And the Votes Are In

Election day came and went. Conclusions?

The ruling Republican Party of Prime Minister Serzh Sarksyan won almost 33% of the vote, officials said. Prosperous Armenia, a comparatively new political party led by former world arm wrestling champion Gagik Tsarukian, won 14.7%.

European observers said the vote largely met international standards, but that some more work was needed. Opposition groups said Saturday's vote was falsified and have called for mass demonstrations in the capital, Yerevan.

The BBC's Matthew Collin, in Yerevan, said the results were a resounding victory for pro-government forces. A spokesman for the Law-Governed Country Party, Tigran Mkrtchyan, said the results were "grossly falsified".

I don't think anyone expected anything other than this. The Big-2 fixed the election, just as everyone knew they were going to. Did they mess with the ballots? Maybe, maybe not - but they certainly bribed a large number of the population with scholarships, seeds, food, money, and so on.

I think the words "vote" and "Armenia" should be prohibited from being in the same sentence, especially with the results of this election.

Source: BBC News

Serbia Wins Eurovision 2007!

Congratulations to Serbia! 2007 was Armenia's second ever Eurovision and we placed 8th, as last year. I wasn't a big fan of Hayko's song, but to each their own.

Here is Hayko's Anytime You Need.

One important observation: Turkey awarded the most points - 12 - to Armenia! Anyone else catch that?

Source: Eurovision 2007

Police Beat Protesters or: The Face of Freedom

Click for larger version.

This is what happens in Armenia when you attempt to promote democracy: you get beat.

Today, after the rally organized by the Impeachment bloc, Republic and New Times parties, the special police forces beat participants of the rally and march to KGB.

Armenians, like all people, are struggling to express themselves freely without the threat of being beat or killed for doing so: It is fundamental human right and one that cannot be denied by anyone. People like Mher, pictured above, take personal blows to fight for what is right!

Pictures and quote from Aramazd

Turkey Signs $1.78 Billion Deal With United States

$1.78 billion is nearly one third of Armenia's 2006 GDP. Three guesses as to what is being bought. Got it? No?

NATO member Turkey signed a $1.78 billion deal on May 11 to buy 30 F-16 fighter jets from U.S.-based Lockheed Martin Corp as part of an ambitious program to modernize its armed forces. Under the agreement, the aircraft will be produced, assembled, tested and delivered by Turkish aerospace firm Tusas in Ankara...

In its biggest ever procurement project, Turkey signed a memorandum of understanding in January to buy 100 F-35 joint strike fighters worth nearly $10.7 billion from 2014 under a program led by Lockheed Martin.

Turkey is obviously on a buying spree. Even though the planes will be assembled in Turkey, the United States will benefit handsomely from this deal. Once more, the military gap between Turkey and Armenia widens.

This is one of the reasons that the United States has not officially recognized the Armenian Genocide. If you were on the supplying end of billions of dollars worth of defense equipment and a friend of an important NATO country in a strategic location, would you do anything to jeapordize that relationship? Forget morality, this is business and politics.

Source: DefenseNews

Basque Parliament Recognizes Armenian Genocide

And so the list grows.

The Basque Parliament included 6 articles in which it affirms the authentic character of the Armenian Genocide; denounces Turkey’s systematic negationism and rejects the frontier and economic blockade imposed on Armenia.

Moreover, the Parliament, under the signature of the president, Izaskun Bilbao Barandica, declares sympathy to the Armenian people, and supports their efforts to consolidate its democratic process and to affirm in the Caucasus area a stable space of cooperation and freedom.

Thanks, guys! I suppose it takes a group of people who have been oppressed through the ages to recognize everything that Armenians have struggled through and all those things that we continue to fight for today.

Source: PanArmenian

Interview with UFC's Karo Parisyan

Parisyan on left.

We've covered Karo Parisyan before, but here is an exciting interview with one of the best players in UFC. Exerpt:

Q: Had you ever fought someone that old before when you were so young, even in judo?

A: When I was 14, I beat a seventh-degree judo black belt, who was like 38 years old or something. I've always fought against men, older men. I never fought anyone my age, they were like a joke to me. I was always matched up against older guys.

Here's the interview. Don't forget to catch Parisyan on May 26th as he prepares to fight Josh Burkman.

Armenia's Former Foreign Minister Accused of Money Laundering

All that dirty money has to get cleaned somehow!

...Alexander Arzumanyan and the country's former deputy defense minister Vaan Shirkhanyan, founders of the public organization, Civil Disobedience Movement, had agreed with Levon Markos, a Russian national, who has been wanted for financial fraud since 2005, to transfer and launder money in April. It was established that on April 27 the three offenders transferred $180,000 to nine front parties through a bank in Yerevan.

Last Saturday investigators found foreign currency in the two former politician's flats, including $55,400 in cash in Arzumanyan's apartment.

Filthy. Disgusting. Shameful.

Source: RIA Novosti

Genocide-Deniers Crash Book Reading

Day One: Let's attack Armenians. Day Two: This.

As a first-time author, Margaret Ajemian Ahnert hoped that her appearance at a Barnes & Noble store here would draw attention to her new book, "The Knock at the Door," which deals with the Armenian genocide.

"Someone in the middle of the back of the room stood up and said, 'That's not so,' " Ahnert said. "Five or six men started to pass out fliers of denial. I thought, oh, my goodness sakes, it's like Holocaust deniers. I was completely taken aback."

Mary Occhino, who was in the audience, said some of the people were shouting, "This is a lie, this is a lie, this never happened."

How is it that you can't deny the Holocaust without being made a complete and ignorant fool, but when the topic of the Armenian Genocide comes up, people shrug, look around, and suggest that it is open to many interpretations? We have to change that.

It seems these rogue Turks and their anti-Armenian attitudes are everywhere. I'm not so much surprised by their perpetual idiocy anymore, but I must admit a modicum of admiration for their relentless stupidity. To go to such lengths to fight a losing battle is amazing!

And here is the book, if you're curious: The Knock at the Door

Source: International Herald Tribune

Azeris Attack Armenian, Nagorno Karabakh Flag

Yet another typical display of Azeri aggression & barbarity.

According to eyewitnesses, representatives of Azeri youth took aside a young Armenian who was holding the banner of Nagorno Karabakh. Azeris attacked the Armenian fellow, causing him physical injuries. They tried to take away the banner but couldn’t, after which Azeris tore it up.

They must be bitter about something, but I can't imagine what!

On a serious note, all they are doing is showing the world the sorts of people they really are. Not only do they fill the world with their lies and systematic propaganda, they turn any attempt at peace and normality into one of chaos and hatred.

Source: PanArmenian

Elon to Perform in Benefit Concert

Armenia Blog's friend Elon is going to perform live on Friday, June 1st, at Glendale's Alex Theater and 100% of the proceeds will be donated towards helping Armenian children with bone-marrow cancer. Armenia Blog also believes in charity and the helping of those in need.

Great music, great cause, great time. I can't see why you wouldn't attend!

Here's more information: Elon and Artists For Kids

Video: Adam Schiff Questioning Condoleezza Rice About Armenian Genocide

Congressman Adam Schiff questioning Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice regarding the State Department's efforts to defeat legislation recognizing the Armenian Genocide.

U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on State-Foreign Operations - March 21, 2007

The News: Classic Armenian Rockers!

Click to enlarge.

You like System of a Down, right? Sure, everyone and their mother likes SOAD, and for good reason! However, many people think that SOAD are the first Armenian rockers. Not so!

At least one such band was around at least a quarter of a century before: The News! While it may be news to you, and it certainly is to me, these guys were rocking out before many of us were even born. Look at the picture above and tell me it doesn't remind you of Black Sabbath, Pink Floyd, and other such bands' promo shots from the time. I dare you!

Oh, and the music is not half bad, either. Hammond organs, drums, period vocals, the works. Check it out!

The News on MySpace

Armenians Dominate 2007 European Weightlifting Championships

Ah, victory! Armenians Gevorg Davtyan and Ara Khacahtryan took the first and second place, respectively, in the 77kg division. Armenian men and women were very well represented. In fact, Armenians wiped out the competition with 10 gold medals, 6 silver medals, and two bronze medals.

It should also be noted that two Armenian women received gold medals: Meline Daluzyan in the 63kg class and Hripsime Khurshudyan in the 77kg class.

Tigran Martirosyan and Nazik Avdalyan both earned silver medals in their respective 69kg divisions.

What do you think the Turk in the video is thinking?

Thanks to Arin for suggesting this story!

Source: Official Results of 2007 European Weightlifting Championships

Vanes Turns 21!

What better way to celebrate your recent victory than to get really, really drunk? Kill two birds with one stone, really!

Happy Birthday, Nightmare axper! How many people can claim 13 victories, 9 knockouts, and no losses in a very scary sport? Hardly any! May you rise to the top and make Armenians the world over proud!

Interview with Vanes Martirosyan

Picture: Saroyan & Saryan

Here's a neat picture I found online: on the left is the writer William Saroyan and on the right the master artist Martiros Saryan. Talk about a meeting of geniuses, huh?

Armenia's First 3D Game: Yerevan Drive!

How would you like the chance to drive around on the streets of Yerevan? No joke! The game is called Yerevan Drive - produced by Emergency Soft - and you get to drive and crash around Yerevan. Choose a Niva, 08, CL600, and many other cars and tear up the streets! You see modern and Soviet-era cars driving past you. Don't like them? Crash into them!

The game engine was built from scratch and that in itself is worthy of respect. While it will be a lie to say that this game is on par with American racing games, which have budgets of millions of dollars, it is a great first step and fun, too!

While the game has been out for two or so years, it was completely new to me. Check it out at the links below:

Yerevan Drive Official Site
Download Demo