Nikol Pashinyan declares that Armenia should have a “pro-state opposition.” In general, this is, of course, an indisputable proposition. But it sounds absurd when voiced by a political leadership whose actions are, in essence, dictated by Azerbaijan’s perceptions and preferences. In these circumstances, the first thing to acknowledge is that what Armenia needs is a genuinely pro-state government or ruling force. Otherwise, the functioning of the Republic of Armenia is being gradually confined to a framework shaped by Azerbaijan’s “tastes.”
By and large, this is not even being concealed. After all, when everything is “explained” by the claim that failure to act this way would lead to conflict, war and so on, it amounts to an implicit admission that the authorities are doing — and must continue doing — what Azerbaijan considers convenient. By and large, no other factual or reasoned justification for the policy being pursued is being offered. Against this backdrop, when the idea of a “pro-state opposition” is put forward, the practical conclusion is that such an opposition, too, must fit within the framework acceptable to Azerbaijan. In other words, Prime Minister Pashinyan’s statement could perhaps be translated as follows: Armenia needs an opposition that Azerbaijan finds acceptable or agreeable. Clearly, an opposition that challenges the current policy, considers it unacceptable and wins the votes of hundreds of thousands of citizens on precisely that basis cannot be acceptable to Azerbaijan.
This raises another question: what about the citizens who vote for that opposition — the very opposition in question? Fine, let us assume that by using instruments of coercive pressure, it is possible to neutralize opposition forces unacceptable to Azerbaijan and clear the way for an Armenian opposition that Azerbaijan finds acceptable. But what about the hundreds of thousands of citizens who support them — at least half a million people, according to official figures alone? What is to be done with these people?
Presumably, Nikol Pashinyan will next declare that Armenia needs “pro-state citizens” or a “pro-state opposition electorate.” Hikmet Hajiyev will perhaps devise the model, including through meetings with representatives of Armenian civil society. After all, Hajiyev already has experience of using such contacts to convey messages to the Armenian public.
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Hakob BADALYAN
The illustration was created using AI technology
