“Zhoghovurd” describes as remarkable the fact that during his ongoing visit to Moscow parliament speaker Galust Sahakian is speaking with Russia’s top legislators only in Armenian. The paper notes that Sahakian similarly used an interpreter when he spoke at a Russian Embassy reception in Yerevan last month. “Sahakian did that after journalist Dmitry Kiselyov and other Russian dignitaries complained during a visit to the National Assembly that even cab drivers in Armenia do not speak Russian and that the Russian language should be given a special status,” it says.
“Hraparak” quotes Ashot Aghababian, a pro-government member of Armenia’s parliament, as saying that he is delighted with Sahakian’s stance. Aghababian says Sahakian is the first Armenian parliament speaker to have addressed Russian officials in Armenian. “Everyone was surprised,” he says. “[Russian Federation Council speaker Valentina] Matvienko even noted that ‘your Russian is excellent, why are you speaking in Armenian?’ Believe me, they all were stunned by the fact that the chairman of the National Assembly is speaking to them in Armenian.”
“Haykakan Zhamanak” reports on a developing scandal sparked by a mural at a newly built church in the village of Koghb in Armenia’s Tavush province. The painting depicts the last supper of Jesus Christ and his apostles. One of them bears a striking resemblance to Tavush’s governor, Hovannes Abovian. “Incidentally, Abovian is a native of Koghb and he is the one who has built the church which was consecrated on June 1 in the presence of Serzh Sarkisian,” writes the paper.
(Hovannes Movsisian)