Epress.am News from Armenia
“March 1 is one of the most important, immediate, urgent tasks in our country [today]. I can’t picture another issue that can be placed above March 1 in classification,” said publicist Tigran Paskevichyan, speaking to journalists in Yerevan today and presenting the 124-minute film “Armenia’s Lost Spring,” which was directed by Ara Shirinyan with Arakel Semirjyan onboard as consultant and Paskevischyan himself as the film’s writer.
The film is comprised of two parts: the first, covers the period from Sept. 2007 till Mar. 1, 2008 — that is, the period leading up to the presidential elections of Feb. 19, 2008, the election and the period after including the mass protests against alleged electoral fraud that followed. 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.
“And the second part [of the film] presents the actual events of March 1 and their not being uncovered,” said Paskevichyan.
The film emphasizes the main shortcomings in the actions of Armenia’s General Prosecutor’s office (and other agencies) after the events of March 1 and the contradictions in what happened with Armenia’s laws and constitution.
“Preparations for the film began about a year and 3–4 months ago. When we started, we thought we might have it finished by Mar. 1, 2010, but the growing volume of work showed that even a year, year and a half is not enough to make such a film,” said the film’s writer.
According to Paskevischyan, news outlets also had a lot of factual material, and he is thankful to them for providing this material to them.
After watching the film, the causes, consequences and the mediocre attempts to conceal March 1 can be understood, said the publicist. “You yourselves will realize that all of our misfortunes are tied to either restricting or destroying the right to [free] expression for ordinary people, ordinary citizens.”
The film will be distributed by the newly created March 1 NGO, which will send copies to Armenia’s high-ranking officials, members of the parliament and government — all those, added Paskevichyan, who must understand that when making decisions, one needs to be careful and feel a sense of responsibility before the people.
“Armenia’s Lost Spring” will also be sent to second president of the Republic of Armenia Robert Kocharian and Armenia’s foreign minister in 2008, Vartan Oskanian.
The publicist also noted that there are numerous individuals among Armenia’s governing authorities who realize that the fact that the circumstances related to the events of March 1 are still unclear is a huge blow to Armenia. “I think these people today are engaged in certain activities so that they remain in the shadows, but that [these events] get uncovered.”
The film’s producers plan to send letters to Moscow Cinema and TV companies operating in Yerevan, asking they screen or broadcast the film. “We are going to suggest they screen [the film] for a fee. If TV stations are ready to sell [us the broadcast slot], we will will provide the film for broadcast,” said Tigran Paskevichyan, adding, however, that TV stations have not broadcast his films in the past, even upon being offered payment.
There are plans to produce English, Russian and French versions of the film, after which it will be sent to organizations outside of Armenia. The film has already been sent to all embassies and international agencies operating in Armenia today.