The verdict in the case surrounding the ten members of the so-called Sasna Tsrer group was finally announced. People may have different opinions on the court’s approach. For example, I think that some of the sentences were too harsh, and in another case, the acquittal for murder seemed confusing to me.
But, in general, it can be said that the court gave a legal assessment of the events of 2016, around which the web of political demagoguery has been woven for over four years. Crime remains a crime no matter how beautiful the package is in which it is presented.
During the capture of the Police Patrol Service Regiment and the events that took place afterward, my view was strongly opposed by many people who argued that this is a case in which ‘the people have the right to revolt.’ Relevant international resolutions were cited as proof of this. But first, I have not seen the justification of armed struggle and violence in those international resolutions, and second, even if all the declarations and conventions in the world claim that killing police officers in one’s own country can be justified in some cases, I will still be against such international resolutions.
There have been precedents of armed political struggle in the 30-year history of independent Armenia. Unfortunately, there have been and continue to be calls for such a struggle today. I think that the so-called ‘intellectuals’ should adamantly oppose and express their opposition to this practice regardless of how it would be perceived by the ‘broad democratic masses.’ It should also be explained that the government being ‘good’ or ‘bad’ has nothing to do with this.
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To put it mildly, the ‘former’ and ‘current’ regimes are far from perfect and, by the way, are beginning to resemble one another more and more in their ‘tepidity’ in terms of principles. Any peaceful struggle to make that ‘lukewarm’ reality brighter deserves respect. Any ‘rebellion’ against state institutions accompanied by violence is unacceptable. The demarcation is clear, I think; the ‘red line’ is violence and calls for violence.
I hope that the verdict announced yesterday will be a message to all citizens so that no group, regardless of whatever pompous name they choose for themselves, will try to resolve political issues with the use of weapons.
Aram Abrahamyan
