ARMENIAN CONDEMNS DEMOLITION OF ANDRANIK’S STATUE IN SOCHI
Tert.am
08.06.11
Sardarapat movement has issued a statement, protesting against the
demolition of legendary Armenian hero, General Andranik Ozanyan’s
statue in the Russian town of Sochi.
The monument built by Armenian artist Marat Minasyan was to open on May
28, the day Armenia celebrates the anniversary of its First Republic.
But after it was erected, the mayor of Sochi, Anatoli Pakhomov, issued
a decision, urging the Armenians to tear it down. The statutue was
demolished on May 27.
“Such measure is strictly prohibited,” Pakhomov said. “The Turks
have promised to torpedo the 2014 Sochi Olymopics should the statue
be erected in the town,” Pakhpmov said.
Condemning the decision, the activists of the movement claim that the
Russian political circles and local government bodies coordinate all
their steps with Turkey.
“The Armenians received yet another blow. And that was not absolutely
due to a new Russian-Turkish flirt, but rather -the absence of a real
Armenian statehood and state institutions called to fulfill their
tasks,” says the statement.
The members of Sardarapat call on their compatriots in Armenia, Russia
and abroad to voice their protest against what they call an illegal
and politically ignorant decision, and stand on the protection of
the Armenian nation’s dignity.