After a quarter century, the lip service that was called Armenian democracy has finally found its real voice. For the first time since independence, onlookers from more established democracies could learn a thing or two from Armenia’s citizen activists. Now the people of Armenia are the champions of human rights, peaceful activism and democratic ideals.
These protestors and their supporters didn’t need outside influence or expertise, foreign money or carefully crafted statements of encouragement to persist in their quest to put the Rule of Law ahead of elitist interests.
In 10 days, they managed to put on notice the last 25 years of a faux democracy mired in dubious election outcomes, oligarchs in parliament and a judiciary serving as a clearinghouse for settling political scores and fleecing ordinary citizens with verdicts for sale.
This time, integrity won over insecurity. Courage overcame caution. It was a perfect storm that blew the winds of change in the direction of truth, justice and equal opportunity for all.
For many years realism mocked idealism. Until one day it didn’t.
Justice Armenia was formed as a counterweight to the prevailing groupthink that Armenia’s political fate was sealed by geopolitical forces. As such, it was argued that it was too late for true liberty to ever take hold in Armenia. The captains of the Armenian diaspora institutions and organizations believed the ship had sailed on good governance. Many analysts and pundits contended that a semi- authoritarian Armenian government was inevitable in the shadow of Putin’s Russia and the threat of war with Azerbaijan.
Justice Armenia saw things differently. That’s why we created a new way for the Diaspora to engage with freedom loving Armenians in the homeland. It meant doing the hard work of democracy building through long term programs designed to change hearts and minds, behaviors and attitudes. We launched our organization on the premise that only by living democracy as an everyday experience could the people’s demand for liberty become instinctive. Values would be the drivers of national well-being rather than a side benefit.
While we cannot take any credit for the moral victory of the protestors and demonstrators, we believe that the mindset of Armenia’s majority is now open to the idea that a free and fair society is not only possible, but probable, as long as they are willing to live by it, work for it, and that we, in the diaspora, stand up for it.
Now, more than ever, is the time for Armenians outside Armenia to meet our in-country counterparts halfway and develop strategies that help turn high ideals into sustainable solutions. Sharing the burden with like-minded activists and citizens of Armenia will accelerate much needed progress in these areas:
Free and Fair Elections
An Independent Judiciary
Oligarch Free Parliament
Free and Independent Media
Accountability and Transparency in Government
Corruption-free Public Services, Taxation Department and Military
Civic Education in Schools
Leadership Training
Conflict Resolution Training
Equal Opportunity Business Environment
Equality for Women
Tolerance for Diversity
Release of Political Prisoners
These are just some of the challenges that ordinary citizens supported by inspired leaders must actively tackle sooner than later. Those of us outside Armenia are still in a position to partner with them, providing technical/financial resources and lessons learned about the fragility of democracy in an imperfect world.
Let’s help Truth and Justice breath free by building sustainable democratic institutions and core national values that can outlast ideology, rise above politics and withstand outside anti-democratic influences.