“The phenomenon that there are Russian-language projects gives us the idea that our independent state of 20 years has not yet been established, and we have the society affected by inferiority complex”, – so responded the Chairman of Armenian Helsinki Committee Avetik Ishkhanyan, in response to the question of Aravot.am whether it was appropriate that the Government of Armenia allocated 12 million drams from taxpayers funds to a private TV company to extend the term of the license of the Russian project “What, Where, When” for 1 more year. He said that if Armenia were truly an independent state, then the issue would not be discussed even at the social level, and emphasized, “If we view the appropriateness for the prospect of independent Armenia, which has its national dignity, feels itself an independent state, there would not be a discussion even at the public level.
” Mr. Ishkhanyan highlighted also the fact that much is changed by the example of the power, and added, “All of that could be changed by the examples of the authorities, as the authorities demonstrate an example in anywhere. During these years, the project “What, Where, When”, being a Russian language project, and attended by the ministers of Armenia, first, demonstrate an example to the people that your language is old-fashioned, and if you want to become a civilized man, reach the position of a minister, you must speak Russian.” Avetik Ishkhanyan drew parallels with accession to the Customs Union, and said, “Accession to the Customs Union was not one day decision, it was the logical continuation of this “What, Where, When” project. The problem is that our authorities do not have a national state thinking, it feels itself as a manager of a territory. Its goal is to show those outsiders as much as possible, how dedicated we are to them: today, it could be the Russians, then Chinese, Turks or Japanese. This is the thinking of our political elite, to whom the independence and national values worth nothing.”
Tatev HARUTYUNYAN
