Armenia activists challenge legal system and need your support - #HRArmList

The courts in Armenia legitimise ‘blacklists’. In fact, that’s not the only disappointing thing they do. Like many, I have little respect towards Armenian legal system that is not independent and marred with corruption, and with few exceptions, does what the ruling regime dictates. In the face of such backdrop, it’s even more important and encouraging that some activists, the bravest and the brightest, keep challenging the courts and status quo in Armenia.

And when active citizens challenge homophobia and bigotry of public figures, politicians, showbiz reps, media, they themselves turn into targets of abuse and hate propaganda.

For background to this story, read:

Armenia Eurovision national jury’s Arshakyan sisters re Conchita and LGBT: ‘Mental health patients are repulsive’

Tabloid of hate: virulent homophobia awarded by Armenia president’s state medal and stamped by court’s approval

“Effectively equaling hate speech to the “freedom of speech”, all court instances in the country rejected the collective claim of 16 people. The expressions made by the judges during the court hearings proved that they were biased towards the case, and the facts had very little to do with their judgement. As a result, not only did the claim of the citizens didn’t receive a fair treatment, but they also ended up with a heavy financial burden by the court verdicts. The court obliged the “blacklisted” citizens to reimburse the legal expenses of the very media outlet that promotes hatred and discrimination.”

These activists need your support. I am glad to see that after the first day of sharing this campaign on Twitter and Facebook, 50% of the target was achieved, and at time of writing this post - it reached 75%. Please donate and share: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/activists-fight-for-justice-in-armenia

*Twitter hashtag for this campaign is #HRArmList

Armenia Eurovision national jury’s Arshakyan sisters re Conchita and LGBT: ‘Mental health patients are repulsive’

UPDATE 16 May 2014: Armenia Eurovision national jury Arshakyan sisters profoundly apologised for homophobic and other pretty shameful statements. They said they have no negative attitude towards gays, transvestites, mental health patients… [For details and video link - see comments section]
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Says Armenia’s Eurovision national jury member Anush Arshakyan: “I put Conchita towards the bottom of the ranking due to my internal repulsion [towards Conchita]”.

In an interview with Aravot daily, Anush said she was shocked that by sms votes, Conchita was No. 2 in Armenia. [Read: Conchita crowned Queen of Eurovision: “We are unity and we are unstoppable” amid outrage at national jury vote in South Caucasus]

She then continued: “I find this phenomenon repulsive, the same way I find mental health patients repulsive”.

Her sister, another jury member Inga Arshakyan was next to her during the interview and we may safely assume she shares Anush’s views. [To remind, this year’s national jury members Inga and Anush Arshakyan represented Armenia in Eurovision 2009 finishing 10th.]

«Ես վերջին տեղը տվել եմ ադրբեջանցիներին եւ նախավերջինը՝ Կոնչիտային: Նրան վերջին տեղերում էի դրել՝ ներքին հակակրանքից դրդված: Նա միայն հակակրանք էր առաջացնում: Եվ ես ապշած եմ, որ sms քվեարկությամբ 2-րդ տեղ են տվել Կոնչիտային: Ես չգիտեմ, թե ովքեր են քվեարկողները եղել, բայց ես չեմ կարծում, որ մեր ամբողջ ժողովուրդը լավ վերաբերմունք ունի այդ անձի հանդեպ»,- Aravot.am-ի հետ զրույցում մեր հարցին, թե ինչու էին «Եվրատեսիլի» տրանսվեստիտ մասնակից Կոնչիտային Հայաստանում ցածր միավորներ տվել՝ այսպես պատասխանեց Արշակյան քույրերից մեկը՝ Անուշ Արշակյանը: Ինգան եւ Անուշը միանգամից դեմքի արտահայտությունը փոխեցին եւ զզվանքով ձեռքերով խաչ արեցին, երբ Կոնչիտայի անունը տվեցինք: […] 

Մեր դիտարկմանը, որ ասում են՝ պետք է հարգել փոքրամասնությանը՝ Անուշ Արշակյանը պատասխանեց. «Հարգանքի աստիճաններ կան: Եթե խոսենք տոլեռանդության մասին, ամենատարածված բանն է Եվրոպայում, ապա ես երեւի թե դեմ եմ ցանկացած ձեւի ագրեսիային եւ ցանկացած տեսակի մարդկային բնաջնջմանը դեմ եմ: Եթե համարենք, որ այդ մարդիկ հիվանդ են, նրանց կարելի է բուժել եւ այդ առումով իմ հակակրանքը հասկանալի է: Ինչպես հոգեկան հիվանդն է հակակրանք առաջացնում, այնպես էլ նման երեւույթները: Իմ հակակրանքը ճիշտ այդպիսին է: Ես ոչ թե ագրեսիվ եմ, այլ՝ մերժողական այդպիսի դրսեւորումների հանդեպ»:  

And this is what supposed to be a “professional jury” ??? Armenia’s national jury should be disqualified, and its members should not be allowed to serve in any jury contest, or any event.

They are shame not only for Armenia, but for Eurovision in general.

Not only they are homophobic, not only they accepted that they voted based on anything but professional assessments, but they offend patients with mental health problems too. This is beyond words shocking and disgusting. And to think that there was time I quite liked the sisters…

Thank you, Conchita. Your win was like a litmus test.

Inga and Anush: Armenia in Eurovision finale – faves, performance, make up, Jonathan Ross...

My favourites were France, Sweden, Moldova and Estonia. I am pretty OK with Norway's win, which was predictable.

To be honest, for me Iceland's entry was unremarkable and a bit boring. I think the most overrated entries this year were Iceland and Azerbaijan.

Interestingly, an acquaintance of mine, a UK music industry expert, who was always extremely critical re Armenia Eurovision entries in past, SMS-ed me saying she was impressed with Inga & Anush...

Anyway, ending in top ten was not that bad considering the choice of music, although potentially, with such a talent, they could have done so much better...
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Jonathan Ross loves Armenia entry

#eurovision Armenia were my faves, but I hope Jade wins !
http://twitter.com/Wossy/status/1819864068

#eurovision I am going to move to Armenia.
http://twitter.com/Wossy/status/1819194899

#eurovision Love Armenia already. I'll have 2 falafel and extra hoummus to go.
http://twitter.com/Wossy/status/1819184206
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Different sexy

Either you hate it or love it. There was no middle ground in online discussions re Inga and Anush look and make up. I am among those who think they deserve compliment re their look. Yes, I do think they looked different and sexy.

Here is an opinion expressed on Twitter which I loved:

If all the women in Armenia are a sexy as the one on #eurovision then I am emigrating there tomorrow. ;o)
http://twitter.com/chief1981/status/1820616585
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Inga and Anush toned down their make up

According to this tweet which refers to Armenian conservatism, after criticism in Armenia of their extensive make up following the 1st semi-final, Inga and Anush toned it down a bit.

they changed the make-up a little bit =) armyanskiy konservatizm@ spanec :) #eurovision
http://twitter.com/mbarseghyan/status/1819222208
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P.S.

There was a different kind of ‘contest’ going on between Armenia and Azerbaijan during the Eurovision song contest. A propaganda and pretty childish ‘war’ which was apparent only to those 2 countries and may have some consequences. For details:

Ethnic rivalry wins over kitsch in the Caucasus

Karabakh conflict a.k.a. Eurovision contest

Jan Jan as a "summer smash for European gay disco"

Italian gay news website made this very interesting comment after the first semi-final about Armenian song in this year Eurovision - Jan Jan by Inga and Anush Arshakyan.

Here is a quote, via Google Translate:

"Armenia (the song has all the characteristics to be a summer smash for European gay disco but dances and costumes were just too "folk" for Moscow)."

Last year Armenian entry Sirusho's Qele, Qele became a European club hit, being played at many gay and straight clubs, particularly popular in Greece, as well as at a London Gay Pride.

Dita Von Teese about Armenia entry in Eurovision - Inga and Anush Arshakyan

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Armenia’s Inga and Anush in Eurovison final (!!) - No. 9

A few friendly remarks

My congrats to Inga and Anush for passing through to the final of Eurovision. They are very talented, they stand out of the mainstream with their ethno-inspired performances and ethno-modern look. They look weird in a nice way, and I love it.

Now briefly my impressions of their performance during the semi-final.

Vocally they were among the best in the first semi-final. I also liked their look and dresses, different, with Caucasian motives and a modern touch.

However, I am disappointed with the choreography and the stage show, in general. It just did not fit the song well, and (along with the song itself) did not allow Inga and Anush to realise fully their potential. There was no sufficient energy, there was no flame there (and I do not mean pyrotechnics here). There were some awkward dance moves by sisters, and not so satisfying dance show by the dancers. Also, it was not the most relaxed performance I’ve seen (they were nervous, I could feel it).

“Everybody move your body” – this is a central line of their song Jan Jan (‘Nor Par’). So come on, sisters, you should have moved your body more. Just do it. Still, compared to many other performances of the day, they stood out by their vocal abilities and weirdness (in a good way). But it would be much tougher for them in the final.

My other favourites were Sweden and Bosnia. Finland and Switzerland were OK too. Turkey’s Hadise was OK as well, but not as good as I expected.

Without doubts, the main highlight of the semi-final for me was t.A.T.u. performance in front of Red Army Choir.

Good luck to Inga and Anush for the final on 16 May. Go No. 9!

My Eurovision semifinal highlight - t.A.T.u.

My highlight from the Eurovision semifinal in Moscow: t.A.T.u. singing about lesbian love story in front of the Russia Army Choir - classic, brilliant!

More impressions re Eurovision, including Armenia performance - here.

Inga and Anush Arshakyan: first rehearsal in Moscow for Eurovision 2009

Here are my first impressions.

Although audio on this video does not seem good, I do not think Inga & Anush will have problems with the vocals. I liked blue coloured theme on the stage. However, I am not convinced with the dance routines during the performance. I know, this is only the first rehearsal, but they have to get their act better in future rehearsals. Anyway, I expected something more weird (in a good way) and alternative from sisters’ performance. Still, as far as I understand from reports coming from Moscow, there may be some surprises towards the final performances. Here is hoping.

Spotted: David Gevorkov of Fresh Art at a gay party in Moscow

Paparazzi.ru spotted David Gevorkov of Fresh Art studio at a gay party in Moscow, looking cool and hot.

Участник трио Fresh-Art был один, но бросал призывные взгляды из-под очков

I posted earlier that the famous trio of Fresh Art studio (Moscow) is working on Armenia Eurovision 2009 representatives Inga & Anush Arshakyan stage image and performance design. The Fresh Art comprised of 2 Armenians (Alexander Siradeghyan and David Gevorkov, born in Tbilisi) and an Azerbaijani (Aslan Akhmadov, born in Baku).

Inga and Anush official website launched (Armenia in Eurovision 2009)

http://www.ingaanush.am

This newly launched website of Armenian representatives in Eurovision 2009 - Inga and Anush Arshakyan - incorporates news, pictures, videos, blog, and available in 3 languages - Armenian, Russian, and English.

Inga & Anush photo session in Moscow (Armenia in Eurovision 09)

*via Inga & Anush official blog

Armenia: Sex in the closet

Inga and Anush released video clip with final version of Eurovision 2009 song for Armenia - Nor Par (Jan Jan)

Video is not bad. Final version of the song is slightly better than the initial one. Still, not good enough for Inga and Anush to display their potential.

In any case, I wish good luck to Inga and Anush.

Inga and Anush Arshakyan will represent Armenia in Eurovision 2009 with this poor choice of song

I did support Inga and Anush Arshakyan's bid to represent Armenia in Eurovision 2009. Why on earth did they change the initially advertised song Gutan - which was pretty good - instead sticking with this unsatisfying Jan Jan? Unless they stage a great show, this song is not a winner, not even close. Disappointed.

Inga and Anush Arshakyan revealed their Eurovision 2009 song for Armenia - "Gutan"

Inga and Anush Arshakyan revealed that they will perform song "Gutan" as Armenia entry in Eurovision 2009. Of course, if they are chosen to do so during the final selection on 14 February. Being familiar with the potential of current main contestants to represent Armenia in Eurovision - Inga and Anush Arshakyan, Mher, and Arame - I favour Inga and Anush (already mentioned about it under the comments section here). They are talented, have good voice and performance skills. They are not boring, and different in a nice way. And I quite liked their song "Gutan" - mixed folk song. Not bad. Not bad at all. Quite good, actually. Go Inga and Anush!