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PROTESTERS CONDEMN TREATMENT OF ARMENIAN WAR VETERAN IN RUSSIA
By Samson Martirosyan
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2013/07/19/protesters-condemn-treatment-of-armenian-war-veteran-in-russia/
July 19, 2013
GYUMRI, Armenia (A.W.)-On July 17, around 30 people gathered near the
Russian Consulate in Gyumri, the second largest city in Armenia, with
two messages for the Russian representative: First, they wished to
honor the memory of the 18 people killed in a car accident in Moscow
on July 13, when a truck crashed into a bus. Second, they wanted to
voice their condemnation of the discriminatory treatment that the
truck driver, Hrachya Harutyunyan, 46, had received by the Russian
court and the media.
Hrachya Harutyunyan 300x209 Protesters Condemn Treatment of Armenian
War Veteran in Russia Hrachya Harutyunyan
Harutyunyan, a Karabagh War veteran, was taken to court straight from
the hospital. According to reports, he was treated poorly and, more
significantly, was forced to wear women's garments-a colorful bathrobe
and slippers-at his court appearance. Members of the Russian media
have also been accused of racism in their reporting of the accident.
It is still unclear why the truck veered off course and crashed. Some
have speculated that a mechanical issue might have been the cause,
leaving the truck owner, and not the driver, at fault.
One of the demonstrators, activist Esmarida Poghosian, 25, expressed
her outrage at the way Russian authorities had treated Harutyunyan.
"What brought me here is the injustice and racism towards our citizen
in Russia. He is not being treated properly as a human being. This
is a serious violation of human rights."
After placing flowers and candles by the fence surrounding the
consulate, demonstrators demanded that Consul General Vasili Korchmar
meet with them. Korchmar was ready to accept just one of them,
a consulate employee said. The demonstrators refused the offer,
demanding that at least three people be allowed in, and the meeting
be held in the presence of the media.
After waiting for over an hour for a response, the demonstrators hung
a woman's robe on the fence. The police interfered and the robe was
immediately removed. One young man brought along a shirt with the
Armenian blazon on it, in an attempt to show Harutyunyan that he is
not alone, that he is supported by Armenian citizens.
Some have criticized the late and inadequate reaction of the Armenian
authorities, who failed to defend their citizen abroad.
As time went on, the demonstrators grew impatient and began chanting,
"Korchmar come out!" "Shame on you!" and "Leopold come out!" (The
latter was a reference to a famous Russian cartoon hero.)
"Though I do not think that our demonstration will have a very
positive result or that we'll get answers to our questions, it is
our duty nonetheless to come here and support our citizen in Russia,"
said Vardouhi Mouradyan, a 25-year-old student.
Observers are skeptical that the recent demonstrations near the
Russian Embassy in Yerevan and the Consulate in Gyumri will lead
to larger anti-Putin demonstrations. "I don't think that these
complaints or demands can lead to an anti-Putin movement because
Armenia, unfortunately, is still very connected to Russian industry
and economy... I don't think that Armenian civic activists are ready
to create or turn this into a wider anti-Putin movement; rather,
maybe something against the imperialistic behavior of Russia," said
Levon Barseghyan, the president of the Board of Asbarez Journalists
Club and a member of the Gyumri Municipal Council.
As Consul General Korchmar failed to meet with demonstrators, the
crowd dispersed after agreeing to return the following day to raise
their voices once again.
By Samson Martirosyan
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2013/07/19/protesters-condemn-treatment-of-armenian-war-veteran-in-russia/
July 19, 2013
GYUMRI, Armenia (A.W.)-On July 17, around 30 people gathered near the
Russian Consulate in Gyumri, the second largest city in Armenia, with
two messages for the Russian representative: First, they wished to
honor the memory of the 18 people killed in a car accident in Moscow
on July 13, when a truck crashed into a bus. Second, they wanted to
voice their condemnation of the discriminatory treatment that the
truck driver, Hrachya Harutyunyan, 46, had received by the Russian
court and the media.
Hrachya Harutyunyan 300x209 Protesters Condemn Treatment of Armenian
War Veteran in Russia Hrachya Harutyunyan
Harutyunyan, a Karabagh War veteran, was taken to court straight from
the hospital. According to reports, he was treated poorly and, more
significantly, was forced to wear women's garments-a colorful bathrobe
and slippers-at his court appearance. Members of the Russian media
have also been accused of racism in their reporting of the accident.
It is still unclear why the truck veered off course and crashed. Some
have speculated that a mechanical issue might have been the cause,
leaving the truck owner, and not the driver, at fault.
One of the demonstrators, activist Esmarida Poghosian, 25, expressed
her outrage at the way Russian authorities had treated Harutyunyan.
"What brought me here is the injustice and racism towards our citizen
in Russia. He is not being treated properly as a human being. This
is a serious violation of human rights."
After placing flowers and candles by the fence surrounding the
consulate, demonstrators demanded that Consul General Vasili Korchmar
meet with them. Korchmar was ready to accept just one of them,
a consulate employee said. The demonstrators refused the offer,
demanding that at least three people be allowed in, and the meeting
be held in the presence of the media.
After waiting for over an hour for a response, the demonstrators hung
a woman's robe on the fence. The police interfered and the robe was
immediately removed. One young man brought along a shirt with the
Armenian blazon on it, in an attempt to show Harutyunyan that he is
not alone, that he is supported by Armenian citizens.
Some have criticized the late and inadequate reaction of the Armenian
authorities, who failed to defend their citizen abroad.
As time went on, the demonstrators grew impatient and began chanting,
"Korchmar come out!" "Shame on you!" and "Leopold come out!" (The
latter was a reference to a famous Russian cartoon hero.)
"Though I do not think that our demonstration will have a very
positive result or that we'll get answers to our questions, it is
our duty nonetheless to come here and support our citizen in Russia,"
said Vardouhi Mouradyan, a 25-year-old student.
Observers are skeptical that the recent demonstrations near the
Russian Embassy in Yerevan and the Consulate in Gyumri will lead
to larger anti-Putin demonstrations. "I don't think that these
complaints or demands can lead to an anti-Putin movement because
Armenia, unfortunately, is still very connected to Russian industry
and economy... I don't think that Armenian civic activists are ready
to create or turn this into a wider anti-Putin movement; rather,
maybe something against the imperialistic behavior of Russia," said
Levon Barseghyan, the president of the Board of Asbarez Journalists
Club and a member of the Gyumri Municipal Council.
As Consul General Korchmar failed to meet with demonstrators, the
crowd dispersed after agreeing to return the following day to raise
their voices once again.