Classifying the miscellaneous events that took place yesterday is a hard thing to do. On the one hand, there was the president’s inauguration, as a background, which, however, we, “unofficial” journalists, didn’t manage to follow in detail. The material was too “nonexclusive”; everything was prepared in advance and predetermined, there were no impromptus and improvisations. Instead, there were many improvisations in the opposition camp – a swearing-in, a march, a concert, another march, an evening prayer etc. And in the process, there were clashes with the police, sit-down strikes, broken noses, including Armen Martirosyan’s again, hesitation whether to go to Baghramyan 26 or not, an unexpected decision to go to Tsitsernakaberd etc.
Yesterday Raffi Hovhannisyan invited people to the “swearing-in of new Armenia.” Certainly, it is a positive thing that he didn’t declare himself president of Armenia, which could have been used by the government as an excuse for all-out repressions. Uttering the text of the oath and making those present repeat it was quite a good idea, but the text was too long, and the second part of the oath was uttered with no enthusiasm. The other actions were probably not planned in advance. It is Raffi Hovhannisyan’s style; since the movement is a popular one, he should submit to the “people’s will.” I am under the impression that the majority of those gathered in Freedom Square has wished the same thing almost since 1992; to go to 26 Baghramyan, smash in the heads of the people there, open the chests kept there and fairly share the gold in them among “all the people.” After that, according to those gathered, joyful and happy life will begin. (By the way, let me assert that at least in 1992-94, when I was in the Presidential Palace, there were no chests full of gold there; there were people who honestly served under the leadership of the first president for meager salaries.)
Today the radical electorate gathered in Freedom Square has the same orientation. Should one submit to the “people’s will” and try to seize power? It seems to me that no. However, every politician who finds himself in such a position should say that “no” out loud, clearly without giving rise to any interpretation. Stepan Demirchyan, in particular, who was mocked for his “constitutional path,” as well as Levon Ter-Petrossian, did that. (The events of March 1 are a different story, which one shouldn’t talk about now.) Raffi Hovhannisyan who naturally doesn’t want any clash either doesn’t say that “no” clearly. Perhaps, it is because of certain inexperience. In any case, the title of one of the articles published in Aravot yesterday “Will He Follow the People, or Will the People Follow Him?” is quite relevant.
ARAM ABRAHAMYAN
