Armenia’s National Security Council chief, Armen Grigoryan, on Thursday expressed concern over apparent leaks of confidential documents to a BBC Russian Service reporter, who in an article published Wednesday, revealed new information about the ongoing March 1, 2008 probe.
The BBC article claimed that order to shoot protesters during the March 1, 2008 standoff between protesters and security forces was given by Major-General Samvel Karapetyan of the Artsakh Armed forces, who had led a battalion to Yerevan at the time. The BBC also reported that the then president Robert Kocharian and president-elect Serzh Sarkisian visited the unit stationed in the basement of the Presidential Residence at 26 Baghramyan, according to the leaked documents.
“Of course, we are concerned,” said Grigoryan, Armenia’s security chief. “It’s important for us that there is no leak of calssified information because confidentiality means security and safety. It’s necessary to investigate and understand how those documents appeared in the hands of the media.”
Grigoryan cited numerous incidents of leaks around the world saying that there is no country that has not encountered unwanted publication of classified government documents, citing WikiLeaks as an example.
“Everybody has problems with confidentiality. WikiLeaks is a good example. The entire cache of secret documents of one of the most powerful countries—the United States—appeared in the media. We are not immune [from this] but we are making all efforts to minimize the risks,” Grigoryan said.
On Thursday, Armenia’s Special Investigation Service told Azatutyun.am that it did not provided any information to the BBC on the case concerning the 2008 post-election violence.
The SIS, on Thursday, confirmed to Azatutyun.am that on July 4 the BBC sent an inquiry seeking clarifications on the ‘March 1’ case. “But on July 9, the SIS told them that no information on their questions could be provided in the interest of the investigation,” the SIS stressed.
Talking to RFE/RL’s Armenian Service (Azatutyun.am) on Wednesday, the author of the BBC story, Grigor Atanesian, stressed that they would not publish the information if they had any doubts about the veracity or the origin of the document. He, however, refused to disclose the source of information.
Media outlets should do everything possible to keep governments accountable. Their job is not to be cheerleaders. Likewise, Wikileaks uncovered government malfeasance. For a government to claim that their national security is at stake when in truth a regime is trying to keep its illegal activities under wraps is treasonous. The Armenian governments — past, present, future — should bear this in mind.
It is unfortunate that this kind of confidential ongoing investigation is leaked to the media, especially BBC. However, the information stipulated on BBC is what the people of Armenia always suspected. The order to kill fellow Armenians on March 1 couldn’t have been carried without the full consent and order of Robert Kocharyan and Serj Sargsyan. Based on the order of the two president, Major-General Samvel Karapetyan of the Artsakh Armed forces acted and murdered fellow Armenians.
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The content of the BBC article shows which side of the March 1, 2008 conflict is to benefit from the leak, therefore it’s very clear to see which side has leaked it, that had an active role in those events then and have a say in today’s government.
Our people in Armenia and the Diaspora should see that the March 1 events were the test field of future similar events in other countries where popular instigated uprisings have resulted in civil wars and military conflicts (like Syria and then specially in Maidan, Kiev, Ukraine). What I am deducing here is that it’s a special hired killing contractors connection that we need to look for, not an Armenian government or opposition conflict, though some may had a knowing role in that connection!
Those were the days where old mentality of Soviet Union was ruling, these people were programmed under 70 years of Soviet ruling where this kind of behaviour was acceptable, to change the mentality of the people take time, I don’t justify what they did, however do not try to come up with an Armenian Judgment of Nuremberg, this will not help Armenia, and all it’s going to do is to divide the Armenian society, unless there are people who are eager to see unrest and turmoil in Armenia.