Yes, I Voted for 'My Step' Full of Hopes for Change: Tevan Poghosyan

The President of the Human Development International Center and advisor to the President of Armenia, Tevan Poghosyan, made a post on his Facebook page. He mentioned, 'About a month ago, I found myself in an interesting situation. In order to express my opinion and stance freely in public, I was informed from one field that they were treating me in such a way that I would leave: that would be better. I tried to calmly explain, I hope I was understood. I am grateful that at least it was said directly to me. Two weeks ago, from another field, they said the same thing for the same reason. Months ago, I was in this field being 'explained,' unfortunately, it seems I was not fully understood, as they repeated it again, in this case indirectly, even through an international organization.

On the other side of the scale were very dear people; I left. I hope things will be better now.

Now I think that it turns out that people’s documented words compel them not to reevaluate their actions once more, but to seek ways to deprive the speaker of something they have not even provided themselves. Yes, when I say I left, do not think anything else; I am not leaving from Armenia (the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Artsakh), I am not leaving from the Human Development International Center, nor am I leaving from public work. I am Tevan, Tevan Poghosyan, the son of Zhiyar Poghosyan, who has received a different education and will never run away, especially not from his value system.

I simply acknowledge that perhaps I am not able to explain correctly to everyone that my freedom, my thoughts, and my words are not conditioned by my public position, but only by my mindset, with respect to everyone’s principles and views and with human warmth so that everyone around achieves success. I respect my neighbor because I want him to respect my principles and viewpoints as well.

My question remains hanging in the air. So what is lacking so that the manner of communication does not continue in this way? After a week of contemplation, following the recent events against our values over the last two days, it seems I have found the answer: love. The love that is based on our faith, our values, and our identity.

It no longer surprises me why such a campaign has begun against the expressions of Armenian, Armenian, and Armenian concepts. We never love our own, from brands to authorities, from history to victories we have built with our own hands. The desires of foreigners often outweigh our own interests. Other people’s heroes mean more than ours. The goals of international organizations matter more than the well-being of an ordinary Armenian. Even our own opposition faces greater hardships than oppositions in other countries that, in essence, do not care about us. I understand that the counterargument will be: but what about theft, what about corruption, what about… Even in this regard, we resist the theft of others, we tolerate the corruption of others… Just don’t say it’s not true; otherwise, there wouldn’t be this much emigration, especially to countries where they are undoubtedly better than us in this respect. We seem to not want to be the owners of our own.

I wish everyone love. Let’s not tell each other to leave; let’s tell each other to stay and unite. We will overcome the pandemic more easily if we are filled with love for each other. Let’s feel each other’s pain. Let’s love our victories, let’s love our faith, let’s love our values, let’s love our Armenian identity, let’s love our Homeland. Let’s be proud to be Armenian citizens of the Republic of Armenia or Artsakh, the rightful owners of Armenian lands.

P.S. I have no political preferences in the current political landscape. I have been and will remain apolitical; my only 'party' is my like-minded team at the Human Development International Center. Yes, I am Tevan, Tevan Poghosyan, the son of Zhiyar Poghosyan, who has received a different education and will never flee, nor will he change his value system. Let me say this immediately: I am not disappointed; I understand everything very well and perceive it calmly, and I am also not disappointed because being disappointed simply doesn’t happen in the Human Development International Center.

P.S.S. Yes, I voted for 'My Step' full of hopes, for change. But I have not said that I will not express or say what I envision. And I have always seen the value of expressing in two things: to speak while looking into the eyes and to be honest with your own values and future. And to act is to create a future. Socrates has a saying: the secret of change lies in focusing all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new.

P.S.S.S. And I say this boldly.