In the Old Testament, there’s a section called The Remainders (other nations, including the Russians, never translated the Greek word Paralipomenon). It refers to what was left out of earlier narratives. Well, for Pashinyan, the main “hero” is Kocharyan—the part left out of previous stories, which he now retells over and over.
There are times when I forget the second president of Armenia even exists. In psychology, this is called a defense mechanism. We try to push unpleasant memories—or faces—out of our minds in order to preserve a mental comfort zone. And yet, if we’re being objective, we have to admit: the unpleasantness Kocharyan caused pales in comparison to the disasters the current prime minister has brought upon us.
But Kocharyan is never forgotten for long—because almost every day, if not Pashinyan himself, then his propagandists, trolls, Civil Contract members, or others dredge up and replay one “leftover” story or another, to keep a large part of society’s hatred toward their favorite enemy burning.
Why this is done is no mystery. It’s to prevent people from considering the possibility that Pashinyan might have other opponents. In 2021, this strategy worked. And the authorities are still clinging to it: “You don’t like Pashinyan? Then you must want Kocharyan to come back!” I see this kind of comment on nearly every platform.
But I seriously doubt that recycling Kocharyan will help this time. First of all, in the last five years, new figures and forces have emerged. And second, the authorities’ own behavior over that time has been so disastrous that I suspect many would now prefer Kocharyan—if only to get rid of the current regime.
Aram ABRAHAMYAN
