Raf Gevorgyan is a young man with a European appearance, in jeans, a cowboy shirt and sunglasses. He is a student of Yerevan State University and, by his own admission, he speaks several other languages in addition to native Armenian. In this photo Raf is standing on the grave of an Azerbaijani, posing for the camera and threatening: "Soon all Turks will be forced to their knees."
According to Article 260 of the Criminal Code of Armenia, vandalism is "defilement of buildings or other structures with obscene words or images, damage to property in public transport or in other public places. Without the absence of a more serious crime the fine amounts to between fifty and a hundred times the minimum wage, or correctional labor works for a term of six months to one year, or arrest for a term, which doesn’t exceed two months."
Meanwhile, according to the Russian Criminal Code, vandalism is an act, ‘‘committed on the grounds of political, ideological, racial, ethnic or religious hatred, as well as enmity and hatred in respect of any social group.’’ It stipulates restriction of freedom by up to three years.
Probably, there are some bylaw regulations that examine such cases of deviant behavior, but that is just the point. The youth representative of the Armenian elite publicly defiled tombstones and buildings, being sure of his impunity. Is this by chance? Is national or religious hatred encouraged in Armenia? Is aggressive nationalism becoming the foundation of public policy?
It is obvious that the loyalty of the dominant ethnic group to its community is a superior loyalty to other groups in mono-ethnic Armenia on the basis of the historical, cultural, linguistic and religious community. And it is particularly obvious in the specific historical conditions since the late 1980s up to the present time.
According to scientists, aggressive nationalism is typical for poorly educated segments of the population and it is often associated with anti-intellectualism, but it seems that the situation is different in Armenia. We don’t mean the intellectual level. We are speaking about the moods promoted in society by the authorities.
It is clear how ideologists of aggressive nationalism manage to link the image of a long-suffering people – victims of genocide – with Nazi ideas. Since 1915 people have tried to unite, developing a sense of infringement of their condition. It was likely to lead to a strengthening of national identity. But starting from the late 1980s, the historical conflict between the ethnic groups started to be the main tendency. Nationalism was taking the form declared by the German Nazis.
Do Armenians understand that the infection of aggressive nationalism can destroy the souls of young educated people when violence is promoted on the basis of nationalism in the fight for power elites with internal and external competitors?
Sociologists believe that an appeal to nationalism happens when the state doesn’t have enough defensive strength to neutralize security threats, and the government is unable to provide the basic needs of the population. In such realities aggressive nationalism will remain popular, and probably the only way to retain power.
There are many sensible people in Armenia and the diaspora who can explain to their countrymen through the mass media that attempts "to mobilize the creative energy of the masses and the spirit of sacrifice of millions of soldiers" won’t bring good results. ‘Vestnik Kavkaza’ is ready to become a platform for such appeals.
