ArmInfo.

ArmInfo.

ArmInfo.

ArmInfo.

ArmInfo.

ArmInfo.

ArmInfo.

ArmInfo.

ArmInfo. Russian Ambassador to Armenia Ivan Volynkin is recognized as the ambassador of the year by the version of International Media Holding.

ArmInfo. The chairman of the State Committee of Water Resources of Armenia does not rule out that in the course of 2018 there will be a need for additional water releases from Lake Sevan. "At the present time, it is impossible to talk about what volumes are involved. However, if the weather conditions are poor, the additional water intake from Lake Sevan will be an unavoidable measure," Arsen Harutyunyan said at a meeting with journalists on February 6, answering the question of ArmInfo. According to Harutyunyan, in 2016, compared to 2015, the water level in Lake Sevan rose by 27 cm, thus keeping the trend of recent years. The exception was the year 2014, when the water level fell by 2-3 cm and then 2017 - with a decrease of 3-4 cm. This situation was caused by dry weather and as a result of an additional water supply from the lake. Over the past 15 years, the government has resorted to this measure due to irrigation problems several times. This winter, was unusually stingy for precipitation. As a result, the year became unfavorable in terms of accumulation of water reserves in reservoirs. To date, about 25% of the required norm has been accumulated, instead of the envisaged 30%. However, risks are already visible, because as of today even in comparison with 2016, also unfavorable in terms of sediment, in the reservoirs of Armenia the accumulated water volume is 75 million cubic meters less. Only in the Akhuryan reservoir is not enough 56 million cubic meters of water. The State Committee, according to the head of the department, is positive, as the Armenian weather forecasters promised that the second half of February and March will be rich in precipitation, which will mitigate the situation. Nevertheless, short-term precipitation, as Harutyunyan admitted, can only moisten the soil. The level of snow cover in the highlands is also insufficient. However, according to him, his department does not sit idly by. Measures have been taken to restore 14 deep wells in the Armavir region and 23 more wells will be drilled. Negotiations are also being conducted with Russian companies to import mobile pumping stations. "In any case, we will use the right for water intake from Lake Sevan at a rate of at least 170 million cubic meters," concluded Arsen Harutyunyan. On July 17, 2017, the National Assembly of Armenia approved amendments to the program "On restoration, conservation, reproduction and use of the Lake Sevan ecosystem", according to which in 2017 volumes of water releases from Lake Sevan from 170 million cubic meters were increased up to 270 million cubic meters. The reason for the increase in releases was the fact that the fullness of the Aparan and Azat reservoirs was 17 million cubic meters less than in the previous one, and the Hrazdan River is less than 40 million cubic meters full. In addition, the Akhuryanskoye reservoir was filled with 105 million cubic meters less. Despite the fact that the Ministry of Nature Protection of Armenia opposed the proposal to increase the water intake from Sevan, and independent experts unanimously reiterated that the decrease in the water level in Sevan will lead to irreversible consequences in connection with the intensification of the bogging process, the bill was adopted, that, like expected, reflected at the level of Lake Sevan.

ArmInfo.  In December 2017, the Institute for the Study of Public Opinion and Marketing "IPPE Research" conducted a study "Knowledge of VTB Brenda in the Local Market", following which VTB Bank (Armenia) continues to be the most recognizable bank in Armenia, according to the press service of the Bank.

ArmInfo.

ArmInfo.

ArmInfo. Representatives of the Office of the Ombudsman of Armenia paid a visit to the Nubarashen Penitentiary of the Ministry of Justice of Armenia on January 16, where they met with members of the Sasna Tsrer Group Smabat Barseghyan, Araik Khandoyan and Hovhannes Harutyunyan.

ArmInfo. Member of the "Sasna Tsrer" group Armen Bilyan, after a meeting with representatives of the office of the Ombudsman of Armenia, stopped the hunger strike. According to the Ombudsman service, then he , accompanied by the workers of Ombudsman's office, was hospitalized in the Hospital for Convicts" of Armenian Justice Ministry.

ArmInfo. "I demand to provide my defendant Armen Biljan with decent conditions at the Nubarashen detention center, as the conditions of his detention are absolutely inhuman," Armin Fanyan, an advocate of the member of the Sasna Tsrer armed group, Armen Bilyan, said at a press conference on January 12. The lawyer stated that 13 prisoners live in the cells of the prison "Nabarashen", designed for 6 people, because of which the latter sleep in shifts. Due to the fact that prisoners constantly smoke in the cell there is a thick smoke and a person who has serious health problems cannot live in such conditions. Fanyan also noted that Biljan's request was to be transferred to the "Armavir" penitentiary institution. Concerning the issue of medical support, Fanyan stated that she is ready to provide the qualified doctor herself with Armenians Biljanu, but because of the terrible conditions in the Nubarashen UYU, even a very good doctor can not do anything. As for another member of the "Sasna Tsrer" group Smbat Barseghyan, who also went on a hunger strike with a request to transfer him from the "Nubarashen" penitentiary to the "Armavir" penitentiary, Fanyan noted that he does not have a lawyer at the moment and can not give reliable information about him information. Sakunts said that the whole blame for the fact that the translation of the guys from "Sasna Tsrer" has not yet been carried out, lies solely on Serzh Sargsyan. He noted that the reason for their detention in the penal institution "Nubarashen" is political, since it is Bilyan and Smbatyan who are accused of killing policemen. "The Armenian authorities are squandering their anger and helplessness on them," Sakunts said, stressing that besides living conditions that are really inhuman, the lives of Armen Bilian and Smbat Bagratyan in the Nubarashen plenipotentiary are in danger.

ArmInfo. Armenian archaeologists discovered a unique ancient settled settlement of the 8th-7th centuries BC near the village of Lernagog, Armavir region of Armenia. Director of the Institute of Archeology and Ethnography of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia Pavel Avetisyan told a news conference today that this is a unique historical monument. According to him, people who lived in the ancient settlement had some architectural skills inherent in the early Neolithic. Avetisyan noted that at present a request has been sent to the Ministry of Culture of Armenia so that this historical monument was included in the list of specially protected cultural sites.

ArmInfo. On the initiative of the office of the Ombudsman of Armenia, a working group consisting of a doctor, psychologist and lawyer visited the Nubarashen penitentiary to visit the members of the Sasna Tsrer group Araik Khandoyan, Armen  Bilyan and Smbat Barseghyan, the latter are still on hunger strike.

ArmInfo. On the afternoon January 10, supporters of the Sasna Tsrer conducted a protest action in front of the building of the Criminal Executive Department of the Ministry of Justice of Armenia.  The protesters, in particular, demanded Armen  Bilyan and Smbat Barseghyan to be transferred into another  penitentiary institution Nubarashen.

ArmInfo. Zhirayr Sefilyan, the hero of the Karabakh war, who was under arrest for alleged illegal possession and use of weapons, on January 9, from the "Armavir"  penitentiary, addressed an open letter to the Armenian society, where he reproached his compatriots for their indifference as to the events in the country and the fate of the members of the Sasna Tsrer.