A tragedy may not be confined in Moscow

Vahe H Apelian

Courtesy NY Times

 

What transpired in Moscow is tragic. There can be no justification for such barbaric acts, which solve nothing. But Russia will have to tip toe in addressing this act of terror simply because the perpetrators are Muslims, even though they are extremists. Acts such as this are indications of issues that are brewing and find an outlet by such extreme acts whose perpetrators we call extremists but often time ignore the underlying cause

What can be brewing?

Again, I will refer to Dr. Antranig Chalabian’s booklet called “Emperors, Tsars and Commissars” and quote the following. The book was published in 1988 when the Soviet Union was still in force but tittering on the brinks of a breakdown with slogans for glasnost (openness) and perestroika (re-structuring) as Gorbachev wanted to shape the USSR but not abandon the ship. Consequently, demographically it is outdated as there is no more Soviet Union. But I believe conceptually it is relevant. I quote:

I quote:

“The Gamk (Will) Armenian daily in Paris, France, published an article  (see Hairenik daily, Boston, July 25, 1985, p. 7) entitled  “The Concerns of the Soviet Union – The Increase of the Moslem population poses a threat”, by Garo Ulupeyan. The writer considers the Moslem “a very serious danger” for the Soviet Union, because they constitute 18 percent of the country’s population and their relations with the authorities are far from being smooth or satisfactory.  Ulupeyan estimates that the Moslems of the U.S.S.R. (Union of  Soviet Socialist Republics) may be between 66 to 75 million by the year 2000, when the Russians, compared to the Moslems, a minority. This significant disparity may pose a threat to the Russian authorities, because the religious oriented Moslems cannot be trusted entirely, and they will provide 25 percent of the manpower for the Red Army. 

The Moslem peoples of the U.S.S.R. are geographically located at enormous distances from the Soviet administrative centers. The cultural amalgamation of white-Russian mentality and European way of life is virtually nonexistent in those areas. As to the ideological indoctrination of Marxist atheism, is had produced only superficial results on the traditional Moslem lifestyles o these peoples. 

Courtesy Antranig Chalabian. It is his drawing

As a student of history it is my deep conviction that the creation of a greater and stronger Armenia by the Soviet Union (other world powers have no access in its borders), with the acquisition of at least some of our lands, will serve the best interests of that country for the following reasons…..”

Obviously, Russia under Putin did not see that way. Instead of supporting Armenia, Russia under Putin emasculated Armenia giving in to expansionist demands of Turkey and Azerbaijan in South Caucasus, which is the portal to the east if not for a silk way, but for an emerging caravan way. Having given to Muslim expansionist policy in the Caucasus, Russia under Putin must have kindled long dormant feelings along its southern border mostly comprised of Muslim countries. 

What transpired is a prelude of what is likely to escalate, not necessarily as acts of terror, but in reshaping the post-Soviet Union Russia's relations with its neighboring Muslim countries, which obviously have global ramification.

Naturally the underlying issues of the terror in Moscow have their ramifications in the Caucasus as well. If Armenia is going to remain viable as a state, Armenia needs to thread along on its cross road for peace strategic policy which entails diversification of its foreign policy and sue for peace in the region. And in order to give Armenia’s cross road for peace initiative a slim chance to succeed, Armenians need to rally around the democratically elected government the citizens of Armenia elected headed by its PM  Nikol Pashinyan,

The state of Armenia is at a cross road.