New Criminal Culture in Armenia

In the context of reforms Armenia committed to carry there is need for some other reforms in the criminal world as well. Most importantly, without any intervention of the international structures.

As all of us may know, the society demands to bring a case against the owner of Harsnakar Restaurant for the tragic death of the doctor but the owner has already expressed regret for the tragedy and his statement squeezed tears from the eyes of many.

A couple of days later, he punched a human rights activist near his restaurant. Once again demands were heard to bring a case. The owner of the restaurant telephoned the human rights activist and apologized.

All this is an obvious expression of a totally new culture in criminal relations. Meanwhile we the naïve ones still think in the old way and we still rely on law enforcement without realizing how far life has already gone, without understanding and naively thinking that public regret and apology for famous guys, as well as friendly relations with those wearing police shoulder straps, is a disgrace.

The judicial reforms in Armenia started in the right place and at the right moment.

The happiest thing is that the Armenian human rights activists also have their merit in the establishment of this new culture, namely the human rights defender knocked down by R. Hairapetyan. So, what can we do? The man was angry and “slapped” once. So what? Moreover, Hairapetyan regretted and apologized. It is a truly human and fair step. Both the beginning and the end.