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Diy Incident Stirs National Debate: Hate Crime Was "Right And Justified" Says Deputy Speaker Of National Assembly
By Gohar Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow
18.05.12 | 14:02
The recent home-made bomb attack on the DIY Rock Pub in downtown
Yerevan remains in the center of public attention and is being
politicized, as different political figures are commenting on the
apparent "hate crime".
Two young adult men were charged with the May 8 attempted arson on
Parpetsi Street club, which is known to attract members of Armenia's
gay and lesbian community.
The suspects in the attack were bailed out of jail by Artsvik Minasyan,
a Member of Parliament, who represents the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation (Dashnaktsutyun ), prompting the bar's outspoken owner -
and proclaimed lesbian -- of the bar to call the attack motivated by
the party.
The incident has stirred media discussion in Diaspora, and is likely
to continue as a lightning-rod of passion, especially in light of the
latest comment from a high-ranking member of the ruling Republican
Party of Armenia.
In an interview with Ararvot newspaper Thursday, deputy speaker of
the National Assembly Eduard Sharmazanov was quoted in relation to the
incident: "As an Armenian citizen and member of a national-conservative
party, I find the rebellion of the two young Armenian people against
the homosexuals, who have created a den of perversion in our country
and have a goal of alienating the society from its moral values,
completely right and justified.
"Those human rights defenders, who are trying to earn cheap dividends
from this incident, I urge them first and foremost to protect the
national and universal values."
The Armenian National Committee of America - Dashnaks - issued a
statement condemning the assault, however dissuading attempts to
connect it with political "masterminding":
"It is truly unfortunate that the ARF members did not use their
leadership perch to advance dialogue and discussion of tolerance
and acceptance in our country. However, for people to use their
statements to accuse an entire party that operates internationally
of masterminding this attack is equally counterproductive," said a
statement appearing on the ARF daily, Asberez.com.
Minasyan has said that his reasons for paying the $2,500 bail were
personal and had nothing to do with his party membership.
Likewise, the ARF Shant Student Association has issued a statement
distancing the crime from Dashnak ideology:
"The egregious act and the subsequent statements run counter to
the fundamental tenets and ideology of the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation, which advocates individual freedoms and rejects all forms
of and expressions of domination and exploitation including fascism,
racism, and chauvinistic manifestations of national supremacy,"
the statement reads.
A few days following the incident, leader of Heritage Party, former
Minister of Foreign Affairs Raffi Hovannisian, was present at a
party held in DIY, where he stated that the blast "does not have a
national interest."
"There is no national interest, no integrity of the country, if an
Armenian is not free in his or her homeland," Hovannisian said.
By Gohar Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow
18.05.12 | 14:02
The recent home-made bomb attack on the DIY Rock Pub in downtown
Yerevan remains in the center of public attention and is being
politicized, as different political figures are commenting on the
apparent "hate crime".
Two young adult men were charged with the May 8 attempted arson on
Parpetsi Street club, which is known to attract members of Armenia's
gay and lesbian community.
The suspects in the attack were bailed out of jail by Artsvik Minasyan,
a Member of Parliament, who represents the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation (Dashnaktsutyun ), prompting the bar's outspoken owner -
and proclaimed lesbian -- of the bar to call the attack motivated by
the party.
The incident has stirred media discussion in Diaspora, and is likely
to continue as a lightning-rod of passion, especially in light of the
latest comment from a high-ranking member of the ruling Republican
Party of Armenia.
In an interview with Ararvot newspaper Thursday, deputy speaker of
the National Assembly Eduard Sharmazanov was quoted in relation to the
incident: "As an Armenian citizen and member of a national-conservative
party, I find the rebellion of the two young Armenian people against
the homosexuals, who have created a den of perversion in our country
and have a goal of alienating the society from its moral values,
completely right and justified.
"Those human rights defenders, who are trying to earn cheap dividends
from this incident, I urge them first and foremost to protect the
national and universal values."
The Armenian National Committee of America - Dashnaks - issued a
statement condemning the assault, however dissuading attempts to
connect it with political "masterminding":
"It is truly unfortunate that the ARF members did not use their
leadership perch to advance dialogue and discussion of tolerance
and acceptance in our country. However, for people to use their
statements to accuse an entire party that operates internationally
of masterminding this attack is equally counterproductive," said a
statement appearing on the ARF daily, Asberez.com.
Minasyan has said that his reasons for paying the $2,500 bail were
personal and had nothing to do with his party membership.
Likewise, the ARF Shant Student Association has issued a statement
distancing the crime from Dashnak ideology:
"The egregious act and the subsequent statements run counter to
the fundamental tenets and ideology of the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation, which advocates individual freedoms and rejects all forms
of and expressions of domination and exploitation including fascism,
racism, and chauvinistic manifestations of national supremacy,"
the statement reads.
A few days following the incident, leader of Heritage Party, former
Minister of Foreign Affairs Raffi Hovannisian, was present at a
party held in DIY, where he stated that the blast "does not have a
national interest."
"There is no national interest, no integrity of the country, if an
Armenian is not free in his or her homeland," Hovannisian said.