In 16 cities of 10 countries simultaneously, solidarity and protest rallies were held, including in Yerevan and Vanadzor (in the USA-Los Angeles, New York, Boston, Boise, in France – Paris, Lyon, in Italy – Rome, Florence, in Germany – Cologne, in Spain – Barcelona, in Russia – Moscow, in Belgium – Sint-Niklaas, in Poland – Warsaw, in Czech Republic – Prague).
The offer to organize a similar rally was made by “Armenian Renaissance” diaspora civil movement, and the day, September 17, was symbolically chosen by the branch office in Germany, noting that it is the two months after the “Sasna Tsrer” rebellion, and it was necessary to remind the RA authorities ahead of the Independence Day that those who have presented Armenia’s independence for sale, they have no right to celebrate the independence day.
The “Armenian Renaissance” diaspora civil movement, which operates in 12 countries, in a course of years pursues the Diaspora to be a part in the development of Armenia’s domestic political life. It originated in Paris and mainly supports Armenia’s Founding Parliament and the democratic forces, which are considered to be fair. The rally in Germany took place in Cologne, near the cathedral. Azat Ordukhanyan, Chairman of the Armenian Academic Society of Germany, explains the selection of the city as follows: “In Germany, Cologne is the Armenian-populated area, mostly inhabited by Western Armenians and far away from all this. Thus, we have created an opportunity to participate in Armenia’s domestic political issues, to making the situation visible that there is another movement in addition to the Armenian issue with Turks. This is a unique manifestation of the unity of the Diaspora and the homeland, which happens firstly in our history.”
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The rally in Cologne was attended by the “Union of Armenian Academics,” “Kilikia” Youth Union of Hamburg, the Armenian community of Aschaffenburg, the German branch of the Assembly of European Armenians, the Union of Culture named after Grigor Grigoryan in Bielefeld and many Armenians from different cities of Germany. The participants were chanting, “Freedom to political prisoners,” “Sovereign Armenia,” “No surrender an inch of land from the homeland”, a number of slogans were also voiced, “Pavlik, do not put down your sword into the case,” “We all are Sasna Dzrer” and so on.
The organizers of the rally had obtained the list of all political prisoners in Armenia and politically persecuted (more than 70 people). Reading their names, they released a pigeon into the air for each political prisoner as a symbol of their innocence and freedom. The author of the initiative, Mr. Azat Ordukhanyan, in an interview with us, noted that only the German wing does such a thing, “Therewith, we tell our country that if you are holding our friends in prison, they are already symbolically hovering in the sky in Europe. I had asked the guys to find young eagles, but they could not find the quantity we wanted, so we chose pigeons. This is an interactive rally, the protester in addition to listening and chanting, releases a pigeon himself. It is important and creates an emotional connection.”
The latter, expressing thanks in his speech to “Sasna Tsrer” guys said, “The “Sasna Tsrer” phenomenon became an insurmountable barrier on the way to the treacherous handover of native lands and prevented the dirty work of cutting down the borders of our country. The squad of the Armenian force, thought and conscience, the Sasna Tsrer union, bring the Diaspora to a pathway too to be oriented between bright or dull Armenians and loudly announced, now, the choice is yours, Diaspora, either you write romances like a humble bride with RA ruling criminal-oligarchic clans who lead the country to the collapse, or stand next to the vulnerable and struggling people of Armenia and together participate in the solution of urgent domestic political issues of the homeland and save it from final destruction.”
The demand of the protesters all over the world on September 17 was basically the same:
– immediate release of all illegally detained and the prisoners in Armenia, immediately stop brutal persecution against their families and the supporters;
– liberated Artsakh is an integral part of Armenia and none of its territory can be handed over to a foreign country, to dictatorial Azerbaijan, as it is the homeland of the Armenian people. The only solution to the Artsakh issue is its reunification to mother Armenia;
– the resignation of Serge Sargsyan and the entire authorities;
– The legal and democratic sovereignty of the Republic of Armenia is considered a supreme value and any concessions on independence and statehood will reserve our obstinate resistance.
The protesters had promised to devote all their potential to the fulfillment of the urgent goals.
Gayane ARAKELYAN