Monday, December 27, 2010

A pity for human rights in Bishkek - Good luck, Dollar Armen!

Gala TV is scheduled to lose its license in 2015, having "lost" its bid;

A1plus is illegally shut out of broadcasting in Armenia;

The Kocharyan family is going after and trying to sue Zhamanak.com, recently having come out of their case against Haykakan Zhamanak;

Pashinyan has been moved, is in solitary, and his letters and articles are illegally confiscated; access to his lawyers is illegally reduced and monitored;

Liberty Square is still off limits to opposition supporters;

The state of human rights, of the right to freedom of speech and the press are being increasingly squashed at an abysmal rate...

But I have to admit... thinking of Dollar Armen (Armen Harutyunan) in Bishkek still makes me smile...
"According to press reports, Armen Harutyunyan will be appointed special representative of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights for Central Asia and will soon leave for Bishkek" [a1plus]

Who one earth at the UN thought Harutyunyan would actually be a good candidate, that is, that he is actually interested in defending Human Rights? And what does it take to convince someone at the UN that one is so inclined?

Good luck in Bishkek, Armen! If you can, take some of your friends with you - Dodi Gago, Lfik Samo, Nemets Rubo, Chorni Gago, Kocharyan, Sargsyan, Alik Sargsyan, Bazaz... and the whole lot of them!

You take those guys to Bishkek, and we'll be that much closer to getting A1plus, Gala, Liberty Square, Pashinyan, Mikaelyan, the rest of the political prisoners, and even basic human rights and democracy back in Armenia. It'll be the best thing you've done for Armenia so far!

Oh yeah, let's not forget the ARF still claiming they have anything to do with Human rights, and are not only independent of but are opposition to the government of Armenia - there's another smile...

And now I'm ready for the new year ;)

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

More Please... Pashinyan Graffiti hits Yerevan's Walls

Graffiti art depicting imprisoned journalist, chief editor of local daily Haykakan Jamanak ("Armenian Times") Nikol Pashinyan has been seen on the pedestrian underpass near the Chekhov school on Baghramyan Blvd. in central Yerevan.

The graffiti is the work of "Art Laboratoria," al local group of painters and artists.

Recall that the same group is responsible for the now infamous graffiti art found on the walls of the pedestrian underpass near Vernissage market, on Khanjan street, depicting a soldier who has shot himself.

The work was much discussed in the Armenian blogosphere and was also included in an exhibit at the Armenian Center for Contemporary Experimental Art (ACCEA, or NPAK in Armenian).

[text and photo from epress.am]

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Well said.

article and photo from 1in.am
WikiLeaks` ՀՅԴ գլխին

ՀՅԴ-ն երեկ հանդիսավոր միջոցառում է անցկացրել օպերայի եւ բալետի Ազգային թատրոնում: Այդ միջոցառման ուշագրավ տարրն այն է, որ դրան մասնակցել է Սերժ Սարգսյանը: Սա, թերեւս, այն բանի լավագույն պատասխանն է, թե որքանո±վ է ՀՅԴ-ն ընդդիմություն եւ որքանո±վ են իրական ՀՅԴ այն հայտարարությունները, թե իբր նոր որակի իշխանություն է պետք ձեւավորել իշխանափոխության ճանապարհով: Սերժ Սարգսյանն իր ներկայությամբ փաստացի փակում է ՀՅԴ այդ ճանապարհը` ցույց տալով, որ Դաշնակցությունն ունի գնալու մի ճանապարհ` Սերժ Սարգսյանի հետեւից, եւ որեւէ այլ ճանապարհի թույլտվություն նրան տրված չէ: Այդ առումով բավական հատկանշական է այն իրադարձային ֆոնը, որի պայմաններում տեղի է ունենում ՀՅԴ հանդիսավոր միջոցառումն ու դրան Սերժ Սարգսյանի մասնակցությունը: Խոսքը Գագիկ Բեգլարյանի աղմկահարույց պաշտոնանկության մասին է, որն ակնհայտորեն ամրացրել է Սերժ Սարգսյանի իշխանական դիրքերը եւ որոշակիորեն լոյալության արժանացել հանրային շատ շրջանակներում: Եվ ահա §ձիու վրա¦ հայտնված Սերժ Սարգսյանը արշավում է նաեւ ՀՅԴ տարածքներով` ցույց տալով, թե ով է իրականում այդ տարածքների տերը, ու ընդհանրապես գծելով իր տիրապետության սահմանները հայաստանյան քաղաքական դաշտում: Սրանից հետո, իհարկե, դժվար է լուրջ ընկալել ընդդիմություն լինելու եւ իշխանափոխություն իրականացնելու մտադրության մասին Դաշնակցության հայտարարությունները, քանի որ Սերժ Սարգսյանը ցույց տվեց, թե իրականում ում տիրապետության գոտում է այդ կուսակցությունը եւ ով է կանխորոշում դրա անելիքը: Ավելին, նույնիսկ զարմանալի չի լինի, եթե պարզվի, որ Դաշնակցությունը գիտակցելով, որ Սերժ Սարգսյանի ներկայությունը ՀՅԴ 120-ամյակի հանդիսավոր միջոցառմանը պարզապես լինելու է ՀՅԴ-ի գլխին սարքված WikiLeaks, ամենեւին մտադիր էլ չի եղել հրավիրել Սերժ Սարգսյանին: Սակայն վերջինս, Բեգլարյանի հանդեպ հաղթանակով ոգեւորված, երեւի թե որոշել է սուրը դեռ պատյանը չդրած` հրապարակավ դրա տակով անցկացնել նաեւ ՀՅԴ-ին: Բնական է, որ Դաշնակցությանն այլ բան չէր մնա, քան շտապ ուղարկել Սերժ Սարգսյանի հրավիրատոմսը եւ բացել օպերայի դռները նրա առաջ, քանի դեռ բանը չի հասել արարողակարգին:

Sunday, December 5, 2010

C'mon boys! Orders are in, let's move out! Don't forget the batons!

Time and time again there are scuffles when police mix with peaceful protesters in Armenia. It happened again at the rally organized in Ijevan, demanding the security and release of political prisoner Nikol Pashinyan.
When there are no police, there is a peaceful demonstration. When the police are there, things escalate to pushing and pulling and other such scuffles, and even more. And when the order given from up on high so demands, we have events like March 1.
But why does it even get to the point in the picture, where the police are walking up ahead of peaceful protesters, batons in hand - and some of the police actually look baton-happy.

The police, the single individual low-level policeman, is in a 'tough' spot. He wants a job and security. To start out, he's (the vast majority of the time) clearly not going to be a man with strong principles of human rights or pacifism. So he justifies to himself how and why he takes the job. Maybe he learns to like the power, as do many in positions of physical and 'legal' authority. But then he faces his own citizens, maybe his own neighbor or someone he knows, or his kid's friend's father protesting in the street. He sees those people taking risks he did not, standing for things he does not, and yelling things like "Amot [shame]."

What is our new friend to do? Will he refuse orders given to him by the likes of Bazaz? Will he follow orders, no matter what?

He will turn to see what the others in his group are doing - we are, after all, pack animals. And if even just a few are following orders, so will he. And once he makes that decision, it becomes hard for him to turn back, and every further act of peace, every next "Amot" makes him angrier. Because, really, who wants to be made to feel guilty?

And so batons come out, and orders are followed.

That is where the violence starts. In the police, in the regime. It starts there when scuffles start at rallies, and it started in the police and the regime on March 1.

There are more batons than those circled in the picture above, they're just not visible in this shot, which is a still from Gagik Shamshyan's video on news.am, with the corresponding article (similar article in eng on a1plus).

The news.am article has a bunch of photos, and here's another still from the video.


If you look closely, you'll the see head policeman has a phone in his hand. He just got his orders, and now he's excited to move into the people. The beta-wolf got his orders from the alpha-wolf, and the pack is ready to move out!




My apologies to the few policemen, if any, who may actually be clean, civil, and human rights driven. My absolute commendation to those who have refused orders which they found to be unethical. Perhaps not in the police force, but we do know what happens to those who try to maintain an ethical code within the army. My condolences to their families.


P.S. This is in ABSOLUTELY NO way a justification or excuse for police behavior, just as studies such as the Milgram experiments and the Stanford Prisoner Experiment do not justify war atrocities carried out by soldiers.

Monday, November 29, 2010

The Youth are Fundamental

Amongst some of the news regarding change of hands in the youth movements of HAK and HHSh, I read a sentiment which while perhaps obvious in the non-printed media, rumours and general atmosphere, is not stated or printed nearly enough...

That the youth are key to change in Armenia, that their strength and motivation is fundamental to the movement, to any movement, and by engaging in politics many are sacrificing so much of themselves...

And while those in prison, as far as I can remember, are all above 30 years old or so and considered among the older generation, it is mainly the youth who have been out there time and time again, often getting beaten and dragged off the police station, and in many cases off to court repeatedly...

Even during the period when there was a serious stagnation in the political arena, it was the youth, with their activities, who could keep that standstill alive... it's painful that our youth, putting its main problem aside, is forced to engage in politics...
I pity you, but I implore you, however much you engage in politics, don't forget your main issue. Your main issue is the problem of becoming educated, developed, intellectual professionals...
For us, you have two missions. First, to ensure the ideological legacy of the party, and second, to breathe down our backs, do not allow us to stagnate... (statements from LTP)


The youth are absolutely fundamental. I'm glad to see they are publicly getting at least some of the recognition they deserve.

The quotes are from articles 1 and 2

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Lisbon and Self-Determination

Ditord has been kind enough to post my most recent piece

Guest Post: Lisbon Then and Now: Who was determined enough to stand for Self Determination?

Also, a quick update: there are some (relative) newcomers to the Armenian news world. Epress and 1in.am, which I think are both great sources of info, and both in multiple languages.

Friday, November 19, 2010

Payqar, Payqar, Minchev Verj!

Update: hnazarian has posted another video of the same event, from epress, in which certain garbled segments can be heard more clearly than the one from a1plus below

Thursday, November 11, 2010

We'll do 'em like Khalafyan...


The other day, during what would have been a peaceful protest if the police hadn't been involved, there was a significant scuffle between opposition youth and the police. Four youth were taken in to the police department, beaten by police, and released later in the day, and immediately showed up at the opposition rally that was going on. The photo on the left is taken with permission from the facebook group ԸՆԴԴԵՄ ՈՍՏԻԿԱՆԱԿԱՆ ԱՊՕՐԻՆՈՒԹՅՈՒՆՆԵՐԻ(AGAINST POLICE VIOLATIONS) - the caption explains that these are the faces of two of the policemen who were among the most active in beating the opposition youth at the police station.

The regime's consistent response to youth practicing their fundamental human rights is to beat them, shove them in a police car, and beat them some more. There's nothing new in this.

But I had not yet heard the following yet, nor did I see it reported anywhere in writing.

One of the RFE/RL broadcasts after the release of the four youths had a short clip with one of the very active youth, Vahagn Gevorgyan. You can start listening around 7:30 min, he starts recounting what happened to them after the arrest at around 8:15 min - here is a rough translation and transliteration:

"Just after they got us through the entrance to the division, until we got to the on-duty section, having thrown us to the ground, they took us through beating us and pushing and pulling us, they weren’t asking us to do anything, they were just beating us, they were hitting us on our heads, too...

They hit Sargis Gevorgyan on his head a couple of times, I saw how they were kicking [us]...

From getting kicked in the head he [Sargis] hit his head on the floor and after that he couldn’t get up, he was dizzy...

When we had fallen on the floor, one of the policeman said,

'that’s enough, they’ll die like this.' And the other [policeman] said,

'Good good, we’ll make it like Khalafyan’s situation'


Wow.

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Serzh-like attacks, or, Attacks a la Serzh

[pic borrowed from nikol.am] Recently there were reports of Pashinyan being harassed and attacked in prison. He is basically being pressured, nay, told, to stop writing, and the regime is using just about everything they can think of to try to stop him, as throwing him in jail has clearly not worked. In fact, the regime is subcontracting out to the those who can get to him while he is in prison, other prisoners.
I don't remember hearing of these attacks during the first bit of his imprisonment, but we've now had reports of a few such incidents - this is the second or third, or maybe even fourth? I'll have to start keeping actual track. The most recent one was November 3rd, and there were some mixed messages in the news about what happened. Pashinyan wrote a piece on it on November 5 in Armenian Times, however, and there seems to be a promise of more writing to come on this topic. Below is my unofficial, somewhat coarse but hopefully understandable translation:

Serzh-like Attacks

Once again, the public received information regarding yet another incident organized against me at Kosh penitentiary. I will say right off, that the news does correspond to the reality of what happened, and what took place provides a good opportunity to explain more completely the incidents involving my person which have occurred up until this point at Kosh.

1. Here, my friend, a flag for you

The most recent incident took place in the evening of November 3rd. Those among the inmates who had the reputation of being ‘soldati’ were involved in the operation. The ‘soldati,’ as I already mentioned, are inmates with different assignments. They receive various assignments to use force, and then carry them out. The acts of violence and intimidation which are committed against the other inmates are carried out through these individuals

The operation began in approximately the following way: first, under various pretexts, potential eyewitnesses were removed from around my sleeping area, the entrances and exits were closed, and one individual came forward as a representative of the criminal world and began demanding answers from me in an aggressive tone, asking why I do not behave like a normal inmate. With a restrained hardness I countered by asking him to explain exactly to which pretenses he was referring. That is, what was it I was being accused of, if anything, and what was being asked of me, if anything. As I expected, what he had to say was unclear and vague. Many worthy people do not find my published, articles, my political activities, or my general behavior to be pleasing. Naturally, I said that I am not ready to discuss my articles, my journalistic and political activities, regardless of whether they are “worthy” individuals or unworthy. Having understood that the conversation could not continue with this theme, the noted head ‘soldat’ of the operation changed his tactics and uttered an extremely important sentence, “Haven’t you been told to take that flag down from there?” Dear reader, I ask you to pay close attention so that you can imagine fully the situation. The quoted statement of the head ‘soldat’ refers to the flag of the Republic of Armenia- red, blue and apricot-colored. But not a big flag, but a small, souvenir-sized one. It measures six by twelve centimeters.

I have hung this type of flag in my sleeping area, above my head, for the entire time I have been in prison, at “Yerevan-Kentron” penitentiary, “Nubarashen” penitentiary, and now at “Kosh” penitentiary. The ‘soldat’ was right; during a prior incident the attacking brigade had demanded that I get rid of the flag and that I not put it anywhere visible. The justification for this is not available, you will take it down and that is that, if you do not take it down, it will be bad. The last similar conversation had taken place about one month prior, and my flag has not been down for even one second. And so, with the organizers of the November 3rd incident having nothing concrete to say to me, they then aimed their activities at the flag, at the flag of the Republic of Armenia, demanding that it be taken down immediately, and never be put up again. Naturally, my response was unequivocal, and without question the flag had to stay above my head. It was on this topic that the conversation became more strained, and the head ‘soldat’ attacked me. As happens in such situations, a large number of people had gathered near my sleeping area, and it was hard to tell who was friends with whom. And despite the fact that the officers of the penitentiary come running and gather like flies at every inmate’s every sneeze, for the approximately fifteen minutes during which there was yelling and loud conversation, not a single officer showed up. The story ended with a “hesitant scuffle,” and the sides maintained their positions. The opposing side insisted that I no longer write articles in the newspaper, and that I must take down the flag of the Republic of Armenia from above my head. You now read an article which was written after the abovementioned incident, and the flag of the RA continues to hang above my head. And that is how it will always be.

P.S. In upcoming chapters I will reflect on other incidents that have occurred to me at “Kosh” and conversations about them that are circulating outside.

Friday, November 5, 2010

Who owes whom?

[Addendum: edited for clarification purposes after posting]

I don't generally like commenting on Diasporan issues though I do from time to time because, frankly, it usually just frustrates and irritates me further. However, I just read a piece on Ianyan Magazine that made me want to post a comment on the article which already has a number of comments. Rather than blather on as a comment there, I thought I'd write my musings here.

The article, in the form of a Letter from the Editor, recounts the editor's interaction with and subsequent musings about an Armenian gentleman. It starts as follows:
“The motherland should be best loved from afar,” a man said to me the other day, “or else it will sting you.”

My reaction to the man's words were immediate, and of course developed further as I read the piece. The man's father was from Cyprus, the man himself had left Armenia in the 90's and moved to Hollywood, and had returned to the US in one year. So the story is not so simple - though we have no other information about him, he seems to have been of a Diasporan lineage that relocated at some point to Armenia, and he relocated back out in the 90s, and tried to go back. Two separate generations of moving to Armenia, which is 2 times more than most Diasporan families.

It seems clear in the article that the man did not necessarily want to leave, and in fact wishes he could have stayed, that he is sad to have (had to?) leave, for whatever reason. And this is a relatively common story on one level or another - families or businesses that try to start or relocate to Armenia meet with so much difficulty in terms of finding jobs or corrupt taxation or bureaucracy, that they end up unable to stay. I am not comparing the hardship of those who do live in Armenia to those who try to relocate. That is irrelevant to my point (which I will get to soon enough), and my purpose is not to compare or judge. There are those who have tried and succeeded in moving from the outside to Armenia, and some who have tried and failed.

What I would like to point out is his wording. To "love the homeland from afar", or "she will sting you." Of course it is a sentence of sadness. And perhaps in this context, thats all there was to it. I was not there for the conversation. The editor ends the article, it seems, curious, wondering, maybe a little sad herself, but saying "its worth the risk." I agree, it is worth it, but that is only the beginning... I would take it much further...

I have been in conversations where similar comments are made about Armenia. And in these contexts, as can be imagined for argument's sake may have occurred in this conversation, there is a sense of hurt. And that hurt is linked to a sense of something having been done to the speaker. Armenia should have been a certain way, it was not, and therefore Armenia caused someone pain/hurt. As though Armenia were a single entity, an entity which owes me, you, Armenians in general.
That is a sense of entitlement. To say, well, Armenia hurt me, so its better to stay far from it (to perhaps abandon it completely as a real place, and leave it only as an idea), to say that I will just glance at it from time to time because it hurt me and wasn't what it was supposed to be, because it did not live up to my ideals, that is entitlement.

And this sentiment was rampant in the 90s in the Diaspora, and is still rampant in a mutated form today. Because Armenia, to so many Diasporans, was and is not a land with an entire population, a people, who live and breathe every day. But rather, Armenia was and is a homeland, a pedestalized (perhaps no longer in the mutated version) 'homeland' where soil is fertile, flowers bloom without bees, streets pave themselves, and all is well and good. Undesired and frowned upon realities of any and all societies - poverty, violence, prostitution, 'immorality' - all those things to which people often say "Amot," the things that of course 'real Armenians' anywhere do not do, they did not exist in Armenia.

That was the imagined, the pedestalized Armenia that so many expected. And of course it fell short.

And so there have been since the early 90s and continue to be comments about Armenia, 'it's dirty, 'it's corrupt'... and stories about thievery and scams that happen to Diasporans... and comments like 'X is just soo bad in Armenia,'...

And when I hear that, what I was reminded of when I read the man's statement in the letter from the editor, is that sense of entitlement.

What I always want to say back when I hear such things, is well, if it so bad, what are you, as a self-identified Armenian, doing to make it better?
How can you possibly feel satisfied with visiting Armenia, leaving and criticizing, and then going back in two years and repeating the cycle all over again?

If you, and I, and all of us, if we are all Armenian, then we are all part of this great idealized nation; Armenia is not just a homeland, but a land of people, of the Armenian people - Armenia IS the people and population of Armenia, with millions of actual Armenians, not just an entity which exists to provide Diasporans with a sense of idealized homeland and a nice vacation spot.

I suppose that is what JFK meant when he said: Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.

If we truly want to be part of a great nation with a great Homeland, then it is not the Homeland that owes us, but we, as individuals of a nation, that owe and must build the Homeland.

The question of whether it is worth it is easy, but almost irrelevant.

The real question is, can we be worthy of the Armenia of which we all dream?

Friday, October 29, 2010

They released Ashot Manukyan...One is only the beginning...

They released Ashot Manukyan... My best wishes and gratitude to him and his entire family.

I don't know why he was released... Is there truly effective pressure being placed by internal and/or external forces? Is this related to numerous recent issues of illegal activities and corruption that have come to light recently (Medicare scams in the US, Armenian oligarch ties to Moscow and former Mayor Luzhkov)?

What I do know is that it is not out of the magnanimous benevolence and warm heart of any of the oligarchs of this regime.

And ONE is not enough. ONE is a beginning. Anyone following the events in Armenia knows that this government can make (most) what it wants happen, when it wants.

We will not be silenced by the release of ONE - they must all be released, including Liberty Square, A1plus and Pashinyan.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

27 October, 1999

Copy of a letter from Vano to Vazgen, warning Vazgen of danger.
Reprinted in a booklet by Vahagn Ghukasyan (who also writes the Septemberi21 blog)
Letter is reprinted also at hzh.am

ADDENDUM: HZH reprinted the letter on 11-25 1999, but its not in their archives. I apparently found it somewhere else, and linked to it before in a prior post, here.

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Voices for the voice of A1plus... 1+ 1+ 1+ 1....

A1+ has been off the air since 2002, despite the decision of the European Court of Human Rights. The way things are going now, the games being played by the regime will continue to successfully keep A1+ off the air. A foundation has now been established to help raise money to support A1plus - they're also counting every contribution not just in terms of monetary value, but as votes in support of them and what they represent. That is, at least in my eyes, freedom of press in Armenia... and the power of individuals to bring back basic human rights to Armenia. Contribute, even if it is just one dollar.

Here are some links to articles with more details (English, Armenian). Below I'm posting the information for contributions - every voice is a vote...
At the bottom is a video from a1plus


Դրամով փոխանցումների դեպքում
«Առեքսիմբանկ-Գազպրոմբանկի խումբ» ՓԲԸ

«Մելտեքս» ՍՊԸ

AMD – Հ/Հ 23800 – 01250350100

—————————————————————————————————-
For Donations in EUROS:
Եվրոյով փոխանցումների դեպքում
Intermediary Bank
DEUTSCHE BANK AG
FRANKFURT/ MAIN, GERMANY
SWIFT: DEUTDEFF
Acc. No. DE 42500700100947722500

Beneficiary Bank
CJSC ‘‘AREXIMBANK- GAZPROMBANK GROUP”
Yerevan, Armenia
SWIFT: RKASAM22

Beneficiary Meltex LTD
23800 -01250350149

—————————————————————————————————
For Donations in DOLLARS:
Դոլարով փոխանցումների դեպքում
Intermediary Bank DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS,
NEW YORK, USA
SWIFT: BKTRUS33
ABA: 021001033

Beneficiary Bank
CJSC ‘‘AREXIMBANK- GAZPROMBANK GROUP”
Yerevan, Armenia
SWIFT: RKASAM22

Beneficiary Meltex LTD
23800- 01250350101

—————————————————————————————————
For Donations in Russian RUBLES
Ռուսական ռուբլիով փոխանցումների դեպքում
Банк-посредник

ГПБ (OAO)
Mocква, РФ
К/с 30101810200000000823
БИК 044525823
ИНН 7744001497
SWIFT: GAZPRUMMXXX

Банк-получателя:

ЗАО «АРЭКСИМБАНК-ГРУППА ГАЗПРОМБАНКА»
Ереван, РА
SWIFT: RKASAM22
Корреспондентский счет в ГПБ (ОАО)
Nօ. 30111810700000005936


Получатель: “Мелтекс” ООО
23800- 01250350158

Thursday, October 21, 2010

On Freedoms and Prisoners in Armenia

I saw this article and thought that there is, indeed, hope for the near future, that is, for the release of the political prisoners:
Armenian Opposition Leader Upbeat on Prisoner Release

If it is true, it is wonderful news for many families, for democracy, justice, and for Armenia.

But there are three political prisoners whom this banditocracy, this oligarchy cannot afford to release, because of who or what they are, and the freedoms that they represent. I think that if any two of these three were to be released, perhaps even just one, well, a lot might happen....
They are, in my opinion, A1plus TV, Liberty Square, and Nikol Pashinyan.
Read, Freedom of Press, Freedom of Assembly, and Freedom of Speech.

And my guess is that this regime will release, when they have to, all of the political prisoners except these last three...

And with the feigned ignorance of the Council of Europe/PACE, another two years could go by without any change or aid on the part of such institutions, with empty resolutions and more bargaining...

And then what will be of the next elections?

I ask not because I think the future of Armenia lay in the good deeds of those outside, but rather, because as we saw beginning in the Spring of 2008, it may in fact lay in their convenient, unconscionable and utterly destructive willful ignorance.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

"պտի ղուրբան ըլնեք"

"Մասնավորապես, ոստիկանության ՊՊԾ գնդի հրամանատարի տեղակալ Խաչիկ Ավետիսյանը բարձրաձայն հայտարարեց.

«Սաղտ պտի ղուրբան ըլնեք, որ Սերժ Սարգսյանի պես նախագահ ունեք»: Ներկաներից մեկը հարցով պատասխանեց ոստիկանին` ասելով.

«Դու երևի ամեն օր ղուրբան լինելով ման ես գալիս, չէ՞»:"

[From epress.am]

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Yerevan Graffiti


A sample of graffiti from Yerevan (Unzipped has a number posted) - unfortunately the sender did not tell me at which underpass the photo was taken.
For those wondering, yes, the original is in fact done upside down.

Friday, October 15, 2010

Russia and the Armenian Oligarchy: Trafficking, Narcotic Trafficking, and Money Laundering

From HZH (and below is a mildly edited google translation) and see also Hnazarians recent posts and ArmeniaToday:
Ութից յոթը ցուցակում են

Մեր տեղեկություններով` ՌԴ ազգային անվտանգության մարմինը, դատախազությունը եւ մյուս իրավապահ մարմինները տարբեր քրեական գործերի նախաքննության ընթացքում` հիմնականում նարկոթրաֆիքի, թրաֆիքինգի եւ փողերի լվացման գործերով, պարզել են, որ հանցագործությունների հետ առնչություն ունեն նաեւ ՀՀ պաշտոնյաներ:

ՌԴ իրավապահները պարզել են, որ ռուսական կրիմինալ խմբավորումները ՀՀ տարբեր պաշտոնյաների հետ սերտ կապերի մեջ են, եւ կազմել են տարբեր քրեական գործերի հետ առնչություն կամ ռուսական կրիմինալ խմբավորումների հետ կապեր ունեցող ՀՀ պաշտոնյաների ցուցակ, որում ընդգրկել են 32 անուն: Մեր տեղեկություններով, այս ցուցակի վերաբերյալ ՌԴ դատախազության ներկայացուցիչները զրուցել են «Միաբանություն» հայկական ազգային ակումբի նախագահ Սմբատ Կարախանյանի հետ: Ցուցակը ՌԴ դատախազության ղեկավարությունը ոչ պաշտոնական ֆորմատով ցուցադրել է ՀՀ գլխավոր դատախազ Աղվան Հովսեփյանին եւ ԱԱԾ տնօրեն Գորիկ Հակոբյանին: Ռուսական կողմը ցուցակում նշված անձանց պատասխանատվության ենթարկելու հարց է բարձրացրել: Սակայն, ՀՀ վերը նշված պաշտոնյաներն իրենց ռուս գործընկերներին պատասխանել են, որ այդ խնդիրը լուծելու համար իրենք շատ փոքր մարդիկ են: Մեր տեղեկություններով, ՌԴ իրավապահների կազմած ցուցակի առաջին յոթ հորիզոնականներում հետեւյալ անուններն են. Սերժ Սարգսյանի եղբայր, ԱԺ պատգամավոր Սաշիկ Սարգսյան, ԱԺ պատգամավորներ Ռուբեն Հայրապետյան («Նեմեց Ռուբո») եւ Լեւոն Սարգսյան («Ալրաղացի Լյովիկ»), ՀՀ ՊԵԿ նախագահ Գագիկ Խաչատրյան, ԱԺ պատգամավոր Սամվել Ալեքսանյան («Լֆիկ Սամո»), ԱԺ նախագահ Հովիկ Աբրահամյան եւ ԱԺ ԲՀԿ խմբակցության ղեկավար Գագիկ Ծառուկյան: Ըստ մեր տեղեկությունների, ՌԴ իրավապահները ցուցակում Սերժ Սարգսյանի անունը չեն ընդգրկել, քանի որ ի սկզբանե բացառել են, որ հնարավոր կլինի նրան պատասխանատվության ենթարկելու հարց բարձրացնել:

[My rough editing of the google translation]

According to our sources, Russia's national security body, the prosecutor's office and various other law enforcement agencies have, during the investigation of criminal cases-- regarding mostly narcotic trafficking, trafficking and money laundering cases-- found out that the crimes are also related to officials of the Republic of Armenia.

Russia's law enforcement officials announced that Russian criminal groups have close ties with various officials of the RA, and have made up a list of RA officials who are connected with various criminal cases or who are connected with the Russian criminal groups; the list has 32 names. According to our information, representatives of the prosecutor's office of the Russian Federation have discussed this list with Smbat Karakhanyan, who is the president of the "Unity" national club. Representatives of the RF Prosecutor's office have also shown the list in an unofficial manner to Attorney General Aghvan Hovsepian and director of the National Security Service Gorik Hakobyan. The Russian side raised the question of liability regarding the persons mentioned in the list. In response, however, the above officials indicated to their Russian colleagues that they are very small people to be dealing with/to solve that problem. According to our information, the first seven places in Russia's law enforcement agencies' list are held by the following names: Serzh Sargsyan's brother, MP Sashik Sargsyan, Ruben Hayrapetyan MPs (Nemets Rubo) and Levon Sargsyan (Alraghatsi Lyovik), the State Revenue Committee Chairman Gagik Khachatryan, MP Samvel Aleksanyan (Lfik Samo), the NA Speaker Mr Hovik Abrahamyan (Muk) and the PAP faction leader Gagik Tsarukyan (Dodi Gago). According to our information, Serge Sargsyan's name is not included in Russia's law enforcement list because they excluded from the very beginning that they will be able to raise the issue of liability in his case.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Political prisoners, violations, and silence all continue...

Lindblad is in essence boycotting the Council of Europe Democracy Forum which is to be held later this month in Yerevan. Having apparently voted against the forum being held in Armenia in the first place, he has stated recently that time and again the scheduled visits by co-rapporteurs to Armenia have been postponed, and members of the Armenian government have denied requests to meet with the Co-rapporteurs on the sidelines of the Forum. In a letter addressed to the Chair of the Armenian Delegation, he harshly criticized the Armenian government, and wrote "[these actions] seem to confirm my assumption that Armenia is not yet mature enough to host the Forum" (the letter is already posted by nazarian). Per Lindblad, the letter upset Co-rapporteur Prescott, who took the side of the Armenian Government.
Postanjyan also had something to say about the matter, pointing out that if Lindblad had really wanted to come, he had multiple prior opportunities, and that in fact, he was too busy with his own election campaign (which he lost) to come to Armenia. A loss which means that after November, Lindblad will no longer be a Co-rapporteur, and will have to be replaced. Per Lindblad, his impending replacement is being used by the Armenian government, that they are likely waiting for his replacement with "a less independent rapporteur" to allow the visit.

All of this is very important in its place. But what often gets forgotten in such situations is the fundamental reality that myself and many others have pointed out - Democracy and Human Rights are NOT a priority for PACE, or other Western Countries. Such principles are paraded and flaunted here and there, but are really just tools for bargaining. A few months back a close friend noted that the US at least seemed to have washed its hands of the Armenian situation, almost as if saying it wasn't worth the trouble, and leaving the issue to Russia to deal with. I wasn't sure then if I agreed, and I'm still not sure, but I cant say I completely disagree, either.

Its not just that gross violations of basic human rights and life occurred, it is that they CONTINUE to occur:

Police harassment and ludicrous trials continue, like the ones of Sargis Gevorgyan and Davit Kiramijyan...
Freedom of Press continues to exist only as a shadow, with laws being discussed now that will continue to restrict and silence voices with non-government opinions...
There continue to be over a dozen political prisoners in Armenia, at least one of whom (journalist Nikol Pashinyhan) has recently been threatened as he continues to write opposition articles even from his jail cell...
Liberty Square itself is now a political prisoner... the government continues to refuse any opposition meetings be held in Liberty Square, and continues to add small children's pasttimes to the square to provide an excuse for refusal...

But there is no sound of protest from PACE to any of this, or the myriad of other such violations of humanity.

If opposition voices were to be allowed to have a voice on television, and if Liberty Square was in fact open to the people, that is, if there were even a decent shred of Freedom of Speech, Press, and Assembly, those voices of opposition which have been silenced by fear, would again come to life...

Would the regime fire on the people again?
And if they did, would the world reactions be any different?

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Beyond Absurdity...

UPDATE: Lragir has published an article outlining several more inconsistencies from the forensic exam.

This is just absurd.

In addition to the numerous signs of violence on his body, the autopsy findings on Artak Nazaryan reveal that there was a hole caused by a gunshot in his tongue.

This would mean that he place the muzzle of the rifle under or in front of his tongue, which seems counterintuitive for someone who is alone, committing suicide.

It does seem completely consistent with the theory that the muzzle was forcibly put in his mouth.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Constitution? What Constitution?

I was just looking something up in the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia. As I opened the page, I saw this:

Հոդված 1.
Հայաստանի Հանրապետությունը ինքնիշխան, ժողովրդավարական, սոցիալական, իրավական պետություն է:

(Transl from Foreign Ministry) Article 1.
The Republic of Armenia is a sovereign, democratic state, based on social justice and the rule of law.

(Transl from Presidential Website) Article 1.
The Republic of Armenia is a sovereign, democratic, social state governed by rule of law.


I wasn't sure if it even made sense to read what came after that...

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

"These things don't happen in the Armenian Army..." Really?

This is what is wrong with the recent responses of the Seyran Ohanyan's Ministry of Defense. They put the cart before the horse, and deny the obvious and known. Now, I'm not sure they're as bad, or at least as obvious, as Alik Sargsyan's Police Department - I say I'm not sure, I just don't have enough information - but that's not really saying much. What am I talking about? Let's take two recent occurrences - 1)the death of Artak Nazaryan and 2)the recent YouTube video.

In the case of the first, Artak Nazaryan's mother set out, in a well balanced, both logical and emotional public letter to Seyran Ohanyan, her specific concerns and doubts regarding the investigation into her son's alleged suicide. His response was just published on Lragir in Armenian here. The english is not available, but for those interested the google translation is understandable, and here is the summary:

Paragraph 1: You have doubts about the criminal investigation, you think it is flawed
Par 2: I am sorry for your loss. Under article 110 paragraph 1 and article 375 paragraph 2, Captain Hakob Manukyan is being charged.
Par 3: 3 others are charged with Article 358, paragraph 2, point 3
Par 4: This issue is important, continues to be investigated, is under my direct supervision, a detailed investigation has been ordered so that those guilty can be punished and so that such things do not happen again
Final Par: I am ready to have a private meeting with you, and have the head of the investigation answer your questions in my presence

A couple of things are missing for me here: an acknowledgement or validation of her detailed concerns regarding the serious flaws in the investigation, and a sense of transparency regarding the outcome. That is, why does it have to be a private meeting? Additionally, and maybe I'm just being picky, but really, I would have expected more with regards to a sense of loss, a sense of loss for the family, for the army, and for the entire country. And if the investigation is not complete, how do you already "know" it was suicide (and how did you "know" it was suicide so soon)? I have to say, its not a good response, but its not utterly horrific. Somewhere in there I think I see a glimpse of a shred of concern - but honestly, I can't tell if this is real, or they just have a writer who has some sense of what to write.

On to #2. The video which was pulled off of YouTube and DailyMotion, but then reappeared with some restrictions on YouTube. Some bloggers posted it after downloading, and apparently were criticized for it - parts of Ara Manoogian's comment on Unzipped's blog (both of them posted the video):
What is even more disturbing to me is how many people are demanding that this be covered up and not made public...[]
I have received threats of violence if I don't remove the video in private messages, have been called a trader and for the most part I am seeing the majority of the over 350 comments to be in favor of removing the video since it will scar our reputation...[]
I will also add that I have been contacted by the MoD media department, who have clearly stated their commitment to find the man in the video and have even gone so far as asking for my help to do this.


Likely due to the massive publicity the video attained, the MoD published a response on the website, here in Armenian. Again, the offical English is not available, but the google translate version is pretty good, and here is a summary:

Paragraph 1: Footage was put up on YouTube showing young men in Armenian Army uniforms being abused. The quality of the footage is low, so the faces aren't clear, and Armenian words can't be made out
Par 2: But since the soldiers are wearing Armenian uniforms, the public is upset.
Par 3: The MoD strongly condemns the preparation and dissemination of such materials which are intended to denigrate and blacken the reputation of the Armenian Army.
Last Par: The MoD is investigating the authenticity of the video, and aims to identify those pictured on the video, and the authors of the video, to punish those committing the violence

And there it is again - it seems to be they're trying to cover all their bases, but have their priorities backwards. If it is not authentic, why talk so strongly about identifying and punishing those in the video? And if it is authentic, why is production of the video such a horrible thing - yes it is embarrassing and demoralizing, but everyone knows its happening, and this seems to be the only recourse left. In the end, it seems to be the only way to bring these issues to light, and ultimately strengthen the army. If they're not sure yet, then state that, with a few more if/then statements. Honestly, I feel the priority here should be addressing the fundamental problem, not condemning the besmirchment of the army. [Unzipped has a good translation and discussion regarding this in the comments section of the relevant post]

So, maybe I'm not being fair, and MoD is really just trying to play it safe on all counts. Nope, that doesn't work, from News.am (my emphasis):

Commenting on the Youtube video demonstrating harassment of soldiers, allegedly in the Armenian army, the Minister stated he does not believe such things happen in the Armenian army. He pointed out that experts are now studying the video. “If we find out such a thing really happened, the one guilty will be punished severely. Unfortunately, we have not yet been able to find that man,” the Minister said. He also stressed that those who put the video on Youtube will be punished as well.


Aaaakh, Seyran, Seyran...

------
Translation of the Criminal Code is from Legislation Online:
[Article 110. Causing somebody to commit suicide.
1. Causing somebody to commit suicide or make an attempt at a suicide by indirect willfulness or by negligence, by means of threat, cruel treatment or regular humiliation of one’s dignity, is punished with imprisonment for the term of up to 3 years.
Article 375. Abuse of power, transgression of authority or administrative dereliction.
1. Abuse of power, transgression of authority or administrative dereliction, if these acts were committed for mercenary or group-interest motives, by a commander or official, and if these inflicted essential damage, is punished with imprisonment for 2-5 years.
2. The same acts which negligently caused grave consequences, are punished with imprisonment for 3-8 years.
Article 358. Violence against the commander.

1. Battery or other violent actions against the commander related to the performance of his military duties, is punished with disciplinary battalion for the term of up to 2 years, or with imprisonment for the term of up to 5 years.
2. The same actions committed:
1) by a group of persons;
2) by using weapons;
3) causing grave or medium-gravity to health, or other grave consequences]

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Open Letter To Seyran Ohanyan, from the Mother of Artak Nazaryan

[The following is copied and pasted directly from online sources English, Armenian:Արտակ Նազարյանի մոր բաց նամակը Սեյրան Օհանյանին,
with a typographical correction done on September 13]

Hasmik Hovhannisyan, mother of contract soldier Artak Nazaryan who died on July 27 in the military unit of the Mehrab village, Tavush Marz, has written an open letter to Minister of Defense Seyran Ohanyan. We present that letter in its entirety below:

At 7:00 AM on July 27th, according to the official version, my son Artak Nazaryan ostensibly “committed suicide.” I maintain that my son could never have done such a thing. He believed in God, he had a Father Confessor, he was a member of the Holy Trinity Fraternal Order up until he received his orders from the Ministry of Defense and began to work. For him, God’s laws had become flesh and blood, and he clearly knew that not only murder is a sin, but suicide, as well, and for that greatest of sins the punishment would be horrible.

I know that to speak of higher spiritual values is ludicrous for you.

They killed my son. They killed him in a premeditated manner and in calculated, cold blood. They eliminated from their path the light that perturbed them, the good and the honest. Such animals are evil and are the product of an atmosphere of impunity. They are not ordinary murderers; they are traitors to the fatherland who brutally kill and obliterate the officer who defends the border.

To hide the traces of their brutality, they elevated his body above the 300-meter position, placed him in the enemy’s line of sight, relying on the shots of enemy snipers. But the Turks realized that if the officer leaning there was not already killed, then he was half dead, and the Armenians needed a pretext to blame the enemy side for the death of the soldier killed by their own hands. But having been proven wrong in their calculations, and to put an end to the problem of the half dead officer, they placed the barrel of the automatic weapon in his mouth, and fired. Rather than calling a doctor, helping him, washing his innumerable wounds before killing him—and with that easing their guilt—they went to the very end.

It is not known by whose order such people were being protected, from the beginning, hiding the obvious murder under the shroud of “suicide.” Those working in that direction, by deliberately distorting evidence, supposedly push the work forward in the name of the Armenian Army. They, too, are traitors to the nation and the fatherland. And with that action, they are casting down even further the pride of the army, putting a stamp of blood and shame on the army and on the brow of its leadership.

The only way to wash off the blood and shame is through a fair investigation, which from the beginning has suffered serious shortcomings.

They did not lift fingerprints from my son, according to them, before his body cooled; they worked without gloves; the house where my son lived was not sealed off. Ten days after the incident a search was conducted at his house, from which my son’s 2010 diary was not found. Nothing was said about the seized material. I don’t know whether the military bag and winter jacket he took with him this time still exist, or not.

My son’s body was sent to Yerevan completely naked. Where are my son’s military uniforms? I have put stitches on those uniforms with my own hands and know them well; perhaps they are going to exchange them. There would be numerous marks left on the uniform from a brutally committed murder.

To preserve the body, they asked us for 40 kilograms of ice. It wasn’t enough that a horrific crime, which has no name, had been committed. And after all that, to ease out of their guilt, they wanted to send him home in a closed casket; and only after my begging and pleading did they fix his face, covering it with a ton of makeup, bringing him home on the 29th, at the end of a work day. Already at that time there were worms in his nose, for which we invited a doctor. He cleaned his nostrils of the worms and sealed them with special fluids.

The next day, on July 30th, we buried him. His body was in a horrible state. This is evidence that the event did not happen on July 27th, but earlier, on the night of the 24th. Where was his body placed until he was moved to Yerevan, and why? There was not going to be an autopsy at that place, they only acted that way to take off his clothing, a favor for some people.

One of the pallbearers of my dead son’s body was the battalion commander. He was untroubled, and spoke as though nothing had happened. He was that commander about whom my son had spoken with his father, saying, ‘Father, there are two individuals after me, the political officer and the battalion commander, especially the latter.’

All the necessary information which should have helped to solve the case has been deliberately delayed, which speaks to the fact that the case is being led, purposefully, in another direction to cover up for the beastly army commanders who stick close to their feeding troughs, and for the battalion commander who told my husband who had gone to receive my son’s body, and in the presence of relatives, that my son was a weak officer.

To my husband’s question as to who was the first to see the body, the political officer answered that he had, and that supposedly he had found a suicide note in my son’s pocket and had kept it.

The note was discovered two days after my son’s house was searched, and his house was searched ten days after the incident. Investigator Madatyan hastily sent off the forged note found for examination. That forged note isn’t worth a penny for me, based on its content; it was written after the murder.

My son’s notebook, which I don’t know if was stolen from his house or, according to their version, taken from his pocket, was ripped apart like my son’s body. They had removed all of the pages and left only three dated pages and one torn page where the word “suicide” had been forged. They didn’t show us the original; how many secrets the original would have revealed…

Does the person about to commit “suicide” climb 300 meters, torment his own body, smash his own head and teeth, fire into his own mouth and not on the bestial torturers?

Mr. Minister, a question arises: How is it that a 30-year-old young man who had graduated from the Faculty of Oriental Studies of Yerevan State Institute, being inexperienced in the filthy dealings of the military of which you are well aware, and who had treated the soldiers of the battalion as his own brothers, who loved the Lord, would forget all and commit suicide?

Why do you not, the head of the entire system, although they say even of you that you are a feeble minister who has no say in anything, want to cleanse the army and the entire structure of the blood and filth, and truly punish the guilty? If that task is beyond your capabilities, then you too, like my son, should commit “suicide” and leave a genuine note saying that as a high-ranking military man, you are ashamed to have such a corrupt Armenian army.

So then, all those who wittingly or unwittingly participated in the murder of my son—beginning with the commander who issued the order and whom you relieved of his responsibilities rather than arrest; the soldiers who witnessed the incident; those who instigated the fight; those who committed the actual violent acts; those who held his arms down; those who bashed his head in (i.e., the political officer, as a result of whose assault, if my son didn’t die, was rendered unconscious and left in that condition for days on end until they could decide what to do next); the inspector; those who moved his body and whose crude fingerprints were left on the broken arms of my son, ending with those who have buried the system in corruption and whose hands are stained not only with the blood of my son, but also of many other youths like my son—you should make all of them stand before a tribunal not as ordinary criminals but as traitors to the fatherland, traitors for whom there is no sanctity except their bellies. In times of war, traitors to the fatherland are shot by a firing squad.

Mother of Nazaryan, Hasmik Hovhannisyan
In a postscript in the letter sent to Seyran Ohanyan through the online newspaper Lragir.am Hasmik Hovhannisyan has also noted: “I wanted to send this letter to you directly, but convinced that such letters are never read, I preferred to publish it in the press so that you would be forced to read it.”

[The picture is used with permission]

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Brothers and Sisters, Sons and Daughters

I found this excerpt online. Obviously not regarding Armenia, but it may as well have been written for Armenia today. I don't have much to add, for now...

"My patriotic and heroic Countrymen, my honourable Brothers and Sisters, my brave Sons and Daughters… The aim of our movement is civil disobedience. For six long years we have been facing persecution and oppression. Our calls for resumption of democracy have been ignored, our workers have been imprisoned and sentenced to death. Enough is enough. We appeal to all the bus owners to take their buses off the roads, to all the railwaymen to stop plying the trains. To the policemen we say: follow the example of your brothers in Dadu and do not shoot innocent people who are your brothers. Do not be frightened of this movement. It is for our people, for our poor, for our children so that they do not live in poverty, hunger and disease. Struggle for your Parliament, for you Government, for your Constitution so that the decisions are taken for the poor people and not for the junta and its stooges…”


...though I'd be interested to know if anyone guessed the source.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

When eyewitnesses are actually the guilty ones, and have gone missing...

The trial of Davit Kiramijyan and Sargis Gevorgyan continued on August 26, but these aren't their pictures... Why do I have these pictures here? The pictures were taken during the May 31 events near Liberty Square when police attacked peacefully gathered citizens. The Tadevosyans (brother and sister on the left)and Ruben Ayvazyan (on the Right) were there, too. But in what capacity? These three are eyewitnesses in the case against the defendants, but failed to show up to court... Not something new in Armenia these days, eyewitnesses seem fail to show more often than they actually show up in cases against opposition activists. But there's even more.


Among the many detentions/forced trips to the police station that occurred over those few days (May 31 was the 3rd or 4th day in a series), at least three individuals were kept for three days (including Ani Gevorgyan and Sargis Gevorgyan), and one of them, Davit Kiramijyan, was kept in detention for over a month. For what? Supposed hooliganism, violence against a government representative, public disturbance... But how did any of that, how did the scuffle which undoubtedly occurred, come to pass?

On June 16, Haykakan Zhamanak published an article which answers this question. Were Varazdat Tadevosyan, his sister Lusine Tadevosyan, and Ruben Ayvazyan mere passer-by's who got entangled and fell victim to a scuffle? It turns out that the two of them at least may have initially presented themselves to reporters as members of the Ombudsman's office, this was however denied by the Ombudsman (aka DollarArmen) in a letter to Police Chief Alik Sargsyan. The two young men, Davit Tadevosyan and Ruben Ayvazyan, were actually arrested as well - they were released on July 3, and further pursuit of the charges against them were dropped. And, as per HZH, these two likely provided, along with the testimony of Lusine Tadevosyan, as alleged eyewitnesses, everything the police needed to charge the oppositionist youth.

The HZH article goes on, though. And it points out in detail how these three actually incited the scuffles and altercations which occurred, all of which can be seen on video footage of the incident: how Lusine Tadevosyan attaked Ani Gevorgyan, how Ruben Ayvazyan and Varazdat Tadevosyan incited arguments with journalists, how Varazdat Tadevosyan tried to stop Ani Gevorgyan from taking pictures, and how the final scuffle which resulted in Davit Kiramijyan being taken away, was actually incited by Davit Tadevosyan... HZH goes on to point out just how convenient it is that the arguments incited by the Tadevosyans and Ayvazyan are always in perfect view of the camera.

I couldn't find the part about the Ombudsman anywhere other than on HZH. I did find several articles (Zhamanak, Aysor) noting that Kiramijyan thought that Varazdat Tadevosyan was part of the police force, which would seem to be the case for those who have watched the videos and followed this story at all. The police often have plainclothes members either beating protesters, hauling them off, or inciting disputes - and watching the videos, you can tell who's who. Plainclothes police stand mingled in to uniformed police, or off to the side or behind the police, coming forward and becoming active when necessary.

And now, the Tadevosyans and Ayvazyan, on whose testimony the case is based almost entirely, are not showing up to court (there is also a Lilit Gevorgyan named, but I'm not sure who she is). They apparently sent word that they were out of the country, but there was no proof of this. Now, the plan is to arrest them and bring them to court.

What a farce. None of it new, and unfortunately none of it surprising. But still, just ridiculous. Just more ways of continuing the intimidation, trying to keep the show going while the theater is on fire, and everyone quiet...

Let's not forget that former political prisoner Vardges Gaspari was not allowed into the courtroom, and neither was Sargis Gevorgyan's own mother. Gaspari was forcibly removed while he practiced civil disobedience - he received several bruises and other injuries while doing so.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Another shooting in the Army

From RFE/RL on 25 August, 2010...

"The Armenian military confirmed on Tuesday reports of yet another non-combat shooting within its ranks that left one soldier dead... In a written statement, Armenia’s Defense Ministry said Sergeant Arsen Chobanian, 26, was shot dead by a fellow serviceman last week at an army outpost guarding an unspecified section of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border..."

Why did this come out only yesterday?

Saturday, August 21, 2010

You must be kidding me...

Maybe once I regain my composure after reading this, I'll explain...
From Aravot.am

ՄԱՐՏԻ 1-ԻՆ ՀԱՐՁԱԿՎԵԼ ԵՆ ԱՆԶԵ՞Ն ՈՍՏԻԿԱՆՆԵՐԻ ՎՐԱ

Երեկ «Ռեգնում»-ին տված հարցազրույցում ՀՅԴ խմբակցության քարտուղար Արտյուշա Շահբազյանը համոզմունք է հայտնել, թե 2008 թվականի մարտի 1-2-ի դեպքերի ողջ պատասխանատվությունն ընդդիմությանն է, որն այն ժամանակ ֆինանսավորվում էր Արեւմուտքի կողմից. «Լեւոն Տեր-Պետրոսյանը կազմակերպեց ուժային դիմադրություն, եւ տեղի ունեցավ ընդհարում ոստիկանության հետ: Եթե «Մոլոտովի կոկտեյլներով» եւ մահակներով զինված մարդիկ չհարձակվեին ոստիկանների վրա՝ այդ ամենը չէր լինի: Մենք դատապարտեցինք ոստիկանների գործողությունները, բայց նրանք Ազատության հրապարակ էին մտել անզեն, իսկ նրանց վրա հարձակվեցին: Ժողովրդի ձեռքը փաստորեն զենք դրեցին»:
ՀԱԿ առաջնորդին քննադատել է նաեւ ՀՅԴ խմբակցության ղեկավար Վահան Հովհաննիսյանը՝ ՀՀՇ համագումարում նրա ելույթի մասին «Ազատություն» ռ/կ-ին ասելով. «Բոլոր նրանք, ովքեր հիշում են 90-ական թվականների Լեւոն Տեր-Պետրոսյանին, ոչ մի նոր բան չլսեցին: Բացարձակապես պարտվողական դիրքորոշում էր, ընդ որում՝ պարտվողական ոչ միայն թուրքերի ու ադրբեջանցիների, բայց նաեւ իշխանությունների նկատմամբ: Հիմնականում ելույթը կրկնում է «Սերգո ջան, լավ չես ապրելու, մինչեւ Ղարաբաղի հարցում զիջումներ չանենք»:

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Arshaluys Hakobyan has passed away



It was reported today in several Armenian newspapers that Arshaluys Hakobyan, a human rights defender in Armenia, and member of the Armenian Helsinki Association, has passed. His cause of death is unknown, though lragir reports he had some type of lung infection or pneumonia.
From Tert.am:
Hacobyan was arrested after on 31 May 2009 he participated in the municipal elections in Yerevan in the capacity of observer.
Accusations were brought against him according to Article 316, part 1 of the Criminal Code of Armenia (Showing Resistance against the Law Enforcement Bodies).
Human rights defenders say that he was subjected to torture while kept in detention in the police.
On October 16, 2009, the Court of First instance of Kentron and Nork-Marash Communities of Yerevan released him on bail. Later in February Mr Hakobyan was acquitted.

I remember his name well, as I included him in my video (second one on the right) on the violence and human rights abuses of the state against the citizens, including reporters and journalists, of Armenia.

I hope for him, his family, and the nation, that his death cannot be tied in anyway to the abuses against him, or his time in prison. I do, however, fear that this may be the case. I hope we will have more answers soon.

May he, too, rest in peace.

Monday, August 9, 2010

Letter Regarding Karo Ayvazyan

This video is an interview with Karo Ayvazyan's mother, available only in Armenia.(link to video)

Almost one week ago, I received an email from a friend of Karo Ayvazyan, the Armenian conscript who supposedly shot five members of the army, and then shot himself. As the story has unfolded, what is the most common version is that a friend of his had fallen asleep in the trenches, and was found by two higher ranking officers, who then began to verbally assault him. Karo then allegedly shot those two, two others who came running at the noise, his friend, and himself.
Now, the story raises a lot of questions without even the next part, which is that Karo apparently had been in the US before. He has been arrested multiple times, on charges related to narcotics and guns. And therefore,by Armenian law, due to his repeat violations, he should have been exempt from his otherwise required military service. The family claims that despite their efforts to bring his prior record to the attention of military officials, they were ignored.
Which brings us back to this letter. I cannot attest to or verify the author of it, its authenticity, or truth in its content. If only just one tenth of it is true, it raises a lot of questions. I am making it available in full here,and in parts below (though many important parts I did not reproduce below):

I knew Karo Ayvazyan personally since last summer. He was not the type to commit suicide. He was a fearless brave daring guy who was convicted in America for beating up cops...
...Karo was very mild-mannered and he was respectful of other people but he also would not tolerate anyone trampling on his dignity or the dignity of the people he cared about. He gave you respect and expected the same from you, but if you phucked with him then you were dead meat. He was a loyal faithful friend and very interesting and in spite of his young age he got along best with older people and hung out with older people. In Armenia he resolved to be free of cocaine and all drugs and to stay clean and do only honest work and business. You never would have gotten the impression that that he had any mental or psychological problem, but on the contrary that he was very mature for his age...
...Although it is being said in the press that he should never have been given a gun, I believe he was the kind of character that could indeed be trusted with a gun. If indeed Karo shot the people he is accused of shooting, then in my opinion they damn well deserved to get shot and I commend Karo for shooting them! ...
...I am very curious to know, however who shot Antranik Sargsyan. I would like to see balistics tests performed on all the bullets recovered from his body and from the other bodies and from Karo's body. The notion that Karo shot himself with his own gun is not only absurd because of the fact that Karo was a fighter for life and survival and not a coward of any sort who would be afraid of being prosecuted or even tortured, but also because if he had wanted to commit suicide he could not have done it with the PK machine gun he was issued as it was too long and also because he was out of ammo (as was reported that his magazines were empty) and that he could have committed suicide simply by standing up out of the trenches/bunkers so that the Turks would have a clear shot at him (and they would indeed have fired).

I also want to know who witnessed these events start to finish! Who reported that the officers found one of the soldiers (Antranik Sargsyan) sleeping??? Who reported that the officers berated him???/ Who reported that Karo Ayvazyan began to shoot them for that reason???? If all the witnesses to the event were shot dead, then how could they have reported the history of the incident???!!!!

Karo was a good man and he died a hero and martyr for justice. He will be missed greatly.

Karo Ayvazyan, my good friend, RIP.


Antranik Miranjian
Yerevan, Armenia




No further comment from me at this point. Ponder for yourselves.

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Unnecessary deaths in the Armenian Armed Forces

First and foremost, my sincerest condolences to all of the family and friends of those soldiers who died this past week. May they rest in peace.

I'm writing this post late not because I just found out about the recent events, but rather, because I did not, and still do not, know how to say all that I have to say. But after almost one week, I've given up on the hope that if I sit on it, my thoughts will come to order. And so here it goes. (Other bloggers writing in English, including unzipped, ditord, and nazarian had great posts, which I encourage you to read).

I took this photo years ago, probably the late 1990s or so (which may explain why the emblem is different). It was on a military uniform jacket, being sold in one of the open markets in Yerevan, probably more for tourist/diasporan consumption. It was marketable because it personified Armenian military strength and courage, Armenian unity and prowess. Completely outnumbered and underfinanced, Armenia and NK had won a war against Azerbaijan. It was because of our Herculean strength and courage, we wanted to believe. Because of our will. The same will and strength and courage of centuries past, which lives on in songs of Armenian victories against impossible odds. And what else could it have been but those attributes, when our fighters were victorious despite being underfed, frozen, and outnumbered. And the legend lived on...

And so I imagine now that I am a young man doing my required time or serving otherwise in the army- there is probably about a 40-50% chance that I was protesting against the present government just over 2 years ago; it is very possible that someone I know may have been beaten or imprisoned. Maybe I am not politically active for whatever reason, and just think all politics are false pretenses and all politicians are liars - I probably still, in this case, have many questions and concerns about the current situation... And now I serve in an Army where beating conscripts is required, NOT beating them is unacceptable. On many levels, the violence that the authorities were and are willing to perpetrate against their own civilians (via the armed forces, might I add), mirrors the violence that army officials perpetrate against their own soldiers - in fact, any perceived act of insubordination by footsoldiers is met with abuse, and any disagreement or individual opinion from those highly educated is met with "mysterious suicides." I see high-ranking officials with stuffed pockets, and even the Minister of Defense, Seyran Ohanyan*, is reputed to own the Pyramida Complex, which includes a night club with its own "Girls." And when, despite these obstacles, I try to take pride in the Armed forces of my Country, I look to my leadership and government, and there is no hint of true strategy or plan with regards to the NK issue - nothing except that they will do what it takes to keep themselves in power.

I cannot imagine how stressful this must be, and for some, how inhumane the life they lead under these circumstances. I imagine this as the baseline existence for those who serve our country now. It does not take too great a feat of imagination unfortunately, to envision how, under such circumstances, an educated man such as Artak - refusing to give in to pressure to commit violence upon others, to become part of a cycle of violence - could have met with such violence from his own superiors; or how an already unbalanced individuals, whose instability and unfit status to serve was overlooked time and again, could have caused such horrific damage.

I know that abusive behavior in the Armenian Army is not new, though it has definitely not gotten better, and by most accounts, has worsened substantially. And to have the day to day existence described about, makes it only worse - and could not really have come at a worse time. Given that such unnecessary abuse and death in the Armenian army may not be new, the question arises, why is it causing such a ruckus now? I would say for a few reasons- the general social distrust in society which has only strengthened since March 1; the difficult geopolitical moment with NK and foreign entities; the obvious and absolutely heinous reality that seven Armenian soldiers died unnecessarily and for unacceptable reasons; and, at least to some extent, the fact that Artak Nazaryan is the brother of Tsovinar Nazaryan, a well spoken, extremely bright and well-respected young journalist who was studying abroad in the US at the time of her brother's death.

The argument has been put forth by several that I have seen, and undoubtedly countless more (including ditord), that bringing such topics to the forefront is against the best interest of the country. I think it is a valid question that must be asked, however, in the end, I do not believe the premise that discussing openly these unacceptable abuses of power is wrong. As I have nothing too new to add to the arguments already made in the comments section of ditord's blog, I refer you to those. Though, now that I think about it, such arguments, against revealing, discussing and addressing these types of problems, are also used in other cases that are generally considered shameful - domestic violence, HIV, prostitution, poverty, to name a few. They all need to be addressed, in my point of view, without shame, but an open mind, and a hope for a better future for all of us.
---
By now, over 50 pieces have probably been written about the death of Artak Nazaryan, and the six who died just a day later (see articles in Hetq, Tert, A1plus, Lragir and Armenian Times, for starters). After the initial reports, a few articles were written that stand out and are very much worth reading, even if only in googletranslate (Բա՛րձր պահեք հայ սպայի պատիվը՝ հեռացե՛ք այս կյանքից,Մի օր պայթելու է, Չի´ կարելի լռել, Ինքնասպան լինեք դո՛ւք, Ինչո՞ւ և ի՞նչ անել, որ «ինչու»-ներ չլինեն). As Unzipped and others have pointed out, there are now several Facebook Groups on the subject: Չի´ կարելի լռել and Սեյրան Օհանյան եւ Ալիկ Սարգսյան՝ ինքնասպան եղե՛ք.
---

If we are to see ourselves, and truly be, of Herculean strength, as a nation, a country, and an army, then we have a long way to go. And unless we accept this, we will never get there.

My condolences, again, to the families of the seven lost to us:
Artak Nazaryan,
and
Robert Hovhannisyan, Andranik Sargsyan, Vardges Tadavosyan, Karo Ayvazyan, Garegin Hovsepyan, and Artyom Manasyan
---

*The following quote is also attributed to Seyran Ohanyan:
"Any attempt at demonstrating (rallies) will immediately result in adequate and strict reaction by the armed forces."
(March, 2008)
Given his connection to the Pyramida Complex - he will henceforth be known to me as Բուրգի Սեյրանը ("Burgi Seyran - Seyran of the Pyramid")

Monday, July 26, 2010

Very Informative Discussion, from Azatutyun

«Տեսակետների խաչմերուկ» 24 հուլիսի, 2010–1

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Crisis of democracy + human rights in Armenia/Հայաստանում ժողովրդավարության և մարդու իրավունքների ճգնաժամը

While most of those who know me think I am a pessimist, those who know me best realize I am a dreamer at heart.
This struggle is not about parties or individuals, but rather about ideals.
And this petition, likewise, is not about parties or individuals, but rather about that fact that for over two years the current banditocracy has continuously trampled the basic rights of its citizens, for its own power and strength...
And in ignoring this reality, the West and in this particular case the US is guilty of passively condoning such crimes, and yes, contributing to de-stabilization...

I had the link to the petition in the previous post, but it was somewhat embedded/hidden, so here it is again... (link to petition - please sign and disseminate!) and it has not been made available in Armenian as well (link to Armenian, but sign at the ipetitions site):

Ստորեւ ներկայացված է ստորագրահավաք-միջնորդության թարգմանությունը...

Մեծարգո տիկին Պետքարտուղար,
Մենք` ներքոստորագրյալներս, մեր աջակցությունն ու գնահատանքն ենք հայտնում Լեռնային Ղարաբաղի հակամարտության արդար և խաղաղ կարգավորմանը, ինչպես նաև Հայաստանի ու Թուրքիայի միջև հարաբերությունների բարելավմանն ուղղված Ձեր անձնական մասնակցության ու ջանքերի համար: Հուսով ենք և հավատում ենք, որ տարածաշրջան կատարած Ձեր վերջին այցելությունը նոր խթան կհանդիսանա Հայաստանի և տարածաշրջանի համար վճռորոշ այս երկու հիմնախնդիրների կարգավորման համար: Այդուհանդերձ կարծում ենք, որ Հայաստան կատարած Ձեր այցելությունն ըստ արժանվույն չօգտագործվեց՝ ցուցադրելու Միացյալ Նահանգների նվիրվածությունը ժողովրդավարության, մարդու իրավունքների և օրենքի գերակայության խնդիրներին: Սրանք այն սկզբունքներն են, որոնց Դուք անդրադարձաք Ձեր վերջին շրջագայության ընթացքում որոշ վայրերում, միայն ոչ Հայաստանում:
Դժվար է արդարացում գտնել այդ խնդիրների շուրջ հրապարակային քննարկումներից խուսափելու իրողությանը՝ մասնավորապես հաշվի առնելով Ձեր գլխավորած Պետքարտուղարության Հայաստանի վերաբերյալ Մարդու իրավունքների վերջին զեկույցը: Այդ զեկույցում նկարագրված պատկերը հեռու է գոհացուցիչ լինելուց: Այն նկարագրում է մի երկիր, որի ներկա վարչակազմն իշխանության է եկել ընտրությունները կեղծելու արդյունքում, որից հետո դաժանաբար ճնշել է ընտրությունների արդյունքները չընդունող խաղաղ ցուցարարներին: Մի երկիր, որտեղ իրավապահ մարմիններն ու դատարանները վերածվել են քաղաքական հաշվեհարդարի և հետապնդումների գործիքի, որտեղ մեկ տասնյակից ավելի անհատներ բանտերում են սոսկ քաղաքական նկատառումներով, որտեղ իշխանությունները տապալել են վերոնշյալ ցույցերի ճնշման ժամանակ 10 քաղաքացիների սպանության արժանահավատ հետաքննությունը, որտեղ շարքային քաղաքացիների իրավունքները ոտնահարվում են յուրաքանչյուր օր: Չնայած այս ամենին, Դուք նախընտրեցիք բավարարվել միայն ձեր զուսպ անհամաձայնությունը հայտնելով Հեռարձակման մասին օրենքում ազատ խոսքի իրավունքը սահմանափակող վերջերս ընդունած փոփոխությունների նկատմամբ՝ չհապաղելով նշել, որ նախագահ Սարգսյանը խոստացել է նպաստել այն հարցում, որ Հայաստանի Ազգային ժողովն անդրադառնա այդ խնդրին աշնանային նստաշրջանի ժամանակ:

Հայաստանում ժողովրդավարության և մարդու իրավունքների ճգնաժամը առաջնահերթ կարևորության հարցերում չընդգրկելու Ձեր որոշումն արդեն իսկ զգալի վնաս է հասցրել մարդու իրավունքների, ժողովրդավարության և օրենքի գերակայության հանդեպ հարգանքի վերականգնմանը: Բայց դեռևս ուշ չէ շտկելու Երևանում կորցրած հնարավորությունը: Երբեք ուշ չէ հասկացնելու համար Հայաստանի իշխանություններին, որ արտաքին քաղաքականության հարցերում նրանց ցուցաբերած ճկունությունը չի կարող կոծկել ներքին հարցերում նրանց որդեգրած նողկալի քաղաքականությունը: Առավել քան հրատապ է Հայաստանի իշխանություններին տեղեկացնել, որ նրանք չեն կարող ակնկալել Ամերիկայի բարեկամությունը, եթե անհապաղ ազատ չարձակեն քաղբանտարկյալներին: Հակառակ պարագայում մենք մասնակից կդառնանք մի ռեժիմի հանցագործություններին, որը սեփափական ժողովրդի հետ թշնամու պես է վարվում: Վստահ ենք, որ նման ռեժիմի կողքին կանգնելը հակասում է Ամերիկայի հիմնարար սկզբունքներին: Մենք նաև վստահ ենք, որ ժողովրդավարության և մարդու իրավունքների փոխանակումը արտաքին քաղաքականության հարցերում Հայաստանի իշխանությունների ճկունության հետ անհեռատես է, քանի որ ժողովրդավարությունը և ժողովրդական լեգիտիմությունը անհրաժեշտ պայմաններ են, որպեսզի Հայաստանը տևական ու կայուն պայմանավորվածությունների հասնի Ադրբեջանի և Թուրքիայի հետ: Հայաստանի ցանկացած իշխանություն, որը պետք է այնպիսի վիճահարույց քաղաքականություն իրականացնի, ինչպիսին է Թուրքիայի հետ հարաբերությունների բարելավումը և Ադրբեջանի հետ համաձայնության գալը, պարտավոր է լինել ժողովրդականություն վայելող լեգիտիմ իշխանություն:

Saturday, July 17, 2010

On the short-sightedness and corrosive complicity of US involvement in Armenia

Armenian oppositionists continue to to be harassed, illegally arrested, and imprisoned... The newest and among the youngest victims of this regime and its police were just on trial the other day...
And let's not forget the more than dozen political prisoners still behind bars, most since March 1-2, 2008... One of the most well known of these, Nikol Pashinyan, gave an interview earlier this week, which can be heard here and was written about in English here.

A naive person would expect international governments and organizations to condemn and even take action against such flagrant violations of human rights.

A more observant and realistic person knows that in the global political sphere, principles of human rights and democracy often are traded for and become secondary or tertiary to political and financial dealings.

Of course these exchanges are common, and sad (for lack of a better word). But the even sadder part is when international structures are willing to trade and therefore de facto condone the obvious oppression of human rights, farcical trials, and police violence, in exchange for perceived stability, when in fact, that stability is non-existent, and actually is more de-stabilized by the trading and negotiations.

So while I am not being naive in being somewhat angered that Secretary Clinton did not address the true face of the banditocracy in Armenia, I am saddened (again, for lack of a better word) that the US government which she represents does not realize that their strategy is creating more harm than good, is destabilizing more than stabilizing.

As was recently written:

We believe that standing with such a regime is at variance with America’s core principles. We also believe that trading democracy and human rights off in exchange for Armenian authorities’ flexibility in foreign policy is short-sighted, because democracy and popular legitimacy are necessary conditions for the durability and stability of any agreements that Armenia will reach with Azerbaijan and Turkey. Popular legitimacy is absolutely essential if a government is to promote controversial policies, which the normalization with Turkey and an agreement with Azerbaijan are bound to be for any government in Armenia.


In fact, this is a segment from a petition being circulated. If you agree, please sign and help circulate. The link to the full petition and signatures being collected is here.

Monday, July 5, 2010

Does forcing stability cause instability?



So Secretary of State Clinton was in Armenia, trying to push "stability" and the protocols.
So she went to Tsitsernakaberd.
So she talked about promoting Democracy and human rights.



“And as a friend and a partner who believes in Armenia’s future, we will continue to support Armenia’s civil society and efforts to promote good governance and transparency,” she added
.

She did not meet with the opposition.
Neither she nor her administration have uttered the word Genocide.
She met with some human rights groups and NGOs, but it was off the record.
She did not mention publicly March 1, or the political prisoners.
Border aggression has only gotten worse, not better, since the US, and other western governments, got involved with the protocols and such issues.



Neither the US nor the West have supported democracy in Armenia, and in fact they turned their back on democracy and human rights in Armenia on March 1, 2008, and have done so since then.

To the West, this is a game, a bunch of deals. Armenia, and the human rights and democracy of the people of Armenia, are a means to an end. Democracy is not made when human rights and fair elections are used as bargaining chips for other political motives.

As I have said before, stability does not come from forcing two sides to smile and make nice. It doesn't work for fighting schoolchildren, and it doesn't work for countries. It doesn't work for Turkish-Armenia relations, or Genocide recognition, or the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The issue of Nagorno-Karabakh has been there all along - many of Kocharyan's policies were aimed at acting like it didn't exist, or at least, maintaining the status quo, postponing and trying to play the other sides. And that is what Sargsyan inherited, along with so many other problems, in a presidential legitimacy whose foundations make jello look like reinforced concrete. The US, and the other involved western governments, took advantage of that to push their agendas - Reconciliation, and the rest of the package...

And perhaps pushing the protocols and bringing NK to the forefront (as it has become a major obstacle in a set of protocols in which there has been so much pride and financial investment) just served to make things more unstable...



P.S. Thinking through all of this, I remembered an article from Massis Weekly written on the occasion of Clinton's meeting with Armenian-American organizations - it voices many of the same viewpoints I hold, and is an interesting read looking back, 5 months later, with where things are now. Digging through their archives I found it in one of the February editions (Page1, Page 2 of the article).