The renowned Turkish writer Kemal Yalçın addressed a letter to Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan. In his letter the Turkish writer requests that Sargis Atspanyan, who was arrested on a charge of false denunciation, be released.

Below is the text of the letter:

“Dear Serzh Sargsyan,

I am writing this letter as a Turkish writer and Armenians’ friend, who feels all the pain of the Disaster (Armenian Genocide) as his own pain. I welcome your brave steps toward the improvement of the Armenian-Turkish relations, but my letter has a different aim. I am writing this letter to put an end to the torture of my dear Armenian brother Sargis Atspanyan and his father, who is suffering from cancer. I have known Sargis Atspanyan since he lived in Turkey. They were friends with beloved Hrant Dink, my schoolmate. I got acquainted with his parents in Germany and described their sufferings in my book ‘Sarı Gelin’ (Yellow Bride). But you know Sargis even better. I Turkey he struggled for freedom, equality and justice. He was arrested along with thousands of Turks after the military coup on September 12, 1980. The participants in the coup were torturing him, saying: &‘The only Armenian savior of Turkey has remained?’ After being released, he had to leave Turkey. He found political asylums in France and Germany, where he continued struggling for freedom, equality, democracy, human rights, peace and justice. And, when Armenia was in hard times, he left a comfortable life in France and hurried to help Armenia and Karabakh. Dear Serzh Sargsyan, you and Sargis were companions-in-arms during the Karabakh war. In the hardest times you, as a true friend, hosted him. A year and half, my brother Sargis came to Köln to see his parents. My book ‘Anadolu’nun Evlatları’ (Children of Anatolia) was published, and he participated in the presentation. Sargis was very happy and said: ‘I wish the Armenian people were witnessing this event!’ Later I saw Sargis to Düsseldorf airport. I told him: ‘Call as soon as you come home.’ He said he would call as soon as he arrived. And he was gone… Days passed, but I did not hear from him. In a fortnight I knew that Sargis was arrested immediately after returning home. I was upset. A month, two… for a whole year I had been waiting for news about his release. You declared an amnesty. I was happy and, full of hope, was waiting. All the arrestees except for Sargis were released…

Dear Armenian brother Serzh Sargsyan! You are entitled to amnesty, and I ask you to release Sargis Atspanyan.

Your pains are my pains. Your joy is my joy. I assure you and the Armenian people of my love and respect.”