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WILL VARTAN OSKANIAN BE ARRESTED?
Naira Hayrumyan
11:19 28/03/2013
Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/index.php/eng/0/comments/view/29436
On these days, in an interview with RFE/RL, the founder of the
Civilitas foundation, former foreign minister of Armenia, MP from
Prosperous Armenia Party and candidate to mayor of Yerevan Vartan
Oskanian asked the authorities "to leave Civilitas alone". A similar
appeal was made yesterday by the ambassadors of the U.S., Germany
and other countries.
The press conference of the ambassadors was unprecedented. It
would be hard to accuse them of interfering in Armenia's internal
affairs because they have just stated that their countries which also
funded Civilitas have no claims. And if the Civilitas is accused of
appropriating foreign money, leave the Foundation alone, the grantors
are not offended.
What does the government have against the Civilitas and why is the
National Security Service dealing with this case? Does the NSS know
that the Civilitas was going to use the money on a coup d'etat or
any other treachery? The German ambassador, for example, affirms that
the grants were allotted to the Civilitas democratic transition.
As we know, in the post-soviet territory development of democracy
stands for color revolution and it is possible that the Civilitas
is a suspect. First, the NSS needs to prove to the society that the
Civilitas was organizing a revolution. Second, the authorities should
prove that the democratic change of government is a threat to the
national security.
Oskanian has been one of the most controversial figures in the Armenian
politics. Being a carrier of Western values, he easily came to terms
with the post-Soviet Armenia, its customs, perhaps because he was
born in the Middle East where such manners are usual. He was the
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia for ten years, and he did not
interfere in the internal life but at the last moment, on March 1,
for some reason, he took full responsibility for the government. On
the one hand, it was seen as a sign of his purely human concern,
on the other hand, as an attempt to hide the true criminals. But he
was never forgiven his famous speech.
Another contradiction was when Vartan Oskanian joined the Prosperous
Armenia Party. Actually, the countries which funded Vartan Oskanian
for democratic transition of Armenia were not against his membership to
the PAP, or maybe even encouraged him. This ensured a strong platform
for Oskanian and simultaneously neutralized the pro-Russian party.
Anyway, Vartan Oskanian has suddenly become a sacral political figure
with a platform of the pro-Russian party, Western financial support
and personal international connections and a high rating. Such an
individual is a primary threat to the authorities, perhaps, even a
bigger threat than the present opposition protesting in the square.
Checking in the Civilitas Foundation has already lasted for ten
months. The parliament gave the right to accuse Vartan Oskanian,
pressure is increasing, and the next step will apparently be Oskanian's
detention. Otherwise, it will be hard for the government to prevent
his possible election to the post of Yerevan mayor. Such a prospect is
possible taking into account the configuration of parties pretending
to this post.
Perhaps the probability of Oskanian's arrest has sparked an
unprecedented press conference of ambassadors after their harsh
statements. After that, if the government, nevertheless, decides to
arrest Oskanian, it would have to charge him with an attempt of a
coup d'etat or something like that. Otherwise, the current pressure
on Oskanian only boosts his rating and he may well be the next mayor
of Yerevan.
Naira Hayrumyan
11:19 28/03/2013
Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/index.php/eng/0/comments/view/29436
On these days, in an interview with RFE/RL, the founder of the
Civilitas foundation, former foreign minister of Armenia, MP from
Prosperous Armenia Party and candidate to mayor of Yerevan Vartan
Oskanian asked the authorities "to leave Civilitas alone". A similar
appeal was made yesterday by the ambassadors of the U.S., Germany
and other countries.
The press conference of the ambassadors was unprecedented. It
would be hard to accuse them of interfering in Armenia's internal
affairs because they have just stated that their countries which also
funded Civilitas have no claims. And if the Civilitas is accused of
appropriating foreign money, leave the Foundation alone, the grantors
are not offended.
What does the government have against the Civilitas and why is the
National Security Service dealing with this case? Does the NSS know
that the Civilitas was going to use the money on a coup d'etat or
any other treachery? The German ambassador, for example, affirms that
the grants were allotted to the Civilitas democratic transition.
As we know, in the post-soviet territory development of democracy
stands for color revolution and it is possible that the Civilitas
is a suspect. First, the NSS needs to prove to the society that the
Civilitas was organizing a revolution. Second, the authorities should
prove that the democratic change of government is a threat to the
national security.
Oskanian has been one of the most controversial figures in the Armenian
politics. Being a carrier of Western values, he easily came to terms
with the post-Soviet Armenia, its customs, perhaps because he was
born in the Middle East where such manners are usual. He was the
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia for ten years, and he did not
interfere in the internal life but at the last moment, on March 1,
for some reason, he took full responsibility for the government. On
the one hand, it was seen as a sign of his purely human concern,
on the other hand, as an attempt to hide the true criminals. But he
was never forgiven his famous speech.
Another contradiction was when Vartan Oskanian joined the Prosperous
Armenia Party. Actually, the countries which funded Vartan Oskanian
for democratic transition of Armenia were not against his membership to
the PAP, or maybe even encouraged him. This ensured a strong platform
for Oskanian and simultaneously neutralized the pro-Russian party.
Anyway, Vartan Oskanian has suddenly become a sacral political figure
with a platform of the pro-Russian party, Western financial support
and personal international connections and a high rating. Such an
individual is a primary threat to the authorities, perhaps, even a
bigger threat than the present opposition protesting in the square.
Checking in the Civilitas Foundation has already lasted for ten
months. The parliament gave the right to accuse Vartan Oskanian,
pressure is increasing, and the next step will apparently be Oskanian's
detention. Otherwise, it will be hard for the government to prevent
his possible election to the post of Yerevan mayor. Such a prospect is
possible taking into account the configuration of parties pretending
to this post.
Perhaps the probability of Oskanian's arrest has sparked an
unprecedented press conference of ambassadors after their harsh
statements. After that, if the government, nevertheless, decides to
arrest Oskanian, it would have to charge him with an attempt of a
coup d'etat or something like that. Otherwise, the current pressure
on Oskanian only boosts his rating and he may well be the next mayor
of Yerevan.