Protests in Armenia

1 Iraq

The ’Axios’ reported while citing their sources that the USA could close the US embassy in Baghdad after the recent rocket attack on the Green Zone, where the government agencies and foreign diplomatic missions are located. The attack took place on Sunday. 8 rocket hit the «green zone», resulting in the death of 1 Iraqi citizen. The US Embassy building suffered some minor damage. The US Secretary of State, Michael Pompeo, blamed the Iran-backed armed groups for the incident.

2 Armenia

An opposition protest took place in Yerevan, near the Government House. The special forces of the Armenian police set up a cordon in order to prevent the opposition activists from blocking the government building. Additional policemen arrived at the area — they were equipped with shields and helmets. They joined the cordon at the entrance to the government building. The TASS news agency reported that a fight began after an attempt by the protesters to keep the government cars out of the building’s backyard. After that the arrests of the protesters have started. The press service of the Armenian police reported that 69 activists were detained during the opposition rally near the government building. «At the moment 69 citizens, who participated in the protest near the government building, have been arrested» — the message stated. On Wednesday, a representative of the opposition party ’’Dashnaktsutyun’’, Gegam Manukyan, called to block all the entrances of the government building so that the Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and members of the government can’t enter the building.

3 Armenia

On Wednesday, the press service of the Armenian government reported that the Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan highly appreciated «the activities of the Russian Emergency Ministry, aimed to restore the normal life in Nagorno-Karabakh». Pashinyan said so during a meeting with the head of the Russian Emergency Ministry, Yevgeny Zinichev. He added that Armenia is interested «in a further development of the cooperation with Russia in all activities, including security, economy, and humanitarian matters.» In response, Evgeny Zinichev spoke in detail about the humanitarian activities of the Russian Emergency Ministry in Nagorno-Karabakh. He noted that the transportation of the humanitarian cargo, and other such works, are being carried out without problems, in a close cooperation with the Armenian partners.

4 Nagorno-Karabakh

The Russian Emergencies Ministry reported that the humanitarian aid for the population of Nagorno-Karabakh was delivered completely. «On 23rd of December an another batch of railway cars with humanitarian cargo for Nagorno-Karabakh has arrived. 127 tons of metal profiles, 10,000 cubic meters of glass, 2,200 household items, and 400 pre-fabricated heat-intensive furnaces were delivered on 9 wagons» — the message stated. In total, from 11th to 23rd of December, 54 wagons with humanitarian aid, with a total mass of about 1,200 tons, have arrived in Karabakh.

5 Iraq

The Iraqi TV channel ’Rudaw’ reported that a fire at an oil refinery near the administrative center of the Erbil province, in the Iraqi Kurdistan, killed 3 people. 1 worker was seriously injured and burned. The local civil defense department reported that the fire started in a warehouse located in the central part of the oil facility. The fire was localized. The local authorities began the investigation of the incident and the causes of the fire, as well as the assessment of the damage, caused to the oil refinery.

6 Moldova

Maia Sandu took office as the President of Moldova. The inauguration of the elected President of Moldova took place in the presence of parliamentarians, the members of the Constitutional Court, and the foreign diplomats. The ceremony was broadcasted by the «Moldova 1» TV channel. Igor Dodon, who left the presidency, and the deputies of the ’’Party of Socialists’’ that supported him, did not take part in the ceremony. As Igor Dodon said — according to the protocol, he is not obliged to attend the ceremony in which he has no role other than as a spectator. At the same time, he is obliged to participate in the ceremony of transfer of power, which will take place after the inauguration, in the building of the presidential administration. Constantine Reztsov, specially for ANNA NEWS.