We will do everything to change the rules of the game. But if they are not changed we will fight and eventually we will win with these rules of the game. This was the main thesis of the Q&A given to me at the “A1+” TV channel. I have talked to 30-year-old Gevorg Gorgisyan, a Board member of “Bright Armenia” party, whom I knew from “I am Against” Movement. This is the generation and the mentality with whom, I think, we can count on.
The attitude towards the current defects and the authorities giving birth to it is highly critical, it cannot be otherwise. The new thing here is to set up clear, visible and achievable goals and the decisiveness to achieve without a meaningless eloquence and formal confrontation.
I can illustrate the difference between the formality and practicality with my “professional” example associated with the draft Electoral Code. If my goal is to cover the elections, including, of course, reporting the election frauds (as one of my duties is to inform the public about these law-breakers), then I will accept the amended norm of the EC, according to which, at least 10 days prior to the elections, I must submit the CEC a list of not more than 50 people from my media who would cover the elections.
But if my goal is neither covering nor reporting the law-breakers but simply acting allegedly as a “fighting species” and pretending to be persecuted and suffered, then I would certainly say that I do not accept any offer of the regime that I have to accredit 500 or 5000 journalists from my media outlet or not to accredit at all. And when I do not accredit and my journalist is not allowed to the precinct during the elections, then I will apply to the European organizations with my laurel of a persecuted and protest against the suppression of freedom of expression.
Every person, naturally, chooses his tactics of life and work. Simply, this second tactic perhaps brings the love of some “popular layers” or, not excluded, grants but does not bring a millimeter close to the proclaimed goals. These millimeters are achieved by quiet, thoughtful and reasoned steps. But when a desire to be “persecuted” emerges, the authorities having power leverage in these spheres feel themselves very comfortable and confident and with their actions pull the public a few meters back.
… “I’m not against anyone, I am for the independent Armenia.” I have personally heard these words from Movses Gorgisyan during the rally organized near Matenadaran in the summer of 1988.
Aram ABRAHAMYAN
