The Song

Arevik - Erazanq ("A Dream")

Armenia: Statistics of The Day

According to the opposition Armenian National Congress, as of today, there are still 58 political prisoners in Armenia. (source)

Remembering 1 March 08...

1 year on...

Abovyan street, Yerevan, Armenia

Khandjyan street, Yerevan, Armenia

... about 'Armenian - Karabakhtsi divide' re March 1 events

Quote of The Day
(in Armenian)

- Ինձ համար հասկանալի է դժգոհությունը այսօրվա կյանքից ու դրա հասցեագրումը իշխանությանը, քանի որ առաջին ու գլխավոր պատասխանատուն հենց նա է: Բայց ինձ համար, մեղմ ասած, հասկանալի չէ այդ դժգոհությունը իշխանավորների ծագումնաբանական տարածքի ու դրա բնակիչների դեմ ուղղելը: Մեղմ ասած՝ դա ազնիվ չէ: Ինչպես ասում են, ամեն ժողովուրդ արժանի է իր ղեկավարներին: Ժողովուրդ բառը ես կփոխեի հանրության ու կասեի, որ այսօր ես լուրջ հիմքեր չունեմ կարծելու, որ Արցախում եւ Հայաստանում հանրությունն ավելի լավն է, քան ղեկավարությունը: Սա դառը ու սարսափելի իրողություն է: Դժվար է հաշտվել այս մտքի հետ, բայց մեր ղեկավարությունը մեր իսկ բարքերի, հոգեբանության, ուժեղի ու թույլի, չարի ու բարու մեր պատկերացումների պրոդուկտն է: Սա ավելի դժվար ու դառն է ընկալելը: Ավելի հեշտ է ղարաբաղցիներին մեղադրելն ու նրանց քավության նոխազ դարձնելը, ավելի հեշտ է ուրիշի դեմ պայքարելը, քան ինքդ քո դեմ: Բայց այստեղ մի նրբերանգ կա՝ նրանք ո՞ր Ղարաբաղն են ատում: Նրանց իմացած Ղարաբաղը Հայաստանի ղարաբաղցի ղեկավարներն են: Նրանք այլ Ղարաբաղ չգիտեն: Ըստ էության, նրանք ընդհանրապես Ղարաբաղ չգիտեն: Ուրեմն՝ ինչո՞ւ զարմանալ, որ մարդիկ չեն ուզում ԼՂ-ի ճակատագիրը վստահել նրանց: Ես էլ եմ Ղարաբաղ, հայտնի տեսահոլովակի տրամաբանությամբ՝ ես եմ Ղարաբաղը եւ ուզում եմ հասկանալ, թե ինչու եմ արժանացել ատելության: Որ Ղարաբաղից «սպեցնա՞զ» է գալիս: Ե՞ս եմ ուղարկել: Ես շատ կուզենայի, ես աղոթում եմ, որպեսզի դա սուտ լինի, քանի որ հասկանում եմ, թե ինչպիսի սրբապղծություն է դա (թեեւ լսել եմ, որ եկողներ եղել են, բայց չեն մասնակցել ջարդին, այլ զբաղված են եղել պետական կարեւոր օբյեկտների պահպանությամբ): Իսկ ի՞նչ ենք արել, որպեսզի ԼՂ-ից ուրիշ բան գա՝ միտք, գաղափար, ազնվություն, աշխատասիրություն: Իսկ ի՞նչ ենք արել, որպեսզի ես կարողանամ ազդել ուղարկողի եւ ուղարկվելիքի վրա: ԼՂՀ ժողովրդավարացման բոլոր փորձերն էլ շնչահեղձ են եղել ՀՀ իշխանությունների որդեգրած քաղաքականության պատճառով, ընդ որում՝ դա այդպես է եղել ե՛ւ Տեր-Պետրոսյանի, ե՛ւ Քոչարյանի օրոք, քանի որ ՀՀ ղեկավարությունը միշտ էլ ձգտել է կառավարելի իշխանություն ունենալ ԼՂՀ-ում: Բարեփոխման մեր փորձերն արժանացել են ոչ միայն ՀՀ իշխանությունների հակազդեցությանը, այլև հայաստանյան հանրության քար անտարբերությանը: Ուստի, այսօր անարդար է մեզ մեղադրելը: Նորերս նշեցինք ԼՂՀ առաջին ղեկավար Արթուր Մկրտչյանի ծննդյան 50-ամյակը: Արթուրի կորուստը մեծ կորուստ էր հայության համար: Ոչ միայն Արթուրը չկա, այլեւ նրա դպրոցը՝ ազնվության, բարոյականության, հայրենասիրության դպրոցը: Մեռավ այս դպրոցը, սպանվեց: Եւ ինչպես ղարաբաղցիներն են ասում՝ մեր մեջքը կոտրվեց, մեր մեջքը մինչեւ հիմա ծկթում է:

*Gegham Baghdasaryan, an independent MP from Karabakh, interview with pro-opposition Haykakan Zhamanak daily

In memory of victims of 1 March bloodshed

1 year on... We have yet to hear from the Armenian authorities a simple "Sorry" and "My condolences" for all 10 people who died on 1 March 2008...

Below is info which I do not normally post on this blog, but considering above, and the stance of the Armenian church back then...

Requiem Service in the Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin
source
On March 1, 2009 following the Divine Liturgy in the Mother Cathedral of Holy Echmiadzin, a solemn Repose of Souls service will be offered in memory of the victims who lost their lives on March 1, 2008 in Yerevan. His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, will preside during the service with the participation of the members of Brotherhood of Holy Echmiadzin.

"Auction of Souls": the first genocide movie ever made

(press release) “Ravished Armenia”, one of the first documentary memoirs of an eyewitness of Armenian Genocide was published in 1918, in New York. In this book Arshaluys (Aurora) Mardiganian, a girl from Chmshkatsag, Armenian populated town in the Ottoman Empire, gave a detailed account of the terrible experiences she endured during the deportations. At the age of fourteen Arshaluys was beaten and tortured in harems of Turkish officials and Kurdish tribesmen.

The book “Ravished Armenia” was completed when American Committee for Armenian and Syrian Relief offered to create a film based on the scenario of the book and all the profit, which later on reached $30 million, would be given to 60.000 Armenian orphans in the Near East for relief purposes. In 1918, at Metro Goldwin Mayer studio, director Oscar Apfel made “Auction of Souls” silent film, which actually became not only the first movie on the Armenian genocide, but also the first genocide movie ever made. More than 10.000 Armenian residents of Southern California, including 200 deported children, participated in the scenes.

The premiere of the “Auction of Souls” was held on February 16, 1919, in Plaza Hotel, New York under the auspices of Oliver Harriman and George Vanderbilt, members of American Committee for Armenian and Syrian Relief.

The film was shown in large cities of 23 U.S. states, in several countries of Latin America, including Mexico and Cuba. It was a success everywhere and was estimated as “epoch-making film”.

The “Auction of Souls” was taken to Great Britain in December, 1919, and censured. After long lasting negotiations the film was shown in Royal Albert Hall, by the permission of Scotland Yard and played for three weeks. At the beginning of 1920s Mardiganian’s “Ravished Armenia” was censured and taken off the British and American libraries.

For over eighty years film historians have been searching the world for the nine reels of Ravished Armenia but failed to find any trace. The remaining reels of the rare nitrate based film were lost. Some say the reels presumably sunk with a ship on their way to the port of Batoum, Georgia, or stolen by thieves. The full-length version of the film, which lasting 85 minutes, unfortunately, hasn’t been saved. With the efforts of Eduard Gozanlian, an Armenian from Argentina, a 20 minute segment of the reel was found in 1994. One copy of that segment is kept in the funds of Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute. The film included English, French and Armenian subtitles for every scene. The list of the original subtitles for Ravished Armenia is preserved in The Selig Collection at the Margaret Herrick Library of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. They are also reproduced in Anthony Slide’s book "Ravished Armenia and the Story of Aurora Mardiganian". This book was published by Scarecrow Press in 1997. It tells the story of the making of the film and reveals the young girl's survival story.

On the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the “Ravished Armenia”, the AGMI has issued a memorial postcard and has created an on-line exhibition at www.genocide-museum.am

Armenian authorities accused of human rights abuses (US State Department 2008 Human Rights Report)

Following a damning Human Rights Watch report, the US Department of State has just released its annual Human Rights Report (2008). Agree with Blogian, this report stands out for its unprecedentedly harsh wording accusing the authorities in Armenia of human rights abuses:

The government's human rights record deteriorated significantly during the year, with authorities and their agents committing numerous human rights abuses, particularly in connection with the presidential elections and the government's suppression of demonstrations that followed. Authorities denied citizens the right to change their government freely and citizens were subject to arrest, detention, and imprisonment for their political activities. Authorities used force, at times lethal, to disperse political demonstrations. Authorities used harassment and intrusive application of bureaucratic measures to intimidate and retaliate against government opponents. Police beat pretrial detainees and failed to provide due process in some cases. The National Security Service (NSS) and the national police force acted with impunity for alleged human rights abuses. Authorities engaged in arbitrary arrest and detention.

Prison conditions remained cramped and unhealthy. Authorities imposed arbitrary restrictions on freedom of assembly and the press, particularly through harsh measures imposed during the state of emergency. Journalists continued to practice self-censorship. The government and laws restricted religious freedom. Violence against women and spousal abuse, trafficking in persons, and discrimination against persons with disabilities and homosexuals was also reported. More...

Armenia: "No excuses for excessive use of force on 1 March" (Human Rights Watch report)

Human Rights Watch urges Armenian government to investigate excessive use of force (including those who gave the orders) against demonstrators and all allegations of ill-treatment of detainees

(New York) - Armenia has yet to hold the police accountable for their excessive use of force a year after a day of clashes with protesters that led to at least 10 deaths, Human Rights Watch said in a comprehensive report today.

The 64-page report, "Democracy on Rocky Ground: Armenia's Disputed 2008 Presidential Election, Post-Election Violence, and the One-Sided Pursuit of Accountability", details the clashes between police and protesters in Armenia's capital, Yerevan, on March 1, 2008, in the wake of the disputed February 2008 presidential polls. It also documents the ill-treatment of individuals detained in connection with the violence, and lack of comprehensive investigation and accountability for excessive use of force on March 1 and in its aftermath. The report is based on more than 80 interviews carried out over three research missions in Armenia in 2008 and 2009.

"The full picture of what happened almost a year ago in Yerevan has yet to emerge," said Giorgi Gogia, researcher at Human Rights Watch and author of the report. "This much is clear: at various times on March 1, security forces used excessive force against demonstrators."

On March 1, 2008, police clashed with protesters in downtown Yerevan, demonstrating against disputed results of the presidential election. In several episodes in different parts of the city, police variously set upon protesters without warning or resistance, negotiated, withdrew, and returned to the offensive and finally fought a pitched battle with a small group of protesters. As a result, at least 10 people died - eight protesters and two police officers - and scores were injured.

While the Armenian authorities have investigated, prosecuted, and convicted dozens of opposition members, sometimes in flawed and politically motivated trials, in connection with the demonstration and violence, they have not prosecuted a single representative of the law enforcement agencies for excessive use of force.

Serj Sargsyan, the prime minister, was declared the winner of the February 19, 2008, presidential election over the opposition candidate, Levon Ter-Petrossian. A group of protesters contending that Sargsyan's victory was the result of fraud established a continuous protest on Yerevan's Freedom Square immediately after the election, with daily rallies; some camped out overnight in tents set up on the square.

Human Rights Watch research indicated that police used excessive force in a pre-dawn raid on the tents on March 1, justified as a search for weapons. This led to a much larger demonstration in front of the French Embassy in downtown Yerevan. By evening, with a major, violent confrontation unfolding on the streets of the capital, the outgoing president, Robert Kocharyan, declared a 20-day state of emergency during which public gatherings and strikes were banned and media freedoms were significantly curtailed.

"The authorities' response to the March 1 events has been one-sided," said Gogia. "The fact that police were themselves under attack at times by no means excuses them for incidents when they used excessive force."

The report also documents ill-treatment of detainees and other violations of due process rights following the March 1 events. Human Rights Watch spoke to people who had been beaten during arrest, and assaulted, verbally abused, and threatened while in police custody. Many detainees were denied the right to inform their families of their whereabouts, and were refused access to lawyers of their own choosing.

Human Rights Watch urged the government to investigate the use of police force in the March 1 clashes, emphasizing that each distinct police action during the day should be assessed separately. Where there was evidence that the use of force went outside the boundaries of legitimate policing, all the perpetrators (including those who gave the orders) should be prosecuted. Human Rights Watch also urged an investigation into all allegations of ill-treatment of people detained in connection with March 1 events, also leading to identification and prosecution of those responsible.

*/emphasis mine/

Narek Baveyan - Khelagar Ser (original version)

Apparently, this music video of Narek Baveyan's song Khelagar Ser ('Crazy Love') proved to be too 'explicit' for some Armenian TV stations. According to the director of the video, it has been "prohibited by most Armenian TV channels. But any way there is some TV version on broadcasting. This is the original version of the video."

Armenian-American Students & Activists United (new blog)

I’d like to introduce this new blog by University of California, Berkley based students of Armenian origin:

http://armenianamerica.wordpress.com/

“This group was originally formed in early October of 2007 in response to the immense Armenian-related political issues emerging within the United States and its various government institutions.”

They do not shy away from controversial and sensitive issues. Read their latest entry:

Azerbaijani Parliamentarians Visit UC Berkeley & Discuss the ‘Tragedy of Khojaly’

South Caucasus integration: alternative start

In May 2007, as an example of good news from the South Caucasus, I wrote about the joint initiative of Armenian and Azeri press clubs to launch common website Writers vs Conflicts. Sadly, this site no longer exists. Its aim was to provide a platform for a dialogue between sides using a literature to re-create bridges between nations. The site was intended to serve as a forum for discussions on various topics.

There is, however, similar initiative involving all South Caucasus countries, both recognised and unrecognised: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Karabakh, Abkhazia, South Ossetia.

http://southcaucasus.com/

My impression of the site is very positive. Honest and thought-provoking discussions, reports, interviews, publications. Recommend it.

Check out a very recent interview (in Russian) with the author of Artush and Zaur Alekper Aliyev. Must read.

TV ad for the Ukrainian army

"Daytime at work, and at night in the clubs!"

Via Gawker, this TV ad for the Ukrainian army :) Apparently, this was shown on TV to "recruit servicemen on contract basis".



Transcript:

Girl 1: would u take us for a ride on your BMW?
BMW-driver: even to the end of the world!
Soldier: hey, I'd like to drown some vodka, girls!
Girl 1: just a second!
Girl 2: where do you live?
Soldier: right here- daytime at work, and at night in the clubs!
Girl 1: which work???
Soldier: contract of course!
Blond girl: contract?? marriage contract or what?
Girl 3: army contract, stupid!
BMW driver: hey, don't you wanna ride on my car?
Girls: forget it, take yourself for a ride!
Narrator: it's about time for new heroes! with contract based service in Ukrainian armed forces!

Gay rights night at Oscars

Sean Penn and Dustin Lance Black - Men of The Day

Sean Penn - Oscar for Best Actor for his portrayal of gay rights champion Harvey Milk, America’s first openly gay politician in San Francisco, in Gus Van Sant’s Milk:

"...I think that it is a good time for those who voted for the ban against gay marriage to sit and reflect and anticipate their great shame and the shame in their grandchildren's eyes if they continue that way of support. We've got to have equal rights for everyone. [...]"

Dustin Lance Black - Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for Milk:

"...to all of the gay and lesbian kids out there tonight who have been told that they are less than by their churches, by the government or by their families, that you are beautiful, wonderful creatures of value and that no matter what anyone tells you, God does love you and that very soon, I promise you, you will have equal rights federally, across this great nation of ours. [...]"

For more details - Unzipped: Gay Armenia

*Photos - Getty Images/Kevin Winter (via AfterElton)

“No Service for US Citizens”

This is a protest action by the owner of this central Yerevan kiosk. “No Service for US Citizens” says the notice on the kiosk.

Tert.am quotes him as saying that this is to protest US embassy’s routine rejections of visas to Armenian citizens. This action is not directed against US citizens per se, he continues, but rather the US embassy officer who can simply say: «... You will leave and won’t come back». That's all. “A presumption of guilt” here without any justifications or explanations provided. And there is nothing you can do about it...

A very familiar story for many Armenian citizens who dealt with the US embassy in Yerevan.

A Girl's War: An Armenian-Azeri Love Story (theatre play)

Long before Artush and Zaur, there was this fascinating (based on description) award winning theatre play by Armenian-American playwright Joyce Van Dyke. This is a taboo breaking heterosexual love story between Armenian and Azerbaijani against the backdrop of Karabakh war. I wish I could see the play. May be they could submit it for the annual HayFest international theatre festival in Yerevan which is known for alternative, thought-provoking plays (to be held on 1-10 October this year).

For details - Unzipped: Gay Armenia

Letter to the Ombudsman: Armenian opposition challenges constitutionality of declaring state of emergency on 1 March 2008

Armenian opposition challenges constitutionality of declaring state of emergency on 1 March 2008, referring to the “irrefutable evidence” of using army to settle internal political crisis, in breach of Armenia’s Constitution. In a letter to the human rights Ombudsman, released over the last hour or so, opposition Armenian National Congress calls Armenian Ombudsman to take the case to the Constitutional Court of Armenia and challenge the constitutionality of the presidential decree.

Letter to the Ombudsman in full (in Armenian) is provided in the comments section below.

Yerevan-2 for Tbilisi?

Burjanadze Calls on Senior Officials to Defect from Saakashvili
Civil.ge

Nino Burjanadze, former parliamentary speaker and leader of Democratic Movement–United Georgia party, called on senior political officials “to distance yourselves from the criminal government.”

“Your resignations would contribute to peaceful and safe completion of the current processes,” she said in a statement on February 19, referring to her calls for President Saakashvili’s resignation and holding of early presidential elections.

She also called on the public sector workers not to obey “dirty orders” of the authorities and instead to continue serving “only people and not the odd ambitions of President Saakashvili.”

“We believe that all the professionals and patriots should remain in the service of Georgia, irrespective of their political preferences. Only those civil servants should be held accountable who were involved in the criminal activities,” Burjanadze said.

On February 17 Burjanadze called on the opposition parties to “consolidate” and jointly pressure President Saakashvili to resign through protest rallies.

Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Sargsyan writes…

I must confess, other than glancing, I did not have time to read prime minister’s articles, but what a titles, eh?

The End of the State
How to make a revolution happen?!
Challenges of the 21st century

They are available on government’s website:
http://www.gov.am/en/articles

“If we want to build a bright future we must learn to dream!!!” – says Tigran Sargsyan as a conclusion to his article “Challenges of the 21st century”. I am all dreams, prime minister!

Yerevan, block 16

"Perestroika era abandoned plot"

Block 16
Yerevan, Armenia

A visually dramatic part of the city, where construction of a housing block was stopped during perestroika after it turned out that the quality of material being used was very poor.

*source: Abitare - international design magazine

PACE: Armenian authorities should fully respect the principle of freedom of assembly

Last year, in June, to 'justify' banning opposition rallies in Liberty sq, Armenian authorities set up the 'amusement park', or 'children's park', there. Someone(s) is lacking originality and imagination, and it's time for a déjà vu. Yerevan municipality refused to authorise the rally in central Yerevan (outside the Matenadaran institute of ancient manuscripts) citing already planned 'little Matenadarantsi', a 'children's event', there. They went further banning the rally on Northern avenue too.

They also said there’s an “expert conclusion” stating the rally on Northern Avenue might “endanger the health and security of the people due to ongoing construction works there. (Now that one’s funny - I haven’t seen any traces of construction there for months!)

To complete this picture, below is a statement issued today by infamous Prescott & Colombier of PACE.

Strasbourg, 17.02.2009 - John Prescott and Georges Colombier , co-rapporteurs on Armenia 's monitoring for the Parliamenatry Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), expressed their concern about the refusal of the authorities to allow the Armenian National Congress (HAK) to organise a peaceful rally in Central Yerevan on 1 March 2009. They stressed that the Assembly has on several occasions called upon the authorities to fully respect the principle of freedom of assembly in Armenia and not to place undue restrictions, especially with regard to the requested venues, upon peaceful rallies organised by the opposition. In their view , the possibility for all political forces to organise peaceful rallies is an essential component of democracy and therefore call upon the authorities to allow such peaceful rallies to take place unimpeded in the requested venues. (PACE)