Enough “Reacting”: Activist Proposes Single Platform for Activism in Armenia

There's no single platform for activism in Armenia: everyone holds different views and values. And moving forward with small groups of activists is impossible, said civil society activist Olya Azatyan during Epress.am's Week in Review program. 

According to her, it's not enough to react to the actions of the ruling authorities to get results. Commenting on civil society activist Vilen Gabrielyan's protest demonstration, Azatyan called it justified, adding, however, that such fragmented acts of protest are not effective as long as there's no unified platform for activism. Note, at a May 21 public hearing on constitutional reforms, Gabrielyan approached the table where RA Minister of Justice Hrayr Tovmasyan was seated and stuck a piece of paper on the table in front of the minister's name tag on which was written the vulgar expression the justice minister himself used publicly a few months ago. 

"Absurdity needs to be responded with absurdity, hooliganism with hooliganism. Vilen's act is justified because if there's no constitutional order in Armenia, what are we changing? It's a normal reaction. But the question is effectiveness. To what extent is it meaningful, and how long will we respond this way? Isn't reacting enough? It's time to shape an agenda," she said. 

As long as activists are "reacting," she said, they continue to remain on the authorities' side of the court, which makes them manageable. "With Vilen's demonstration, the news media shows that there is an Armenia where an activist can talk calmly to this type of person in a similar way. We're in their field; we're controllable with them," she said.  

Azatyan believes establishing a vision and clear strategy are necessary to achieve results. "Consolidating progressive groups is very important for Armenia at this point: a few news outlets, a few NGOs, a few analysts, a few scholars and activists. These forces must unite and ultimately create a new agenda, a parallel reality. Otherwise, we remain in the square established by the authorities," she concluded.  

To see the full interview, go here (in Armenian only).

Photo credit: Olya Azatyan's personal Facebook page.