Epress.am News from Armenia
Serhiy Nihoyan (Sergei Nigoyan) was a symbol of not only Euromaidan, but also the struggle for independence and friendship between the peoples of Armenia and Ukraine, said former head of Armenia's National Security Service and former MP David Shahnazaryan today at a demonstration outside the Ukrainian Embassy in Yerevan dedicated to the memory of Nihoyan and other victims of the demonstrations in Kiev.
"Today, the Ukrainian people are fighting for independence against the Russian empire, and we see that [Ukrainian President Viktor] Yanukovych uses those same brusque methods that [former Armenian President] Robert Kocharian used on Mar. 1, 2008 [forceful dispersal of peaceful protests by opposition supporters, which resulted in the death of 10 people and the arrest of hundreds of opposition activists]. In fact, the writing is the same, and I have no doubt that this writing is developed by Russia's special services — both on Mar. 1 in Yerevan and now in Kiev. The people gathered here support the Ukrainian people and condemn the crimes committed by the Yanukovych administration, which are not only against the Ukrainian people, but also crimes against humanity," he said.
Demonstrators lit candles, and held signs with Nihoyan's photograph, occasionally chanting, "Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the heroes!".
Participating in the demonstration was journalist Gayane Arustamyan, who last year attended the Euromaidan rallies. She is sure that the organizer of the bloodshed of youth at the "crowded and peaceful Maydan" is the Russian KGB.
"It was the same terrorist act that occurred on March 1 [2008] in Yerevan, and I don't know why certain circles hide that. Unfortunately, the first victim was a bright, passionate Armenian boy, who I knew very briefly — I lost Samvel [i.e. Nihoyan] in the sea of people. It seems to me that I had to find him and do some things for him, since he had come from Dnipropetrovsk; he was with a girlfriend and was spending the nights at the Maidan.
"I think, the Maidan will win, because the people there are resolute, and the most important prerequisite for victory is that among security forces, apart from the murderers grown in the Kremlin's incubators, are responsible and decent officers and admirals who urge the Berkut not only not to interfere, but also to come over to the side of the people," said Arustamyan, noting that Nihoyan's name is Samvel not Sergei, as reported by the Ukrainian press.
Member of the local initiative Army in Reality Tsovinar Nazaryan recalled that "the Armenian people have that painful experience which the Ukrainian people are experiencing right now."
"In the struggle for our freedom and rights we had 10 victims on Mar. 1, 2008, and I hope that the Ukrainians will be able to overcome the crisis and achieve their freedom, which, unfortunately, we did not succeed [in obtaining]. It failed because the Armenian authorities brutally shot [people] and suppressed the struggle for liberation," she concluded.
