As a result of an investigation conducted by the Armenian National Security Service, a transnational criminal group engaged in illegal migration has been exposed.

This group carried out illegal migration of foreign citizens toward Iran and then Turkey via Armenia.

The attempts by these foreigners to cross the Armenian-Iranian border were prevented.

The NSS officers have detained the Iranian citizen, who was engaged in the organization of these illegal migrations. Seven people have been included as defendants in the respective criminal case, and four of them have been arrested.

The Armenian delegates delivered several speeches at PACE urging the Assembly not to ignore armenophobia as a state-run policy in Azerbaijan and to force Azerbaijan to introduce mechanisms of monitoring at the line of contact.

Unless Azerbaijan gives its consent to introduce mechanisms for the monitoring at the line of contact, it has to be forced to, Armenian delegate to PACE Michael Melkumyan said.

Armenian delegate Naira Zohrabyan, in her turn, briefed the Assembly on the Armenophobia policy in Azerbaijan, and called on Fataliyeva to have civil courage and admit that Armenophobia is a state-run policy in her country, Azerbaijan.

The Armenian Health Ministry has drafted a new bill on reducing the negative impact of the use of tobacco products.

The ministry calls to ban smoking in all indoor areas. Thus, there will be no smoking rooms in bars and restaurants.  The bill suggests introducing fines of from $500 to 1000.

If the violation is repeated within three months, the fine will amount to over $1000.

The bill has to be approved by the government and later submitted to the parliament.

Armenia is among the top ten states in terms of the number of applications pending at the European Court of Human Rights.

Last year, the ECHR received 356 applications from Armenia, which is less than the results of 2016, which were 753.

Overall, 1819 applications involving Armenia are pending.

The Armenian parliament held hearings on Friday to discuss GMO-containing food products.

The stir about the import of GMO seeds to Armenia appeared when it became clear that Monsanto Company entered the Armenian market. Concerns that it may be dangerous for the Armenian population were expressed The U.S. Embassy commented on NEWS.am inquiry, saying that its’ up to the farmers and agribusinesses to decide whether to use or not to use the products and services of Monsanto.

Speaking during the hearings, Armenian deputy agriculture minister said human health issues are researched, and that is why the principle of warning that the given food contains GMO is important.

OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President George Tsereteli plans to visit Armenia and Azerbaijan.

 “Regarding other regions with unresolved conflicts, I am, for instance, together with the PA’s International Secretariat, preparing for my visits to Armenia and Azerbaijan, and I am also considering a possible visit to Moldova,” he said in his address to the OSCE Permanent Council.

Last year the number of road accidents increased in Armenia by 10.4% reaching 3,535, the Emergency Situations Ministry official said on Friday.

According to him, 279 people were killed and another 5,179 were injured in road accidents last year.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has not decided yet when Henrikh Mkhitaryan will make his debut for the Gunners.

“I haven’t decided that yet. We will certainly decide that on Monday, he’s available like everyone else, so yes [he is in the squad,” he said.

Asked where Mkhitaryan can play, the coach said it will be “not in a defensive role”.