Yerevan clarifying whether Armenians are among Kemerovo casualtiesMarch 26, 2018 - 12:07 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The foreign ministry is in the process of clarifying whether any Armenians were among the casualties of the deadly fire in the Russian city of Kemerovo. The ministry will make an official statement shortly, spokesman Tigran Balayan told PanARMENIAN.Net At least 53 people, including dozens of children, have died in the fire that tore through a shopping and entertainment complex in Kemerovo. Some 660 emergency personnel were deployed in the rescue effort. Firefighters tackled the blaze for more than 17 hours. Kemerovo, a key coal-producing area, lies about 3,600km (2,200 miles) east of Moscow. In a message, president Serzh Sargsyan expressed condolences to his Russian counterpart over the deadly fire. Top stories Six total incidents have burned 19 old-growth trees. Friday night 8 trees were torched along the beautiful main entrance. The EU does not intend to conduct military exercises with Armenia, Lead Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano says. Hikmet Hajiyev has said that there is no place for USAID operation in Azerbaijan any longer. A telephone conversation between Putin and Pashinyan before the CSTO summit is not planned, Peskov says. Partner news | Czech-Armenian military cooperation discussed in Yerevan A delegation led by the Director General for the Industrial Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic visited Armenia. Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. Freedom House concerned by mounting reports of police violence in Armenia Freedom House urged Armenian authorities to investigate this pattern of excessive force and inhumane treatment. CSTO recognizes Armenia’s sovereign right to withdraw Tasmagambetov has said that if Armenia decides to leave the organization, “it will be the sovereign right of Armenia.” |