Writers’ Union of Armenia can Long be Considered a Dead Organization: Open Letter

Armenian contemporary writer Dorian has written an open letter to Writers’ Union of Armenia President Levon Ananyan criticizing the organization. In the letter, he writes:

“Dear Mr. Ananyan, it’s interesting, even from a distance, to follow how the Armenian public and particularly its literati responded to my appearance online. The latter, likely seeing in me a serious opponent, began to cast stones at my work and disclaim my literature. 

“Thus, for example, in the last few months, to the question ‘Do you perhaps know an author by the name of Dorian?’, each time you responded that you’d never heard of such a name (basically, you forget so quickly the questions you are asked?). You also ‘haven’t heard’ of other writers, who are not members of the Writers’ Union, and if at least you are familiar with books and monthly publications published without the union’s intervention, but in the presence of spectators you refrain from giving names, perhaps thinking that in this way, you will justify the title of ‘Head of Literature’ which you bestowed upon yourself during one of the recent meetings. 

“It’s surprising that that person who should most have an interest in literature flourishing attempts to devalue, to present under a bad light, literature that has already been accepted and liked by the public; instead, as contemporary literature, proposing to readers the works of your ‘Soviet’ friends. We know, outside of literary circles, how well-known your “directed literature’ is, and that the Writers’ Union can long be considered a dead organization. In any case, in that structure, at least on the surface level, they should have been aware of an author who has more readers than all of the members of this organization combined. 

“I hope that after this letter, you will fill the gap and the next time you are asked ‘Do you know me or not,’ you’ll find another answer.”