The Armenian authorities are committed to separating business from politics despite the fact that dozens of government-linked businesspeople are again running for parliament, Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisian said on Wednesday.
The Armenian parliament approved in the final reading on Wednesday a controversial government bill which opposition politicians say will make it easier for the authorities to use the army for suppressing street protests.
The Armenian government will add more safeguards against the possible use of armed forces against political dissent to its controversial draft law on emergency rule, Justice Minister Hrayr Tovmasian said on Thursday.
The pro-government mayor of the central town of Hrazdan narrowly defeated on Sunday his challenger representing the main opposition Armenian National Congress (HAK) in a closely watched local election, according to its preliminary official results.
The National Assembly approved on Thursday a government bill which opposition politicians say will make it easier for the Armenian authorities to use the army for suppressing street protests.
Tensions between the two main members of Armenia’s ruling coalition rose on Tuesday as deputies from the Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) demonstratively walked out of the parliament one day after blocking the passage of a major government bill.
Businessman Gagik Tsarukian stoked more speculation about discord within the governing coalition on Monday when lawmakers from his Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) blocked a government bill strongly backed by their colleagues loyal to President Serzh Sarkisian.
A French-run water utility company has promised to deal with what hundreds of villagers in Armenia regard as unfair water bills sent to them following a series of RFE/RL reports on the issue.
Hundreds of rural residents in Armenia are feeling hard done by as they must let a local water utility have a third of their meager monthly incomes over alleged debts following relevant court orders.
President Serzh Sarkisian on Tuesday began a two-day official visit to Georgia amid calls from at least one local ethnic Armenian group to address their identity issues at meetings in Tbilisi.
Armenia’s state human rights ombudsman, Karen Andreasian, has asked the Constitutional Court to pass judgment on controversial legislation that has led to a sharp increase in libel suits filed against media outlets critical of the government.
In what he called a show of support, opposition leader Raffi Hovannisian visited the site of nonstop demonstrations held by the rival opposition Armenian National Congress (HAK) and met with its top leader, Levon Ter-Petrosian, on Wednesday.
A former senior judge and government official close to Armenia’s ruling establishment was appointed on Monday as the new chairman of the Central Election Commission (CEC).
Deputy parliament speaker Samvel Balasanian expressed confidence on Friday that the stalled negotiations between Armenia’s governing coalition and the main opposition Armenian National Congress (HAK) will resume soon.
Parliament speaker Hovik Abrahamian urged fellow Armenian politicians on Tuesday to be more tight-lipped in their private conversations, pointing to embarrassing disclosures by WikiLeaks of U.S. diplomatic records.
A major opposition party, Zharangutyun (Heritage), on Tuesday stopped boycotting sessions of the Armenian parliament in protest against what it sees as President Serzh Sarkisian’s efforts to tighten his grip on power.
The chairman of the Armenian parliament’s committee on defense and security on Thursday added his voice to mounting concerns about non-combat deaths in the armed forces and said “more radical” defense reforms are need to tackle the problem.
Two more members of the opposition Armenian National Congress (HAK) arrested last week were released from prison on Friday pending investigation into their violent dispute with police officers in Yerevan.
Seven young activists of the opposition Armenian National Congress (HAK) were arrested late on Tuesday and remained in custody on Wednesday after clashing with police in Yerevan in unclear circumstances.
Armenia’s leading media associations have strongly criticized the Council of Europe for declaring that the Armenian government has fully complied with a European court ruling on the closure of the independent A1+ TV station.
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