Weekly update

30 May

Protesters have clashed with police in cities across the US over the killing of an unarmed African-American man at the hands of officers in Minneapolis BBC reported. Minnesota's governor said the tragedy of the death of George Floyd in police custody had morphed into "something much different - wanton destruction". New York, Atlanta, Portland and other cities have seen violence, while the White House was briefly locked down. An ex-Minneapolis policeman has been charged with murder over the death. Derek Chauvin, who is white, was shown in footage kneeling on 46-year-old Mr Floyd's neck on Monday. He and three other officers have since been sacked. Mr Chauvin, 44, is due to appear in court in Minneapolis for the first time on Monday. President Donald Trump has described the incident as "a terrible, terrible thing" and said he had spoken with Mr Floyd's family, whom he described as "terrific people". The Floyd case has reignited US anger over police killings of black Americans, and reopened deep wounds over racial inequality across the nation. 

29 May

The United States will end its relationship with the World Health Organization over the body’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday, accusing the U.N. agency of becoming a puppet of China. The move to quit the Geneva-based body, which the United States formally joined in 1948, comes amid growing tensions between Washington and Beijing over the coronavirus outbreak. The virus first emerged in China’s Wuhan city late last year. Speaking in the White House Rose Garden, Trump said Chinese officials “ignored their reporting obligations” to the WHO about the virus - that has killed hundreds of thousands of people globally - and pressured the agency to “mislead the world.” “China has total control over the World Health Organization despite only paying $40 million per year compared to what the United States has been paying which is approximately $450 million a year,” he said. For more information read Reuters. 

28 May

President Armen Sarkissian visited today the Sardarapat Memorial and together with His Holiness Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian, Speaker of the National Assembly Ararat Mirzoyan, President of the Republic of Artsakh Araik Harutyunian participated at the event dedicated to the Republic Day, informed the President Office. A wreath on behalf of the President of Armenia was laid at the Memorial dedicated to the Sardarapat battle. President Sarkissian paid tribute to the memory of the victims of this heroic battle. The Catholicos of All Armenians offered a prayer. 

27 May

The pro-government majority in the Armenian parliament has moved to enact legislation that will allow it to formally cancel a planned referendum on ousting most members of the country’s Constitutional Court, said RFE/RL’s Armenian service (Azatutyun.am). Armenians were scheduled to vote on April 5 on government-drafted constitutional amendments ending the powers of seven of the nine Constitutional Court judges who had for months been under strong government pressure to resign. The referendum was postponed on March 16 when the Armenian government declared a state of emergency to deal with the coronavirus outbreak in the country. Earlier this month the government extended it by another month, until June 14. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian confirmed on May 17 that due to the pandemic the vote will not be held anytime soon. Under Armenian law, no elections or referendums can take place during the state of emergency. But the authorities must hold a planned vote 50 to 65 days after the end of emergency rule. A bill drafted by Vahagn Hovakimian, a senior lawmaker from Pashinian’s My Step bloc, would not only abolish this requirement but also allow the parliament cancel a referendum altogether. 

26 May

Armenia is living through the second wave of the novel coronavirus epidemic, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on Tuesday, TASS reported. "We have just finished a regular meeting of the coronavirus response center. The situation with the pandemic in the country is quite serious. We agreed that we now have the second wave of the coronavirus infection spread in the country," he said, adding that he has ordered relevant agencies to impose fines on those who breach safety rules. Coronavirus incidence rates have been demonstrating upward tendencies in the recent days, with more than 700 cases confirmed in the past two days and ten fatalities reported. On May 14, the state of emergency was extended in the country for 30 more days. Nevertheless, public transport, kindergartens, gyms and shopping malls resumed operation from May 18. From May 25, people will be obliged to wear face masks both indoors and in the streets. The government warned that in case the coronavirus situation worsens it will toughen lockdown measures. 

25 May

Artsakh president Arayik Haroutyunyan on behalf of the Azat Hayreniq - UCA parties coalition led by him, signed Monday a memorandum of cooperation with the United Homeland party leader Samvel Babayan, reported NEWS.am referring to president's press service. President Haroutyunyan noted that cooperation between political powers is intended to preserve the solidarity in the country and make joint efforts on realizing the program strategies. Arayik Haroutyunyan also mentioned that the Azat Hayreniq - UCA parties coalition is ready to collaborate within the set agenda with other parliamentary and extra-parliamentary forces. In his speech, Samvel Babayan also considered the importance of cooperation underlining that it is demanded especially to effectively withstand the domestic and foreign challenges the homeland faces.

23 May

The Government of Armenia is seeking mechanisms which would enable banks to accept farmers’ lands as pledge for providing loans, PM Nikol Pashinyan told residents of the Verin Dvin community during a tour, said ARMENPRESS. He talked with the farmers about their businesses, some of whom are experiencing financial issues amid the coronavirus situation. He said there are preliminary discussions over the matter, but the issue is not simple.

Sources: https://www.president.am/en/press-release/, https://armenpress.am, https://news.am/eng/, https://www.azatutyun.am/en, https://www.bbc.com/news/world, https://www.reuters.com/, https://tass.com/world.