When famous journalist Hrant Dink was killed in Istanbul on January 19, another Armenian, not famous in the world, 16 years old Arthur Martirosian was severely killed in Tomilino settlement situated near Moscow. Certainly, the meaning of those events is different. None of them must be ignored. Especially when the murder in Istanbul was a unique event in Turkey during the latest years, while the murders of Armenians in Russia happen everyday. Simply Hrant’s murder was a proper opportunity for our national intellectuals and various strata of society to demonstrate their “patriotism”: as more you curse and damn Turks as more patriot you are.
Besides, expressing anger on the occasion of Sumgayit, Genocide or Hrant Dink is harmless; nobody will beat or arrest you for it. But those same intellectuals haven’t held meetings and expressed their anger on Poghos Poghosian’s murder or against unfair elections. It is dangerous; they may lose their warm place in the authority’s pocket.
Holding meetings against murders of Armenians in Russia is dangerous as well. As the leadership of that country are the patrons of the above-mentioned intellectuals’ patrons. Consequently, our newspapers won’t ever write “Russians remain Russians”, “Sargis Tkhruni” student club won’t demonstrate “Russia killed Arthur Martirosian” poster, and And Zory Balayan won’t make speeches against “pan-Russism”.
Nobody will assure me that the murders of Armenians in Russia have no connection with the policy. Yes, Putin or Ivanov, condemn Nazism by words. But Erdoghan and Gyul do the same. The point is that they encourage those demonstrations by their behavior. And influential persons of Turkey encourage extremism. Read former president of that country Suleiman Demirel’s interview to APA Azerbaijani news agency: “Slander is in the blood of Armenians”, it’s a position of classical racist. The RF State Duma parliamentarians, governors, various officials, who encourage Nazism. Are the fascist of friend country better than Turk fascists.
… Maybe Arthur would become a famous figure like Hrant Dink. If he grew up.