President: State Award will be handed over to Fetisova by colleagues

The 2013 State Award granted to the producer and co-director of ‘Parajanov’ film Yelena Fetisova will be handed over to her through her colleagues, while the cash prize will be doubled and donated to a charity, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said today at the awards ceremony in the presidential residence.

“This morning I received a letter from Yelena Fetisova indicating the circumstances, due to which she refuses to come to Yerevan. I understand the reasons for Ms. Fetisova’s not coming to Armenia, but I would like to address her and the Ukrainian people and say that we are fraternal nations. Thousands of facts bear evidence of that fraternity and friendship, from medieval churches in Lvov to the active position of the Ukrainian community in Armenia today,” the president said.

According to Serzh Sargsyan, over the centuries the Armenian and Ukrainian peoples fought side by side against common enemies and they have thousands of pages of common glorious history. “It was so and it will be so,” he noted.

Yet, according to the president, during chaos of events and times, various phenomena are interpreted in various ways. “Everything becomes clear over time, contradictions disappear, and everything falls into place. I repeat that the Ukrainians are our brothers,” Serzh Sargsyan said.

As was reported earlier, the scriptwriter, producer and co-director of ‘Parajanov’ film Yelena Fetisova refused to accept the State Award of Armenia granted to her for the film directed in collaboration with Serge Avedikian. Fetisova took such a decision due to Armenia’s position on the Crimea referendum. She asked to spend her cash prize on needs of Armenian orphans.
“In connection with the fact that you spoke in support of the referendum held in Crimea, calling it “yet another example of exercise of peoples’ right to self-determination through free expression of popular will”, whereas I as an Ukrainian citizen believe that it is a violation of international law and order and poses a threat to the peace and quiet of the Ukrainian citizens and all mankind, I officially state that I consider it impossible to attend the awards ceremony of the film authors on March 21. I ask to spend the sum due to me on needs of Armenian orphans,” Fetisova said in her open letter to President Serzh Sargsyan.

“I am sure that Sergei Parajanov would do the same,” the film’s producer stressed.