In an interview with Aravot.am, Gyumri Drama Theatre producer Tigran Virabyan, referring to the noise raised around granting the title of an Honored Artist to the America-resident Armenian rabiz singer Armenchik, said, “Let’s not forget that he is the most popular artist of Armenia nowadays. Whether we like it or not, he is the most demanded, as to why we demand him, it’s the other side of the issue. And he is not only in demand in Armenia but also outside of Armenia, he can have a concert hall with 10 thousand seats crowded and the same Armenians will buy the tickets in an overcrowded turn. He is a gifted person. He is doing a lot of charities, he donated all the proceeds from his latest concert to “Give a Life” Foundation, for treating children with cancer, he is a good person as a human being.
Another question that given his activities, whether he can be granted an Honored Artist or not. This is the problem and it is fundamental. Now, when we are complaining why he is given the title of Honored Artist, why we were not complaining when the major TV stations of Armenia were advocating his art. If everybody has such a common attitude, why they have not complained in the beginning but waited for him to become Honored and then start making noise. Hence, do not allow him to have a concert, do not allow him advertised by the major TV channels in Armenia … How come to address this topic so many days… There are people who are unaware that Michael Poghosyan and Hrant Tokhatyan are granted the titles of People’s Artist, one of the hero-guys barely reached the president with a walking stick.
Prior to addressing Armenchik and the fuss around him, it is much more important for us to address the titles of the people with the same enthusiasm who deserved and received these titles, because this common noise prevented people from receiving clear information about who were awarded and who else received an award. Most important thing for me was the awards to the hero guys who were awarded for safeguarding the country’s borders, one of them reached the president with the help of a walking stick and received the award. The second one who, unfortunately, was killed during the clash, his father came and received the award, we do not write anything about them and for three days, we are talking about Armenchik getting the title of Honored Artist.
For me, it was much more important to fill the Internet with the names of these people, to show that they are appreciated for safeguarding the borders of our country rather than speaking so much about Armenchik getting the Honored Artist.” To our observation that these people deserved to be awarded, therefore they were not talked about, our interlocutor said, “Isn’t it important to speak about deserving people? Wouldn’t it be better if all the websites in Armenia were filled with the photos of the guys who have protected us? It should be much more important to appreciate heroes. In one or two Armenian websites, I saw a piece or two of information about them. In most sites, all was about Armenchik… It is more important to motivate the guys who are standing on the border today. It was very exciting to see the father of the deceased boy in black clothes approaching the president, his 17-18-year-old son having given his life for the homeland. Yet, this is not spoken about at all. For me, the most important awards are the ones given to the heroes,” says Tigran Virabyan.
Nune AREVSHATYAN
Photo from president.am site
