The theme of “Aravot” online “Face to Face” talk show is discussed by sociologist Aharon Adibekyan and human rights activist Vardan Harutyunyan.
Aram Abrahamyan – Our reader, Zaven Tatintsyan, is asking why we have published the results of polls conducted in Syunik prior to Surik Khachatryan’s reappointment and his rating. Did you know that he would be appointed?
Aaron Adibekyan – I had received the data a few months ago during the Goris mayoral elections. We were interested to know to what extent the acting governor could influence on the process since there were 2 candidates left, both from the Republican Party, and the acting Governor could play a major role in their balance. We were interested in the extent of his influence, and since the Republicans had generally ordered the poll to understand who what rating has in Goris, we put a question on how they treat the incident happened near Surik Khachatryan’s house. Nearly 60 percent of respondents said that they would have treated the same way as Surik Kahchatryan, about 30 percent – scored negative, and about 10 percent was uncertain.
A. A. – If your house was attacked, what would you do?
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Vartan Harutyunyan – First, I live a life that there will be no attack on our house, it is so unlikely that I do not even want to think about it.
Ah. A. – Simply, you do not know the real likelihood, in fact, it is very likely.
V. H. – In the criminal society, everything is likely. In general, on the one hand, if Mr. Adibekyan’s figures are realistic, it is sad that there are people in Syunik, 60 percent, who are ready to kill a man, and on the other hand, I am happy that there is 40 % of people, who would not do something like it. As for attacking on the house, I do not know to what extent it was an attack, at least by looking at the footage and comparing the degree of their self- defense to the degree of assault by the attacker, I cannot consider it an attack on the house. But, in all cases, it is already a legal matter that should be resolved not in Armenia, because the law does not work in Armenia. The judicial system and courts are not functioning in Armenia, but there is hope that the law in Armenia would also be respected, and at that time, the right assessment will be given on whether it was an attack or not. In general, if we in abstract ask any arbitrary man that if you’re sitting in your home and attacks on your house where you kids, your wife and your grandchildren are in, what you would do, the rational being person would say, of course, we will be protected. Simply, no need to make a person to get to the degree that he had to take a gun, charged or uncharged, or a regular slingshot or a piece of stone in his hands and attack on your house, you need to behave yourself in the society, in co-relationships with people so that people will not have to attack on your house.
A. A. – Let’s go back to Syunik and the new reappointed governor. You have seen the footages, people are standing in line, roughly speaking, to kiss his hand. Was it sincere? Was it forcedly? What was it, in your opinion?
V. H. – I’m not a sociologist, but I have seen footages of how freedom-loving and longing for freedom Germany people were kissing Hitler’s feet, I have seen footages of how the freedom-loving Armenian people, Georgian people, Ukrainians, even the western Ukrainian were kissing the ground on which Stalin had put his foot. It does not mean anything at all, it means that people are put into a situation when they are forced or coerced to fake themselves. These same people would not do the same in another situation.
A. A. – The kissed Stalin, they kissed Hitler, not they are kissing Surik Khachatryan.
Ah. A. – I will go back to the parliamentary election in Syunik. It turned out that those who have jobs, revenues and no problems at home are happy with local authorities. Those who are unemployed, jobless, are projecting the challenges of life on the authorities. Syunik, which is one of our prosperous and self-reliant regions, has the highest salaries in Armenia, even the miners are paid more that the programmers. Meghri in in the worst situation, where there are no mines, the rest of our cities have very serious workplaces, people are working, and most importantly, they are getting money from outside.
A. A. – In other words, in the result of all of this, do Syunik residents love Surik Khachatryan?
Ah. A. – No, it is not so. Those who live better, who have positive outcome from Surik Khachatryan are happy, and those who live poor accuse the Governor.
The discussion in full
Prepared by ARAM ABRAHAMYAN
“Face to Face” talk show series are released by the Open Society Foundations- Armenia. The views and analyzes found in this broadcast express the opinions of the participants, and are not approved by the Open Society Foundations-Armenia, or its Board. This broadcast is made available thanks to comprehensive financial support by the Open Society Foundations-Armenia, under the mass media support program, grant No 18624.
