Why is the Revelation of the ‘Tsitsernakaberd Case’ Important? Hayk Demoyan Elaborates

The former director of the Genocide Memorial and Institute, Hayk Demoyan, wrote on his Facebook page: "Dear compatriots, I would like to inform you that as a result of collecting and compiling facts and reliable information over the past years, we have come very close to revealing the disgraceful and humiliating corrupt transaction that took place around the Genocide Memorial and Institute between June and September 2018.

Why is the revelation of the ‘Tsitsernakaberd Case’ important? In the very first months of the Velvet Revolution, the sanctuary of the Armenian people was desecrated, and this act was part of the brazen attempts to distort our identity and memory, which are already being carried out openly. The group of ethnographers serving Velvet resulted in the shameless methods of embedding ethnographer Harutyun Marutyan into the Genocide Memorial and Institute.

This is the starting point from which we can easily reveal the dark folds of the greatest deception that brought numerous calamities and humiliations to the Armenian people, serving those who I firmly believe should not escape public condemnation and, if necessary, punishment as well. This process is crucial for us to be aware of who lives next to us and with what mandates.

This is an initiative for all of us to uncover necessary truths and tear off masks... Your active participation is essential to fully disclose this case by identifying eleven names involved.

Which names are we talking about? These are the individuals who entered a deal with the current authorities on September 14, 2018, and as a result of a forced vote, dealt a serious blow to Tsitsernakaberd and the memory of the Armenian Genocide, a mission of distortion undertaken by the scandalously known current director Harutyun Marutyan. He also participated in various grants aimed at Armenian-Turkish reconciliation and was not a randomly selected person in this deal.

I reiterate, this is crucial to fully understand the circle of those cooperating with the authors of today’s tragedy and to document their names. Your support is necessary for these individuals to present themselves before a public debate and press conference, being accountable to the media and the public, and if they wish, also to justify their actions. Direct your inquiries to them, demanding explanations for their participation in this shameful deal.

Below are the names of the eleven individuals who participated in that corrupt transaction:

• Hovhannes Hovhannisyan, former Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport
• Davit Sargsyan, former Deputy Minister of Diaspora
• Vladimir Vardanyan, former Chief of Staff of the Constitutional Court of Armenia
• Petros Vardapetyan Manukyan, representative of the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia
• Ashot Melqonyan, director of the Institute of History of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia
• Hranush Kharatyan, researcher at the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia
• Rubén Safrastyan, former director of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia
• Rubén Melqonyan, Dean of the Faculty of Oriental Studies at Yerevan State University
• A. Avagyan, President of ‘ICOM ARMENIA’ (International Council of Museums)
• H. Grigoryan, former Chairman of the Tourism Committee of the Ministry of Economic Development and Investments of Armenia
• Vazgen Yakubyan, former President of the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund

Two individuals from this list, Hranush Kharatyan and Hovhannes Hovhannisyan, have refused to participate in such a debate.

I am ready to participate in this critically important press conference for the public’s awareness with all 11 individuals—anywhere, anytime. I am ready to answer all questions while also directing specific questions to opponents with the expectation of clear answers.

I will soon be directing queries to Petros Vardapetyan Manukyan, the representative of the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia and spiritual leader of the Armenian community in Kuwait, expecting clear explanations.