Is this how this grave matter will be reported?

 Vahe H. Apelian

Let us face it, we are a captive nation. Seven individuals who played decisive roles in our latest history were abducted and taken as prisoners to Baku. In alphabetical listing they are the following: Davit Babayan – former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Artsakh, Arkady Ghukasyan – former president of Artsakh Republic, Arayik Harutyunyan – former president of Artsakh Republic, Davit Ishkhanyan – chairman of the National Assembly of Artsakh Republic, Davit Manukyan – former deputy commander of the Artsakh Armed Forces, general, Levon Mnatsakanyan – former commander of the Defense Forces, general, Bako Sahakyan – former president of Artsakh Republic, Ruben Vardanyan – former State Minister of Artsakh Republic. 

On October 20, 2023, I read in Horizon Weekly a report about one of them, Tavit Ishkhanian. I translated the report. This is what the newspaper had reported. (I have attached the original report below).

“Artsakh NA Speaker Tavit Ishkhanian, who is being held captive in Baku, has already contacted his family in Yerevan twice, and also managed to congratulate his grandson on his birthday. His family members mentioned this in an interview with MediaHub.

The son, Armen, said that during the call, his father assured him that he was fine. And a few days ago, photos and medical data were transferred to the family through the RA (Republic of Armenia) representative at the ECtHR (European Court of Human Rights).

Armen also informed that the family does not lose optimism regarding Davit Ishkhanian's return.

It should be noted that along with the former presidents of Artsakh, Arkady Ghukasian and Bako Sahakian, Davit Ishkhanian, who assumed the position of NA Speaker on August 7, 2023, was illegally arrested from Stepanakert on October 3 and moved to Baku.”

Is this something newsworthy? What is a reader going to take from this report?  Is the adequate medical care Tavit Ishkhanian receives as a detained prisoner news worthy? Is it not understood that prisoners should receive adequate medical care and not be deprived communicating with their families? Why is Tavit Iskhanian singled out? Is it because he is a member of ARF and Horizon Weekly is owned by ARF in Canada, so Horizon Weekly does not need to report on the medical care the other  abducted Artsakh officials receive? Should the reader be grateful to Horizon Weekly’s editor for the reminding the readers, at the end of the report, that three other former Artsakh presidents are also detained along with Tavit Ishkhanian? But it appears that  the three more who are also detained, are insignificant to list them by name.

Anyone who happens to read this blog, and has interest in this issue, please rebut me as to why I should not feel revulsion at such a shallow reporting of such a grave matter that has taken the Armenian nation captive in plain view and will keep the nation captive as long as the abducted Artsakh officials remain in prison.

It is high time that the traditional diaspora and the Diaspora as a whole and the three traditional political parties, along any other organization in the Diaspora, work hand in hand with the government of Armenia. We are now at our last leg and risk of being amputated. I know no other organization that does lobbying in the United States for its nation,  and is not supported and directed by the government of that country, save the Armenians. Do you know of any organization that lobbies in U.S. for the interest of its nation but is not led or sanctioned by that nation’s state? Not only our lobbying organization - I have ANCA in mind - feels that it is not accountable to the government of Armenia but pits itself against the government the citizens of Armenia have elected.   

My gut feeling is that Azerbaijan will detain these prisoners for life. They are pawns. They are caged birds, if you will, who are kept at the pleasure of its captor. Anything that we do, need to be directed at facilitating the transfer of these abducted Armenians to the government of Armenia and that can only be achieved in coordination with the Republic of Armenia. Otherwise, all that ANCA, Armenian Assembly or any such Armenian organizations do, ostensibly representing the interest of the Armenian nation, is futile. In fact, their actions may be detrimental to the  the fate of the seven who have been detained. 

Բնագիրը

«Պաքուում գերութեան մէջ պահուող Արցախի ԱԺ նախագահ Դաւիթ Իշխանեանն արդէն 2 անգամ կապ է հաստատել Երեւանում գտնուող ընտանիքի հետ, նաեւ հասցրել է շնորհաւորել թոռան ծննդեան տարեդարձը։ Այս մասին MediaHub-ի հետ զրոյցում նշեցին նրա ընտանիքի անդամները։

Որդին՝ Արմէնն ասաց, որ կապի ընթացքում հայրը հաւաստիացրել է, որ լաւ է։ Իսկ օրեր առաջ ՄԻԵԴ֊-ում (Մարդկային Իրաւունքներու Եւրոպական Դատարան) ՀՀ ներկայացուցչի միջոցով լուսանկարներ ու բժշկական տուեալներ են փոխանցել ընտանիքին։

Արմէնը նաեւ տեղեկացրեց, որ ընտանիքը չի կորցնում Դաւիթ Իշխանեանի վերադարձի մասով լաւատեսութիւնը։

Նշենք, որ Արցախի նախկին նախագահներ՝ Արկադի Ղուկասեանի եւ Բակօ Սահակեանի հետ, Հոկտեմբերի 3-ին Ստեփանակերտից ապօրինի ձերբակալուել ու Պաքու է տեղափոխուել նաեւ Դաւիթ Իշխանեանը, ով ԱԺ նախագահի պաշտօնը ստաձնել էր 2023 թուականի Օգոստոսի 7-ին»։