Armenian News - NEWS.am presents the daily digest of Armenia-related top news as of 18.03.21:

  • The internal domestic crisis is on its high in Armenia.

Today PM Nikol Pashinyan announced that Armenia will hold snap parliamentary elections on June 20, 2021.

His remarks came following a meeting with the leader of the opposition Prosperous Armenia Party Gagik Tsarukyan.

According to the PM, the best way out of the current domestic political situation is to hold snap parliamentary elections.

Later, the leader of the opposition Bright Armenia faction Edmon Marukyan noted that his "parliamentary faction accepts June 20, 2021, as the date for the snap parliamentary elections."

Prosperous Armenia Party leader Gagik Tsarukyan, in turn, noted that it is necessary to form new power and a new government in the country.

And in an interview with Tert.am, leader of the opposition Homeland Party, former director of the National Security Service of Armenia Artur Vanetsyan said his opposition Homeland Party will be running in the snap parliamentary elections, but didn’t mention the format.

The Homeland Salvation Movement, in turn, said it will later 'make an official position on the early parliamentary elections.'

Meanwhile, Armenian ex-ruling bloc member Armen Ashotyan wondered under what electoral code and under what electoral regime will the elections be held.

According to the European Platform for Election Observation, snap parliamentary elections in Armenia should only be held under the reformed electoral code.

"The adoption of amendments should be done as soon as possible, even if this goes against general international rules concerning timelines for the calling of elections," the statement said.

  • The Office of the Armenian Prime Minister has issued a clarification in connection with the Administrative Court decision on securing the lawsuit accepted in an administrative case, and which concerns the dismissal of the chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, Onik Gasparyan.

Their remarks came following reports that Onik Gasparyan was present at his job place.

According to the office, on the basis of the constitutional norm, Onik Gasparyan was relieved of his post on 10.03.2021.

"The Constitution has not envisaged the possibility of reversing the act that came into force by virtue of the mentioned constitutional norm," the PM's office added.

  • The number of COVID-19 cases and deaths is increasing in Armenia.

As of Thursday morning, 1,024 new cases of the coronavirus were confirmed in Armenia, and the total number of these cases has reached 181,165 in the country.

Also, 19 more deaths from COVID-19 were registered, making the respective total 3,301 cases.

Meanwhile, Armenian health minister Anahit Avanesyan noted that the number of people contracting COVID-19 continues to grow in Armenia, and therefore new hospitals and beds are being put into operation in the country.

She also touched upon the vaccination issue and said that the processes related to the import of the AstraZeneca vaccine to Armenia depend on the results of research and the course of events.

It is not ruled out that Armenia will import this vaccine against COVID-19, she added.

  • The court session on the criminal case against the third President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan and others resumed Thursday.

The case also includes flash fuel company owner of Barsegh Beglaryan, former Minister of Agriculture Sergo Karapetyan, former Deputy Minister of Agriculture Samvel Galstyan, and Gevorg Harutyunyan, Head of the Plant Breeding Department of the same ministry.

The court hearings, in this case, had been put off for a long time.

Defendants Sergo Karapetyan and Samvel Galstyan have died as a result of the COVID-19.

Serzh Sargsyan has been charged under the Criminal Code article on large-scale embezzlement or squandering.

The third president, however, does not accept the charge against him. And his lawyer Amram Makinyan claims that the charge is concocted.

  • US Congressman Brad Sherman discussed the issue of Armenian prisoners of war in Azerbaijan with Philip Reeker, Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs

According to Sherman, Azerbaijan is in violation of the ceasefire agreement by not having released all POWs.

"I am glad to hear the State Dept has had multiple, substantive conversations with Baku calling for the release of all POWs. It seems to be that Baku gave POWs access to @ICRC in response to US efforts. I will continue to work with the State Dept to release all POWs," he tweeted.