Wednesday 9 May 2012

HATE CRIME: DIY bar in Armenia capital Yerevan under neo-nazi arson attack

PICTURES, VIDEO, REPORTS FROM HATE CRIME SCENE



On 8 May 2012 when countries in Europe, former Soviet Union and elsewhere started marking the anniversary of the end of World War II, Armenian neo-nazi elements decided to mark it with an attack towards the oasis of freedom in Yerevan, my favourite venue - DIY bar. A place, where all the alternative types feel at home. A place, welcoming free-spirited people, sub-cultures, experimental things. Gay friendly. [read my previous postings re DIY here]

They broke the window, threw 'Molotov cocktail'-like thing into the front part through the door, which was then exploded and caused flames to burst out, and ran off. It took the firemen around 30 mins to put out the fire.

There's a camera outside the DIY that caught the guys who did it. I saw CCTV video image with a moment of attack and the aftermath. The perpetrators were easily identifiable thanks to CCTV image and previous history of nuisance and disturbances (and not only towards DIY, but some other relatively free-spirited bars). First it was "innocent": just words. But soon it started escalating. The last few incidents involved breaking glass and throwing up outside of the bar. And then they disappeared for a few months. Suddenly they were back again last night (around 5 am). They are members of neo-nazi group terrorising parts of Yerevan for a while now.

It took the police 12 hours (!) to finally show up and take the matters seriously. Good news is that thanks to CCTV image and insights provided by DIY owners and employees, at least 2 suspects have now been detained (at the time of writing this post).

People are being gathering outside the DIY throughout the day. They want to collect money and help to rebuild the bar. People are also making little posters with slogans like: "I am DIY"; "DIY: no to fascism"; "Your bombs don't affect us" etc. which they want to post in DIY and other bars around Yerevan.

As far as the damage: only the front part of the bar was damaged. The back is the same. The front part is pretty damaged, though. The bar has been burned down. The air conditioner melted and is now hanging down. The only thing that survived intact... was a bottle of Kilikia.

I will keep you posted on developments and how you could help re-building the DIY.

*Special thanks to a friend of mine who provided with the up-to-date info and pictures from the scene of the hate crime.

*the shelves behind the bar
*the air conditioner
*burned money stuck on the shelves
*boxes to collect money: "I am DIY"
*poster: "Your bomb does not affect us" 

Video reports


*CivilNet





*A1+

 



*1in.am


63 comments:

Nancy Agabian said...

Thank you Mika for posting this report. Please let us know what we can do to support DIY!

artmika said...

I will, Nancy jan, thank you. We will probably know more exact details re bank etc. today. Will share.

Doc said...

Thank you for the constant update. I've been following your posts on facebook as well. Damn the police and their slow reaction.

artmika said...

DIY: the moment of attack (CCTV footage)

artmika said...

Please, help re-build DIY !! Your support is essential !!

artmika said...

Statement by NGOs and activists re: neo-nazi attack on DIY bar in Armenia capital Yerevan + news update

artmika said...

MPs of ARF Dashnaktsutyun party bail out neo-nazi attacker of DIY bar. Dashnak MP Artsvin Minasyan supports arson attack, effectively encouraging terrorism in Armenia

artmika said...

Exposed: Chief of staff of Public Council of Armenia supports neo-nazi firebombers

artmika said...

Comment of the Day: ‘What if you will be the next target and nobody will stand up for you?’ (re neo-nazi attack on DIY bar)

artmika said...

ARF Dashnaktsutyun must "send a strong message", or else is tarnished with this "heinous act" (re neo-nazi attack on DIY and Dashnak MP in Armenia supporting hate crime)

artmika said...

Armenia Heritage ['Zharangutyun'] party leader Raffi Hovhannisyan visited DIY after hate crime attack in a show of solidarity

artmika said...

Armenian gay rights group from New York - AGLA NY - appalled by terrorist firebombing of DIY bar in Yerevan and offers undying support to LGBT community in Armenia (statement)

artmika said...

Underage "fascists" employed for psychological terror towards DIY bar in Yerevan

artmika said...

Disgraced Armenia MP from ARF Dashnaktsutyun Artsvik Minasyan calls for fight against gays as “threat to national security”

artmika said...

Terrorists as ‘national heroes’? Armenia ruling Republican party spokesman and MP explicitly support firebombers of DIY bar in capital Yerevan and encourage anti-gay attacks

artmika said...

Armenia: Amnesty International shocked by official Yerevan reaction to neo-nazi hate crime attack on DIY bar

artmika said...

ARF Central Committee in US condemns hate crime in Armenia as more local Dashnak MPs endorse firebombers and encourage anti-gay violence

artmika said...

Homophobes bring the reputation of Republic of Armenia into disrepute (discredit) - Lurer.com editorial

artmika said...

LA-based Gay and Lesbian Armenian Society - GALAS shocked and disturbed by hate crimes towards LGBT people in Armenia, calls for resignation of ARF and ruling party MPs endorsing attackers

artmika said...

Armenia ombudsman "condemns incidents of intolerance and violence against homosexuals and others"

artmika said...

Armenia Football Federation president Ruben Hayrapetyan ‘against terrorism’ but ‘ready to punish gays and eradicate from society’

artmika said...

'We are the champions'... 'Homophobia Olympics' gold medal that Armenia should be ashamed of...

artmika said...

US embassy condemns continuous violence against DIY, LGBT people in Armenia, urges zero tolerance re hate crimes

artmika said...

United Nations Armenia Office Statement on Discrimination against Sexual Minorities

artmika said...

Council of Europe reminds Armenia authorities of their responsibilities to ensure human rights of LGBT people and speak out against intolerance and homophobia by politicians

artmika said...

"Deliberate misinformation to disrupt Diversity March" (statement by organisers)

artmika said...

Quote of The Day re fascism, intolerance and "right guys" from Armenia ruling Republican party and ARF Dashnaktsutyun

artmika said...

IWPR: "Gay Rights Under Attack in Armenia". Ombudsman has designed a "strategy"?

artmika said...

France24 - AFP: Armenia 'hate attacks' expose anti-gay hatred (with some officials, MPs encouraging terrorism)

artmika said...

Disgraced ARF Dashnaktsutyun MP Artsvik Minasyan, who endorsed anti-gay attackers and violence, approved as member of ARF parliamentary group in Armenia

artmika said...

Forgot to post this link here too: Neo-nazi attack Diversity march in Armenia capital Yerevan calling it "gay pride"

artmika said...

EU statement "on recent expressions of intolerance in the Republic of Armenia"

artmika said...

Neo-nazi thugs indulge in same-sex 'action' as they attack Diversity march in Armenia capital

artmika said...

Ombudsman: 'respect for gay rights and tolerance are in accordance with Armenia national interests'

artmika said...

Statement against intolerance and homophobia in Armenia (EU Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum - Armenia National Platform)

artmika said...

Vahan Bournazian: Sex, Choice, Fascism and the Nation (MUST READ!!)

artmika said...

Guests of the Rights Awards ceremony at the US embassy in Armenia: Ups and Downs

artmika said...

Human Rights House Network: 'Actions of extremist protestors in Yerevan constitute criminal behaviour and illegal under Armenia Constitution'

artmika said...

FYI Sharmazanov & co: European Commission against Racism and Intolerance re Armenia leading political figures openly condoning homophobic violence

artmika said...

Widow of Armenia national hero Monte Melkonian blasts ultra-nationalists for hijacking his name to spread hatred and anti-gay violence

artmika said...

Unbearable cruelty of being of Armenia tycoon - turned MP - turned Football Federation president & his entourage

artmika said...

Armenia: A Slow Slide Into Fascism? (Huffington Post)

artmika said...

Historic Petition: Armenians Support LGBT Rights in Armenia

artmika said...

Anatomy of violence, or Armenia MP (president of Football Federation) Ruben Hayrapetyan slaughterhouse

artmika said...

Disgrace for ARF Dashnaktsutyun in Armenia as party promotes anti-gay terrorism supporter MP Artsvik Minasyan into ruling board

artmika said...

Gay rights is EU entry criterion, Brussels says to Armenia

artmika said...

“Brotherhood” - “Ախպերություն”

artmika said...

“Anti-fascist” Armenia deputy speaker Sharmazanov? Huh? I do not think so

artmika said...

To do: ‘Persona non grata’ on human rights grounds for certain Armenia officials, individuals and groups

artmika said...

Puppets attack Germany embassy and the EU office in Armenia

artmika said...

Human Rights Watch 2013 report on Armenia highlights discrimination against LGBT people

artmika said...

Attack against gay friendly DIY bar and disruption of diversity march feature in the UK Foreign Office "travel advice to Armenia"

artmika said...

Analysis: Nationalism and Sexuality in Modern Armenian Discourse

artmika said...

US State Department highlights LGBT discrimination in Armenia, DIY bombing and officials’ endorsement of anti-gay attacks

artmika said...

DIY watershed: one year on since gay friendly bar firebombed in Armenia capital Yerevan

artmika said...

#nohate Roundtable discussion on hate culture in Armenia 1 year on following DIY firebombing
***
Norwegian Helsinki Committee calls Armenia authorities to adopt anti-discrimination legislation and tackle hate crime

artmika said...

Amnesty International names and shames Armenia's ԷՇ + more

artmika said...

Violence, intimidation, no legislative protection - reports highlight urgent need for Armenia authorities to ACT NOW to tackle LGBT discrimination

artmika said...

Armenians in Istanbul Gay Pride in solidarity with LGBT people in Armenia and in support of universal human rights

artmika said...

DIY firebombers court case: anti-gay attackers effectively pardoned in Armenia

artmika said...

"No more homophobia, fascism in Armenia" - message from Stockholm Gay Pride

artmika said...

Armenia: No Space For Difference - Amnesty International exposes widespread discrimination and attacks on LGBT people

artmika said...

Armenia and Orlando