Armenian community of Jerusalem initiates legal action to protect the historic Cows’ Garden

Hambardsumian Paul
 Guest Contributor Diaspora 0

JERUSALEM—On February 18, the Armenian community of the historic Armenian Quarter officially filed a lawsuit to invalidate the lease between the Armenian Patriarchate and Xana Capital.

The community’s legal action asserts that the property is held in trust specifically for the benefit of the Armenian community pursuant to a waqf trust established more than 400 years ago. Under the waqf trust, which is legally enforceable, the property cannot be leased or sold by the Patriarchate if the transaction does not inure to the direct benefit of the Armenian community and if the transaction is not consented to by the Armenian community. Here, the transaction has neither been consented to by the Armenian community nor does it inure to the benefit of the Armenian community.

The Armenian community’s position aligns squarely with the stance of the Saint James Brotherhood. In 2021, 17 members of the Brotherhood, a majority of the members of the supreme body of the Patriarchate, issued a statement publicly opposing the deal and declaring that the Patriarch lacked the requisite authority and conditions to execute the purported agreement. As such, the Armenian community’s legal case underlines the Patriarchate’s lack of authority to enter into this specific deal.

The community’s lawsuit gives necessary legal voice and crucial legal strength to the objective of canceling the purported agreement and protecting the land – a goal the Armenian community, the Armenian Patriarchate and the global Armenian diaspora share. The Armenian community has specific rights that must be raised and protected by the Armenian community itself. This land holds immense historical and cultural significance, symbolizing the community’s and the Patriarchate’s enduring presence in the region, and the community is committed to preserving the integrity of the Armenian Quarter of Jerusalem and protecting itself from the existential threat posed by this purported deal with Xana Capital.

Since the community learned of the illegal lease, community members had weekly demonstrations to vocalize their stance against the deal. The community has remained on the ground for over 100 days, camping in tents 24/7 to defend against physical threats and attacks on the land. The community understands that its very survival hinges on protecting this land. It now presses forward to enforce its historic rights on the land itself and to confirm the invalidity of the lease in the District Court of Jerusalem. Importantly, the community’s lawsuit bolsters the Patriarchate’s existing lawsuit with crucial arguments that are within the community’s rights in order to halt this attack on the community’s historic presence, heritage and existence in the Old City of Jerusalem.

The Armenian community of Jerusalem stands as one united voice. It stands together for the principle that only justice will suffice. It stands firmly on the belief that the lack of transparency and collaboration with the community is what has brought the Armenian Quarter to this existential moment – and that it is enough. The community will fight until the end to ensure that the Armenian Quarter remains untouched, that it remains Armenian and that it remains for the benefit of the Armenian people. These are the very principles that have united the global Armenian world – and our allies who understand the value of that unique mosaic that is the Old City of Jerusalem – to save the Armenian Quarter.

The community has been committed to carrying out this powerfully unifying mandate on the ground, and it is now establishing its legal rights in the courts. Hundreds of community members have signed in support of the legal fight to protect their historic rights and to protect this crucial property that has served the Armenian community for generations over the centuries, from a place for sustenance and social life to a refuge to house Armenian Genocide survivors, to providing access to the people to their schools, churches and community institutions. The Armenian community will stand in defense of its rights on the ground and in the courts.

The community insists that the parties to the lawsuit, and those under their direction, refrain from any and all retaliatory measures against community members. To this end, the people ask the international community to remain vigilant, to stand with the Armenian community against any such threats and to continue to voice their support for the Armenian community in its unwavering commitment to protect the Cows’ Garden, to protect the rights of the Armenian community and to protect the very future of the Armenian people in Jerusalem.




AW: Bringing “shoorch bar” to high school stages

Dabaghian Diana
 Seta Sahagian Diaspora, Youth 0

Every year, my school, Bergen County Academies (BCA), holds an assembly titled “International Day of Acceptance” (IDA). This student-facilitated performance is a blend of cultures and backgrounds coming together to bring light to our multicultural community in Hackensack, New Jersey. Following months of preparation – including emails, auditions, practices, dress rehearsals and wardrobe procurement – student groups perform for their fellow students and faculty. Each group receives around five minutes total for their performance, including an introduction to the culture followed by the dance performance. Student leaders choose the melodies, along with choreographing, coordinating and preparing the performances. 

One main emphasis of this assembly is that a student does not need to be a part of a certain ethnicity to join their group. For instance, in my freshman year I chose to perform as part of the Hispanic IDA, dancing styles such as bachata, samba and merengue. Without any Hispanic dance background and just a pure interest in Hispanic culture, I enjoyed getting on stage to perform these various dances. Consequently, I returned the next year as a sophomore and now in my junior year as a co-leader.

While I have enjoyed my time in other groups, since freshman year I have always thought about what it would be like to have my Armenian culture on the BCA stage. There are just a few students with Armenian backgrounds at BCA, probably just six at most throughout all four grades. However, while our numbers are small, my culture is so grand in my heart that it pushed my desire to be represented at the IDA assembly. Just because there is small representation in my school environment, that does not mean that the students shouldn’t learn about our long history of arts and customs. Especially with recent events, and the resilience of Armenians in Armenia and Artsakh alike, it was crucial that I took this step. I put my thoughts into action, and this year I led the first ever Armenian IDA performance along with the help of another fellow Armenian classmate, Heidi Borekciyan.

Heidi Borekciyan and Seta Sahagian

It started with an interest email, the first step in bringing this idea to life. Then came recruitment, gathering my friends of all backgrounds to join. I expressed that this performance was more than a dance and has deeper meaning rooted in our fight as a nation. Then came the practices, staying after school on Tuesday evenings to learn choreography. I decided to combine six different Armenian melodies, including slow rhythms and fast beats. I wanted to capture the full Armenian spectrum, showing the beauty of our instruments that shine through in slower songs and the firm, upbeat nature of our battle or party dances. The choreography included songs from music geniuses such as Ara Gevorgian, Tata Simonyan and Karnig Sarkissian. 

During practices, as we went through the various styles, I would ask students which they liked the best. Many of my friends would say the “shoorch bars,” as they linked pinkies to dance in unison. As a young Armenian, these dances have been a large part of my life, whether at camp, Armenian dances or celebrations. To hear my “odar” (non-Armenian) friends say this made me realize how they can learn about the other half of my life. These friends said, “Now we can do this at your birthday,” or “I remember seeing you do this dance; now we can too.” With all my non-Armenian friends, I will certainly be playing some “Anapati Arev” at our next outing. 

As the performance neared, a lot of attention was placed on cleaning up formations and moves and our appearance on stage. This is where outfits came into question. Outfits would be crucial to fully showcasing the beauty of Armenian dance. I crafted a letter to send via email to various Armenian dance groups to borrow outfits for the performance. As these are important pieces in many groups’ performances, I promised that they would be kept in good condition, and any damage caused by the students would be corrected through payment. Looking to my Armenian community, I hoped that these groups would see the message I was trying to spread within my school walls. Unfortunately, I was faced with blank stares and barriers. Everyone either sought hundreds of dollars, which was not feasible for a student group, or did not respond to our inquiry. 

This experience taught me a great deal about the power of a few – a few thoughts and then a few Armenians coming together to attempt the growth of an idea. A few conversations with my friends turned into dancing together on stage in traditional Armenian dress.

Finally, shortly before the performance, I received an affirmative response. Sylva Asadourian from the Akh’tamar Dance Ensemble graciously allowed us to borrow about two dozen outfits. I am very thankful for her giving nature, for supporting a spark in the Armenian youth. Not only did all the dancers enjoy wearing traditional clothing, admiring the patterns on the skirts, but the audience continuously gave compliments about our appearance in the performance. 

This experience taught me a great deal about the power of a few – a few thoughts and then a few Armenians coming together to attempt the growth of an idea. A few conversations with my friends turned into dancing together on stage in traditional Armenian dress. All these girls came together because of some Armenian girl they knew and an idea she had. I feel lucky to have such committed and educated friends.

It is also important that we learn from our experiences to better our communities and create a future for the youth to take action. As an Armenian school graduate, member of the AYF and child of the Armenian church community, I have been surrounded by the idea of the Armenian community. As the youth, it is our duty to step up and spread the message of our people. We should use our connections to help one another for the united, shared cause to keep our multi-millennia-old identity alive. 

However, as I prepared for this performance, it was difficult for me to utilize these connections, especially when searching for group outfits. As a community, we should not look for profits and or be silent as the diaspora attempts to serve the Armenian community. Our Armenian dance ensembles and organizations are in place in order to educate, share and grow global understanding of the presence of Armenians. With that, actions speak louder than words. Let us help the youth to educate their classmates about Armenia, bring Armenian dance to their schools and continue our fight.

My mom was the backbone in letting this idea become a reality, from helping me choose songs and coordinate outfits to picking me up from school. She had watched me prepare for the four-minute performance for months. As she watched me on stage with 16 other students from my school, I could see her eyes shine. Hints of water reflected through them, as she watched high school students of all backgrounds – Japanese, Indian, Polish and Hispanic – come together for the Armenian cause. Every Armenian parent looks to their child to continue the cause, the fight of our ancestors. I could see the pride in my mother’s eyes and the pride of my great-grandparents from 100 years ago. It made getting on stage and dancing for my school community the most worthwhile.

For all the diasporan Armenians: You will be faced with challenges, whether it is being told “no” or struggling to find those who have a will as strong as yours. Be the one to start the group, reach out and represent our nation in every aspect of your life. The Armenian storybook only comes to life if there are storytellers to teach the tales of our people. Dance, sing, read, write, speak and share in any capacity you can. This is what it means to be Armenian.

Watch the Armenian IDA performance at https://youtu.be/chPqJR7ZkaQ

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Seta Sahagian is 17 years old, a member of the AYF New Jersey "Arsen" Chapter and a graduate of Sipan Armenian School. She attends Bergen County Academies (BCA) in Hackensack, New Jersey.


RFE/RL Armenian Service – 02/20/2024

Chakrian Hovsep 
                                        Tuesday, 

Armenia, Azerbaijan Preparing For Further Talks

        • Shoghik Galstian

U.S. -- Foreign Ministers Ararat Mirzoyan of Armenia and Jeyhun Bayramov of 
Azerbaijan meet in Washington, November 7, 2022.


Armenia and Azerbaijan are discussing the date and venue of an upcoming meeting 
of their foreign ministers, the Armenian Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.

The leaders of the two South Caucasus states reached an agreement on that 
meeting during weekend talks in Munich hosted by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. 
They said the ministers will focus on an Armenian-Azerbaijani peace treaty.

“The parties are working out [a date for the meeting,]” Ani Badalian, the 
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service. “In case of 
reaching a final agreement, we will inform you further.”

It remained unclear whether the upcoming negotiations will be direct or mediated 
by a third party.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken had been scheduled to host his Armenian 
and Azerbaijani counterparts in Washington last November. Azerbaijan’s Foreign 
Minister Jeyhun Bayramov withdrew from the trilateral meeting in protest against 
what his office called pro-Armenian statements made by a senior U.S. diplomat. 
Washington afterwards failed to convince the Azerbaijani leadership to 
reschedule it.

Speaking three days before Saturday’s summit, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev 
said that Baku “doesn’t need mediators to normalize relations with Yerevan” and 
that the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict “should be removed from the international 
agenda.”

Yerevan has insisted on continued Western mediation. In the run-up to the Munich 
talks, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian accused Baku of walking away from 
understandings reached during his earlier encounters with Aliyev organized by 
the European Union. But he said on Sunday that both sides are “committed to 
those understandings” relating to the basic parameters of the peace treaty.

“A number of articles of the peace treaty have been agreed but a number of 
articles of fundamental importance have not yet been agreed, and efforts must be 
made in that direction,” said Pashinian.




Karabakh Leaders ‘Working On Mass Repatriation’ (UPDATED)

        • Ruzanna Stepanian
        • Astghik Bedevian

A satellite image shows a long traffic jam of vehicles along the Lachin corridor 
as ethnic Armenians flee from the Nagorno-Karabakh, September 26, 2023.


A member of Nagorno-Karabakh’s exiled leadership said on Tuesday that it is 
taking “concrete steps” for the eventual repatriation of the region’s ethnic 
Armenian population displaced by last September’s Azerbaijani military offensive.

“Our struggle will continue,” Gagik Baghunts, the acting Karabakh parliament 
speaker, told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service. “The Armenians of Artsakh will not 
accept the idea that we have closed the page of Artsakh, and the desire to 
return will always stay with us. I hope that we will have significant success in 
that direction already in the not-so-distant future.”

“We are taking concrete steps, we will continue to do everything possible so 
that the Artsakh Armenians return to the homeland, our historical homeland, and 
I hope that despite my rather old age, I will return, not my grandchildren.”

Baghunts refused to shed light on those efforts, saying only that the Karabakh 
leaders are ready for “cooperation with world powers” and even “contacts with 
the Azerbaijani authorities.” He would not say whether there have already been 
such contacts.

Armenia - Gagik Baghunts, the acting Karabakh parliament speaker, talks to 
RFE/RL, .

The Azerbaijani government says that the Karabakh Armenians are free to return 
to their homes if they agree to live under Azerbaijani rule. Karabakh’s leaders 
and ordinary residents rejected such an option even before the Azerbaijani 
offensive forced them to flee to Armenia. None of the more than 100,000 Karabakh 
refugees are known to have expressed a desire to return home in the current 
circumstances.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said last week that Moscow and Baku are now 
“discussing prospects for the return of the Armenian population to Karabakh.” 
Karabakh’s human rights ombudsman, Gegham Stepanian, dismissed the statement, 
saying that only “international guarantees” could convince the Karabakh 
Armenians to return to their homeland.

Armenia’s government does not seem to be seeking such guarantees. Prime Minister 
Nikol Pashinian has repeatedly indicated that the Karabakh issue is closed for 
his administration.

Pashinian’s political allies lashed out at Samvel Shahramanian, the Karabakh 
president, in late December after he declared null and void his September 28 
decree liquidating the self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. Shahramanian 
said that he had to sign the decree in order to stop the Azerbaijani assault and 
enable the Karabakh Armenians to safely flee to Armenia.

Shahramanian, Baghunts and other Yerevan-based Karabakh leaders laid flowers at 
the Yerablur military ceremony in Yerevan on Tuesday as they marked the 36th 
anniversary of the start of a popular movement for Karabakh’s unification with 
Karabakh. Later in the day, the Karabakh legislature held a special session on 
the occasion.

Nagorno-Karabakh - Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian holds a rally in 
Stepanakert, August 5, 2019.

For the first time, Pashinian, who had famously declared in 2019 that “Artsakh 
is Armenia,” issued no statement on the anniversary.

“Both in 1988 and today, the realization of peoples’ right to self-determination 
and democratic freedoms remain a clear goal for us,” he stated in February 2020. 
“And we are sure that we will achieve our goals with joint efforts.”

Pashinian stopped championing that right in early 2022 and publicly recognized 
Azerbaijani sovereignty over Karabakh a year later. His critics say that the 
drastic policy change paved the way for Baku’s recapture of the depopulated 
region. The premier has reportedly refused to meet Shahramanian and other 
Karabakh leaders since they took refuge in Armenia.

“Armenia did not have a foreign policy, it had a Nagorno-Karabakh policy,” 
Pashinian claimed in December 2023. “Armenia did not have a security agenda, it 
had a Nagorno-Karabakh security agenda. The resources that we should have 
invested in creating the Republic of Armenia we have invested in creating the 
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.”




Growth In Armenian Exports To Russia Moderates


Armenia - Commercial trucks parked at the Bagratashen border crossing with 
Georgia, November 29, 2018. (Photo by the State Revenue Committee of Armenia)


A rapid growth in Armenia’s exports to Russia, driven in large measure by 
Western sanctions against Moscow, appears to have slowed down significantly in 
the fourth quarter of last year.

Armenia was quick to take advantage of the sweeping sanctions imposed following 
the Russian invasion of Ukraine, re-exporting second-hand cars, consumer 
electronics and other goods manufactured in Western countries and their allies 
to Russia. This explains why its exports to Russia tripled in 2022 and doubled 
in January-August 2023.

Full-year data released by the Armenian government’s Statistical Committee shows 
that they rose by less than 39 percent, to $3.4 billion, in 2023. This suggests 
that the lucrative re-exports largely stagnated last fall and December. The 
recent introduction of a new Russian tax on imports of used and old cars may 
have been one of the factors behind the slowdown.

Also, the re-exports prompted concern from European and especially U.S. 
officials in early 2023. They pressed the Armenian authorities to comply with 
the Western sanctions. The authorities introduced in May mandatory government 
licenses for shipments of microchips, transformers, video cameras, antennas and 
other electronic equipment to Russia.

Overall Russian-Armenian trade soared by more than 43 percent to $7.3 billion. 
It grew steadily even before the war in Ukraine not least because of Armenia’s 
accession in 2014 to the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union.

Russia has since replaced the EU as Armenia’s number one trading partner. 
According to the Armenian government data, it accounted last year for over 35 
percent of the South Caucasus country’s foreign trade, compared with the EU’s 13 
percent share in the total.



Reposted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2024 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

Armenpress: Thousands of relics found in 6,000-year-old tomb in Armenian village

Emil Lazarian

 09:47,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 21, ARMENPRESS. Archaeologists have uncovered over 30,000 relics from a 6,000-year-old tomb in Yeghegis, Armenia. The tomb was discovered during excavations which began in 2020.

Professor Levon Yepiskoposyan, the Head of the Evolutionary Genomics Laboratory at the Institute of Molecular Biology, told Armenpress that the 6,000-year-old relics reflect the transitional period when hunter-gatherers shifted to agriculture.

The discovered items include remains of both domesticated and wild animals, with the latter evidencing that humans were engaged in hunting at that time, according to junior researcher Satenik Mkrtchyan.

The Yeghegis 1 archeological site has drawn much interest among international expedition teams and experts, which once again proves that ‘Armenia has always been an interesting location on the world’s archaeological map’, Professor Yepiskoposyan said.

“Armenia’s territory is situated is such a location which, according to experts, has always been the crossroads of migration of people and animals during all periods of time,” the professor added.

The excavations will continue in July 2024.

Armenia and France to cooperate in cinema

Manouk Vasilian

 10:17,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 21, ARMENPRESS. The National Cinema Center of Armenia and the French Center of Cinema and Animation have signed a cooperation agreement during the European Film Market in Berlin.

The Armenia-France Action Plan in cinema includes cooperation in film heritage, training, vocational education, joint production and partnership festivals.

The Armenian National Cinema Center is represented in the European Film Market at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival.

Prime Minister Pashinyan to attend pantheonization of WWII hero Missak Manouchian in France

Emil Lazarian

 11:12,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 21, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and his wife Anna Hakobyan have left for France on a two-day visit.

Government officials and Members of Parliament are included in the delegation, the Prime Minister's Office said. 

The Armenian Prime Minister will have a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron on February 21. Later on the same day, Prime Minister Pashinyan, together with his wife Anna Hakobyan, alongside French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron, will attend the pantheonization ceremony of WWII hero, Resistance fighter Missak Manouchian and his wife Mélinée.

Pashinyan will also have meetings with Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, President of the Senate Gérard Larcher and Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo.

Missak Manouchian, an Armenian poet and fighter in World War II, will enter the French Pantheon mausoleum and join an elite group of France's revered historical figures, French President Emmanuel Macron announced in 2023.

Known as being "pantheonized," the rare tribute is reserved for those who have played an important role in the country's history.

He led a small group of foreign Resistance fighters against the Nazi occupation, carrying out attacks on German forces and acts of sabotage in Nazi-occupied France in 1943. Macron said in 2023 that Manouchian "embodies the universal values" of France and "carries a part of our greatness."

In 1944, the group, which included a number of Jews, was put out of action when 23 of its members were rounded up and sentenced to death by a German military court. Manouchian was shot by the Nazis on February 21, 1944. By entering the Pantheon, Manouchian will become the first foreign Resistance fighter to be awarded the honour. Manouchian will enter the Pantheon alongside his wife Mélinée, who survived him by 45 years and is buried alongside him at the Ivry-sur-Seine cemetery.

Macron paid tribute to Manouchian's "bravery" and "quiet heroism" in a statement back in 2023, as well as to other foreign Resistance fighters.

Manouchian arrived in France in 1925 after surviving the Armenian Genocide.

Purported Azerbaijani ex-serviceman arrested in Russia is wanted by Armenia for murder

Hovik Karapetian

 12:51,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 21, ARMENPRESS. Azeri national Kamil Zeynalli, who has been arrested by Russian police in Moscow, is wanted by Armenia, police confirmed to Armenpress.

Zeynalli is on Armenia’s interstate wanted list, Ministry of Internal Affairs spokesperson Narek Sargsyan told Armenpress. He did not elaborate. “The mentioned individual is on the interstate wanted list on a murder charge,” he said.

Zeynalli, who is apparently a former Azeri serviceman, claimed on social media that Russian police told him that he has been arrested pursuant to an international arrest warrant issued by Armenia. The Azeri national is scheduled to make a court appearance in Moscow on February 21, according to the reports. Zeynalli claims that he could be extradited to Armenia. 

He was placed under arrest at the Domodedovo airport and then booked at a police station.

The general prosecution of Armenia, however, told Armenpress that they don’t have any official information about Zeynalli’s arrest in Moscow.

According to unconfirmed media reports, Kamil Zeynalli is suspected of war crimes committed during the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war when he fought from the Azeri side against Armenian forces, particularly of killing and beheading an elderly civilian hostage. According to the media reports Zeynalli is a recipient of Azeri medals for his military service.  According to the reports, the man is now a 'blogger' and a ‘fitness trainer’.

Kazakhstan sent $2.5 million worth of milk and dairy products to Armenia in 2023

Boshkezenian Garik
Dairy News
Feb 20 2024
Source: lsm.kz
 110
The export of Kazakhstani goods to Armenia increased by 6.1%, but the volume remains relatively small at 7.1 thousand tons (worth $33.3 million). Import from Armenia also grew by 19.8% to 3.1 thousand tons, or $19.7 million.
Regarding other EAEU countries, it is noted that in 2023, 46.1 thousand tons of milk and dairy products worth $22.9 million were imported from Kyrgyzstan to Kazakhstan, marking a 1.5-fold increase compared to the previous year.

In 2023, Kazakhstan purchased 35.1 thousand tons of milk and dairy products from Belarus, amounting to a total of $98.7 million, reflecting a 9.2% reduction in supplies.

It was previously reported that milk production volumes in 2023 increased by 3% in all EAEU countries except Armenia.

Pashinyan Says Armenia, Azerbaijan Agree To Remain Faithful To Agreements

Albert Nalbandian
Feb 20 2024
   0 Comments

By PanARMENIAN

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that he and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev have agreed that the sides will remain faithful to agreements they have reached.

Pashinyan made the remarks at a meeting with representatives of the Armenian community in Munich and neighboring regions.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister weighed in on the results of the meetings and discussions held within the framework of the Munich Security Conference, as well as the meeting with the President of Azerbaijan with the participation of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

Pashinyan answered a number of questions, which were related to the challenges facing Armenia, the steps to overcome them and other topics.

Pashinyan’s three-day working visit to Munich has ended.

https://www.eurasiareview.com/20022024-pashinyan-says-armenia-azerbaijan-agree-to-remain-faithful-to-agreements/

Anger and grief as Russians in Armenia and Georgia mourn Navalny’s death

Emil Lazarian
Feb 20 2024
Hundreds of protesters gathered in Armenia and Georgia’s capitals
Written byArzu Geybullayeva

This article was first published on OC Media. An edited version is republished here under a content partnership agreement. 

Hundreds of protesters gathered in Armenia and Georgia following the news that Alexey Navalny, 47, well-known Russian opposition figure and Putin’s long term critic died in prison under suspicious circumstances on February 16, 2024.

In December 2020, Navalany was poisoned with what was later confirmed by German doctors to be a military-grade nerve agent from the Novichok family of chemical weapons. The opposition politician survived the poisoning and, after receiving treatment in Germany, decided to return to Russia, despite knowing he would be arrested if not on the spot, then at a later time. On January 17, 2021, Navalny was arrested after landing at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport. At the time of his death, he was serving a 19-year prison sentence in a maximum-security prison north of the Arctic Circle, nicknamed the “Polar Wolf” prison and notorious for its ill-reputation over the treatment of prisoners serving time there.

As such, when the Russian Penitentiary Service announced Navalny’s death, claiming the opposition politician died of thromboembolism or a dislodged blood cot, questions over the actual cause of death and Kremlin’s involvement in it spread quickly.

That his family and team have not been able to retrieve the body of Navalny puts authorities under the spotlight over suspicions that they are trying to cover up the real reason behind his death. According to Kira Yarmysh, Navalny’s spokesperson:

In a separate interview with TV Rain, Yarmush said: “There’s no doubt that this murder was planned. We don’t currently have any information except for the colony’s official confirmation of his death.”

When Navalny’s mother showed up at the morgue on February 19, she and the team of lawyers accompanying her were prevented from seeing Navalny’s body:

On February 20, Yarmush wrote, “The investigators told the lawyers and Alexey’s mother that they would not give them the body. The body will be under some sort of ‘chemical examination’ for another 14 days.”

Meanwhile, scores of Russians continue to express their grief at home, even at the cost of being arrested.

At the time of writing this story, at least 396 people have been detained at events across 39 Russian cities since Navalny’s death, according to the Russian human rights group OVD-Info.

For Russians living abroad, including in Armenia and Georgia, it has been easier to demonstrate their anger.

In the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, as well as in the city of Batumi and in Armenia’s capital, Yerevan, Russians chanted Navalny’s name, anti-war and anti-Putin slogans.

“I’m angry; I’m mostly angry, then sad,” one demonstrator named Nikolay told the news outlet OC Media, adding that he was grateful that in Armenia, he was able to express his feelings openly.

“We expected it, but the feelings are still anger, rage, grief,” said another demonstrator, Mikhail Yershov.

In Tbilisi, a demonstration was held outside the Russian Interests Section at the Swiss Embassy. Georgia severed diplomatic relations with Russia after the 2008 August War. Navalny was among many Russians who supported the invasion at the time, however he publicly apologized for it five years later.

Memorial to Alexei Navalny in Tbilisi near the Russian Interests Section at the Swiss Embassy. People have been coming for the third day to lay flowers in memory of the politician after the news of Navalny’s death in the colony. Activists assembled an installation in the shape of a heart made of flowersç Video: TV Rain

One protester who asked to remain anonymous told OC Media that Navalny’s death came as a shock to her.

“What brought me [here]? It’s shock because everything has its limits […] he was killed, like Boris Nemtsov,” she said, adding she was worried for the fate of other political prisoners in Russia.

Boris Nemtsov was a liberal politician and ardent critic of Vladimir Putin who was gunned down in the street near the Kremlin in Moscow in 2015.

Despite the growing rift between Armenia and Russia, Armenian authorities have so far remained silent, as have those in Azerbaijan.

In Azerbaijan, there was just one memorial reported:

Hüseyn Javid was a renowned Azerbaijani poet and playwright of the early 20th century who was a victim of Stalin’s repressions in 1937, and who died in Siberia as a result.

On February 20, ambassadors of the United Kingdom and the United States also paid tribute to Navalny by the same statue:

In Georgia, President Salome Zourabichvili was quick to speak out, calling Navalny’s death a “tragedy for all democracy and human rights defenders.”

Mamuka Mdinaradze, the ruling Georgian Dream party’s parliamentary leader, said Navalny was Putin’s latest victim when asked a question by a journalist before moving to complain about Georgia’s own politics, including the opposition United Nation Movement’s time in power before 2012, when prisoner deaths weren’t unheard of.

The speaker of parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, preferred not to comment when asked a similar question.

Opposition leaders in Georgia were more outspoken.

The United National Movement, in a statement, praised Navalny for returning back to Russia “to fight against Putin’s dictatorship and murderous regime” despite the danger to his life.

The party’s founder and Georgia’s former president, Mikheil Saakashvili, who is currently serving a prison sentence for abuse of power, wrote, “Navalny is gone. Am I the next one on Putin’s death row?”

The leader of the opposition Droa Party, Elene Khoshtaria, wrote on X that “Navalny’s death was a testament to the true, brutal, callous nature of Russia and Putin.”

Giorgi Gakharia, former Prime Minister and now leader of the For Georgia party, expressed condolences to Navalny’s family and friends on X, adding the opposition politician’s death was “a poignant symbol of Russia’s enduring modernized totalitarianism.”

https://globalvoices.org/2024/02/20/anger-and-grief-as-russians-in-armenia-and-georgia-mourn-navalnys-death/