Basically, what we have here in Armenia is a media that doesn’t even bother to check its facts let alone investigate matters such as corruption. At the same time, however, the government doesn’t release information it should — or is very reluctant to.

As much as I don’t like its pro-Levon leanings, Hetq Online is an interesting example. In particular, the publication uses the courts to get facts and figures which should otherwise be public knowledge. The ownership of the cafes in Liberty Square is a case in point.

However, as a whole, I think the whole media in Armenia is now discredited. It was never in a good shape anyway, but the 2008 presidential election made it even worse with most taking sides. However, I heard that Aravot was better than most, and in terms of broadcast media, Yerkir Media TV did a good job.

On the whole, however, it is simpler for most journalists (usually female students fresh out of University, or veteran hacks who are politically partisan and work to the same methods employed in the Soviet era for their chosen political force) to just print rumors.

The media is not performing its role as an INDEPENDENT watchdog. It is PARTISAN and part of the battle which means that the (pro-opposition) print AND (pro-government) broadcast media is discredited and not trusted.

As for the obsession with the presidency, yes, you’re right, and perhaps that’s as much a reflection on the lack of democracy or democratic thinking in any walk of life. While many blame the constitution introduced under Ter-Petrossian for this top-down control pyramid, fact is that the situation has changed somewhat with the 2005 amendments.

Thing is that the thinking and approach to elections hasn’t changed. Armenians appear to want their King/Tsar/Mythical Benevolent Dictator. However, while the argument is that the makeup of the parliament will be determined by the presidency (in an undemocratic region like the CIS), it’s a chicken and an egg situation.

I mean, the makeup of the parliament also controls the checks and balances necessary for democratic presidential elections — in particular, the makeup of the election commissions.

Probably, the checks and balances will take time to emerge and properly function, but in the short term it is theoretically possible to hold democratic elections, but I think the necessity of having mature political forces able to contest them and a proper media (and here, the pro-government and pro-opposition media functions the same way) as well as genuine international oversight will be key.

Dunno. I personally believe that we could all now start to focus on creating the environment where democratic parliamentary elections can be held. Probably, this would be a natural evolution of the system if we all set our minds to do this now — and not to ensure that our preferred candidate comes to power, but only in the interests of democracy.

For me at least, the problem that still remains is that both the pro-Serge and pro-Levon camps do not represent anything democratic. There is no room for discussion and debate in either and anyone who speaks out against either is attacked, intimidated or threatened.

I would hope that a new real pro-democracy third force (and not necessarily a political party but a real non-partisan movement sick of both sides) might emerge, but I don’t see where it will come from or if it will at all, in fact. Still, I’ve already gone off the point of this post so better stop.

I would really like to see some kind of investigative journalism emerging in Armenia. Of course, I have no idea what I am talking about, but it seems that we don’t have guys like those two who cracked down Watergate scandal. Do we? Or is it the case that everybody is just afraid to talk. There is got to be someone in the government who wants to talk, no?

Grigor – I meant it’s clever in terms of PR and political technologies

Clever is not the word I’d use. Perhaps if they hope to get foreign support for Levon’s bid to return to power (one government source alleges that he has already suggested ending claims for Genocide recognition in return for backing), but internally? Well, I think they thought the photographs from the day of riot police and protesters might help them, but thankfully, the government didn’t act so stupid (for a change).

Otherwise, the link was pretty unsophisticated, incorrect and likely to do more harm to Armenia’s image and claims for Genocide recognition than anything else. Of course, Levon’s supporters in the media and civil society will use it (although not as I’m sure they hoped), but I don’t think it worked at all for the rest of the population from what I saw. The only people who seem to have thought it a good PR opportunity were Hetq Online, RFE/RL and A1 Plus.

Still, like I said, at least it didn’t end in clashes and ultimately was so small it was insignificant (same can be said for the ARF-D march, as well).

I don’t quite understand what you mean by this. You really think it was clever? Like in some abstract sense? Or perhaps you are being sarcastic. Actually, I see no link between the two.

Like I said, there is nothing wrong with political groups, NGOs, etc going as groups, I would imagine (although also not necessary). Exploiting it for politically (or commercially) partisan purposes is obviously regrettable and not something to be welcomed.

For example, (partisan) estimates for the ARF-D march was 15,000 and for Levon’s, 10,000. In both cases I’d say less, but anyway, even at these maximum estimates they are nothing compared to the hundreds of thousands who go on their own as individuals, families or as groups of friends.

Still, on a brighter note, I met a handful of Levon’s people (actually, mainly from Aram Sargsyan’s Republic party) who went for both marches. Basically, they commemorated the day on such marches regardless of who was organizing it. Moreover, the divisions in Diasporan communities can be more damaging,

When I was living in London, for example, out of a community estimated at around 12-15,000 only 300 participated in one of the marches. The rest did not participate at all. Of course, not everybody goes up to the Genocide Memorial in Yerevan, but the numbers that do are significant.

Elsewhere, and seldom reported on, other communities outside of Yerevan also have their own Genocide memorials which people visit. Anyway, the point is that there is nothing wrong with groups — even political — marching on their own as something much larger (although perhaps the ARF-D should do theirs on 24 April along with everyone else).

However, I agree that exploiting the day for political purposes is to be regretted and it will be interesting to note whether the fact that the pro-Levon rally was simply that — a pro-Levon for president rally — it will be interesting to see if it backfires.

Incidentally, I remember looking at the drivers of all the cars that passed or actually, were moving at a crawl because of traffic, as well as that of pedestrians. The majority were not interested in the Levon march and many of those who the march passed by looked pretty apathetic at that. Some looked quite fed up, to be honest.

Anyway, I have to wonder if the march wasn’t also designed for foreign consumption as well. Does the very fact that Levon for the first time attended a Genocide event with full publicity symbolize something along the lines of not even this day is sacred enough for me not to do keep the idea of regime change and a “popular revolution” under cover.

As has been noticed, the march had signs equating 1 March with the Armenian Genocide, and some of those were reported to call Kocharian and Serge “Turks.” Oterwise, the rally was 98 percent about Levon’s bid to return to power which was unfortunate.

However, whatever the rights and wrongs of the ARF-D and Levon marches, I am glad to note that there were no clashes or problems although A1 Plus tried desperately to make some (which in my opinion, failed).