Another Anti-Racism Protest in Yerevan
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic Square, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia 2006
As mentioned in the last post, there was another demonstration staged in Yerevan to protest racist attacks on ethnic Armenians in Russia. The action followed a similar intiative staged outside the Russian Embassy in June and recent tragic news that a 15-year-old fell victim to skinheads in Moscow at the weekend.
Coincidently, a press conference was also held in Yerevan this week on the same issue. Armenia Now has more.
A teenage boy has become the latest casualty in a long-running series of crimes against Armenians (and other non-Russians) perpetrated by organized gangs believed to be inspired by fascist ideology.
Narek Kocharyan, 15, was beaten and stabbed to death in the settlement of Ivanteyevka in the Moscow region last Saturday (November 11).
“We believe this is an offense of special severity, doubtlessly, a group crime racially motivated,” said Simon Tsaturyan, the lawyer representing the Union of Armenians of Russia in an interview to Radio Liberty. Tsaturyan said a scarf “with fascist symbols” was found at the crime scene.
The teenager’s death brings to at least 14 race-related deaths, of which 6 were Armenian.
[…]
“One can’t state directly that the organizer of such murders and cruelties is the state. But noticeably the killings are sponsored by some structures,” says Avetik Ishkhanyan, the chairman of the Helsinki Committee of Armenia.
Hranush Kharatyan, the head of the agency for ethnic minorities and religious issues under the government of the Republic of Armenia charges that Russian authorities tolerate racism.
“The atmosphere in Russia is heated up now. The disclosure of the killings is either avoided or delayed. It’s a part of a political program,” says Kharatyan. “I doubt if letters, whether closed or open, or the meetings will help, if Russia has decided to exterminate Armenians. Racism is a very serious problem and it will not suffice with Armenians alone.”
Anyway, the demonstration didn’t attract many participants, but considering the number of passer-bys that signed the petition which was later handed into the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, I think it can be considered a success. Indeed, growing concern has prompted the Government to demand that the perpetrators be found and prosecuted for the racially-motivated crimes.
The RA Foreign Ministry has sent an official letter to the RF Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of Internal Affairs demanding to reveal the brutal murder of 15-year-old Narek Kocharyan. Let us remind you that Narek Kocharyan was killed in Ivantevka on Saturday.
At about 06-07:00 p.m. when he was having a walk with his friends several young people attacked him and stabbed with knives as a result of which the boy died.
A deep wound was found on the neck of the boy which testified to the fact that the criminals had tried to suffocate him. According to the Union of Armenians in Russia, a scarf was found next to the body with the mark of a skull on it which proves that the criminals were members of a fascist organization.
Well, many people here consider that letters between the two Foreign Ministries are too little too late, but at least something is being done, I suppose. Meanwhile, and quite ironic given fascist attacks on Armenians in Russia, the swastikas some of us cleaned off walls near Republic Square in October are now back again (see photos below).
From what I gather, another cleanup is planned for tomorrow. For more information on that see the comments section on Thomas Seropian’s blog, Follow The Way.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic Square, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia 2006
Republic Square, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia 2006
RFE/RL now has a story on today’s protest although I think it’s fair to say that there reference to dozen young men is wrong or a typo. In fact, it was quite an even split between male and female, perhaps even with the latter in the majority.
Incidently, the rather attractive young woman speaking to the policeman and a journalist in the photos above is Izabela Sarkisian. If the babe theory of political movements is anything to go by, Armenia is progressing on that front at least.
Comment by Onnik — November 17, 2006 @ 11:02 pm
Bella Sargsyan is a good friend of mine from London/Yerevan. I was about to ID her in your photos, but looks like you already did. She is much more than just a pretty face.
Comment by Katy — November 18, 2006 @ 1:59 am
I can well believe it, and that was part of the point. In recent years protest demonstrations have been typified by people over the age of 45, and mostly male. Finally, we’re starting to get back to a situation last seen in 1996 when young Armenians with a stake in the future of the country are becoming active. Unfortunately, they’re still an insignificant minority of the population, but at least it’s a start.
Comment by Onnik — November 18, 2006 @ 2:28 am
Thanks to those who organized this protest. Although few people appeared, at least the message was passed and the passer-bys, some of who hadn’t even heard about the murders now know more. We must never keep silence to announce the truth and demand justice with the fear that someone can punish us. Incidentally I was told that many TVs were said about this action, but I saw only one appeared. ????????? Other more important things were to do??
Anyways. Well done! Let’s hope that things can be changed by those little steps.
Comment by Zarchka — November 18, 2006 @ 3:51 pm
Forgot to say that other bloggers were in attendance. Akhtamar from Armyouth was obviously there, as was Zarchka from Life Around Me and Anoush from the Armenian Volunteer Corps blog and Anoush Armenia. I would have posted some pics of Zarchka at the demo, but she’s banned me from doing so. Pity. Although I know I’m likely to get hit for this later, she’s also another politically active, attractive and intelligent young woman.
As for the media, I’m told Shant TV was there, but apparently no H1, Armenia TV, Yerkir etc. I’m also told that A1 Plus had a reporter present as did Armenia Liberty, obviously. Isabella says she sent invitations to all the media outlets, she said, and I sent some alerts to others such as Armenia Now who didn’t show up although they did cover the press conference earlier in the week. There was at least one other journalist there, although I’d personally like to say that I’m tired of police trying to prevent photographers from doing their job.
One policeman told me that it was illegal to take a photo of any scene with them in, which is nonsense because I’ve raised this issue with the Media people at the MFA. When told this the policeman then contradicted himself and said that “oh, sure, it’s not illegal, but it is illegal if you take a photo quite close.” Actually, I ignore these statements and continue to do my job because they’re not going to arrest a foreign journalist when they’re making up the law on the spot or still living in the Soviet era.
However, you can now understand why there are concerns with the types of reporting coming out of Armenia. For a local journalist, activist or demonstration participant the “law” is made up virtually on the spot, and it’s why unless you know your rights and are prepared to stand your ground, little is achieved in terms of bringing certain issues to the public’s attention.
Interestingly, however, the media turnout for this event was insignificant compared to the event outside the Russian Foreign Ministry in June. Not sure why — a genuine lack of interest, or political reasons. As we all know, with the newspapers and TV stations controlled by political forces and the online media generally influenced by whoever funds them openly or behind closed doors, what makes it into our newspapers or onto the screens of our televisions and computers isn’t really governed by the need to inform the population.
Self-censorship for perceived political or economic reasons linked to the interests of those that finance ALL the media outlets in Armenia are really a problem here and that has to change. For one, if it’s not law already I think that all media outlets should be made to reveal the names of those that finance them, and any “commissioned” articles be identified as such. Incidently, this is as much a problem in the opposition and “independent” media as in those outlets controlled by the State.
All that said, perhaps the one media outlet I rely on the most is also one of those often accused of having an agenda in Armenia. For sure its establishment served a purpose during the Cold War, and probably still does now, but it’s news from Armenia can’t be beat. I personally recommend everyone interested in Armenian news to access RFE/RL’s Armenia Liberty site every week day.
Comment by Onnik — November 18, 2006 @ 4:19 pm
Thomas Seropian from Follow The Way has now posted an update on the latest cleanup of swastikas nr Republic Square with accompanying photos.
Comment by Onnik — November 20, 2006 @ 2:33 pm
spending a long term living in Armenia that was a great experience through which i gained best friends and had the chance to meet a woman i love much. and from my personal point of view and i am sure lot support it i can say that the Armenians of Armenia have nothing to do with racism, and it is hard to manipulate them to go that way. the whole matter comes from teh diaspora law profile ppl who treat armenian as a lost paradise and try to turn it into gheto against the surounding communities in which-in fact- they have been living in for generations where they sheltered from the genocide and these countries are middle eastern - lebanon, syria, egypt, iran- then comes those who were so proud during the 90th to tell everyone that ARMENIAN MAFIA in russia is the strongest and most respected!!!!!!! as we understand that diaspora land is under the turkish ocupation and as we understand that these diaspora suffer ID conflect but these must not be convied to the armenian peaceful socity. cuz it is very wise to think of couple of million of armenias still sharing the others land and air and work and taking these into concederation can save alot of good future for every mankind who live on these earth in condetions he himself may wount chose if could.
Armenians may should watch for the Armenia and yerevan before the diaspora erritated mentality screw the whole things up.
discussing the whole topic must start from reading the armenian context fully before telling whre is the problem and how to fix it
my sincere regards and loyality to the whole nice ppl i met and wellcomed me and any other no matter what the passport he can tempt with or the visa he can deliver.
Comment by simon — November 21, 2006 @ 6:10 pm
when armenians write NO ARABS !!! does this mean they have to clear the whole arabs of arab countries where milions of armenians live?? just cuz armenians cant live with arab?
or does this sugest that after the armenian who is alive in a way or another because arabs and moslems save them and now as they can visit yerevan city they want to say we dont want to see arabs here ! or is it another way to make money to stand in the raw of the countires that make money by supporting the american policy against arab across the world? well in arab countries there are kurds, armenians , chichin , turkmen and other ppl who all live and no matter what ur gangs write or say on ur walls , that not going to make of us any racists. and u have to live with the fact that u r making living from trading the ppl who supported u and still. just cuz u think this can be profitable.
Comment by kadeja — November 22, 2006 @ 1:53 am
no arabs means
that we dont want arab sub-humans in our country
armenia is for armenians.
these arabs are causing lots of troubles to europe and armenia.
not to mention they never miss any chance to bash our girls.
arabs get benefitted from armenians that live in arabia countries.
while we dont see anything except violence,rap murders and problems.
WE WANT THEM OUT.
the storry of russia skinheads must be good example for us to what happen
if there will be lots of arabs in armenia.
Comment by leo matousian — December 21, 2006 @ 10:30 pm
For people in Europe who have been sympathetic to the cause of the Armenian people, like me e.g., it is deplorably saddening to read utterly fascist commentaries like that by leo matousian, posted here December 21,2006. Doesn’t Armenia have already enough problems?
Comment by Karl G. Mund — January 14, 2007 @ 9:56 pm
leo_matousian is an idiot. He posts on Stormfront, which is one of the stupidest websites on the entire internet.
Comment by patrick — January 27, 2007 @ 7:13 pm
[quote=]leo_matousian is an idiot. He posts on Stormfront, which is one of the stupidest websites on the entire internet.
[/quote]
how impressive *g*
Comment by leo matousian — February 2, 2007 @ 8:59 pm
People who like to see Armenian girls getting married with arabs are our enemies, especially Europeans that ruined their countries with interracial marriages and now they try “teach” that science to our nation.
Russian skinheads are tatar mongols controlled by jews…
Comment by Concious Armenian — February 2, 2007 @ 11:23 pm
Yethe Rusakan racistneri dem eq cuyc anum uremn sheshteq, Hay Racistneri het inch gorc uneq? Haykakan rasistakan sharzhumn amenic araj rus srikaneri dem e handes galis, qani vor nranq III Reichi veh simvolner@ ogtagorcum en Ariakan Hay azgi dem yerb henc irenq mec masamb handisanum en tatarakan arshavanqneri hetevanqov arajacac mutant azg…erevi te verevi nkarneri nkarox@
uzetsela asel hayastan@ hayerin! ajl voch te arabnerin(arab usanoghnerin),voronk sparnum en mer azgi genetikakan anvtangutjan@,
Comment by High Arordi — February 9, 2007 @ 12:55 pm
if you comprea rmoscow to other Europina countries it has dramaticly declined economicly and mentally. I lived in Moscow for 3 years, styding in 000 school, when I cam to Oxford I ahve realized how different moscow is, hte peopleand relationship between them. My family lives in moscow now and I am really sceared and wored about them. I will do anything but to bging them to London.
Comment by BORAAATINHO — April 16, 2007 @ 4:23 pm