Armenian News - NEWS.am presents a daily digest of Armenian-related top news as of 26.02.2020:

·       Armenian parliament discussed on Wednesday the process of implementation of the Armenia-EU deal.

According to the EU envoy Andrea Wiktorin, visa liberalization is envisaged by the deal. However, the agreement of all 27 EU member states is needed to launch a visa liberalization dialogue with Armenia.

The envoy also noted that Armenia and the EU are working together to implement the SEPA deal.

According to Deputy PM Mher Grigoryan, the implementation of the Armenia-EU deal is one of the priorities of the Armenian government.

Meanwhile, the country’s Deputy FM Avet Adonts said the ratification process has been completed in 22 EU member states; another five are close to completion.

·       Thirty-seven people have been hospitalized in Armenia with suspected coronavirus, said Hakob Avagyan, head of Health and Labor Inspectorate.

According to him, work is being done to prevent the entry of the virus into Armenia.

By the way, a special flight has been created for Armenian citizens to return to their homeland from Iran on February 26.

Earlier, Armenia has partially closed the air and land border with the neighboring country for two weeks amid the spread of the coronavirus.

Meanwhile, 19 people have already died in Iran due to coronavirus, the number of diagnosed cases has reached 139.

·       “Yes” (Ayo) campaign headquarters organized a fundraising evening on Tuesday to cover the expenses of the constitutional referendum campaign.

Overall, the organizers raised 205 million 560 thousand drams, head of campaign headquarters, Minister of Territorial Administration Suren Papikyan said.

The referendum set for April 5 proposes to terminate the tenure of serving Constitutional Court President, Hrayr Tovmasyan, and six members of the court.

·       CSTO Secretary General Stanislav Zas will visit Armenia on February 26-28.

It will be his first visit as CSTO Secretary-General.

During the visit, a meeting is scheduled with the Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan. He is also expected to hold talks with FM, Defense Minister, National Security Council Secretary, and Armenian Parliament Speaker.

·       The Yerevan court of the first instance Wednesday denied the defense's motion to recuse the prosecutor in the criminal case against Armenia’s third President Serzh Sargsyan and several others.

Sargsyan’s lawyer Ruben Hakobyan motioned yesterday for the recusal of Arsen Martirosyan noting that the investigation into this case was conducted with several violations and omissions.

Meanwhile, the court hearing on the criminal case against ex-President Serzh Sargsyan and several others ex-officials was adjourned today, and the court will reconvene on March 26. The ex-officials are particularly charged with organizing, inciting and assisting large-scale appropriation or squander.