Armenia 2015

Kanye West – in the Swan Lake

April this year was overwhelmed by events, especially for Yerevan residents. The famous Kardashian family arrived in Armenia, and, in the beginning, in the focus were the sisters – Kim and Khloe. However, at the end of the visit, Kanye West, an equally famous spouse of the well-know Kim, had a weighty man’s utterance.

During a free outdoor concert, Kanye West finished the Good Life song by an unprecedented jump into the Swan Lake, next to which he performed. The audience rushed into the water in delight, hoping to shake the favorite artist’s hand. Perhaps, Yerevan residents will long memorize this brief concert.

Pope’s Mass in the Vatican

His Holiness, Pope Francis I served the Mass to commemorate the victims of Armenian genocide of 1915, in St. Peter’s Basilica, on April 12. Almost the entire political elite of Armenia attended the Holy Mass. This event was no less exciting for all Armenians around the world, who could not come to St. Peter’s Basilica.

 
Photo by Davit Hakobyan

 
Video by Davit Hakobyan

Photographer Davit Hakobyan, who attended the Mass and who provided these photos, says that when duduk sounded in the St. Peter’s Basilica, many of our compatriots could not refrain from tears.

With torches to Tsitsernakaberd

Every year, on April 24, a mass march is held in Yerevan, the participants in which walk throughout the city with torches, national flags and flowers – from the center to Tsitsernakaberd – a memorial to Armenian Genocide victims.

Torchlight procession is a traditional event, initiated and organized by the youth wing of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun.

 
Participants in the march with torches pass along the Orbeli brothers street         

 
The march participants carry a huge flag of Armenia to Tsitsernakaberd

System in the rain

On the same day, despite the bad weather, an unprecedented concert of the System of a Down band brought together at the Republic Square not only the locals, but also the foreign rock lovers, including numerous guests, who arrived from Georgia and Iran. This concert was also dedicated to the anniversary of the tragic events of 1915.

#ElectricYerevan

On June 22, after 1 a.m., the police tried to disperse the participants in the rally, who protested against increase in electricity prices, from the central thoroughfare of the capital of Armenia – Baghramyan Avenue. For that purpose, the police officers in civilian clothes and watering machines were involved by the police.

However, Baghramyan Avenue opened just for a few hours. Some time later, the protesters returned and blocked the avenue again. The number of protesters even increased.

This is one of the most vivid episodes of civil protest of the year 2015.

Betrayal in football

Armenian national football team’s defeats has become this year’s greatest disappointment for all Armenian fans. Armenian football players finished the Euro-2016 qualifiers with complete failure. Until now, there have been debates on whether the game with Albania was ‘sold’. President of the Armenian Football Federation called some of the players the ‘traitors’. He, however, did not specify their names.

 
Armenia – Albania 1: 1 Yerevan, Republican stadium

 
Marcos Pizzelli failed to score a goal after making an 11-meter penalty kick

Armenia – Denmark 0: 0, both teams are not satisfied with the result

‘Yes’ to parliamentarization

Armenia finished the year with a transition from semi-presidential to parliamentary form of government. According to the official data, the majority of country’s population (63.37%) voted for the parliamentary republic in December 6 constitutional referendum.

During the referendum, both, the journalists and the observers, reported on numerous electoral violations. The opposition believes that the outcome of the referendum does not reflect the people’s will.