Mediamax sums up 2014 and presents the events, which created a public stir during the year.

Person of the Year: the Armenian soldier

2014 stood out for rival’s incursion activities and unprecedented attempts to escalate tension in NK conflict area and on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Photo: PanPhoto

Since the ceasefire to date, July-August period has been the most strained on the contact line. Privates, sergeants and officers were killed in fights to protect the borders of our motherland...

In the light of escalated tension on the border we started to speak more, appreciate and honor the guardians of our borders and security. We realized that the soldier on the frontline embodies the true hero of our times and not a politician or an oligarch.

Event of the Year: UWC Dilijan College opening

A solemn ceremony marked the opening of UWC Dilijan College in Dilijan on October 11. It’s the first college in Eastern Europe and CIS to belong to the UWC (United World Colleges) system.

Presently, 96 students from around 50 countries from Europe, Asia, Middle East, Africa, South and North America, Australia, Russia and CIS study there.

Photo: UWC Dilijan College

The idea of opening UWC Dilijan College was put forward by businessman and philanthropist Ruben Vardanyan and his wife Veronika Zonabend who took the first steps leading to the school’s establishment back in 2006. A number of people donated to the construction of the college. As of the opening, the net cost of the construction made USD 115mln.

Resignation of the Year: PM Tigran Sargsyan

On April 3, Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan handed in his resignation. His term of office as the PM started on April 9, 2008, which was followed by his reappointment to the post on June 2, 2012.

Tigran Sargsyan posted on Facebook saying his resignation decision was “weighted and conscious”.

Some people started claiming the PM’s resignation was conditioned by the activities of the four opposition forces, which were particularly planning to hold mass rallies demanding the government’s resignation. However, the ruling Republican Party noted that the PM resigned by his own decision and had submitted his resignation a few months before.

Photo: Photolure

Hovik Abrahamyan was appointed new PM and Tigran Sargsyan became Armenian Ambassador to the U.S.

Anniversaries of the Year: 5th anniversary of Armenian-Turkish protocols, 20th anniversary of ceasefire and 15th anniversary of “October 27”

May 12 marked 20 years since the Nagorno Karabakh ceasefire agreement brokered by Russia was signed by the Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR), Azerbaijan and Armenia. And exactly two decades later, ceasefire breaches by Azerbaijan became more frequent.

October 10 marked the 5th anniversary of Armenian-Turkish protocols. Although, the protocols remain in effect from a legal perspective, many people are inclined to think they are “dead”.

October 27 marked 15 years since the terrorist act committed in the sitting hall of the National Assembly of Armenia. This terrorist act not only claimed the lives of outstanding Armenian leaders but also caused huge damage to the state and the society.

Disappointment of the Year: Surik Khachatryan’s reappointment

The feelings over the bloody incident near the house of Syunik governor Surik Khachatryan in Goris, June 2013, and the criminal case initiated with regard to it had yet not calmed down when the Armenian society had to go through another disappointment “treated” by the authorities.

Former nominee for Goris mayor, 43-old businessman Avetik Budaghyan was killed near Surik Khachatryan’s house and his brother, commander of NKR N military unit Artak Budaghyan was taken to hospital with injuries. After the incident Syunik governor Suren Khachatryan resigned temporarily and after that retired from the position. However, with time he eventually managed to persuade the authorities of his being “irreplaceable” and was reinstated.

Partial Solution of the Year: mandatory pension system

This year the surge of upheaval against the introduction of mandatory accumulative pension system gained a momentum in Armenia. The Armenian government used to assure that the mandatory accumulative pension system is “a reform guaranteeing Armenia’s future", yet, a number of Armenian citizens born after 1974 continued to protest against the mandatory component.

The Constitutional Court declared the mandatory component anti-constitutional and newly-appointed PM Hovik Abrahamyan promised to take steps to cancel the mandatory component of the accumulative pension system.

Photo: Photolure

In the end, the government submitted a new legislative package the core of which, however, remained unclear for many people. As a result, it is today difficult to say what pension system functions in Armenia.

Quote of the Year: “To hell with your ratification”

Addressing a speech at the 69th Session of the UN General Assembly President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan turned to the vernacular when speaking about the normalization of Armenian-Turkish ties:

“In fact, the normalization of Armenian–Turkish relations initiated by official Yerevan culminated in the signing of the Zurich Protocols in 2009. Those Protocols have been shelved for years now awaiting ratification in the Turkish Parliament. Official Ankara declares publicly it will ratify those Protocols only if Armenians cede Nagorno-Karabakh, the free Artsakh, to Azerbaijan. In Armenia and Artsakh ordinary people often retort such preconditions: “to hell with your ratification.” This vernacular phrase concentrates the age-old struggle of the entire nation, and it unequivocally explains to those attempting to bargain the others’ homeland that the motherland is sacrosanct, and they had better stay away from us with their bargain. It is in these circumstances that currently, official Yerevan is seriously considering the issue of recalling Armenian-Turkish Protocols from the parliament”.

Photo: Press service of the Armenian President

Upshot of the Year: Armenia became EEU member

In the turn of the year, the year’s main intrigue found a solution – on January 2, 2015, Armenia will become full member of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU). After months of public statements and offstage processes the leaders of Kazakhstan and Belarus eventually “put up with” Armenia’s membership.

The pain of the year: helicopter downing in Artsakh

On November 12, the rival shot down Mi-24 helicopter which was carrying out a training flight in Artsakh. During the following days, Azerbaijan was firing at the downing place. Moreover, ignoring the international community’s calls, it refused to start a dialogue with the Armenian side to return the bodies of the crew.

The NKR Defense Army carried out a special operation and evacuated the remains of the pilots. 

The absurd of the year: vowing ceremony of the CES officers in Tsitsernakaberd monument

On December 9, 16 people who were appointed to posts of the compulsory enforcement service (CES) officers solemnly vowed in Tsitsernakaberd monument. The CES didn’t give any explanation why especially that place was selected for the ceremony.

The shock of the year: dram depreciation

Armenian people witnessed the hourly depreciation of Armenian dram in early December. The authorities explained the phenomenon by global processes and “speculations” who are taking advantage of the situation. Of course, their names were not voiced. Some stores closed, and there was price growth in others, and panic-stricken people were buying staples.

 The guests of the year: Magnus Carlsen, Carlos Ghosn, Kim Ki-duk, Raffi Grigoryan

Over 2014, Armenia hosted prominent figures of various fields.

“Golden Apricot” International Film Festival hosted one of the most famous directors of contemporary cinematography, Kim Ki-duk, and almost all the people attending the festival took a selfie with him. 

Photo: Mediamax

Upon the invitation of IDeA Foundation and Acronis , No 1 chess player by FIDE ranking and reigning World Champion Magnus Carlsen visited Armenia. Magnus Carlsen and Levon Aronian held simultaneous chess games in Yerevan and Tatev. One of the Armenian MPs, taking advantage of Magnus Carlsen’s error, won and kept talking about it for several days in a row.

Photo: Mediamax

In April, TUMO Center for Creative Technologies invited Raffi Krikorian, Vice President of Platform Engineering at Twitter. He conducted workshops and seminars for TUMO students.

Upon the invitation of businessman and philanthropist Ruben Vardanyan, one of the renowned top managers of the world, Carlos Ghosn, Chief Executive of Renault, Nissan and Renault-Nissan Alliance, came to Armenia. He visited Dilijan, Haghartsin, Garni and Geghard, Matenadaran, Cafesjian Center for the Arts and Yerevan Brandy Factory.

The debate of the year: placement of Anastas Mikoyan’s statue

There were debates over the year whether or not to build the statue of one of USSR leaders of 1930-1960, Anastas Mikoyan, as was proposed by the Yerevan Mayor’s Office. The opponents said that Mikoyan as well as other supporters of Stalin, was guilty of repression and deaths of thousands of people including Armenians.

The supporters of the idea claimed that Anastas Mikoyan was an outstanding statesman who made a significant contribution to Armenia’s development. Finally, the debate faded and the statue wasn’t raised. Of course, that doesn’t mean the authorities gave up the idea of its placement.

The unfulfilled hope of the year: restart of Sargsyan-Aliyev dialogue

In the second half of 2014, Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents held 3 meetings - in Sochi, Wales and Paris.

Activation of contacts after rather a long interval gave some hope. Moreover, the Armenian Foreign Minister gave quite a positive assessment to the Paris meeting. However, downing of the Armenian helicopter by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces killed the positive expectations - and the process again was stalled.

The anxiety of the year: the fate of Kessab

In late March, Islamic militants captured Syrian Kessab town populated with Armenians and the people had to move to Latakia. Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin the Second stated that “the region of Kessab was conquered with Turkish support and direct involvement of the Turkish army”.

In summer, the Syrian army fought back Kessab and Armenians returned.

However, in late December, there was information that the Islamic militants again appeared near Kessab and Armenians again are emigrating to Latakia.

The crimes of the year: Karen Petrosyan’s murder and explosion of the Armenian church  in Der Zor

In August, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry stated that Armenian citizen and resident of Chinari village of Tavush marz Karen Petrosyan aged 31 who was in Azerbaijani captivity “died for unknown reasons”.

It was obvious that Karen Petrosyan had been killed in Baku when it was clear he couldn’t be presented as “a subversive”.

After various calls of the international community, Azerbaijan eventually returned the body of Karen Petrosyan in October.

In September, members of Islamic State (ISIS) blasted Armenian church of Srbots Nahatakats in Der Zor which contains the remnants of the Mets Eghern martyrs and is dedicated to the Armenian Genocide victims. “Such a barbarity is a sheer criminal blasphemy which has nothing to do with any faith”, said the Armenian President in his speech at the UN General Assembly.

The decision of the year: canonization of Armenian Genocide victims

The Armenian Apostolic Church made a decision on canonization of the victims of the Armenian Genocide in April 2015.

Photo: Photolure

''We don't remember the figure of 1.5mln, neither do we remember the names of the victims. It will be a collective canonization in memory of those who fell victim for the sake of faith and motherland'', said Head of Office of Church Conceptual Issues of Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin Bishop Bagrat Galstanyan.

The figure of the year: AMD11bln 181mln

The crop losses due to frostbite this year made AMD11bln 181mln, Deputy Minister of Agriculture of Armenia Garnik Petrosyan stated in May.

The weird appointment of the year: Yuri Vardanyan

Legendary sportsman Yuri Vardanyan who unfortunately didn't do anything outstanding as a Minister of Sport, was appointed Armenia's Ambassador to Georgia. There was no any explanation on why a person who doesn't have diplomatic practice was appointed to a country of strategic significance to Armenia.

The unnatural alliance of the year: Levon Ter-Petrosyan and Gagik Tsarukyan

It was obvious in 2014 that the Armenian National Congress (ANC) and Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) are striving to form an alliance. As a result, something which the supporters of the First President of Armenia could only see in a bad dream back in 2008 happened - Levon Ter-Petrosyan and Gagik Tsarukyan stood side by side at the Liberty Square.

Photo: Photolure

The images and proven tracks of the two persons are so different and the alliance is so unnatural that it can hardly be described with the phrase of ''there are no permanent alllies in politics - there are only permanent interests''.

It's no less important that Levon Ter-Petrosyan and Gagik Tsarukyan didn't give any convincing explanations why they didn't take part in the presidential elections in 2013.

The return of the year: Hakob Injighulyan

Military serviceman Hakob Injighulyan who had been in Azerbaijani captivity since August 2013 was returned to Armenia from a third country in October.

“I was always dreaming about coming to Armenia while I was a captive. I have missed my homeland, village and family members most of all”, said Hakob Injighulyan.

“First they threatened to shoot me; I was inquired under pressure. Even before meetings with Red Cross representatives, they told me what to say, they controlled the content of the letters to my family saying what to write in them”, Hakob said.

The promise of the year: Serzh Sargsyan won’t run for presidency any more

In April, at the session of the Professional Commission for Constitutional Reforms at the Armenian President, Serzh Sargsyan said:

“I officially state in front of you that I won’t run for presidency any more. If a new path is adopted which I do not approve of as a result of the recent discussions - the parliamentary system- I won’t aspire to the post of the Prime Minister, either”.

Ara Tadevosyan

Yekaterina Poghosyan