Digest: Trial on Armenian soldiers death to begin, footballer who played in Armenia commits suicide

Armenian News - NEWS.am presents the daily digest of Armenia-related top news as of 03.09.21:

The circumstances behind the death of many Armenian servicemen who have fallen in the 44-day war in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) last fall are still uncertain.

A number of respective criminal cases are already in court, and the legal successors of the victims are waiting to face the accused.

A trial in the case of the death of 16 servicemen and two officers will get underway on September 7 in Goris city. And the deputy commander of a military unit, Lieutenant Colonel Andranik Veranyan stands accused in this trial.

Before the start of the war, the aforesaid soldiers were serving in the military units of Meghri city and Agarak village of Syunik Province. But once the war started, they were taken to Artsakh. Learning that his son was being taken to Artsakh, the father of one of these servicemen drove—with his own car—to see his son and witnessed how his son and fellow servicemen were killed.

Soldier Artashes Khalatyan, 20, was among these victims. His father, Hakob Khalatyan, claimed to Armenian News-NEWS.am that the cause of death of these soldiers was Lieutenant Colonel Veranyan's order.

Andranik Veranyan has been charged with abusing his official position, negligently causing major material damage.

Andranik Veranyan was detained for two months, but then he was released on a signature bond not to leave Armenia.

The 10th InClassica Dubai International Festival this year brought together famous musicians, orchestras and conductors, including the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra.

The festival, organized by the the European Foundation for Support of Culture (EUFSC) in cooperation with SAMIT Event Group, started on August 28.

The foundation plans to hold a concert series in the best halls of the world. One of the 20 concerts will be held in Armenia within the framework of cooperation with the Armenian Symphony Orchestra.

The festival will be attended by the Russian National Orchestra, the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, the German State Philharmonic of Rhineland-Palatinate, the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra, and other famous orchestras which will present a variety of concert programs. The visitors of the festival will also be able to listen to many premieres.

44-day war’s satellite footage may end up in the Armenian opposition’s hands, Hraparak daily reported referring to sources.

"The representatives of one of the countries that has an artificial satellite in space have contacted some circles of Armenia’s opposition, and offered them to provide some footage at their disposal—and which are related to Armenia.

Among them is especially the 44-day war’s whole footage, by viewing of which one can get a clear idea of what tactics Azerbaijan carried out during those 44 days [last fall], and how Armenia lost," the newspaper added.

As of Friday morning, 595 new cases of the coronavirus were confirmed in Armenia, and the total number of these cases has reached 243,981 in the country.

Also, 16 more deaths from COVID-19 were registered, making the respective total 4,892 cases.