AYF Leads Protest Challenging Azeri Aggression, Championing Artsakh’s
Freedom – Video

Friday, February 27th, 2015

Armenians in Washington D.C. protest Baku’s continuing aggression
against Armenians

WATCH: Pro-Aliyev Counter-Protesters Chant ‘Ramil Safarov, Ramil Safarov’

WASHINGTON–Members, alumni, and supporters of the Armenian Youth
Federation (AYF) braved sub-freezing temperatures today outside the
Azerbaijani Embassy in Washington, D.C., to commemorate the 25th
anniversary of the Baku massacres, condemn Baku’s ongoing
anti-Armenian aggression, and call for freedom and security for the
independent Republic of Nagorno Karabakh.

“Armenians in the Greater Washington Area — like our sisters and
brothers across America and around the world — share a core commitment
to championing Artsakh’s freedom and confronting Azerbaijan’s
aggression,” said AYF “Ani” Chapter Chairwoman Sevan Simonian. “We
were proud today to stand up for our community’s values – even against
the hateful tirades of pro-Aliyev counter-protesters.”

A small group of staff and supporters of the Azerbaijani Embassy
staged a counter-protest, repeatedly chanting the name “Ramil
Safarov,” in an apparent attempt to intimidate those gathered for the
AYF vigil. Safarov is the admitted and unapologetic axe-murder who
killed Armenian Lieutenant Gurgen Margaryan during a NATO
peace-training exercise in Hungary. In 2012, after serving only a
fraction of his sentence in Hungary, Safarov was extradited to
Azerbaijan, where he was immediate pardoned, promoted and praised, a
moved that was broadly condemned worldwide, including by President
Obama.

Following the vigil, Fr. Sarkis Aktavoukian of Soorp Khatch Armenian
Apostolic Church led the D.C. community members in prayer in memory of
the victims of the Baku, Sumgait, Kirovabad and Maragha massacres and
all those who lost their lives during the Artsakh liberation movement.