SOCIETY

The Monday resignation of Mihran Poghosyan, the head of the Justice Ministry’s powerful Service of Mandatory Execution of Judicial Acts (SMEJA), whose name is linked with a global offshore scandal, is considered by some as a victory for media or civil society, others, however, believe it is not enough in terms of restoring justice and legality.

The Armenian Police have disproved media reports claiming that a number of journalists covering last night’s protests in central Yerevan were detained or taken to police stations.

The recent arrest in Armenia of a website manager and her assistant on extortion charges has cast a shadow on the country’s media industry, creating a challenge for it find ways to combat this vicious phenomenon.

Last week two criminal cases in Armenia took a turn against Russia, and while there is no major interstate resonance in connection with these developments yet, analytical circles in both counties appear to be watching closely progress of Armenian claims.

At an anti-corruption forum in Armenia last week, head of the European Union (EU) Delegation to Armenia Piotr Switalski said that if there are no visible results of the fight against corruption in Armenia, the EU will not allocate the 15 million Euros (about $17 million) that it has promised to give for anti-corruption struggle.

Two statues dedicated to historical Armenian figures unveiled in Yerevan last week have become a subject of heated public debate around esthetics as well as other aspects of their installment.

In case of a ban on imports of agricultural products from Turkey, the Armenian market will hardly be able to meet domestic demand, said Hrach Berberyan, the head of the Agriculture Union of Armenia, told media.

A prominent Armenian artist has created a sculpture that he wants to be donated to Pope Francis during the Pontiff’s upcoming visit in appreciation of the Pope’s stance on the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey.

There has been stagnation in fighting corruption for years in Armenia, and anti-corruption laws have not been implemented, said an international organization’s representative in Armenia.

Former Armenian residents, Masha and Girsha (Misha), have taken their first steps on the grass in a bear sanctuary in Romania after being moved there through a strenuous effort involving activists from several countries.