Murad Papazian

Murad Papazian
Languages	Amenian, French
Ethnicities	Armenian
Dialects	Western Armenian

Persona non grata Murad Papazian and his conflict with smaller diasporan organizations: an interview with Diaspora Office chief Zareh Sinanyan

ARF Bureau member Murad Papazian leads a French-Armenian group CCAF. His entry to Armenia was denied last week. He accused Pashinyan of blocking him on political and personal grounds. NSS provided the reason today. But before that...

Diaspora Office chief Zareh Sinanyan has accused Papazian of divisive activities and causing diplomatic problems for Armenia by lobbying foreign leaders not to cooperate with the Pashinyan administration.

Zareh Sinanyan: I can't say exactly why his entry was denied, but I can tell you about Papazian's conduct in and outside of France in recent times. Papazian represents two organizations. They organized so-called political "boycotts" against state visits, but they went a step further. A boycott is when you refuse to take part in something, but they went a step further and actively pressured foreign diplomats not to cooperate with Armenian authorities. That's sabotage, not a boycott.

First group. It's a political group representing a political regime that has corrupted Armenia for 25 years. Their goal is to return to power. They can't accept the will of the Armenian citizens.

Second group. Papazian is a co-leader along with his cousin here. They are struggling to maintain their political monopoly over the 500,000-strong French-Armenian community. This isn't realistic, though. One organization cannot represent so many people. They don't speak for everyone. So for them to treat other smaller diasporan organizations as enemies, is not healthy.

I can confidently assure you that the claims that Papazian's entry was denied "to appease Turkey" is nonsense. Papazian needs to present himself as a victim, so he'll claim anything.

Reporter: Papazian complained that the Armenian government created and was promoting a new diasporan movement in France, and that it was dividing the diaspora, and "why do you need another organization if you have an established one".

Zareh Sinanyan: Nonsense. There have been multiple organizations operating in France that have never been part of the organization led by Papazian. La Movement [sorry, it's tranlit] is one of them. CFA is another. There are smaller ones, too. They don't report to Papazian.

These organizations were organically born because Papazian and his cousin established a dictatorship and have been forcing their will upon everyone else for the past 15 years. It's impossible for a 500,000-strong diaspora to have only one organization. This is where the problem is. Papazian has convinced himself that "I'm the only one. Period." It would be better if they cooperated with the other organizations without fearing them. They should fix their relations and address the issues that led to the formation of these alternative organizations. Once again, the government of Armenia and the Diaspora Office have nothing to do with the formation of any of these organizations in France.

Reporter: What about Diaspora in other countries?

Zareh Sinanyan: The emotions increased in the diaspora after the war. Diasporans are coming out of the shock much slower than those residing in Armenia. They are further away and more emotional, whereas those living in Armenia live on the ground, in reality, and couldn't afford to give in to emotions for too long. But things have gotten much better in the diaspora lately, partly because they visited Armenia, interacted with people, and saw that life continues. // [Interview continues here](https://youtu.be/JJ6rV8vxVs0)

NSS and Premier's office provide the reason why Papazian was blocked: The entry was denied based on Article 8.G & 8.Z. Papazian was one of the organizers of the physical attack on the government motorcade in June 2021, in France.

Various objects were thrown at the vehicles, and the situation was resolved only with the intervention of French police and security services. The incident was recorded and reported by the media. The entry of all violent participants is prohibited. This does not apply to peaceful protesters. //

Papazian: I did not take part in that 2021 protest. Besides that, I was allowed to enter Armenia after that protest. The ban was imposed later, possibly on personal grounds. I will fight to regain my right to entry. //

Premier's spokesman: Papazian bragged about organizing the aforementioned protest in an interview to the Hraparak outlet. "Առաջին անգամն է պատմության մեջ, որ մենք ցույց պիտի ընենք Հայաստանի շուրջ," he told the reporter. You can find many tapes on the internet showing the consequences of the physical attack. //

Ambassador-at-large Edmon Marukyan: An attack against any person representing the Republic of Armenia abroad must have legal consequences. An attack against Armenian embassies and flag-bearing motorcades is essentially an attack against the Republic of Armenia. //

In relevant news, it was reported in April that "two activists assaulted Armenia's ambassador" to U.S. on Capitol Hill.

[article,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1088788.html)