I am not among those fortunate enough to say that on February 20, 1988—37 years ago—I immediately understood everything and felt great enthusiasm. I must admit, I missed the turning point when environmental protests evolved into the Karabakh movement.. For many months, I remained unaware of the tectonic shifts taking place in the world, in Armenia, and in our collective mindset.
Of course, I sensed that the speeches of the Karabakh Committee members were different in both structure and substance from anything I had heard before. However, it took me years to fully grasp that this was the beginning of a new way of thinking—an emerging ideology, despite how discredited that word has become.
By the way, those who believe that until 2020 there was only one dominant ideology—Dashnaktsutyun—are mistaken. In the early 1990s, three ideological movements coexisted: Dashnaktsutyun, the communists, and the Armenian National Movement. With all due respect to each, all three were far superior to today’s prevailing philosophy of mere survival—the so-called ideology of “just living.”
I only began to understand the magnitude of these changes in the summer of 1991, when I visited Artsakh for the first time as a journalist for A1. The Soviet Union had not yet officially collapsed. I have heard many say—and I completely agree—that breathing the air of that land, immersing oneself in its atmosphere, and speaking with the people who live there can profoundly change a person. There is no rational explanation for this. But if we insist on seeking only rational explanations, then we must also accept the guiding principle of today’s authorities: that life is merely about filling the stomach.
Read also
Now, the Armenian authorities try to convince us that Artsakh is Azerbaijan, that the people of Artsakh—forced from their homes and stripped of their property—are nothing more than obstacles, that they did not defend their land well enough. They tell us that Azerbaijan is justified in destroying Armenian settlements and monuments, that its pursuit of legal action against Artsakh’s leaders is legitimate. That on February 20, 1988, we took the wrong path…
Recently, Azerbaijan has accused several Armenian figures—Vazgen Manukyan, Vazgen Sargsyan, Robert Kocharyan, Serzh Sargsyan, Samvel Babayan, Vitaly Balasanyan, Seyran Ohanyan, and Arshavir Gharamyan—of serious crimes. Maybe a trial should be held right here in Yerevan—why not? After all, with these authorities, there’s no betrayal too low if it’s done ‘for the sake of peace.’
Aram ABRAHAMYAN
