By Karolina Pawlowska
Special to the Mirror-spectator
The news of the opening of a theme park in Azerbaijan in April, a place that includes not only the exhibition of original helmets, but also wax models of wounded or dead Armenian soldiers, has caused outrage among Armenians. of the whole world. This has been interpreted as an act of sheer cruelty by Ilham Aliyev, which, while somehow true, flattens the analysis that can be provided if anthropological, sociological and political factors are taken into account. In fact, such a movement shows a variety of strategies both symbolically and practically.
First, the park does celebrate; however, this is obviously not its only function. The combination of the educational aspect of a museum and the entertaining features of an interactive exhibit creates a monument to both Azerbaijani victory and Armenian failure. Subsequently, he establishes the space where joy and hate merge in a rather macabre and disturbing way and such handling of public emotions, especially contradictory ones, is common in autocracies. Arzu Geybullayeva rightly remarks that the park offends not only the memory of fallen Armenian soldiers, but also Azerbaijani soldiers. However, commemorating the deaths of one’s own people in a respectful manner does not fit the narrative designed to shape the common perception of the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War in Azerbaijan. Against the background of Aliyev’s statements since November 10, it may seem that the events of the 44-day war can only be presented in overwhelmingly positive terms, without leaving room for public manifestations of grief and loss. The end of the conflict is presented as a clear victory, despite the fact that several lives have been lost.
Secondly, the open and public dimension of the place visited by entire families aims to show that support for the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War in Azerbaijan is by no means unanimous, despite external opinions that certain segments of Azerbaijani society are just too intimidated to express remorse. Moreover, it is a common characteristic of autocratic governments to familiarize citizens with violence from an early age. For such a regime to survive, it is necessary to eradicate empathy and compassion and, subsequently, to mold the new generations to be capable of cruelty, not only against one another but also against one another. others.
Third, it is arrogance directed in all possible directions. Inside Azerbaijan, it is the projection of force. Internationally, Azerbaijan and Turkey have for months tested the value of so-called humanism in Western and Eastern politics and have successfully proven that it is worth little or nothing. No clear condemnation has been voiced by the international community, which is not surprising given that the more rapid and tragic issue of the more than 200 Armenian prisoners of war being held captive has not been approached with the firmness expected. . Although the European Championships of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) could have been the perfect opportunity to address the issue, only the Dutch parliament decided to boycott, thanks to the efforts of the Armenians in the Netherlands. .
