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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