Interview with former Member of Russian State Duma, Head of the Center of Political Research, Representative of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation, pro-Azerbaijani political scientist and economist, Sergey Markov.
– The leadership of “Zvezda” has applied to the Armenian side with an official letter, in connection with the program about Garegin Nzhdeh, where they admit that it has been not correct and those assessments do not emanate from the logic of Armenian-Russian ally relations. You have created a working group consisting of the Members of the Russian State Duma, Members of the Public Chamber, lawyers and analysts to make an appeal to the International Court of Justice relative to “fascism glorification episodes” in post-Soviet countries. Will you not reconsider your positioning after this apology?
– No, we will not step back from our intentions. We will examine the statement in detail, but I think “Zvezda” has made it under the pressure of the Ministry of Defence. As known, the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation cooperates with the Republic of Armenia within the framework of CSTO. However, it is evident to me that Garegin Nzhdeh has cooperated with Adolf Hitler in the membership of Wehrmacht Armenian Legion. Subsequently, putting his statue is not acceptable at all, as much as Stepan Bandera’s. Garegin Nzhdeh is Armenian Stepan Bandera. Yes, we know that many Armenians love and appreciate him, also for his participation in Civil War. But I can say, in France no one places the statue of Marshall Anrie Petenin, who, generally, was the hero of WWI, who entered into history as the general person in Visci regime, who cooperated with fascist Germany. Moreover, a lot of similar biographies are in place connected with your Nzhdeh: at first they have participated in military operations, become national heroes, and afterwards started to cooperate with Hitler. However, I think Peten has done more than Nzhdeh.
– Garegin Nzhdeh is a national hero to Armenians, inasmuch as he has saved Zangezur – mountainous Armenia from Turkish invasion.
– I am aware. But I know that Marshal Peten has done far greater work. He has been General Supreme Commander, but no one places his statue. We – Russians, do not put Vlasov’s statue, or the statue of the people who have cooperated with the evil Hitler. He has killed 25 million Russians and how many Soviet citizens!
– If Nzhdeh, according to you, is the person who you insist he is, then why your Russian colleagues apologized? They told – we have been incorrect.
– They have told it forasmuch as, perhaps, the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Armenia has put pressure on Russian Ministry of Defence. Plus, I think the influence of the powerful Armenian Diaspora in the Russian Federation has played a role.
Ani BAGHDASARYAN