Armenia: Peacemaker in UN, Nazi-adherer in reality Nzhdeh's admirers again gather in Yerevan

Quite recently, at the end of last year, the UN General Assembly voted in favour of the resolution "Combating the glorification of Nazism, neo-Nazism and other practices that contribute to the escalation of contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance", introduced by Russia. The document was supported by 118 countries, 49 opposed and 14 abstained.

That was the very rare occasion when Azerbaijan and Armenia took the same position and voted for that resolution. But let's not forget that Azerbaijan has always been consistent and honest in acting. Our country has never had any glorification of Nazism. It has not happened, it is not happening and it will not happen. At the same time, Azerbaijan has always noted that in Armenia the practice of glorifying those who are completely in the category of Nazis has been and continues to be practised.

Once again this was proved by the example of the disgusting action that took place on January 1 in Yerevan. They decided to celebrate the birthday of Garegin Nzhdeh, Hitler's collaborator and war criminal. Yes, it was Nzhdeh's collaboration with the Nazis that led to his arrest by the Soviet military counterintelligence in Bulgaria. This is the face of the national hero of the Armenian people, on whose birthday a blatantly fascist march was organised in Yerevan, during which the whole range of disgusting escapades took place - from zigging marchers to the demonstration of Nazi slogans. That is, a group of people marched with banners bearing a symbol stylised as a swastika. The marchers shouted Nazi slogans and raised their hands in a Nazi salute. The police did not intervene. Accordingly, there is no doubt that this ugly action was approved by the Armenian leadership.

And here it makes sense to recall a small but important detail. As we know, official Yerevan has recently been trying to play a double game in every possible way. It is not risking a final break with Russia, and it is actively signalling to Western countries that it is ready and willing to become their partner. Everyone in Moscow sees this. Moreover, Moscow even openly points out the existing problem.

"Unfortunately, official Yerevan, succumbing to the persuasion of pro-Westerners, is trying to reshape its foreign policy line. It is changing the time-tested alliance with Moscow not even for specific assistance from the West, but only for vague assurances," Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an exclusive interview with TASS on the results of 2023.

I would like to remind that the Nzhdeh monument was erected in Yerevan in 2016, during Serzh Sargsyan's presidency. But later, during the period when Nikol Pashinyan became Prime Minister of Armenia, the demand to demolish the monument was repeatedly heard from Russia. In Yerevan, something was constantly mumbled in response, but the monument is still in place. And, as we can see, new generations of Armenian fascists are marching there. 

In this regard, it should be recalled that during his speech at the meeting of the Council of CIS Heads of State held on October 11, 2019, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev openly stated about the glorification of Nzhdeh in Armenia.

“We, the heads of state, have repeatedly opposed the glorification of the Nazis. Unfortunately, this is happening in the CIS, in particular in Armenia, where former authorities erected a monument to the fascist executioner and traitor Garegin Ter-Harutyunyan, who served German fascists under the nickname of Garegin Nzhdeh, in the centre of Yerevan. Many war veterans from CIS countries have repeatedly expressed vehement protest at this cynical step of the previous leadership of Armenia. In May 2019, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a report “On the situation with the glorification of Nazism, the spread of neo-Nazism and other practices that contribute to the escalation of modern forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance”, which states that “the former ruling Republican party of Armenia took steps to perpetuate the memory of such an ambiguous nationalist politician as Garegin Nzhdeh, for whom there is information on his collaboration with the Third Reich.”

A monument almost 6 meters high was erected for this traitor and executioner in the centre of the Armenian capital in 2016. Unfortunately, the new government of Armenia did not dismantle this monument. I believe that there is no place for the glorification of fascism in the CIS,” President Aliyev said.

The head of state also emphasized that the policy of “Azerbaijanophobia” is prevailing in Armenia. Hatred against the Azerbaijani people is instilled in the young generation. And it is true. One thing follows from another. Glorification of Nzhdeh, who is also guilty of killing Azerbaijani civilians, will eventually lead to the fact that young Armenians zigging in his honor will one day also want to fight against our country. Yes, this war will also end with Azerbaijan's victory. But, of course, the Armenian leadership, which talks so much about the importance of peace in words, needs to prove its sincerity with real deeds. And the prohibition of such actions with young people zigging in memory of Nzhdeh, as well as the demolition of the monument to a collaborator of Hitler would be a proof of the transition of official Yerevan from words to deeds.