MOVEMENT-25 ANDREY SAKHAROV - DEFENDER OF THE RIGHTS OF THE ARMENIANS

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MOVEMENT-25 ANDREY SAKHAROV - DEFENDER OF THE RIGHTS OF THE ARMENIANS OF ARTSAKH

 

http://artsakhtert.com/eng/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=962:movement-25-andrey-sakharov--defender-of-the-rights-of-the-armenians-of-artsakh&catid=5:politics&Itemid=17

Wednesday, 06 March 2013 09:41

 

The Karabakh Movement, first of all, identified our friends and

confederates, supporters of the struggle of our people and defenders

of its rights.

 

Just at the first stage of the Movement, representatives of the Soviet

intelligentsia held out the hand of friendship to the Armenians of

Artsakh; they properly understood the essence of the struggle and

stood for the defense of the rights and aspirations of the Armenians of

Artsakh. Among them was Academician of the USSR Academy of Sciences,

one of the founders of the Soviet hydrogen bomb, public activist and

great humanist Andrey Sakharov.

 

The world-known scientist took an impartial stance on the Karabakh

issue, advocating for human rights and considering the right of

nations to self-determination the priority.

 

On March 21, 1988, Andrey Sakharov sent a letter to CPSU General

Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev, setting out his view on the solution of

the problems of Nagorno-Karabakh and the Crimean Tatars.

 

The first part of the letter noted the importance of the policy of

perestroika, which encouraged the Armenian population of Karabakh

for a solution to their issue. The February 20 session of the

Nagorno-Karabakh Regional Council of People's Deputies adopted a

resolution on soliciting before the Supreme Soviets of the USSR,

Azerbaijani SSR and Armenian SSR for the transfer of the region from

the structure of Azerbaijan to that of Armenia. However, instead

of normal and constitutional review of the application, the Soviet

structures began their maneuvers and persuasions, mainly addressing

to the Armenians. Simultaneously, the press and television began to

spread information, presenting the events incompletely and one-sidedly,

and the legitimate requests of the Armenian population were declared

extremist. And a negative response seemed to be predetermined in

advance.

 

The Academician regretfully admitted that it was not the first time

that in an aggravated situation, glasnost was suppressed just when it

was mostly needed. Legitimate and peaceful strikes and demonstrations

took place in Yerevan, Nagorno-Karabakh and other places, but in late

February, Azerbaijan responded to them with massive bloody crimes,

which willy-nilly recalled the year of 1915. The author of the letter

expressed hope that the country's leadership, the Politburo of the

CPSU Central Committee, and the Supreme Soviet of the USSR would find

a resolute, democratic, and constitutional solution to the situation.

 

Sakharov compared the massacres, committed in Sumgait, with the unrests

that took place in the capital city of Kazakhstan, Almaty, in 1986,

noting that they were provoked or perhaps organized by criminal gangs

of the local power.

 

The issues raised in this letter became a touchstone of the

perestroika and its ability to overcome the resistance and the load

of the past. One should not put off again for decades the just and

inevitable solution to these issues and keep permanent tension zones

in the country.

 

He called for solutions based on a calm and impartial consideration of

the interests of each of the peoples of our country. In his opinion,

it is necessary, in accordance with the Constitution of the USSR,

to consider the petition of the Nagorno-Karabakh Regional Council of

People's Deputies at the Supreme Soviets of Azerbaijan and Armenia. In

case of disagreement, the arbitral resolution should be taken by the

Supreme Soviet of the USSR.

 

Sakharov appealed to the people of Armenia and Azerbaijan for full

 

exclusion of violence. It would be a great tragedy if the committed

monstrous crimes were responded with new crimes.

 

In his letter, the Academician presented his detailed option of the

Karabakh conflict settlement, which caused then a great resonance. He

noted that we had inherited from Stalinism the national-constitutional

structure bearing the stamp of imperial thinking and imperial policy

of "divide and rule". Victims of this inheritance are small Soviet

Republics and small national entities that are parts of the Soviet

Republics on the basis of administrative subordination.

 

"I propose to discuss the transition to a federal (horizontal) system

of national-constitutional structure. This system provides for all the

existing national-territorial entities, regardless of their size and

current status, equal political, legal and economic rights, maintaining

the present borders. It will be a union of equal republics united by

a union treaty, with voluntary limitation of the sovereignty of each

republic to the minimum extent necessary (in the areas of defense,

foreign policy, and some others)... The main point is that in all

the other spheres they are completely independent and enter into

relations with the Union Treaty on that basis", said the Academician.

 

Why is such a high level of independence required? Because, as the

author considered, we should step away from the imperial and forced

unification.

 

So, what should we begin with? Andrey Sakharov suggested starting

with the complete dismantling of the imperial structure. This is

the only way to solve the national issue in small empires, which,

in essence, are the union republics. The proposed system should

comprise only republics. Former autonomous districts also turn into

republics. "For example, the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh will not

belong to either Armenia or Azerbaijan. It will be on its own and will

have the right to engage in economic and other relations with those

with whom it wants. All the citizens of the country will benefit from

such a solution. And only in this way, I believe, we can achieve the

solution of the national issue", Sakharov wrote.

 

The author drew attention to the fact of forced annexation of Karabakh

to Azerbaijan, the cynical deal of the former Soviet leadership. It

pursued a specific goal - to enhance the role of Muslims in the

country, given the neighborhood of Turkey and Iran. According to

Andrey Sakharov, from the first day of the revolution, Moscow paid

great attention to Muslims, intending to use them for spreading the

revolution in the East. Ataturk's regime was maintained in Turkey;

in that country, Muslims were protected, and the word "Christian"

had not been voiced for decades. And the author of the policy of

perestroika, Gorbachev, had a pro-Azerbaijani sentiment.

 

According to Andrey Sakharov, at the initial stage, the Karabakh issue

could be resolved by administrative and constitutional means, basing

on the right to self-determination. But, the Soviet authorities chose

the contrary way, considering the priority the interests of the small

empire - Azerbaijan.

 

Today, we lack the great humanist, physician, and public figure, but

the Armenians of Artsakh remember him with deep respect and reverence,

bowing to his genius and greatness of soul.

 

Ruzan ISHKHANIAN