Update, 12 p.m: Suspects have been caught, sources say. Details will be added as the story develops.
DIY, a popular bar in Yerevan was set on fire today when arson suspects threw a bomb in its entrance, burning down the front half of the establishment in the attack.
The front part of the bar sustained major damage/All photos sent to us by a citizen journalist on the scene
Closed circuit security cameras caught the two alleged suspects, who were male. Motives for the attack, which occurred at around 5:30 a.m., are currently unknown, though sources speculate it is a hate crime for nationalist fascist, possibly tied to an organized group.
DIY bar sustained heavy damage to its front half, where the bar was located. An air conditioner was completely melted, with the only thing that ironically stayed in tacked being a bottle of Kilikia beer, sources said. Though the fire was put out, police took around 12 hours to arrive at the scene, a move that is being criticized by supporters.
Supporters have been gathering at the bar for the majority of the day, making posters with slogans such as “Your bombs don’t affect us,” DIY – no to fascism” and “I am DIY. Other bar owners in the area have dropped by to share their condolences. Messages of support were also left on the group’s Facebook page. Boxes to collect funds in order to start rebuilding are also being distributed. The bar did not have insurance.
Located in downtown on Parpetsi street was opened in 2011 and quickly earned a reputation as a bar for alternative thinkers. The attack on the bar hasn’t been the first. It escalated from verbal abuse to breaking glass, before today’s attack.
Local NGOs are planning a press release about the incident, which is not immediately available. More photos below:
Civilnet spoke to bar owners briefly after the attack:
Featured image via DIY’s FB page
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Please keep updates coming of who is responsible for such a dreadful act. To the D.I.Y. family you are in my heart. I wish I was there with you again to help rebuild.
dear Zoe…
Zoghovurd es sepakanatery chem, es tnorenn em…khndrum em ugheq…
I have visited the bar when I was in Armenia last year, it was a cool bar with an easeygoing vibe and some really nice and friendly people, including the owners. These closed minded biggots who commited this crime should be punished and pay the price for what they did.
This makes me sick at heart. I love DIY, its workers, its patrons, its spirit. That some twisted, close-minded bigot would spend the time and money and effort to destroy this place is so unbelievably disappointing. Yet given the immediate outpouring of support and affection for Tsomak and DIY I have no doubt that it will not be long before DIY reopens, as beautifully alternative and happy as it always has been. Tsomak jan I am sending thoughts your way. Thanks ianyan for reporting this so fully, keep up the good work.
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I thoroughly enjoyed seeing this place get firebombed, keep up the good work guys. I hope the guys don’t get punished for what they did.
uhm. excuse you….
damn dude, you watch too many sick movies….get a check-up!
yes Armen. i really appreciate the guys burnt it, since it was a boring place, full of fags, whom i was using to make money. actually i ordered this event
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This is really DISGUSTING! I’m deeply shocked. We agree for TWOhundred percent when you say NO TO FASCISM! I would like to add: NO TO NATIONALISM! This is a world for EVERYONE, for people of ANY nationality, ANY religion, ANY colour, ANY sexual preference, male or female! Hang in there, Tsomak and friends! Our thoughts are with you!
POR FAVOR GENTE DE ARMENIA ,DESPIERTEN AL MUNDO,CON TOLERANCIA E INTELIGENCIA. ACTOS COMO ESTOS NO HACEN MAS QUE DESMERECER LA PROLIFICA CULTURA ARMENIA,QUE HACE DEL ORGULLO,NUESTRO PRINCIPAL BASTION
EDUARDO MUREKIAN
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The destruction of this bar reflects the many pathologies Armenia and Armenians suffer from. While people in the West gradually saw ideas like gender equality, privacy, and civil liberties extended to gay people, the RoA remained under the grips of classifying being gay as a disease and euphemisms like “Social Democrat” were invented to refer to gay people. Add to that traditionalist culture that has learned to fear everything novel (and this includes the diaspora) and the Cocek legacy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C3%B6%C3%A7ek), and you have a major problem with homophobia. Solutions will require openness and will require the involvement of legitimating institutions (Church, School, Military and NGO) and they will take time. Normally, I find myself in opposition to the editorial line, tone, perspective and ontology of this site, but on this ianyan is correct.
Ապրեն վառողները, մենք բոլորս իրենց կողկն ենք:
Toun khent es. դու խենթ
DYI chem eghel baic indz vnas chen tvel, ov uzuma linen. Varoghnery etqan lav tghaen togh kasharakerneri oficnery varen. Dranq en azgin shinum.
I am totally with Armen. To hell with all those who are ruining our society with sexual perversion.
great!!! fuckin’ lesbians…
You like to fuck lesbians? maybe you should try that, as fucking non-lesbians seems to have made you into a nasty little homophobic ass.
How is the situation as of today? Any rally, anything?
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