A young activist in Armenia on Azerbaijan and resolution
Dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan
Gyumri resident 26-year-old Gevorg Ghukasyan is the chairman of the Student Council of the largest regional university of Armenia – Shirak State University. The Council has about 400 members. He studies psychology at the University and his favorite subject is clinical psychology.
Gevorg is a civil activist. Four years ago, he founded and developed the “Restart Gyumri” Center for Initiatives NGO which operates in the northern regions of Armenia.
Gevorg says that his organization has been the initiator and implementer of many important reforms in the regions and not only, and that is the reason why he doesn’t lose faith in the youth’s potential, including in the scope of peacebuilding and conflict resolution.
We communicate on the Zoom. Gevorg is from Gyumri, I am from Yerevan. He says the topic of peace in the region is very painful and delicate for him.
“My generation will live with the consequences of the failure of the peace process“
“It is very important to understand that peace in the case of such prolonged hybrid conflicts cannot come from only one side, and representatives of our generation, both in Armenia and Azerbaijan, will face the negative consequences of the failure of the peace process in the future. And in order to achieve peace, first of all, you need to start talking to each other,” says Gevorg.
“Even if we are not ready for dialogue today, we still need to try. Because refusing dialogue would mean refusing our future, the peaceful, democratic, secure and free future for Armenia and Azerbaijan,” says Gevorg.
“We feel a hatred whose origin is unclear”
Gevorg started his civic activities 11 years ago, still a teenager, during the demonstrations in Yerevan Mashtots Square when a group of young activists managed to protect the park in the center of Yerevan and force the Municipality to abandon the intention of building trading stalls and cafes there.
Then, in 2015, it was the turn of the “Electric Yerevan” movement. After peaceful demonstrations and protests, young people managed to force the authorities to cancel the decision of increasing electricity tariffs.
However, participating in demonstrations over the years and, in particular, in the 2018 democratic revolution, and later founding the “Restart Gyumri” initiative center which is engaged in initiating and implementing reforms in the fields of democracy, education, youth, civil and other spheres, he did not lose faith in a peaceful resolution of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict.
“My approaches to peace and dialogue between our societies were the same also before the 44-day war in 2020,” he says. “Just the chances of establishing peace were higher.”
Shortly before the war, Gevorg’s first book was published — a collection of prose poems called “Inhale-Exhale”. The presentation of the book had to be canceled as the war had begun.
The book talks about the problems of youth throughout the region. The book touches on the issues of young people living in the region, and the sad life of their descendants, including Azerbaijanis.
“We were left on the ruins of the Soviet Union, surrounded by dictatorships, experiencing a hatred of unclear origin,” says Gevorg.
“In my book, I also talked about solidarity with young Azerbaijani activists and dissidents who were forced to leave their country due to political persecution. Some of them are talking about peace with the Armenians. Now I feel that Armenian society is freer and more democratic and ready to talk about peace, is ready for peace. I hope that the Azerbaijani society is also ready for peace.”
On the blockade of the Lachin corridor
Since December 12, 2022, a group of Azerbaijanis who have declared themselves eco-activists, with the support of official Baku and with the inaction of Russian peacekeepers, has been blocking the only road connecting the Armenian-populated part of Karabakh with Armenia.
The protesters demand access of Azerbaijani specialists to gold and copper mines on the territory of the unrecognized NKR. Azerbaijani authorities say there is no blockade, as thousands of humanitarian aid trucks and Red Cross ambulances have driven down the Lachin road in both directions since the protest began.
He is sure that especially these days it is important to talk about peace and adequacy.
That is why Gevorg, as the chairman of the Student Council of SHSU, on his page expressed support for Azerbaijani student Faid Imanov, who publicly declared about many “privileges” promised by the authorities of Baku State University to students for participating in the blockade of the Lachin corridor.
“I consider it important to support from here all those young Azerbaijanis who dare to speak out against such illegal and unjustified actions of the authorities and about the need for democratic reforms in their country. This is exactly what we can do for peace – not to be afraid to speak up. I’m not afraid, I’m honest about it, and I’m not alone,” he says.
“Conflict resolution is possible only in a democracy”
According to him, against the background of the ongoing war and belligerent rhetoric of the Azerbaijani authorities, calls for peace from both sides are becoming almost inaudible. People are often criticized or persecuted for their views. However, at the same time, Gevorg is sure that this cannot become a reason to justify the war and cope with what is happening.
“We can and must start a new dialogue on the possibility of reconciliation, and young people from both sides should take the initiative and responsibility for this. Otherwise, we are witnessing a situation where we have been killing each other for 30 years. And this pointless tragedy will continue until a generation comes who will decide to speak instead of killing, and this generation should be our generation,” says Gevorg.
Dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan
