Jet Crashes in Zvartnots, All Survived

Not the kind of news you expect to see on a day as innocent as Valentine's Day.

A plane carrying 21 people has crashed on takeoff from Armenia's capital, but there were no deaths reported...

The plane, a Canadair CRJ-100, was heading for Minsk, Belarus, when it flipped over on the runway at Zvartnots Airport and burst into flames...

What a miracle that no one was injured, but it seems suspicious that they have not yet identified the airline to which the plane belonged. Armavia was at the tip of my tongue, to be honest.

Update: Thanks to reader AB, it seems that the airline was Belavia, the national airline of Belarus. It is also revealed that the airplane's wing clipped the runway on takeoff, causing it to crash. On board were 4 citizens of Belarus, 1 of Russia, 1 of Ukraine, 5 of Georgia, and the rest of Armenia.

Source: AP

Eduardo Eurnekian Buys Conversebank - And What That Means

Not that this matters to the international audience, but Eduardo Eurnekian - who happens to be the businessman in question - already operates Zvartnots Airport.

The press service of the bank reports that the new owner intends to continue the bank's normal activities and upgrade the quality of services. It will not be difficult to make the Conversebank Armenia's best bank because a number of international organizations have recognized it as one of the leading banks in the country, Eurnekian said.

Eurnekian's strategic policy will be aimed at promoting business development in Armenia, creating new jobs, applying up-to-date technologies and ensuring the bank's long-term development.

The press release aside, we may be witnessing the emergence of a new oligarch in Yerevan. Let's see if that prediction comes true.

Source: ARKA