Armenian cultural figures see censorship in closure of exhibition on repression victims

On September 9, the exhibition "Eclipse", dedicated to victims of the Stalin's repressions, was closed in Yerevan. According to Arev Samuelyan, Armenian Deputy Minister of Culture, the exhibition is closed because of "politicization." The "Union of Informed Citizens" has treated the closure of the exhibition "an example of the fall of democratic principles in Armenia."

At the discussion held at the Media Centre and focused on the closure of the exhibition, Ruben Babayan, the artistic director and the chief director for the Yerevan State Puppet Theatre named after Ovannes Tumanyan, stated that the closure of the exhibition is an act of censorship. "In fact, it is good that they closed the exhibition, since the closure produced a positive effect. We got a great response on the topic," noted Ruben Babayan.

Vahan Artsruni, a singer and a composer, has agreed with Ruben Babayan. The singer believes the statement of the Deputy Minister of Culture concerning the closure of the exhibition for its political motives is "an act of strict censorship, interference and intrusion into the sphere of art."

The public should demand to re-open the exhibition, Vahan Artsruni believes.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.