When the unsinkable sinks

One more shootout with participation of
minions of already former governor of Syunik Suren Khachatryan (nickname
Litska) once again whipped-up the problems accumulated in the Armenian public
over the years of the country’s independence. This time, ex-candidate for Goris
Mayor Avo Budaghyan was killed and an army commander of NKR Artak Budaghyan was
wounded.

Impunity of certain links in the so-called
top echelon of the society in Armenia and discrimination in the criminal
justice is what leads to such incidents. As a result of cooperation of
criminals and the authorities like in many other countries of the Commonwealth
we have such high level of impunity. Surik Khachatryan’s case is an example of
how the establishment may sacrifice one of the cogs in the machine.

 “No
one must get away clean,” said Vice Chairman of the
ruling Republican Party of Armenia Armen Ashotyan when asked if the notorious
Governor of Syunik Suren Khachatryan will manage to avoid punishment again.
Alongside with that, Mass Media began actively reporting on possible arrest of
Suren Khachatryan, who temporarily stepped down from office.  Obviously, Ashotyan, a Republican politician
who is responsible also for education affairs in the country, forgot that 4
criminal cases had been initiated against ‘unsinkable Litska’ and his two
brothers over the last years. However, no one has been punished yet. The former
governor managed to get away clean after beating a 12-year-old boy, giving a
woman a slap in the face in public, putting a pistol gun to the head of
undesirable candidate for Kapan Mayor. The law-enforcement somehow neglected
such incidents as the unproved attempt of public rape by his brother and
undisclosed vicious murder of a young man by his nephews. The list of such
‘achievements’ can be continued after looking through archives. However,
Ashotyan who probably “does not read newspapers or Internet” is unaware of
Litska’s achievements. 

 Suddenly, the
shootouts in Goris on June 2 shook up the executive, legislative and even the
judicial authorities in the country. Syunik Governor’s son Tigran Khachatryan and his bodyguard Zarzand
Nikoghosyan were arrested over the case. 
Even the president’s spokesperson hurried to assure the public that
“inquiry will be impartial and thorough and the actions of all the persons
involved in the incident will get relevant legal assessment.” Anyone who feels
like it began slamming Khachatryan.

Considering that relationships of the
political elite in Armenia is regulated by informal rules and agreements, one
can suppose that Khachatryan has become undesirable for violating that
‘code.’  In the countries like Armenia,
undesirable feudal-oligarchs are not just dismissed. The major punishment for
them is property redistribution. Property is something Khachatryan has too
much. Another good example of what happens to undesirable oligarchs is Ruben
Hayrapetyan (nickname Nemets Rubo) who was deprived of part of his
‘hard-earned’ property after his bodyguards killed a medical officer at
Harsnakar Restaurant.

The second explanation of Litska’s
unexpected displeasure with the ruling elite is that he might be used as a
scapegoat. A maturing social outbreak always makes the presidents sacrifice
their prime ministers. As a competent and educated man, Tigran Sargsyan has not
yet given any reason for displeasure. Therefore, someone undesirable for the
public and someone who can be easily replaced should have been used as a
scapegoat.

So, everybody is happy. ‘Slaughtering’
Litska the authorities distracted the public attention from more acute
problems. The ongoing food price hikes, the rising tariffs of gas, electric
power, transport and other essential services may and must become a real
testing for the authorities. Therefore, they are taking steps to soften the
public discontent with the oligarchic system that is bursting at the seams
through a “sacrifice show”. Who will be the next victim is easy to guess:
someone full of himself who will forget to brake. How long this line will bring
results is another question. Circuses without bread!!!!!