A few days ago, the Founding Parliament wanted to hold its “the 100th anniversary without regime” campaign in Gyumri. I, personally, am not aware of the true intentions of the Founding Parliament. I do not also understand well how the change of the government or the regime change is associated with the centennial of the Armenian Genocide.
However, in this case, it does not matter. Holding political campaigns is the right of our citizens. And in the case of Gyumri no one can make the reservation that the opposition activities should not be held outside the territory of the Republic of Armenia. But suddenly, it turns out that there are some “criminal authorities”, “criminals” and “local authorities” in the suburbs and the center of the city of Gyumri, who do not allow the access of this group of citizens to Gyumri. It is not enough that they do not allow, yet they attack journalists and prohibit them doing their job. Perhaps, they do not want, to put it mildly, to be seen in the media or on the Internet.
Yet it is not enough. The police announce that they cannot ensure the safety of the citizens in case of such hooligan provocations. How to understand this kind of “explanation” by the law enforcement? Then, whose safety are the police going to ensure, maybe the “tough guys?” And if I want to go to Gyumri or any other city of Armenia, is my safety ensured, or I should ask a permission from the “criminal elements”?
Eventually, what is meant by “criminal element”? A person who had committed a crime and was not punished? Perhaps, it can be said so, given a unique role of these “characters” during the elections. Or, if there is clear evidence that they were planning to organize “provocation”, in other words, crush, beating or something like that, then why aren’t they arrested?
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It apparently occurs for two reasons. The government is interested in these “elements” to continue their activities and to go unpunished, that they impede the campaign of the opposition members and “work” for their winning during the elections. The second reason is that the media and the society, in general, are fairly indifferent to such “incidents”. We talked for one day and forgot.
While, it is apparent that criminal elements should appear in penitentiaries. In other circumstances, either they will shoot at each other or, which is worse, will attack civilians.
ARAM ABRAHAMYAN
