1937-1917=20, 2013-1993=20 formula in Russia and Armenia
Political processes in Russia and Armenia are almost identical. External differences of parties and their names do not change the content.
For example, the general prosecutor’s office of Russia has submitted a petition to the Duma to raise the right for personal immunity of two MPs and bringing them to justice. Communist Konstantin Shirshov and member of “A Just Russia” party Mikheyev are accused in crimes. Shrishov is accused in an attempt to swindle money by offering a place in the list of United Russia party to get a seat in Duma for 7,5 million Euros. Mikheyev is accused in privatizing 14 properties in Volgograd and embezzling 2,1 billion rubles credit from PromsvyazBank.
Last year Russia sued two MPs – Vladimir Bessonov and Genadi Gudkov. Russian media believes the goal of the government is demolishing even the parties that have been considered being under their control and were trying to seem independent, and leave only United Russia as one-party system in Russia. For this purpose they want to show to people that even MP’s mandate cannot save these people, so ordinary members of those parties are not protected either, thus the only party that can bring safety and security for its members is United Russia as in fact none of its members has been persecuted so far. Even there were reports in Russia containing the following formulas: 1937-1917=20 2013-1993=20. They believe that in 1917 Bolshevik’s that had come to power used small parties for their political purposes, and in 1937 they arrested all of them and exiled, creating one party system in the country. They are comparing the two historical phases and offering that since 1993 Russia used the parties under its control for twenty years for creating an image of multi-partisan system and when they feel that the power is strong enough, they consider those parties useless and want to get rid of them.
Elections in 2013 can be considered the end of multi-partisan system in Armenia as well. Main political parties of Armenia do not participate in election as they believe it is useless and without purpose to participate in elections. After elections those parties will demolish and be marginalized faster.
Even though four candidates out of seven candidates running against Serzh Sargsyan are party members, their parties exist only in state registration papers (besides Heritage party, which is more or less organized).
Maybe in Armenia the government will not sue MPs and will not withdraw anyone’s mandate, but if parties are created for getting the power and they cannot get the power through elections, their existence is under question too.
By Avetis Babajanyan
