How many “Likes” for justice?
When Armenians urge the recognition of the Armenian genocide, they say that it is also for excluding such possibility in the world in the future. Maybe people do not really care what is happening in the other end of the world, even if we have huge Armenian community there.
Currently the Armenian progressive society is collecting signatures and campaigning for the protection of artist Vardan Petrosyan, who has been arrested in relation to a car accident that killed people. Even intelligentsia representatives have sent a letter to the general prosecutor asking to intervene. However, maybe it was due to the bad work of the postal service that this letter did not reach the prosecutor and is still pending. It was quite recently that intelligentsia representatives signed a petition to cancel the arrest warrant for opposition activist Tigran Arakelyan, who had been in custody for two years for allegedly punching a police officer. He was sentenced to six years of imprisonment. The court found that Tigran would be dangerous for the society, thus he has to be isolated.
The problem in Armenia is that the human being’s right is not from the birth, as it is said by the church. It is not even established by the Constitution, as presidents re-affirm with inauguration every five years. It is the government here that decides how to punish people. Tigran Arakelyan’s maximum achievement was being released from the court room, which was defined as “amnesty.”
What Vardan Petrosyan should have been given is a right of being bailed out with a signature not to leave the country, however, even if this is given to him, it will be “sold” to him as a favor to make him be grateful to the government. In our country it is the authorities that imprison people, and again it is them that release. Laws, “likes” and reference letters are absolutely useless attributes.
The dilemma in this case is that if the artist is bailed out, will it be a favor by the authorities or the society’s victory?
The law-enforcers that ordered to arrest Vardan Petrosyan know very well that the artist did not oppose to the investigation in any way. Let’s say that the top authorities of the country that critical statements about them would become worse day by day, however, our justice system chose to arrest him by sending us a message not to play with them.
Even if they allow the artist to bail out, it will change the destiny of one person only, and for a very short time. What about the Armenians who are not standing out with any talent but their rights are abused and violated severely?
be the purpose of such selective justice is to prevent at least one more injustice. The meaning of justice is lost if it is local, selective and short-term. Maybe the society should look for other means instead of “status likes.” How can IT professionals fight against the government’s bill on “compulsory pension fund?” In this case the government wants to take a portion from their salaries by giving them beautiful explanations and promising them to return as pension in the future.
Maybe if 10-20,000 people organize demonstrations near the residential areas of high ranking officials, they will notice that the presence of the Armenian society is not virtual only. They will understand that we care about not Vardan Petrosyan only but other people as well, whose names are not that known.
Even though the government is convinced that their power is granted by God, the society should make them understand that it is due to their taxes that they can travel and buy luxury things.
Now it turns out that our life does not cost a penny – this is the price that the government has established. Maybe it is difficult for people to demand justice for everyone because it takes a lot of time and efforts, as well as it is out of the facebook format.
If Vardan Petrosyan is allowed for bailing out, it can be introduced as a victory over the government. This will last as long as another renowned artist does not need our “likes.”
P.S. If Vardan Petrosyan’s investigation does not allow the bail out, the future is predictable: people will criticize, swear and curse the government. Mikayel Poghosyan has threatened that he would leave the country, and maybe he will do that. There are few of them in the country, we need them more and more, however, more people are leaving.
By Lilit Avagyan
