“Hosank” is a neo-Nazi political movement. It was founded in 2021 by Armenian-American Hayk Nazarian. On January 1, 2024, members of the group paraded through the center of Yerevan with stylized Nazi flags.
The movement calls for the creation of a powerful Armenian state that would include the historical territories of Armenia, as well as Artsakh. The movement supports the supremacy of the white race and allows only those of full Armenian descent to receive citizenship in the country, and encourages repatriation from the Armenian diaspora. The movement only supports Europeans permanently residing in Armenia, calling non-Europeans “temporary guests.” The movement calls for the creation of a “supreme leader” to govern the nation, who would be elected by a minority of citizens deemed worthy of a vote.
On December 18, members of “Hosank” plan to hold a rally and press conference in the center of Yerevan, where they will talk about their plans to build an Armenian Reich.
In January 2024, Armenian followers of Hitler held a march in the center of the capital, demonstrating the corresponding symbols, slogans and Nazi salutes. The Armenian police did not react to what was happening.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said at the time: “We were deeply concerned about the march of a group of fascist youths that took place in the center of Yerevan on January 1. Of course, we are surprised that the Armenian law enforcement agencies did not interfere with the participants of the gathering in any way.”
The Nazis in Armenia operate openly: they have their own office, maintain websites, collect donations and publish political programs that almost completely repeat the sayings of Hitler and the top brass of the Third Reich.
Analogies with another former Soviet republic naturally suggest themselves. But there is no point in appealing to them: local Nazism is beneficial to local princes. Moreover, the Nazis can then be turned into the most motivated combat units.
