Diaspora – CIVILNET
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Public office, private gains: The controversial record of Yerevan’s mayor
Diaspora – CIVILNET By Tatev Baghdasaryan #DemocracyWatch A week ago, it was reported that last month, Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan took off on a week-long official visit to Los Angeles, USA, accompanied by a delegation of nine people. To organize the trip, the Yerevan Municipality signed a direct, non-competitive procurement contract worth around USD 31,800 with Luxury Voyage LLC. The expenses included eight economy-class tickets totaling roughly USD 12,300, while Avinyan’s single business-class ticket cost an eye-watering USD 19,560. The Municipality has a history of engaging with Luxury Voyage LLC; records indicate at least seven transactions with that company during […]
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Armenia’s anti-corruption efforts show limited progress, says watchdog
Diaspora – CIVILNET By Zhanna Avagyan Transparency International Armenia assessed the country’s anti-corruption efforts on International Anti-Corruption Day, pointing to stagnating reform progress and raising concerns about selective prosecution. Despite Armenia’s ambitious 2023-2026 Anti-Corruption Strategy, the organization notes that results remain disappointing. The country scored 47 points on Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index in 2023, showing minimal improvement from the previous year and marking a significant slowdown compared to the progress achieved in 2018-2019. The watchdog highlights several critical concerns. Most notably, there appears to be selective enforcement in corruption cases, with officials from the ruling Civil Contract party facing […]
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Armenian universities remain under political control: Infocom’s investigation
Diaspora – CIVILNET By Lia Avagyan Despite promises to eliminate political influence from universities, Armenia’s government has maintained significant control over the country’s higher education institutions, an investigation by Infocom reveals. The investigation found that 8 out of 12 chairs of state university boards of trustees in Yerevan are political appointees, with three being ruling party members. This starkly contrasts with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s 2018 pledge that “no party member should have the right to be a university rector” and that universities should be “100% self-governing.” According to the investigation of the board members appointed by the Prime Minister: […]
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India’s Tribal Art: An Exhibition in Yerevan
Diaspora – CIVILNET Yerevan’s Museum of Folk Arts has opened its doors to a display of Indian tribal craftsmanship with the launch of the Tribal Art Artefacts Exhibition, organized by the Embassy of India in Armenia. The exhibition, which runs from December 6 to 13, 2024, is a captivating glimpse into India’s rich and diverse artistic heritage, showcasing the unique creations of tribal communities. The event, held in collaboration with the Hovhannes Sharambeyan Museum of Folk Arts, is part of India’s One District One Product (ODOP) initiative. This government program aims to foster balanced regional development by promoting unique and […]
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In historic address to International Criminal Court, CFTJ urges action against Azerbaijani war crimes
Diaspora – CIVILNET By Paul Vartan Sookiasian The Center for Truth and Justice (CFTJ), a U.S.-based human rights nonprofit, addressed a gathering of the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Tuesday, during which it called on member states to refer Azerbaijan to the ICC for a preliminary investigation into war crimes against Armenians. CFTJ was one of a select few civil society organizations authorized to address the ICC’s annual Assembly of State Parties, the court’s oversight body. Speaking for CFTJ, international negotiation expert Dr. Sarah Babaian stated that the evidence of war crimes by Azerbaijan is “overwhelming and irrefutable.” “This dictatorship […]
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Visa’s financial inclusion agenda for Armenia
Diaspora – CIVILNET Partner content In this interview, Cristina Doros, Senior Vice President and Group Country Manager for Visa in the former Soviet region, provides a comprehensive look at the rapidly evolving digital payments landscape across the Caucasus, Central Asia, and neighboring markets. Drawing on her experience spearheading Visa’s strategies and partnerships, Doros shares perspectives on the factors driving fintech adoption and her vision for the future of cashless transactions.
