‘I’m Expecting They Won’t Shoot’: Portraits of Opposition Rally Participants

Prior to the start of the Armenian National Congress (HAK) rally yesterday, Epress.am had a chance to talk to opposition supporters present at the rally. Upon our request, they recalled Mar. 1, 2008, and shared with us their expectations.

Spartak

I was present at the demonstrations, near the Myasnikyan statue. How the military attacked, how the soldiers came, brought [military] equipment, crushed the people. While present day, they’ve turned the Opera building into a Gestapo cellar, into bunkers. At today’s rally, I want everything to end, for us to move toward the good. Regime change — I don’t want anything else. And I don’t want the next rally to start. Let everything end with this rally. Even if I’m the first to go, let them come out of the bunkers, shoot me first. There’s aren’t as many residents in Armenia as there is military. They bring them from Georgia. They bring them from Azerbaijan, or Ukraine, we don’t know.

Hamlet Davtyan

On Mar. 1, 2008, I was lying [in bed] with a heart attack.

With what expectations have you come here today?

That they won’t shoot. I’m not expecting anything good. I came for the people. I don’t even know what to say, I just don’t know.

Abraham Muradyan

At that time, the military was crushing us. But today I’ve come with a good expectation, for example, whatever the leaders say.

You mean the first president of the Republic of Armenia?

Yes, our president. However he leads, that’s what we’ll do.

Hrant

I was sitting at home on Mar. 1, 2008, dear. But today… we’ve come: forward, Armenia!

Meaning?

Sister, all right already…

Do you have expectations from the rally?

Eh! But it stays in me.

Do you know which [political] force’s rally you’ve come to?

The unified force.

Garik

I remember that day. I was going to the Russian embassy; I’m a citizen of Russia. I was going to organize my papers, for me to go again. But on Mar. 1 I saw what had happened on the streets: burned cars, soldiers with automatic rifles. They didn’t even allow me to pass. We have expectations, that it has to be good already. The people’s cup of patience is full; something has to be done. We’re pinning our hopes on [HAK leader] Levon Ter-Petrossian and his team. Let’s see, something will happen, probably.

Lusine Vayachyan

On Mar. 1, they frightened me, they didn’t allow me to go anywhere, and [so] I was sitting at home.

Who frightened you?

Well, my mother, father, friends, everyone frightened me and they were right to frighten me. I’m afraid now too; I’m terribly afraid. But that fear gives me adrenalin, which is necessary to fight.

What expectations do you have from today’s rally?

I don’t know. I’m waiting for it to be the beginning of the end for that which is bad and the beginning of the beginning for that which is good.

Mariam’s and Grigor’s personal photo

Grigor
I was by Myasnikyan statue on Mar. 1, 2008. I was there in the daytime, around 3–4 pm, and then I went home. Simply respecting the victims, their families, I came to participate. I don’t participate in any rallies except for those organized by Levon Ter-Petrossian. I can’t say anything else.

Mariam Yezakyan
I’m an active Armenian National Congress participant, and as our dear Nikol [Pashinyan] says, our work is just, we are going to win. It’s all the same, the unlawful, unelected, bloody president has dug his grave with his own hands and today’s rally shows that they’re afraid of us. Today they’re in such a panic like they’ve never been before. As our leader, Ter-Petrossian, says, fight, fight, till the end.

Arshavir Bozoyan

Arsho of Sasun’s military unit [referring to himself], when I say that much, both Serzhik [Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan] and Robik [former president Robert Kocharian] know [me].

At the dawn of 2008, the last dancer with Grandpa [a term of endearment for Ter-Petrossian] was me. At the time, we were dancing, until the country’s jackals didn’t take part in our peaceful demonstrations. Until 4:30 am we were happily dancing.

Three years the country has been without a president. We’re living on God’s hope. Generally, us Armenians are a Christian, devout people; now we’re living on God’s hope.