  Georgia arrests Armenian citizen in connection with Igla smuggling case March 28, 2017 - 10:59 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The Georgian interior ministry said its central criminal police department has detained a 40-year-old Armenian citizen in connection with the case of smuggling Igla missile parts to Armenia. The Armenian national security service said days earlier that it has arrested three people, including Samvel Babayan who served as former minister of defence of Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) and a Liberation Army commander, for smuggling Igla anti-aircraft missile system parts from Georgia. According to a statement from the interior ministry, Robert A. (b. 1977) was arrested in Tbilisi on Monday, March 27. Babayan is an active supporter, but not a member of Ohanyan-Raffi-Oskanian bloc, which is led by former Armenian defense minister Seyran Ohanyan and two former foreign ministers - Raffi Hovannisian and Vartan Oskanian. In a statement of its own, ORO has slammed the former commander’s arrest as political persecution, while Babayan’s lawyer has denied the detention is politically motivated.   Top stories The number of state universities will be reduced from 23 to 8 by 2030, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan has said. From September 21 to November 11, a total of 2,820 Russians registered at a place of residence in Armenia, the police has said. The situation on the contact line between Karabakh and Azerbaijan was relatively stable overnight, the Defense Army says. Defense Minister Suren Papikyan has visited the southern Armenian province of Syunik, the Defense Ministry reported on March 18.   Partner news |  Latest news PACE wants concessions from Azerbaijan to accept Baku back  A PACE co-rapporteur said that Azerbaijani authorities must make certain concessions so that the country can return to PACE.Armenia PM, France envoy discuss regional matters Issues related to the consistent development of Armenia-France cooperation were discussed.Azerbaijan razes historic Armenian church to ground Azerbaijan has demolished the historic Armenian Church of St. John the Baptist (known as Kanach Zham).Turkey extends military presence in Azerbaijan The Turkish parliament has adopted a bill submitted by Recep Tayyip Erdogan to extend the mandate of Turkish troops. |
