Yesterday, the “New Wave” contest of young singers launched in Jurmala, which I am treating better than the “Eurovision”. First, a professional jury is working for this contest, secondly, our singers’ performance in this contest traditionally is successful. I mean both this “New Wave” and its former Soviet “prototype”, “Yurmala” and Narine Harutyunyan, Aramo, and in modern times, Sona Shahgeldyan. I’m sure that this time, too, Sona Rubenyan will worthily represent our country.
Unfortunately, here too, the politics has stirred up the music festival. Deterioration of relations between Russia and the West has affected even politically “neutral” (as opposed to the “Eurovision”) contest. Latvia, as a part of the West, announced that it would not allow the access of Russian artists, Valeria, Kobzon and Gazmanov to its country. They are “charged” for supporting Putin’s policy in the Crimea and Ukraine, in general.
I think that it’s a wrong decision. The point is not whether Putin’s policy is good or bad. The point is that people self-interestedly or spontaneously express their opinion about this policy. They neither shoot in Ukraine, nor give orders to shoot. To punish even wrongly, even acceptably, but for expressing a point of view, in my opinion, does not comply with the essence of Western values.
The task of the officials is different. They accept this-or-that decision which may not be to the liking of given country or a group of countries. But to impose sanctions against artists, journalists, public figures or intellectuals is not just, it unnecessarily aggravates the situation. Next year, the Russians, let’s assume, will organize a similar contest in Sochi. What would happen if they apply to similar sanctions? Would the world be again divided into two parts, and we would go back to the times when almost the only “officially allowed” American singer was Dean Reed?
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As it is known, there are also “black lists” in Azerbaijan. It includes the citizens of all states who had visited Artsakh. It seems to me that compiling such list is a result of limited thinking. What? Do the Azerbaijani authorities believe that all these people are dreaming of visiting their country? Will they suffer a lot if their access is banned? The punishment should cause pain to the person or else it is a kindergarten.
Similar “black lists” are also at times compiled in Armenia, a list of “anti-national elements” or “supporters of the regime.” It is also not a very meaningful occupation.
ARAM ABRAHAMYAN
