Hayk Demoyan Presents Details of the Incident at Tsitsernakaberd Park

The former director of the Genocide Museum, Doctor of Historical Sciences Hayk Demoyan, made a post on his Facebook page, including photographs. “Two days ago, in connection with the widely publicized video, I received numerous calls and written inquiries requesting explanations regarding the burning of paper waste in the area of Tsitsernakaberd Park. I did not rush to express my opinion or name those responsible for a very simple reason: it was necessary to understand the details of what happened and the sequence of events, with the main goal being to exclude any discrediting actions regarding the name of the Armenian Genocide Museum.

Now I can explain the details of the incident as impartially as possible. What happened? First, there is no evidence that important documents belonging to the museum’s collection were burned, and it immediately becomes clear that office drafts or recyclable paper waste were inappropriately destroyed, as well as very old cardboard carriers that were part of a traveling exhibition, featuring photographs of genocide scenes. The presence of a blue seal is merely traces of Haypost’s seal.

Regardless of the aforementioned, it should be noted that the museum administration, and primarily the director of the Genocide Museum-Institute, Harutyun Marutyan, has allowed grossly unacceptable mistakes. First, any removal and destruction of any material from the museum, even drafts and unusable materials, should be done based on a decision made by a relevant commission formed by the director. Second, it is the director of the Genocide Museum-Institute who is the first responsible person for this careless incident that has severe consequences. There was an unwritten rule years ago that any usable paper material was destroyed under my supervision, considering that even trash cans placed in the park could lead to undesirable leaks.

To summarize: I did not see important documents among the burning materials; however, the director of the Genocide Museum-Institute has long adopted a practice that discredits the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex and the Genocide Museum. Another blow has been dealt to the museum, which is a consequence of the uniquely corrupt method through which the director of the Genocide Museum-Institute was selected, organized and supported by representatives of both 'former' and 'current' authorities.

Now, what documents have been lost or destroyed during this time? I answer, referring to specific facts. Three weeks ago, I learned that as a result of an initiative by Director Harutyun Marutyan, written testimonies I provided in connection with the criminal case initiated in December 2021 have gone missing from the senior investigator’s office. Yes, yes, Marutyan initiates a criminal case, you receive a notice to appear for questioning, I present detailed information and facts to assist the investigation, and suddenly part of your testimonies is declared missing. We are talking about criminal offenses for which I accused Harutyun Marutyan, the chairman of the Genocide Museum-Institute Board of Trustees, members of the Board, and several high-ranking officials. The senior investigator laughed and said that my testimony dated May 18, 2022, was not found.

A very important financial document bearing my signature has also gone missing at the Genocide Museum-Institute, the loss of which is carefully concealed by Harutyun Marutyan and members of the Board of Trustees of the Institute. This is an attempt to cover up the money laundering operations carried out in the name of the Armenian Genocide, regarding which I have given corresponding testimonies and documents and made several public statements.

And what is the connection with Ashot Melkonyan, an academician of the Armenian National Academy of Sciences and director of the Institute of History?

Aside from the fact that Ashot Melkonyan was one of those who elected Harutyun Marutyan as director of the Genocide Museum-Institute in September 2018, I must say that this distinguished corrupt individual and a tombstone of Armenian studies is also involved in the destruction of important historical documents and photographs. Recently, I witnessed a horrifying reality: about 200 photographs of Armenian soldiers, officers, and scenes from the Great Patriotic War had ended up as waste paper in a toilet paper factory, and it was only by sheer coincidence that they were saved from certain loss.

These photographs and envelopes bear the triangular seal of the History Institute’s cabinet on the Great Patriotic War at the Academy of Sciences. This is literally a heinous crime against the memory of the generation that endured great suffering during the years of the Second World War. This is simply the destruction of our history and memory, permitted by the criminal negligence of the director of the Academy's History Institute. Immediately, I informed the president and vice-president of the Academy of Sciences about this in an official letter. Three weeks have passed; there has been no response. So far, no response.

P.S. Systemic corruption exists because the criminal elements involved are protected from being punished for any wrongdoing. Moreover, systemic corruption usually encourages such elements with state rewards and extended terms of office.