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Regular `beating brigade'
September 7 2013
There have always been `beating brigades' in Armenia who attack social
activists, opposition members, and journalists. In mid of 90-s, they
were called `Yerkrapahs' (Translator's note, Defends of the Land). The
latter were beating Krishna believers (probably for not having a
`national character'), attacked the attorney Ruben Sahakyan, have
applied violence against citizens gathered in the Freedom Square after
the elections on July 5, 1995. No `yerkrapah' was punished for these
crimes. In early 2000s `beating brigades' began to be called
`oligarchs' bodyguards' or `skinheads', who were throwing eggs at
opposition rallies, were organizing riots, attacking opposition
political figures and activists, and journalists. A couple of
`skinheads' got light, symbolic sanctions. Apparently, these `body
guards' played their role during the `March 1³ events. As to what
`department' today's `attackers' belong to, it's hard to say, but it
is apparent that all aforesaid gangs are connected with this or that
cycle of the authorities. The proof of it is, of course, the impunity
of attackers to people. For example, the law enforcement entities
`could not' figure out how beat the `Karabakh' committee member Ashot
Manucharyan, or who attacked the former Minister of Internal Affairs
Suren Abrahamyan. As for this and many other similar cases, the
reasons of attacks are political, in the sense that the some
government circles remained dissatisfied with the actions or
statements of opposition figures, and command `attack!' to the
hooligan under their hand to intimidate the public. The attack against
Haykak Arshamyan and Suren Saghatelyan are from the same series. The
evidence to the contrary can only be the thing that not one the actual
beaters are identified and adequately punished, but also those who
have sent them. The previous experience in this regard does not
inspire optimism. But there is another aspect in these stories, which
is certainly worth talking about, the lack of unified will in the
society. Naturally, there is no public or political figure in the
world whose work everyone will like, there are always competing
political parties, competing NGOs or just people who do not like the
views of victims for attack. But that, in no case, could cause some
reservations, which contains a very insidious implication, `maybe they
deserve it.' Violence must be condemned in all cases, without
reservation. That is the most important guarantee of non-repetition of
such crimes. Aram Abrahamyan
Read more at: http://en.aravot.am/2013/09/07/161516/
September 7 2013
There have always been `beating brigades' in Armenia who attack social
activists, opposition members, and journalists. In mid of 90-s, they
were called `Yerkrapahs' (Translator's note, Defends of the Land). The
latter were beating Krishna believers (probably for not having a
`national character'), attacked the attorney Ruben Sahakyan, have
applied violence against citizens gathered in the Freedom Square after
the elections on July 5, 1995. No `yerkrapah' was punished for these
crimes. In early 2000s `beating brigades' began to be called
`oligarchs' bodyguards' or `skinheads', who were throwing eggs at
opposition rallies, were organizing riots, attacking opposition
political figures and activists, and journalists. A couple of
`skinheads' got light, symbolic sanctions. Apparently, these `body
guards' played their role during the `March 1³ events. As to what
`department' today's `attackers' belong to, it's hard to say, but it
is apparent that all aforesaid gangs are connected with this or that
cycle of the authorities. The proof of it is, of course, the impunity
of attackers to people. For example, the law enforcement entities
`could not' figure out how beat the `Karabakh' committee member Ashot
Manucharyan, or who attacked the former Minister of Internal Affairs
Suren Abrahamyan. As for this and many other similar cases, the
reasons of attacks are political, in the sense that the some
government circles remained dissatisfied with the actions or
statements of opposition figures, and command `attack!' to the
hooligan under their hand to intimidate the public. The attack against
Haykak Arshamyan and Suren Saghatelyan are from the same series. The
evidence to the contrary can only be the thing that not one the actual
beaters are identified and adequately punished, but also those who
have sent them. The previous experience in this regard does not
inspire optimism. But there is another aspect in these stories, which
is certainly worth talking about, the lack of unified will in the
society. Naturally, there is no public or political figure in the
world whose work everyone will like, there are always competing
political parties, competing NGOs or just people who do not like the
views of victims for attack. But that, in no case, could cause some
reservations, which contains a very insidious implication, `maybe they
deserve it.' Violence must be condemned in all cases, without
reservation. That is the most important guarantee of non-repetition of
such crimes. Aram Abrahamyan
Read more at: http://en.aravot.am/2013/09/07/161516/