“On March 1, we will hang them by their feet and chop off their heads” said Ashot, a taxi driver in Armenia. “They are sucking the life out of this nation through their corrupt and oligarchic practices.”
In the three years since my cab ride with Ashot, the Republic of Armenia has held parliamentary and presidential elections that have neither changed the government, nor the oligarchic system in place.
In fact, Armenia has not experienced a significant political change since President Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s resignation in 1998. But while the country has remained in a hibernation mode, the world around it has changed.
The revolutionary wave that originated in the Middle East has recently swept the globe. With uprisings in Venezuela, Thailand, and more significantly in Ukraine, there is a growing urgency to the question: Will revolution arrive to Armenia?
In a recent interview with RFE/RL’s Armenian service, Armen Martirosian, the deputy chairman of the Heritage Party stated, “If the revolutionary wave in Ukraine succeeds, it can reach Armenia.”
At this critical stage, I can’t help but recall the remainder of my conversation with Ashot.
When I arrived at my destination, I noticed that the taximeter was off. I inquired about the fare, and Ashot replied, “1,000 drams.” In truth, it was a regular 600 AMD route in the center of Yerevan. Nonetheless, I handed him the 1,000 drams and asked, “Have you heard of Michael Jackson?”
Ashot replied, “Of course I have. Who hasn’t?”
As I was leaving the cab, I smiled and told him, “Mr. Ashot! You should consider listening to MJ’s ‘Man in the Mirror’ before you go around chopping people’s heads off.”
Ashot is neither the norm nor the exception. Corruption exists in every country around the world, but it has a unique mold in Armenia. It is prevalent in the government, the opposition parties, non-governmental organizations, and even within the church. More importantly, corruption, nepotism, and cronyism are engrained in Armenian society.
Unfortunately, most of the opposition is not interested in bringing change to Armenia, but rather in the illusion of change. They seek to replace the ruling elite, while preserving the oligarchic system. Their objective is simple: assume positions of power that would enable them to benefit from the existent rotten system.
In the midst of this scandalous power struggle between the government and the opposition, the Armenian nation has to ensure that its national security is preserved. More importantly, the nation needs to realize that the blueprint of a true Armenian transformation has already been laid out.
In July 2013, following the government’s decision to increase the public transportation fares, the Armenian youth held a series of protests in central Yerevan, which resulted in the reversal of that law. This act of civil disobedience, along with the Mashdots Park movement also spearheaded by the youth, constitute the most successful campaigns for change in the 23-year history of the Republic of Armenia. Most importantly, these campaigns were not initiated or led by any political party.
For years, Armenians in both the diaspora and Armenia have claimed that a generational change is needed to transform the republic. Well, in case people have failed to realize, the generational change has already occurred, and whether we admit it or not, the youth in Armenia is brighter than ever.
Nonetheless, with each passing day, the possibilities for change diminish, as corrupt practices are further consolidated.
The time for change is now!
A Revolution by the youth and for the people is in order…