Strangely enough, some students in the Student Council of one of the universities appeared to be brave enough to principally oppose the rector’s actions which they considered to be inappropriate. Moreover, they reached the point where the rector retreated from his plan. From the very beginning of the revolution, the rector immediately realized how to use the “activist” enthusiasm and the neutral students’ revolutionary enthusiasm to get rid of the Student Council stating as if they were Republican. That also happens.
Revolution creates an opportunity for many to breathe freely, to live and work without pressure. For others an opportunity to adjust, to take revenge, to solve personal problems. The government has changed, which is fine, the National Assembly should change through extraordinary elections, hopefully, Pashinyan’s team will not give up the idea under any circumstances, corrupt officials should appear behind the bars, oligarchs (also the allies of the current government) should pay taxes. All this is out of the question.
In other matters, we should be as prudent as possible when swinging the “revolutionary sword”, because there will definitely appear to be “cunning” ones who will try to solve their problems under the guise of fighting against the “previous criminal regime”. Aram Simonyan is not the best rector of the world and, apparently, should be changed, but the way of the change is also important. When the government sends its activists to criticize the rector and laying in front of his office door demand his resignation, it is not the best way to change the leadership of the university. I do not know exactly for who the government frees the rector seat, but you should consider the following: if they do not like the Republican rector today, tomorrow may come to another government that does not like the Civil Contract rector. The meaning of autonomy of higher education institutions is that their leaders should not be affected by the political conjuncture. We can do everything in an orderly manner, no matter how much time it will take.
The same is true also for non-governmental organizations. For example, the Football Federation. Ruben Hayrapetyan is not the best leader of this organization, but the reason for the campaign launched against him is quite different: the Federation has fined one of the clubs, whether fairly or not is the court’s responsibility to decide, but the club wants to avoid fines not through the court, but merely by provoking political activism. Again, the next change of power will take place tomorrow, and the temptation will be to resolve any legal dispute through political speculations. The same can happen, for example, with the Writers or Composers’ Union.
That is why I urge to manifest restraint and moderation in everything. Even in the revolution.
Aram ABRAHAMYAN
