When Alexander Korzhakov was Boris Yeltsin’s head of the bodyguard, he was involved in numerous human resources, political and economic (property) issues. During that time, one of the journalists asked him, you are a bodyguard, what is your business in all of that. Korzhakov responded that he is not a bodyguard, he is the head of the president’s security department, and the country’s political and economic problems are included in the protection system of the president as an institution.
In some stage of post-Soviet countries’ establishment, the “power” equalities cross merely their official circles and enter into other, not specific to them sectors. I do not know whether it is possible to avoid it or not, but quicker this period is overcome, better. We too, if you remember, did not have a Defense Ministry, but “sparapetutyun.” The “Commander-in-Chief” not so topical word, which is used up to present times, is again from “haiduk-fedayeen” vocabulary.
Without belittling Vazgen Sargsyan’s huge contribution and heroism in the victories obtained in Artsakh war, let me remind that because of his attributed or perhaps “won” superpowers he “solved the government issue” at least twice, in 1996 and 1998. Whereas this problem was to be resolved by the electorates, which so far is a failure in Armenia.
In this respect, a lot has overcome in our country. The keepers of the public order and those fighting against crime are now working in the police office and not in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the chief police is not officially a member of a political team. The Defense Ministry is headed by a professional who is focused on one of the most important issues of our state, the protection of our borders, and does not touch upon political matters.
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It remains for the police to be finally depoliticized as well. It should make no difference for this Department who are doing the rally or the demonstration: the government, the opposition, Democrats, communists, fascists, patriots, traitors and so on. The function of the police is to ensure people’s safety, rights, be it a political event, football, or, let’s say, Armenchik’s concert.
And it is time that we give up with one more post-Soviet archaism, “power structures”. This word seems to mean use of unlimited power. While the use of power should be limited. By the law, of course.
ARAM ABRAHAMYAN
