Nazi salute in front of a statue; The formation of a new far-right movement in Armenia

According to the international group Tasnim News Agency, Armenian, Turkish and Azerbaijanis discuss the pose of a group of far-rights in front of the statue of Gargin Nezhdeh, the founder of the Armenian nationalist ideology similar to the Nazi salute, in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia.

On January 1, about twenty people from The marchers, who introduced themselves as members of the “Husank” movement, which was founded a week ago, marched in front of the statue of Gargin Nezhdeh. Haik Nazarian, who introduces himself as the leader of the movement, raises his arm and chants the slogan “Misht Hay” which means “Always Armenian”, similar to the “Sieg Heil” slogan of Nazi Germany. Other participants of the group repeated the same action.

The demonstration was held in front of Gargin Nezhdeh’s statue on the occasion of his birthday.

Husank movement slogan quoted From its website, it is “one nation, one government, one will”. >

Joel Lyon, the ambassador of the Israeli regime in Armenia, expressed his concern about this demonstration and wrote on his X account to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia: I am very worried about the march in Yerevan. which is reminiscent of the Zig Heil parade. The praise of Gargin Nezhde, who collaborated with the Nazis, is unacceptable. The Armenian authorities must take a tough stance against any form of neo-Nazism and anti-Semitism.

According to the Hosank movement’s Telegram channel, Hayek Nazarian, the leader of the movement, gave his first speech during the march. It opened a new page not only in the political atmosphere of Armenia, but also in the history of Armenia.

This movement wrote on its X account: We held our first peaceful demonstration and marched in the center of Yerevan. But this will not be the last demonstration. We will come to Armenian politics, we will laugh at our enemies, we will crush the haters.

Who is Kargin Nezhde?

Gargin Nezhdeh, whose real name is Gargin Terharotivian, developed the ideology of the Armenian political movement “Tsakhronism” together with Hayek Asatrian at the beginning of the last century. According to this ideology, the highest value for a person is his nationality.

“Tsakhronism” is an extreme right-wing ideology that aims at the integration of the Armenian people within the framework of a single Armenian state in the entire territory of the land. It is their history.

Gargin Nezhdeh was born in the village of Keznot in Nakhchivan Province under the rule of the Russian Empire. After studying in Saint Petersburg, he returned to the Caucasus to fight against the Ottoman Empire.

He is considered a political and historical figure in Armenia. His contribution to the Armenian national movement at the beginning of the 20th century is mentioned in the works of Armenian analysts. Others criticize him for his nationalist beliefs and his ties to Nazi Germany during World War II. It is known to have fought. According to Azerbaijani sources, he organized the “murder of Azerbaijanis” in Zangzor and managed to expel them from this area. According to Armenian sources, he managed to prevent the “massacre of more Armenians” in Karabakh. Even the Armenian government was criticized in media close to the Russian government for installing a statue in 2016.

Nzhdeh was arrested by the Soviet government and sentenced to 25 years in prison and died in prison.

Who is the new far-right group?

Territorial claims against the Republic of Azerbaijan have been announced on the Hosank Movement website. In addition, a call against the entry of Indians into Armenia was also shared on this website. What are they writing about this movement?

Opinions about the new far-right group on Armenian social media vary. While some applaud it, others criticize it.

Ararat Petrosyan, deputy editor of the Armenian Press website, called the January 1 march “provocative”.

He wrote on the X social network: Today we are in the midst of new tensions surrounding the name of Gargin Nezhdeh, who has been the target of widespread provocations.

Ararat Petrosyan wrote that these manipulations It is done with the aim of provoking conflicts and weakening trust in the Armenian society.

He asked the people and officials of Armenia to investigate and find the causes of these provocations and take measures to prevent such situations in the future.

Some Armenian users of social networks defended these demonstrations as freedom of expression and assembly.

Turkish journalist Erkin Oncan in his user account on X social network wrote that Gargin Tarharutivian, known as Nezhdeh Gargin, is considered one of the heroes of Armenia who fought for the independence of his country against the Ottoman Empire.

Onjan also wrote that Gargin after World War II He supported Nazi Germany against the Soviet Union and created Armenian units for the Wehrmacht. They are their own race. I am Gargin Nezhdeh, a staunch enemy of Bolshevism. I defended Zangzor against Turks and Turkish Bolsheviks”. The absence of the speech of the leader of the Armenian Catholics on the Armenian state TV accused and defended Moscow