Prosperous Armenia Party Offices Damaged by Yerevan Blasts
Avan, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia for EurasiaNet 2007
As mentioned previously, news of two bomb blasts at Prosperous Armenia party offices in Yerevan meant that I cut short my trip with the Heritage Party to the regions today. News had come in soon after we set off for Dilijan and I eventually returned to Yerevan at around 4pm to make my way to the site of one of the blasts in the Avan district of the capital.
Workers from one of Tsarukian’s companies were already replacing the windows of the ground floor shop, but somewhat ironically, most of the damage appeared to have hit the adjoining shop where staff were still visibly upset. A1 Plus reports that the shop’s owner estimates the damage at $25,000 in addition to blowing out the windows of apartments above.
RFE/RL has more on both blasts.
Two Yerevan offices of the pro-presidential Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) were rocked by explosions early Thursday in what President Robert Kocharian promptly condemned as an attempt to destabilize the political situation in the country ahead of next month’s parliamentary elections.
The blasts occurred in the space of two hours early in the morning, blowing out the doors and windows of the BHK offices in the city’s northern Kanaker-Zeytun and Avan districts but not injuring anyone. Police said they were caused by explosive devices planted at the entrance to the premises.
The Avan office, which occupies a single room on the ground floor of an apartment building, was particularly damaged by the blast. BHK workers were already repairing it early in the afternoon. Several apartments in the 16-story building also had their windows shattered by the blast.
[…]
Police quickly examined the sites of the bombings and launched a criminal investigation under an article of Armenia’s Criminal Code that deals with substantial material damage deliberately inflicted on private property.
According to Kocharian’s press secretary, Victor Soghomonian, the president of the republic, who is widely believed to support the BHK, instructed law-enforcement authorities to “take all necessary measures to solve the crime as soon as possible.”
[…]
The governing Republican Party of Armenia (HHK), one of the BHK’s main election rivals, promptly condemned the blasts, in what looked like a denial of any responsibility for them. “Such actions are taken by those who are incapable of waging an honest and just political struggle and are ready to destabilize the situation in the country,” the party said in a statement.
The HHK, which is led by Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian, and the BHK are widely seen as the two frontrunners in the Armenian election campaign. There are fears that the obviously uneasy rapport between their leaders could flare up into a bitter confrontation on election day.
Indeed, almost everybody in Yerevan is already pointing the finger at the Republican Party although a few say that either the incident was manufactured to make believe a serious rift between the two exists or that Prosperous Armenia staged the incident themselves. However, as I said, most believe it was the work of the Republicans although the ruling party effectively denies the accusation.
Even so, some local media outlets believe that more clashes are unavoidable. Such a potential conflict between two very powerful groups does not bode well for the election, the country, or its future.
“Judging from the development of events, it looks as though pre-election scandals will exceed our expectations this year,” editorializes “Zhamanak Yerevan.” “The reason for that is that in the past [electoral] confrontations pitted a government prepared for anything against a civilized and law-abiding opposition, whereas now the [main] parties to the confrontation are government wings prepared for anything. And people are wrong to think that ‘if they eat each other, we citizens will be better off.’ That process of eating each other could cost us very dearly.”
A1 Plus reports that the Central Election Commission (CEC) has condemned the blast, but all I can think of is that perhaps I now understand why Tsarukian and Prosperous Armenia hold their public campaign meetings without any prior announcement or warning. In the meantime, so much for democratic elections. I’m surprised the international observers haven’t packed their bags and left in shock, horror and amazement by now.
Avan, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia for EurasiaNet 2007
I honestly wouldn’t care even if all the offices of “Prosperous Armenia” were blown off straight to hell in one night - however the fact, that these two offices were around leaving blocks and people and shops have suffered drives me mad! Whoever is the organizer of the attacks, this horrible disregard of people’s lives and well being has to be addressed - and it must be done fast! This campaign has indeed gone too far already!
Comment by Observer — April 13, 2007 @ 1:16 am
The worst part for me is the understanding, that this was all to be expected: when criminals, district authorities and all kinds of suspicious mafia/businessmen were joining the political parties back in 2003, everybody knew deep inside, that this is the beginning of the end of security and rule of law for all of us. I am speechless!!!
Comment by Observer — April 13, 2007 @ 1:20 am
Well, I would say that rightly or wrongly, there are many Armenians who support Prosperous Armenia for whatever reasons, just as there are those who still support the still deeply unpopular HHSh. Regardless, no party office should be attacked, including the Republican, Prosperous Armenia, ARF-D, or anyone else by anyone. I think this is an important issue in terms of democracy. Indeed, even die-hard nationalists such as Zhirayr Sefilyan or the Union of Armenian Aryans have the right to freedom of activity even if they would prefer others not to have theirs.
As long as everybody acts within the law, that is.
Nevertheless, the point you make about where the bomb was planted is duly noted. Indeed, it was at the bottom of an apartment building, and not only took out a shop, but also the windows of many of the apartments above. Yes, it might have been detonated when nobody was walking around, but that’s not the point. As you say, it was directly outside a residential building where families with children lived.
Regarding the culprits, it’s said here that you can assume who might have done it by whether anyone has been detained or arrested already.
Two political parties on opposite sides have already expressed one in the same conclusion today. “Is there any doubt who did it?” one asked. The other named who they thought did it. No need to write it. Most of you can guess. Now the police need to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt whether that assumption is correct or not. After all, Armenia is such a small country, and Yerevan even smaller. It shouldn’t be hard to do..
Incidentally, although I arrived 10 or 12 hours later I was struck by the lack of any visible sign of a police presence there. Maybe I’m just used too much to how police usually cordon off crime scenes in the West so they can search for clues and evidence and stuff. Dunno.
Comment by Onnik — April 13, 2007 @ 1:28 am
Come on, guys, you are talking like excited high school kids. Ya, Serge Sarkisian thought, thought, and came to the conclusion that the best way to win the elections is to bomb the party offices of BHK! Now Dodi Gago (with Robert Kocharian) will get fatally scared and declare surrender to HHK!
“I’m surprised the international observers haven’t packed their bags and left in shock, horror and amazement by now.”
I am surprised reading this surprisingly naive sentence.
Comment by Artashes — April 13, 2007 @ 4:51 am
Nothing surprising. When no single opposition group stands a real chance to win the elections, the two powerful mobster groups are conducting their election campaigns in their own unique style. Sadly more bloodshed is to be expected.
Comment by Nanul — April 13, 2007 @ 5:15 am
Bombings, assassinations in mid-day….Great publicity for the tourist trade…
And it will only cost you US $1,000 a week, on average.
Come…enjoy traditional Armenian hospitality ….
We’re ready to welcome you to Armenia…..
Comment by arapo — April 13, 2007 @ 5:53 am
The first thing that came into my mind when I read about it was it was done by BHK to themselves to show as if they are vicitims. They are opposition and suffer. Believe me they will gain simpathy from the ordinary falks. Not much imagination is required as this happened in history. Hitler tourched Bundestag and lamed the communists which brough him to power.
It is a known trick. I guess now HHk will start killing their own to show as if they are better victims. Hopefully at the end they will all tourch themselves.
Comment by Haik — April 13, 2007 @ 7:08 am
Actually that was the first thing that came into my mind as well Haik. However, I’m afraid everything is not that simple
Comment by Observer — April 13, 2007 @ 8:30 am
Comment by Onnik — April 13, 2007 @ 2:03 pm
Well, I’m sure that such sentiment is shared by many in Armenia, Hye Azad. However, Observer’s point about the bomb attack being on an apartment building should be noted. Also, in the past year, these clan politically-economically linked killings have also caught innocent bystanders in their wake.
Personally, I don’t want this happening in Armenia, and the rule of law needs to be established quickly. Interestingly, however, we then have a real problem. If some believe that the political, economic and governmental structures have been to some extent criminalized, what happens when these guys are ousted from their position.
Actually, if this is the situation, it does need to change, but then the violence might actually be more. Perhaps this is necessary for a country in transition and demands the creation of a professional and adept police force with an independent judiciary firmly in place. Anyway, long and the short of it is that any criminal needs to be arrested and tried.
It’s as simple as that, and I can not condone such actions. Maybe this was directed at Prosperous Armenia, but were the guys in the campaign office responsible for anything? In many cases, those working in the offices and certainly in adjacent buildings and shops are simply normal citizens who have chosen one political path over another for whatever reason.
Respecting that choice is also a matter of whether there will be democracy in this country. Besides, there are also those in the opposition who were until recently part of the ruling regime until personal differences saw them leave or more usually, get kicked out. If you believe there is rot in the system, remember that it comes from the same source as others in the political field do as well.
Anyway.
Comment by Onnik — April 13, 2007 @ 6:30 pm
Who cares what the motivations and mentality are that prompted some to take such actions. It’s a reflection of the devolution of Armenian politics in general and not a progression of philosophy and practice. It seems to be that this type of action is becoming the norm rather than the exception. The vote rigging and political bullying that takes place in Armenia is endemic to a host of developing nations. It appears that those intent on safeguarding their interests via the formality of the upcoming elections feel unencumbered to take their struggle above ground and wage it in the most base forms of intimidation.
Sadly, Armenia has no real opposition to speak of, unlike Lebanon, whose political sphere is also racked by violence. At least there people seem to be motivated enough to demonstate for change.
Then too, democracy in the capitalist West is also illusory. Those outside the ruling establishment of both democrats and republicans have no real chance to enter the election arena on a equal footing. The odds are stacked against them.
Given all this, is what we are witnessing in Armenia a natural outgrowth of the present socio-economic conditions of the country and retarded civic development?
Comment by chello — April 14, 2007 @ 12:46 am
EurasiaNet now carries something on the blast in an article which also touches upon technical preparations for the 12 May election and the larger issue of whether they will meet international standards. Interestingly, the matter of inking fingers is mentioned.
This is particularly so given that the head of IFES was one of the main figures behind the suggestion’s rejection. He cited the availability of a substance which could be used to remove the ink when in solution form as reason for his resistance to such demands and demonstrated this during discussions on amending the electoral code.
Comment by Onnik — April 14, 2007 @ 2:00 am