Baku, June 25 AZERTAC

Azerbaijani veterans of the Second World War have appealed to Pope Francis over Armenia’s advocating fascist ideas at the state level and glorification of Nazi criminals in the country.

His Holiness Pope Francis,

Your Holiness,

As we know, You are going to visit Armenia in June 24-26, 2016. We wish You a successful visit on the sake of peace, welfare and prosperity in our region.

At the same time, we would like to bring Your highest attention to the ongoing events in Armenia that deliver threat ideas against peaceful coexistence and contrary to Your holy mission.

Your Holiness,

At a time, when Azerbaijan and Vatican demonstrates the world a bright example of cooperation for the sake of dialogue between civilizations and religions, in our neighboring Armenia is being advocated racist ideas at the state level.

Even last year, on the eve of 70th anniversary of the historical victory over fascism, we - veterans of the World War II raised alarm about the glorification of Hitler's Nazi accomplices of Armenia. It was not only about the blasphemous glorification of Nazi felons in Armenia, but also was at international information-cultural realm.

With pain in our hearts we would like to draw your attention to the fact, how Armenia uses all the resources for bleaching approached to Hitler and Himmler, who was leader of the Armenian punitive legion SS Drasmata Kanayan and Garegin Ter-Harutiunian, known as the generals Dro and Nzhdeh.

Briefly, we recall that on the conscience of these "national heroes” of Armenia lay tens of thousands of lives in Ukraine and Poland, crimes against the Jews and other "undesirables" to the fascist ideology, mass killings in concentration camps of Hitler. On the reports of Armenian legion there are approved by the extermination of more than 20 thousand civilians only in Western Crimea.

Today it is extremely cynical that the main "front" towards the glorification of Nazi criminals of Armenia deployed to the territory of neighboring Russian –a country, which so values the memory of millions who died from the hands of the Nazis.

Serzh Sargsyan attended personally at the ceremony of perpetuating the memory of Nazi felons in the centre of Yerevan, which just a year ago, together with the leaders of the countries affected by fascism participated in the Victory Parade in Moscow, and in early May of this year "commemorated" the victims of World War II in Yerevan.

Your Holiness,

Today the world condemns any manifestations of fascism. On the 17th of December, 2015 UN General Assembly adopted resolution entitled “Combating glorification of Nazism, neo-Nazism and other practices that contribute to fueling contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance”.

In paragraph 4 of the document is stated that UN General Assembly expresses “deep concern about the glorification, in any form, of the Nazi movement, neo-Nazism and former members of the “Waffen SS” organization, including by erecting monuments and memorials and holding public demonstrations in the name of the glorification of the Nazi past, the Nazi movement and neo-Nazism, as well as by declaring or attempting to declare such members and those who fought against the anti-Hitler coalition and collaborated with the Nazi movement participants in national liberation movements”

Having joined to this resolution there was created a cult around a large-scale persons, sworn fascist regime on the conscience of which the deaths of millions in Armenia, including the representatives of the Armenian people itself.

Moreover, we are surprised by the lack of any reaction to it by the international community, in the case of other countries they are always reacting to such tricks. We do not understand the special right for the behavior of Armenia, where minted commemorative coins, shoot films in honor of Nazi criminals Dro and Nzhdeh. A square and subway station was named after Garegin Nzhdeh in Yerevan.

There is a street named after Drasmata Kanayan. Now, in the centre of Yerevan, next to the complex of government buildings and the headquarters of the ruling party of Armenia rises also Nzhdeh’s monument.

Is not that insulting the memory of the dead? Is not that a cynical mockery of the victims of fascism?!

We, the people survived all the pain of the war against fascism, lost comrades in battle with an aching heart have to observe how creates halo of heroes around Nazi criminals. We are indignant of the actions of Armenia being frank challenge to the entire world.

We are confident that, being faithful to the blessed memory of those who fell in the struggle against fascism, you will not regret the efforts against the common evil on the face of fascist ideology cultivated by Armenia.

We hope that our voice will be heard by your Holiness. We sincerely ask you to have an impact on the Armenian leadership in order to prevent attempts to rehabilitate and glorify Nazi criminals, in particular the dismantling of the monument accomplice of Hitler, the general of fascist army Garegin Nzhdeh.

With respect and hope for understanding on behalf of all veterans of the World War II of Azerbaijan:

Rzayev Dadash Garib

Chairman of the veteran organization of the Republic, member of the Presidium of the Coordination Council of the CIS, Member of the International Advisory Committee for Reserve officers and the Committee. Major General in reserve

Agahuseynov Tofig Yagub

Member of the presidium of the veteran organization, a war veteran,

Colonel General in reserve, awarded the Order of the Red Star

Samedov Agadadash Abdulgasim

A war veteran, awarded the Order of "Glory" three degree

Rzayeva Mariya Stepanovna

A war veteran, awarded the Order of Patriotic War 2rd degree

Alexander Gretchenko Alexandrovich

A war veteran, captain of 1st rank, awarded the Order of “Glory”

Gadimova Irina Ivanovna

Blockaded Leningrad, teacher at the University

Fharajov Ismail Movsum

A war veteran, chairman of the veteran organization of Nasimi district

Sariyev Gara Ali

A war veteran, professor

Jafarova Sofia Hashim

A war veteran, colonel of police in retirement

Ibrahimov Ismail Ali

A war veteran, academician, member of the presidium of

veterans' organizations of the Republic, hero of Socialist Labor

Huseynov Bahadur Mamedgulu

A war veteran, member of the presidium of veterans' organizations of the Republic, Major General in retirement

Khalilov Jalil Malik

Deputy Chairman at veterans’ organizations of the Republic, PhD in Political Science, Associate Professor of the Academy of State Service under the President of the Republic, member of the Coordination Council of the CIS, Member of the International Advisory Committee of the reserve officers and the provision, Colonel in reserve, a war veteran

Mohin Lev Michaylovich

A war veteran

Shevchov Vasiliy Romanovich

A war veteran

Hajiyev Atabala Gazi

A war veteran, awarded the Order of Lenin