London 2012: Olympic park, including Armenia base

London 2012: pink Olympics

*all signs of London 2012 Olympics are in pink :))

London 2012: Opening ceremony with the WOW factor (pictures & tweets)

*pictures - via The Guardian, The Sun, Metro and Time Out London.

And the night, as per my selected tweets (most recent first) :

@nhacizade

#Caucasus at #London2012 - photos and numbers http://tmblr.co/ZxQ40yQGf6xT 

@unzippedblog

Just spoke to my parents. They loved #London2012 opening too. Well done, Danny Boyle. An impressive showcase, indeed.

@unzippedblog

#Lesbian kiss at Olympic opening ceremony sparks praise, fury #lgbthttp://goo.gl/kOF8G  /via @queerza #London2012

@unzippedblog

Same here. Via @KevorkO Proud to call #London my home.#OlympicCeremony #london2012

@TimeOutLondon

We said it on the front cover of the mag and we stand by it. London is the Greatest City on Earth! Danny, you've done us proud. #welldoneDan

Retweeted by Mika

‏@unzippedblog

A class act #London2012

@unzippedblog

"For the first time, all participating teams have female athletes"#London2012

@unzippedblog

The setting, Olympics stadium looks stunning #London2012

@unzippedblog

Amazing #TeamGB #London2012

@unzippedblog

It really does feel like #Eurovision :)) #London2012 cc: @onewmphoto

‏@unzippedblog

Djokovic is all charm ;)) #Serbia #London2012

@GayTimesMag

Hearing that the first lesbian kiss has been shown on Saudi Arabian TV via screening the Olympics and the scene from Brookside. Brilliant!

@mkdotam

True "@Chielie: Nice to see sworn enemies march in same parade. Armenia, Azerbaizjan; Eritrea, Ethiopia."

‏@robhamilto

No matter how cynical you can't help but be moved about how positive the opening ceremony is in representing diversity and acceptance. PROUD

@London2012

Pic: Remember when James Bond & HRH The Queen jumped from a helicopter? Don't see that every day #OpeningCeremony pic.twitter.com/Shz1oQM4

@unzippedblog

Who was responsible for #fashion #fail of #Armenia sportsmen?#London2012

‏@unzippedblog

#Armenia ♥ #London2012 BBC commentators mention oligarch Tsarukyan (without naming him) who promised big sum money for Olympic champions

@anishok

I approve this message. RT @ChristyRae2012 Becks in a speedboat. I really think he should light the torch in nothing but his Armani undies.

@unzippedblog

WOW! Beckham + the Olympics torch #London2012 ♥

@wesstreeting

Yeah. You saw it. The lesbian kiss. When countries present execute gay people you have no idea how important that is. #London2012

@timberners_lee

This is for everyone #london2012 #oneweb #openingceremony @webfoundation @w3c

@unzippedblog

The inventor of world wide web #London2012 the coolest

@unzippedblog

#London2012 ♥ Via @ab_hlebregas British music >

@KeosayanTigran

Бойл своей иронией разбил окаменевшие рамки церемоний открытия Олимпиад. Просто браво! Столько хулиганства никогда и нигде не было)

‏@unzippedblog

WOW! Queen + Bond Craig. WOW! #London2012

‏@unzippedblog

Super excited !!! #London2012

How Armenia born New York based artist Tigran Tsitoghdzyan "mesmerised" Saatchi Gallery

Saatchi Gallery posted on their Facebook page this painting of Armenia born New York based artist Tigran Tsitoghdzyan with the following comment: "We are mesmerised by this painting by Tigran Tsitoghdzyan entitled Mirror. Are you?"

Fascinating work. Handsome artist.

Here is a link to his profile on Saatchi.

And here is a link to Tigran's website.

"Fly to Yerevan. Play a duduk" - British Airways (BA) ad in London's Evening Standard

*British Airways ad, published in London's Evening Standard daily Diamond Jubilee edition. "Fly to Yerevan. Play a duduk" !! :))

Armenia athletes in London 2012 (infographic)

Awesome infographic via reporter-arm: Armenian Athletes in London 2012 Olympic Games

"I sign this petition in memory of my great-grandfather" - To the Government of Armenia: Honor the Constitutional Right of Each Citizen [including LGBT]

As I posted earlier, the Armenian Gay and Lesbian Association of New York has sponsored historic petition co-signed by 20+ leading Armenian cultural figures who have unified their voices to support human rights in Armenia. This is the first time such a petition has been created in support of LGBT human rights in Armenia.

Chairman of Golden Apricot International Film Festival, one of my favourite film-makers, prominent Canadian Armenian director Atom Egoyan is among those who co-signed the petition.

It has since been supported by more than 300 (at the time of writing this post) Armenian and foreign citizens, including well known activists, cultural, art figures.

Comments are being posted under the petition by people who signed it.

Here is a very touching one by Christine Allen:

My great-grandfather, Shukrey Sanjiyan, was brutally attacked during a pogrom in Tarsus on November 15, 1895. He managed to survive and made his way to the U.S. via France in 1897. The rest of his family was slaughtered during the genocide. It is in his memory that I, his lesbian great-granddaughter, sign this petition. My wife and I have been together for over 26 years and our youngest daughter, Kalie Sanjiyan, carries his name. I work for equal rights for all people in America, and I support equal rights for all people in the homeland of my heart, Armenia.

[For more comments - follow this link to the petition.]

Please sign and share the petition with all your friends, family and allies. [The Armenian translation has now been posted with English original]

Developing story: Red card to ‘Nemets Rubo’

'Nemets Rubo' resigned from being MP. [Embattled ‘Oligarch’ Quits Parliament Over Deadly Violence] Of course, this is simply a damage limitation exercise by Hayrapetyan (and Armenia president Serj Sargsyan), as a consequence of ongoing protest actions by activists coordinated via Facebook. Right one and unprecedented in Armenia, but not enough at all and should merely be the first step.

[For background: Anatomy of violence, or Armenia MP (president of Football Federation) Ruben Hayrapetyan slaughterhouse

Unbearable cruelty of being of Armenia tycoon - turned MP - turned Football Federation president & his entourage]

He should resign from the Football Association too [petition: UEFA AND FIFA Administration: RESIGNATION OF RUBEN HAYRAPETYAN] I want to see Armenia national football team disassociated from a person who is full of hatred. I tweeted to FIFA and UEFA too.

Dear @FIFAcom & @UEFAcom please consider reprimanding #Armenia FA president for #homophobia & anti #gay hatred Armenia Football Federation president Ruben Hayrapetyan ‘against terrorism’ but ‘ready to punish gays and eradicate from society’

In the meantime, activists continue protest campaign, demanding a thorough investigation of the incident, including the role of 'Nemets Rubo'. There has been calls to foreign embassies and wider public to consider Ruben Hayrapetyan a "persona non grata" (with special FB "public event" set up).

*picture by CivilNet/Seda Grigoryan

Anatomy of violence, or Armenia MP (president of Football Federation) Ruben Hayrapetyan slaughterhouse

Military doctor severely beaten by bodyguards of Armenia MP, president of Football Federation Ruben Hayrapetyan (aka 'Nemets Rubo') has died on 29 June. [For background to this story, read: Unbearable cruelty of being of Armenia tycoon - turned MP - turned Football Federation president & his entourage]



Video above details some of the 'heroic' pages from the history of violence of disgraced Armenia MP, president of Football Federation, oligarch Ruben Hayrapetyan, nicknamed 'Nemets Rubo'.

Posting this video, Hetq Online reminds how 'Nemets Rubo' threatened and/or enacted violence towards journalists, drug addicts, and (more recently) gays. The author righty points out that after all the violent rhetoric and actions, there should be no surprise that we witnessed yet another violence, this time with more tragic consequences. [Ռուբեն Հայրապետյանը միշտ զգուշացրել է (վիդեո)]

To remind, following recent firebombing of gay friendly bar DIY in Yerevan, ‘Nemets Rubo‘ said he “condemns terrorism” but “in favour of punishing gays and ready to do it myself”. “We should think of another way of punishing to eradicate them from our society.”

Other high profile MPs from ruling Republican party who supported firebombers and encouraged anti-gay violence include vice-speaker of the Armenian parliament, spokesman of the Republican party Eduard Sharmazanov, and MP, (now) secretary of Republican party parliamentary group Hovhannes Sahakyan. 
[I recommend reading Հոդված ատելության մասին by Sergey Danielyan too]

Last night, there was a candlelight vigil in Yerevan in memory of beating victim Vahe Avetyan. People gathered in front of the restaurant where the violence took place [Harsnaqar restaurant belongs to 'Nemets Rubo'] Many held 'I am Vahe Avetyan' posters condemning violence, calling for boycott of oligarch MP businesses and his resignation as MP and president of Football Federation.

Among protesters rightly condemning violence, I noticed two well known personalities who have their share of moral responsibility for this atmosphere of hatred and violence.

Armenian MP from the ARF Dashnaktsutyun party Armen Rostomyan said nothing when his colleagues from the ARF party, and in particular Artsvik Minasyan, Hrayr Karapetyan and Artur Aghabekyan supported firebombers and at least in case of Artsvik Minasyan (+ here) and Artur Aghabekyan openly encouraged anti-gay violence.

Larisa Alaverdyan, former MP and ex-Ombudsman, effectively sided with homophobes during TV programme discussing attacks towards gay friendly bar and Diversity march.




Below are two pictures from the candlelight vigil protest action via CivilNet and PanArmenian FB page.

*picture via CivilNet/Seda Grigoryan

*"Slaughterhouse" written on the wall of Harsnaqar restaurant, picture via PanArmenian/Hrant Khachatryan [Հանցաքար" և "Սպանդանոց" գրվեցին ռեստորանի պատերին]