Actor Vardan Petrosyan Doesn’t Know If He’s Oppositionist or Not. He Says What His Conscience Tells Him

Actor Vardan Petrosyan doesn’t know whether he’s an oppositionist or not, but he says what’s on his conscience.

“I say what my conscience dictates. And it turns out that the people also agree with my remarks. There’s nothing hidden, and I say it undisguised. If you watch my performances from the 80s, comprising very powerful and dangerous political humor, at the time all were speechless, you would notice that my words today are like soft cotton,” he said, in an interview with local daily Joghovurd.

Asked if after the sharp statements made in his performances, whether any politicians have come to pressure him, Petrosyan says, “I have never had any problems [with anyone] from any side in any way at any time, not even the [slightest] sweet hint. I don’t understand when they say they don’t allow one to speak freely, to say what you think. Open opposition papers, see what they write. Well, how are they allowed [to write what they write]? Sometimes I read those papers, my hair stands on end — sometimes they write such things you shouldn’t write. I don’t like personal ignominies and I don’t use them either — they are unacceptable for me.”

As for his latest production, “Serasarap” (“sexual horror”), Petrosyan says: “The meaning of the entire performance is the relationship between the authorities and the people, which I present with the word “serasarap”. It seems our Armenian authorities are like a young spoiled boy who, like an immoral buffoon, is tormenting an old lady. Indeed, can you dislike, neglect and humiliate the people so much?”