The Memoirs of Arshavir Shiragian: The Life Story of an Armenian Patriot or the Confessions of a Terrorist?

Authors : Ahmet Can Öktem

Pages : 159-168

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Publication Date : 2024-08-27

Article Type : Review Paper

Abstract :Born in Istanbul in 1900, Arshavir Shiragian was an Armenian who closely witnessed and participated in the activities of the Dashnaktsutyun as a youngster. In his book, Shiragian narrates his memoirs before and after the assassinations he carried out as part of Operation Nemesis. He began writing his memoirs in 1965 and his book was published in English by his daughter Sonia Shiragian three years after his death in 1976 with the title “The Legacy: Memoirs of an Armenian Patriot”. Shiragian’s memoirs were translated to Turkish from the 1982 French edition titled “La Dette de sang: Un Arménien traque les responsables du génocide 1921-1922” (“The Blood Debt: An Armenian Tracks Down Those Responsible for the Genocide, 1921-1922”) and published in 1997 and 2006. The writer describes the numerous struggles and dangers he faced, the various phases within his tasks, his radical beliefs, and the different Dashnak members he worked with. In this book review, explanations will be made regarding the Dashnaktsutyun and Operation Nemesis. Additionally, there will be comments on some examples of the numerous slurs and accusations against Turks, false and controversial statements, and striking parts of the memoirs.
Keywords : Arşavir Şıracıyan, Ermeni Devrimci Federasyonu Taşnaksutyun EDF, Nemesis Operasyonu, Terör, Türk Karşıtı Propaganda, Mavi Kitap, Vahe İhsan Eseyan, Sait Halim, Bahattin Şakir, Cemal Azmi

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