The first feeling that I experienced on hearing that Surik Khachatryan has been reappointed for the Syunik Governor’s office, was the offence. In my journalistic work-experience, I have heard and read a lot about me, but I’m not particularly offended, especially lately. But with this appointment, they offended not only me in person, but also me as a citizen. They also offended the dignity of all citizens of Armenia, moreover, thousands of Syunik residents suffered from Liska and his family.
The second feeling was the shame that I have not been able to prevent the appointment of this scandalous figure. With my pen and my words I was unable to defend the Syunik residents from a new oppression, occupation of the property, stabbings, rapes, and beating. I am more or less secured in my position in terms of security, but the Syunik people are again facing the risk of intimidation by Liska, his family and his “bodyguard”.
Tomorrow, the ceremony of his “ascending the throne” will take place. A group of lickspittles standing close to the feeder will glorify him. The rest would keep quiet, would be afraid to utter a word, because in other marzes, people can be prosecuted for “uttering a sound”, they may have problems at work or in business, but demonstrating any signs of disturbance in Syunik marz is fraught by purely physical security threats. No, people would not go out to the streets to protest against the appointment of Liska, they would rather think about leaving Armenia. That is the most horrible thing.
As to why the government has decided to go for this action, there are different options. Some say that it is just a “demonstration of power”, no matter you complain, no matter what you say, we would keep our “cutthroat” to the end. There is also an opinion that Liska should come up with his extremely specific role in some political developments. Note, for example, that since 1995, Syunik marz showed the highest percentage of all kinds of beatings and violence during the “elections”. Both are possible.
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I would like also to cite the explanation provided by the editor of “Hetq”, Edik Baghdasaryan. “Liska sold his mine in Syunik for 47 million dollars. He had “distributed” this money, a small part of it, of course, is left with him. He has not accomplished his mission, he has more mines, and should sell again and distribute again. Liska’s reappointment “secret” is just this, the money, more money, more and more money.”
Nothing, of course, is excluded. One thing is obvious. We, the Armenia society, and I personally were unable to prevent this reappointment. I apologize, Syunik people.
ARAM ABRAHAMYAN
