The plan of neutralization of Robert Kocharyan’s supporters was launched a long time ago. Visually, it started from the arrest of the Traffic Police head Margar Ohanyan. Then the press reported that though Ohanyan was accused of embezzlement of public funds, in fact, his arrest was connected with some conspiracy against Serzh Sargsyan. They spoke about the fact that the conspiracy was allegedly carried out in order to bring to power the second president Robert Kocharyan. It was said that a group of influential persons by Armenian standards, including those from the ruling Republican Party, even called a meeting, which discussed this issue.
It is noteworthy that no one had ever clarified what the “conspiracy” was about, whether it was about force coup or people just agreed to support Robert Kocharyan in the elections. Anyway, after this those who participated in those meetings or were “suspected” of conspiracy appeared out of favor.
The dismissal of the Chief of Police Alik Sargsyan was also viewed in this context, so was the dismissal of Yerevan Mayor Gagik Beglaryan and even Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan. Later, all of them appeared in the proximity of Serzh Sargsyan, who preferred keeping them close.
The more the presidential elections are approaching, the more intensively possible participants of the conspiracy are neutralized. It has even reached Vartan Oskanian who is suspected of money laundering. Despite the ambassadors of almost all influential countries accredited in Armenia have visited Civilitas, the authorities did not renege on their word and did not announce to dismiss the criminal or political case. Perhaps, it means that the ambassadors visited the foundation just to find out how serious the authorities are about Vartan Oskanian.
Apparently, it is not by accident that the money laundering case was chosen. Oskanian’s brand is his Western-type culture and politics, which requires transparency and respect for democratic norms. In fact, his own weapon was used against Vartan Oskanian.
Who else will be required to be neutralized to have Robert Kocharyan declare that he will not run for president? However, the elections in Armenia are no longer an internal affair, and it is possible that Kocharyan will simply not be let come out of the game by those who bet on him. But they will hardly be able to stand up for the same Oskanian or Tsarukyan who has been forced recently to close his Ararat cement company.
Apparently, the “conspiracy” continues. The white flag cannot be seen anywhere. This means that they will still knock at someone’s doors.
At first glance it might seem that this neutralization is not in the spirit of democracy, and if someone wants to support the “other” candidate, it is their right. But on the other hand, this “other” has been holding the society and his environment in anticipation for several years now, not declaring his intentions, though they are obvious. He does not want to legitimize his supporters, leaving them in the status of “conspirators”. The conversation with the conspirators, as they say, lasts short.
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