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COMMUNITY ORDERED TO TAKE DOWN GEN. ANTRANIG STATUE IN SOCHI
asbarez
Wednesday, June 1st, 2011
The statue of General Antranig in Sochi
SOCHI, Russia-What was to bring together 5,000 to 6,000 Armenians from
around the Krasnodar region of Russia and Abkhazia for a community-wide
May 28 celebration turned sour when local authorities ordered the
Armenian community here to bring down a statue of General Antranig,
which was to be unveiled for the event.
According to members of the Armenian community in Sochi, local
authorities said that the statue must come down, or it will be
demolished.
The authorities explained their decision saying that the unveiling of
the statue might anger Turkey, which could refuse to take part in the
construction of facilities for the Sochi Winter Olympic Games in 2014.
Armenia's Consul General Ararat Gomtsyan told Armenian activists of
Sochi in a phone conversation that he was unable to do anything. He
also advised them to adhere to authorities' request. According to
representatives of the Armenian community, the decision was adopted
in Moscow, but not in the region. They claimed that pressure from
Azeri groups led to the decision.
"There is a certain policy by the Russian authorities toward
the Armenian population," said a statement issued by the Armenian
community, which claimed that anti-Armenian sentiments in Krasnodar
were prevalent.
Sochi and that region of Russia is home to a large number
Hamshen-Armenians, who also issued a statement expressing their anger.
"General Antranig is not only a national hero but our compatriot,
native of Trabzon, just like many Armenian residents of Sochi. It is
not a mere coincidence that Armenians of Sochi were the organizers
of the monument," read the statement of Hemshin Armenians in Russia.
"Dismantling of the monument is not only an affront to the memory
of Gen. Antranig, but also to the memory of our ancestors," said the
Hamshen-Armenian announcement. The community said it considered the
order an act of vandalism.
Gen. Antranig is an Armenian hero who led battles for the liberation
movement of Armenia, including those for independence. He organized
the defense efforts in Sassoun and Zangezour.
He died in Fresno on August 31, 1927 and was buried in Paris until the
Armenian government in 2000 arranged the relocation of his remains
to Armenia where they are interred at Yerablour National Cemetery
in Yerevan.
asbarez
Wednesday, June 1st, 2011
The statue of General Antranig in Sochi
SOCHI, Russia-What was to bring together 5,000 to 6,000 Armenians from
around the Krasnodar region of Russia and Abkhazia for a community-wide
May 28 celebration turned sour when local authorities ordered the
Armenian community here to bring down a statue of General Antranig,
which was to be unveiled for the event.
According to members of the Armenian community in Sochi, local
authorities said that the statue must come down, or it will be
demolished.
The authorities explained their decision saying that the unveiling of
the statue might anger Turkey, which could refuse to take part in the
construction of facilities for the Sochi Winter Olympic Games in 2014.
Armenia's Consul General Ararat Gomtsyan told Armenian activists of
Sochi in a phone conversation that he was unable to do anything. He
also advised them to adhere to authorities' request. According to
representatives of the Armenian community, the decision was adopted
in Moscow, but not in the region. They claimed that pressure from
Azeri groups led to the decision.
"There is a certain policy by the Russian authorities toward
the Armenian population," said a statement issued by the Armenian
community, which claimed that anti-Armenian sentiments in Krasnodar
were prevalent.
Sochi and that region of Russia is home to a large number
Hamshen-Armenians, who also issued a statement expressing their anger.
"General Antranig is not only a national hero but our compatriot,
native of Trabzon, just like many Armenian residents of Sochi. It is
not a mere coincidence that Armenians of Sochi were the organizers
of the monument," read the statement of Hemshin Armenians in Russia.
"Dismantling of the monument is not only an affront to the memory
of Gen. Antranig, but also to the memory of our ancestors," said the
Hamshen-Armenian announcement. The community said it considered the
order an act of vandalism.
Gen. Antranig is an Armenian hero who led battles for the liberation
movement of Armenia, including those for independence. He organized
the defense efforts in Sassoun and Zangezour.
He died in Fresno on August 31, 1927 and was buried in Paris until the
Armenian government in 2000 arranged the relocation of his remains
to Armenia where they are interred at Yerablour National Cemetery
in Yerevan.