#ARMENIA: Opposition Leaders Stripped Of Parliamentary Posts

[world politics news]

 

Armenia’s parliament controlled by the ruling Civil Contract Party voted on Friday to dismiss one of its deputy speakers and the chairman of its economic committee affiliated with the main opposition Hayastan bloc.

The bloc condemned the decision and said it will give up other leadership positions in the National Assembly in protest.

Speaking before the vote, Civil Contract lawmakers again said that deputy speaker Ishkhan Saghatelyan and the committee chairman, Vahe Hakobyan, must be dismissed because of boycotting sessions of the parliament and its standing committees.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#AZERBAIJAN: Armenian Foreign Minister Condemned For "Illegal" Visit

[world politics news]

Azerbaijan has strongly condemned the Armenian defense minister's "unauthorized" visit to Azerbaijani territory, terming it a "military-political provocation."

"Armenian Defense Minister Arshak Karapetyan illegally visited the territory of Azerbaijan, where Russian peacekeepers are temporarily deployed," the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said in a statement.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#ARMENIA: Parliament Condemns Azerbaijan Military Incursion

[world politics news]

Armenia's Parliament has unanimously condemned the military incursion of its borders by Azerbaijani troops.

On May 12, Azeri soldiers crossed the Armenian state border and advanced into Armenia's territory for up to 3.5 kilometers.

Negotiations are underway to settle the situation.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#ARMENIA: Parliament Forces Three Judges Off Supreme Court

[world politics news]

Amid strong opposition objections, the Armenian parliament approved constitutional changes calling for the immediate dismissal of three of the nine members of the country’s Constitutional Court.The amendments drafted by the ruling My Step bloc would also require the court to elect a new chairman.

The judges have been under strong government pressure to step down, with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan accusing them of maintaining close ties to the country’s former government and impeding judicial reforms.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#ARMENIA: Parliament Strips Powers From Constitutional Court President

[world politics news]

The Armenian National Assembly has voted 98 to 1 to call for termination of powers of Judge Hrayr Tovmasyan, member of the Constitutional Court currently serving as its president.

It has been alleged that Tovmasyan was illegally appointed to the court earlier this year, in violation of a constitutional provision that did not allow court judges to hold other positions in government. A news organization's investigation alleged that he continued to serve as a member of parliament after his elevation to the court as its president, noting that he had been president during committee meetings after his election to the court. He had been nominated to the position by National Assembly Speaker Ara Babloyan.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#ARMENIA: Interim Prime Minister Wins By A Landslide In Snap Election

[world politics news]

Armenia's acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has won a convincing victory in Sunday's snap parliamentary election, consolidating his authority. His bloc won more than 70% of the vote, the country's election commission said. A journalist turned politician, Mr Pashinyan spearheaded a peaceful revolution in April.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#ARMENIA: New Law Allows Legislators To Switch Parties & Parties To Expel Members

[world politics news]

Parliament has voted to allow parliamentarians to be able to switch political parties. The National Assembly also gave parliamentary factions the authority to expel opposing members from their ranks. Some were concerned that rouge legislators were speaking against their own parties while enjoying all the benefits of membership in those parties, and of being a legislator.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#RUSSIA: Putin Creates Joint Russian-Armenian Military Force

[world politics news]

President Vladimir Putin has approved a government proposal to create a joint Russian and Armenian military group. Putin has ordered the Russian Defense Ministry and the Foreign Ministry to hold talks with Armenia on reaching an agreement, based on a proposal from the Russian government on creating a joint military group consisting of Armenian and Russian forces.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#FRANCE: Senate Approves Law Making Denial Of Armenian Genocide A Crime

[world politics news]

In a move that is bound to create further tensions with Turkey's government, the French Senate has passed a bill making denial of the Armenian Genocide in the early 1900s a crime. It passed narrowly in a 156-146 vote. The House of Representatives passed the bill in June. Fines include imprisonment for up to a year or a fine amounting 45.000 euros for the denial of the Armenian Genocide.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#FRANCE: Parliament Moves To Make Armenia Genocide Denial Illegal

[world politics news]

Denying the Armenian genocide will soon be a crime in France, as the French parliament has passed an amendment criminalizing the denial of all crimes against humanity. Those flouting the law could face a $50,000 fine and up to a year in prison.

#GERMANY: Turkish Pres. Condemned For Calling German-Turk Parliamentarians' Blood "Impure"

[world politics news]

The speaker of Germany’s parliament has strongly condemned threats against German-Turkish MPs following a Bundestag vote that declared the 1915 mass killings of Armenians by Ottoman forces a genocide.  Norbert Lammert expressed particular outrage at comments made by Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who said MPs with Turkish heritage who had backed the vote were traitors whose blood was impure and should be tested in a laboratory.

Pictured: Turkish Pres. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

#ARMENIA: National Assembly Approves New Ombudsman, Vows To Meet Imprisoned Activist

Armenia’s National Assembly, by a secret ballot, elected Arman Tatoyan as Armenia’s fourth Ombudsman in a 96 to 7 vote. Tatoyan, 34, until now served as deputy minister of justice. The Western-educated lawyer was nominated for the post by the ruling Republican Party of Armenia. He promised to visit Vardges Gaspari, an imprisoned human rights activist, and Gevorg Safaryan, a member of the opposition New Armenia movement.

#ARMENIA: Gov't Refuses To Bend As Nearly 10k Protest Electricity Rate Hike

[world politics news]

Nearly 10,000 protesters demonstrated for the seventh day to protest the government's plans to raise electricity tariffs by more than 16% starting in August. Pres. Serzh Sargsyan says the $3/month charge is aimed at ending periodic power shut-offs that endanger the economy, and promised aid to poor families.

ARMENIA: Opposition Candidate Contests President's Easy Re-Election [world politics news]