Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

BEHIND THE POLICE LINES: THE ATTACKS AGAINST ARMENIANS IN SAMATYA

by Aris Nalci on February 1, 2013

Special for the Armenian Weekly.

Historian Taner Akcam recently told me, “Living in Turkey as an
Armenian is an art; the art of survival.” He was right.

Protest against anti-Armenian crimes in Samatya, Istanbul: “We stand
together with Armenians, we won’t give way to racism.” (Photo shared
on Facebook by Halkların Demokratik Kongresi [HDK])
And only a couple of days later I was in Samatya trying to understand
what’s happening there.

Samatya is one of the oldest districts in Istanbul. After the
establishment of the Turkish Republic they renamed it Kocamustafa
PaÅ~_a. But many people still use the old name.

Since Nov. 2012, we are reading reports that there are attacks against
elderly Armenians in the neighborhood. In December, Marissa Kuchuk
was killed during one of these attacks. Several attacks followed.

Even the Armenian community doesn’t know the exact number of the
attacks, because Armenians are frightened to even say that they were
attacked. If there is no considerable harm, they don’t want to talk
about it. This silence confuses the public and allows the police and
others to argue that the attacks are not hate crimes.

Now let’s dig deeper, reminding ourselves that as of Jan. 31, the
police hasn’t made a single arrest.

The Armenian NGO ‘Nor Zartonk’ has been following these attacks and
its representative, Sayat Tekir, told me on our TV show (IMC-GAMURC)
that in their report dated Nov. 2012, they predicted a rise in hate
crimes against Armenians.

Around the same time, Göksel Gulbey, president of ASIMDER (The
Association for fighting against Armenian Claims) was sharing the
names and addresses of Armenian schools in Istanbul on his Twitter and
Facebook accounts, without providing additional commentary. He was
essentially making these schools targets of attacks.

Soon thereafter, a Turkish teacher at the Aramyan Unciyan Armenian
School was murdered in his house not far from the school. Yet no one
investigated the president of ASIMDER. The latter even complained that
he was threatened by Armenians and asked for protection from the
government.

Now let’s return to the attacks in Samatya.

The Aksaray Police Department, under the jurisdiction of which is
Samatya, told Human Rights Association, Istanbul branch
representatives on Jan. 23 that the attacks weren’t hate crimes. The
police also pointed to the increased police presence in the
neighborhood.

Commenting on the most recent attack, which took place on Jan. 23, the
police argued that it took place when the policemen in the area were
on a lunch break… Let’s assume this statement is true. Doesn’t it mean
that the assailants knew about the police department’s shifts, and
that these attacks were certainly well organized?

In turn, Istanbul’s Mayor announced during a press conference on Jan.

25 that the city would broaden the investigation to include two other
attacks that have occurred in the Sisli and Fatih neighborhoods. But
“fortunately” those two other attacks were against two Turkish old
women. Essentially, the mayor had figured out a way to argue that the
attacks were not racially motivated.

So why are the police and the mayor insisting that these attacks are
random and are not hate crimes against Armenians?

Because if the attacks are organized and are targeting Armenians, it
means that nationalism continues to be on the rise in this country. It
means that the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has failed
to address this problem.

It also means that while the AKP was busy with the deep state
organization Ergenekon, it didn’t give enough importance to the KAFES
operation, which was a part of Ergenekon, and targeted Turkey’s
Armenians specifically.

The names of many who worked for the Turkish Armenian weekly newspaper
Agos were on the murder list of Kafes. They also sent threatening
letters to Armenian schools in Istanbul.

It would have been much more effective if the Mayor made a statement
in support of the Armenian community. This simple gesture would have
calmed the community in Samatya a little.

Armenians in Istanbul want to believe that these attacks were not
targeting them specifically. But they also remember what happened in
1915, 1942, and 1955…

And it seems that such attacks or threats are going to continue until
2015, the centennial of the genocide. And the upcoming elections won’t
help either, because it’s possible that the government will look the
other way to win nationalist votes.

From: Baghdasarian

OSCE TO CONDUCT CONTACT LINE MONITORING IN HADRUT DIRECTION

14:46, 1 February, 2013

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 1, ARMENPRESS. In accordance with the preliminary
agreement with the authorities of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic the
OSCE mission will conduct the planned monitoring of the contact line
of the Armed Forces of Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijani Armed Forces.

The monitoring is scheduled to be conducted on February 5. The Press
Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic informed “Armenpress” that the field assistants of the
Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Hristo Hristov
(Bulgaria) and Yevgeny Sharov (Ukraine) will conduct the monitoring
from the territory of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic.

The authorities of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic expressed willingness
to support the monitoring and provide security of the OSCE mission
members.

The representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic alongside with the representatives of the Ministry of
Defense of the Nagrono Karabakh Republic will accompany the monitoring
mission from the Karabakh side.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIA’S PRESIDENT INSTRUCTED TO SOLVE CASE PROMPTLY – SECURITY COUNCIL CHIEF

February 01, 2013 | 12:35

YEREVAN. – In actual fact, Armenian presidential candidate, opposition
National Self-Determination Union Chairman Paruyr Hayrikyan-who is
at capital city Yerevan’s Surb Grigor Lusavorich Medical Center as
a result of a gunshot wound-remained alive by a miracle. National
Security Council (NSC) Secretary Arthur Baghdasaryan, who had come to
visit Hayrikyan at the hospital, told this to news reporters on Friday.

“I deplore [what happened], [and] am confident that our power
structures will do everything to solve [the case] and to subject
[the guilty] to severe punishment because this is an insidious and a
treacherous blow during this [presidential] election period and, in
actual fact, it was carried out against the authorities of Armenia,”
Baghdasaryan stated.

Also, the NSC chief informed that the country’s president has given
firm instructions to promptly solve what has transpired.

“The solving of the crime will give the answers to many questions,
so that our country may have a peaceful course, especially since we
are in the middle of the presidential campaign, and you are seeing
that the campaign is going smoothly,” Arthur Baghdasaryan said.

From: Baghdasarian

HAYRIKYAN SHOWED RESISTANCE TO ASSAILANT – ARAM HARUTYUNYAN

February 01, 2013 | 13:50

YEREVAN. – Armenia’s presidential candidate, opposition National
Self-Determination Union Chairman Paruyr Hayrikyan-who is in
hospital as a result of a gunshot wound-showed resistance during
the assassination attempt that was staged against him and, had he
not resisted, a third shot would probably have been fired. Another
presidential contender, namely, National Accord party Chairman Aram
Harutyunyan, told this to Armenian News-NEWS.am, and noted that
Hayrikyan had told him this when he had visited him at the hospital.

“I am more interested in his health. But, also, he said it was good
that he had not taken out his own gun. He said if he had taken out
his own gun, the killer would have fired another shot, and this could
have left irreparable consequences,” Harutyunyan added.

As Armenian News-NEWS.am informed earlier, an assassination attempt
was made against presidential candidate, opposition National
Self-Determination Union Chairman Paruyr Hayrikyan, on Thursday at
around 11:20pm in downtown Yerevan. Hayrikyan was shot and hospitalized
with a gunshot wound in the right collarbone.

Numerous senior officials, politicians, and other presidential
contenders are coming to the hospital.

A criminal case is opened in connection with the assassination attempt
against Paruyr Hayrikyan. It is launched on charges of carrying out an
assassination attempt against a statesman, political or public figure,
which-that is, the attempt-is carried out to end this person’s noted
activities. This crime is punishable by imprisonment for 12-20 years,
or life in prison.

The National Security Service is conducting the investigation.

From: Baghdasarian

ASHOTIAN SENDS LETTER TO SYUNIK GOVERNOR SUREN KHACHATRIAN

Friday,
February 01

Minister of Science and Education Armen Ashotian sent today a letter
to the Governor of Syunik province Suren Khachatrian.

The letter particularly says:

“During the visit that Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan paid to the
city of Agarak in Syunik province as part of his election campaign,
teachers and pupils of the city’s high school also participated in the
meeting held in the House of Culture, as a result of which the
educational process was disrupted.

In view of the aforesaid, I suggest imposing a disciplinary penalty on
the headmaster of the school”.

Minister Ashotian sent the letter to the regional governor after a
video was posted on website, a press release of the
Ministry of Education and Science says.

31.01.2013, 19:42

Aysor.am

From: Baghdasarian

ORINATS YERKIR CONCERNED OVER ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT AGAINST PARUYR HAYRIKYAN

ARMINFO
Friday, February 1, 13:47

Orinats Yerkir Party expresses concern over assassination attempt
against candidate for president Paruyr Hayrikyan, the party’s
press-service reported. “It was a felon blow against the state, the
Armenian people and the authorities. The Party condemns the incident
and expects the law-enforcement to expose the crime within short
period of time,” the statement says.

The assassination attempt against Paruyr Hayrikyan, candidate
for president of Armenia, Leader of the Union for National
Self-Determination Party, was made in the Tpagrichnery Street in
Yerevan overnight. Hayrikyan was hospitalized with a gunshot wound
in shoulder.

A criminal case was initiated on Article 34-305 of the Criminal Code
of Armenia (assassination attempt against a statesman, political
figure or public worker in order to stop his activity).

From: Baghdasarian

GAREGIN CHUGASZYAN: TO SHOOT ON PARUYR HAYRIKYAN MEANS TO SHOOT ON ARMENIA’S INDEPENDENCE

ARMINFO
Friday, February 1, 14:02

Paruyr Hayrikyan is a symbol of independence and to shoot on him
means to shoot on Armenia’s independence, member of the Sardarapat
movement Garegin Chugaszyan told journalists on Friday.

He said that the forthcoming events, that is, the presidential
election, will show who was behind the crime.

The leader of National Self-Determination Union, presidential
candidate Paruyr Hayrikyan was shot in the shoulder Wednesday night
and taken to hospital. The police are investigating the case.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN POLITICIAN SPEAKS OF REASONS BEHIND ATTACK ON PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE

TERT.AM
15:09 ~U 01.02.13

Levon Zurabyan, Coordinator of the opposition bloc Armenian National
Congress (ANC), has visited the Grigor Lusavorich medical center.

“We condemn the incident and demand that all those guilty be identified
as soon as possible,” Mr Zurabyan told journalists.

Petros Makeyan, Chairman of the Democratic Homeland, wished Paruir
Hairikyan soonest recovery.

“One thing is clear. It did not happen just without a reason. This
is a serious problem for our statehood. I think it is time to find
out in whose interests it has been done,” Mr Makeyan told journalists.

Asked why Paruir Hairikyan was the target, Mr Makeyan said that
“because he is Paruir Hairikyan.” This is not only an external case,
but it is interrelated.

From: Baghdasarian

HAYRIKYAN POSTOPERATIVE CONDITION IS SATISFACTORY, RECOVERY WILL LAST ABOUT TEN DAYS

13:53, 1 February, 2013

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 1, ARMENPRESS: Armenia’s presidential candidate,
leader of union for “National Self-Determination” Paruyr Hayrikyan’s
recovery will last 7-10 days . St. Gregory the Illuminator
Medical Center deputy director Gagik Manukyan told the reporters
” The operation passed well, Paruyr Hayrikyan health condition is
satisfactory. He is a bit sleepy. He will awake within a few hours”.

In the words of Gagik Manukyan the patient has no pain, the
consciousness is normal, he will be taken to general department in
two-three days . The surgery was performed at 10:30 am, Armenpress
reports.

Presidential candidate, leader of union for “National
Self-Determination” Paruyr Hayrikyan has been shot in Tpagrichner
street, Kentron district of Yerevan on January 31, late night.A
criminal cases was filed refer to assassination attempt against Paruyr
Hayrikyan, legal proceedings were instituted under Article 34-305 of
the Criminal Code of Armenia (attempted murder of statesman, political
or public figure, committed for termination of his activities shall
be punished by imprisonment for a term of ten to fifteen years or
life imprisonment).

From: Baghdasarian

INSURMOUNTABLE OBSTACLE FOR STATE
HAKOB BADALYAN

12:10 01/02/2013
Story from Lragir.am News:

Armenia is experiencing another bloody election. Fortunately, no life
was lost, and the attempt against the presidential candidate Paruir
Hairikyan did not end tragically. The conclusion of the investigation
into this attempt depends on the work of law enforcement bodies.

However, whatever the law enforcement bodies reveal, the public will
have certain skepticism towards official versions, and “independent”
versions with mostly political motives. It is something normal because
the attempt was against the presidential candidate, in the middle of
the campaign, in a domestic and geopolitical situation which appears
calm but is internally tense. Dynamic developments are underway, and
the geopolitical poles work intensively with the Armenian government,
trying to gain possibly stronger influence over the presidential
election.

This process is rather visible, and perhaps it is logical when a
dramatic incident, even if its motive is not political, will be viewed
through a political prism.

The most interesting thing is Article 52 of the Constitution, “Should
one of the presidential candidates face insurmountable obstacles, the
election of the President of the Republic shall be postponed for two
weeks. In the event that the obstacles recognized as insurmountable
are not eliminated within the aforementioned period of time a new
election shall be appointed and the voting shall be held on the
fortieth day following the expiration of the two-week’s period.”

This provision is already in the focus of press, experts. Everyone
wonders if the election will be postponed. This provision is the nail
of unofficial versions. Discussions following fresh tracks mostly ask
this question and try to understand whether someone would need to
create an extraordinary situation ahead of the election and necessity
to modify the timeline of the process.

As to Hairikyan’s specific case, suggestions on the motives of a
political attempt are not many because being a well-known personality
Hairikyan’s rating was not so high. In addition, on the eve he had
stated ready to withdraw from the race to support the joint opposition
candidate.

Now the destiny of elections depends on what Hairikyan will decide. If
he thinks he faces an insurmountable obstacle, the election will be
postponed by at least two weeks. It is possible that Hairikyan who has
expressed such readiness will withdraw from the race not to slow the
pace of other opposition candidates, as well as not to justify the
possible motive of the attempt.

However, independent from further timeline of elections it is already
marred with blood, and it will stain the electoral process, the
internal and external attitude to it. No doubt what happened
independent from the motive and reason is first of all a brunt for the
government, for Serzh Sargsyan who made ambitious and generous
promises about a good election.

Most importantly, of course, Paruir Hairikyan’s life was saved.

At the same time, the issue of national security arises. The life of
the state is in danger unless the attempt is revealed, and all
questions are answered. An attempt against one of the presidential
candidates during the campaign is an encroachment on national
security, and there is a lot the law enforcement bodies should do.

From: Baghdasarian