Epress.am News from Armenia
Kocharian came to power as a leader of the Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) revolution, and in this sense, he was able to cause a breakthrough in economic development with his “tough guy” attitude, said sociologist Aharaon Adibekyan, referring to second president of the Republic of Armenia Robert Kocharian and noting that “people evaluate a politician by what he didn’t do [rather than what he did].”
“What’s done is forgotten, everything is forgotten, but with reference to March, I can say, of course, those who’ve lost relatives, opposition that is offended by such treatment… But we have to find the cause of the clash, was it Kocharian? or Pashinyan? let’s [first] answer this question,” he said.
Epress.am asked Adibekyan for his opinion: who does he think is responsible for the events of March 1, 2008, perhaps Pashinyan?
“I know what you’re saying, you’re right, but who provided the opportunity? who brought those people?” he said, referring to the protestors.
Recall that mass protests against alleged electoral fraud, organized by supporters of unsuccessful presidential candidate, first president of the Republic of Armenia Levon Ter-Petrossian, followed the presidential election of Feb. 19, 2008, in Armenia. On Mar. 1, 2008, national police and military forces, called in to disperse the crowds, used “excessive force and violence” which left 10 people dead and many more wounded.