On May 18, 2019, Hrant Markarian the long-serving former Bureau representative of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsyutyun) with enormous contributions to the military campaigns during the Artsakh liberation movement was physically and verbally assaulted by a mob while walking with his grandchildren in Yerevan’s Liberty Square.

The assault as well as the brazen expressions and threats made against the Dashnaktsutyun bear witness to the vile character of its instigators and justifies once again the warnings we have repeatedly conveyed regarding the consequences of fostering hatred and animosity in our homeland.

The Central Executive Committee of the ARF Eastern United States considers the assault a direct result of a policy of nurturing animosity and enmity in the country and waging planned and directed hostile acts against the entire ARF family.

For the sake of Armenia’s internal solidarity, the Dashnaktsutyun has often tempered its responses to immoral rhetoric and depraved expressions such as the ones witnessed today. However, these deliberate and directed hostilities and attacks and the mob mentality behind these actions are testing the limits of our patience.

We demand a speedy investigation by all appropriate government agencies in order to identify the culprits behind this shameless assault and punish the perpetrators to the full extent of the law. And, moreover, we direct the authorities in Armenia to immediately put an end to the rhetoric of hatred and division in the country.

ARF Eastern United States
Central Committee

May 18, 2019