The Armenian opposition is currently quiet while the Republicans try to represent themselves more and the “Prosperous Armenia” party tries to enlist all kinds of experts into the party, including dancers, artists, gynecologists, athletes, science candidates, doctorates and even one academician.
The Armenian opposition is not taking any initiative; it’s not making any comments about the future of Armenia or expressing optimistic views. It’s obvious that the oppositionists have interesting ideas and initiatives, however they don’t have the opportunity to express themselves.
I was especially interested in finding out about the current internal political situation of Armenia and what the opposition, in particular the “Republic” party, has to say about it. So, I asked leader of the party Aram Z. Sargsyan, who is well-known among society and is considered a major oppositional figure. But it turns out that the only way to communicate with Mr. Sargysan is to talk with the member of his party board-Suren Surenyants. That’s it. I had to call Suren Surenyants 100 times a day and get the same answer 100 times: “ I’ll find out right now” or “Don’t worry, we’ll have the interview today.” As a rule, he didn’t fulfill his promise. So, the only way of contacting Aram Sargysan made me think twice about interviewing him.
The flow of intellectuals to the “Prosperous Armenia” party continues. Armenian television networks often broadcast the meeting of the “Prosperous Armenia” party and it’s easy to fall for the words of former rector of the Yerevan State Medical University and academician Vilen Hakobyan during his speech at the meeting. He assured everyone that it was the love and respect towards the “respected party leader Gagik Tsarukyan” that brought him and other intellectuals to the party. But this love wasn’t the reason why Vilen Hakobyan took the keys of the car that Gagik Tsarukyan had given to him as a present in light of the 75th anniversary of the Yerevan State Medical University.
There is a group of intellectuals that had joined and currently join the already large number of Republicans who can explain what brought Armenia’s 2000 dancers, actor Guzh Manukyan, gynecologist Okoyev and other well-known Armenian public figures to “Prosperous Armenia”. The intellectuals’ tries to praise Prime Minister Andranik Markaryan, Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan from the Republican party and Gagik Tsarukyan and consider them as serious political figures and thinkers were unsuccessful.
There are only few Armenian intellectuals with no political orientation remaining in Armenia for the past 10-15 years. Armenian society still hasn’t seen them dare to go against the tolerance of the authorities, except when poet Silva Kaputikyan returned her state medal to president Kocharyan. Silva Kaputikyan is currently joining her fellow intellectuals in the march towards the pro-government parties and had this to say to “168 Hours”:
“I feel pity for my colleagues and am offended when I see how the current authorities and the rich take advantage of the poor intellectuals, humiliate them both materialistically and morally and make the intellectuals serve them to come to power.”
But I must say that Armenian intellectuals like to serve.