In 2018, several decent individuals became MPs for the ruling My Step faction, as well as members of the government. It was, of course, a mistaken move — but a forgivable one. At that time, many of us, myself included, still harbored some illusions. It would be unfair to accuse Sofia Hovsepyan, Tatevik Hayrapetyan, Arden Julfalakyan, and several other figures of opportunism. My respect for these people remains intact, especially since after the 2020 disaster, they distanced themselves from Pashinyan’s side.
It is also impossible to fault those who worked in Pashinyan’s executive branch between 2018 and 2020. Davit Ananyan, who served as Chairman of the State Revenue Committee during that period, retained his civic and personal integrity. The former governor of Syunik, Hunan Poghosyan, also did not seriously tarnish his record, having resigned in 2020. Although it was not very appropriate for a police officer to join in the revolutionary chants of “Dump Dump Hu” alongside the protesters. I suppose now he isn’t proud of that video and photo.
But those deputies who entered or continued their parliamentary careers in 2021, or who currently hold senior positions in various state institutions, I do not envy their fate — regardless of how comfortable they may feel today.
Perhaps, after a change of power, they will justify themselves by saying, “We served the state, not Pashinyan.” To me, this is a weak defense. Working “for the state,” they are compelled, to one degree or another, to fulfill Pashinyan’s demands — which we can clearly understand from the Prime Minister’s unrestrained speeches.
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Recently, I spoke with a young Russian colleague who expressed this hope:
“I want to see what the conformists serving Putin will do after his departure.”
My response was simple:
“Don’t even think about it — they will adapt very well to the new regime.”
Aram ABRAHAMYAN
