Calculations Are Doomed

On August 2, military doctor, father of two small kids, Vahe Avetyan would have celebrated his 33^rd birthday. But weeks before his birthday he was beaten up to death by the bodyguards of the oligarch Ruben Hairapetyan in his Harsnakar restaurant.

Lawyers dealing with Vahe Avetyan’s case issued a statement that the police are protracting the investigation on purpose not providing the records of the case to the lawyers as is required by law.

After Vahe’s murder, the police used to assure that all those guilty would be punished. The society is concerned whether all those guilty will be punished and whether Ruben Hairapetyan is among them who, according to some press reports, was in Harsnakar during the incident and knew about it.

Laying down his mandate, Ruben Hairapetyan issued a heart-breaking statement expressing pain and regrets that he had not been in the restaurant that day otherwise he would have stopped the hand raised to hit Vahe.

Now, someone seems to be holding the hand of the police to avoid too much disclosure about Vahe’s case. Anyway, the statement by lawyers hints at this, and until the police does not allow them to get acquainted with the details of the case, his hint will seem true.

On August 2, the representatives of the civil society will hold a protest action in front of the police demanding a full revelation of the case.

It seems that Harsnakar case is a “precinct” level case in terms of revelation and it had to be sent to court already and all the questions had to be answered. 40 days have already passed but the society has no clear image of what happened in Harsnakar and who is to blame.

No doubt the ruling system will cover up “its people” if there is the slightest opportunity for that. So, here the role of the society is very important. If the society is consistent and does not leave alone the law enforcers, then it will be very difficult for the system to cover up this case. Otherwise, once it may turn out that Vahe Avetyan was not killed by Ruben Hairapetyan’s bodyguard but by thunder.

The calculation of the power is clear – to protract time until the interest of the society fades away. But this calculation, mildly speaking, is not correct since in Armenia there is a knowledgeable society which understands the calculation of the government and which is not led by calculations but such values as rights, freedoms, rule of law, justice and injustice.

The difference between calculations and values is that the calculation is temporary, while values are permanent. In Armenia, a stable society is under formation which gradually highlights the temporariness of the power. Consequently, Vahe will stay, will always be, and all the calculations based on oblivion are doomed.