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IN ARMENIA, A "BAREVOLUTION" TAKES SHAPE. ITS FUTURE? UNCERTAIN
ianyan magazine, USA
Feb 27 2013
Posted by Liana Aghajanian on February 27, 2013 at 2:42 am
Something is brewing in Armenia. What was meant to be a routine
presidential election that saw incumbent President Serge Sargsyan
return to office has left in its aftermath not just questions,
but rallies, student protests, a meeting with the two presidential
frontrunners and among outcry from a small, active group of diasporans,
contradictory statements from two of its most well-known faces. No,
that doesn't include the Kardashians.
Nicknamed the orange-colored "Barevolution," (Barev meaning 'hello'
in Armenian) a nod to the meet and greet campaign style of opposition
candidate Raffi Hovannisian, the streets from Yerevan to Vanadzor
have been filling up with thousands of people who have come out in
support of Hovannisian, or at the very least, in a show of defiance
against Sargsyan and the ruling Republican Party. Hovannisian has
even been joined by various political entities in the country at his
rallies, including opposition activist and editor of Haykakan Zhamanak
newspaper Nikol Pashinyan, who served a 2 year prison term for his role
in 2008â~@²s post-election violence as well as high-ranking members
of ARF (Armenian Revolutionary Federation) Dashnakstutuyn members,
who did not have a candidate in the elections but controversially
urged supporters to vote for anyone but Sargsyan.
While the Central Election Committee (CEC) officially declared Sargsyan
the winner, receiving 59 percent of the vote, while Hovannisian came
second with 37 percent, the latter remained defiant, calling on the CEC
and those involved in election irregularities to remain accountable.
"This is not my struggle anymore, nor the struggle of my 'team,'"
he said. "Let people not think that this is an issue that will be
resolved in a day."
Last week, Sargsyan and Hovannisian met face to face at the
Presidential Palace in which Hovannisian said he urged Sargsyan to
recognize "the victory of the people."
Sargsyan of course, gave a simple, yet firm reply: "no."
As Hovannisian's "victory tour" continued, a bevy of foreign leaders
stepped up to congratulate Sargsyan, including French President
Francois Holland and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad from Iran, an ally
of the South Caucasus country whose borders remain closed with Turkey
and Azerbaijan.
With an interest to continue and expand relations between Armenia
and Iran, Ahmadinejad sent well wishes of health and success,
"prosperity and glory to the friendly people and government of
Armenia," President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said in his message," the
presidential press reported.
This week, students, who historically have played vital roles in
revolutionary movements across the world, got involved. On Monday,
Yerevan State University students announced a boycott of classes to
protest what they called the fraudulent elections in Armenia. "We are
against the fraudulent election and do not recognize the official
vote results," said Norayr Hovhannisyan, a history student who was
quoted in local investigative outlet Hetq.
Photo: Students jumping over the gates of Yerevan State University
after authorities allegedly locked them. Text reads "Revolution"
in Armenia. /Illustration via Facebook
Soon, word spread across social media networks about authorities
locking doors and gates to keep students inside. Some jumped over
the gates, opening windows to let other students out.
Meanwhile, members of several Armenian organizations have publicly
voiced an action plan as both candidates refuse to step down. Eight
NGOs, including the Women's Resource Center, Asparez Journalism Club,
Transparency International Anti-Corruption center and others have
demanded the publication of voter lists to verify the election results,
Armenia Now reports.
Photo: A Hovannisian rally draws large crowds in Yerevan/ Photo
courtesy Sara Anjargolian
In a rather strange development, an unexpected exchange, perhaps
some might say a battle of words has gone public, festering across
the oceans as segments of the diaspora become involved in the
"Barevolution" aftermath of Armenia's fourth presidential elections.
System of a Down front man and Armenian-American Serj Tankian has
released a scathing open letter to Sargsyan, calling on him to protect
the country from enemies foreign and domestic - including those who
conduct fraudulent elections.
Like most diasporan Armenians, I have always been reluctant to
criticize your government directly and publicly," Tankian wrote in
the letter published by the Armenian Weekly. "But the avalanche of
people suffering under your rule due to corruption and injustice is
tipping the scale for us all."
But then, it got stranger. Sargsyan replied to Tankian, a reply which
also took the form of an open letter, a badly written and overall
confusing one (confusion being a strong theme in post-election Armenia
at the moment), which led us to a slightly clearer conclusion.
"You asked me if I was really sure, deep inside, whether I was the
true chosen leader of our people or not," Sargsyan wrote.
"I respond to it that I have always been sure in whatever I have done
be that battle command or organization of elections."
Tankian took the opportunity to write yet another letter, while Charles
Aznavour, the revered bastion of Armenian identity on the other side
of the world took the opportunity to congratulate Sargsyan calling his
"unbending will power and determination" and selfless dedication to
Armenia invaluable for the country.
Photo: The unofficial social media symbol of the "Barevolution."
Hundreds of Facebook users in Armenia have already changed their
profile pictures to reflect Hovannisian's campaign.
As Serj and Serzh continue to exchange letters in the Armenian
press, concerns are mounting over the message and momentum of the
Hovannisian led "Barevolution." With scheduled visits to Armenia's
southern cities today, what exactly will Hovannisian continue to do
in the face of a defiant incumbent, CEC results and an election with
a stamp of approval from Organization for Security and Cooperation
in Europe observers? Will he let the crowds that have gathered for
him in and out of Armenia know of his plans? As time passes without
concrete demands, many are left wondering if the movement is destined
to stumble and fall.
"I have a feeling that March 1 will be the final deadline, the make it
or break it point for this post-election round," writes the Armenian
Observer.
But despite the confusion surrounding the immediate plans and future
of the movement, perhaps something else, something a little more
cultural and something a little less tinged with apathy is shifting.
"In Armenia, the process of political transformation would culminate
in a bottom-up renegotiation of the now-flawed constitutional compact
that was foisted upon Armenians during the 1990s, and distorted in
subsequent years through constitutional coups, rigged elections, the
violent repression of opposition demonstrations, a distorted media
landscape, and the cartelisation of an already small economic pie,"
writes Security, in the Caucasus and Beyond. "A fresh start is what
is needed in Yerevan, not some tinkering at the edges by the same
old faces people have been seeing over the past twenty years."
Is Armenia waking up? Only time will tell.
http://www.ianyanmag.com/2013/02/27/in-armenia-a-barevolution-takes-shape-its-future-uncertain/
ianyan magazine, USA
Feb 27 2013
Posted by Liana Aghajanian on February 27, 2013 at 2:42 am
Something is brewing in Armenia. What was meant to be a routine
presidential election that saw incumbent President Serge Sargsyan
return to office has left in its aftermath not just questions,
but rallies, student protests, a meeting with the two presidential
frontrunners and among outcry from a small, active group of diasporans,
contradictory statements from two of its most well-known faces. No,
that doesn't include the Kardashians.
Nicknamed the orange-colored "Barevolution," (Barev meaning 'hello'
in Armenian) a nod to the meet and greet campaign style of opposition
candidate Raffi Hovannisian, the streets from Yerevan to Vanadzor
have been filling up with thousands of people who have come out in
support of Hovannisian, or at the very least, in a show of defiance
against Sargsyan and the ruling Republican Party. Hovannisian has
even been joined by various political entities in the country at his
rallies, including opposition activist and editor of Haykakan Zhamanak
newspaper Nikol Pashinyan, who served a 2 year prison term for his role
in 2008â~@²s post-election violence as well as high-ranking members
of ARF (Armenian Revolutionary Federation) Dashnakstutuyn members,
who did not have a candidate in the elections but controversially
urged supporters to vote for anyone but Sargsyan.
While the Central Election Committee (CEC) officially declared Sargsyan
the winner, receiving 59 percent of the vote, while Hovannisian came
second with 37 percent, the latter remained defiant, calling on the CEC
and those involved in election irregularities to remain accountable.
"This is not my struggle anymore, nor the struggle of my 'team,'"
he said. "Let people not think that this is an issue that will be
resolved in a day."
Last week, Sargsyan and Hovannisian met face to face at the
Presidential Palace in which Hovannisian said he urged Sargsyan to
recognize "the victory of the people."
Sargsyan of course, gave a simple, yet firm reply: "no."
As Hovannisian's "victory tour" continued, a bevy of foreign leaders
stepped up to congratulate Sargsyan, including French President
Francois Holland and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad from Iran, an ally
of the South Caucasus country whose borders remain closed with Turkey
and Azerbaijan.
With an interest to continue and expand relations between Armenia
and Iran, Ahmadinejad sent well wishes of health and success,
"prosperity and glory to the friendly people and government of
Armenia," President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said in his message," the
presidential press reported.
This week, students, who historically have played vital roles in
revolutionary movements across the world, got involved. On Monday,
Yerevan State University students announced a boycott of classes to
protest what they called the fraudulent elections in Armenia. "We are
against the fraudulent election and do not recognize the official
vote results," said Norayr Hovhannisyan, a history student who was
quoted in local investigative outlet Hetq.
Photo: Students jumping over the gates of Yerevan State University
after authorities allegedly locked them. Text reads "Revolution"
in Armenia. /Illustration via Facebook
Soon, word spread across social media networks about authorities
locking doors and gates to keep students inside. Some jumped over
the gates, opening windows to let other students out.
Meanwhile, members of several Armenian organizations have publicly
voiced an action plan as both candidates refuse to step down. Eight
NGOs, including the Women's Resource Center, Asparez Journalism Club,
Transparency International Anti-Corruption center and others have
demanded the publication of voter lists to verify the election results,
Armenia Now reports.
Photo: A Hovannisian rally draws large crowds in Yerevan/ Photo
courtesy Sara Anjargolian
In a rather strange development, an unexpected exchange, perhaps
some might say a battle of words has gone public, festering across
the oceans as segments of the diaspora become involved in the
"Barevolution" aftermath of Armenia's fourth presidential elections.
System of a Down front man and Armenian-American Serj Tankian has
released a scathing open letter to Sargsyan, calling on him to protect
the country from enemies foreign and domestic - including those who
conduct fraudulent elections.
Like most diasporan Armenians, I have always been reluctant to
criticize your government directly and publicly," Tankian wrote in
the letter published by the Armenian Weekly. "But the avalanche of
people suffering under your rule due to corruption and injustice is
tipping the scale for us all."
But then, it got stranger. Sargsyan replied to Tankian, a reply which
also took the form of an open letter, a badly written and overall
confusing one (confusion being a strong theme in post-election Armenia
at the moment), which led us to a slightly clearer conclusion.
"You asked me if I was really sure, deep inside, whether I was the
true chosen leader of our people or not," Sargsyan wrote.
"I respond to it that I have always been sure in whatever I have done
be that battle command or organization of elections."
Tankian took the opportunity to write yet another letter, while Charles
Aznavour, the revered bastion of Armenian identity on the other side
of the world took the opportunity to congratulate Sargsyan calling his
"unbending will power and determination" and selfless dedication to
Armenia invaluable for the country.
Photo: The unofficial social media symbol of the "Barevolution."
Hundreds of Facebook users in Armenia have already changed their
profile pictures to reflect Hovannisian's campaign.
As Serj and Serzh continue to exchange letters in the Armenian
press, concerns are mounting over the message and momentum of the
Hovannisian led "Barevolution." With scheduled visits to Armenia's
southern cities today, what exactly will Hovannisian continue to do
in the face of a defiant incumbent, CEC results and an election with
a stamp of approval from Organization for Security and Cooperation
in Europe observers? Will he let the crowds that have gathered for
him in and out of Armenia know of his plans? As time passes without
concrete demands, many are left wondering if the movement is destined
to stumble and fall.
"I have a feeling that March 1 will be the final deadline, the make it
or break it point for this post-election round," writes the Armenian
Observer.
But despite the confusion surrounding the immediate plans and future
of the movement, perhaps something else, something a little more
cultural and something a little less tinged with apathy is shifting.
"In Armenia, the process of political transformation would culminate
in a bottom-up renegotiation of the now-flawed constitutional compact
that was foisted upon Armenians during the 1990s, and distorted in
subsequent years through constitutional coups, rigged elections, the
violent repression of opposition demonstrations, a distorted media
landscape, and the cartelisation of an already small economic pie,"
writes Security, in the Caucasus and Beyond. "A fresh start is what
is needed in Yerevan, not some tinkering at the edges by the same
old faces people have been seeing over the past twenty years."
Is Armenia waking up? Only time will tell.
http://www.ianyanmag.com/2013/02/27/in-armenia-a-barevolution-takes-shape-its-future-uncertain/