Our 120,000 compatriots of Artsakh have been under complete blockade for ten days now; not a single truck with food, medicine, or any other necessary cargo has passed through the Berdzor corridor. Does this question concern the representatives of the highest legislative body of Armenia? Apparently- not. Let’s suppose that the CC members think that the Armenians of Artsakh should be of interest to our state as much as the rest of the Armenian communities, for example, in Javakhk or Glendale.
But as far as I understand, the parliamentary opposition does not think so. Why are they engaged in the same business as CC members, distracting the public’s attention through their petty and meaningless fights? What is the point of throwing insulting, humiliating words at each other: Getting a standing ovation from the audience? Appearing to be a brilliant orator who morally destroys the enemy?
Honestly, I find it difficult to find a direct, “tactical” explanation for the behavior of “self-assertive guys.” Instead, I can point to the genealogy of that behavior. It can be briefly described as a zero-sum game. The motto of that game is either we will destroy you or the Country will be destroyed. That approach is generally specific to our political culture. I can mention a few opposition factions that did not work like that during the history of Armenian parliamentarians. They were “Heritage” and “Bright Armenia” in their best years, which, unfortunately, have already passed.
The elections two years ago were entirely within the traditions of that “zero game” and were, moreover, the extreme manifestations of that tradition. During the election campaign, the candidate for the prime minister’s power was waving a hammer, and the members of the Civil Contract Party were shouting “no more velvet” and threatening to “crush” all counter-revolutionaries.
Read also
The opposition candidate promised to “wear down” the opponents. In that election campaign, the topic of Artsakh was secondary. A majority of voters voted for those essentially two forces. And now pro-government and opposition members of Parliament are doing what they promised their voters: On the one hand, to take revenge on the “robbers”; on the other hand, to punish the traitors.
It is hard to say when the citizens will satiate their passions or when they will get tired of this performance. I do feel some signs of fatigue, though. But as long as the active part of society has not said “no” to those two forces, they will continue to play their zero-sum game.
Aram ABRAHAMYAN
