Armenian News - NEWS.am presents a daily digest of Armenia-related top news as of 27.08.2020:

• Armenia confirmed 203 COVID-19 new cases Thursday and the total number of cases has reached 43,270.

The death toll has reached 865.

The number of people recovered so far is 36,988, and the number of people currently being treated is 5,153.

A total of 200,507 COVID-19 tests have been performed to date.

• The Court of General Jurisdiction of Yerevan on Thursday denied the defense lawyers' motion to release Gagik Khachatryan—former Minister of Finance and ex-Chairman of the State Revenue Committee (SRC) of Armenia—from custody.

His attorneys argued that there was no reason to keep their client in custody. They also pointed out Khachatryan's health problems.

Gagik Khachatryan has been charged under the Criminal Code articles on the abuse of power, embezzlement or squandering, taking a bribe, and official fraud. And his nephew Karen Khachatryan, former head of the SRC Internal Security Department, has been charged under the Criminal Code articles on embezzlement or squandering, and official fraud.

Both do not accept the charges.

• At Thursday's Cabinet meeting, the government approved the package of bills that will allow continuing the fight against COVID-19 and protecting the lives and health of citizens without extending the current state of emergency in Armenia.

Minister of justice Rustam Badasyan presented this package.

"According to the drafts, quarantine can be established in case of infectious diseases’ importation, penetration into Armenia, the risk of their emerging and spread, outbreaks, emerging of an epidemic, as well as emerging of emergencies as their result," Badasyan said.

• At the beginning of the year, minister of health Arsen Torosyan had asked the prime minister to propose to the president to award the Order of the Motherland to Dr. Hagop (Hrayr) Hovaguimian for exceptional services rendered to Armenia in the development of health care, establishment of an innovative medical center carrying out complex heart surgeries, training of many new specialist, saving many human lives, and for years of selfless work. The Ministry of Health on Thursday noted this on Facebook.

"And today, by the decree of the president, the merited doctor has been awarded the Order of the Homeland."

• Armenian Lebanese designer Talar Malkadjian has released her first collection, which is inspired by her homeland Armenia.

The 20-year-old designer says her Collection I: Street Style EVN line showcases her love towards street fashion and Yerevan on the whole.

Talar plans to donate a percentage of the proceeds from Collection I to the Armenian Relief Society to help Lebanon relief efforts.