ARMENIA

The ‘Genocide Case’ hearing was held at the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights on January 28. A high number of politicians and civilian society leaders from Turkey, Armenia and the Diaspora were present in the courtroom. The case has also attracted interest from the international press since Amal Clooney represents Armenia. It could take up to a year for the reasoned decision in the case to be issued.

Payam Akhavan, lawyer for the Human Rights Association and the Truth Justice Memory Centre, intervening in the Perinçek v. Switzerland case from Turkey, along with the Toronto-based Zoryan Institute: “Instead of presenting a defence here, Turkey should be prosecuting the likes of Doğu Perinçek and the Talat Pasha Committee.”

Serzh Sargsyan, President of the Republic of Armenia, issued a written statement on the occasion of the International Holocaust Remembrance Day. In his statement Sargsyan said, “Perhaps, it might have been possible to prevent the crimes committed under the veil of World War II had the crimes against humanity committed during the World War I earned unequivocal international condemnation, and had those responsible for them been duly punished.”

Hranush Hakobyan, Armenia Diaspora Minister, announces that 3,300 Syrian Armenians have become citizens of Armenia in 2014.

Armenian activist group ArtAct carries out creative actions against violence and harassment. The ArtAct group is trying to develop new methods beyond traditional activism in order to reach more people, and could inspire similar groups in Turkey.

Scholar and editor of the Armenian Review Asbed Kotchikian: “Although the stubborn refusal to use the term ‘Genocide’ continues, I observe a more genuine effort to normalize relations with Armenians and Armenia.”

Artak Beglaryan, who during the Karabakh War, at the age of six, lost his sight when a landmine they played with in their back garden exploded and also lost his father at the same war, did not give up, and has today become the press secretary of the Prime Minister of Karabakh.

We discussed the current atmosphere in Armenia, the demands of the opposition, the fundamental problems of the country and the policies Sargsyan has implemented during his presidency with Armen Grigoryan, one of Armenia’s leading political science experts.