“YOU DO NOTHING”
Naira Vanian

Aravot.am
06 June 06

6 Armenians have been killed for national hostility in Moscow in 2006.

Ten public organizations organized action of protest in the RA in
front of Embassy of Russia and then Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The
organizers of the action were accusing our authorities of being
indifferent towards those incidents. The action started by quarrel
between journalists and security officials at the Embassy. The latter,
seeing the participants of the action from distance, and their cameras
stopped their progression. “Don’t shoot”, I’ll take your camera and
I’ll be responsible for it”, – the security official said.

The journalist of “Hetq” was surprised at that behavior; “I have
always taken photos and I haven’t been forbidden anyway, why do you
forbid?” “It isn’t my problem what you do anywhere else”, – was the
answer. Anyway the initiators of the action had closed the way of
entrance to the RF Embassy with “STOP” posters. Demonstrators made
an announcement to the Embassy where it is said; “Demonstrations of
racism and hatred in Russia in last years are too anxious.

28 foreigners were killed and 402 suffered from attacks by
racist groups in 2005. Foreigners from Caucasus and Middle
Asia become the victims of attacks in most where there
are also Armenians. Nationalistic groups cry anti Armenian
expressions… Improhibitive actions of racist, fascistic groups
and unpunishment of crimes and actions make us think that the
above-mentioned groups act by support of the RF state structures. We,
the representatives of public organizations of Armenia and citizens of
Armenia strongly condemn actions of racist groups and not correspond
steps of the RF authorities to arrest and punish the killers.” To
the question whether the sponsorship of some Russian state structures
addressed against Armenians or against other foreigners too, one of
the organizers of the action Avetiq Ishkhanian answered; “Let give
me an example. Sergey Baghdasarian’s trial which was spread in media
as if he had wanted to violated a Russian girl wasn’t true. There was
a severe murder by a drunk woman Ivankova. And she was justified and
all people gathered round the court, including the members of Russian
liberal-democratic party were crying anti-Armenian expressions. We
can say that the court authority in this case and other powers which
have some influence on him assist that hatred”.

But can we say that those incidents are small demonstrations of foreign
relations between our country and the RF. Mr. Ishkanian answered; “I
see a great logic in it. When you bow more you lose you respect. There
is a truth in it.

If the authorities of Armenia sent a serious note in time the situation
would calm down, while the authorities of Armenia don’t want to offend
Russia as a lot of things depend on it, even the authority of Armenia.”

The member of “In favor of development of science” initiating group
Arsen Kharatian criticizing indifference of the Armenian authorities
said; “Doing nothing is also a sin, not expressing a position is
a part of crime itself. The frightened behaivior of the Armenian
authorities is shameful. Naming such a privilege, about which we have
spoken for many years, having the Russian Army in Armenia which as if
defends the Republic of Armenia and its citizens but at the same time
Armenians are killed in Russia must cause a serious anxiety for the
Armenian authorities. If Russian authorities punished such groups,
demonstrations wouldn’t be repeated. We have never seen the reply of
our country to that reality. If they have sent a note of protest we
aren’t introduced to its text. We want to break the stereotype that
it isn’t allowed to say anything to Russians. The problem must be
raised to diplomatic level and to influence on Russian authorities
in that way.”

–Boundary_(ID_+pxEAkLZrnvkQMT4Tr0LFg)–