KOCHARYAN METHODS ARE COMING BACK

[ Part 2.2: “Attached Text” ]

February 5 2015

SDHP Chairman Narek Galstyan about the tradition of “beating
a person in mask” and “declaring one or two needles or
toothbrushes more”

– On Saturday, the incident happened in Berdzor between the Founding
Parliament of Artsakh and the NKR police during the automobile march
was differently interpreted. In your estimation, what happened and why?

– Frankly speaking, the question here should be divided into two
parts. What happened in Berdzor is definitely condemnable. I have seen
the footage posted on the internet. They were beating with special
severity, broking the car windows. As I understood, there were also
cameramen from Artsakh, let them present their understanding of the
events. But, anyway, likewise treating unarmed and peaceful people
does not fit in the conscience, the law, nor in our understanding of
political logic.

Here, however, there is a second important factor. For us, the style
of the Founder Parliament’s actions, the logic of moves have
never been acceptable. Now, they are talking about the “regime
change” on April 24. On the day of the Centennial of the
Genocide, if a single Armenia’s nose bleeds in the city center,
we will decry our Cause in front of the whole world. It is clear that
in these days, the whole world’s attention will be concentrated
on Yerevan. Moreover, the logic of going out of Yerevan and holding
a demonstration in Artsakh is not acceptable. Artsakh has a plenty of
problems apart from going out of Yerevan and holding a demonstration
there. The border is a few kilometers away, every day subversive
acts are taking place, so why it is necessary to involve Artsakh in
domestic political matters. Absolutely, not.

– Recently, the beating of civil activists and politicians often
manifests as an attitude. Isn’t the time actually a passed
phase for us?

– You are right, lately, regular physical settlement of accounts are
taking place. After Robert Kocharyan’s tenure, such phenomena
were not find in our political and social life, which, indeed, was
welcomed. In recent months, the occurrences are beyond the logic in
general. There is no other disgracing and more villainous phenomenon
than beating a person in a mask. In 2007, I was attacked in the same
sneaky style, but perhaps a few times cruel. You know, somehow I will
understand that if someone curses him on the Internet, you shall go
and openly settle account with him.

In many cases, they go beyond the red line, involve families, which
is no way perceivable. But in contrast to it, the attacks in masks do
not also particularly shine by their honesty. At the same time, taken
objectively, there are thousands of problems in our country. What
does it mean, should there be no oligarchy in Armenia after making
the civil activists silent? Should the monopolies be eliminated?

Should the corruption in the public-sector stop ruling as a
cornerstone of building public relations? Of course, not. These are
our country’s real problems, these are the challenges before
the authorities and the whole public, rather than the Facebook users.

– You have repeatedly announced that SDHP party will act from the
interests of small and medium-sized businesses. It has been several
months since the RA Law on “Turnover tax” has made hundreds
of people to come out to the street, the talks with the government are
underway, but there is no final solution. Whom does the SDHP support?

– One gets the impression that a class struggle has begun in Armenia
against all small and medium-sized businesses. It seems we are back
to the 20’s of the 20th century, when the USSR as viewed
as a “hostile” class to all people who had more than
two chicken. Under this difficult social situation, the SDHP party
believes that it would be much righteous for the government to be
focused on bringing the oligarchy to the taxation field. After that,
everything will be regulated. Or else, by declaring one or two needles
or toothbrushes more, you would only make the social severity further
deep. SDHP Party shares the concerns of SME representatives, support
their claims, but our representatives do not participate in their
rallies only for one reason – no need to politicize people’s
legitimate social requirements.

Interviewed by Nelly GRIGORYAN

Read more at: