By Levon Baronian
The much-anticipated documentary The Price for Fake Peace premiered last night, March 26, at the AGBU Performing Arts Center in Pasadena, offering a stark and timely look into one of the most pivotal and tragic chapters of Armenian history. The film explores how Turkish leaders, under the guise of diplomacy and offers of peace, launched calculated offensives that resulted in catastrophic consequences for the Armenian people—a tactic the documentary draws in parallel to contemporary political dynamics in the region.
Presented by HART Line Productions and Channel 5+, the screening was hosted by Armenian news media commentator Arthur Sahakyan, who served as Master of Ceremonies. Sahakyan introduced the film and later invited producer Harutyun Harutyunyan to the stage for a question-and-answer session, fielding audience questions and leading a discussion on the historical and political relevance of the documentary’s central themes.
Harutyunyan being presented recognition from City of Glendale and State of California 
Harutyunyan (left) with Sahakyan (right)
Directed by Mariam Yegoryan, The Price for Fake Peace features archival research and narration by Derenik Malkhasyan, drawing from eyewitness accounts, participant testimonies, and contemporary press reports to reconstruct the events leading up to the Battle of Sardarapat in April–May 1918. At the heart of the story is the Armenian leadership’s decision to accept Turkey’s deceptive promises of peace, including demands to surrender Kars and Alexandropol (now Gyumri), in exchange for what was presented as a diplomatic resolution.
The film shows how each concession led only to further demands and continued Turkish advancement, ultimately pushing their army to the outskirts of Yerevan. The Armenian people, realizing the true nature of Turkey’s intentions, made their final stand at Sardarapat—a decisive moment that, according to the film, prevented the complete destruction of the Armenian nation.
The documentary does more than recount historical events—it draws a direct line to present-day developments, particularly the ongoing “peace process” between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which many Armenians view as a familiar and dangerous pattern. In the Q&A session, Harutyunyan noted that “calls for peace” by hostile powers have often masked expansionist ambitions. “This film is not just about the past,” he said. “It’s about a pattern that continues today. What we see with Azerbaijan—with the support of Turkey—is the same formula: use peace as a narrative tool while advancing militarily and politically.”
The Price for Fake Peace is produced by Harutyun Harutyunyan and Armen Andreasayan, with a screenplay by Levon Galstyan. The cinematography, led by Mushegh Mamikonyan and Tigran Gasparyan, is complemented by a haunting and evocative musical score by Tatos Hakobyan, helping to immerse the viewer in the urgency and emotion of the time period.
Following the film and audience discussion, Harutyunyan was presented with official commendations from both the City of Glendale and the State of California, recognizing his work in bringing this critical history to light and creating a platform for continued public awareness and reflection.
While the film premiered in Armenian with English subtitles, it has already been dubbed in English, and upcoming screenings will feature the English-language version to ensure broader accessibility to wider audiences across the United States.
