Armenian News - NEWS.am presents the daily digest of Armenia-related top news as of 07.02.22:

  • Eight Armenian prisoners of war (POWs) on Monday returned from Azerbaijan to Armenia through the mediation of the French government and the European Union.

Some of these POWs are the Armenian servicemen who were taken prisoner during the November 16, 2021 clashes.

French Ambassador to Armenia Anne Louyot, and the head of the EU Delegation to Armenia, Ambassador Andrea Wiktorin, were at the Yerevan airport where they met the plane carrying these POWs.

The POWs were transported from the Azerbaijani capital Baku to the Armenian capital on board a French plane.

French President Emmanuel Macron has already welcomed the release of eight Armenians from Azerbaijani captivity.

  • Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met via videoconference on Friday through the mediation and participation of French President Emmanuel Macron, the co-chairing country of the OSCE Minsk Group, and European Council President Charles Michel, the press service of the Armenian government informed NEWS.am.

The sides exchanged views on resolving existing humanitarian issues, unblocking corridors and regional infrastructure under the sovereignty and authority of the two countries, reducing tensions and demarcating the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, opening access to Nagorno-Karabakh for international organizations, and a wide range of other issues.

Prime Minister Pashinyan stressed the importance of a lasting settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the signing of a peace agreement under the co-chairmanship of the OSCE Minsk Group․

A Yerevan court on Monday granted the petition by the National Security Service (NSS) to remand suspended Bakhshiyan in custody.

Bakhshiyan is the judge who had commuted the pretrial measure of detention that was imposed against Ashot Minasyan—a.k.a. Ashot the Iron, the commander of the "Sisakan" detachment and a participant in the three wars—and released him on bail and a signature bond not to leave Armenia.

Judge Bakhshiyan’s lawyers consider these processes as political persecution against him. According to them, Judge Boris Bakhshiyan's constitutional rights have been violated.

  • Freedom House notes with great concern the first criminal conviction of an Armenian citizen under the new provision of the Criminal Code criminalizing 'serious insults' against government officials. 

“We call on the parliament to revoke this law that so brazenly violates the principles enshrined in the Armenian Constitution, the country’s OSCE commitments, and the European Convention on Human rights to which it is party," the organization noted.

  • A joint Russian-Chinese statement approved as a result of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Beijing symbolizes a transition to a completely different structure of international relations, according to The Daily Telegraph.

The newspaper notes that Putin’s meeting with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in the Chinese capital that took place "at a moment of immense international tension," is ushering in "the arrival of a new geopolitical era." According to the article, "from now on, the dominance of the US-led global West will no longer be taken for granted - or tolerated."

The Daily Telegraph also emphasizes that the close partnership between China and Russia does not allow the US to shift the focus of attention to the situation in the Pacific region which Washington views as the priority foreign policy direction.

  • It's already the third day of the winder Olympics Games in Beijing.

Russia won the team figure skating competition, leaving behind the United States and Japan. 

In slalom alpine skiing, Sweden rose to the top of the medal standings with 3 gold medals, leaving Russia and Norway behind.

Meanwhile, German Denise Herrmann won the title of champion in the 15 km women's biathlon, leaving behind French Anais Chevalier-Bouchet.

  • Kylie Jenner on Sunday announced that she gave birth to her second child with artist Travis Scott in an Instagram post, Insider reported.

She shared the announcement with a black and white photo of the newborn's hand with the caption: "2/2/22."

The reality television star and businesswoman had given birth to the couple's first child, Stormi, on February 1, 2018.

  • The number of followers of Manchester United star forward and Portuguese national football squad captain Cristiano Ronaldo, 37, has reached 400 million on Instagram.

American media personality, socialite, model, and businesswoman Kylie Jenner, who is in second place with this indicator, has 308 million followers.

PSG and Argentine national football team star striker Lionel Messi is third, with 306 million followers on Instagram.