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COMMEMORATION OF THE VICTIMS OF THE FEBRUARY REBELLION
By Sevak Hakobian
Yerkir.am
February 23, 2007
There are some days in the history of our nation that have not been
forgotten despite the fact that they were not celebrated as national
holidays during the Soviet times.
Today, the meaning of these days gradually becomes clear for the
public.
February 18, 1921 is one of such days. It is known as a day of
pan-national rebellion. On February 18, the ARF's Supreme Body
organized a commemoration event at the memorial opened in Garni
village and the park near Gabriel Sundukian Theater.
During the commemoration event in Garni, member of ARF's Supreme Body
Haykazun Alvrtsian noted that the February rebellion is one of the
heroic pages in our history. "Our nation that had embarked the road
of state building through liberation struggle managed to understand
at one of the most difficult moments that its values were being
distorted, and could not stand that." The nation that had already
started yielding to the emerging totalitarian system and had lost
its faith in the future suddenly proved that it can stand up against
injustice because, as Alvrtsian noted, nations build states to ensure
their freedom, and no one needs a state where he would be a slave.
The reason that caused the February rebellion was violation of the
agreement signed on December 2, 1920. The agreement was signed by
the ARF leadership of the First Armenian Republic represented by Dro,
and representative of Russia Legran. It envisaged peaceful transfer
of power. According to the agreement, the sovietized Armenia would
continue its existence as an independent state while Russia would
recognize as Armenian territories all territories that were under
Armenian control before they were conquered by the Turks.
On the very next day after the revolutionary committee came to
power all agreements reached were violated and mass repressions
started. Starting with January 1921, the Bolshevik revolutionary
committee had arrested a number of leading Dashnak leaders including
the Prime Minister Hamo Ohanjanian, Minister Nikol Aghbalian, leading
intellectual of those times Levon Shant, one of the military leaders
of the liberation struggle Hamazasp and many others. The leadership,
intellectuals and military elite of the First Armenian Republic were
all imprisoned. 1200 military men, heroes of Sardarapat and other
battles, were exiled.
All this caused a wave of discontent and protest. Several underground
groups and salvation committees were created. One of the them was the
Committee for Salvation of the Homeland headed by Simon Vratsian. The
rebellion rose on February 16. It started near Aragats, in Parakar,
Akhta, Bash-Garni an Kotayk.
The rebels had soon liberated some town and on February 18, they
liberated Yerevan.
What would have happened had the February rebellion not taken
place? On the night of February 17, 40 leaders including national
heroes Hamazasp, colonel Ghorghanian and military troop leader
Makedon, were shot at the order of Bolshevik Avis Nurijanian. Had the
rebels been late, the same faith would have reached Prime Ministers
Hamo Ohanjanian and Hovhannes Kajaznuni, Chairman of the Parliament
Avetis Sahakian, Justice Minister Ruben Darbinian, Nikol Aghbalian,
and others jailed in Yerevan, Bayazed, Artashat.
Yerevan State University Professor Vardan Petrossian noted that the
main reason for the arrests and repressions was the new regime's fear
of the Dashnak government since the latter was very popular among
the people. The newly established regime was too weak to be able to
preserve the power it had got through the so-called "revolution of
classes". Along with the regime's weakness, there was growing fear
that the people might follow the Dashnak government to overthrow the
newly emerged regime.
In reality, none of the Dashnak government leaders, including Dro
who was later exiled to Russia, and 1200 exiled officers and others,
had any intentions of overthrowing the Bolshevik government, and the
peaceful transfer of power was a proof of this.
After the agreement on peaceful transfer of power was signed in 1920,
the ARF 's Bureau disseminated among its members the decision which
said, "Forced by the pressure from two sides, Bureau is leaving Armenia
leaving its representative in the country and orders the comrades
to act as required by their local conditions and keep the existence
of the party secret. The Bureau does not prohibit comrades to join
other parties and work for the economic and cultural development of
the country."
People joyfully welcomed the return of the national government. The
new government created on the basis of the Committee for Salvation of
the Homeland governed the country for 42 days. However, the government
had to leave the country because of the advance of the Turkish troops
and the ultimatums presented by the Bolsheviks.
The period of exile started for the ARF. And the exile lasted until
1988. In this period, the Dashnak leaders played a great role in
developing the cultural and spiritual life in Armenian communities in
different countries and greatly contributed to the self-organization
of the Diaspora communities.
After the first Dashnak government was forced to leave the country the
monstrous intentions of the new regime was revealed. A treacherous
agreement was signed with the Turks on March 21, 1921 with which
Russia recognized Turkey's rights over Western Armenia.
Kars, Ardahan and Surmalu were annexed to Turkey. The southern part
of Yerevan province including Sharur Nakhijevan was included into
Azerbaijan with a status of an autonomous republic. The same faith
awaited Karabagh.
Later the communists, and Lenin himself, confessed that the Bolshevik
authorities in Armenia had committed serious mistakes. The second
revolutionary committee headed by Alexander Myasnikian was more
cautious and did not follow its predecessor's work style.
Representative of Vostan Sports Committee Zhorzhik Abrahamian noted at
the commemoration event held in Yerevan that today when we look back
at the heroic pages of our history from the distance of 80 years we can
realistically assess and realize what really happened in those times.
Abrahamian said May is a month of victories for the Armenian nation,
while February remains as the month of rebellion. Our nation's will
not to yield to injustices and its ability to stand for its rights
were proved in 1921.
Member of ARF's Supreme Body, head of ARF's parliamentary faction
Hrayr Karapetian congratulated those attending the event noting
that February 18 is a holiday not only for ARF, it is a pan-national
celebration of victory.
"February 18 symbolizes the rebellion of our spirit, our revolutionary
stance, our protest against anti-national forces perpetrating
injustice," Karapetian noted adding that this symbolism is still
relevant today.
"Even today we have to struggle not only against external enemies
but also people who are called Armenians but are spreading ideology
that is not proper for Armenians, who destroy our internal life,
our communities and economy.
This means that such a rebellion is necessary also today, we have
to stand up against such phenomena." Karapetian believes many values
have not yet become pan-national but the day will come when we will
all join to celebrate our national day of pride.
By Sevak Hakobian
Yerkir.am
February 23, 2007
There are some days in the history of our nation that have not been
forgotten despite the fact that they were not celebrated as national
holidays during the Soviet times.
Today, the meaning of these days gradually becomes clear for the
public.
February 18, 1921 is one of such days. It is known as a day of
pan-national rebellion. On February 18, the ARF's Supreme Body
organized a commemoration event at the memorial opened in Garni
village and the park near Gabriel Sundukian Theater.
During the commemoration event in Garni, member of ARF's Supreme Body
Haykazun Alvrtsian noted that the February rebellion is one of the
heroic pages in our history. "Our nation that had embarked the road
of state building through liberation struggle managed to understand
at one of the most difficult moments that its values were being
distorted, and could not stand that." The nation that had already
started yielding to the emerging totalitarian system and had lost
its faith in the future suddenly proved that it can stand up against
injustice because, as Alvrtsian noted, nations build states to ensure
their freedom, and no one needs a state where he would be a slave.
The reason that caused the February rebellion was violation of the
agreement signed on December 2, 1920. The agreement was signed by
the ARF leadership of the First Armenian Republic represented by Dro,
and representative of Russia Legran. It envisaged peaceful transfer
of power. According to the agreement, the sovietized Armenia would
continue its existence as an independent state while Russia would
recognize as Armenian territories all territories that were under
Armenian control before they were conquered by the Turks.
On the very next day after the revolutionary committee came to
power all agreements reached were violated and mass repressions
started. Starting with January 1921, the Bolshevik revolutionary
committee had arrested a number of leading Dashnak leaders including
the Prime Minister Hamo Ohanjanian, Minister Nikol Aghbalian, leading
intellectual of those times Levon Shant, one of the military leaders
of the liberation struggle Hamazasp and many others. The leadership,
intellectuals and military elite of the First Armenian Republic were
all imprisoned. 1200 military men, heroes of Sardarapat and other
battles, were exiled.
All this caused a wave of discontent and protest. Several underground
groups and salvation committees were created. One of the them was the
Committee for Salvation of the Homeland headed by Simon Vratsian. The
rebellion rose on February 16. It started near Aragats, in Parakar,
Akhta, Bash-Garni an Kotayk.
The rebels had soon liberated some town and on February 18, they
liberated Yerevan.
What would have happened had the February rebellion not taken
place? On the night of February 17, 40 leaders including national
heroes Hamazasp, colonel Ghorghanian and military troop leader
Makedon, were shot at the order of Bolshevik Avis Nurijanian. Had the
rebels been late, the same faith would have reached Prime Ministers
Hamo Ohanjanian and Hovhannes Kajaznuni, Chairman of the Parliament
Avetis Sahakian, Justice Minister Ruben Darbinian, Nikol Aghbalian,
and others jailed in Yerevan, Bayazed, Artashat.
Yerevan State University Professor Vardan Petrossian noted that the
main reason for the arrests and repressions was the new regime's fear
of the Dashnak government since the latter was very popular among
the people. The newly established regime was too weak to be able to
preserve the power it had got through the so-called "revolution of
classes". Along with the regime's weakness, there was growing fear
that the people might follow the Dashnak government to overthrow the
newly emerged regime.
In reality, none of the Dashnak government leaders, including Dro
who was later exiled to Russia, and 1200 exiled officers and others,
had any intentions of overthrowing the Bolshevik government, and the
peaceful transfer of power was a proof of this.
After the agreement on peaceful transfer of power was signed in 1920,
the ARF 's Bureau disseminated among its members the decision which
said, "Forced by the pressure from two sides, Bureau is leaving Armenia
leaving its representative in the country and orders the comrades
to act as required by their local conditions and keep the existence
of the party secret. The Bureau does not prohibit comrades to join
other parties and work for the economic and cultural development of
the country."
People joyfully welcomed the return of the national government. The
new government created on the basis of the Committee for Salvation of
the Homeland governed the country for 42 days. However, the government
had to leave the country because of the advance of the Turkish troops
and the ultimatums presented by the Bolsheviks.
The period of exile started for the ARF. And the exile lasted until
1988. In this period, the Dashnak leaders played a great role in
developing the cultural and spiritual life in Armenian communities in
different countries and greatly contributed to the self-organization
of the Diaspora communities.
After the first Dashnak government was forced to leave the country the
monstrous intentions of the new regime was revealed. A treacherous
agreement was signed with the Turks on March 21, 1921 with which
Russia recognized Turkey's rights over Western Armenia.
Kars, Ardahan and Surmalu were annexed to Turkey. The southern part
of Yerevan province including Sharur Nakhijevan was included into
Azerbaijan with a status of an autonomous republic. The same faith
awaited Karabagh.
Later the communists, and Lenin himself, confessed that the Bolshevik
authorities in Armenia had committed serious mistakes. The second
revolutionary committee headed by Alexander Myasnikian was more
cautious and did not follow its predecessor's work style.
Representative of Vostan Sports Committee Zhorzhik Abrahamian noted at
the commemoration event held in Yerevan that today when we look back
at the heroic pages of our history from the distance of 80 years we can
realistically assess and realize what really happened in those times.
Abrahamian said May is a month of victories for the Armenian nation,
while February remains as the month of rebellion. Our nation's will
not to yield to injustices and its ability to stand for its rights
were proved in 1921.
Member of ARF's Supreme Body, head of ARF's parliamentary faction
Hrayr Karapetian congratulated those attending the event noting
that February 18 is a holiday not only for ARF, it is a pan-national
celebration of victory.
"February 18 symbolizes the rebellion of our spirit, our revolutionary
stance, our protest against anti-national forces perpetrating
injustice," Karapetian noted adding that this symbolism is still
relevant today.
"Even today we have to struggle not only against external enemies
but also people who are called Armenians but are spreading ideology
that is not proper for Armenians, who destroy our internal life,
our communities and economy.
This means that such a rebellion is necessary also today, we have
to stand up against such phenomena." Karapetian believes many values
have not yet become pan-national but the day will come when we will
all join to celebrate our national day of pride.