The Embassy of Russia in Armenia didn’t touch upon the problem of murders of Armenians in the Russian Federation. And only on 29 December it published its explanation “7 errors round Russian xenophobia” by title.
“It was very unpleasant to see at the Embassy of Russia in Armenia that the major part of publishing’s about demonstrations of xenophobia in Russia had a hysteric character in the Armenian press”, – is noted in the publishing.
We spoke about some anti thesis during our conversation with Vardan Haroutiunian, the head of “Center of law and freedom”.
Trying to deny the thesis that “the highest level of xenophobia is in Russia” the Embassy has noted in particularly that Russia itself suffers from those demonstrations used against its compatriots in Baltic countries. It has also added that the same exists in Georgia, “where the rights of national minorities, including Armenians are always violated”. In answer to these affirmations Vardan Haroutiunian said: “ I think, xenophobia is a negative demonstration, and it shouldn’t be compared. It isn’t of great importance, less or more. Irrespective of the numbers of victims. As for affirmations about actions of xenophobia in Baltic countries and Georgia, I don’t know any fact that any Russian citizen was killed or beaten in the above-mentioned countries. Instead, violence is used on national ground everyday”.
The Embassy has also published a notion opposing to the thesis that “Nazism in Russia is a state policy”: “As for Russia’s policy towards the foreigners, it is friendly when they come and live in Russian territory legally, obey laws of our country and don’t commit crimes”. Whether it isn’t a hidden blame that the major part of Armenians doesn’t provide for those conditions. Vardan Haroutiunian answered: “A hidden migration exists all over the world. The whole Europe is full of hidden migrants. And it would be surprising if the governments and embassies of European countries use violence on illegal migrants or kill them. If a person has come to a country illegally, he can be exiled legally instead of killing or beating”.
The Embassy has given thorough explanations on the occasion of the thesis as if “ political parties, which obviously propagandize racist goals operate in Russia”. And has noted that Russia refuses state registration of parties which has adopted nationalistic ideology. State Duma has adopted amendments of law “About opposing extreme activities”, RF 13 governors have signed a message calling to “isolate from public life” politicians like Limonov and others.
In answer to the question whether the above-mentioned measurements are enough to oppose extreme groups, Mr. Haroutiunian said: “I don’t know the RF authorities what kind of aimed policy carry out in the struggle against extremism and how much efforts they make. But the life shows just the opposite. The representatives of both state Duma and government freely demonstrate in the press their negative attitude towards foreigners, encouraging the rise of Nazis.
Besides, no government admits beforehand that it yields its positions to the Nazis. A real struggle must be carried out against that disaster, a thing that isn’t noticed in the RF today. This document proves it, which aims to undervalue the seriousness of this danger.”
The only thesis with which Mr. Haroutiunian agreed was that demonstrations of xenophobia don’t have anti Armenian character and Russian nationalists are against all “non Slavonic”
peoples.