Today is March 1, which in any case is considered the first day of spring, however, for us, Armenians, it continues to be a dark page in our modern history. The reason certainly is 10 human deaths that no normal person can forget, even if the government, the opposition or the UN unanimously claim that this page is turned over. Almost in every country, clashes occur between protesters and law-enforcement agencies (there may be deaths), but in the developed countries, when the situation calms down, an investigation is launched, as a result of which it becomes clear which citizen died for what reason, whether the actions of the law-enforcers were proportionate or not. No journalist, publicist or politician is entitled to give the final answer to that question – it is the court’s business. However, there have been no such trials in our country. There have been trials, instead, which resulted in punishing the so-called “riot provokers.” However, it is harder to find out who provoked whom, than to investigate who killed whom. I, for instance, am inclined to thinking that the official propaganda, “responsible” TV channels had contributed to intolerance and mutual hatred before March 1 as much – if not more – as the opposition. And when after the election peaceful protests of the opposition commenced in Freedom Square – before March 1 again – then President Robert Kocharyan had been already threatening with trial and jail, which I think you will admit didn’t contribute to easing the situation either. Therefore, the issue of provoking is more political than legal.
And from this legal perspective, the establishment is fully responsible for March 1 and it will inherit that guilt to any new establishment, unless murderers stand trial. As for provocations, riots and instigating enmity etc., i.e. political and moral issues, the responsibility here is fifty-fifty – both those on whose flag the Bolshevik slogan “who is not with us is a rogue” was written and those who had stirred up bile against the opposition for months were responsible.
It is not hard to notice that in this pre-election situation, the atmosphere is quite different and all political forces can get the credit for that. I don’t want to be too optimistic, but I think that no “March 1” will happen in 2012-13.
ARAM ABRAHAMYAN
