We Are Disappointed with the 'Revolution'. I Am Starting Civil Disobedience: Tigran Mazmanyan

"Two years after the 'revolution', we see that the ruling force has deviated from the 'revolutionary' programs, which has resulted in many, including myself, feeling great disappointment. This was stated by civil activist Tigran Mazmanyan in a statement published on his Facebook page.

"Dear friends, dear citizens, in 2018, as a citizen demanding change in Armenia, I took to the streets without any expectations to voice my protest against the former authorities. Those who know me are aware of the path I traveled before 2018 and the obstacles we overcame together. The year 2018 was the definitive point to register our success, during which I had to stay 7 days in detention. And, much to the joy of many of us, the victory of the Citizen of Armenia took place, after which many of us had great expectations and hopes tied to the ruling authorities, who were supposed to implement radical changes in every sector of the country," Tigran Mazmanyan wrote.

The public figure notes that he is disappointed with the current authorities, who have deviated from the principles they proclaimed: "But two years after the 'revolution', we see that the ruling force has veered away from the 'revolutionary' programs, leading to great disappointment for many, including myself. The current Prime Minister criticized former authorities for years and highlighted many illegalities. However, in these two years, not a single former official has been held accountable (criminally). The current authorities have only managed to detain Robert Kocharian after the revolution," wrote T. Mazmanyan, expressing his belief that what happened two years ago was merely a change of government, not a revolution.

"A number of criminal cases have been initiated, during which people have simply disappeared from the country. A fresh example is that the sons of Gagik Khachatryan have disappeared under a state of emergency. And I am now convinced that what has taken place in the Republic of Armenia is simply a change of administration, nothing more. Therefore, based on all this, I, as a citizen demanding change in Armenia, am starting my civil struggle, through which I will try (we will try) to remind our demands that led us to the streets and allowed us to 'win'. No political force should be allowed to treat the Armenian people as they wish. There should be no return to the past, and we must move toward the prosperous future of our country, not just pass by it," stated T. Mazmanyan, leaving a postscript: "P.S. I understand that after this statement, a rather difficult path awaits me and those who think like me. But we have fought against a more powerful and criminal regime, so no one can intimidate us with anything."