the parliament on the proposal of the president. The courts’ lack of political independence is especially evident in the many trumped-up or otherwise flawed cases brought against opposition figures, activists, and critical journalists.

[source,](https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/273076) [source,](https://factor.am/708662.html) [source,](https://freedomhouse.org/country/azerbaijan/freedom-world/2022) [source,](https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/273091) [source,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1q4LGduJ_Mw) [source,](https://factor.am/708812.html)

mayor of Paris condemns Azerbaijan for destroying Armenians' heritage in the occupied territories and for the arrest of several Nagorno-Karabakh officials

HIDALGO: Yesterday I had the opportunity to discuss it with Luis Moreno Ocampo, the former chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, the author of the report on the process of genocide carried out by Azerbaijan during the blockade of the Lachin corridor.

Our thoughts are with the victims and political prisoners held by Azerbaijan. On December 10, on the occasion of International Human Rights Day, I will hand honorary citizenship of Paris to the representatives of Artsakh Armenians.

Paris calls for the immediate release of all Armenian captives being held by Azerbaijan. //

[source,](https://en.armradio.am/2023/11/07/mayor-of-paris-will-grant-honorary-citizenship-to-artsakh-armenians-on-december-10/)

Azerbaijani government's efforts to repopulate the invaded territories are not going smoothly

Azerbaijan and Russia instructed ethnic Armenians of Lachin (Berdzor) to leave their homes in 2022, in violation of the Nov. 9 ceasefire agreement. Several villages were depopulated.

1,200 Azeris were settled there. Half of them have since left. People complain about the poor quality of new houses. The removal of the Armenian population has also made it difficult for new settlers to find a job and have a sustainable economy.

Journalist Ilham Tumas accused the government of Azerbaijan of abandoning the settlers and instead building new restaurants and profiting through other means.

GYUNDUZ TAHMAZOV: I worked as a driver in Baku. There is no job for me in Lachin. My family can't stay there without additional support. //

Aghavno is one of the nearby Armenian villages that was depopulated and given to Azeri settlers. The regime spent an average of $110,000 to build a single house, twice more than the price in Baku. Opposition accuses Aliyev of corruption.

The construction in the occupied territories of Nagorno-Karabakh is mostly done by Pasha Holding, a company belonging to the family of first lady Mehriban Aliyevna.

[source,](https://factor.am/708422.html)

Armenia's national security chief will not attend the Russian-led CIS meeting

The national security council heads of CIS republics will visit Moscow to discuss "things". Armen Grigoryan will skip the November 8 meeting. Pashinyan had earlier skipped the meeting of leaders in Bishkek.

Russia earlier criticized NatSec Armen Grigoryan for meeting the chief of staff of Ukraine President Zelensky. Armenia's parliament leader, in turn, criticized Russia for attempting to micromanage Armenia's foreign policy.

[source,](https://factor.am/708571.html)

how Turkey and Russia dismantled Armenia in 1920

6 November 1920: Turkish army invades Gyumri.

17 November: Soviet administration is established in Gyumri with the help of Turkey.

22 November: Based in Baku, Sargis Kasyan forms the Military Revolutionary Committee of Armenia (Հայհեղկոմ, ArmRevCom). They support the Soviets.

Late November: Turkish and Russian armies attack Armenia from west and east. ArmRevCom enters Armenia from the territory of Azerbaijan to raise the red flag in Armenia.

Early December: Armenia's ARF government cedes power to the Soviets. ARF is banned in Armenia.

[full story,](https://www.aniarc.am/2023/11/07/november-17-1920-alexandrapol/) [source,](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armenian_Revolutionary_Federation) [source,](https://www.aniarc.am/2022/11/30/hayheghkom-30-november-1920-lenin/)

authorities charge an ex-MP from opposition party with incitement of violence

Aragats Akhoyan from Gagik Tsarukyan's BHK party has been arrested for a Facebook post made on June 8. In it, he urged his followers to create a "list" of Pashinyan allies whom he wanted to put down/kill after the removal of Pashinyan.

>Ցուցակագրեք էն բ․․․ թուլեքի ցանկը, որոնց սատկացնելու ենք նիկոլի սիկ․․․ հետո

[source,](https://factor.am/708513.html)

authorities deny pressing "incitement of violence" charges against a human rights activist-turned uncle at a Thanksgiving table

Avetik Ishkhanyan and his ally Ruben Melikyan, a Serj-era deputy Justice Minister, claim someone called Ishkhanyan from the prosecutors' office to inform him about "incitement of violence" charges over a Facebook post. The authorities dismissed the claim, saying there are no charges against Ishkhanyan. What did he write?

ISHKHANYAN (Sep. 19): I won't rule out that just like the 2020 war, this one was also agreed on beforehand. They couldn't successfully carry out the complete surrender of Nagorno-Karabakh in 2020, so this is an attempt to complete it now. This was preceded by the anti-Russian statements of the so-called prime minister and traitor Pashinyan, the so-called EU observers, and the Armenia-U.S. military exercises, which created an excellent ground for the Azeri attack. Azerbaijan is in a hurry because the seat of traitor Pashinyan is shaking. But Nagorno-Karabakh will remain standing. Death to traitors! //

The comment was written on the day when Azerbaijan launched the military invasion of Nagorno-Karabakh, followed by the clashes between ex-regime and police in Armenia.

Ishkhanyan was once a respected human rights defender before his pivot towards the ARF-esque "traitor" rant. His relations with the EU have since soured. Ishkhanyan referred to his fellow rights activists as *"creatures"* and *"traitors"* for not openly demanding Pashinyan's resignation after 2020.

[source,](https://hetq.am/hy/article/161747) [source,](https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/272941) [source,](https://www.civilnet.am/news/755974/ինձ-մեղադրանք-է-առաջադրվել-բռնության-կոչ-հոդվածով․-ավետիք-իշխանյան/)

self-employed citizens will be able to report their income, pay taxes, and accumulate pension record

Every self-employed resident, including farmers, will be able to easily report their income and pay taxes starting in 2H24, said the Labor Ministry on Monday.

>self-employed who were born in 1974 and later will join the [existing] mandatory funded pension system on general grounds and the government will essentially co-finance their pension savings

[Also read](https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/17pfkko/universal_healthcare_work_requirement_new_clinics/): IRS-visible employment will be required for able-bodied persons who wish to benefit from the free universal healthcare to be implemented next year.

[source,](https://arka.am/en/news/society/armenian_government_to_create_opportunity_for_self_employed_to_declare_their_income/)

update: heavy trucks will be banned from downtown Yerevan between 7 am and 9 pm

We learned [yesterday](https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/17pfkko/universal_healthcare_work_requirement_new_clinics/) about plans to restrict cargo trucks' access to central Yerevan. Yerevan's center is a "ring". Trucks cannot drive inside the ring.

The city says businesses should load/unload early in the morning or in the evening when there is not much passenger traffic on the streets. *"That way you will save time by not getting stuck in the traffic, too."*

The ban will go into effect within the next few weeks. Violators will be caught by cameras and road police. For now, the fine is $12 and won't deduct a point from the driver's license.

[source,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LfYzDf4tsE)

economic stats from January-September

Services: +13%

Construction: +17%

Imports: +46% ($8.400b)

Exports: +45% ($5.120b)

The largest category of exports: (1) $1.104b of stones and metals (2) $0.899b of vehicles and machinery (3) $0.685b of minerals (4) $0.634b of food

Russia remains the largest foreign trade partner.

Domestic trade: +23%

Retail trade: +7%

[source,](https://arka.am/en/news/business/armenia_s_construction_sector_up_17_in_january_september_2023_nsc/) [source,](https://factor.am/708702.html) [source,](https://www.civilnet.am/news/756176/հայաստանի-կախվածությունը-ռուսական-շուկայից-կտրուկ-ավելացել-է/) [source,](https://arka.am/en/news/economy/armenia_s_domestic_trade_up_23_in_9_months_of_2023/) [source,](https://arka.am/en/news/economy/_armenia_s_services_sector_grows_by_almost_13_4_in_january_september_2023_to_over_2_2_trillion_drams/)

October stats are in: tourism surpasses 2 million

Armenia hosted around 2,050,000 tourists for the first time in the January-October period in 2023.

October tourism, in thousands:

2018: 161

2019: 192

2020: 21

2021: 99

2022: 155

2023: 195

January-October tourism:

2019: 1,675,292

2023: 2,045,282

Where are they from?

51% Russia

10% Georgia

6% Iran

3% USA

1% Germany, France, India, Ukraine, China, Belarus each

24% other

[source,](https://factor.am/708791.html)

interview with the head of the parliamentary Defense Committee Andranik K.

Context: The head of the army's intel department Arshak Karapetyan was fired by President Serj Sergsyan after the 2016 defeat. Pashinyan later re-hired him and promoted him to defense minister before firing in 2021. Last month Arshak Karapetyan emerged out of nowhere and announced his entry into Armenian politics as a strongly pro-Russian figure critical of Pashinyan.

REPORTER (H1 Petros): Ex-MOD Arshak Karapetyan claims he was fired by Pashinyan because he wanted to "defend" the borders in 2021.

ANDRANIK: haha

REPORTER: Don't you think it's your administration's fault when a flawed figure like Karapetyan was promoted to MOD's position?

ANDRANIK: I somewhat agree. We had questions about Karapetyan's intel activities during the 2016 war. I led the War Commission and invited Karapetyan and Serj Sargsyan to testify. We asked Serj for his opinion about Karapetyan's performance during his tenure, and the reasons behind his dismissal. Serj told us that yes, he fired Karapetyan and several other generals for poor performance.

When asked why Serj proceeded to appoint Karapetyan as Armenia's military attache to Russia after his firing, Serj gave an honest answer: that's how Russia wanted it.

REPORTER: So why did Pashinyan appoint Karapetyan as MOD later?

ANDRANIK: It's true. Karapetyan was able to find his way into the government building and became Pashinyan's adviser at first, before being promoted eventually as MOD.

REPORTER: Why didn't you "allow" Karapetyan to fight and defend Armenia in 2021?

ANDRANIK: Did he actually want to "fight", or was he attempting to imitate something at a dangerously vulnerable time for Armenia? Karapetyan's reemergence as a political figure is not a coincidence. He was instructed from somewhere to make an appearance. His Russian-language appearance confirms the conclusions we made after hearing Serj's testimony about Karapetyan's appointment in Russia.

But I'm more concerned about Karapetyan's disappearance after the recent brief appearance. Where is Mr. General today? I advise the authorities to monitor him.

REPORTER: Last week the NSS announced the arrest of a terror group that was reportedly planning an operation titled "Northern Leaf Drop". Was this going to be another October 27? [terror attack that killed PM Vazgen Sargsyan and others]

ANDRANIK: This was the second anti-terror bust in a month. Albert Bazeyan and his group members were arrested earlier. Then came this second group. It is encouraging that NSS is able to gather and process information.

REPORTER: [asks if the word "Northern" indicates that the terror group was sent by Russia to remove Pashinyan]

ANDRANIK: No word is a coincidence. Each word is a message that indicates the source of the group's strength. Maybe it means they were inspired by the Northern Ocean. Each word must be meticulously investigated to find the sources of danger. Had the national security [led by Serj] done their job before the October 27 attack, we wouldn't have the terror attack and the subsequent chain of failures.

REPORTER: There are discussions around the construction of fortifications on the borders. How much can you disclose publicly?

ANDRANIK: The changes in frontlines and military-industrial complex were discussed behind closed doors during 2024 budget discussions in the parliament. MOD Papikyan was in China so he couldn't come, so his cabinet was invited. They gave very detailed answers about weapons and reforms. The volume of work they presented was not only impressive but also forward-looking.

The public talks a lot about [VOMA's] Gmbet fortifications. The issue is not there. The defense ministry was finally able to build high-quality fortifications on its own after the 2020 war.

REPORTER: Where?

ANDRANIK: Everywhere. Works are underway from south to north. The opponent sees these efforts but lately, they haven't opened fire at our engineers. They recognize that our engineers operate within the borders of Armenia.

REPORTER: So we are building new things?

ANDRANIK: Yes. And the opposition parties are informed about it so they can observe the efforts.

REPORTER: Who is doing the work?

ANDRANIK: Armenian citizens and migrant workers [from India].

REPORTER: Large-scale construction?

ANDRANIK: Yes. It can't be any larger than this. And they are strong. Our frontlines must be resilient enough to be impeccable and to ensure effective management of personnel. This is a process. It's happening thanks to your tax payments.

We are also discussing the need to have subdivisions tasked with informational security [hybrid war] because the opponent will always try to diminish your potential before an attack.

REPORTER: You've mentioned in the past that Armenia needs to build fortifications on new borders that we face after the 2020 war.

ANDRANIK: These are positions that haven't been touched since 1994. The former regimes made no effort to build a second line of defense for 26 years. Had similar work been done before 2020, the war would have ended with a completely different outcome.

REPORTER: What can you tell us about our weapons?

ANDRANIK: The sources are being diversified. We can no longer rely on a single source [Russia]. The public is following this topic with great curiosity. The government has made a decision to no longer buy used junk weapons. They must be new, modern, and have a specific place in our defense umbrella.

REPORTER: What about the promotion of the domestic manufacturing of weapons and drones?

ANDRANIK: All you need is to look at the additional resources allocated for domestic industry.

[source,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIBcvpip_RU?t=188)

government will increase funding for the development of domestic military-industrial complex by 41 times in 2024

Armenia's budget has doubled in 2018-2024, going from ֏1.46T to ֏3.02T.

Expenditure will sharply increase for some programs in 2024 vs 2023:

Development of the military-industrial complex: 41x growth, to $14.4 million

Salaries and expenditures associated with representing Armenia in international courts and institutions: 2.1x

Social insurance: +42% ($268 million)

Gov't reserve fund: 2.6x ($233 million)

Demographics improvement programs: +29% ($163 million)

Agricultural modernization program: 2.1x ($62 million)

[full list](https://factor.am/708694.html)

Armenia buys anti-drone system from India: Indian press

After importing rocket launchers and missiles from India, Armenia is now importing an anti-drone system to combat Azerbaijan's kamikaze drones.

The system is manufactured by Zen. The contract was worth $41 million. It comes with training.

>The anti-drone system from Zen Technologies works on drone detection, classification, and tracking of passive surveillance, camera sensors, and threat neutralization through jamming drone communication.

Zen will open an office in Armenia to provide sales, support, and service.

[source,](https://www.eurasiantimes.com/after-pinaka-rockets-armenia-buys-indian-anti-drone-system/)

this is the oldest known photo of Etchmiadzin Cathedral

[1860](https://www.aniarc.am/2023/11/07/holy-see-1860-photo/)

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Link to original report and comments: https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/17q81x6/militaryindustrial_investments_to_grow_41_times/