Armenian News - NEWS.am presents the daily digest of Armenia-related top news as of 20.03.21:

  • The Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) State Service of Emergency Situations has informed that the search operations for the bodies of the fallen servicemen will not be carried out Friday.

The search is likely to resume Saturday.

The total number of bodies retrieved ever since the ceasefire in November 2020 is 1,503, of which 23, according to preliminary data, are of civilians.

  • Armenian human rights defender Arman Tatoyan will submit evidence of ethnic cleansing carried out by Azerbaijan to international structures

"During last year's war, the Azerbaijani authorities carried out ethnic cleansing and genocidal policies in Artsakh, and this continues to this day," he said. The facts were confirmed by the Armenian Foreign Ministry on March 18, 2021, with an important statement.

The Ombudsman of Armenia will also send the protocols on these facts to the relevant international bodies.

  • The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) noted in its report the vandalism committed by Azerbaijan against the Armenian heritage of Karabakh.

"President Aliyev reportedly gave assurances to Russian President Vladimir Putin that the country would protect Christian churches in these areas; however, some sites, such as a cemetery situated alongside an Armenian church in Hadrut, have already been vandalized," the report said.

By the way, UNESCO has not yet received access to the territories occupied by Azerbaijan.

  • Azerbaijani forces abused Armenian prisoners of war (POWs) from the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, subjecting them to cruel and degrading treatment and torture either when they were captured, during their transfer, or while in custody at various detention facilities, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said.

Azerbaijani authorities should also investigate all allegations of ill-treatment and hold those responsible to account.

HRW interviewed four former POWs who detailed their ill-treatment in custody as well as the ill-treatment of other POWs with whom they were captured or shared cells. They all described prolonged and repeated beatings.

  • The Mediaport Telegram channel has shared footage capturing the Minister of High-Tech Industry of Armenia Hakob Arshakyan while attacking a journalist in a cafe.

The Prosecutor General's Office sent a message about the attack to the Special Investigation Service.

Arshakyan later referred to an incident noting that he is against any violence, and is 'guided by the principle of resolving issues by civilized methods.'

"I would like to apologize to all the citizens present at the incident, to all those whose rest I disturbed by my action.

In the end, I want to note that I am ready to bear accountability in connection with the incident," Arshakyan added.

The incident has been widely criticized by society for solving the issues through violence.

  • Armenian authorities said they are going to hold elections on June 20. Some of the parliament forces said they are going to take part in the elections.

However, the Homeland Salvation Movement leaders put the elections under question noting that this is the political trick used by the authorities to buy time.

Meanwhile, the current authorities intend to change the electoral code ahead of the elections. However, Bright Armenia party leader Edmon Manukyan said they are against it, as the EC will be changed very quickly with violations and without reaching a proper consensus.

The Homeland Salvation Movement representatives said they are not ready to open the streets leading to the parliament - which are closed for three weeks. However, they noted that there may be some changes in their tactic following the election announcement.

The Investigative Committee of Russia has launched a criminal case under the article of murder.

The murderer is 43-year-old Munir, who attacked his 40-year-old sister, Leyla. Andrey Kolobin, one of the locals, said he had heard how the man screamed at the girl, called her a prostitute, and blamed her for not following Muslim traditions. He added that, unfortunately, there was nobody near her when she was stabbed and had already died when the paramedics arrived.

  • As of Friday morning, 891 COVID-19 new cases were confirmed in Armenia, and the total number of these cases has reached 182,056 in the country.

Also, 19 more deaths from COVID-19 were registered, making the respective total 3,320 cases.

The number of people who have recovered over the past one day is 332, the total respective number so far is 167,518.

  • Armenian wrestler Vazgen Tevanyan (65 kg) reached the final of the European licensed Olympic freestyle wrestling tournament in Budapest and has qualified for the Olympic Games in Tokyo.

The representative of Armenia Arsen Harutyunyan (57 kg) will also head to the Tokyo Olympic Games.