Levon Ter-Petrossian Denies Advising Nikol Pashinyan
On February 23, former president of Armenia Levon Ter-Petrossian published an article on Ilur.am, refuting claims that he is Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s “political godfather.”
“If some people think that Pashinyan can be guided by advice or be dictated, they are either gravely mistaken or they do not know the person at all, or they are judging him by their own predispositions. I have not met a more independent and self-sufficient man than Pashinyan,” Ter-Petrossian wrote.
Armenia Ready to be a Transit Country for Iranian Gas
Armenia is ready to be a transit country for Iranian gas, Pashinyan said during his official visit to Iran this week. After a meeting between Pashinyan and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, the leaders of the two neighboring countries spoke at a joint press conference on bilateral economic ties, including increasing the supply of Iranian gas to Armenia.
“We have expressed readiness from the Iranian side to increase cooperation in the area of gas supply. We are also ready to carry out tripartite cooperation to export gas to Georgia,” said Rouhani.
Read More: Armenia Ready to be a Transit Country for Iranian Gas
Ararat Mirzoyan Calls Out Russian MPs for Anti-Armenian March
On February 26, Russian members of parliament had participated in an anti-Armenian march in Baku, dedicated to Khojaly.
Speaker of the Armenian Parliament Ararat Mirzoyan went on a working visit to Russia. During a speech at the plenary sitting of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, Mirzoyan expressed concerns about the incident.
“The fact that some members of the Armenian-Russian Inter-Parliamentary Committee have participated in such acts is puzzling,” said Mirzoyan in his speech.
In 1992, the Armenian-Azerbaijani clashes in Nagorno-Karabakh, Khojalyhad resulted in mass civilian casualties.
Read More: Speech by RA NA Speaker Ararat Mirzoyan at 453rd Sitting of RF FA Federation Council
11th Anniversary of March 1, 2008 Tragedy
The week marks the 11th anniversary of the March 1, 2008 events, when government forces clashed with protesters, resulting in the deaths of eight civilians and two policemen, and leaving roughly 300 injured. In the course of 10 years, no one has taken or borne any responsibility, including legal, for the deaths that occurred on March 1.
The situation changed in 2018, when Nikol Pashinyan came to power after the Velvet Revolution in Armenia. Pashinyan was one of the main organizers of the rally on March 1, 2008.
Following the Velvet Revolution, March 1 case was reopened. Former President Robert Kocharyan, high-ranking military officers Yuri Khachaturov, Mikael Harutyunyan and Seyran Ohanyan are currently being charged with conspiring to overthrow the country’s constitutional order during the March 1 incident.
On March 1, Prime Minister Pashinyan sent a message to the citizens, saying there will be no return to the past. “I’m sorry for all the frauds, crimes, corruption and political murders in Armenia, that had been organized and coordinated by the ruling elite. The page for solving issues through violence is closed in Armenia.”
Read More: Message by RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on March 1
By Mkrtich Karapetyan
Translated by Zara Poghosyan
