“In Armenia it is difficult to distinguish these two motives [crime and politics] nowadays; the criminal entities are closely involved with the ruling HHK and are used to intimidate the voters and the opposition parties. As a reward they are given a free reign in their economic activities.” speculates Nazarian discussing yet another killing as the Parliamentary campaign draws near, althought the blogger says: “It remains to be seen whether this murder was politically motivated or was done to settle scores. ”
While crime reigns in the streets, Bekaisa draws attention to the fact, that there are “72 RELIGIOUS PRISONERS OF CONSCIENCE” in Armenia – that is a new record.
Armenia has a record number of religious conscientious objectors to military service in jail, despite a 2004 promise to free these prisoners of conscience, Forum 18 News Service has found. 72 Jehovah’s Witnesses are now in jail.
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Jehovah’s Witnesses and Molokans insist that they would be happy to perform a genuinely civilian alternative service – but Armenia does not allow this.
E-channel blog has also looked at the situation with the Jehovah’s Witnesses, noting, that “10,000 Armenian’s won’t take part in the election” – as this is the number of Jehovah’s Witnesses the blogger Blansh estimates.
The guy killed was one of the owners of the cafe that destroyed the park outside my apartment building. One day a few years ago I took Jeffrey Tufenkian (Armenian Forests), Edik Baghdasarian (Hetq) and Sona Ayvazyan (from CRD/TI Armenia) there in the hope that the damage could be stopped as they expand it every year (although how is beyond me as there is now no park left. Anyway, Transparency advised not doing anything as the owners were too dangerous.
Anyway, I asked in the shop that is part of the little empire that devastated what was a lovely little green area for the community until they destroyed and kept local residents up at night with rabiz in the summer months and I was told it wasn’t election related. However, I wouldn’t expect a straight answer from people probably employed or linked to these guys anyway. It’s also not the first bit of bother around my building. So far there have been 3 high profile murders, 1 attempted assassination and the occasional gang fight.
Last year there was a mass brawl between this guy and his mob with another load who came. Really, about 50 people slugging it out in broad daylight. Two policemen finally came and they all left. People said the score would be sorted out at a later date.
I’m so tired of crime, criminals… I wish them all dead – honestly… but even that is not a solution 🙁
Well, remember what happened last year. A few innocent bystanders were killed as well in a few assassinations last year. That’s the problem.