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An interview with Artur Sakunts, Chairman of Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly-Vanadzor
Noratert: There is some information that in the near future some Armenian groups, speciallytrained like the Muscovite skinheads,will be organized in Yerevan to fight against structures and phenomena, which are foreign and strange to our morals and customs, and are violating our national and spiritual values. As a human rights defender, what do you think about it?

A.S.: It is the first time that I am hearing about such an initiative; however, I remember an incident that happened to us in 2006, related to protecting the rights of Jehovah’s Witnesses.  At that time, we received an email full of threats and entitled “Death to Helsinki Association and Artur Sakunts. The Law enforcement officials discovered that it was from Hay Ariner (Armenian Arians).Those extremist actions, which can incite hatred and violence towards a person, irrespective of his/her religious, social, and political status, are considered a crime, and the state is obligated to prevent them through law-enforcement bodies. If such groups are formed in our country, it means our society is seriously ill, because in a country where the laws are not enforced and the legal agencies neglect their duties, such groups will try to solve problems using criminal means. This is proof of some degree of state powerlessness.

Noratert: Nevertheless, do you think manifestations of lynching are possible in our reality?

A.S.: It is difficult to say that the existence of such hatred based groups in Armenia is possible, althoughso far no legal assessment has been given to the hatred propagated through the mediacontrolled by the RA Authorities and the Armenian Apostolic Church (“stay away from Jehovah’s Witnesses or Jews). Therefore, one can expect that if unpunished, the idea can  result in action. And yet the Constitution prohibits any manifestation of discrimination based on religious, political, social status. There is some area of impunity in our country and when legal norms do not work, they are substituted by groups with criminal tendencies, whose members are potential criminals capable of lynching, which means self-righteousness; which means they  are taking up the functions of the state.

Noratert: The MoD Deputy Minister, Vladimir Gasparyan, labeled the initiative groups and NGOs “grant-consumers” who “do not have a fatherland”. What did you think of that assessment?

A.S.: We are expecting that MoD will express its viewpoint regarding the public statements by Deputy Minister, VovaGasparyan, in order to clarify whether it is the MoD official viewpoint or it was the Deputy Minister’s personal opinion. We are still waiting for an answer. Nevertheless, I should say that the First Deputy Minister of MoD, Davit Tonoyan considered the activity of the public initiatives to be useful.  As to the constantly speculated “grant-consuming” organizations, I should state in advance, that the “grant” conceptis often distorted. If you accept the official comments presented by “H1”, then the official and real “Armenias” presented in “Haylur”, which is controlled by the authorities, are different;the same refers to the opinions about NGOs, because if there were people with such an opinion, there would not be over 300 citizensa year applying to us for free legal advice to solve their problems. And by the way we mainly support the socially disadvantaged.  As to the grant projects, they are all legitimate and the organizations are operating on legal grounds. It is a separate issue, how many of the existing 5000 organizations use their grants effectively.

Noratert: Do you use yours effectively?

A.S.:That assessment can be given by those beneficiaries, who have applied to us and those government bodies who we are dealing with. You can refer to those MoD structures and officials who we have dealt with regarding soldier issues. After all, time can be a good judge for our activities, as we have been active since 1992.

Noratert: Although it is not appropriate to calculate other’s money, I would like to know the amount of the grants provided to your organization.

A.S.: You can learn about it from our website, I am not hiding it: in 2010 we were given 92 million AMD, which included office, transportation, and other expenses.We are not financed from the state budget, instead of counting ourassets; let them present an account ofstructures and individuals financed from the state budget, including Vova Gasparyan and some representatives of the high ranking officer personnel. Let them present a report on their website for the public just as we do. This mainly refers to the abuse of official positions, additional profits,and corruption. When the government receives a grant of 320,000 USD for implementing a project on combating corruption, but corruption prospers in the country instead of decreasing.  This is where the grant money is consumed. 

Noratert: What do you think about the charges against you of inciting nationalistic hysteria and implementing color revolutions?

A.S.: I am aware of those charges. If I Succeeded in Implementing a Color Revolution as has happened in Georgia and Ukraine, I would be Very Pleased. Dictators, corrupt and criminal “circles” avoid color revolutions. Unfortunately, I do not have that opportunity, because one would need to enter the political arena and lead a political party for that, whereas I am engaged in human rights protection, which is viewed as a political opposition only in dictatorial countries, whereas in democratic countries it is perceived as a necessity.

Source: www.noratert.am