I Am Happy to Be a Part of a Masterpiece: Pashinyan

As certain circles have begun to weave terrifying legends about my prison life, I will soon publish pieces of my prison diary bit by bit. Here is the first piece: I remind you that I came out of hiding and presented myself to the prosecutor's office on July 1, 2009. Prior to that, I had been in hiding since March 1, 2008.

“Prisoners’ Walk. July 9, 2009, ‘Yerevan-Center’ Prison. My first walk as a prisoner made me happy because as soon as I entered the area designated for prisoners' walks at ‘Yerevan-Center’ Prison, I felt like a character in Van Gogh’s painting ‘Prisoners' Walk.’ This canvas depicts such a prison area where 10-15 prisoners wearing striped uniforms walk in a circle behind each other. Only one face is visible, and that is indeed Vincent Van Gogh's face.

At the walking area of ‘Yerevan-Center’ Prison, I tried to walk along the circle depicted in Van Gogh’s painting, believing that he had also portrayed me in his masterpiece. I felt the warmth of Van Gogh's brush at the back of my head, imagining how I was emerging from beneath his brush, seeing how he painted me among his walking prisoners. I was truly happy, I am happy that every day I have the opportunity to walk around the circle in the masterpiece of this unfortunate genius, I am happy to be a part of this masterpiece and to live every day for an hour with Van Gogh in the same circle,” he wrote.