Armenian police apparently have a different flag... not the Tricolor

Two youths who were harassed while handing out flyers were interviewed today, and they pointed out something very revealing (from approx 0:50-1:10), and exactly to the point, at least in my view. Those in power, are not struggling to protect Armenia or Armenians. They are in the midst of business dealings, plain and simple.
A rough translated transcript is as follows:

First Youth:
“The police said something… its shameful, too... The police came up to the car and said 'put your flag away,… don’t put it here… put away your flag”
And we said “but which is your flag, then?”

Second Youth:
“It was an [Armenian] tricolor [flag] on the car.”

HAK youth across the city were being harrassed and attacked, and two were arrested and taken in to the police station. They were released a few hours later, but it is still unclear why they were taken in in the first place.

The rally is in just a little bit on the 18th. Let's see if the police behave themselves.

Մեր պայքարը անկասելի է, մեր Հաղթանակը անխուսափելի է

Նիկոլ Փաշինյանի հայտարարությունը «Արթիկ» ՔԿՀ-ում (տեսագրություն)

Written Statement in Armenian on 1in.am


Epress article: Pashinyan Chronicles: Imprisoned Journalist Spent 2.5 Hours Waiting in Prison Reception (Updated)

From Haykakan Zhamanak

If you start with none...

Not surprisingly, the regime, along with its accomplices and lackeys, is still trying to silence the voice of opposition. Three of the MPs named in an article by HZH are suing and seem to have won the first round [from epress] - at least in court:

"The three MPs demanded Haykakan Jamanak to retract the story, which they say discredits their honor, dignity and business reputation, as well as compensation in the amount of 2.5 million AMD each — for moral losses and incurred court expenses."

What moral losses? What honor and dignity? What business reputation? There was none of this to begin with. Let's do the basic algebra:

You start with no morality/honor/dignity/reputation = nothing = 0

And you end with no morality/honor/dignity/reputation = nothing = 0

So lets find out what the damage was = the difference/the event = X

O-X=O and then solve for X

X=O

therefore, the injury/damage done was NOTHING.

But what does the court say they will get in return? Something... that is, Money.

Again, no surprise.

Especially not from folks with names like Nemets Rubo, Lfik Samo and Alraghatsy Lyovik

Sudden incredible observations and realizations by the ARF

1in.am published an article a few weeks ago that I still can’t get out of my head it’s so ridiculous. Apparently, the ARF, now, suddenly, out of the blue, feels they need to start and coordinate a movement to defend and promote electoral freedoms and rights in Armenia. They have apparently come to the realization that there are some serious problems in the electoral process in Armenia; they state that people in Armenia are apparently unsatisfied with the electoral process, and something must be done. People must be educated, society must open its eyes and demand a lawful and just electoral system, and the system itself must be enforced such that the outcome of an election is accepted by all.

Wow. You must be kidding, I thought, even the tenth and twentieth times I read the article, which cites Ardsvik Minasyan of the ARF.

So, what brought about this sudden dedication to democracy to the ARF, the party that was a member of the coalition, and is closely linked to Kocharyan… the party that has yet to strongly condemn the massive human rights violations of this regime, including the events of March 1, and the political prisoners who are still behind bars to this day… the party that has yet to truly speak out against the oppression of free media in Armenia… the party that seems to have no problems holding a rally just about wherever and whenever it wants to [I think I may have even seen Bazaz tying the shoelaces of one of the ARF supporters - no, that’s not true, but it sure feels that way when real opposition youth are beaten and arrested, but no limitations are placed on ARF public gatherings]…

Did these realities suddenly occur to them because a) the presidential elections are coming up, b) they are pissed off at Sergik, c) Sergik is pissed off at them, d) they are still Kocharyan’s lackeys e) they want to sett up a distance between themselves and Sergik, f) they want to seem like legitimate, democracy seeking opposition… the list goes on, and obviously, these are not mutually exclusive. In fact, they all play well into each other, don’t they?

What doesn’t work, dear, dear ARF, is this poorly veiled attempt to suddenly have a truly sincere, unbiased interest and motivation for a fair and just electoral system.

[My apologies - I don't remember which online source the spectacular photo is from, maybe RFE/RL, or a1plus or lragir? - if anyone remembers, please let me know]

Awww, how cute, they're working together... Group Hug!!!

Addendum: A little late on my part, but here is HAK's official statement on the court cases being brought up against not only Haykakan Zhamanak (Armenian Times) and Zhamanak, but Aravot as well.

Addendum2: Late again, but here's a Hetq article on the issue: MP Oligarchs take aim at Haykakan Zhamanak

I couldn't pass up this article from the Armenian Times (Haykakan Zhamanak), via Google Translate, with some quick/rough editing:

Trial of the Oligarch's Case
Monday at 15:00 pm, at the Center and Nork-Marash districts Court of First Instance (near the Tbilisi highway, near the Lamp Factory), Judge Marine Petrosyan is scheduled to preside over the resumption of the lawsuit against the publisher of Armenian Times (Haykakan Zhamanak) newspaper, "Dareskizb Ltd." The suit is brought forward by MP-tycoons Samvel Alexanyan (Lfik Samo), Levon Sargsyan (Alraghatsy Lyovik) and Ruben Hayrapetyan (Nemets Rubo). The oligarchs demand that "HZH" pay 7.5 million drams, basically 2.5 million to each of them.

Օլիգարխների գործով դատը` երկուշաբթի
Երկուշաբթի ժամը 15.00-ին Կենտրոն եւ Նորք-Մարաշ վարչական շրջանների ընդհանուր իրավասության դատարանում (Թբիլիսյան խճուղու նստավայրում, Լամպերի գործարանի հարեւանությամբ) դատավոր Կարինե Պետրոսյանի նախագահությամբ պետք է վերսկսվի «Հայկական ժամանակ» օրաթերթի հրատարակիչ «Դարեսկիզբ» ՍՊԸ-ի դեմ պատգամավոր-օլիգարխներ Սամվել Ալեքսանյանի (Լֆիկ Սամո), Լեւոն Սարգսյանի (Ալրաղացի Լյովիկ) եւ Ռուբեն Հայրապետյանի (Նեմեց Ռուբո) ներկայացրած հայցի քննարկումը: Օլիգարխները դատավորից պահանջել են «ՀԺ»-ից իրենց օգտին բռնագանձել յոթուկես միլիոն դրամ` յուրաքանչյուրին երկուսուկեսական միլիոն:

Really, this is just a way to try to take HZH down. Too bad the oligarch's can't but this much cooperation and effort into actually creating something good, rather trying to destroy something good.

[My apologies to the koalas, who, to my knowledge, have not done anything to deserve being compared to oligarchs, and are without doubt, much cuter]

P.S. I noticed after posting the picture that there seems to be a fourth Koala hiding his face, with only his/her butt showing, in the back. I will leave who that could be to our collective imaginations ;)

DollarArmen is now EuroArmen! But Where are the Euros??

Haykakan Zhamanak published an article a day or so ago about the 1 million Euro grant that Armenia's Ombudsman's office received... luckily Epress did a great summary and translation of the article, here it is [the emphasis is mine]:

In 2009, the Office of the Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Armenia received a grant of 1 million euros for the protection of human and citizens’ rights, reports local Armenian daily Haykakan Jamanak (“Armenian Times”).

In response to a question by a Haykakan Jamanak correspondent as to how that money was spent, RA Human Rights Defender Armen Harutyuyan’s press spokesperson Dzovinar Khachatryan yesterday conveyed her boss’ response:

“The Office of the Human Rights Defender received a grant of this amount neither in 2009 nor in 2010.”

The local daily writes that it had at its disposal a report titled “Eastern Promises: Supporting Civil Society in the Eastern Partnership Countries” published in 2010 by the EU–sponsored The Institute of Public Affairs, where it clearly shows that in 2009, the European Union granted Armenia’s Human Rights Defender Office 1 million euros, and that these funds were earmarked “for the protection of human and citizens’ rights” (see chart detail below).

Haykakan Jamanak reports that Harutyunyan outright lied, saying that his office received no such funds.

“And this isn’t simply a lie, but a deceitful lie, because a new question would arise from an opposite response, what specific programs have been carried out in Armenia ‘for the protection of human and citizens’ rights,’ and how many euros were spent on which program. And generally a question would arise, that due to the one million euros provided by the EU, by how many degrees has the level of ‘protection’ of RA citizens’ ‘rights’ increased.

“But since Armen Harutyunyan denies receiving that money, it remains only to respond that an ombudsman such as Armen Harutyunyan is very suitable for a country such as Armenia. A country where there are political prisoners for three years already, where violated are such basic human rights as the right to freedom of assembly, freedom of speech, the right to movement, the right to a fair trial, and we’re not even talking about torture leading to the deaths of those in police custody. And there’s an ombudsman who for five years already suppresses the noted issues and, basically, receives millions from the Europes [of the world] for that,” writes Haykakan Jamanak.

Note the document published by Haykakan Jamanak in its issue today is available online on page 23 of the 28-page PDF available for download at:

http://www.pasos.org/www-pasosmembers-org/publications/eastern-promises-supporting-civil-society-in-the-eastern-partnership-countries

And it's true. The document is real, the link works. So is the fact that Armen Harutyunyan (now EuroArmen) is leaving Armenia, for a job with the UN Commissioner for Human Rights in Central Asia.

Here's a snapshot of the document:


But where are those 1 million Euros?

By the way, nice suit.

Soldier, Don't Forget to Call Your Mother

"Soldier, don't forget to call your mother" taken on April 9, 2008. That day was the 40th and final day of the karasunk (40 days of mourning) of the victims of March 1. Coincidentally, it was also the day Serge Sargsyan was inaugurated president of Armenia. The rest of the photo, I think, speaks for itself.

March 1 has not been forgotten. It will never be forgotten. Many stories have been told, and many have to be told of what truly happened and what people saw and heard and felt during those incredible days.

This photo was recently published on Facebook by German Avakyan, a photographer from Armenia who took a number of incredible photos during those days, and takes incredible photos in general. I have republished here with his permission. For those interested, his website is hermanavakian.com

After over two months...

From Epress (Eng, Arm):

Yesterday, local daily Haykakan Jamanak received an envelope from its chief editor, imprisoned journalist Nikol Pashinyan. This is the first package that the editorial office has received from Pashinyan since Nov. 13, 2010. Recall that after Pashinyan was moved to Artik penitentiary, the newspaper stopped receiving his articles. On numerous occasions, Pashinyan said he wrote daily and submitted his articles to prison staff, but only the last, which was submitted to prison administration on Jan. 9 in the presence of Artur Sakunts, head of a citizens’ group monitoring prisons in Armenia, reached its destination.

The article, written on Dec. 23, 2010, appears, in part, below:

“Fear has overtaken me, a terrible fear. I am afraid to disappoint… Snippets from online conversations reach me, in which users express their opinions about me. They are many, diverse, from wholly negative to wholeheartedly positive. My fear is before the latter group, those, to put it mildly, say positive things about me. To put it mildly. There are opinions that long ago crossed the limits of average positive [comments].”

Pashinyan goes on to quote one Facebook user, who apparently said: “Remembering him, I believe in morality, will, honesty; remembering him, I try not to betray myself.” Pashinyan says that though it’s nice to hear such comments aimed at him, it is also caused him to be afraid:

“From the moment that I picked up a pen for the first time and wrote a story, I proved to myself, that I am now a public figure, and I wanted, very much wanted, to be flawless. Flawless in honesty, flawless in morality, flawless in righteousness, flawless with my aims… I won’t say that I’ve subverted this work, but flaws, as you know, have come up.

“Honest, faultless, righteous, moral, unselfish: when I come across such words to describe me, even in minor cases, I regret that I could not be perfect, and never will I be able to.

“Next, I fear that the use of such words, epithets, are proof that the person in question, the author, that one person, that +1, the single satellite, has searched for something important to him and found it in my actions. He is inspired by me, proud, amazed, and receives a small, but important positive charge from that, perhaps becoming a participant in the struggle for a Free and Happy Armenia and does so thinking that I, Nikol Pashinyan, am honest, righteous, moral, unselfish. And here is where the fear arises.

“And what would happen to that man if one day he finds out that that same Nikol Pashinyan in this or that year at this or that place made a dishonest step toward such and such a person.

[...]

“I have wished, always wished, to be flawless because I have understood that I am accountable before others, for others… Life, lifestyle, the race, competition, and sometimes hopelessness brought about those flaws. There were wrong and suspicious deeds.

“A fear has overtaken me. I am afraid to disappoint.

“P.S. I am also afraid of you misinterpreting what I wrote. Don’t misunderstand. And don’t be afraid. I won’t disappoint.”

Երեկ «Հայկական ժամանակ» օրաթերթի խմբագրությունը ծրար է ստացել օրաթերթի գլխավոր խմբագիր, քաղբանտարկյալ Նիկոլ Փաշինյանից: Սա առաջին ծրարն է, որը խմբագրությունը ստացել է նախորդ տարվա նոյեմբերի 13-ից: Հիշեցնենք, որ «Արթիկ» ՔԿՀ տեղափոխվելուց հետո Նիկոլ Փաշինյանի հոդվածները օրաթերթը չէր ստանում: Փաշինյանը բազմիցս հայտնել էր, որ այս ընթացքում նա ամեն օր հոդված է գրել և ծրար փոխանցել ՔԿՀ վարչակազմին, սակայն միայն վերջինը, որը հունվարի 9-ին ՔԿՀ վարչակազմին է փոխանցվել ՔԿՀ-ներում դիտորդական առաքելություն իրականացվող հասարակական խմբի ղեկավար Արթուր Սաքունցի ներկայությամբ, տեղ է հասել:

Հոդվածը, որը գրվել է 2010 թվականի դեկտեմբերի 23-ին ներկայացնում ենք ամբողջությամբ.

«Վախ է մտել մեջս, ահավոր մի վախ: Վախենում եմ հիասթափեցնել…
Ինձ պատառիկներ են հասնում ինտերնետային քննարկումներից, որոնց մասնակիցները կարծիքներ են արտահայտում իմ մասին: Դրանք բազմազան են, բազմաշերտ` ի սրտե բացասականից մինչև ի սրտե դրական: Վախս, ահա այս վերջին խմբում գտնվող մարդկանց առջև է, ովքեր, մեղմ ասած` դրական կարծիքներ են արտահայտում իմ մասին: Մեղմ ասած: Կան կարծիքներ, որոնք վաղուց են հատել սովորական դրականի սահմանագիծը:

Facebook սոցիալական ցանցում, օրինակ, մի այցելու իմ մասին թողել է հետևյալ գրությունը.«Իրեն հիշելով` ես հավատում եմ բարոյականությանը, կամքին, ազնվությանը, իրեն հիշելով` փորձում եմ չդավաճանել ինքս ինձ»:
Ի՞նչն է ուրեմն վախեցնում ինձ. մի՞թե հաճելի չէ սեփական անձի մասին այսպիսի թեկուզ մեկ կարծիք լսել: Հաճելի է, բայց նաև` վախենալու…

Այն պահից, երբ առաջին անգամ գրիչ եմ վերցրել և հոդված գրել` ինքս ինձ հաշիվ եմ տվել, որ հրապարակային դեմք եմ այլևս և ցանկացել եմ, շատ եմ ցանկացել լինել անբիծ: Անբիծ ազնվությամբ, անբիծ բարոյականությամբ, անբիծ արդարությամբ, անբիծ նպատակներով: Քավ լիցի, չեմ ասի, թե տապալել եմ այդ գործը, բայց բծեր, ինչպես հասկանում եք, առաջացել են: Կյանքը, կենցաղը, մրցավազքը, մրցակցությունը, երբեմն` անելանելիությունը առաջացրել են այդ բծերը: Եղել են սխալ և կասկածելի արարքներ:

Ազնիվ, անբիծ, արդար, բարոյական, անշահախնդիր. ինձ բնորոշելու համար այսպիսի բառերի օգտագործման թեկուզ աննշան դեպքերի հանդիպելիս ես ափսոսում եմ, որ չեմ կարողացել կատարյալ լինել և երբեք էլ չեմ կարողանա:

Հաջորդ պահին վախենում եմ, որովհետև նման բառերի, մակդիրների օգտագործումը ապացույցն է, որ տվյալ անձը, գրության հեղինակը, այդ մեկ հոգին,1+ այդ միակ, եզակի հետևորդը իր համար կարևոր ինչ-որ բան է փնտրել և գտել իմ գործունեության մեջ: Նա ոգևորվում է ինձանով, հպարտանում, հիանում և դրանից մի չնչին, բայց կարևոր դրական լիցք է ստանում, գուցե և դառնում Ազատ և Երջանիկ Հայաստանի համար մղվող պայքարի հետևորդ և դա անում է` մտածելով որ ես` Նիկոլ Փաշինյանս, ազնիվ եմ, արդար, բարոյական, անշահախնդիր: Ահա այստեղ է, որ վեր է հառնում վախը:

Իսկ ինչ կլինի այդ մարդու հետ, եթե նա մի օր իմանա, որ այդ նույն Նիկոլ Փաշինյանն այսինչ տարվա այսինչ վայրում անազնիվ մի քայլ է արել այսինչի նկատմամբ:
Կամ` անարդար է վարվել այսինչի հետ:
Կամ` բարոյապես կասկածելի ինչ-որ արարք է թույլ տվել:
Կամ` շահախնդրություն է ցուցաբերել այսինչ հարցում:
Կամ` կամ, կամ, կամ…

Ցանկացել եմ, միշտ ցանկացել եմ անբիծ լինել, որովհետև հասկացել եմ, որ պատասխանատու եմ մարդկանց առջև, մարդկանց համար: Չեմ ասի, թե տապալել եմ այդ գործը, բայց` հասկանո՞ւմ եք, բծերից խուսափել չի հաջողվել: Կյանքը, կենցաղը, մրցավազքը, մրցակցությունը, երբեմն` անելանելիությունը առաջացրել են այդ բծերը: Եղել են սխալ և կասկածելի արարքներ:

Վախ է մտել մեջս, ահավոր մի վախ: Վախենում եմ հիասթափեցնել:

Հ.Գ. Նաև վախենում եմ գրածս սխալ հասկանաք: Սխալ չհասկանաք: Ու չվախենաք: Չեմ հիասթափեցնի»:

Provide the Caption!

Here are some of my favorite pictures - I've provided some simple suggestions for the captions, feel free to provide your own in English or Armenian!


"You want me to do what??!"












"Please, Serge, Puleeezzzz...just one or two more ministerial positions...."
"And what will you do for me...?"
"Anything you want, Serge, name it..."

From a comment: "Please, I beg you , don't dethrone me, Mr. President"
"Give me one good reason!"
"I'll let the world know who you really are!"












"Who needs democracy, human rights, and sound policies?
My music will save Armenia... And the world!"







"Don't make me say it a second time. Just sit your a** right there and be a good little boy."

Certain Things are Self-Evident: On Waiting and Memories...

On Waiting:
My condolences to the family of Taron Yengibaryan, who passed on Jan 10 after over a week of unconsciousness and a broken skull after jumping out of a second story window. The then-Colonel Karapetyan is reported to have shot at him and his friend (still hospitalized) as they tried to drive away, and in his office, thus causing them to fear for their lives and jump out the window. Karapetyan has been booted out of the Military, and is arrested and charged with hooliganism. I'm WAITING for a murder/manslaughter charge...

On Memories:
Pictures are worth a thousands words, they say. Certain pictures evoke memories and other pictures in my memory, and possibly in the collective memory of many. Here are a few which are in my 'special' collection. They fit together so well, don't they?












[Note: they are in particular order whatsoever. I did not take any of these, they are all accessible on the web - credit is due to those individuals and media sources which made them available]

New Year's Present, Armenian Banditocracy Style: A Broken Skull, Unconsciousness and Under Investigation for Hooliganism

It seems that in Ijevan, New Years was 'celebrated' in a way that perhaps was the most appropriate, unfortunately, for Armenia these days. Apparently two young men from a nearby vlllage, Taron Yengibaryan and Ashot Ulikhanyan, went to visit their friend serving at the military station in Ijevan late December 31, 2010. According to Yengibaryan's grandfather, Colonel Sergei Karapetyan confronted them, and an argument ensued (perhaps more?). Karapetyan verbally abused them, and fired shots at their car when they tried to drive away. He then apparently had them taken to his office, where he continued to fire shots at the walls.

Fearing for their lives, they jumped out of the second story windows. The other youth, Ulikhanyan presumably, has a broken leg. Yangibaryan has a fracture skull, and has been unconscious for the past week in the Intensive Care Unit at Yerevan's Grigor Lusavorich Medical Center. Karapetyan was apparently injured as well.

It seems quite unclear to me what actually happened, how things got to where they did. Perhaps what has been reported so far is the full and accurate story, perhaps there is more, There usually is more to the story, An investigation is pending, and a Defense Ministry spokesman has warned against early 'biased interpretations.'

I agree that a full, unbiased investigation is needed (though they are an endangered if not extinct species in Armenia for the past many years), and that we shouldnt jump to conclusions. But I can't think of much that would justify two youths being so badly injured, perhaps lethally in one case. The story would have to get turned on its head completely in numerous ways for me to think that perhaps there was some element of self defense or justifiability.

To top it all off, the youths are being investigated for hooliganism.

Happy New Year, Courtesy of Armenia's Banditocracy.

RFE/RL articles (English, Armenian)

Just about where it stands now...

The first Տեսակետների խաչմերուկ of the year on Azatutyun was a discussion about the PACE resolutions of 2008 and 2009, and to what extent they have been fulfilled.
Arman Grigorgyan, HAK's representative to PACE, just about sums it up. How David Harutyunyan, the head of the official delegation to PACE, even believes some of what he says is beyond me.

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 ;)

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]

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:

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.

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

Pashinyan must be set free.

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.

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

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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

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.

"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]

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.

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.

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?

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.

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...

"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):