“For me, this is the next occurrence of homophobia when thinking that only solidified values and our patriarchy, the man has the right to strike his wife. Who are you to come here and say something different, go to your country? The fear for something new, a change. This is absolutely reprehensible to me”, such opinion was expressed by civic activist Lilit Gevorgyan, in the conversation with Aravot.am, assessing the Head of the “Armenian-Russian union” organization, also the Head of Progressive Socialist Party, Robert Aharonyan’s behavior to the Director of “Women’s Resource Center”, Lara Aharonyan. Recall that in the 2013 presidential elections, Robert Aharonyan, nominating his candidacy a day after the court trial in Gavar brought against the accused 33-year old Sargis Hakobyan for beating his wife over 9 years and causing her psychological and physical pain, in the courtyard, has expressed irreverent to the activists, saying the following, “I am surprised at where the Gavar people are that have allowed them to stand here. Where are you from? Get the hell to your country. Why have you come to disturb Armenia? You haven’t drunk the water of this country, you don’t know the traditions of this country. Woe is the one giving you freedom. My dear ones, go to your Diaspora.” Lilit Gevorgyan estimates the incidents from another point of view. “For me, it’s not even about whether the activist or someone else was treated in a similar way, but how an official or an ordinary citizen is making a distinction, “Go to the country where you have come from”. I again come to the conclusion that the Diaspora is merely for receiving money, a source of income: All-Armenian Fund, participate in fundraising, but do not come to Armenia, do not bring in traditions to Armenia, the pure Armenian is the one who had drunk the water of this country, you have nothing to do here. This is absolutely unacceptable for me.”
To our observation of whether such manifestations do not contain elements of order or trends to discredit the civil movements, Lilit Gevorgyan responded, “Gender, homosexuality and so on. These topics oddly for me emerge every time. Burning the DIV club at the moment when there were fermentations after the Mashtots Park appeared oddly in the civic arena. This topic takes on in the case when the civilian arena is activated. Hence, I do not exclude. The topic is certainly used by someone as an order. The attempt to discredit the movements is obvious, but I do not think that it will work. I think people with sober mind are more than those like Robert Aharonyan.”
Tatev HARUTYUNYAN
