Prosperous Armenia Arabkir Rally
Gagik Tsarukian, BHK Campaign Rally, Arabkir District, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia for EurasiaNet 2007
Finally some photographs from yesterday’s campaign rally by Prosperous Armenia (BHK) in the Arabkir district of Yerevan and what was perhaps most interesting about this event compared to the one I attended in Malatia-Sebastia two weeks ago. Unlike then, some of Armenia’s top pop stars performed for the party in an event that might raise some further questions about campaign spending.
Of course, given the way the music industry is reliant on government-linked sponsors and called upon to return the favor from time to time, it’s possible that the stars which included Hasmik Karapetian and Sirusho donated their time to campaign for the party, but it would be useful to know for sure. There is already word that Prosperous Armenia has commissioned a blatantly partisan song from a local rap band, for example.
However, it’s worth pointing out that pop stars and the two main pro-government parties are not the only political forces engaged in such activities, as E-channel explains. After performing at the launch of the campaign by the opposition Heritage party, Arto Tuncboyajian and the Armenian Navy Band has also been performing for a minor pro-government party, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaktsutyun (ARF-D).
Arto Tunjboyajyan had his second concert in the election period. His first concert had started with his famous song Ararat at the campaign of Heritage party led by Raffi Hovhannisyan. The second concert was in the framework of the ARFP campaign.
The singer considers quite normal to be invited by various political forces to give concerts and is sure that Raffi Hovhannisyan will not be offended,
[…]
The concert at the Square of Freedom had been organized by ARFP Nikol Aghbalyan union and Armenian Youth Union. “The youth is not only our future but also our present. Dashnaktsutyun is the right choice, trust Dashnaktsutyun, get together around Dashnaktsutyun,” announced the member of the ARFP Supreme Council Ishkhan Saghatelyan before the concert.
[…]
Tunjboyajyan sang the famous song Ararat twice. In the framework of the ARFP campaign, the singer will perform in Gyumri on April 26 and in Vanadzor on April 27.
It would be again interesting to know if Tuncboyajian performed for free in both cases, and also whether Hasmik Karapetian, Sirusho, Arsen Grigorian and Arsen Safarian turn up at rallies by other political forces. I’m thinking specifically about campaign meetings staged by the ruling Republican party.
Gagik Tsarukian, BHK Campaign Rally, Arabkir District, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia for EurasiaNet 2007
Hasmik Karapetian, BHK Campaign Rally, Arabkir District, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia for EurasiaNet 2007
Sirusho, BHK Campaign Rally, Arabkir District, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia for EurasiaNet 2007
Gagik Tsarukian, BHK Campaign Rally, Arabkir District, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia for EurasiaNet 2007
RFE/RL also has a report on the latest BHK rallies, and touches upon a number of issues raised on this blog in the past few weeks. That is, the allure of Gagik Tsarukian as a benefactor who pays little in taxes, but is perceived as someone who can create jobs in Armenia. Whether civil society here likes it or not, this is the main concern of most voters — not democracy and human rights.
The full report is here.
Comment by Onnik — April 23, 2007 @ 10:04 pm
This is a political pyramid scheme. People participate in such events with the expectation of receiving some sort of interest and gradually the numbers increase. As in any pyramid scheme it works well in socially vulnerable environments. We still have 3 weeks to see that how this goes on. Will it collapse before or after 12 May?
Comment by Haik — April 24, 2007 @ 3:23 am
regarding tsarukian i think armenia needs benifactors like him but whether armenia needs him as a president it is anothre matter, being a successfull businesman does not mean being a good politition they are two diffrent breeds which feed off of each other , but i certainly would not discourage him from spending money for the people.
Comment by alfred — April 24, 2007 @ 12:47 pm
Comment by Onnik — April 24, 2007 @ 12:48 pm
Actually it turned out not to be a complete song, but a 20 second lasting campaign video, with Hay Tgheqs reciting “Bargavach Hayastan”.
Regarding singers donating their time - I think I saw Hasmik Karapetyan singing at Hanrapetakan rally on TV, don’t think we can consider that she or Arsens follow their beliefs and not money. In case of Sirusho, let me doubt a bit, probably she was at the rally by the request of her father-in-law-to-be i.e. Mr President.
Comment by Zarchka — April 24, 2007 @ 3:08 pm
E-channel also has more on the Prosperous Armenia phenomenon:
Meanwhile, the issue of vote bribes in Vanadzor by the party, as well as the ruling Republican and ARF-D party among others, are also detailed on the same site.
Interestingly, a senior international organization head told me today that there are rumors of mobile phones being bought up by some parties. Although it is important to stress that this is just a rumor, the logic of this action is the following, and it makes perfect sense in the election falsification game given that during the referendum, those that did actually vote didn’t fold their ballots so members of the PEC could see them clearly before they were cast.
Given that ballots now need to be sealed in envelopes before being put in the ballot box, voters are given the phones before entering the polling station and expected to photograph their ballot before sealing it. The photo on the phone can then be viewed when it is returned outside the polling station, and the voters can receive their bribes. Like I said, only a rumor, but one coming from a very significant source and which is being looked into.
If I hear anything more on this, I’ll post details either way.
Comment by Onnik — April 24, 2007 @ 5:57 pm
There’s also an interesting interview with Vazgen Manukian on E-channel that kind of sets the scene for this election, and in particular the huge amount of voter apathy and cynicism.
Anyway, from speaking to people here, most don’t seem inclined to go vote for anyone because they don’t believe anything can change regardless of who is in power. Pretty much they view the opposition and the government as being two sides of the same coin. Two exceptions to this are interesting.
Some people mention Tsarukian and Prosperous Armenia as the only force that can create much needed employment in the country. A few people also mention Raffi Hovannisian as being the only trustworthy politician in Armenia although ironically, only one says they will actually vote. The others say that they think their votes for him won’t make a difference so why bother.
Anyway, it’s not a scientific poll, and only in Yerevan, but the amount of apathy and cynicism even among young voters such as students is breathtaking. Of nine students asked to in the past four days, for example, the breakdown of their responses is as follows. Two will vote for Prosperous Armenia, one for Heritage, two a against all, and four won’t vote at all. Older voters either don’t know who to vote for or say they won’t vote at all.
However, many of these middle aged voters think that Tsarukian’s Prosperous Armenia is the only real choice on offer. Again, I’m not saying that this is a true reflection of the situation, but it’s what I’ve personally encountered so far.
Comment by Onnik — April 24, 2007 @ 11:32 pm
I wonder whether Gagik Tsarukian is taking into consideration paying the just amount of taxes he owes to help propel the country into prosperity.
Also, I find it hard to believe that everyone handed cell phones with built-in cameras will be able to figure out how to take photos of their ballots. I am guessing that it’s not especially easy to take pictures, depending on the cell phone model of course. Seems too time consuming anyway.
Comment by cgarbis — April 25, 2007 @ 12:47 pm
Cell phone thingy is a bullshit, it is an attempt to demonstrate as if the CEC (Central Electoral Commission) is a fair and transparent body. The outcome depends very little from what is in the ballot box. It depends on what the CEC will publish. The most recent example is the constitutional referendum when a great majority of voters boycotted it. CEC will act on the plan drawn a long time ago and presented by Robert Kocharyan in his last ‘press conference’ with friendly media outlets.
Comment by Haik — April 25, 2007 @ 6:23 pm
Well, I would argue that theoretically, these elections will be the most transparent, including in the PECs and the CEC (famous last words). For one, the number of local and international observers is higher than ever with IYC covering every polling station, for example, and with two shifts to cover the counting of the ballots (which will take longer because the envelopes will need to be opened during the counting process). Also, there is now a computer network in place to ensure that results take minutes to come in rather than days. I also think that the process of “charitable” acts and reports of vote bribes suggests that this approach is favored over downright falsification.
I suppose the theory is if you can get people to vote willingly in one way or another, there is no need to make up the numbers and thus, the international community can’t slam the election outright. Also remember that this is a parliamentary election and not a presidential one. People really still don’t care about it so I suppose a large number of voters will go and cast their votes on the basis of incentives — few seem to say they will vote out of duty or to remove the government, for example.
Anyway, we’ll see, but certainly the PECs, TECs and CEC is technically more transparent than it’s ever been. If they then turn around and act like before the international community will know and slam Armenia big time. The U.S. especially has spent a lot of time and money on getting the CEC to at least appear as though its doing its job and its open to scrutiny. Still, given the high number of people on the electoral register (2.3 million) which is at least 30 percent too many according to some international observers, it remains to be seen if those “extra” votes are used and how.
That is, straight forward stuffing or playing with numbers as you suggest. Anyway, for now at least, I don’t consider that Prosperous Armenia will need to play with any numbers. They seem to be gaining widespread support in other ways, and I think that a large number of voters will willingly go to the polls for them. I’m still not certain about the Republicans, though, although have yet to attend one of their rallies.
Comment by Onnik — April 25, 2007 @ 9:04 pm
Onnik,
You wrote: “I suppose the theory is if you can get people to vote willingly in one way or another, there is no need to make up the numbers and thus, the international community can’t slam the election outright.”
It CAN! Very much outright. Right now, before the voting started! As of today, the elections are already not satisfying the standards that Armenia signed under. The campaign itself matters about as much as the voting, if not more. End of the story! Read the definitions and procedures for free and fair elections, if you doubt me. (In the Soviet times, the actual elections technically could have been - and often were indeed - squeeky clean…. You got my point.)
Comment by Artashes — April 26, 2007 @ 7:24 am
First, results will be made up TOO. There is no contradiction there: the illegal stuff is happening right now, in front of your eyes, sometimes in a very undisguised manner, AND it will happen at the tabulation stage as well.
Second, you can repeat that cliche (which you like a lot) that every nation deserves its government as many times as you want - but it will not make it right. It is especially cynical and mendacious toward the beaten and humiliated Armenain people. It is approximately the same as to say that if a bully picks on you and breaks your jaw it is YOUR fault, if he rapes your sister, it is HER fault (since you guys should have been much more prepared physically, should have taken advantage of all the readily available martial arts courses beforehand, and finally, should have been more organized in collectively resisting the bully —– ALL are correct points by themselves, but IRRELEVANT to the question who is guilty for outrageous offenses and who should be punished!).
Please do not shift the blame!!!
Comment by Artashes — April 27, 2007 @ 4:06 am
And if I don’t resist then it’s my fault? If I am shit scared and freeze instead of fighting then his breaking the law and violating me is justified because I am such a wuss??? Read the press review on RFE/RL for last couple of days: I did not realize HOW MUCH people are intimidated in provinces by the Republican Party!!! It’s outrageous! I would really advise you to follow on it and make a big report yourself! This is a BIG thing, as far as democraticness of elections is concerned! Much much bigger than the campaign meetings and pop concerts…
And continuing with the analogy, if there are two bullies, and they play good cop-bad cop with me, and the “good” one offers me protection and money instead of breaking my head, it’s again my fault that I don’t proudly defy both of them, right?!
Ehhh….. Talk to the people, talk to the simple BUT wise ones, not the idiots….
Comment by Artashes — April 27, 2007 @ 2:10 pm
The Republican party issue is of course one of concern to me and I’ve publicly stated on this blog that I have yet to turn my attention towards that party which I will do when I get round to it. As I’ve said, it’s easy to find people who genuinely support Prosperous Armenia here — rightly or wrongly — but only one person has spoken highly of the Republicans and that’s because he’s a member or else he’d not be employed.
This issue, however, especially as it relates to public employees, has been mentioned on this blog in the past.
Anyway, when you say “Talk to the people, talk to the simple BUT wise ones, not the idiots….” what is it you’re really suggesting? That I ignore the views expressed by the majority so far — which is actually one of apathy and cynicism towards all players, but with a sizeable support for Prosperous Armenia — and just talk to the minority that agrees with you? Sorry, that just isn’t right.
Indeed, it is this issue of apathy and cynicism, as well as the prevailing mood of voting for whoever pays the most, that seems to be the most significant issue in this election. Basically, it’s an issue that needs exposure and needs addressing, and I’m sorry but the government, opposition and civil society are all to blame for this situation.
Comment by Onnik — April 27, 2007 @ 2:47 pm