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DECRIMINALIZATION?: RECENT GANG FIGHT IN GYUMRI LIKELY TO SPEED UP ERADICATION OF 'CULTURE OF THE MOB' IN ARMENIA
ANALYSIS | 29.04.13 | 11:42
By NAIRA HAYRUMYAN
ArmeniaNow correspondent
The incident which recently occurred in the second largest Armenian
city of Gyumri where two clans engaged in a gun battle in broad
daylight and most importantly the drastic response of the authorities
to similar methods of asserting influence on local politics have given
many experts reasons to talk about the beginning of
'decriminalization' of Armenia. But everyone now is wondering what
will be introduced instead of the uprooted 'thief' rule to fill the
gap.
For many years there has been family feud in Gyumri between two local
clans of politicians - ex-mayor Vardan Ghukasyan representing the
ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) and MP Martun Grigoryan, of
the Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP). The latest in the series of
shooting incidents between representatives of the two clans took place
on April 23 when a Grigoryan crony was killed and another one was
wounded. Ghukasyan's nephews were arrested on suspicion of carrying
out the crimes.
Ghukasyan has not concealed his 'revanchism' after being effectively
ousted from big politics last year. In 2012, President Serzh Sargsyan,
who also leads the RPA, refused to support Ghukasyan as a candidate
for reelection as mayor, instead the ruling party backed Samvel
Balasanyan from PAP. After being elected to the office Balasanyan
accused Ghukasyan of committing brazen financial violations and of
abusing his powers otherwise, but the controversial former mayor of
Gyumri has never been brought to account for that. This is
particularly the reason why many in Gyumri still remain skeptical
about the sincerity of the authorities when they speak about their
strong intention to 'decriminalize' the city.
Vladimir Gasparyan, who was appointed chief of police in late 2011 and
is known for his tough nature, has declared a crusade against
organized crime in Armenia. After the incident in Gyumri on orders
from Gasparyan Ghukasyan himself was taken to a police precinct, but
was released shortly. While in Gyumri the chief of police made a
number of remarkable statements. He said that some politicians had
phoned him and asked "not too press the guys too hard". "I don't
understand, are you mobsters or members of parliament?" said Gasparyan
in a public reply to unnamed politicians.
The culture of the Mob (or thieves in law as it has generally been
referred to in former USSR republics) still exerts considerable
influence on political, social and economic affairs in post-Soviet
countries. Laws of 'justice' of the underworld are still very much
alive at the levels of everyday life, among teenagers in schools,
among conscripts and even officers in the army, etc. They also have to
be "reckoned with" in the administration of justice by the state, in
the distribution of state procurement orders and other crucial public
affairs.
The criminal world is supranational, and now that an attempt is being
made in Armenia to strengthen the monolith of national power, it will
inevitable lead to the marginalization of the 'thieves'. Apparently,
this was the reason for the appointment of Gasparyan as chief of
police. When introducing the newly appointed official in November 2011
President Sargsyan said that the post required "a person of this
particular breed". Apparently, he meant that the chief of police
should have the guts to oust the "thieves in law".
Perhaps to prove his resolution to get rid of the 'thief' culture
within the police system over the past week Gasparyan sacked two of
his subordinates who obstructed the work of journalists and treated
them disrespectfully. Experts say it is crucial for Gasparyan to
create an image of himself as of a man for whom the current system of
"cronies and outsiders" does not work.
Some also believe that this process is taking place against the
general backdrop of Armenia seeking to detach itself from the
post-Soviet space and start moving closer to the Western environment.
However, many notice that instead of the rules of the criminal world
comes not a state law, but a new 'power', which is, unfortunately,
based not on a strict equality before the law. This is evidenced by
one of the expression made by Gasparyan, who said that if the clans in
Gyumri behave badly, he will "organize their emigration". In fact,
here the matter concerns not a legal punishment for the offense, but
expulsion from the country.
http://www.armenianow.com/commentary/analysis/45675/armenia_gyumri_criminal_city_vardan_ghukasyan_shoo ting
ANALYSIS | 29.04.13 | 11:42
By NAIRA HAYRUMYAN
ArmeniaNow correspondent
The incident which recently occurred in the second largest Armenian
city of Gyumri where two clans engaged in a gun battle in broad
daylight and most importantly the drastic response of the authorities
to similar methods of asserting influence on local politics have given
many experts reasons to talk about the beginning of
'decriminalization' of Armenia. But everyone now is wondering what
will be introduced instead of the uprooted 'thief' rule to fill the
gap.
For many years there has been family feud in Gyumri between two local
clans of politicians - ex-mayor Vardan Ghukasyan representing the
ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) and MP Martun Grigoryan, of
the Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP). The latest in the series of
shooting incidents between representatives of the two clans took place
on April 23 when a Grigoryan crony was killed and another one was
wounded. Ghukasyan's nephews were arrested on suspicion of carrying
out the crimes.
Ghukasyan has not concealed his 'revanchism' after being effectively
ousted from big politics last year. In 2012, President Serzh Sargsyan,
who also leads the RPA, refused to support Ghukasyan as a candidate
for reelection as mayor, instead the ruling party backed Samvel
Balasanyan from PAP. After being elected to the office Balasanyan
accused Ghukasyan of committing brazen financial violations and of
abusing his powers otherwise, but the controversial former mayor of
Gyumri has never been brought to account for that. This is
particularly the reason why many in Gyumri still remain skeptical
about the sincerity of the authorities when they speak about their
strong intention to 'decriminalize' the city.
Vladimir Gasparyan, who was appointed chief of police in late 2011 and
is known for his tough nature, has declared a crusade against
organized crime in Armenia. After the incident in Gyumri on orders
from Gasparyan Ghukasyan himself was taken to a police precinct, but
was released shortly. While in Gyumri the chief of police made a
number of remarkable statements. He said that some politicians had
phoned him and asked "not too press the guys too hard". "I don't
understand, are you mobsters or members of parliament?" said Gasparyan
in a public reply to unnamed politicians.
The culture of the Mob (or thieves in law as it has generally been
referred to in former USSR republics) still exerts considerable
influence on political, social and economic affairs in post-Soviet
countries. Laws of 'justice' of the underworld are still very much
alive at the levels of everyday life, among teenagers in schools,
among conscripts and even officers in the army, etc. They also have to
be "reckoned with" in the administration of justice by the state, in
the distribution of state procurement orders and other crucial public
affairs.
The criminal world is supranational, and now that an attempt is being
made in Armenia to strengthen the monolith of national power, it will
inevitable lead to the marginalization of the 'thieves'. Apparently,
this was the reason for the appointment of Gasparyan as chief of
police. When introducing the newly appointed official in November 2011
President Sargsyan said that the post required "a person of this
particular breed". Apparently, he meant that the chief of police
should have the guts to oust the "thieves in law".
Perhaps to prove his resolution to get rid of the 'thief' culture
within the police system over the past week Gasparyan sacked two of
his subordinates who obstructed the work of journalists and treated
them disrespectfully. Experts say it is crucial for Gasparyan to
create an image of himself as of a man for whom the current system of
"cronies and outsiders" does not work.
Some also believe that this process is taking place against the
general backdrop of Armenia seeking to detach itself from the
post-Soviet space and start moving closer to the Western environment.
However, many notice that instead of the rules of the criminal world
comes not a state law, but a new 'power', which is, unfortunately,
based not on a strict equality before the law. This is evidenced by
one of the expression made by Gasparyan, who said that if the clans in
Gyumri behave badly, he will "organize their emigration". In fact,
here the matter concerns not a legal punishment for the offense, but
expulsion from the country.
http://www.armenianow.com/commentary/analysis/45675/armenia_gyumri_criminal_city_vardan_ghukasyan_shoo ting