G. Jhangiryan: “The authorities confessed”
The Armenian National Congress finds that Serzh Sargsyan formally fulfilled one of the three demands that Levon Ter-Petrosyan presented during the last rally, that is, he assumed responsibility for the events of 1 March 2008 and the revelation of the 10 murders, Head of the ANC legal support center Gagik Jhangiryan told "A1+" today.
Gagik Jhangiryan: The demand was formally fulfilled and we are satisfied in that regard, but we are not sure that these authorities will reveal the events of March 1 because they were the ones who concealed the events, the culprits, those who illegally gave the commands and committed the murders. Let's see what impact Serzh Sargsyan's call on those bodies will have and what step they will take.
"A1+": During yesterday's consultation, Serzh Sargsyan didn't mention a timetable for revealing the events of March 1. Levon Ter-Petrosyan didn't state a reasonable timetable when he presented the demand. Isn't a timetable important?
G. J.: The reasonable timetable for revealing the events of March 1 has been set a long time ago. Three years have passed since the events and it is hard to say when they will be revealed. With that demand, the ANC expected the authorities to say that the events of March 1 remain unrevealed. Apparently, this was a political affirmation.
"A1+": Do you accept this as the authorities' confession?
G. J.: Yes, if you will, a confession. The authorities accepted the fact that the events remain unrevealed. Even though it was formal, Serzh Sargsyan assigned the police to review the cases and find new ways for revelation.
"A1+": How would you rate the government's steps toward fulfilling the other two demands? Does the release of Samson Khachatryan, even a conditional one, fit in the framework of the demand for the release of all political prisoners?
G. J.: Samson Khachatryan was recognized as a political prisoner and was deprived of his liberty for only a month and 5 days. That goes to show how weak the authorities' resistance has become. The authorities sentenced me and most of my friends under Article 316 of the RA Criminal Code for 2, 3 and more years, but the current political state let Samson Khachatryan stay in prison for a month and five days.
"A1+": What do you have to say about Levon Ter-Petrosyan's second demand for reinstating the right to hold rallies at Freedom Square? The ANC has foreseen to start its march in memory of the Armenian Genocide victims on April 24 from Freedom Square. No political force notifies the municipality on that day and police officers won't impede. After that, would you say the authorities will have fulfilled the third demand?
G. J.: No, I wouldn't. The authorities have already rejected our rally at Freedom Square on April 28. The municipality's rejections are ridiculous because we have been holding a rally at Freedom Square for two times already and I am sure that the April 28 rally will be held there as well. I don't think the authorities will impede. These authorities haven't done anything voluntarily to this day and all other steps will be taken under pressure of the ANC's supporters and the 100,000-member pan-national movement.
"A1+": There is a view that some of the people who have been attending the last rallies leave disappointed since there are no concrete actions. What would you say?
G. J.: I don't share that view. If the people left disappointed, there wouldn't be more people every time. It would be naive to think that all issues should be solved after one rally.
"A1+": How would you rate the private talks between Raffi Hovhannisian and Levon Ter-Petrosyan? Taking into account the fact that Raffi Hovhannisian took the initiative to speak with Ter-Petrosyan, do you think "Heritage" will possibly join the ANC?
G. J.: I wouldn't like to predict anything. That is "Heritage"'s problem. The ANC is already bringing together 18 political forces, tens of NGOs, thousands of non-partisans and I am one of them. If the ANC holds rallies with 100,000 participants, you can be rest assured that the ANC has a specific weight.
"A1+": Does the ANC continue to claim that there will be special elections? Despite that, the subsequent elections are coming up.
G. J.: Of course it is. Why would the ANC attach importance to three of the 15 demands? After those demands are fulfilled, the ANC leader will consider a dialogue with the regime. The topic will be the special presidential and parliamentary elections.
"A1+": Since Serzh Sargsyan has fully fulfilled one of the three demands and has partially fulfilled the other two, could you suppose that he is preparing for a dialogue with Ter-Petrosyan?
G. J.: I will not take on the responsibility of corroborating the logic of the regime's actions. It is a very difficult task because very often it is hopeless to find any logic in the authorities' words and actions. However, I also believe that this is the authorities' first serious message to the ANC that the other demands will be fulfilled.
Interview by Victoria Abrahamyan
