Sunday, January 13, 2019

‘Russian Army, Get Out of Armenia!’ Gyumri Demonstrators Say


Paul Goble

            Staunton, January 13 – A group of Armenians led by director and European Party member Tigran Khzmalyan and head of the Armenian National Press Club Narina Mkrtchyan called for the Russian army to withdraw from its base in Gyumri because soldiers in the past have killed Armenians and not been punished.

            The last such killing occurred on December 2 and sparked anger across Armenia.  Khzmalyan said that by holding this protest, “we are not making any political declarations because today is the fourth anniversary of another killing. This is not a political action but a simple desire to say several things” (aravot-ru.am/2019/01/13/295200/).

            “For the first time since February 1921, Armenia has protested against its seizure by the Red Army. Murders and occupiers cannot be the defenders of the nation,” Khzmalyan says. “Armenia’s security can be guaranteed only by the Armenian army;  only the Armenian soldier is the guarantee of our security, independence and freedom.”

            “Let us not deceive ourselves,” he continues. “Our country is colonized, and we stand along the advance post of this colonial force. They are the advance guard of colonialism in Armenia, a country which wants to be independent, which wants to b economically, politically, and humanistically part of the civilized world.”

            For pictures of the signs carried by the protesters and a video of their demonstration, see kavkaz-uzel.eu/photo_albums/2677 and kavkaz-uzel.eu/videos/5371.

            Many, perhaps most Armenians believe that for good or ill, their geographic position leaves them with little choice but to rely on Russian forces for their defense; but Khzmalyan’s remarks are an indication that such notions are no longer before question and that a growing number of Armenians  are alienated by Russian behavior. 

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