On a tip from the Haynews.am news site regarding illegal tree felling in the village of Garni, the Kotayk Regional Prosecutor directed local police to investigate. Cops discovered 77 cases of illegal felling and estimated the damage to worth around 2.4 million AMD. They have sent their findings to the Kotayk Investigative Unit for review.

A celebratory event, devoted to the 20th anniversary of Armenia’s Armed Forces, was held on February 1 at the US Central Command. The event brought together high-ranking officers and civilian officials from more than sixty countries. Lieutenant Colonel A. Mkrtchyan, Armenian Armed Forces representative for US Central Command, delivered opening remarks and presented the Armenian army’s history.

French President Nilocas Sarkozy and his Foreign Minister Alain Juppe differ on the genocide denial bill that recently passed the French Senate. As CNN Turk reported, citing French media, Sarkozy criticized Juppe for his position, making the latter keep silent on the matter. On January 23, the French Senate passed the bill criminalizing the Armenian Genocide denial with 127 votes for and 86 against.