Those serving it and those “getting by” will look for excuses
From July 1940 until August 1944, a collaborationist regime cooperating with the enemy was established in part of France under Marshal Philippe Pétain. This regime was known as “Vichy” because the government was based not in Paris but in the resort town of Vichy.
Following France’s military defeat in 1940, the country’s northern and Atlantic territories were placed under direct German occupation, while in the southern part a formally “French” government was established that was heavily dependent on Nazi Germany. For example, Pétain’s administration adopted essentially racist laws against Jews, and according to some historians, often on its own initiative and without specific instructions from Berlin, carried out arrests of Jews on the streets and deported them, including to Nazi death camps.
And it was French police officers and law enforcement officials who carried out these actions.
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It is well known that people are capable of committing acts of degradation without any “external pressure” when they become deeply involved in wrongdoing and crimes. In such cases, they become “more Catholic than the Pope” — or, in this particular case, more Nazi than the German Nazis themselves.
During that period, French society was divided into three groups:
supporters of Pétain, who collaborated with Nazi Germany;
those who tried to survive, to “get by” and avoid involvement in any problems (such people usually constitute the majority);
those who resisted the Vichy regime.
When that regime collapsed, many of those involved in brutal repression justified themselves by claiming that they had simply been doing their jobs within the framework of existing laws. In this case, such excuses could partly be considered valid — the puppet parliament had indeed adopted a number of inhumane laws.
When Armenia’s current, to put it mildly, pro-Azerbaijani and pro-Turkish government is eventually brought down, the country’s “law enforcement officers” will not have the same excuse. Dozens, perhaps hundreds, of criminal cases will be launched over unlawful prosecutions, arrests, detentions, court decisions and verdicts.
But what concerns me is not so much the future as what Armenian citizens are doing now.
Let us remember that at the time, all decent French people united against the Vichy government — from communists to royalists, supporters of the monarchy. It is difficult to imagine that the followers of Marx and the supporters of the Bourbons particularly loved one another or had much in common ideologically. But they were all French — not in an ethnic sense (Missak Manouchian, for example, was Armenian), but in the sense of being a civic nation.
For those thousands of people, it was important to demonstrate that they would not tolerate foreign domination and the humiliation of their dignity.
Pashinyan’s authoritarian regime will undoubtedly collapse one day. Those who serve it today are mistaken if they believe that it will last forever. Illegal actions and, by the way, corruption (yes, corruption) will inevitably come to light. The experience of the past 35 years, as well as the entire history of humanity, proves this.
However, those who are merely surviving, those who are simply “getting by” during these times, as well as the political forces that — openly or behind the scenes — are busy fighting each other, also bear their share of responsibility.
Today, these people feel no regret over their stance. Later, I believe, they too will look for excuses.
Aram ABRAHAMYAN
Aravot Daily
05.08.2026
