Arbak Khachatryan: “In my letter to Putin, I wrote that we cannot be singled out; we are not slaves”

An excerpt from the interview given to First Informational by independent human rights advocate Arbak Khachatryan, an adviser to the chairman of Russia’s “Anti-Corruption” Commission.

— Despite all the negative developments being discussed these days—namely, becoming a Russian colony after joining the Customs Union, closing the door to Europe forever, and so on—they say that this decision will improve the situation of Armenians living in Russia. Is that so?

— I consider that way of thinking, forgive the expression, savage. How can that be? Does it mean we are happy that special treatment will be given only to our minority—but in return for what? For placing our entire territory under someone else’s control? It is the same as being given good conditions in prison, meaning they also give you butter with your food. Who said that this agreement had to be decided now, with the president coming and signing it? Who said that the people should not have decided beforehand?

— Meaning that a referendum should have been held?

— Whether it would have been through a referendum or over the course of years is not important, but the people should have decided. Ultimately, Russia cannot give Armenians a separate quota or separate jobs. That would violate international norms. How could it deny them to Tajiks and Ukrainians but give them to Armenians? Or summon a police officer through a minister and say, “Please take good care of these people”? That is no honor for the Armenian nation. It is precisely that mentality that has brought us to the condition in which we are dying today. Five or six years ago, I wrote in a letter to Putin that we must not be singled out; we are not slaves. Because if you receive special treatment, it means that you are behaving well, and that is why they give it to you.

The full interview is available on the original source’s website.