An interview with Jirair Sefilyan's wife, Nanor Barseghyan

Hetq Online

[March 26, 2007]

Did the authorities really see Jirair as a threat?

Of course they did. Jirair's group was going to grow, gain strength and get
involved in political developments - it was going to end up as quite a potent
force. The authorities were afraid of that. There are direct and indirect
reasons behind everything – this was the direct reason for his arrest. There
were many indirect factors, for example the Javakhk issue, or mutual compromise
in the Karabakh conflict. If the authorities decide to compromise on such
issues, they will face more opposition than they expect, and it won't be just
talk.

How long do you think they will hold Jirair?

I think that it could be until the elections, maximum.

What are the conditions like at the National Security Service detention
facility?

Jirair says that it's good, but I didn't see anything good there. But they treat
him well; I was surprised that they were very polite. At times, someone else
brings a parcel to him that I've authorized and they accept it. There are
certain food items that the others can't have, but because I've told them that
Jiro is on a specific diet, they've allowed it. There was only one incident
involving a letter – they wanted to open a letter to Jiro which the lawyer had
with him, but the lawyer tore it up and didn't let them see it.

What is the cited reason behind the refusal to grant Jirair's request for
citizenship?

The authorities don't cite any reasons. We've only received a statement from the
President's Office that our request has been refused. According to the law, we
can reapply in a year. I requested a passport at the registration office two
years ago, but was refused. They said that I know as well as they do why the
application was rejected. They also said that they have personal files on us in
the National Security Service. Even my child has not been given a residency
permit. The Foreign Ministry has given me a residency permit only because I work
at the Lebanese Embassy. There was a time when they would grant Jirair and our
whole family a three-year visa and deliver it to our doorstep for free.

Is it possible that Jirair will be exiled from Armenia?

I think exile is out of the question. Hrayr Maroukhyan was exiled during Levon
Ter Petrossyan's time. At that point, the Diaspora Armenians lost their faith in
Armenia, saying that only the name had changed, but Soviet-style rule continued.
It took a long time after that for the authorities to regain the trust of the
Diaspora. If they want to ruin their relations with the Diaspora once and for
all, let them exile Jirair. But I think that is out of the question.

How has the Diaspora reacted to all this?

The authorities have kept things quiet, but in reality the Foreign Ministry
receives letters of protest every day – if not more than once a day – from
Lebanon, Syria, France, Germany, North and South America as well as Australia.
Letters are coming in from everywhere to protest, protest, protest.

Has the Armenian Revolutionary Federation- Dashnaktsutyun reacted in any way?

No.

What was the reason for Jirair's expulsion from the ARF?

Jiro was expelled when he was platoon commander in Mataghis. His membership had
been frozen before he was expelled, because by law the party membership of
anyone is frozen when he is in military action. He was expelled before he left
the army. They say that the reason was that he did not follow the rules of the
Dashnaktsutyun.

What are the developments on Jirair's alleged possession of an illegal weapon?

That weapon is not illegal. He received that as a gift from the leadership of
the Karabakh army. It has a registration number and a permit. It's just that the
permit term expired three years ago and Serzh wouldn't renew it. Jirair has had
a gun since he was 12; he even fought to defend the Armenian districts during
the civil war in Beirut. Both he and I had guns – as did everyone - in Lebanon.
Guns are like a part of his body, but he never used a weapon in a restaurant, at
a wedding or any other party. Let them know Jirair well. They are here today,
gone tomorrow. But there will always be Jirairs in this nation. That's how
history is – and it's the Jirairs who make history. I'm not saying this because
Jirair is my husband, but because I've seen his suffering and torture during his
best years, when he was supposed to work and build his future. Even if Jirair
does not have any financial base today, he has lots of moral support. That is
true wealth, but you have to understand that. Naturally, people who drive
Hummers cannot understand that, and we don't even want to try and explain it to
them. There is no need. In 1995, a Russian journalist asked Shamil Basayev,
“Where have you faced defeat?” He replied, “In 1994, I saw defeat in Martakert,
and then suffered an even bigger loss in Fizuli at the hands of the Dashnaks .”
Jiro was the platoon commander of the Dashnaks at that time. Basayev said, “If
I'd had twenty boys like the Dashnaks, I would've conquered the whole of
Russia.” Jirair's platoon had captured a mujahideen in Martakert. Shamil Basayev
left the war and said, “These people are fighting with belief in their
territories, while those on my side do not believe that this land belongs to
them. The land is running out from under them.” All this has been recorded and
archived. I'm now searching to see which newspaper that was in, which year and
on what date. I'm going to take it out, print it, and put it up on walls
everywhere so that people get to know who Jirair is if they don't know him yet.
If we feel safe today, it is thanks to them. The president owes his position to
men like them.

What were Jirair's relationships like with Robert Kocharyan and Serzh Sargsyan
in the past?

When Kocharyan was going to be elected for the first time, Jirair was a guest at
his home. He said that we should elect Kocharyan. He was convinced that
Kocharyan would not go for compromise in the Karabakh conflict and would save
Armenia and Karabakh. He convinced his circle that Kocharyan would be good for
Armenia and Karabakh. But right after the Key West summit and other meetings,
everything became clear. It was at that time that a reporter asked Jirair, “In
which military positions have you seen Kocharyan?” and he said, “I have not seen
him in any military position.” This hurt Kocharyan. He hadn't expected this from
Jirair. His relationship with Serzh also suffered then, or perhaps a little
later. Serzh has said that he has nothing to do with Jirair's arrest. If neither
Serzh nor Kocharyan is involved, I wonder who is. Everyone is trying to blame
someone else. Why?