The past of virology and present in Armenia


Viruses became known to science as infectious agents only in the late 19th century, but they have been around for thousands of years. Many dangerous diseases known to mankind, even some types of cancer have viral pathogens. People are terrified of them because they do not see with the naked eye, they do not have much knowledge about them. What has virology done in the past, what is the future of that science in our country?

 

 

How to overcome the coronavirus crisis


Due to the increase of coronavirus cases and the establishment of a state of emergency in the country, people's behavior has changed. Contrary to many people's urging to stay calm and act without panic these days, the opposite is happening. The fear that our healthcare system does not have the preparation with which China overcame the infection has become a cause of tension. What should everyone know these days? The chief pathologist of Yerevan Armen Mkhitaryan and psychotherapist Armen Abgaryan are discussing.

 

 

Following another woman-murder case


After another woman-murder case in Gyumri, the Human Rights Defender published statistics that in 2019, 359 cases of domestic violence were not processed. That is about 74% of the total cases. And about 69% of the completed proceedings have been terminated. According to the Human Rights Defender, this means that the state body does not respond properly to the cases of violence.

 

 

Resocialization With Under-developed Services


Shortly after the amnesty declared in November 2018, the RA Chief of Police mentioned that some of the those discharged from prison due to amnesty committed offences again. According to experts, after the amnesty, the growth of offenses is a consequence of ineffective work of the penitentiary system. How are the employment and works of current and former convicts ensured in our country as important conditions for re-socialization?

Public Judgement of the Life-Time Prisoners


Recently, the news media and social media had intense discussions on the issue of the life-time prisoner in the Justice Ministry's pardon commission, which started the "public trial". How does the community perceive the life-time prisoners and who decides to forgive the convict, the public, the state, or the victim's legal successor? 
Interview with human rights defender Vardan Harutyunyan and spiritual servant of life sentenced prisoners of "Nubarashen" and "Armavir" Penitentiaries Father Grigor Hovhannisyan.

2019 – Year of Family


Armenian Apostolic Church declared the year 2019 year of family. What is the purpose? What will be the programs addressed at the the family institute? 
Interview with Father Markos Mangasaryan and psychologist Irina Khanamiryan.
 

Not Repeating Past Mistakes


After the velvet revolution, the relations between the legislative and executive powers of the country have found themselves in a situation, where separate episodes remind of the relations between the parliament and government of the First Republic of Armenia. The political system of the first and third republics is vulnerable especially from the perspective of autocratic aspirations. At the moment there are great expectations from the new elections and the maturity of the nation to be displayed during these elections. What should we know about the past to make the future secure? 

Us and Sustainable Democracy


According to the experts, the Armenian revolution can not be considered complete until it harbors at a sustainable democratic haven. How to recognize and distinguish true democracy, how to achieve sustainable democracy, do the societies realize and demand democratic values? And finally, how to avoid the dangerous turns of the political system? 
Lusine Kharatyan, a member of the Educational Civic Initiative, and Edgar Vardanyan, a political analyst discuss the topic.
 

Anti-Canonical Issues, Church Reformations


The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin announced that it had decided to apply to Catholicos of all Armenians on initiating examination of Koryun Arakelyan's anti-canonical and anti-church actions with the Disciplinary Committee of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. The church council has clarified that obstructing the liturgy and disrupting the prayer atmosphere in the church hurts the spiritual feelings of many believers. The debate on the pavilion of "Option" refers to the moral and ethical issues that have emerged as a result of recent protests.
 

Authorities-Public Linkage After Revolution


The public perception is virtually undoubtable that the author of the current changes in Armenia is the nation. Consequently, each one seeks to contribute to the processes following the change of power. Will the citizen's contribution hereinafter be of demand , which was so appreciated in the heat of the revolution. What is the power-to-public relation and what is the potential of their current communication in terms of social change? 
Discussion by sociologist Zhanna Andreasyan and writer Hovhannes Yeranyan.
 

The Church will Overcome This Crisis Too


According to the Primate of Shirak Diocese Bishop Mikayel Ajapahyan, the movement “New Armenia, New Patriarch” has started with features specific to dissenters and is turning into a sect. However, the final definition can be attached only by the higher ecclesiastical authority. 
 

Disclosure Time


In recent days, social networks and online media have been publishing calls for protests addressed to the Armenian Church, the clergy of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and Catholicos of All Armenians. The authors of several protest letters published on the internet are priest who have been defrocked in previous years, who have also offered to run a protest march to solve their problems. The Mother See, as well as the members of the General Congregation, have addressed letters and videos in which they offer to solve problems in compliance with the rules adopted in the church. Why did need for this tactic of protest arise, and how do these developments relate to the context of the velvet revolution? 
Head of the Information Department of the Mother See Father Vahram Melikyan and journalist Ara Galoyan are discussing the topic.