A Statue of Gandhi Installed in Yerevan; Critics Remind He Was a Supporter of Kemal

A statue of Mahatma Gandhi, the political and spiritual leader of India, has been installed in Buenos Aires Park at the intersection of Halabyan and Margaryan Streets in Yerevan, as per the decision of the Yerevan Municipality. It remains unclear exactly when the statue was installed, as the municipality did so quietly, without any formal events.

Mahatma Gandhi did not particularly stand out for his love towards Armenians during his activism. He neither condemned the Armenian Genocide nor did he express opposition to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk; rather, he believed Armenia should return under Turkish control.

“Mahatma Gandhi was very much aware of the Armenian Genocide, but he never condemned the Turkish authorities. Furthermore, in 1919, when the National Movement led by Kemal began in Turkey, Gandhi was an ally of Kemal. He opposed the Treaty of Sèvres in 1920,” historian Ani Melkonyan told NEWS.am.

The statue was placed in connection with the 150th anniversary of Gandhi. It was sent to Armenia by the Indian side, who covered all expenses for transportation and installation. The proposal to install the statue was submitted to the Yerevan Municipality by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as early as April of the previous year. At that time, there was a wave of protests against the decision, but the council confirmed it.

“Gandhi did to India what Nikol Pashinyan did to Armenia. He divided India's territories and created Pakistan. Today, we see parts of Artsakh and Syunik being divided to Azerbaijan. It is the same idea, and it is no coincidence that the statue is sculpted in a walking pose,” the historian noted.

According to Ani Melkonyan, it is not accidental that the statue of a figure who denied genocide is installed ahead of the anniversary of the genocide; it serves as a gesture towards the Turkish authorities.

“I believe the Armenian authorities simply share Gandhi's views regarding the Armenian Genocide. In other words, they probably consider these ethnic cleansings, the genocide, as justified, believing that Armenia should return to the Ottoman Empire, as Gandhi thought,” Ani Melkonyan added.

Citizens who participated in the NEWS.am survey also believe that the installation of Gandhi's statue in Armenia, especially at this time, is a mistake.