VIDEO: We Restrain the Youth to Prevent New Bloodshed, Says Yezidi Spiritual Leader Addressing Pashinyan

I want to inform the Armenian government that the crime committed in the village of Shamiram five years ago remains unpunished, and the judicial system of Armenia has been rendered inactive, failing to make a decision regarding this murder, which is in fact substantiated. This was stated by Bro Hasanyan, the spiritual leader of the Yezidi community in Shamiram, in an interview with NEWS.am.

“We do not understand the position of the Armenian authorities, given that Armenia is a legal state. Five years ago, a crime occurred in this cemetery, a mass murder. Innocent victims were killed, and the judicial system and the prosecutor's office have remained inactive. We demand that the Prime Minister of Armenia, the prosecutor, and all judicial bodies provide a timely resolution to this issue, or are they waiting for another crime to occur?” he said.

“We demand that the prosecutor's office take measures so that the children of the deceased, who are now 18-20 years old, do not seek revenge. Are they waiting for new blood to be shed, for new victims to die? As the sheikh and spiritual leader of this community, I have urged the community not to allow the young men to make hasty decisions. We are waiting for the Prime Minister to immediately address this issue and provide us with answers,” he added.

In turn, one of the villagers stated, “We demand that our questions be answered by this government. We have young men; we will shed blood, and we can use weapons in any form. It has been five years of playing mouse and cat. They have destroyed my home and family, left me an orphan; everyone's head is still bowed. Who is supposed to solve our problems? We know the walls of their places, should we shed blood? Let them find a solution to our problems; otherwise, we have self-esteem, we are men, and we will act.”

It is noteworthy that a particularly serious crime took place in the village of Shamiram in the Aragatsotn region five years ago, on August 1, 2017. In the mourning hall adjacent to the community cemetery, where the Yezidis were participating in their ‘Kher’ national ritual that day, Tarlan Kalashyan drove into the Shamiram community. Upon arriving at the designated location, Kalashyan entered the mourning hall armed and used profane language, then opened fire towards the numerous individuals present in the hall. As a result of the shots fired, four individuals died, and another seven sustained varying degrees of bodily injuries. After the incident, Kalashyan fled, during which he also fired shots at a citizen pursuing him with the aim of hindering his escape and apprehension, who had witnessed the tragedy in the mourning hall. Approximately 24 days later, Kalashyan, who had been on the run, was located and arrested. Based on the gathered evidence, he was charged under parts 1 and 6 of Article 104, part 1 of Article 235, and part 1 of Article 34-104 of the Criminal Code of Armenia.