The Armenian internet is flooded with materials that contain hatred and violence. The police use force on protesters and journalists (also on journalists of “Aravot”) at disappropriate rate. Protesters sometimes use violence and psychological violence against the people who disagree with them, and the supporters of authorities partly spontaneously, partly organized try to escalate the situation. The parties don’t admit their flaws and shout about the flaws of others, their goal is neither public peace nor solidarity but the information war over who is going to “win” whom, who is going to represent the other as a “monster” in a most convincing way by adding angel wings to his supporters.
The government has many administrative and forceful levers to suppress the opposition protest, as well as to organize provocations. The levers of the opposition, for obvious reasons, are more limited. So far the organizers of the demonstrations are not able to unite all those citizens who see the danger hanging over Armenia and Artsakh.
I suppose thousands of Armenians realize that danger, even though they understand that the current situation is primarily the result of the incompetent policy of the current government, and yet those citizens don’t join the street protests. What should be done to increase the number of supporters of the protesters? (I don’t have such a desire, I just analyze the situation).
Firstly, Robert Kocharyan and Serzh Sargsyan should publicly declare that they will never again hold any position, not even in executive and legislative bodies. Then the Republican Party of Armenia, Armenian Revolutionary Federation, and other opposition parties should admit that the system has been created before 2018 humiliated people, particularly the tax, customs, and other state bodies were simply suffocating our citizens engaged in small and medium-sized businesses, they should condemn that system and somehow convince people that there won’t be a return to that system. They should condemn any violence perpetrated by the protesters, and call on the police to severely punish those who use violence. I think they should also stop calling their opponents “Turks”.
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Recently, one of the protesters announced that half of the population of Shirak and Ararat regions are Turks. It’s not only insulting to those people but also pushes back all thinking people from the opposition. Maybe they don’t need thinking people? In that case, they are no different from the current populist government.
Aram ABRAHAMYAN
