Wednesday, June 15, 2022
No Result
View All Result
Asbarez.com
NEWSLETTER
ՀԱՅ
  • Home
  • Top Stories
  • Community
  • Arts & Culture
    • Art
    • Books
    • Music
    • Theatre
    • Critics’ Forum
  • Op-Ed
    • Editorial
    • Opinon
    • Letters
  • Columns
    • By Any Means
    • My Turn
    • Three Apples
    • Community Links
    • Critics’ Forum
    • My Name is Armen
    • Living in Armenia
  • Videos
  • Sports
  • Home
  • Top Stories
  • Community
  • Arts & Culture
    • Art
    • Books
    • Music
    • Theatre
    • Critics’ Forum
  • Op-Ed
    • Editorial
    • Opinon
    • Letters
  • Columns
    • By Any Means
    • My Turn
    • Three Apples
    • Community Links
    • Critics’ Forum
    • My Name is Armen
    • Living in Armenia
  • Videos
  • Sports
No Result
View All Result
Asbarez.com
ՀԱՅ
No Result
View All Result

Incompetence? Manipulation? Tyranny?

by Asbarez Staff
September 15, 2018
in Armenia, By Any Means, Columns, Latest, Top Stories
6
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Garen Yegparian
Garen Yegparian

BY GAREN YEGPARIAN

By now, everyone is aware of the audio recording that went viral on the Internet between the chiefs of the Republic of Armenia’s (RoA) National Security Service and the Special Security Service Artur Vanetsyan and Sasun Khachatryan, respectively.

There are so many things wrong about this and the ensuing reactions that it’s almost mind-boggling.

The most obvious wrong is the fact that it happened at all. And, we know it’s not a fake because one of the two officials confirmed that conversation did occur. The fact that two high ranking government officials could be so completely obliviously recorded, then outed, is a problem. It is a sign of incompetence on the part of the security apparatus of the country.

The rush to judgment by Prime Minister Nigol Pashinyan in his assertion that it was not the Russians is another problem, and should give anyone pause. The intelligence agency of any significant power could have pulled this off (France, Great Britain, Israel, Russia, Turkey, U.S., and many more) if that country’s policy required that the RoA’s politics be roiled, or at least distracted, by scandals. But even more obvious is that fact that to know Russia did not do it requires that it be known who DID actually do it. If that’s the case, Pashinyan should have named the culprit, instead of saying an investigation has been launched.

Who really did it? Who has an interest in creating this kind of internal strife, besides foreign powers? It could be, as Pashinyan and his circle have suggested, that it is the work of “anti-revolutionary” forces, i.e. the oligarchs that formed the base of the previous three presidential administrations. It could even be a “false flag” operation by overzealous Pashinyan supporters who want to further galvanize their supporters. All these manipulative possibilities should be fully investigated and exposed to the public.

But what’s really more worrisome are the comments Pashinyan made that verge on calling for mob-rule and vigilantism, not the rule of law as he has so often called for. There is a Facebook video, clearly an edited one, where he is very agitated, even angry, and is commanding law enforcement agencies to round up those he considers to be the guilty parties, and “lay them down on the asphalt” within two hours. Sorry, but rule of law this ain’t! It is, on the contrary, an indication of budding tyranny. And, it might also be a national security problem because some of the entities he references sounded like they were part of the RoA’s defense apparatus (this aspect is not 100% clear to me, but I am worried by it).

These angry calls for accountability, when coupled with yet another reference to the March 1, 2008 deaths and bringing those responsible to justice, is far too much. Yes, absolutely, if Robert Kocharian broke the law in that case (or any other), hold his feet to the fire. The same with Serzh Sarkisian, and assorted other former high office holders. But, Levon Der Bedrosian’s misdeeds somehow elude Pashinyan’s attention when he lists litanies of misdeeds by former office holders. Is that because the first president was Pashinyan’s mentor? Is that to be understood as “equality before the law”? Are we entering an era where one set of bad actors is being replaced by another? What kind of justice does this forebode?

Finally, perhaps the most worrisome aspect of the Vanetsyan/Khachatryan recording is the multiple references to contact from/with judges who are presiding over the proceedings of the Kocharian case. This kind of “guidance seeking” by the judiciary from the executive branch of government is confirmed by Pashinyan, too. When discussing this recording, he refers to receiving many calls from judges asking how to rule on cases. He then proceeds to explain that he will never participate in such corruption and tells the judges the same thing. But very few people seem to be incensed by this. Where is public indignation and outrage at the very plain exposure of this unconscionable behavior? Pashinyan is right in pointing out that this is the judiciary the country inherited from previous regimes. Yet he is not as loud and contemptuous of it as he is of other wrongs. He speaks out far more strongly about individual cases than about the systemic problem when it comes to the judiciary.

A little over four months ago, when Pashinyan first took office as prime minister, I never would have thought that two weeks in a row I would be writing to criticize aspects of his governance. Yet here I am calling him out about fairness in taxation, last week, and equitable and proper implementation of the law this week.

We must, all of us Armenians, keep Pashinyan from falling into the trap of many other leaders of revolutions that started out righteously but decayed into various forms and degrees of non-democratic governments. Use all your contacts and acquaintances along with communicating with representatives of the country to convey this message to the government of the RoA.

Asbarez Staff

Asbarez Staff

Next Post

Hundreds Gather at Gala to Mark L.A. Homenetmen’s 50th Anniversary

Comments 6

  1. Vram says:
    4 years ago

    Garen, I’m afraid it’s already too late to keep Pashinyan from falling. He is heading south. From day 1 he took over the government, it was very obvious that his “leadership” style would be nothing but tyrannic, no matter what he called it –“velvet revolution of love and solidarity”… I’m not surprised by his actions, I’m only surprised that it has taken four months for many observers (one being you) to see/realize/believe/accept that Armenia’s current leader –having LDB as his mentor– will soon dig his own political grave like a child who insists on playing with fire against his parents’ warnings…

    Reply
    • Zareh Sahakian says:
      4 years ago

      Those who are quick to write off Pashinyan as being yet another tyrannical ruler are fake news stooges. To compare, or dismiss, the past twenty years of true tyranny in Armenia and focus on mistakes (yes there has been mistakes) as tyranny-in-the-making is not only unfair but it is pouring oil (intentionally or naively) on the fire of returning the Republic back in the hands of oligarchs, thugs and two-bit criminals who have tripled the size of their waists, looking grotesquely like pregnant-males.

      Let’s face it, the biggest mistake of Pashinyan was his refusal to act as a tyrant and therefore his reluctance to arrest and jail the leadership of HHK along with all those criminals who sucked the blood of the Armenian citizen to the point of utter destitution and desperation, hence, endangering the national security of the motherland.

      What are we talking about and who are we kidding here!

      Reply
  2. Raffi says:
    4 years ago

    ”All these manipulative possibilities should be fully investigated and exposed to the public”, . …. ”Levon Der Bedrosian’s misdeeds somehow elude Pashinyan’s attention when he lists litanies of misdeeds by former office holders. Is that because the first president was Pashinyan’s mentor? Is that to be understood as “equality before the law”? Are we entering an era where one set of bad actors is being replaced by another? What kind of justice does this forebode?…, IT SHOULD BE THE OBLIGATION OF EVERY ARMENIAN TO BE VIGILANT SO PASHINIAN DO NOT TAKE THE PATH OF FORMER PRESIDENTS.

    Reply
  3. Masis says:
    4 years ago

    There are several points I would disagree with.

    1. Pashinyan rules out the Russians in order to prevent the Republicans from using the excuse to create a rift between him and the Russians. I’m not sure he’s convinced that it isn’t the Russians. If it’s a foreign country, then the Russians are most likely. However, it isn’t worth messing around with Putin. After all, it was he who wished Kocharian a happy birthday. I don’t think Pashinyan is that naive.

    2. Working with the previous thugs under the strict disciplines of virtue and democracy isn’t going to succeed. They are completely capable of calling judges now and running the show just as they did before. It’s akin to using lawful means to deal with terrorists in the US. Unfortunately, we have to and therefore frankly fail. However in a “revolution,” they are not going to “pass out halva.” In other words, transgressions will inevitably occur, if not from Pashinyan then from the opponents. The fact that noone has died yet is quite impressive.

    3. Levon is not mentioned because he Levon is out of the limelight. He has his own party. Why antagonize that group at this time?

    However, I would say, in retrospect, that opening up a case against Kocharian may have been premature. Perhaps, they’d run an election, hopefully dissolving the Republican Party, then perhaps eventually moving his trial to a civil court, where he’d pay the victims of March 1 a sizable amount of money for “wrongful death” or something like that. Further, a portion of his riches of $4 Billion would be taken back and used to buy weapons from Russia. In that case, Russia would shut up and support the process. Kocharian would be a free man but forced to agree to never participate in elections hereafter. Admittedly, I’d rather not see a former president of Armenia locked up. Even Nixon got pardoned.

    Reply
  4. barseghian says:
    4 years ago

    Ge hamagrem dzer verloudzman, medahokitch verapermounk, xorin chenor, hargankov

    Reply
  5. Novellian says:
    4 years ago

    With all these so-called billionaire crooks, why is it that we have to take loans from Russia in order to buy weapons from them?
    Isn’t there something wrong with this picture? One hundred million shouldn’t be a problem to raise from these thieves who have
    shamelessly robbed the country while the government struggles to come up with the proper funds to purchase advanced weapon systems.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recommended

Russia to Have Key Role In Transit Between Azerbaijan and Armenia

Russia to Have Key Role In Transit Between Azerbaijan and Armenia

17 hours ago
Karabakh is ‘Most Urgent Issue,’ Pashinyan Claims; Calls Corridor ‘Red Line’

Karabakh is ‘Most Urgent Issue,’ Pashinyan Claims; Calls Corridor ‘Red Line’

17 hours ago

Connect with us

  • About
  • Advertising
  • Subscribe
  • Contact

© 2021 Asbarez | All Rights Reserved | Powered By MSDN Solutions Inc.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Top Stories
  • Community
  • Arts & Culture
    • Art
    • Books
    • Music
    • Theatre
    • Critics’ Forum
  • Op-Ed
    • Editorial
    • Opinon
    • Letters
  • Columns
    • By Any Means
    • My Turn
    • Three Apples
    • Community Links
    • Critics’ Forum
    • My Name is Armen
    • Living in Armenia
  • Videos
  • Sports

© 2021 Asbarez | All Rights Reserved | Powered By MSDN Solutions Inc.

Accessibility

Accessibility modes

Epilepsy Safe Mode
Dampens color and removes blinks
This mode enables people with epilepsy to use the website safely by eliminating the risk of seizures that result from flashing or blinking animations and risky color combinations.
Visually Impaired Mode
Improves website's visuals
This mode adjusts the website for the convenience of users with visual impairments such as Degrading Eyesight, Tunnel Vision, Cataract, Glaucoma, and others.
Cognitive Disability Mode
Helps to focus on specific content
This mode provides different assistive options to help users with cognitive impairments such as Dyslexia, Autism, CVA, and others, to focus on the essential elements of the website more easily.
ADHD Friendly Mode
Reduces distractions and improve focus
This mode helps users with ADHD and Neurodevelopmental disorders to read, browse, and focus on the main website elements more easily while significantly reducing distractions.
Blindness Mode
Allows using the site with your screen-reader
This mode configures the website to be compatible with screen-readers such as JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack. A screen-reader is software for blind users that is installed on a computer and smartphone, and websites must be compatible with it.

Online Dictionary

    Readable Experience

    Content Scaling
    Default
    Text Magnifier
    Readable Font
    Dyslexia Friendly
    Highlight Titles
    Highlight Links
    Font Sizing
    Default
    Line Height
    Default
    Letter Spacing
    Default
    Left Aligned
    Center Aligned
    Right Aligned

    Visually Pleasing Experience

    Dark Contrast
    Light Contrast
    Monochrome
    High Contrast
    High Saturation
    Low Saturation
    Adjust Text Colors
    Adjust Title Colors
    Adjust Background Colors

    Easy Orientation

    Mute Sounds
    Hide Images
    Virtual Keyboard
    Reading Guide
    Stop Animations
    Reading Mask
    Highlight Hover
    Highlight Focus
    Big Dark Cursor
    Big Light Cursor
    Navigation Keys

    Asbarez.com Accessibility Statement

    Accessibility Statement

    • asbarez.com
    • June 15, 2022

    Compliance status

    We firmly believe that the internet should be available and accessible to anyone, and are committed to providing a website that is accessible to the widest possible audience, regardless of circumstance and ability.

    To fulfill this, we aim to adhere as strictly as possible to the World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 (WCAG 2.1) at the AA level. These guidelines explain how to make web content accessible to people with a wide array of disabilities. Complying with those guidelines helps us ensure that the website is accessible to all people: blind people, people with motor impairments, visual impairment, cognitive disabilities, and more.

    This website utilizes various technologies that are meant to make it as accessible as possible at all times. We utilize an accessibility interface that allows persons with specific disabilities to adjust the website’s UI (user interface) and design it to their personal needs.

    Additionally, the website utilizes an AI-based application that runs in the background and optimizes its accessibility level constantly. This application remediates the website’s HTML, adapts Its functionality and behavior for screen-readers used by the blind users, and for keyboard functions used by individuals with motor impairments.

    If you’ve found a malfunction or have ideas for improvement, we’ll be happy to hear from you. You can reach out to the website’s operators by using the following email

    Screen-reader and keyboard navigation

    Our website implements the ARIA attributes (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) technique, alongside various different behavioral changes, to ensure blind users visiting with screen-readers are able to read, comprehend, and enjoy the website’s functions. As soon as a user with a screen-reader enters your site, they immediately receive a prompt to enter the Screen-Reader Profile so they can browse and operate your site effectively. Here’s how our website covers some of the most important screen-reader requirements, alongside console screenshots of code examples:

    1. Screen-reader optimization: we run a background process that learns the website’s components from top to bottom, to ensure ongoing compliance even when updating the website. In this process, we provide screen-readers with meaningful data using the ARIA set of attributes. For example, we provide accurate form labels; descriptions for actionable icons (social media icons, search icons, cart icons, etc.); validation guidance for form inputs; element roles such as buttons, menus, modal dialogues (popups), and others. Additionally, the background process scans all of the website’s images and provides an accurate and meaningful image-object-recognition-based description as an ALT (alternate text) tag for images that are not described. It will also extract texts that are embedded within the image, using an OCR (optical character recognition) technology. To turn on screen-reader adjustments at any time, users need only to press the Alt+1 keyboard combination. Screen-reader users also get automatic announcements to turn the Screen-reader mode on as soon as they enter the website.

      These adjustments are compatible with all popular screen readers, including JAWS and NVDA.

    2. Keyboard navigation optimization: The background process also adjusts the website’s HTML, and adds various behaviors using JavaScript code to make the website operable by the keyboard. This includes the ability to navigate the website using the Tab and Shift+Tab keys, operate dropdowns with the arrow keys, close them with Esc, trigger buttons and links using the Enter key, navigate between radio and checkbox elements using the arrow keys, and fill them in with the Spacebar or Enter key.Additionally, keyboard users will find quick-navigation and content-skip menus, available at any time by clicking Alt+1, or as the first elements of the site while navigating with the keyboard. The background process also handles triggered popups by moving the keyboard focus towards them as soon as they appear, and not allow the focus drift outside of it.

      Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.

    Disability profiles supported in our website

    • Epilepsy Safe Mode: this profile enables people with epilepsy to use the website safely by eliminating the risk of seizures that result from flashing or blinking animations and risky color combinations.
    • Visually Impaired Mode: this mode adjusts the website for the convenience of users with visual impairments such as Degrading Eyesight, Tunnel Vision, Cataract, Glaucoma, and others.
    • Cognitive Disability Mode: this mode provides different assistive options to help users with cognitive impairments such as Dyslexia, Autism, CVA, and others, to focus on the essential elements of the website more easily.
    • ADHD Friendly Mode: this mode helps users with ADHD and Neurodevelopmental disorders to read, browse, and focus on the main website elements more easily while significantly reducing distractions.
    • Blindness Mode: this mode configures the website to be compatible with screen-readers such as JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack. A screen-reader is software for blind users that is installed on a computer and smartphone, and websites must be compatible with it.
    • Keyboard Navigation Profile (Motor-Impaired): this profile enables motor-impaired persons to operate the website using the keyboard Tab, Shift+Tab, and the Enter keys. Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.

    Additional UI, design, and readability adjustments

    1. Font adjustments – users, can increase and decrease its size, change its family (type), adjust the spacing, alignment, line height, and more.
    2. Color adjustments – users can select various color contrast profiles such as light, dark, inverted, and monochrome. Additionally, users can swap color schemes of titles, texts, and backgrounds, with over 7 different coloring options.
    3. Animations – epileptic users can stop all running animations with the click of a button. Animations controlled by the interface include videos, GIFs, and CSS flashing transitions.
    4. Content highlighting – users can choose to emphasize important elements such as links and titles. They can also choose to highlight focused or hovered elements only.
    5. Audio muting – users with hearing devices may experience headaches or other issues due to automatic audio playing. This option lets users mute the entire website instantly.
    6. Cognitive disorders – we utilize a search engine that is linked to Wikipedia and Wiktionary, allowing people with cognitive disorders to decipher meanings of phrases, initials, slang, and others.
    7. Additional functions – we provide users the option to change cursor color and size, use a printing mode, enable a virtual keyboard, and many other functions.

    Browser and assistive technology compatibility

    We aim to support the widest array of browsers and assistive technologies as possible, so our users can choose the best fitting tools for them, with as few limitations as possible. Therefore, we have worked very hard to be able to support all major systems that comprise over 95% of the user market share including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Opera and Microsoft Edge, JAWS and NVDA (screen readers), both for Windows and for MAC users.

    Notes, comments, and feedback

    Despite our very best efforts to allow anybody to adjust the website to their needs, there may still be pages or sections that are not fully accessible, are in the process of becoming accessible, or are lacking an adequate technological solution to make them accessible. Still, we are continually improving our accessibility, adding, updating and improving its options and features, and developing and adopting new technologies. All this is meant to reach the optimal level of accessibility, following technological advancements. For any assistance, please reach out to