Former member of Board of the Armenian National Movement (ANM), Ex-Vice Speaker of Parliament Karapet Rubinyan issued an open letter informing that he abandons ANM.
“I am deflecting from the ANM party. I am neither the first one nor the last one to leave the party. So there is nothing tragic about that. Indeed, in a human aspect this is quite difficult because I have been within this party for over 20 years. This is the only party I have ever joined; have had many good and bad days, hundreds of friends… But I think it would be right for me to explain certain things before I leave. According to my observations and information that I have during the Congress of July 17 the results of the election of the ANM Board members were rigged. This is a very odd and sorrowful phenomenon, as a party, which has claimed to be a warrior of liberal democratic principles and party, which has been struggling ffor the rigged results of 2008 presidential elections, shouldn’t have done so. It is regrettable that it happened under circumstances when first President Levon Ter-Petrosyan took personal control of the process of holding the congress. Levon Ter-Petrosyan took the election of the presidium of the Party under his total control. He said that his name was absent in the “special” ballot, and it was Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s “punishment” for Rubinyan’s criticism to the Congress. Under that strong control, against all preliminary assurances, a “model” ballot paper suddenly appeared, according to which I should not be elected to the Board. Since even a sick mind cannot imagine me among plotters, it only remains to suppose that thus Mr. Ter-Petrosyan punishes me for criticism of ANM policy or, most likely, tries to keep ANM Board away from dissent. As even the sickest brains cannot imagine me being in the “conspiracy wing” or having had made a deal with the government, all I have to do is assume only one thing and that is Levon Ter-Petrosyan is trying to punish me for slamming the ANC policy or in other words is trying to keep alternative opinion possessors from the ANM board. And all this done in a public and open way. But if you are giving your list to select people or select chapters and meanwhile whisper that “grandpa said that Rubinyan shouldn’t be elected” this is demeaning and degrading. To be honest, I am angry but wouldn’t defect my party only for that reason. Such things have happened in the past as well and I have lived with that for the sake of the solidarity and harmony within the party and perhaps could have done the same thing now. But all this comes to prove the degradation process that is currently proceeding within the party. I urge the delegate friends of mine to better analyze what has happened during the congress and be more cautious later on. Have you noticed any debates, future plans, discussions during this congress? I only made a small suggestion regarding the three-page resolution and it wasn’t even clear whether it was admitted or not. Have you noticed any competition among the members of the ANM Board? Aram Manukyan, who I honestly congratulate for being appointed head of the board, hasn’t publicized what platforms he has and what he’s going to work on. No one knows. After all, at one time we were the most progressive political force in the country, gave lessons in democracy, we had no tradition of Brezhnev ovations. None of our members has ever walked with 4-55 bodyguards and didn’t run late to derive massive applause from the audience when entering. Isn’t this absurd that instead of Ararat Zurabyan,, who had ked the party for many years despite his resignation, the annual report is read by someone else, who suddenly gets elected ANM chair? I recalled the funeral of Brezhnev. Hasn’t any of you noticed that the leader of the movement instead of speaking of the future plans spoke about the meaningless of this struggle. Without compromise nothing is going to work. But have we struggled against the gangster-state with the compromise demand or who has even ever offered us compromise? Aren’t so far proposed offers calls to surrender – fast and slow? Yes, we do not hinder those who want to go on compromises. What do we have to do in this situation? Soon they may even be OK with capitulation suggestions. And if we have to take any compromises then we should notice that others do? What is our future deed in this case? Shall we just even more break the hope of the people, make them more frustrated and disappointed of the country and the future? Shall we do what the government wants us to do? There are numerous questions like this. But instead we are discussing other things. A new tradition is formed – no questions and protracted applause. I am out of this business. Wish you all the best, I am not in the game any longer,” says Rubinyan in his letter.