To be honest, I do not like revolutions: chanting, crackdowns with police, fussy speeches, intolerant-categorical judgments, denials, anarchy, threats of reprisals against the authorities. I prefer calm and some intellectual level discussions based on mutual respect. But I also understand that there are no revolutions without the above-mentioned features, and to tell the people in revolutionary euphoria, especially the youth, “Do not do that”, is spitting in the opposite direction of the wind.
I do not know whether Nikol Pashinyan’s revolution will succeed or not, but one thing is clear: if people’s dissatisfaction, the wrath did not come to a critical level, no Nikol and no western technology would have helped to bring such a large number of people out to the streets. The lack of trust between the authorities and citizens has been formed not yesterday, nor 10 years ago. On the one hand this distrust is based on the illusions of the authorities that the country is developing and the state of the people is improving, on the other hand, on the illusions of the majority of citizens, that “good power” will come and solve all their problems. Mutual illusions create mutual mistrust. But it is not a fact that something will emerge of grievance and wrath.
It is absolutely unclear to me what the revolutionaries will do if their fight succeeds. Even from a tactical point of view, it is not clear why the political majority will choose the new Prime Minister not from the Republican Party, why the Parliament will agree to overthrow the new government program, and most importantly, what will be the principle of forming the interim government? Will they shout out names in the Square? But again, let us assume that in these issues the political forces come to an agreement.
There are more significant questions. Why would Armenians no longer leave Armenia and those who have left return home? Why would not officials steal and take bribes? I am afraid of what I have already witnessed. In autumn 1997, another coup was held in Armenia, not a “people” revolution, but a palace. The Pan-Armenian National Movement turned out to be “Yerkrapah” and then Republican within a night. So now as well, after the hypothetical change of power, the Republican members will find their place. They will say: I did not want to, they forced me to.
Aram ABRAHAMYAN
