We’re still very far from repentance
In 1986, I watched Tengiz Abuladze’s “Repentance” film at “Nairi” cinema. To say that it left an indelible impression on me, I cannot, it is clear that it is not a masterpiece of cinematography. But the film left a great impression on the public life. Initially, they wanted to ban the film, they say that it was allowed by Gorbachev’s personal intervention. Later, there were many opinions expressed that the film distorts the glorious history of the Soviet. In modern Russia, I think, the screening of such film would not be encouraged as “casting a shade” over the heroic past.
It was important for our “reconstruction”, because it is impossible to move forward without repentance. Of course, neither during Gorbachev’s time, nor after that, during the years of independent Russia, there was no penitence, and today’s Putin’s official ideology, which, basically, justifies the crimes of the Bolsheviks, is the bright proof of it.
There is one number in Solzhenitsyn’s “Archipelagic Gulag” book, which was recently recalled by one of Russia’s publicist in 1966, 20 years after the end of the war, 86 thousand Nazi criminals were sentenced in the German Federal Republic. In other words, during one year, 86 thousand times the German court confirmed that what was done by the Nazis, is a crime. I think that due to this consistency Germany has become one of the world’s top authoritative countries and the most powerful European country in terms of economy.
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Bolshivism was not convicted in Russia, the crimes were not called by their names, and the country went completely the other way, to form not a society of individuals and citizens collaborating with each other, but a gray mass, the main driving force of which is the offensiveness, including from the defeat incurred in the “cold war” in early 90’s. Exactly the same offensiveness was exploited by the German Nazis in 1930, “we were defeated in the First World War, we were humiliated, but now we will rise to our feet and avenge of all.” Offended person or nation has various obsession of mind, including that he was surrounded by enemies.
Our country, being under the great influence of Russia, also has not got rid of the Bolsheviks past, and we want to erect the statue of one of Stalin’s repressions organizers. To get rid of the crimes of the past, some were suggesting “lustration”, but it seems to me that it is a radical step. Organizing trials is also late. But convicting the crimes, at least morally, on the official level is never too late.
All of this seems just from the first glance a purely theoretical problem referring to the far away times. The point is that the same “offended mass” was also formed in Armenia, and its main feature is the reverence to the power and violence and the indifference, sometimes even justification, about the crimes. This mass in Armenia is filled with hatred towards the authorities over 24 years (they deserve it), but if tomorrow a statesman like Putin comes to power, he will be able to turn the “offensiveness” of the mass against any domestic or foreign enemy. The end of it, of course, would be bad.
During 24 years, two of the numerous crimes committed in the years of independent Armenia, like a grave stones, are fallen on the path of our development, “October 27” and “March 1”. Their organizers are not convicted; the perpetrators of the second one were not convicted, too. How does the aforementioned mass treat the aforementioned crimes? “March 1” is condemned, because obviously the crime was committed by its hateful government. And “October 27”. Haven’t you heard, “They did it right, if I had a gun in my hands, I would do the same.” No need to take the posture of an ostrich, this is how the “offended mass” thinks. Let’s not go far, former police chief, Alik Sargsyan, says that if he was offended in the street, he, like Yuvetsi’s son-in-law, would also take out the gun and began firing here-and-there.
Repentance, thus, is far away. Do you know when it will come? When some 20 or 30 years later, any former president would announce, “I have committed a crime, I have rigged the elections, please judge me for it, but let’s never do it again”. Then, the country will change.
Do you remember “We and our Mountains” film, “We have committed a robbery”? Aydin Morikyan was saying that Hrant Matevosyan has all the answers to our concerned questions. We just need to read it carefully.
ARAM ABRAHAMYAN
