301🇦🇲

The Media Self-Regulation Issues body determined that the Public TV Company of Armenia violated ethical norms by inciting negative attitudes towards the people of Artsakh. This conclusion followed a complaint from Artak Beglaryan, chairman of the "Artsakh Union." He requested a review of two reports aired by the Public TV Company of Armenia (also known as “H1”) on May 24 and June 6. The reports, covering a criminal case related to the distribution of money for participating in opposition rallies, disproportionately emphasized the Artsakh origin of the alleged criminals, generalizing and provoking negative attitudes towards Artsakh residents. In the May 24 report, a conversation in the Artsakh dialect was paired with an image of Russian rubles, despite the discussion being about Armenian drams, seemingly linking the "criminal act" to Russia. In the June 6 report, another conversation in the Artsakh dialect was mistranslated, further inciting negative attitudes. Beglaryan argued that these distortions fueled bias against the people of Artsakh. Hovhannes Movsisyan, executive director of the Public TV Company of Armenia, stated that the reports were broadcasting official statements from the Investigative Committee. However, the Media Self-Regulation Issues body concluded that this did not exempt the station from following journalistic ethics. The station violated privacy norms, perpetuated negative stereotypes about Artsakh residents, and failed to remove inflammatory comments on social media. The Media Self-Regulation Issues body expressed hope that such ethical lapses would not recur and required the Public TV Company of Armenia to publish its conclusions regarding the violations on its website without additional commentary.

The European Running Target Championship kicked off in Plzeň, Czech Republic, with the adult shooters competing on the first day. Representing Armenia, Gohar Harutyunyan emerged as the standout performer in the women’s 10-meter running target event. Harutyunyan showcased her skill and precision, defeating her Ukrainian rivals with a commanding 6:2 victory in the semi-final and an even more decisive 6:1 win in the final. Her exceptional performance earned her the title of European champion. This achievement was reported by the Armenian Shooting Federation.

French-Armenian journalist Agnès Vahramian has been appointed director of franceinfo, a radio network operated by the French national public broadcaster, France Télévisions. The announcement was made by Radio France CEO Sibyle Veil on Tuesday, August 27. Vahramian will officially assume her new role on September 16. Previously, she served as France Télévisions' Middle East correspondent and was a war correspondent in Ukraine. She also held the position of correspondent in the United States. Before these assignments, Vahramian was the deputy editorial director of France 2, editor-in-chief of “Envoyé Spécial,” and later of the 8 p.m. news on France 2. She succeeds Jean-Philippe Baille, who has led franceinfo since January 2021.

The best adventures always happen spontaneously - an idea that comes at the right moment, a few phone calls, and there you go, packing the backpack to hit the road, this time towards Mount Khustup. Located in the Syunik Province of Armenia, this mountain is truly the jewel of the Khustup-Katar mountain range. The mountain also holds historic significance, as it was a stronghold of the legendary Armenian military commander Garegin Nzhdeh during the early 20th century struggle for Armenian independence. 301 correspondent Gaya Sarkisian 🎼: Apo Sahagian - Lerner Hayreni

Armenian schoolchildren have won three bronze medals at the 17th International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA) held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from August 17-27, 2024. The prestigious event gathered 232 students from 53 countries, with each nation represented by up to five participants. The Armenian team, composed of four students from the Physmath School named after A. Shahinyan, performed admirably. The team members included 12th grader Arsen Aghayan and 11th graders Narek Galstyan, Gor Hasratyan, and Emil Musheghyan. Arsen Aghayan, Gor Hasratyan, and Emil Musheghyan secured bronze medals, while Narek Galstyan received a certificate of commendation. The team was led by Hrant Topchyan from the Yerevan Institute of Physics and Karen Baghdasaryan from Yerevan State University (YSU). This achievement builds on Armenia's previous success at the 16th IOAA in 2023, where the team won one silver and one bronze medal.

Armenia Announces 26-Man Squad for UEFA Nations League Matches Against Latvia and North Macedonia Armenia's national football team, led by head coach Oleksandr Petrakov, has released its 26-man roster for the upcoming UEFA Nations League clashes. The team is set to host Latvia on September 7 in Yerevan, followed by an away match against North Macedonia in Skopje on September 10. **Goalkeepers:** - Ognjen Cancarevic (FC Noah) - Arsen Beglaryan (FC Ararat-Armenia) - Henri Avagyan (FC Pyunik) - Arman Nersesyan (BKMA) **Defenders:** - Varazdat Haroyan (Qingdao West Coast FC, China) - Andre Calisir (IF Brommapojkarna, Sweden) - Styopa Mkrtchyan (NK Osijek, Croatia) - Georgi Arutunian (FC Krasnodar, Russia) - Nair Tiknizyan (FC Lokomotiv, Russia) - Edgar Grigoryan (FC Ararat-Armenia) - Erik Simonyan (FC Urartu) - Sergey Muradian (FC Noah) - Kamo Hovhannisyan (FC Ararat-Armenia) - David Davidyan (FC Pyunik) **Midfielders/Forwards:** - Eduard Spertsyan (FC Krasnodar, Russia) - Ugochukwu Iwu (FC Rubin, Russia) - Vahan Bichakhchyan (Pogoń Szczecin, Poland) - Edgar Sevikyan (Ferencvárosi TC, Hungary) - Grant-Leon Ranos (Borussia Mönchengladbach, Germany) - Zhirayr Shaghoyan (Debreceni VSC, Hungary) - Lucas Zelarayan (Al Fateh SC, Saudi Arabia) - Aram Khamoyan (BKMA) - Artak Dashyan (FC Noah) - Gor Manvelyan (FC Noah) - Hovhannes Harutyunyan (FC Ararat-Armenia) - Artur Serobyan (FC Ararat-Armenia) The Armenian squad will convene for a training camp from September 1 to 8 at the FFA Technical Centre/Football Academy. These crucial UEFA Nations League matches will be key as Armenia looks to secure important points and improve their standing in the competition.

Red Cross Representatives Visit Armenian Political Prisoners Illegally Detained in Baku In August, representatives from the ICRC visited Armenian detainees held in Baku. This visit was confirmed to the media by Zara Amatuni, Head of Communication Programs at the ICRC office in Armenia. Amatuni stated that the detainees were allowed to communicate with their family members. It is important to note that following the occupation of Artsakh in September 2023, Azerbaijani forces detained several prominent Armenian figures, including former State Minister of Artsakh Ruben Vardanyan; former Presidents of the Republic of Artsakh Arkadi Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, and Arayik Harutyunyan; Speaker of the Artsakh National Assembly Davit Ishkhanyan; former Foreign Minister Davit Babayan; former Commander of the Defense Army Levon Mnatsakanyan; and former Deputy Commander of the Defense Army Davit Manukyan. They have been unlawfully charged under various articles of Azerbaijan's criminal code.

Prominent Armenian wrestlers, including Malkhas Amoyan, Vazgen Tevanyan, and Arsen Harutyunyan, have been drafted into the Armenian army. In an announcement by Armenia's Ministry of Defense on the final day of the draft, it was revealed that 10 wrestlers, among them world and European champions as well as Olympic medalists, are set to begin their mandatory military service. These athletes will be assigned to a specialized sports battalion, where they will serve for the next two years. Notably, Malkhas Amoyan recently earned a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, adding to his distinguished career just weeks before his conscription.

Azerbaijan has imposed entry bans on Frank Schwabe, head of the German delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), along with six Swedish members of parliament. These decisions follow their recent votes against Azerbaijan in PACE. In response to the ban, Schwabe criticized the Azerbaijani government, stating on the social media platform X: “Entry bans in democracies only apply to extremists and violent criminals. I assume that my entry ban in Azerbaijan is more the hallmark of a flawless dictatorship.” The six Swedish MPs were barred from entering Azerbaijan ahead of the upcoming COP29 climate summit. Reports suggest the ban is directly linked to their votes against Azerbaijan during a recent PACE session. Markus Wiechel, head of the Swedish delegation to PACE, expressed little surprise at the decision, telling Blankspot: “I am not surprised at all. It was quite expected and inevitable. I have long criticized the Azerbaijani dictatorship and its actions against Nagorno-Karabakh [editors note: Artsakh]. I am glad that all the Swedes present voted this way, and I have absolutely no regrets about it.”

FC Yerevan defeats Turkish champion Şişli 4:1 in UEFA Futsal Champions League. In an impressive display of skill and determination, the Armenian futsal team "Yerevan" secured a 4:1 victory over the Turkish champions "Şişli" during the third round of Group D in the UEFA Futsal Champions League preliminary qualifying round. This crucial win brings Yerevan's record to two victories and one defeat, allowing them to finish in 2nd place in their group.