The NGOs dealing with gender issues are intruding the Armenian families and destroy them. Such opinion was expressed by the leader of the “Armenian-Russian Union”, socialist Robert Aharonyan, in the conversation with Aravot.am, responding to the question about why he is against the NGOs fighting for the equal rights of men and women. In this regard, Aharonyan added, “There is a format to equality. What kind of equality? This, that you see written gender on the forehead? I am against that people sitting here should protect the Armenian families. Thank you. I do not want to have an American defender. I tell these women, “Quit and go away from here.” Recall that recently, at the courtyard in Gavar, when the trial of a criminal case filed against the fortune teller Varsik’s son, Sargis Hakobyan, Robert Aharonyan had cursed the Director of “Women’s Resource Center” Lara Aharonyan, who was supporting the aggrieved party, Hasmik Khachatryan, saying, “Where are you from? Get the hell out to your country. Why have you come here to obstruct Armenia?” Today, Mr. Aharonyan again was present in the court session for the same case, and although, this time, there were many representatives of the organization dealing with women’s rights, the socialist was more relaxed today and did not curse anyone. “I as a man of the family, if my wife beats the child, beats severely, she could be beaten to death,” such opinion was expressed by Mr. Aharonyan, in the conversation with us, considering that Hasmik Khachatryan has allegedly beat her child. Note, however, that it was not proved by the court. “The man has the right to slap his wife,” said the socialist during the argument with Lara Aharonyan. And when we asked whether he will hit or beat his wife, the socialists said, “I will never do it.” Details in the video. Robert Aharonyan almost identically repeated the statement made by the Russian Ambassador to Armenia Ivan Volinkin that it needs to neutralize the non-governmental organizations, which drive a wedge into Armenian-Russian relations. “We need to limit registration of NGOs in Armenia as gender, faiths, and so on. I am against the U.S. Embassy representative intrude into the Armenian family, let our Armenians protect our rights.” Details in the video. Mr. Aharonyan mentioned that the NGOs are intruding the Armenian families and destroying them, while it is possible for the spouses to reconcile after disputing. When we quoted the allegations by some NGOs that often abused women are turning to the police, but no criminal case is brought, and the violence ends up with the murder of the woman, Mr. Aharonyan accused us that we are blaming the President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan, Police Chief Vladimir Gasparyan in inactivity. “So, you mean that Vladimir Gasparyan, and the Internal Affairs are not working, and only the U.S. Embassy is working?” Details in the video. In the conversation with us, with regard to Robert Aharonyan’s statements, the leader of “Women’s Support Center” Maro Matosyan said, “We do not go and enter people’s homes, and intrude in their business. The fact is that there is violence, these women have no other choice, but to turn to us, we give shelter to them as they have no alternative.”
Nelly BABAYAN
