Silent and passive collaborationism

Recently, Turkish commandant Pashinyan and his young Janissaries issued another batch of anti-national statements. It was stressed once again that it was time to forget the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923. It is noteworthy that this time Pashinyan not only questioned the fact of the genocide, but also called the agenda for its recognition a threat to the existence of ‘Real Armenia’. As we can see, Pashinyan lightheartedly, casually and consistently eradicates the factor of historical memory as a key element of our national identity. He does so with a smile on his face, for he understands how spineless the so-called ‘opposition’ inside the country is. But the spinelessness of the ‘opposition’, which is led by identical executioners of the Armenian nation, is quite logical and predictable, which cannot be said about the educated, principled and influential personalities in the Spyurk (Armenian communities abroad).

We have already talked several times about such influential personalities as Armen Sarkissian, Nubar Afeyan, Alex Yemenidjian and Serj Tankian, who position themselves as national thinkers and implacable fighters for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide. On the pages of our platform, materials were published explaining why, by meeting with Pashinyan and his young Janissaries, personalities of such a high calibre in fact legitimise those who seek to destroy everything that these personalities want to preserve and pass on to new generations. Today, we are witnessing the second category of dangerous actions on the part of these individuals – silence. Neutrality, silence and inaction in the present circumstances, when Armenia and the Armenian people are being destroyed by the hands of collaborators, is not a manifestation of restraint and wisdom. This is nothing short of a passive form of complicity. Such educated and influential people should understand the logic of doings of history, which punishes everyone, since collective responsibility is an established universal rule.

The lack of a clear position and silence in this case definitely nullifies all the activities carried out by influential figures who want to see a strong country and nation. Aurora and other projects lose all meaning, because no country and no people will take them seriously. Why? The logic is simple: why do such influential Armenians expend their strength and resources to help others, but are unable to do anything about those who destroy their own people and country? Now imagine the collective face of the outside world watching how descendants of the victims of the Armenian Genocide represented by Nubar Afeyan, Serj Tankian, or Nobel Laureate Ardem Patapoutian shake hands smilingly with those who openly trade the memory of their ancestors in order to maintain their own power. It is time to understand and accept this fact.

Serj Tankian stands out, as he played a key role in popularising and legitimising the coup d’état in 2018 that brought Turkish collaborators led by Pashinyan to power. Mr. Tankian, for three years since the triumph of the ‘Turkish velvet revolution’, you have been convincing your multi-million Armenian audience that Pashinyan is about a great and bright future, Pashinyan is about a strong Armenia, Pashinyan is about closer relations with the Spyurk. Millions of Armenians believed and trusted your words. They did not think about how a yellow journalist, a student of Turkophiles such as Ashot Bleyan, Khachatur Sukiasyan and Levon Ter-Petrosyan, could be interested in a strong Armenia. They did not wonder how a club DJ could become the head of the administration, while a travel agent could head the Ministry of Diaspora, which the Turkish commandant would not reform or expand, but simply abolish.

So why are you silent now, Mr. Tankian? Do not you feel responsibility to those Armenians whom you have brought under the Turkish scaffold due to your political dilettantism and short-sightedness? Have you nothing to say to the families of the 5,000 young Armenian soldiers and officers who, contrary to the wishes of Pashinyan ‘bringing a bright future’, fought for 44 days for the right to live in the land of their ancestors? Have you nothing to say to your own ancestors, who in 1915-1923 miraculously escaped from the hands of those whom Pashinyan calls ‘partners in peace’? Ironically, it is Pashinyan, actively promoted by you, who openly says today that the memory of your ancestors, Mr. Tankian, is not a priority for Armenia. Your populist articles in The Rolling Stones rock magazine will not bring you redemption. Only a clear, tough and principled position that you made a mistake and a call for the same millions of people to launch a total boycott of Turkish collaborationists will do. This is the only way history will grant you an indulgence. Everything is in your hands.