After the Rain: Armenia Faces Challenges in a New Era

By Christian Garbis

"The Armenian Weekly", Volume 74, No. 15, April 19, 2007

YEREVAN (A.W.)—The streets are bustling with activity in Armenia’s capital. Road construction projects are partially paralyzing the city once again after a two-month break. The economy on the surface appears to be booming, with the exchange rate holding steady at 305 dram to the dollar. Yet Armenia finds itself at a socio-political crossroads, the first of its kind since the nation declared independence from the Soviet Union. The country is still spiritually reeling from the crisis of events that crippled the nation for nearly one month.

Throughout March and well into April, the arrests of oppositionists and even those suspected of having connections to opposition supporters persisted. Scores of people remain jailed amid sharp criticism from the Council of Europe and strong concern expressed by the United States. Aram Sargsyan, former prime minister and brother to slain Vazgen Sargsyan, who is one of the key players in the opposition movement, was formally accused by the authorities of conspiring against the state, although like People’s Party leader Stephan Demirchian, he has not been arrested. At least 100 people are being detained as political prisoners. The crackdowns are viewed by Western nations as being a blow to democracy in Armenia.

International monitoring organizations such as the Council of Europe have expressed serious concerns about the mass political arrests. On March 31, the organization called for an independent investigation regarding the events of March 1 and for all political prisoners to be released. Human Rights Watch along with the Council of Europe called for the Armenian government to toss out its ban on public assemblies.

On April 2, about three dozen jailed opposition figures organized a hunger strike, among them former foreign minister Alexander Arzumanian. The protest began to fade as the health of some of the detainees declined drastically. On April 9, opposition leader and former president Levon Ter-Petrossian called for the hunger strike to end so that activists could prepare for renewed protest movements in the future. Meanwhile, Ter-Petrossian curiously remains under house arrest despite the fact that nearly all of those closest to him politically, notably Pan-Armenian National Movement party members, have been jailed.

The country’s new era ushers in a change of leadership. Former Armenian Prime Minister Serge Sarkisian was sworn into office as president on April 9. Just one day before his inauguration, he announced that he would appoint Central Bank of Armenia Chairman Tigran Sargysan—who bears no relation—as prime minister.

Both Serge Sarkisian and former President Robert Kocharian worked hand-in-hand in setting policies and procedures behind the scenes during Kocharian’s service as country leader, and there is concern that the mechanisms put into place by the two political giants will only gain momentum under Sarkisian’s reign.

Tigran Sarkisian’s appointment was well received by the coalition members. He is perceived as a neutral player on the political scene as he holds no allegiance to any political party. Both Armen Rustamian of the ARF-Dasknaktsutiun and Arthur Baghdasarian of Orinats Yerkir made public statements acknowledging that Sarkisian was the best man suited for forming a new government, citing his long experience as an official responsible for managing the financial sector.

Although four leading political parties—Orinats Yerkir, ARF-D, Prosperous Armenia, and the Republicans—agreed to join forces in a pro-government coalition, they have not yet come to an agreement over how they will share ministerial posts. Yet each party anticipates retaining control of the ministry seats they had been appointed during the Kocharian administration.

Critics of Tigran Sarkisian’s appointment claim that President Sarkisian did not even consult his own party before making his choice, thereby snubbing some senior Republican members. The prime minister of Armenia must form his government within 20 days after having taken office.

Nevertheless, two key positions were filled by President Sarkisian on April 9. Eduard Nalbandian, who served as the Armenian Ambassador to France, was appointed foreign minister, replacing outgoing Vartan Oskanian. Also, colonel-general Seyran Ohanian, a veteran of the Nagorno-Karabakh war, was designated as the new minister of defense.

Since the end of the state of emergency, mass public meetings have been restricted and police presence, although fairly light, is still evident in places where crowds tend to gather, notably in Liberty Square, which circles the Opera House in downtown Yerevan. Despite the restrictions, clumps of people can be seen loitering along the Northern Boulevard across from the Opera House playing chess or eating fast food in alternative forms of protest. On Monday, the wives and relatives of oppositionist political prisoners held a demonstration demanding their husbands’ release in front of the French embassy, which is situated on the site of the March 1 clashes. No one was arrested. The group of spouses signed a declaration in March calling for the activists to be freed from jail.

Freedom of speech is not only repressed among free-thinking citizens, but broadcast waves are also being blocked. Last autumn, GALA TV of Gyumri broadcasted a recorded speech made by Ter-Petrossian during which he harshly criticized the Armenian government. Since then, the authorities have been scrambling to find ways to shut down the station legally. Last month, the station held a telethon to raise approximately $87,000 that it supposedly owed in fines for unpaid taxes; the amount was paid in full. Pensioners were even said to have donated 5,000 dram ($16) from their meager monthly stipends to the cause. Now GALA TV is being forced to find a new broadcast tower for its transmitter as Gyumri’s City Hall is suddenly claiming ownership of the one the station presently uses, purportedly illegally.

An unspoken, persistent resentment is still in the air six weeks after the events of March 1, which claimed 10 lives to date. Although people carry on as if they are fully confident in their new leader, they have no choice but to exhibit that sense of confidence, whether or not it is sincere. In today’s Armenian society, dissent is not to be tolerated on any plane of criticism.