Armenia probing opposition leader charged with inciting violenceMarch 4, 2021 - 14:59 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenian opposition leader Vazgen Manukyan, who has been charged with making public calls for violent overthrow of the constitutional order, was released on recognizance on Thursday, March 4, the press service of the Investigative Committee of Armenia revealed. Manukyan urged the army to rebel against Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and his government. The Committee noted that the politician is also obliged to regularly come in for questioning report to investigators when asked. His lawyer Aram Vardevanian has said that the court decision would be appealed and described the measure as "primitive political persecution", pointing out the lack of connection between the accusation and the articles of the Criminal Code (CC) of the country. Manukyan is the leader of the coalition of 17 opposition parties calling itself the Homeland Salvation Movement. They are staging rallies in downtown Yerevan every day, calling for Pashinyan's resignation. The PM came under fire after signing a statement with the Russian and Azerbaijani Presidents to end the war in Karabakh after almost 45 days. Under the deal, the Armenian side was forced to return all the seven regions surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh, having lost a part of Karabakh itself in hostilities. Top stories The number of state universities will be reduced from 23 to 8 by 2030, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan has said. From September 21 to November 11, a total of 2,820 Russians registered at a place of residence in Armenia, the police has said. The situation on the contact line between Karabakh and Azerbaijan was relatively stable overnight, the Defense Army says. Defense Minister Suren Papikyan has visited the southern Armenian province of Syunik, the Defense Ministry reported on March 18. Partner news | Russia clarifying reports on Baku’s alleged arms supply to Ukraine Russia says is carefully working to verify reports about alleged arms supplies from Azerbaijan to Ukraine Russia warns Armenia against “falling into West’s trap” Zakharova maintained, however, that anything that will benefit the people of Armenia can only be welcomed. CSTO: Armenia has not participated in secretariat’s work recently Recently Armenia has not participated in the work of the secretariat of the CSTO, Imangali Tasmagambetov said. Meeting with U.S., EU not against third parties, says Armenia The meeting scheduled for April 5 is dedicated to strengthening of the Armenia-EU-US cooperation, Yerevan added. |