There is a word in Russian “растление” (statutory rape). The criminal codes of different countries describe this crime as related to sexual intercourse with a minor, as “desecrate”. That is a serious crime, as the criminal takes advantage of the minor’s inexperience, of the fact that the object of the crime doesn’t understand what is being done or will be done to him or her.
But the same Russian word is used in the broad sense of perversion, and in that sense, the term is also applicable to adults. They usually talk about the perversion of authorities. That is a pervasive phenomenon. In this case, we can say that the authorities commit immoral acts toward their souls, as they don’t have enough knowledge and spiritual experience. In other words, “nouveau riche”. When a man tastes a power, he usually has illusions that he will hold that position lifelong. Therefore, he will not be held accountable for his actions during his lifetime. Another example of “self-perversion” is when former journalists realize that they have legislative tools that allow them to avoid “being touched” and pass such laws one after another.
But it’s more dangerous when they pervert the whole society by taking advantage of its inexperience. Without going into details about the previous stages of perversion – in the 30s, they were reporting on each other, and in the 60-70s, they were encouraging sloppy work and stealing from the state. Let’s record that all these things have left their marks on our society today.
Which are the signs of perversion nowadays? In short, let me list the most typical narratives: “Who needed this independence?” “We are tired of that Karabakh?” “Why? Is there any intelligentsia left in Armenia? Everyone is corrupt”, and “these journalists are paid off to write all these things” (you can add more). The internet promotes these narratives, as people go online to express their hatred, hostility, and obsessive ideas related to conspiracies. But the internet is a tool, and the creation of the amorphous mass with respective mind obsessions has beneficiaries – first of all, current authorities. It’s easier to work with that kind of “human substance”.
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And what experience does our society need so that they won’t pervert it? Of course, the experience of democracy and the rule of law. But as if a closed circle starts here. It’s a bit like the problems of the Soviet writers – to become a member of a Union of Writers, they needed to have published works, but to publish, they needed to be members of the Union of Writers.
Aram Abrahamyan
