St Sarkis and Bakhos, and more... Happy St Sarkis Day, Armenians!! He loves you x

Although Armenian youth increasingly started marking St Valentine's Day on 14 Feb too, today many celebrate its Armenian equivalent - St Sarkis Day.

Whether you are straight or gay, whatever you sexual orientation and gender identity, this is your day too. Have a very happy one with your loved ones, or find the one, if you wish too.

Yours,

x mika

For more, see Unzipped: Gay Armenia

*picture - via Gay Spirituality blog

British artist to face jail for mocking Turkey’s PM

I do not agree with those who claim that president or PM, or whoever it is up there, are symbols of the country and should be respected etc etc. In past, such opinions were expressed in Armenian blogosphere here and there. I do not buy such arguments. First, some may be against the institution of e.g. presidency for whatever reason, and it’s their right to do so. Then, artists or ordinary citizen should be able to mock those in power, regardless of their position. I may like it or not, I may agree with them or not, but it’s their right, and if you are in politics, you should expect this, and rather than putting yourself in a ridiculous position of suing for such expressions, you’d rather laugh at or ignore.

Here is a story from Turkey of a British artist who mocked Turkey’s PM portraying Erdogan as the US pet.

*extract from the BBC, below:

Artist fined for art mocking Turkey's prime minister

An English artist has been convicted of mocking Turkey's prime minister by portraying him as a dog in an artwork. Michael Dickinson, 59, originally from County Durham, now faces jail after refusing to pay a fine imposed by a judge in Istanbul. "Good Boy" showed Recep Tayyip Erdogan as a dog with a US flag as his lead. Mr Dickinson said he would not pay the fine as he did not regard what he had done as a crime. Proceedings were adjourned until 9 March.

More...

Armenia gets yet another political prisoner on the 3rd anniversary of Hrant Dink murder in Turkey

I am sure, many will consider these comparisons ‘sacrilegious’. You know what? I do not care. You, ‘many’, were blaming Hrant Dink - when he was alive - for his (reconciliatory) stand to Armenia-Turkey relations. Now he became a ‘hero’ for you. For me, he was always a one - a true hero.

Nikol Pashinyan was never a hero for me. However, what has happened to him (and not only) is an evidence of ongoing violations of human rights in Armenia.

It’s very telling, that on the anniversary of Hrant Dink murder in Turkey, we’ve heard the court ruling in Armenia sentencing prominent opposition editor Nikol Pashinyan to 7 years in prison.

I am sure, today there will be many articles and reports in Armenian media, rightly stating that - 3 years on - there is still no justice in Hrant Dink murder case.

But the pro-government circles will turn a blind eye (=court ruling) that ironically this very same day Armenia gets yet another political prisoner. A disgrace.

Armenian comedy... er, sorry... ‘elections’

Another ‘election’ passed... The fact that it features prominently on Armenian Comedy website says it all. The title was spot on: “Kidney Stone Elected for Armenian Parliament” (basically, a noone). Armenian real life tragicomedy in making.

Election has long become a joke in Armenia. Some still go and try... many gave up and do not care anymore. From mid-90s till now, the very idea of possibility to make changes via elections was effed up in Armenia. Outcome is predictable. Authorities... the same. Opposition lacks policy/directions/strategy. Apathy rules. Back to indifference of Kocharyan years?

Honestly, no political force in Armenia inspires me any more, not even the slightest. However, there are many inspirational individuals out there, regardless of their political affiliations and views. They are minority. But they are the only hope I see could eventually move Armenia forward. I do believe in individual's ability to make a difference.

Armenian gay icon Parajanov festival in London (February - May 2010)

He is one of my all time favourite film directors. For me, he is an Armenian gay icon. And not only for me... for many LGBT Armenians, Georgians, Ukrainians, Russians.... world-wide.

It's with great pleasure, I'd like to let you know that for the first time, a large scale Parajanov festival will be staged in London (+ Bristol) over February-May 2010.

For details, see Unzipped: Gay Armenia

P.S. Btw, today is Parajanov’s birthday. Happy bday, Parajanov!! x

*I made this picture outside the museum of Parajanov in Yerevan, Armenia

Hrant Dink Day in London - 19 January 2010

Hrant Dink was a prominent Turkish-Armenian editor who was assassinated in Istanbul on 19 January 2007.
***

The Hrant Dink Society
c/o The Temple of Peace, Cardiff, Wales

invites you to events on

Hrant Dink Day, 19th January 2010,
in the UK Parliament, London

"The Minorities of Turkey"

1. Outside the Turkish Embassy-A Silent Vigil at 1 p.m. with banners: "Turkey respect your Minorities"

2. Meeting in the House of Commons at 5 p.m. (Committee Room 16). "Hrant Dink and Turkish Armenia"
Sponsor: Nia Griffith MP

3. Meeting in the House of Lords Lords (Committee Room 3A at 7 p.m. ) on Minority Rights in Turkey
Soonsor: Baroness Finlay of Llandaff

Ali Bastian: “the epitome of an English rose” of Armenian and Russian descent

I knew Ali Bastian as Becca from a popular Channel 4 TV soap Hollyoaks. I never knew her real name. Watching yesterday BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special, where 6 celebrities compete in an “end of year dancing extravaganza”, it suddenly occured to me that her surname is “ian”. I know, it’s probably genetic, when each time hearing -yan/ian on a non-Armenian TV or event or a news item, our heart beat increases and we start looking for an Armenian heritage and so on and so on :) Yes, I accept this, and that’s exactly what I did. Quick search on Google brings me to this source that Ali Bastian is of Armenian and Russian descent. She is gorgeous and sexy. BBC describes her as “the epitome of an English rose”.

Originally hailing from Windsor, Ali is the epitome of an English rose. She made her first forays into TV with quintessentially English dramas such as Jane Eyre (when she was 10 years old) and A Touch Of Frost.

Ali is best known for playing Becca Dean in the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks from 2001 to 2007. Becca's most controversial storyline in Hollyoaks saw her fired from her teaching job and sent to prison after having an affair with one of her students.

She did not manage to pass through to the final for Strictly Come Dancing 2009 competition. She was dancing in pair with Brian Fortuna, a professional ballroom dancer and choreographer from the US. Apparently, they are an item too.

[...] But just a week after they were controversially voted off Strictly Come Dancing during the semi-final, Ali Bastian and Brian Fortuna have finally confirmed they're an item.

After leaving the BBC show where they met, the couple journeyed to Paris for a romantic city break in the snow.

In an interview with the new issue of Hello! magazine, the couple said they are finally ready to go public with their romance.

In fact, they're getting so serious about each other Brian, 27, has bought Ali, 26, flight tickets to join him at his parents' home in New Jersey for Christmas. [...]

Before finding love with Brian, Ali dated London Irish rugby player Nick Kennedy and her Hollyoaks co-star Kevin Sacre.

But yesterday... she won the ultimate festive Christmas edition of the programme with all judges awarding the highest 10 score + being voted the highest by the audience.


Ali Bastian & Brian Fortuna dance the Viennese Waltz to Please Come Home For Christmas.


The Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special 2009 Champions are crowned.


*picture - via Ali Bastian fan site

Quote of The Day (in Armenian)

Highly recommend reading today's article by detained for his political views opposition editor Nikol Pashinyan. His trial is currently underway in Yerevan and Nikol is facing up to 8 years imprisonment. Below is what I consider truly a Quote of The Day (in Armenian):

"[...] Եթե իսկական Եղիշե Չարենցից վերցնենք մտքի ազատությունը, ըմբոստությունը, արդարամտության զգացողությունը, հանուն գաղափարի զոհվելու պատրաստակամությունը, ամենադառը ճշմարտությունն ասելու ուժն ու խիզախությունը, դրան ավելացնենք մի քիչ վախկոտություն, հարմարվողականություն, ամպուտացիա անենք այդ Չարենցի ողնաշարը, կստանանք մի... այնպիսի Լեւոն Անանյան, որին նույնիսկ օրիգինալը կնախանձի: Սրանում է մեր իրականության ողբերգական առանձնահատկությունը. բանաստեղծները ուզում են Չարենց լինել, բայց շողոքորթել իշխանություններին, հոգեւորականները ուզում են Հիսուս լինել բայց չխաչվել, գիտնականներն ուզում են Ջորդանո Բրունո լինել, բայց չայրվել խարույկի վրա, նկարիչներն ուզում են Վան Գոգ լինել, բայց գլուխ չունեն ածխահատների գործադուլային շարժման հետ: [...]"

Read the article in full here: ԼԻՆԵԼ, ԲԱՅՑ ՉԼԻՆԵԼ. ԱՅՍ Է ԽՆԴԻՐԸ

My New Year resolution for the Armenian Cause

Aram Hamparian of the Armenian National Committee of America tweeted the other day:

#anca is interested in your New Year's resolutions for the #Armenian Cause.
@ANCA_DC

Well, here is mine: to make, however small, but personal contribution to evolve Armenia into a democratic state where human rights are not simply words but a reality. Everything else will follow.

To readers of my blog: BIG THANK YOU for reading my blog, for being in touch, for inspiring me. Whether it’s global, or very personal/intimate, whatever your dreams are, I hope and wish that at least some of them will come true in 2010. Have a very happy one!! x

Yet another report on alleged brutalities and human rights violations in the Armenian army

Not your usual festive story before Christmas and New Year, but yet another depressing and tragic story on alleged brutalities and human rights violations in the Armenian army (in Armenian, video - via Gyumri-based GALA TV station). This case is currently under investigation.

Mrs Armenia Gohar Haroutyunyan - new Mrs Globe 2009 (!)

Mrs Globe 2009 (*via Newscom, via Fotoglif)

2009-12-13, Bratislava, Slovak Republic: Mrs. Armenia and new Mrs. Globe 2009 Gohar Haroutyunyan poses after she won world final of a beauty contest for mothers and married women Mrs. Globe 2009 on December 13, 2009, in Bratislava, Slovakia. (many thanks to bsw_am for the info; also moon_lusin)

Mrs Globe 2009 (*Facebook)

Mrs Globe 2009 and Mrs Globe 2002 (*Facebook)

Cute Christmas tree :)

I was passing by this Christmas tree by Benetton in London and find it charming :)

First ladies of Latvia and Armenia at the Cafesjian Centre for the Arts in Yerevan

The Cafesjian Centre for the Arts reports that first ladies of Latvia, Mrs. Lilita Zatlere, and Armenia, Mrs. Rita Sargsyan, toured the Centre’s exhibition galleries on 11 December 2009.

Some people suck. Big time (re yet another video scandal in Armenia)

This video scandal (+ here) was just another reminder why I could never stand Hrant Tokhatyan & co. They suck. Big time.


*source of picture

Armenia: Free ALL political prisoners

10 December - Human Rights Day

Armenian opposition will march on 10 December (authorised by Yerevan city hall) to demand release of all political prisoners.

*I found this T-shirt via google search - "armenian political prisoners" 

The power of bloggers and state of human rights in Azerbaijan

#EminAdnan - 10 December Human Rights Day

Picture of the Day (source)

World AIDS Day 09, Yerevan, Armenia (Picture of the Day)

*picture - by Lara Aharonian
**More about the events - here
***video

"I received flowers today"... ("Այսոր ես ծաղիկներ ստացա"...)

*via Women's Resource Centre Youtube channel:

from the candle lighting ceremony on November 25 to end violence against women. Elvira Meliksetyan from the Women's Resource Center is reading a poem [in Armenian] on domestic violence by an unknown author. 

WTF?! - ‘Hayastanci: Anti-Russia’

After reading this IWPR report and glancing at this so called group’s so called website, my only reaction was - WTF?! They look like a group of hackers playing with others’ nerves, hoping for publicity and having fun. Mentally disturbed people with sick agenda.

A burst of anti-Russian [Unzipped: not only anti-Russian] emails and text messages, supposedly sent from an Armenian activist group [Unzipped: I do not think it’s an ‘Armenian activist group’], has left Armenians baffled as to who’s behind it and what their motives are.

The emails and text messages originate from an organisation calling itself Hayastanci: Anti-Russia, and thousands of Armenians have received them. More...

Armenia: Scandal of the Day - ‘party’ in prison - Picture of the Day

When I first looked at this picture, it never crossed my mind - until I read the accompanying text - that I am looking at prison here...

Armenia -- Artyom Khachatrian (R), editor of the pro-government ''Azatamtutyun'' daily, pictured with three men serving life sentences for politically motivated murders in Yerevan's Nubarashen prison on October 5, 2009. Photo courtesy of ''Haykakan Zhamanak. (RFE/RL)

Justice Minister Gevorg Danielian ordered an inquiry on Thursday after the publication of a revealing prison photograph that shows the editor of a pro-government newspaper in the company of three men serving life sentences for politically motivated murders.

The photo, which appeared on the front-page of the pro-opposition daily “Haykakan Zhamanak,” shows Artyom Khachatrian of the “Azatamtutyun” newspaper and one of his aides drinking coffee and soft drinks with the convicts at Yerevan’s Nubarashen prison.

All five men smiled as they had their picture taken by an unknown photographer. Two of them, Derenik Bejanian and Eduard Grigorian, were among the gunmen that had burst into Armenia’s parliament in October 1999, killing its speaker Karen Demirchian, Prime Minister Vazgen Sarkisian and six other officials. They share their prison cell with Arsen Ardzruni, a former member of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation convicted of being a member of a death squad that had allegedly operated in the early 1990s.

“Haykakan Zhamanak” called the photograph scandalous, saying that Khachatrian’s joint appearance with the convicted assassins was a serious breach of prison regulations. “What common things do they have to discuss and to do?” it asked in a dig at the editor who is reputed to have close ties to the government. More...