“THIRD FRONT” FOR ARMENIANS?
Hakob Badalyan

Lragir.am
12 June 06

It was not calm on the Russian-Armenian “front” on the weekend. For the
time being this word can be taken in inverted commas, but murder of
another couple of Armenians, and we can surely state that the third
front is open. Moreover, independent from us and in an unexpected
direction for us. Another Armenian was killed in Moscow, only several
hours after another Armenian was trying to assure the public in Armenia
that the Russian government is not to blame, and there is no need to
become hostile with Russia.

Several hours later the Police found the killer, thus showing that
maybe the government is not related to these murders, if the government
can be not related to serial killings of people belonging to another
nationality in a country at all. However, since there is no evidence
to this relation, we cannot insist that what happened was organized by
the government. However, the government should prevent crime along
with punishing the guilty to prove that they are not related to
the anti-Armenian surge, that they neither organize nor connive in
murders. It does not seem to happen, and there are no signs that it
will do. Moreover, there is no confidence that the real murderer was
found, considering the dependence of the judiciary on the executive
in most post-Soviet countries, particularly in Russia.

He may be a scapegoat, who will be tried in public, whereas nobody
can be sure that the convict will not be released on the next day or
the convict will not become a hero in jail for destroying the foes
of Russia.

In the meantime, there are reasons to doubt the consistency of the
Russian government, and these reasons are widely known. The verdict
of the court leaving the killers indicted for the horrible murder of
the nine-year-old Tajik girl almost unpunished makes it pointless to
recall other examples. And it is surprising why this would not arouse
concern in Armenia, both among the society and the government.

Whereas the problem is much serious than it might seem at first
sight. The silence following every murder directly strikes the Armenian
state. Hence, the authority of the state is diminishing among its
own citizens, who can see that they are not protected abroad, that
their own government is avoiding practical steps in this direction.

The foreign minister of Armenia says Russian-Armenian relations are
administered directly, not through letters. It may be better and
also more effective. It is certain, however, that besides personal
contact it is necessary to make a statement, at least once. In order
for the citizens of Armenia and the Armenians living abroad, namely in
Russia and other post-Soviet countries, to see, to hear and to feel
that there is an Armenian state, which thinks about its compatriots
and does not keep silent about repeating murders. If there is anxiety
that the Russian-Armenian relations will become tense, we can easily
bid farewell to these relations, if the dignity of Armenia and the
Armenians is the price for sustaining them.