On August 28, Mher Melkonyan, a former member of Armenia’s parliament from the opposition Armenia faction, stated that the Armenian government’s decision to dismantle and relocate the monument honoring World War II heroes in Artik city, Shirak region, represents an effort to undermine historical memory.
“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,” Melkonyan wrote on Facebook.
The former lawmaker urged that the monument remain in its original location, be restored, and the surrounding area landscaped. He described the government’s decision as a political maneuver.
Melkonyan also noted that the relocation was undertaken amid tense geopolitical relations between Armenia and Russia, which he warned could further complicate bilateral ties.
“It’s not just about a stone monument,” Melkonyan said. “It’s about preserving the heroic past of our ancestors, the blood they shed, and the historical memory of generations.”
