IDAHOT 2020: Keeping the Silence in post Velvet Revolution Armenia

Since the Velvet Revolution, Armenia is steadily improving its rankings in terms of democracy, freedom... One field that lacking progress is LGBT rights, where country is still among the bottom worst in Europe.

A shameful record, as we mark the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia.

Despite having number of seemingly committed to human rights MPs in post-Revolution Armenia parliament, no single MP (+ no single government official) had enough courage to speak up for IDAHOT.

Instead of Breaking The Silence - the motto of the day - they chose to keep the silence.

On a related but contrasting note, was great to see some government officials and media outlets in neighbouring Georgia, like Natia Mezvrishvili, head of government administration, and Civil.ge marking IDAHOT 2020 with such an important message.

Natia Mezvrishvili: As #UDHR has it "All human beings are born with equal and inalienable rights and fundamental freedoms". I stand as an ally with LGBTI people in Georgia and Worldwide #IDAHOT #NOTOHOMOPHOBIA  

Civil.ge: May 17 is the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia. We stand together with gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer+ people in the fight against hate. #Lovewins #IDAHOBIT 🇬🇪🏳‍🌈
📷 by Eana Korbezashvili/Civil.ge - Tbilisi, May 17, 2017 

Unfortunately, I have yet to see similar stance by any media in Armenia.

Parliamentary election in Armenia #armvote17 and LGBT rights

I have no much hopes left for elections in Armenia under current circumstances.

I know that at the end it will be the ruling Republican party and related to them & ex-president Kocharyan Prosperous Armenia party that will have a majority share in the next parliament.

I know that this election will not be clean and fair. Yet another “step forward” blah-blah…

I do not have a favourite party or political alliance to endorse. But the following list is my definite DO NOT VOTE for:

• Republican party of Armenia 
• Tsarukyan alliance (Prosperous Armenia) 
• ARF Dashnaktsutyun 
• Armenian Renaissance (‘re-branding’ of Orinats Yerkir by disgraced Artur Baghdasaryan)
• Communist party. The only political party that explicitly included anti-LGBT statement within their election programme (կուսակցությունը պատրաստվում է «պայքարել համասեռամոլության, տրանսգենդերների» դեմ)։

This is the first election in Armenia when political parties or their reps are being questioned by civil society activists and some media outlets on their attitude towards LGBT rights as part of election campaign.

Of course, we are not there yet when LGBT Armenians would be perceived as powerful force that could influence the election results. For this we need free and fair election system in place, and much more vocal and open presence of LGBT people in the country. However, this is a step in the right direction.

4 political parties/alliances (out of 9 participating in this parliamentary election) replied to the pre-election survey of the “Partnership for Open Society” initiative: Ohanyan-Raffi-Oskanian (ORO) alliance; Yelq (“Way Out”) alliance; Free democrats; and ARF Dashnaktsutyun. They all answered ‘Yes’ to the question on whether LGBT people should have the same rights as other citizens. However, I will never trust that ARF Dashnaktsutyun in Armenia genuinely believes in equal rights of all citizens until and unless they come clean re their high level reps support for DIY firebombers. Instead of reprimanding them, those homophobic reps remained on the highest positions in the party's Armenian branch and even got promoted to the ministerial level within the government as part of their alliance with the ruling Republican party.

Of course, it’s one thing to answer ‘Yes’ to a non-binding general question, it’s another thing to find out the substance of their stance.

lgbtnews.am keeps doing great job in challenging MPs, NGOs and other politicians and civil society representatives in Armenia on LGBT rights.

In the context of upcoming parliamentary election, they questioned so far ORO, Yelq and Congress/PPA alliance reps. The most straightforward answer was presented by ORO rep Hovsep Khurshudyan. To note, Hovsep of Zharangutyun (“Heritage”) party consistently (and not only during election period) supported human rights issues in Armenia, including LGBT rights, although it is not clear whether his views represent views of the alliance or rather some in Zharangutyun party. I have no doubts that head of Zharangutyun party Raffi Hovhannisyan genuinely supports LGBT rights too. I will never forget his appearance in front of gay-friendly DIY bar in Yerevan soon after firebombing. However, I have no idea, for instance, what ex-MoD Seyran Ohanyan’s views are regarding this matter.

Congress/PPA alliance (LTP) rep Arman Musinyan did not clearly answer to the similar question although in general terms voiced firmly against discrimination of all citizens.

Questioned more specifically re LGBT rights Yelq rep Alen Simonyan reiterated the position of their alliance about equal rights and human rights for all but resisted attempts to single out any specific group.

Armenia and Orlando

Armenia president Serj Sargsyan strongly condemns “horrendous manifestation of intolerance” and “any expression of hatred”. At least, this is how he formulated his reaction to Orlando in a letter of condolences to the US president Obama following attack on LGBT club Pulse.

President Serzh Sargsyan sent a letter of condolences to the President of the United States Barack Obama on a horrible terrorist act which took place at a club in Orlando, claiming several dozens of innocent lives and wounded. The President of Armenia strongly condemned this horrendous manifestation of intolerance and underscored that the misfortune, that has befallen the friendly American people, proves once again that any expression of hatred is still a serious challenge to the humanity and it is our shared responsibility and mission to address them.

ՑԱՎԱԿՑԱԿԱՆ ՆԱԽԱԳԱՀ ՍԵՐԺ ՍԱՐԳՍՅԱՆԸ ՑԱՎԱԿՑԱԿԱՆ ՀԵՌԱԳԻՐ Է ՀՂԵԼ ԱՄՆ ՆԱԽԱԳԱՀ ԲԱՐԱՔ ՕԲԱՄԱՅԻՆ 13.06.2016 Նախագահ Սերժ Սարգսյանը ցավակցական հեռագիր է հղել Ամերիկայի Միացյալ Նահանգների Նախագահ Բարաք Օբամային՝ Օռլանդո քաղաքի ակումբում տեղի ունեցած սահմռկեցուցիչ ահաբեկչության կապակցությամբ, որի հետևանքով զոհվել և վիրավորվել են մի քանի տասնյակ անմեղ մարդիկ: Հանրապետության Նախագահը խստորեն դատապարտել է անհանդուրժողականության այս զարհուրելի երևույթը և ընդգծել, որ բարեկամ ամերիկացի ժողովրդին պատուհասած այդ դժբախտությունը կրկին ապացուցեց, որ ատելության բոլոր դրսևորումները, որոնց հաղթահարումը բոլորի հավաքական պարտքն ու առաքելությունն է, նույնիսկ 21-րդ դարում շարունակում են մնալ լրջագույն մարտահրավեր մարդկության համար:

4 years ago his party spokesman Eduard Sharmazanov (currently deputy speaker of the Armenian parliament) endorsed firebombers of gay friendly DIY bar in Armenia capital Yerevan.

“All those who are trying to protect homosexuals, who are perverting our society, are defaming the Armenian national identity. As an Armenian citizen and member of a national-conservative party, I find the rebellion of the two young Armenian people against the homosexuals, who have created a den of perversion in our country and have a goal of alienating the society from its moral values, completely right and justified. And those human rights defenders, who are trying to earn cheap dividends from this incident, I urge them first and foremost to protect the national and universal values”, said Eduard Sharmazanov.

He echoed his colleague, MP from ARF Dashnaktsutyun party Artsvik Minasyan (currently minister of economy) who justified the attack towards LGBT friendly bar, saying the firebombers acted in accordance with the "context of our societal & national ideology, in the right way”. It was then revealed that Armenian MPs from the ARF Dashnaktsutyun party Artsvik Minasyan and Hrayr Karapetyan bailed out one of the detained arsonists, while the other one was released on signature that he won’t leave the country.

DIY firebombers were effectively pardoned. They got conditional sentencing and a symbolic fine.

And now Armenia president condemns Orlando using pretty strong wording, albeit without the mention of “LGBT”. A change of heart or simply a hypocrisy directed at outside world? How genuine Armenia president was when condemning Orlando would be determined by whether his regime would indeed crack down on anti-LGBT hatred inside Armenia.

Following Orlando, a significant proportion of users (not just trolls) on Armenian social networks, particularly the Armenian segment of Facebook, either kept silence or could not resist their ‘happiness’ at killing of LGBT people.

They were effectively proclaiming the killer a hero. These are the same people who change their profile pictures demanding the world to recognise the Armenian Genocide. These are the same people who were outraged when an axe murderer of Armenian was pardoned by Azeri president and turned into a ‘national hero’.

One of the organisers of Orlando solidarity event in Yerevan, executive director of PINK Armenia Mamikon Hovsepyan, said “it was painful for him to witness Armenians’ reaction to the attack, which included advocacy of hatred and insults targeting the LGBT+ community.”

“People without the elementary capacity to think began to justify the criminal. I do not understand how a crime against humanity can be justified. Many in Armenia have been aggressive and have even expressed support for the terrorists, inviting them to Armenia, which is very sad and inhumane. Today we came here to express our solidarity with the families of the victims.” Hovsepyan said.

The activist added that he was left “dumbstruck” by Armenian President, head of ruling Republican Party Serzh Sargsyan sending his condolences to U.S. President Barack Obama in connection with the shooting; “It would have been great had [the condolences] been genuine and heartfelt. But I don’t believe it; because the same party that justified 4 years ago [the attack on a LGBT-friendly pub in Yerevan] today extended its condolences in connection with a similar act. I do find it ironic, and yet I’d like to believe that they’ve changed.” 

It was disheartening to read PINK Armenia calling fellow Armenians ‘to respect innocent victims & not defend terrorist acts’.

We call on our fellow Armenian friends and citizens to respect the innocent victims, and not to defend terrorism and terrorist acts.

Կոչ ենք անում մեր հայրենակիցներին հարգել անմեղ զոհերին, այլ ոչ թե պաշտպանել ահաբեկչությունն ու ահաբեկչական գործողությունները։

Even two main US-based Diaspora Armenian publications (Asbarez and The Armenian Weekly) kept silence on Orlando for 3 days, before posting a more general op-ed or a report from Yerevan. As my Facebook friends noted, it's because no straight Armenian was killed.

I have to say that mainstream media in Armenia, at least on this occasion, overall reported on the events respectfully, including regarding LGBT people (example).

As was mentioned on the Russian service of BBC, in relation to reactions in Russia, this event showed that not everyone in our society a homophobe ("У нас есть четкое понимание того, что общество уже не едино в гомофобии.”). This is applicable to Armenia too. Not necessarily the most optimistic conclusion but a basis for hope.

Quote of the Day: Armenia’s Iveta Mukuchyan is “hot as f*uck”. Love Wave? More like a “love tsunami”

This is the best I have ever read about any other Eurovision entry from Armenia in the UK, let alone in a gay magazine:

“Mine [Eurovision 2016 favourite] is Armenia and my glamorous sis Iveta Mukuchyan with her “LoveWave” entry which is so powerful that is actually a love tsunami. She is hot as fuck, has the voice and the staging is just on point - gurl, she will slay.” 

Truly, quote of the day. Via QX gay magazine, widely distributed for free in London gay venues.

Prominent Armenia LGBT activist perfectly shuts down homophobic journalist by coming out… again

Journalist (from hraparak.am): "If an anti-discrimination law is passed [in Armenia] and gays are allowed to come and go freely and be seen during the day, is that normal to you?..."

Mamikon (executive director of PINK Armenia): "Do you not see gays during the day?"

Journalist: "I see them, and it's not normal."

Mamikon: "It's not normal? You and I talking right now is not normal?"

Journalist: "It's normal."

Mamikon: "I am gay. It's not normal to you?"

Journalist: "Then it's not normal." [...]
***
The expression of Mamikon's face and the reaction of the audience illustrated just how ridiculous and outrageous the journalist’s questions were.

Big respects to Mamikon. As he Twitted afterwards:

"we come out every day. my public #ComingOut - season 5, episode 1:)" 

Video (AM), from 31:40 mins:



Via PINK Armenia:

On February 24, a press conference took place at Yerevan’s Media Center (media-center.am) on “Violence against Sexual Minorities: The Approaches of Law Enforcement and Healthcare System”, which was live streamed via YouTube. The speakers of the press conference were Mamikon Hovsepyan, Executive Director of PINK Armenia, Sergey Gabrielyan and Artur Makaryan of New Generation Humanitarian NGO, and Sona Harutyunyan, lecturer at the Medical Psychology Department of Yerevan State Medical University. The recent homophobic attack on LGBT activists, as well as other matters regarding discrimination and hatred towards LGBTQ people was discussed during the press conference. A journalist from hraparak.am asked a question on whether it would be admissible to see homosexual people during the day walking in the streets if anti-discrimination legislation is passed in Armenia. Hovsepyan in turn asked the journalist if she sees homosexuals during the day. The journalist said yes, and that it was “not normal” to her. In response to her statement, Hovsepyan asked if it was “normal” for the journalist to be talking to him, to which she said, “Yes.” “I am homosexual,” said Mamikon in response, coming out publicly in front of journalists and cameras.

Read also Epress.am: Armenian Reporter Worried Anti-Discrimination Law Would Let LGBT People ‘Move Freely'.

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

Human Rights Watch "World Report 2015": reflections on LGBT rights in Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan

Brief reflections of different aspects re LGBT rights in Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan by Human Rights Watch within their annual World Report 2015 released today.

Armenia

Minority Rights
Local lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) activists reported that LGBT people continue to face discrimination, harassment, and physical violence. Hate speech against LGBT people, including by public officials, remains a serious issue. Gender identity and sexual orientation are not included in anti-discrimination or hate speech laws, limiting legal recourse for many crimes against LGBT people.

Iravunq newspaper published several online articles calling for LGBT people and organizations working to protect them to be excluded from public life and for their families to shun them. A May 17 article included a “blacklist” of 60 people with links to their social media pages. Several people named in the article requested a retraction, but the paper refused. Sixteen people filed lawsuits for damage to honor and dignity, but a court rejected their claims in October.

Key International Actors
The PACE fact-finding mission report noted the improved political climate and progress toward Armenia’s fulfilment of its Council of Europe (CoE) membership obligations but also highlighted serious shortcomings, including the lack of judicial independence, abuses in the military, domestic violence, and hostility toward religious minorities and LGBT people.

Georgia

Anti-Discrimination and Minority Rights 
In May, parliament adopted an anti-discrimination bill that provides for protection against discrimination on the grounds of race, gender, age, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Some criticized the bill for lacking efficient implementation mechanisms, including means for imposing financial penalties for perpetrators. The bill put the Ombudsman’s Office in charge of overseeing anti-discrimination measures.

In February, the constitutional court in Georgia struck down a 13-year-old ban on homosexual men being blood donors.

Azerbaijan

Human Rights Defenders
Isa Shahmarly, former chair of the Free (Azad) LGBT group, hanged himself with a rainbow flag in his Baku apartment in late January 2014, writing in a note that Azerbaijan society was “not for him.”

PACE delegates: Armenian authorities fail to condemn incitement to hatred against LGBT people

Below is a statement [Written declaration No. 584 | Doc. 13690 | 28 January 2015] by 22 delegates of the PACE (Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe):

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

On 17 May 2014 the Armenian newspaper ‘Iravunk’ published an article on its website entitled “They serve the interests of international homo-addiction [sic] lobbying: the blacklist of the country’s and nation’s enemies”. It attacked “homosexual lobbyists” for trying to “aggressively enforce their moral dogma on our country”. Demanding “zero tolerance”, it identified 60 people, calling for them to be ostracised, denied employment and access to the media, and excluded from participation “in the upbringing of younger generations”.

The chair of the ‘Iravunk’ board, Hayk Babukhanyan, is an MP for Armenia’s governing political faction, the Republican Party.

The authorities have failed to condemn this incitement to hatred and discrimination. On the contrary, on 25 October Mr Babukhanyan was awarded a medal of honour by the President of Armenia. A law suit against “Iravunk” for defamation was dismissed six days later.

We call upon:

• Armenia’s delegates to this Assembly, particularly those from the Republican Party, to impress upon colleagues the need to refrain from incitement to hatred and discrimination;

• The Armenian authorities to condemn such incitement unreservedly and to put in place measures to implement the Committee of Ministers Recommendation on combating discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity.

Ms Petra De SUTTER, Belgium, SOC

Ms Boriana ÅBERG, Sweden, EPP/CD

Mr Claude ADAM, Luxembourg, SOC

Mr Paride ANDREOLI, San Marino, SOC

Mr Gerardo GIOVAGNOLI, San Marino, SOC

Mr Jonas GUNNARSSON, Sweden, SOC

Ms Monica HAIDER, Sweden, SOC

Ms Eva-Lena JANSSON, Sweden, SOC

Ms Lotta JOHNSSON FORNARVE, Sweden, UEL

Mr Pierre-Yves LE BORGN', France, SOC

Mr Philippe MAHOUX, Belgium, SOC

Ms Marit MAIJ, Netherlands, SOC

Ms Liliane MAURY PASQUIER, Switzerland, SOC

Mr Michael McNAMARA, Ireland, SOC

Ms Ana Catarina MENDONÇA, Portugal, SOC

Ms Marie-Claude MORIN, Canada

Ms Melita MULIĆ, Croatia, SOC

Mr Michele NICOLETTI, Italy, SOC

Ms Carina OHLSSON, Sweden, SOC

Ms Maria de Belém ROSEIRA, Portugal, SOC

Ms Deborah SCHEMBRI, Malta, SOC

Ms Tineke STRIK, Netherlands, SOC

Positive representation of gay people on Russian TV - Физика или Химия

Browsing YouTube, I accidentally came across this Russian TV series Физика или Химия [Physics or Chemistry]. It’s a Russian adaptation of original Spanish TV series Física o Química.

I watched only one episode - therefore I cannot reflect the whole series - but was struck by positive, away from cliché, representation of gay people on Russian TV. So many aspects of it were done so good, including the choice of characters, relationships with friends, coming out, parents’ reaction...



This could have been a textbook example of how media should portray LGBT people, especially in countries where homophobia is very high and there is big gap and lack in education on matters of sexuality and gender identity. And what is even more important, that the series are based in a high school setting in Moscow, raising important youth relevant issues.

Unfortunately, there was only 1 season produced and shown on Russian CTC TV channel in 2011, and, of course, considering the subsequent developments in Russia, where homophobia elevated to the state level by the so called gay propaganda laws and other examples of intolerance, you will unlikely to see anything similar in the near future.

It's a big shame that country with such a great intellectual and cultural potential to champion diversity, equality, acceptance within post-Soviet space and beyond, instead turned into an epitome of intolerance and homophobia.

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

I’d like to start this pretty depressing post on a somehow lighter note, with a joke (AM), posted on Facebook for this occasion by user A.N.:

- Բարև ձեզ։ Բեղիկներով պահպանակ ունե՞ք։
- Ունենք, բայց էսօր գնացել ա մեդալ ստանալու։

In an article “They serve the interests of international homosexual lobby: the blacklist of country’s and nation’s enemies”, Iravunk tabloid listed 60 individuals with the links to their Facebook pages, calling them “zombies”, “traitors” and more.

"On 17th of May, 2014, the editor-in-chief of “Iravunk” newspaper Hovhannes Galajyan published an article on the newspaper’s website titled “They serve the interests of international homosexual lobbying: the blacklist of country’s and nation’s enemies.” In the article, the author presents a “blacklist” containing Facebook hyperlinks of 60 people, makes offensive statements addressed to those persons and calls for “Ordinary people to stop communicating with the lobbyist on the internet, as well as in real life, not to greet them, not to help them with any issues, not to engage in any business relations with them; state officials not to hire those lobbyists for public service jobs, and if they already work there, to fire them under any convenient pretext.” For employers to do the same and for the co-owners of media companies, so those lobbyists won’t be given any chance to make an influence on public opinion and also for “the heads of educational institutions, so they won’t let the lobbyists to participate in the upbringing of younger generations.” […]
On 30th of May, 2014, several citizens whose names appeared in the “blacklist” have sent a letter to the president of the editorial board of Iravunk, Haik Babukhanyan, and the editor-in-chief Hovhannes Galajyan, where they pointed out that the article contains insults, and also requested them to deny the information written in the article. This request was denied and in 03.06.2014 another article was published titled as “And they still dare to request a denial?” in which Iravunk continued to insult and give inaccurate information. In particular, such expressions as “this creature,” “filthy biography” and more were aimed at those who requested denial of the untrue information."

A statement posted by PINK Armenia reads:

“Today the court rejected the case of 16 individuals against Iravunk newspaper. Earlier the Armenian newspaper Iravunk published a ‘blacklist’ of Armenians connected to the LGBT community that it claimed to be enemies of the nation.

Few days ago this homophobic paper’s founding editor and two other workers received Medal of Honor from the president of RA. The president of National Assembly of RA also congratulated the founding editor of the newspaper, who is a MP and a member of Republican Fraction as well.

We believe that high level support of official reflected on the decision of the Court and this shows once more that hate speech and homophobia is highly supported by the high level officials of Armenia, and this creates atmosphere of impunity, gives floor for hate crime and fascism in the country.”

Courts in Armenia are not independent, rarely making decisions that contravene ruling regime’s position. Not only court rejected the lawsuit on the basis of “freedom of expression” (how 'noble' of them!) but obliged citizens to make payments in favour of Iravunk paper to compensate their expenses. Activists will pursue available legal channels to appeal the court’s verdict and, depending on circumstances, may reach the European court of human rights too.

Epress.am reports from the courtroom: “After the judge read the verdict nearly ten people began clapping in favor of the decision. Among them was “Iravunk Media” company director, Republican Party faction MP Hayk Babukhanyan (pictured on right), who just last week was awarded the Movses Khorenatsi Medal by President Serzh Sargsyan for the 25th anniversary of the Iravunk paper.”



To remind, this tabloid consistently and systematically publishes articles and other postings full of hate speech and virulent homophobia.

[Hate: Armenian tabloid Iravunk advocates killing of gays]

As I mentioned in past: “As a rule, one hate goes hand in hand with another hate. If you look at Iravunk’s articles, they are not just homophobic, but racist, full of hate to everyone who is different. If you are not gay, you would have still be hated by Galadjyan-like people. For ‘different’ ethnicity, colour of your eyes (skin), music you listen to, films you watch, T-shirt you wear. Anything, really, which is outside of their sad, little and narrow-minded world.”

To sum up: Ruling regime in Armenia turning hate into a state ideology and awarding hatemongers with state awards. Here is a shameful link to the the presidential press-release from the award’s ceremony and picture via president.am.

This picture will be remembered among the most shameful pages of the modern history of Republic of Armenia. Pretty disgusting sight.

And let’s not forget that this story is just part of the growing overall trend. Put this story into a broader perspective of impunity and culture of violence in Armenia supported on a highest state level, like recent re-appointment of Surik Khachatryan (nicknamed “Liska”) - notorious for violent conduct - as governor of Syunik region, and the complete picture is even more depressing.

P.S. This case was picked up by popular international publications buzzfeed (+ here), gaystarnews and more.

British Council Armenia continues shameful collaboration with homophobic media

This seems like a deja vu.

"British Film Festival 12th Edition is organised by the British Council with the support of the British Embassy Yerevan, UNICEF and ArmenTel (brand name Beeline). In addition to showcasing the best of the British film industry of the recent years, training and competitions will be organised. […]
The information partners of the 12th British Film Festival are H2 TV station, Dar21 TV station, Laym TV station, Yerkir Media TV station, Shoghakat TV station, Civilnet, Public Radio, Radio Van, Radio Hay, Armradio FM 107 and Bravo.am, imyerevan.com, emporium.am."

The history of pretty close relationship between British Council in Armenia (more of their local staff) with the homophobic radio Van station was exposed by this blog back in 2010 [‘Champion of equality’ British Council Armenia sponsors homophobic radio station in Yerevan]. It took efforts for the former British ambassador in Armenia to make essential steps at damage control. And here we are again.

Only last week it was revealed that head of the radio Van station Shushanik is a member (“friends”) of “Griboedov” club in Yerevan, established by notorious “burn gay hearts” Putin propagandist Dmitry Kiselev. Indeed, Shushanik's utterly homophobic views earned Radio Van their place in Armenia: Homophobia Hall of Shame.

Not to mention some other questionable, to say the least, choices by the British Council Armenia, such as Yerkir Media TV, nationalist ARF Dashnaktsutyun outlet that was instrumental in instigating hatred towards gay friendly DIY bar firebombed in Armenia capital in 2012.

Ironically, festival’s web page mentions that “12th Edition dedicated to Inclusion and Communication”.

P.S. The action. Photo, video, media reports: Armenia human rights activists protest and enter CoE conference in Yerevan exposing ruling regime’s hypocrisy

Perfect example of peaceful resistance by human rights activists in Armenia, who acted upon by exposing hypocrisy of ruling regime. Big respects !!

Perhaps, for the first time homophobia, anti-gay violence, along with other instances of intolerance and xenophobia in Armenia were so publicly and prominently confronted gaining wide publicity.

For more background info, read Unzipped: Text-book hypocrisy: Armenia hosts Council of Europe conference on combating racism, xenophobia and intolerance in Europe

Selected examples of photo, video, media and Twitter reports below.

Peaceful Demonstrators at COE conference today on tolerance. Thanks for being here. pic.twitter.com/sk7ExbGwIp
— Amb Heffern (@AmbHeffern) October 21, 2013

Pleased that Arm is hosting @coe Combatting Xenophobia conference. Amb Aves at opening session. Good that demonstrators had their say too.
— UK in Armenia (@UKinArmenia) October 21, 2013

Protesters entered the conference hall where the international conference “Fight against Discrimination, Xenophobia and Intolerance in Europe” was taking place - photos by Photolure

*Picture perfect

Epress: VIDEO: Armenian Activists Interrupt Conference on Combating Racism, Xenophobia and Intolerance

 A group of peaceful activists staged a protest in Yerevan today during a “High Level Conference on Combating Racism, Xenophobia and Intolerance in Europe” organized by the Council of Europe. The conference takes place in the frramework of theArmenian Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe (CoE).

Recall, according to the CoE website: “During the conference the participants will have the opportunity to reflect upon racism and xenophobia in political discourse, the role of human rights institutions in combating racial and ethnic discrimination, as well as topics related to combating hate speech and racial stereotypes on social networks and media.”

At 10:15 am, demonstrators protested outside the Armenia Marriott Hotel, where the conference was being held, pointing to the hypocrisy of Armenia’s authorities organizing such a conference. The activists recalled Armenian authorities’ reactions after the bombing of gay-friendly bar DIY, the threats against women’s rights organizations, and discrimination against members of the LGBT community.

The placards the activists held depicted the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) Coat of Arms, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, RA Deputy Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Khachik Asryan, and National Assembly Vice-President, HHK spokesperson Eduard Sharmazanov.

When RA Minister of Foreign Affairs Edward Nalbandian declared the conference had begun, the activists entered the hall where the conference was being held with the placards in hand.

Hotel security personnel, Ministry of Foreign Affairs staff, and the police attempted to escort them outside, but activists stood with their placards in front of the invited guests and stayed for about half an hour while the conference continued.

ArmeniaNow: Protesters disrupt high-level international conference in Yerevan

A number of protesters broke security and entered the conference hall at Armenia Marriott Hotel in Yerevan today to make their message heard by participants of an international event taking place there. 
The high-level conference attended by Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs Edward Nalbandian and Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjorn Jagland is entitled “Combating Racism, Xenophobia and Intolerance in Europe”. 

The activists held banners accusing the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) of “xenophobia and racism” and raising issues of women’s and LGBT people’s rights in Armenia.

In particular, they accused senior RPA member Edward Sharmazanov as well as leading representative of the opposition Dashnaktsutyun party Artsvik Minasyan of supporting those who bomb-fired an LGBT-friendly bar in Yerevan in May 2012.

The banners also mentioned another RPA member, Deputy Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Khachik Asryan, who called for burning an oppositionist at the stake over her critical comments earlier this month.

Hetq Online (with great photo-story): Protestors Disrupt International “Hate Crime” Conference in Yerevan

Activists protesting state sponsored discrimination and intolerance towards women and other minorities in Armenia, greeted participants as they entered Yerevan’s Marriott Hotel this morning for a conference entitled “Combating Racism, Xenophobia and Intolerance in Europe”  Holding banners accusing the ruling Republican Party in Armenia and its officials as actually fomenting “hate crime”, the activists argued that the government itself should be the focus of the conference.

CivilNet (AM): Բողոքի ակցիա` Եվրոպայում խտրականության դեմ համաժողովի ընթացքում



[PINK Armenia: Appeal to the participants of the Council of Europe conference]

CivilNet (AM): Մի խումբ քաղաքացիների կոչը եվրոպացի պաշտոնյաներին

News.am - report, photos and video (AM) «Ֆաշիստական կուսակցության հետ չի կարելի քննարկել ֆաշիզմի հաղթահարումը». ակտիվիստները ներխուժել են դահլիճ 

Panorama.am - report, photos (AM) Ակտիվիստները եվրոպացիներին բողոքում են հայ «ֆաշիստներից», իսկ Հեֆֆերն էլ նրանց էր նկարում (լուսանկարներ)

Video by A1+ (AM): Իրարանցում խորհրդաժողովի ժամանակ

Hypocrisy of Armenian TV personalities exposed: Lulu and Nazeni

It’s been 5 years already that British Council Armenia organises Na/Ne media competition on “issues relating to the gender equality in general” and how “particular publications or stories have resulted or may soon result in positive changes.” According to the British Council Armenia website, all published or broadcast materials should cover “the activities and achievements, problems and challenges of women in political, economic and social spheres. All publications should be presented from the gender equality perspective.” [emphasis mine] British Embassy in Armenia is a co-founder of Na/Ne Media Award.

February 2013. TV personality Lusine Badalyan, more known as Lulu, was a co-host of Na/Ne gender equality media awards ceremony by British Council Armenia. [Lulu worked in homophobic radio Van station, now TV host in Kentron TV station owned by oligarch MP Tsarukyan, head of Prosperous Armenia party]

August 2013. Lulu joins anti-gender equality law hysteria by a series of comments, status updates on Facebook, as well as by inviting and agreeing with homophobic individuals, conspiracy theory fans, who are among those who provoke anti-gender equality and homophobic hysteria on- and off-line.

In a series of TV programmes she hosts, Lulu repeatedly agrees with such people, including members of so called “Pan-Armenian parents committee”, a copycat of similar Russian structure that spreads hatred online and in Armenian media towards LGBT, as well as targets individuals and women’s rights groups for their work on gender equality.

She agrees “completely” with all the conspiracy theories that her guests introduce and claims she will not agree for her children’s teacher to be member of other than Armenian church ‘official’ religion or homosexual. Lulu also complains that “pure Armenians” are the minority in Armenia. She commits to fight against gender equality laws. [example 1; and example 2 with Armenian version of Russia’s Mizulina - there are more examples, these are for illustration purposes]

Lulu also posted a hand-written letter on her FB, as if out of compassion, of a gay person who wanted to be “cured of homosexuality”.

***
And here are more examples of hypocrisy, this time by another TV personality, Armenia TV host Nazeni Hovhannisyan, who apparently felt that she could preach morality to others.

“We should not remain SILENT. Watch this - this will only take 10 minutes of your life but perhaps then we will WIN centuries"  - This is a suggestion by Nazeni to her Faceboook followers to watch hateful, filled with conspiracy theories video about gender equality 'destroying Armenian families', full with homophobia and targeting women’s rights groups and individuals. This video was prepared by so called “Pan-Armenian parents committee”, a copycat of similar Russian groups.

A humorous posters appeared on Facebook, exposing Nazeni’s hypocrisy.

Norwegian Helsinki Committee calls Armenia authorities to adopt anti-discrimination legislation and tackle hate crime

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

*via the Norwegian Helsinki Committee

One year after the bombing of the DIY pub and violent counter demonstrators attacked a Diversity March in Yerevan, Armenia still suffers from widespread intolerance and discrimination of minorities. The legislation does not include hate crime with intent towards gender and sexual minorities, and the government fails to protect the rights of these citizens. Media is more often used as a tool to build up under prejudice and intolerance, and homophobic statements are frequently used by stakeholders to gain popularity.

- The Norwegian Helsinki Committee is concerned with the development in Armenia, and supports local civil society activists in their struggle for tolerance and respect of all groups in the country, says Secretary General of the NHC Bjørn Engesland.

Women, LGBT-persons, ethnic and religious minorities are under increased pressure in the homogenic society. Any alternative behaviour is subject to public scrutiny from the neighbours to the authorities and might be seen as a threat to the national ideal of a masculine head of the family, ready to defend his motherland from the many enemies around.

Several state officials were justifying the hateful crime after the bombing of the DIY pub, including the spokesperson of the ruling Republican Party. Later the same month, a discreet march devoted to the UN World Day of Cultural Diversity was attacked by a large group of violent thugs, supported even by priests in their traditional black cloaks. The thugs were additionally provoked by the way the event was portrayed in the media as a gay parade. The police were initially protecting the participants of the march, but later advised the attackers of where they had taken refuge. [...]

The Norwegian Helsinki Committee joins the local activists in the aim to remove homophobia and intolerance in Armenia, and urge the Armenian authorities to

- Include civil society activists in the process to develop effective anti-discrimination legislation that also addresses intent and hate-crimes against all minority groups;

- Widely discourage homophobic and intolerant statements by public figures and derogatory terminology in the media;

- Prosecute offenders of hate crime and protect representatives of minority groups and their defenders. 

On 14-15 May, international experts and stakeholders will gather in Oslo for a two-day conference on right-wing extremism and hate crime directed towards minorities in Europe and beyond. The conference is arranged by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the NHC urge everybody who have an interest in the theme to watch the conference live via web here or get updates from the conference on Twitter using the hashtag #REHC2013

#nohate Roundtable discussion on hate culture in Armenia 1 year on following DIY firebombing

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

*source: PINK Armenia

Exactly one year ago, on May 8th, 2012, three young men bombed DIY pub in Yerevan, which was

followed by scores of state officials justifying the hateful crime. In connection with this, on May 8, 2013 at 12:00 pm, Ani Plaza Hotel hosted “Hate Culture in Armenia: One Year Later”, a round-table discussion organized by concerned citizens with the support of Human Rights House – Yerevan.

The discussion began with activist Lala Aslikyan presenting a chronology of events that took place before and after the bombing. “DIY pub opened its doors in April of 2011 and was subject to frequent threats and attacks by groups of young fascists just a few months after its opening. Attackers would constantly destroy property, break bottles and glass, and spit on the premises,” said Lala. “At 5:00am on May 8th, 2012 five young men bombed the pub. A few days later, extremists graffitied the walls of the pub with images and symbols of fascism. Although the suspects were arrested, one suspect was bailed out shortly after and police released the other after he promised not to leave the country.”

Lusine Ghazaryan presented the legal process of the case, emphasizing that what happened was a hate crime because the act was aimed at destroying not only property, but to intimidate and threaten the owner of the pub as well as the safety of her supporters. “The criminals were charged under Article 185 of the criminal code, which does not include hate crimes,” said Lusine. Adding that this case might have great strategic importance, as it can bring significant positive changes in the law to include intent.

Mamikon Hovsepyan of PINK Armenia spoke about institutionalized homophobia and how every time there are elections, political parties draw attention to LGBT people and use homophobia as a means to gather an electorate since a majority of the population is homophobic. “They target specific people and last year after the parliamentary elections the target was Tsomak”, said Mamikon.

Human rights defender Arthur Sakunts noted, “the structure of the government is monopolized, which creates fertile ground for the emergence of different forms of discrimination to which religious organizations, LGBT individuals, women, ethnic minorities, foreign citizens and anyone else who is somehow different from the ruling majority are subject to. The solution to this problem is Article 1 of the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia which states that Armenia is a sovereign, democratic, social state governed by the rule of law”.

Round-table participant Yura Manvelyan, editor of Epress.am said, “The mass media has created an image of the enemy: Turks, Jehovah’s Witnesses, homosexuals, and feminist activists. The journalist is the only connection between the editor and the microphone. Therefore, the journalist has control of how they want to create the story and twist it around. Usually journalists perpetuate hate culture through their own stereotypes and prejudices.”

Yerevan Press Club, NGOs: Parada film cancellation 'blatant rights violation' and indicator for EU re Armenia commitments

For background: 

EU head says LGBT people in Armenia are “the most vulnerable” while hatemongers celebrate “victory”... over cancellation of gay rights film screening

Puppets attack Germany embassy and the EU office in Armenia

***
The Yerevan Press Club shares the indignation of Armenia's non-governmental organizations who disseminated a letter on October 23 condemning another refusal to host the screening of the film “Parada”. We consider the obstacles raised for such public events as a blatant violation of the right to freedom of expression.

It has been only a year since we appreciated that the practice of refusing provision of premises for political motives has almost stopped. And today, the Armenian society faces yet a new, not less disgraceful challenge - an artificial restriction on disseminating information about issues of diversity and personal freedom.

After 20 years of gaining independence and proclaiming democratic development as the main path for nation building, the Armenian state is still unable to ensure the protection of its’ citizens’ rights from intolerance and xenophobia. The “fearfulness” of the management of the halls, which refuse the film screening, can be explained by nothing less than this. In this regard, one should remember the inaction of law enforcement bodies towards the attacks against the “Asparez” Journalists' Club of Gyumri and the Vanadzor Branch of Helsinki Citizen's Assembly, who in April 2012 provided their halls for showing films, “disliked” by some people.

It is inadmissible for the authorities, who strive for European standards of constituting the state and public life, to pander to those persons and groups, who assume the right to ban, threat, exercise violence and who dictate their own visions of what others should and should not do. 

Yerevan Press Club
October 24, 2012
*via Hetq.am

Below is a statement of NGOs (AM, via PINK Armenia):

Հասարակական կազմակերպությունները հանդես են եկել համատեղ հայտարարությամբ` ուղղված ՀՀ վարչապետ Տիգրան Սարգսյանին, Հայաստանում ԵՄ պատվիրակության ղեկավար Տրայան Հրիսթեային, Հայաստանում Գերմանիայի Դաշնային Հանրապետության արտակարգ և լիազոր դեսպան Ռայներ Մորելին: Անհանգստության առիթ է հանդիպսացել սերբական «Պառադա» ֆիլմի ցուցադրման խափանումը:

Հայտարարություն

Արդեն իսկ երրորդ վայրը ևս` Կոնգրես հյուրանոցը, հանրությանը անհայտ ճնշումների արդյունքում պաշտոնապես հրաժարվեց հյուրընկալել «Պառադա» ֆիլմի ցուցադրությունը, որը վերաբերում է Սերբիայում ԼԳԲՏ (լեսբուհի, գեյ, բիսեքսուալ, տրանսգենդեր) անձանց իրավունքների հիմնախնդիրներին: Այս ֆիլմի ցուցադրությունը հանդիսանում է Հայաստանում Եվրոպական Միության պատվիրակության և Գերմանիայի դեսպանության նախաձեռնությունը: Ֆիլմի ցուցադրությունը մասն է կազմում այն միջոցառումների, որոնք Եվրամիությունն անցկացնում է 2012թ. Մարդու իրավունքների պաշտպանության օրվա շրջանակներում՝ հանդուրժողականության և ոչ խտրական վերաբերմունքի թեմայով:

Ցանկացած ժողովրդավարական, սոցիալական, իրավական պետություն մարդու իրավունքների նման ոտնահարումը, մասնավորապես արտահայտման ազատության իրավունքի ոտնահարումը, որը ներառում է անկախ պետական սահմաններից ցանկացած միջոցով տեղեկություններ և գաղափարներ փնտրելու, ստանալու, տարածելու ազատությունը, պետք է համարի անթույլատրելի: Սա հստակ սահմանված է ՀՀ Սահմանադրությամբ և ավելի ընդգծված մի շարք միջազգային փաստաթղթերում՝ համաձայն որոնց ՀՀ-ն ունի մի շարք պարտավորություններ պաշտպանելու յուրաքանչյուր անձի հիմնարար իրավունքներն ու ազատությունները, ինչպես նաև ունի պոզիտիվ պարտավորություն՝ ապահովելու այդ իրավունքների արդյունավետ իրականացումը: ՀՀ-ն Եվրոպական հարևանության քաղաքականության շրջանակներում ստանձնել է պարտավորություններ ամրապնդելու մարդու իրավունքների և հիմնարար ազատությունների նկատմամբ հարգանքը, որոնք հանդիսանում են ՀՀ-ԵՄ համագործակցության հիմնարար սկզբուքները: Ավելին, սույն բարեփոխումների իրականացման համար ՀՀ կառավարությունը ԵՄ կողմից ստանում է համապատասխան աջակցություն, այդ թվում ֆինանսական:

Մենք` քաղաքացիական հասարակության ներկայացուցիչներս, անհանգստացած և վրդովված ենք ՀՀ-ում մարդու իրավունքների ոտնահարումներով, խտրականության և անհանդուրժողականության տարածմամբ: Մենք պահանջում ենք, որպեսզի ՀՀ կառավարությունը ստանձնի իր պարտավորությունները և երաշխավորի սույն միջոցառման իրականացումը և դրա անվտանգությունը, համապատասխան դահլիճ տրամադրի ֆիլմի հանրային ցուցադրության, և հանդիսատեսի անխոչընդոտ դիտման համար:

Մենք գտնում ենք, որ ՀՀ իշխանության կողմից ձեռնարկած քայլերը կամ անգործությունը ԵՄ համար պետք է հանդիսանա ցուցանիշ, թե որքանով են իր տրամադրած աջակցությունը և միջոցները ուղղորդվում ՀՀ-ում մարդու իրավունքների իրավիճակի բարելավմանը: ԵՄ-ն պետք է հետամուտ լինի իր իսկ տրամադրած միջոցների նպատակային բաշխմանը և ՀՀ կողմից հանձն առած պարտավորությունների կատարմանը, որոնք բխում են Եվրոպական հարևանության քաղաքականության հիման վրա որդեգրած ԵՄ-Հայաստան փոխադարձ հանձնառությունից` ապահովելու ժողովրդավարություն և մարդու իրավունքների պաշտպանվածություն, օրենքի գերակայություն և համընդհանուր այլ արժեքներ:

Ստորագրողներ`
Հանրային տեղեկատվություն և գիտելիքի կարիք ՀԿ
Կանանց ռեսուրսային կենտրոն ՀԿ
Հելսինկյան ասոցիացիա ՀԿ
Սեռական բռնության ճգնաժամային կենտրոն ՀԿ
Կանանց աջակցության կենտրոն ՀԿ
Իրավունքի գերակայություն ՀԿ
Հելսինկյան քաղաքացիական ասամբլեայի Վանաձորի գրասենյակ ՀԿ
Լրագրողներ հանուն մարդու իրավունքների ՀԿ
Երիտասարդները հանուն ժողովրդավարության ՀԿ
Բաց հասարակության հիմնադրամններ-Հայաստան
Ժուռնալիստների «Ասպարեզ» ակումբ ՀԿ
Շիրակ կենտրոն ՀԿ
Նոր Սերունդ ՀԿ
Երաշխիք քաղաքացիական հասարակության կենտրոն ՀԿ
Շահխաթուն ՀԿ
Իրական աշխարհ, իրական մարդիկ ՀԿ
Թրանսփարենսի ինթերնեշնլ հակակոռուպցիոն կենտրոն ՀԿ
Հայաստանի հելսինկյան կոմիտե ՀԿ
Դեմոկրատիան այսօր ՀԿ
Էկոլուր տեղեկատվական ՀԿ
Հույս ՀԿ
Գորիսի մամուլի ակումբ ՀԿ
Քաղաքացիական ազգային նախաձեռնություն ՀԿ
Համագործակցություն հանուն զարգացման ՀԿ
Իրավունքների պաշտպանություն առանց սահմանների ՀԿ
Համագործակցություն հանուն ժողովրդավարության ՀԿ
Խոսքի ազատության պաշտպանության կոմիտե ՀԿ

Independent news back to mainstream TV in Armenia. BUT... along with homophobic editor

I am glad to see that independent A1+ TV’s flagship news programme is back on air (on its rival ArmNews!). Since its (decade-long) closure, I keep saying that until A1+ is back I won’t believe that things are changing in Armenia.

I know that homophobic editor of Aravot daily Aram Abrahamyan (Armenia Homophobia Hall of Shame) has been part of A1+ in past and present (online). Now, with the revival of news programme, it’s disappointing to see that the editor who advocates homophobia is part of the project too.

I wrote about A1+ in one of my very first posts after I launched Unzipped blog:

"(for years) They tried to ban A1+ TV, they sort of succeeded, but they was not able to ban A1+, for me - the symbol of free speech in Armenia. A1+ continued its live online. [...] If one day I switch on TV and see A1+ station live, I will understand that I probably live in different Armenia, in better Armenia, in Armenia which can be transformed to a country where I would prefer live in..."

Well, not quite a transformation yet. A small progress - probably.

As long as Aram Abrahamyan is part of the project, these changes will remain illusive for me.

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

Military doctor severely beaten by bodyguards of Armenia MP, president of Football Federation Ruben Hayrapetyan (aka 'Nemets Rubo') has died on 29 June. [For background to this story, read: Unbearable cruelty of being of Armenia tycoon - turned MP - turned Football Federation president & his entourage]



Video above details some of the 'heroic' pages from the history of violence of disgraced Armenia MP, president of Football Federation, oligarch Ruben Hayrapetyan, nicknamed 'Nemets Rubo'.

Posting this video, Hetq Online reminds how 'Nemets Rubo' threatened and/or enacted violence towards journalists, drug addicts, and (more recently) gays. The author righty points out that after all the violent rhetoric and actions, there should be no surprise that we witnessed yet another violence, this time with more tragic consequences. [Ռուբեն Հայրապետյանը միշտ զգուշացրել է (վիդեո)]

To remind, following recent firebombing of gay friendly bar DIY in Yerevan, ‘Nemets Rubo‘ said he “condemns terrorism” but “in favour of punishing gays and ready to do it myself”. “We should think of another way of punishing to eradicate them from our society.”

Other high profile MPs from ruling Republican party who supported firebombers and encouraged anti-gay violence include vice-speaker of the Armenian parliament, spokesman of the ruling Republican party Eduard Sharmazanov, and MP, (now) secretary of Republican party parliamentary group Hovhannes Sahakyan. 
[I recommend reading Հոդված ատելության մասին by Sergey Danielyan too]

Last night, there was a candlelight vigil in Yerevan in memory of beating victim Vahe Avetyan. People gathered in front of the restaurant where the violence took place [Harsnaqar restaurant belongs to 'Nemets Rubo'] Many held 'I am Vahe Avetyan' posters condemning violence, calling for boycott of oligarch MP businesses and his resignation as MP and president of Football Federation.

Among protesters rightly condemning violence, I noticed two well known personalities who have their share of moral responsibility for this atmosphere of hatred and violence.

Armenian MP from the ARF Dashnaktsutyun party Armen Rostomyan said nothing when his colleagues from the ARF party, and in particular Artsvik Minasyan, Hrayr Karapetyan and Artur Aghabekyan supported firebombers and at least in case of Artsvik Minasyan (+ here) and Artur Aghabekyan openly encouraged anti-gay violence.

Larisa Alaverdyan, former MP and ex-Ombudsman, effectively sided with homophobes during TV programme discussing attacks towards gay friendly bar and Diversity march.




Below are two pictures from the candlelight vigil protest action via CivilNet and PanArmenian FB page.

*picture via CivilNet/Seda Grigoryan

*"Slaughterhouse" written on the wall of Harsnaqar restaurant, picture via PanArmenian/Hrant Khachatryan [Հանցաքար" և "Սպանդանոց" գրվեցին ռեստորանի պատերին]

Homophobe Gevorg Altunyan promoted to head Armenia Public TV’s main propaganda machine - Haylur

As a deputy head of news and analytical programmes at Public TV, Gevorg Altunyan was known to be a not so subtle manipulator of information under the disguise of ‘analytical commentary’.

His ‘Tesankyun’ programme was simply impossible to watch as it was a crying example of KGB style propaganda and manipulation of information to suit authorities’ orders.

He is also a well known homophobe , and constantly spreads hate and intolerance towards LGBT people in Armenia. Not surprisingly, he is part of Armenia Homophobia Hall of Shame.

Haylur sucked in past. Haylur sucks now. With Gevorg Altunyan promoted to head it, Haylur will continue producing information garbage in the foreseeable future.

Secretary Clinton honors Armenia rights advocates

U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, joined the U.S. Embassy, Counterpart International, the British Embassy, the OSCE, and the EU to honor individuals working to promote human rights, accountable governance, and free speech in Armenia at the Universal Rights Awards Ceremony at the U.S. Embassy in Yerevan. Secretary Clinton delivered remarks at the event and met privately with the award recipients. The Universal Rights Awards Ceremony was the first multi-mission initiative to highlight the contributions of Armenia’s civil rights activists, government officials, and media representatives to the promotion of human rights. Armenian government officials, foreign diplomats, NGO representatives, and the press attended the event.
***
Well deserved Awardees. Big congrats!!
***
Freedom Defender Award - Artur Sakunts
USAID/Armenia Mission Director, Jatinder Cheema, opened the ceremony and awarded Artur Sakunts with the Freedom Defender Award. “Artur defends all minorities, especially those that are the target of intolerance, such as ethnic, religious, and sexual minorities. He is not afraid to take unpopular stances, working constantly for a more tolerant Armenia,” said Director Cheema.

Woman of Courage Award - Tsovinar Nazaryan
Counterpart International’s Chief of Party, Alex Sardar, presented the Woman of Courage Award to Tsovinar Nazaryan for her military reform efforts. “Tsovinar should be proud of her role in encouraging the military to embrace reform, which will lead to a more modern, effective, and humane force for Armenia,” Mr. Sardar said.

Award for media excellence - Epress.am
Presenting the award for media excellence to the editors of Epress.am -- Sonya Apresova, Yuri Manvelyan, and Armen Melikbekyan -- the Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan, Ambassador Andrey Sorokin, commended them for their fair and balanced coverage and commitment to human rights reporting. Ambassador Sorokin stated, “Epress’s coverage of human rights plays an important role in informing the public and contributing to public debate. This type of reporting is an important element in Armenia’s democratic transformation.”

*based on Hetq Online, pictures - by Counterpart International Armenia FB page