Elections Are Not Beginning Or End of Something
Interview with civil activist Ruzanna Grigoryan
You announced on behalf of a group of civil activists that you join
the movement on Freedom Square. Is this community still participating
in the post-electoral process or has it already changed its tactics.
Before the election I thought that the outcome of the election is
predetermined. However, the post-electoral developments gave me a
pleasant surprise. In fact, there is a new situation, the majority of
people is against the ruling system. On the other hand, lots of local
observers reported breaches and fraud. Civic activists were involved
in those observer teams. Perhaps this is the reason why a group of
civil activists formed spontaneously who set to defend the electoral
right. Although during the campaign we did not support any political
team and candidate. The key issue for civil activists was violations
of electoral rights.
At the moment, there is not one collective civic community with one
tactics. There are a number of civic initiatives or individuals. Some
of them will be observing the mayoral election. Others have other
priorities. I will be an observer. I am happy that young civic
activists are participating in the election. They are young people who
have a civic stance, are active in social life, are not interwoven
with the oligarchy, their past is clean, they are idealists. This will
be one of the criteria of my choice.
I think elections are not beginning or end of something. We will
remain as active after the elections as before them. If during
elections the right to vote is violated, between elections other
rights are violated every day.
Is the participation of the civil community in these elections an
effort to influence the political process directly?
I cannot speak on everyone’s behalf because, as I said, there is not
one collective civic community with one approach. I am not
disappointed or desperate because I rely on myself. I think the
problem is expectations. When one goes to Freedom Square on April 9
expecting a change of government in two hours, one might get
disappointed. But if the ongoing process is viewed in positive
tendencies, one prepares oneself that deep changes will take time, one
sets goals, knows where one is going to and there are not many reasons
for disappointment.
Moreover, I am encouraged by the civil activity of the recent years.
And I encourage diversity of civil groups. The more diverse they are,
the more different beliefs there will be, they will complete one
another, there will be more success. I am sure the positive tendency
will continue, and we will see a real revolution, not just a change of
government or a coup.
I think the system is worn out. They are not capable of a single
progressive idea or change, and their values are incompatible with the
demands of the modern society. They utter a stupid phrase and are
mocked for months. They have nothing to say. All that is left to them
is violence or inspiring fear in the street by means of the police.
The poverty of the system is evident in the police as well when during
rallies the police limit people’s mobility or the right to peaceful
assemblies, not being able to put forth their demands or interpret
their actions.
In your opinion, what ideas and problems could bring people together?
The citizens must continue to form the political agenda of issues that
worry them. They must participate in social life and control it. I
expect the political forces to present their strategic solutions.
Ruzanna, recently there have been opinions that the civil sector is
directed by one political force or another. Do you detect such risks?
There are activists who have very distinct political beliefs and
preferences, they support some force. This is something normal.
However, it is important to separate and not to mix the political and
civil agendas. This independence is very important. I am sure that
there are independent citizens in the civil sector who are not
directed by any force. However, what we are doing is directly related
to politics.
Due to the dictatorial regime continuously reproduced through rigged
elections there is a mindset that politics is immorality and it is
necessary to keep away from it. I think this mindset needs to be
changed because politics determines not only public but also our
private lives. It is politics on what pavements we walk, what
transport we use, where we work, how we spend our free time. So, our
participation in it is not only desirable but also mandatory.
Everything must be politicized. Politics must be every person’s job.
Siranuysh Papyan
13:51 20/04/2013
Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/index.php/eng/0/interview/view/29682