We Are Waiting for the Prime Minister's Explanations: Levon Baghdasaryan

Levon Baghdasaryan, founder and head of the Journalists' "Asparez" Club, wrote on his Facebook page: "Can I ask another question? Many people and I are eagerly waiting for the Prime Minister's explanations about what is happening with Kyaramyan's biography. Leaving Kyaramyan aside, what is going on with the country's biography? At least let us know something about Kyaramyan... Are they forcing such appointments? Can't he resist? Why doesn't he say that he is being forced by some means, or, if he is not being forced, how did he come to the conclusion that it was necessary to appoint someone who does not comment on his assets for half an hour and then remove him and place him elsewhere? The stories that he had to hold some high position legally in order to be able to assume that position are not serious; if he was such a bright candidate, they could have finally fundamentally revised the legislation on that occasion, rather than starting to pull off three-way somersaults in the system devised by Serzhik.

Moreover, there should have been reforms in the legal systems beforehand, both legally and practically, and in terms of personnel policy; they should not have sought point solutions, especially not with such unfortunate appointments and procedures. Two hypotheses seem reasonable: either they are forcing the Prime Minister to do such things by some means, which I do not believe at all, or it is due to ignorance of systemic solutions. I have said several times that the lack of systemic governance capabilities is not terrifying; it is a historically formed problem specific to forces that have never held power—regardless of the country—that can be rectified if there is will, and if there is not, it becomes an excuse, a sign of disaster. I consider the remaining hypotheses, including conspiracy and corruption, to be incredible.

Two years ago, I and many others criticized the appointments of Vanetsyan, Osipyan, and Poghosyan, considering that it was challenging to navigate in that mixed process due to legislation and other reasons. After that criticism, we received comments in a tone like: 'You didn't get a position...' 'Let him work, what are you suffocating...' 'Where were you during the days of the revolution, you were giving thousands to the hole...' and so on. Time has shown that we were right to criticize and warned against incorrect appointments, which are referred to as incorrect personnel policy. It is not shameful to make such mistakes, it is shameful not to acknowledge them, to be obstinate, and to continue producing errors indiscriminately.

I remember he promised that nothing would be decided behind our backs. In two years, numerous officials have been appointed and removed, and there have been no public explanations for many of them. Citizens have not known and understood why, leading them to speculate and rumor. It could have been governed more transparently. I do not need deep details of personnel policy, but I demand at least sufficient and necessary explanations from a participatory and democratic governance perspective, for much depends on this. The credibility and authority of this government depends on it; otherwise, they will eavesdrop as they did, and whether it be Kyaramyan, Vanetsyan, or Mughdusian, it will continue until there is no lustration in place. (Please do not call the sewage for an interview, do not mess around.)