Author: Badalian Vardan

ARMENIE-HAUT KARABAGH
Le président arménien rend visite aux troupes arméniennes au front au
sud du Haut Karabagh

La visite de travail du président arménien Serge Sarkissian au Haut
Karabagh se poursuit. Le 14 novembre, en compagnie de son homologue de
la République du Haut Karabagh Bako Sahakian, le président arménien a
rendu visite à des unités militaires stationnées sur la ligne
frontalière au sud de le République du Haut Karabagh. Serge Sarkissian
s’est adressé aux soldats et officiers, notamment sur leurs conditions
de vie. Il a également visité de nouvelles casernes en construction.
Le président arménien a par ailleurs observé les militaires en
exercice. Puis à Stepanakert des rencontres se sont déroulés entre
membres du gouvernement d’Arménie et du Haut Karabagh. Après la visite
de trois jours au Haut Karabagh, Serge Sarkissian est rentré à Erévan.
photos news.am

Krikor Amirzayan

samedi 16 novembre 2013,
Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com
‘803

US SENATE HEARING ON EURASIAN PARTNERSHIP: WHAT TO DO WITH BELARUS AND AZERBAIJAN?

Azeri Report, Azerbaijan
Nov 15 2013

By Alakbar Raufoglu, Turan News Agency

WASHINGTON, DC. November 15, 2013: The leading US lawmaker and the
Eurasian watchers on Thursday expressed their concerns over the future
of US/European dealing with countries like Belarus and Azerbaijan,
ahead of the Eastern Partnership Summit that will take place in
Vilnius later this month, TURAN’s Washington correspondent reports.

“Release the political prisoners!” Senator Chris Murphy, who leads
the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations’ Subcommittee on European
Affairs, sent a surprise message to the Azeri government, adding that
it would be “a very positive step” in a wake of lots of questions
with respect to the elections in Azerbaijan.

Senator Murphy’s committee hosted top State Department officials and
Eurasia analysts at the hearing on “A Pivotal Moment for the Eastern
Partnership” to shed light on the countries in Eastern Europe and
the Caucasus that might someday possibly join the EU.

Discussions focused on some do’s and don’ts for partners in order to
get ‘treats’ at the summit, as the western diplomats work on in the
form of various agreements that may or may not be signed.

The testifiers of the hearing, — Assistant Secretary of State for
European and Eurasian Affairs Victoria Nuland, Vice President of
Atlantic Council Damon Wilson, as well as the Heritage Foundation
analyst Ariel Cohen and Peterson Institute’s Anders Aslund raised their
concerns about the Russian movements before the summit as they put it,
Moscow “is doing everything possible to intimidate the countries to
keep them from signing new trade, economic, and political accords
with Brussels.”

“What does Armenia’s decision to join to the Customs Union mean for
the prospect of 2015 and sometimes after for Azerbaijan to initial
agreement with the EU?” senator Murphy asked suddenly.

Clearly, he added, Azerbaijan has “a long way to go, especially
with recent reports on the quality of this last election… But
the country, especially with their energy resources, will be a very
important partner.”

Answering the question, Damon Wilson stated that the Vilnius summit
would be about the next chapter of the European integration and
“that’s not going to include Belarus and Azerbaijan in this particular
chapter.”

“We don’t force the countries into the Euro Atlantic institutions — it
doesn’t reflect our principles. Both decisions reflect the societies,
the countries and their leaders,” he said, adding, it’s clear that
Belarus’ Lukashenko “is not the leader that will take his country
to Europe.”

“We need to do what we can to support the democratic opposition,
in very difficult circumstances.”

In Azerbaijan, he added, “there is quite strong interest in the
relationship with the west.”

“It’s important to figure out how we’ll be able to engage the right
way, without sacrificing our values and concerns about the development
of democracy there.”

In the meantime, the analyst sad, while talking about the long-term
diplomacy, the EU “needs to think about Belarus and Azerbaijan not
as being left out in Vilnius”.

“Average Azeris and Belarusians think that their country is in a way
that is not very different from where the Ukraine is today. We need
to keep that perspective,” he emphasized.

Ariel Cohen, in his part, said the situation “is complicated” with
Azerbaijan as the country, being a Shi’a secular in the region,
is trying to pursue the western policy with its energy supplies.

“The problem with the initialing of the association agreement between
Azerbaijan and EU was the reluctance of the EU of recognizing the
territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and concerns about the presidential
elections,” he claimed adding, if Azeris and Europeans are willing to
work on these differences out and if there is a progress in terms of
the rule of law and democracy, it will be in the interest of the EU,
Azerbaijan and USA that the association agreement will be moving
forward.

In her speech, Assistant Secretary Victoria Nuland said, while the
six Eastern Partnership countries have responded in various ways to
the EU’s offer to integrate into Europe’s common structures, the US
“strongly supports the process as a key ingredient in our effort to
cement a “Europe whole and free and at peace” – a shared policy goal
of the US and EU member states since the Berlin Wall fell almost 25
years ago.”

Washington supports the sovereign right of these countries to choose
their own future, and we welcome their closer relationship with the EU.

“I would note in this regard that any form of pressure to prevent
sovereign states from pursuing greater integration with the EU, or any
organization of their choosing, would contravene obligations under the
OSCE Helsinki Principles and the Charter of Paris. The message we are
sending in the neighborhood is that all countries benefit when their
neighbors open their markets and become more stable and prosperous,”
she said.

On Armenia, although President Sarkisian announced that his country
would join the Eurasian Customs Union of Russia, Kazakhstan, and
Belarus, “which is incompatible with signing an Association Agreement”
however both the EU and Armenia remain committed to pursuing a deeper
relationship, and they are examining ways to continue this partnership.

“The US will also continue broad engagement with Armenia on
Euro-Atlantic integration, including in the economic sphere.”

As for Azerbaijan, it is currently negotiating the contours of its
own partnership track with the EU, and the US “continues to encourage
Azerbaijan to build the democratic and economic institutions and
conduct the reforms necessary for a deeper relationship with the
Euro-Atlantic community.”

“We recognize that a democratic, prosperous and secure Azerbaijan
will benefit not only the Azerbaijani people but also its neighbors,”
she added. –0–

MESSAGE FROM THE UNITED STATES TO THE CHP [REPUBLICAN PEOPLE’S PARTY]

Cumhuriyet, Turkey
Nov 13 2013

by by Utku Cakirozer

‘Gezi Is Turning Point for Erdogan’

CHP [Republican People’s Party] leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu will go
to Washington at the end of the month. Before the visit, CHP Deputy
Chairman Erdogan Toprak went to the US capital and took the pulse of
the decision makers in the United States. Upon his return we received
information from him regarding his talks with 25 people consisting
of representatives of the US Administration, Congress officials,
and representatives of think tanks.

These were apparently the basic messages conveyed by the US decision
makers.

– The antidemocratic stance displayed by the AKP [Justice and
Development Party] during the Gezi Park incidents constitutes a
critical turning point in terms of the government and Turkey.

– The AKP government is unable to get good marks on the subject of
human rights and freedoms.

Perception of ‘Unreliable Ally’

– We are disturbed by the government’s efforts to pull the
United States into Syria. We are concerned that radical terrorist
organizations like Al-Qa’idah are acting with ease in Syria.

– With its preference for Chinese missiles, Turkey has turned into an
“unreliable ally.”

– We wish to see a Turkey that is stable with its neighbours.

– We find Erdogan’s declarations regarding Egypt excessive.

Two Negative Development Signals

– Two negative developments may be experienced in Turkish-US relations
in 2014 because of the reaction against the Erdogan government.

– The first is the possibility that the Congress will pass another
Armenian resolution.

– The second is that Turkey may be excluded from the free trade
agreement talks to be held between the United States and the EU.

What the United States Would Like To Know: How Would the CHP Have
Governed?

As much as their own views, influential actors in the decision-making
mechanism of the US Administration would like to know what the CHP
leader will say. All the people who conveyed their views to the CHP
officials expressed the expectation -as though in agreement with
one another -“to hear what steps Kilicdaroglu will take in domestic
and foreign policy if the CHP comes to power.” Toprak, for his part,
apparently responded with the following messages:

– In domestic policy, we are in favour of full democracy and freedom
for everyone. Democratization cannot be achieved through packages,
in instalments.

– Our fundamental difference from the AKP government in foreign policy
is that we are in favour of a Turkey whose face is turned towards
the West, and not the East. Such a Turkey can contribute more to its
region as well as to world peace and stability.

– We want a Turkey that establishes good relations with its neighbours
and with the regional countries, without interfering in their internal
affairs.

– It was the CHP that first proposed to resolve the Syrian crisis
through diplomacy and not with the use of weapons (Deputy Chairman
Faruk Logoglu’s proposal in 2012 to hold an international meeting).

The Geneva meeting, which the whole world is now embracing, overlaps
with the CHP’s proposal.

– The doors that closed on Turkey are opening because of the
CHP. The latest concrete example is the amelioration experienced
in Turkish-Iraqi relations in the aftermath of Kilicdaroglu’s visit
to Baghdad.

Celik’s Objection to ‘Vote’ Assessment

In this column last week I used AKP Deputy Chairman Huseyin Celik’s
statement that “the public will give me votes accordingly,” which he
made in connection with the debate on girls and boys sharing homes
on a television programme we attended together, as the basis for my
thesis that the ruling party will use this debate in order to get
votes. The AKP spokesman objected to this assessment and drew our
attention to the context in which the statement was made. Celik’s
remarks in the relevant section are as follows: “(a~@¦) Is democracy
not a system that allows different preferences and enables and prepares
the ground for these preferences, a system in which we can defend
our different preferences and values and in which we face the public
with these preferences? I can come and say at any time: Dear friend,
this is what my morality consists of, this is what it should or should
not be. The public, in turn, will grade me accordingly and vote for
me accordingly. This is not a matter of votes. I repeat: The prime
minister said, and a while ago I said the same thing; I said that
I would not want my daughter who is studying at the university to
live in the same apartment as another man, I would not allow this,
and I would certainly not approve of it. If, however, some others
find it right and say this is what they choose, if the parents say
they approve of this, the state cannot tell them what to do because
this is a state of law, a democratic state, and a secular statea~@¦”

[Translated from Turkish]

BARRY O’FARRELL SLAMS TURKEY’S THREAT OF GALLIPOLI BAN AS CENTENARY BALLOT OPENS

Yahoo News, Australia
Nov 16 2013

November 16, 2013, 8:37 am

The New South Wales Government has reacted harshly to reports the
Turkish speaker of parliament has threatened to ban MPs from attending
the centenary commemorations of the Gallipoli landing.

Tension between the NSW Parliament and Turkish authorities first
erupted in May, when MPs passed a motion recognising the Armenian
genocide.

Genocide scholars say that from 1915 to 1923 more than 1 million
Armenians lost their lives at the hands of the Ottoman empire.

Turkey has long disputed it was genocide.

The Turkish speaker of parliament, Cemil Cicek, has reportedly called
on the State Government to withdraw its resolution.

He says NSW MPs could be banned from attending the 2015 Anzac centenary
at Gallipoli if action is not taken.

In a statement, Premier Barry O’Farrell said anyone associated with
the Turkish government should not use the centenary for political
purposes and labelled the comments “deplorable”.

It comes after the ABC revealed that one of the world’s most vocal .

The address, titled “What happened during 1915-1923”, will be given
by Professor Justin McCarthy, an American history professor whom many
Armenians view with the same disdain as Jews view Holocaust denier
David Irving.

Ballot opens for Gallipoli centenary tickets

The escalation of tensions between NSW and Turkey comes as the
ballot for Australians hoping to attend the 2015 Anzac centenary at
Gallipoli opens.

A total of 6,000 tickets will be available to the general public,
and another 2,000 will be reserved for direct descendents of World
War One veterans, veterans of other wars and school children.

The Federal Government will extend personal invitations to the 160
surviving widows of World War I veterans.

The ballot will close at the end of January and the Government expects
to announce the results in March.

Veterans Affairs Minister Senator Michael Ronaldson says Prime Minister
Tony Abbott will attend the event and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten
will also be invited.

But he says the remaining official delegation will be small to ensure
as many members of the public can attend.

He says that although attending Anzac Day commemorations in 2015 would
be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, if unsuccessful in the ballot,
visitors could also consider visiting Gallipoli at another time during
the centenary year.

“The Gallipoli campaign lasted eight months from April to December
1915,” he said.

“I encourage those who may not be successful in the ballot to consider
visiting Gallipoli at another time in 2015.”

The ballot .

PLAN FOR AN ARMENIAN GENOCIDE DENIER TO AIR VIEWS IN PARLIAMENT HOUSE OUTRAGES ARMENIAN COMMUNITY

ABC, Australia
Nov 15 2013

Updated 8 hours 24 minutes ago

Armenian Australians are outraged that one of the worlds most strident
Armenian genocide deniers, Professor Justin McCarthy, will be allowed
to present his views next week in Parliament House.

Michael Brissenden

TRANSCRIPT

STEVE CANNANE, PRESENTER: The Government hopes to give as many
Australians as possible the chance to win access to the Gallipoli
Peninsula on the 100th anniversary of Anzac Day in 2015 and has
announced the ballot for places will open this weekend.

But the parliament is also hosting an event that many believe will
deny an even bigger historical tragedy, the Armenian genocide that
began just before Australian troops landed at Anzac Cove.

Defence correspondent Michael Brissenden reports.

MICHAEL BRISSENDEN, REPORTER: It’s become the defining moment of
Australian legend. A national mythology forged on the beaches of
Gallipoli.

What few Australians realise is that this day coincides with another
even more tragic anniversary. For Armenians, April 2015 marks the
centenary of the start of the darkest chapter of their history.

Genocide scholars say that from 1915 to 1923, more than a million
Armenians lost their lives at the hands of the Ottoman Empire.

The Turks have long denied the charge and only recently pledged to
ban NSW politicians entirely from the Gallipoli celebrations after
the NSW Parliament passed a motion recognising the Armenian genocide.

>From time to time there have also been calls from the Federal
Parliament to do the same.

(EXTRACT FROM PARLIAMENT NOVEMBER 21, 2011)

MALCOLM TURNBULL, FMR SHADOW MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS: The
elimination, the execution, the murder of hundreds of thousands of
millions of people for no reason other than that they were different,
in this case that they were not Turks, just as the Jews were eliminated
because they were not Germans.

JOE HOCKEY, FORMER SHADOW TREASURER: This is not an issue of
discussion, it’s not an issue of definition. Any systematic eradication
of a race is genocide regardless of the political or social unease
it may bring.

MICHAEL BRISSENDEN: But it seems it will be an issue for discussion
here in Parliament House next week.

This flier is an invitation to a presentation in one of these committee
rooms booked by the Labor member, Laurie Ferguson. The presentation
will be delivered by one of the world’s most strident genocide deniers.

The special presentation will be delivered by Dr Jennifer Lawless from
the NSW Education Department’s Board of Studies and Professor Justin
McCarthy, an American history academic. When it comes to genocide
denial, McCarthy is considered by Armenians to be what David Irving
is to the Jewish Holocaust.

McCarthy holds a number of honorary Turkish doctorates and campaigns
against the recognition of the Armenian genocide.

As this clip from a conference in Germany shows, his views are
unequivocal.

(EXTRACT FROM CONFERENCE)

PROFESSOR JUSTIN MCCARTHY: They have no evidence, no facts, no proof
that says that the Turks wanted to act this way. What is said is
based on emotion and in this case and a desire to prove that there
is a genocide instead of first looking at the facts.

MICHAEL BRISSENDEN: Although it’s known as the Armenian genocide,
thousands of Assyrians and Pontian Greeks were also killed.

Genocide scholar Panayiotis Diamadis says all three communities will be
alarmed that such an address is being held in the Federal Parliament.

PANAYIOTIS DIAMADIS, GENOCIDE SCHOLAR: Anger, disgust that an official
forum – such an official forum as Federal Parliament is being given
to a man who denies the memory of the victims, who denies that this
genocide occurred.

MICHAEL BRISSENDEN: Lateline contacted Laurie Ferguson’s office for
a comment. So far none has been forthcoming.

As we’ve seen, Joe Hockey, Malcolm Turnbull and a number of other
Federal politicians have raised the issue of the Armenian genocide
in parliament in the past. None of those contacted by the ABC wanted
to add to what they’ve already said.

Clearly, the sensitivity surrounding our relationship with Turkey
is in even more focus as we head towards the Gallipoli anniversary,
although it’s understood another attempt will be made to get the
Federal Parliament to recognise the genocide after April 2015.

Michael Brissenden, Lateline.

Watch video at

ARFD: HHK PROVED IT HAS NO SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY TO GENERATIONS

[ Part 2.2: “Attached Text” ]

Friday,November 15

The political majority, boycotting the National Assembly’s special
session and taking an irresponsible attitude, played down once again
the role and importance of the parliament. The majority presented
everyone with a fait accompli, proving that it has no sense of
responsibility to future generations. Deputy of ARFD faction Artsvik
Minasian expressed such an opinion at a meeting with reporters today.

In his words, the activists protesting against the introduction of
the compulsory accumulative pension system showed a higher intellect
than many political figures, including the political majority. “They
not only made reasonable demands, but also put forward an idea of
efficient discussion,” he noted.

Minasian said the behavior of the parliamentary majority was a bit
unexpected to them as there was solidarity during the discussion of
the draft budget on the previous day. “We thought it was a move of
solidarity in order to ensure the promised quorum today, but they
are intolerant. By that step, not only did they show that they are
not concerned about the people’s future, but they don’t also think
about the future of their children and grandchildren,” the deputy said.

In his opinion, the introduction of the compulsory accumulative pension
system does not stem from the interests of the Armenian people and
the state and may have vicious consequences for the current and
next generations.

Let us remind you that today’s special session of the Armenian
parliament on the postponement of the compulsory accumulative pension
system’s introduction until 2015 didn’t take place due to lack of
quorum. The session was initiated by BHK, HAK, Heritage and ARFD
factions.

The introduction of the compulsory accumulative pension system is
envisaged by the 2010 Law on Accumulative Pensions, under which a
voluntary accumulative system has been used since 2011, while the
compulsory component will be introduced in January 1, 2014.

ARMENIAN MP: GREAT POWERS DO NOT WANT NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT TO BE SETTLED

ARMINFO
Friday, November 15, 18:56

The great powers do not want the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to be
settled, MP from the Republican Party of Armenia Khosrov Harutyunyan
said during public debates on the Nagorno-Karabakh problem organized
by the Caucasus Institute in Yerevan on Friday.

“For them this conflict is a means to preserve or even enlarge their
presence in the region. Unless they were so groundlessly indifferent,
Azerbaijan would not be so active in its military rhetoric. Whenever
they react they urge both conflicting parties to be peaceful even
though Armenia does not make such militarist statements. If actually
interested in peace in Nagorno-Karabakh, they would have long imposed
economic sanctions on Azerbaijan and even on Armenia. But as long
as they are passive, Azerbaijan will be actively building up its
armaments and will be inciting Armenia to do the same. The Azeris want
to lead us to an economic crisis, like the United States once did to
the USSR. I don’t think that this will be good for the great powers,
whom the Azeris keep blackmailing with a new war,” Harutyunyan said.

IN WINTER ARMENIA WILL FACE A TRANSPORT CRISIS

ARMINFO
Friday, November 15, 18:45

The companies carrying passengers in Yerevan are facing a crisis.

Unless the current fare is raised, they will stop their work with
the first snow so as to avoid accidents, President of the Association
of Passenger Carriers of Armenia Hrant Yeghiazaryan told journalists
on Friday.

“The key problem is that they have no money for preparing their
vehicles for winter,” Yeghiazaryan said.

When asked by ArmInfo if they expect state subsidies, he said that to
carry one passenger costs them 200 AMD. “If the fare is raised from
100 AMD to 150 AMD, we expect that the rest will be provided by the
state,” Yeghiazaryan said.

Earlier Yerevan’s passenger carriers asked the city’s mayor to raise
the public transport fare. The mayor has not yet responded to them.

Earlier the Mayor tried to raise the fare to 150 AMD but faced a
wave of public displeasure. So, he set up a special committee to find
optimal price.

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian Church of the Holy Ascension
1460 Huntington Tpke.
Trumbull, CT 06611
Contact: Kit Kaolian
Tel: 203-372-5770
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

Dr. Hovanissian’s special presentation in Trumbull, Conn.

TRUMBULL, CT At Armenian Church of the Holy Ascension, Dr. Richard
Hovannisian’s Nov. 3rd presentation on the people and culture
remaining in historic Western Armenia left the over 50 attendees from
NY and CT wanting more. “… the Hovanissian lecture was absolutely
fantastic.” emailed William Papzian.

After a luncheon and a surprise birthday cake and wishes for
Dr. Hovannisian, a fantastic journey embarked as Dr. Hovannisian began
his multi-media presentation.

He opened with Smyrna, the showing of a brief video which was a
collage of old photos and footage of life in Smyrna up to and
including the burning of Smyrna in September 1922. Smyrna was a port
for much trade and was in the vanguard: In as early as the 1840’s the
Armenians in Smyrna had a newspaper, something pretty much unheard of
in the Ottoman Empire. A discussion of many of the provinces of
historic Western Armenia followed with engaging discussion and
interesting photos.

Near the end of Hovannisian’s June 2013 trip to Turkey, his group
headed north to the Black Sea into the mountains in search of the
Hamshens. The video of the discussions with the Hamshen people was
intriguing. The Hamshens speak a dialect of Armenian, but do not
consider themselves Armenian.

The video footage of the interactions with some of the last few
remaining Armenians in Dikranagerd was enlightening and also humorous
at times. Dr. Hovannisian is UCLA emeritus professor of Armenian and
Near Eastern History and has authored or edited over 20 books. He
sold and autographed some of his books after the presentation and Q &
A session in the church hall. One can look forward to his next volume
which will focus on Asia Minor. Following the event Stepan Piligian
wrote on the church Facebook page: “He is a national treasure of the
Armenian community who has led the academic and scholastic work for
decades. His contributions are profound and will continue to inspire
for generations. It is wonderful that Holy Ascension sponsored this
event.”

###

ANOTHER FAILED ‘REVOLUTION’ IN ARMENIA

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Nov 14 2013

14 November 2013 – 10:20am

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.