Hate Crime Targets Gay Friendly Bar in Yerevan, MPs Bail out Assailants
By Weekly Staff // Posted on May 15, 2012 in News // 180 Comments // 
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YEREVAN (A.W.)—A homemade bomb this month targeted a bar, called “DIY,” which is seen as a haven for “free thinkers” and welcomes the often-shunned gay community of Yerevan. The hate crime, which happened just two days after the parliamentary elections, has given way to controversy, as ARF MPs Artsvik Minasyan and Hrayr Karapetyan reportedly posted the one million dram (approximately USD 2,500) bail to free the assailants.
A homemade bomb targeted a bar, DIY, that is seen as a haven for “free thinkers” and welcoming towards the often-shunned gay community of Yerevan.
The attackers, Iranian-Armenian brothers Hampig and Mgrdich (also referred to as Arame) Khapazian, are said to have targeted bar owner Tsomak Oganesova for her activism in the LGBT community, and her participation in a Gay Pride Parade in Turkey.
No one happened to be at the bar at the time of the attack, which happened during the early morning hours on May 8. However, substantial damage was reported to the walls and furniture, which were burned from the bomb.
In an interview with Panorama news agency, Minasyan said, “I consider [Oganesova’s] types—I don’t want to sound offensive—destructive to Armenian society.”
When asked why he decided to post bail, Minasyan said, “Why? Because knowing those youth, I consider them normal people. The investigation will reveal to what degree the violation they committed endangered public safety.”
“In the given situation, I am convinced that those youth acted the right way, in the context of our societal and national ideals. It is a different matter if certain damage has been caused, and compensation must be paid,” he added.
During a press conference, Oganesova said that the ARF has continued to persecute her, and that she will present her evidence before the law.
MPs acted on their own, says ARF member
Another ARF member, Nvart Manasyan, told Epress that her party is not a totalitarian organization, and that its members have the right to express their own opinions. She also said that Minasyan’s reasons for bailing out the attackers should not be linked to the party.
Manasyan said that the ARF is a party that advocates democracy and socialism; that it operates according to the Armenian Constitution, where xenophobia is forbidden; and that it is impossible to condemn such a party for ultra-nationalism.
There was an overwhelming outcry on social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter condemning Minasyan’s act, and some demanding that the ARF leadership respond.
Swastikas painted on walls
On May 15, a second attack reportedly occurred. A group of men spat on the bar, burned anti-fascism posters, and spray-painted swastikas on the walls. Two of these attackers were reportedly arrested.
RVDV
In order for me to debate with you on the subject I’d expect you to have some alternative knowledge. Otherwise, it’s a waste of time, sorry. Have I insulted you as being ‘mentally deficient’ so you reciprocate? By ‘normal’ I meant a traditional heterosexual person. Yes, to me, homosexuality is an abnormality. For you it seems to be Manna from Heaven. Why do you react so angrily to others’ opinions? G8 is not what I meant by ‘globalist’. The term ‘globalist’ also implies supranational, supragovernmental internationalist elites. “Well it turned out in 1915 that a majority of Turks didn’t want to see Armenians in Anatolia anymore” is the most absurd statement that I got from you so far. Not even worth replying because in 1915 no one ever asked Turks’ opinion because in 1915 Turkey’s form of government was far from being democratic. The whole gay marriage issue may not be a whole conspiracy theory, don’t twist my words. But, as I’ve demonstrated, abolition of the family, i.e. of [traditional] marriage, is one of the goals of the Conspiracy. Gay marriages add fuel to the fire. All those who do extensive research and write on the subject cannot be idiots, can they?
All those who do extensive research and write on the subject cannot be idiots, can they?
There was extensive research “proving” black people where a human sub-species, I think we can agree that’s not the case.
” But, as I’ve demonstrated, abolition of the family, i.e. of [traditional] marriage, is one of the goals of the Conspiracy”
A conspiracy that may or may not exist?
“Yes, to me, homosexuality is an abnormality. For you it seems to be Manna from Heaven. ”
A Heaven that may or may not exist. Answer me this, if God created humans, why did he create gays which evidently he despises? Mental disorders, genetic mutations? He is God, can’t he control those also?
The problem here is, you debate based on faith, beliefs, and conspiracy theories that I are credible in some areas- no smoke without a fire. I don’t, I believe in science, evolution, and natural variances among humans.
“Why do you react so angrily to others’ opinions?”
I’m against gay marriage for moral and religious reasons- Opinion. I personally don’t agree, but it’s an opinion, I respect that view. “I think homosexuality is a mental disorder, and goes against God so I will do all I can to deny same sex marriage (even though this country is not run by the Bible).” <– This is stupid. I react angrily to stupidity, I'm sorry if your feelings get hurt. No point in being kind, reasonable, and politically correct with those who refuse to see the cold hard facts. We can keep this up as long as you want to, this is one of the few things I absolutely will not budge an inch on, because this isn't about gay marriage and gay rights, it's about the advancement and civility of a society that allows that which they may not agree with.
“Assuming you’re a normal—non-gay—person….”
Serko, I am a ‘non-gay’ person, but I’m not sure I’m ‘normal.’
You are making assumptions about me in your comment above. I am neither myopic or pushing a gay agenda. I intentionally left my personal feelings about homosexuality out of this discussion because I view it as a private matter. I prefer it that way. My main point is that Armenia has many very important issues to deal with as it tries to establish itself as a self-sustaining democratic nation. If I am myopic about anything, it is for Armenia’s survival. With all the enemies to the east and west of our small nation, I consider it a terrible waste of our independence to turn on each other.
I don’t believe in the notion of a homosexual threat to the fabric of Armenian society. I am sure Armenian homosexuals have been among the ‘normal’ Armenians from the start. It didn’t prevent us from developing a unique language, culture, or religion, nor prevent us from creating strong, committed families or build architectural marvels that still stand after a thousand years. Let’s be grateful that we have a land where all Armenians can be free and our culture can prosper. Let’s save this nation that we both love from real enemies and threats: corruption, unemployment, poverty, hunger, apathy, expatriation, pan-Turkism, etc…
Thanks for clarifying your point on homosexuality and leaving equal rights/democracy/’freedom for all’ out this time. My major point of disagreement is that homosexuality no longer can be viewed as a private matter because their marriages are being legalized and the adoption of children allowed. Because these actions affect traditional societal—and godly—norms, homosexuality has become a public matter.
I mentioned a homosexual threat to the traditional fabric of any human society, not specifically the Armenian one. But if you think the legalization of gay marriages in the US and the adoption of the so-called “homophobic laws” by the EU goes unnoticed by the gays in Armenia, you’re gravely mistaken.
Out of curiosity: who are the Armenian homosexuals who have been among the normal Armenians from the start?
Also, those normal Armenians who developed a unique language, culture, religion, created strong, committed families and built architectural marvels, how do you think they’d look at their present-day homosexual descendants?
I believe the conclusions I arrive at as a result of extensive readings into both Accidental (mainstream) and Conspiratorial views of history. When one tries to apply comparative analysis skills to whatever he or she reads, one gets the most plausible version of human history. But if one doesn’t care because it’s easier to live as a single-cell creature or if one is convinced that simplicity of mind helps with sanity, then he or she of course is free to believe that the Boston Tea Party act was carried out by the Indians or that the Russian Revolution was started by starving Russian workers who were being oppressed by the tyrannical Czar or that the French Revolution was the spontaneous activity of an oppressed population rising up against the tyrannical King.
“Like cutting off the hand of a thief, stoning and adulterer?”
Stoning people could be ruled cruel and unusual punishment by the supreme court. Whereas the electric chair is not.
Unless you meant punishing adulterers by getting them high, which makes no sense whatsoever.
Haha no, A+ comment of the day. What I said was, when you take ancient texts at face value you will run into outdated, uncivilized things like stoning AN adulterer. my mistake. Maybe condemning homosexuals is one of those outdated archaic things was my point.
Excuse me but where the tens of thousands walking and yelling “we are ALL gay”?
Just can’t keep the hatred for Armenia and Armenians bottled up for long, can you pal ?
Anything not even remotely connected is an opportunity to vent Anti-Armenian bile for a Denialist Turk like you.
Hrant Dink was murdered.
A lowlife patsy was sacrificed and jailed, but the real murder conspirators and organizers at the top are still at large, because they are protected by the Turkish State.
The Turk Police official who proudly posed with the murderer for photographs was recently promoted.
In Yerevan, no person was injured, much less killed, in the attack on the bar (very fortunately).
The suspects who firebombed the bar were quickly caught.
No Armenian police officers posed proudly for photographs with the suspects.
According to the victim of the property crime, Ms. Oganezova, the suspects face very serious charges: they are not walking away from this.
According to the victim of the property crime, Ms. Oganezova, the Police Inspector assigned to the case is himself outraged what was done to her, is very supportive of her, and is working the case diligently.
Now that we have dispensed with Armenia, let’s discuss your favourite country.
Were there any number of marches in Turkey, 16 to be exact, last year yelling “we are ALL gay” ?
According to Amnesty International UK: {“ Last year (2010), LGBT organisations in Turkey reported 16 murders of people reportedly due to their sexuality or gender identity: nine gay men and seven transgender women”}
Were you guys marching by the thousands, yelling “we are ALL Alevis”, when the Turkish court declared a couple of months ago that the statute of limitation had expired on the arson attack in Sivas in 1993, when 37 innocent people were murdered ? Thus the Turkish murderers got away with murder ? Again, as is the norm in Turkey ?
Did you guys march, yelling “we are ALL Catholic”, when 5 Catholic priests were murdered in Turkey ?
When you Denialist Turks clean up you own house and acknowledge the murder of 2 million Christian Armenians, plus 1-2 million Christian Greeks and Christian Assyrians, you can come here and lecture us Armenians about marches and such.
“Were you guys marching by the thousands, yelling “we are ALL Alevis”, when the Turkish court declared a couple of months ago that the statute of limitation had expired on the arson attack in Sivas in 1993, when 37 innocent people were murdered ? Thus the Turkish murderers got away with murder ? Again, as is the norm in Turkey ?”
Good questions Avery. I too am curious for an answer to this one in particular. Fortunately our community stages a massive protest every July 2nd so some don’t forget. “We won’t forget, we won’t let you forget either”- Great slogan they have.