Another failed ‘revolution’ in Armenia

By David Stepanyan, Yerevan. Exclusively for Vestnik Kavkaza

On November 5, Shant Arutyunyan, leader of the Tsekhakron Party of nationalists, and a group of his supporters marked Guy Fawkes Day, whose mask is considered the symbol of protests in Europe and the US, by gathering in Yerevan. Demonstrators, waving long poles, marched towards the presidential residence on the Bagramyan Avenue.

During the march at the Opera and Ballet Theater, Aturyunyan announced a revolution. His revolution continued for a few minutes and was suppressed by police officers, who outnumbered his supporters. The protesters’ path towards the bright future was blocked by police officers with riot shields, batons, masks and bulletproof vests. In response, followers of the Gunpowder Plot made blasts of Molotov cocktails or some other cocktails. The police did not fear the explosions and suppressed all revolutionary slogans with batons. Then, the rebels lay down on the road and refused to disperse. 8 passers-by and officers were injured by the explosions, poles and batons. As a result, the police had to carry the ‘revolutionaries’ to detention centers. A total of 38 people were brought to police stations, 20 of whom, including Shant Arutyunyan himself, were detained. 14 were charged with violence against the law enforcers, punishable with 5-10 years in prison. They were put under arrest. The police checked their apartments and await chemical tests.

This could have been the end of the story, if some MPs, public officials, authoritative and young people did not express support for Arutyunyan. On the next day after Arutyunyan’s detention, MP Nikol Pashinyan said that the man was beaten and humiliated by Police Chief Vladimir Gasparyan and his deputy Inan Pogosyan. The MP said it after visiting Arutyunyan in his cell. The police denied the report, although they would not allow Pashinyan to visit the Nubarashen penal center again.

Ashot Manucharyan, Chief Advisor for National Security of the first Armenian president and ex-Interior Minister, characterized actions of the demonstrators as “an attempt to leave the swamp the authorities are drowning the country in.” The politicians insists that Arutyunyan’s followers, mainly young people, were trying to find a solution to the situation because they were tired of ‘old’ politicians unable to change anything. “Arutyunyan is a man with fantastic ideas and honesty. Considering his ‘revolution’ in the context of a political order would be wrong,” said Manucharyan.

This was followed by appearance of an initiative group called ‘Freedom to Shantu Arutyunyan and other arrested’ on Facebook. The group organized protests and massive marches along the streets of Yerevan. The protesters demanded the release of Arutyunyan and his supporters and the prosecution of police officers. The demands quickly transformed into demands for the resignation of President Serzh Sargsyan and “freedom and independence of Armenia.” At the end of the demonstration, residents were asked about their attitude towards joining the Customs Union. Organizers of the opinion polls promised to announce the results at the Presidential Palace.

Analyzing the events, it appears that searching for logic in the actions of Arutyunyan and his supporters would be an unrewarding idea. But this logic can be seen in the actions of supporters and opponents of the Tsekhakron leader. The chain (starting from demonstrations of videos of the ‘revolution’, made by a police camera in the news block of the First Public TV Channel, and ending with unintelligible tolerance of the police towards people calling for a coup) speaks of direct interest of the government in the tragic comedy. With the transformation of the notion ‘oppositionist’ into a synonym of ‘henchman of the government’, the authorities debate any expression of love for freedom and civil activeness.