HAMSHEN” MEMBERS IN ARMENIA ASKED ASSISTANCE OF RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA

Pan Armenian News
05.05.2005 08:17

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Council of Hamshen philanthropic non-governmental
organization of the Republic of Armenia has appealed to Russian
Ambassador to Armenia N. Pavlov, asking for assistance to register
Hemshins cultural association in Krasnodar Territory, reported the
Yerkramas, the newspaper of Armenians of Russia. In its letter the
Hamshen organization Council expresses serious concern over the
situation in Krasnodar Territory of the Russian Federation over a
Hemshin NGO (Islamized Armenians) – a subethnoconfessional group of
the Armenian people. Hemshin representatives are denied registration
of their society – the cultural association of Hemshin – for the fourth
time. The concern of the Armenian organization is conditioned with the
fact that the constant refusals to register the cultural association
far-fetched. Thus, the latest refusal was due to the sole reason –
the application for registration did not mention the proper name
of the registering body. At that the official refusal, conveyed
to Hemshin representatives May 3, was dated May 4. The message to
the Russian Ambassador further said: “When registering any other
organization it is not a basis for refusal – the applicant is given
an opportunity to make corrections and again apply to the registering
body. It did not take place in the Hemshin case, however the state
duty of 2000 rubles was duly levied four times. Thus, the actions
of the representatives of the Central Administrative Board of the
Federal Registration Service of Krasnodar Territory form a precedent
for the appearance of another people leaving Russia as political
refugees. It is not a secret that representatives of the International
Organization of Migration, who realize a project on resettlement of
Turk-Meskhetians from Krasnodar Territory to the US, already arrange
similar projects to resettle Kurd-Kurmanji people that also live in
Kuban and the Hemshins. We cannot stay indifferent toward the fate
of Hemshins, as Hamshen Armenians and Hemshins are one people. Due
to the mass forced imposition of Islam upon the Armenian population
of the Hamshen district in Western Armenia (now Turkey’s territory)
in the 18-th century and ethnoconfessional group with pronounced
self-consciousness was formed and it called itself Homshetsi and
spoke the Hamshen dialect of the Amrenian language. A small group
of Hemshins lived in Ajaria – in the 20-es it was composed of 600
members. In 1944 Hemshins of Ajaria along with Turk Meskhetians and
Kurd-Kurmanjis were deported to Kirgizia and Kazakhstan. In 70-es
part of the Hemshins moved to Krasnodar Territory and today they
live in the Apsheron, Belorechensk and other regions (some 1000
persons). The problem of determination of the ethnic belonging of
the group in question is linked with political aspects. Hemshins of
Turkey perceive their ethnic and linguistic difference from Turks,
however the policy of the Turkish state suppresses their urge to
forming of an ethnic self-consciousness. Hemshins living in Russia
acknowledge their kinship with the Hamshen Armenian community.”