Husband Beat Wife to Death in Masis (VIDEO)

A 20 year old wife, Zaruhi Petrosyan, was killed on October 1, 2010, due to injury from beatings from her husband and mother-in-law. However, the official report states that there was no foul play, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. The husband, Yanis Sarkisov, was questioned, but no charges have been filed.

ArmeniaNow has a piece about this, but focuses mostly on the problem of domestic violence in Armenia. I have subtitled the above video (I thank those who uploaded it first on YouTube) to make it more accessible to the non Eastern-Armenian speakers. Please help with corrections as you find them.

Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan Dies

In case you didn't hear this elsewhere:

Armenian Prime Minister, Chairman of the Republican Party Andranik Margaryan died from heart attack at home. 55-year old PM suffered from heart-disease and repeatedly received treatment for problems with cardiovascular system.

What does this mean for Armenia?

Source: Arka

Breast Cancer Leading Cause of Death

Not even our little country can escape the reach of this vile disease.

A recent study shows that breast cancer remains number one cause of death for Armenian women, followed by cervical cancer.

"Armenian women are different focusing on taking care of their children and husbands and ignoring their own health."

Apparently, a yearly examination costs $6 or about 3,000 drams. There are some free services, as well.

Source: ArmenPress

Homeless People are Dying on the Streets of Yerevan. Again.

What a sad, sad story:

“Help us. Igor is dying,” Tony said with tears in his eyes. "We all are going to die soon. Eight people have already died this winter. Gayane, Ashot from Shamshadin, Mamikon… David died lying next to the garbage dump – I called emergency."

"I have a spasm in my throat. I'm cold. I sleep on the concrete floor. Even now when the fire is lit I don't feel it; I can't get warm." [said Igor]

Igor Brutkaroyan died on the night of December 30th.

There are many more stories like this. Just because these people have no homes - and it is for many reasons - it does not make them any less human. They feel cold, they feel hungry, they feel alone. And we all know the Armenian perspective on the less fortunate people in society: complete and utter disgust and ignorance.

I commend Hetq for running this story, along with many others devoted to homelessness in Armenia.

Armenia to Build Public Toilets...and Kill Dogs!

I wish there was a joke in there somewhere, but there isn't. At least in the United States, stray dogs are given the option of adoption, whether by the government or private groups.

The municipality will allocate land for building some 50 public lavatories, Karen Gevorgyan, trade and service department head of the municipality, told a briefing today. He said they understand the need of lavatories as tourism develops in Armenia.

The municipality also makes sterilization of outdoors dogs. Gevorgyan says at least 30 percent of outdoors dogs will be eliminated in 5 years. The municipality official said they had invited an American expert to share more experience in work with outdoors animals. “They do not ask money for that,” he said.

Something tells me that sterilization is a euphemism for - uhhh, what's the word I'm looking for? oh yeah - death! On a private note, tourists to Armenia inform me that animals which are no longer alive are left to rot on the streets. Thus, the true motivation for this news: more money from tourism as a result of expanded facilities and clean-of-all-living-animals streets!

Source: Panorama