Irates: What is the Purpose of the BHK Rally?

“Irates” newspaper writes: “Recently, the leader of the BHK, Gagik Tsarukyan, has started a series of meetings with his supporters, and his activities and meetings are reported almost daily by his own media outlet. At one point, it seems as if an electoral campaign has begun, and the largest parliamentary opposition force is conducting a campaign.

Tsarukyan primarily speaks about the economic situation of the country, yet he still does not address the targeted resignations. The calmness of the authorities was briefly disrupted when the leader of the BHK announced that he would hold a rally. Everyone got to work, countered, and the discussions ended with an almost “let him try, let’s see” attitude. Ultimately, the authorities possess a powerful weapon—quarantine—which can be used as a sledgehammer over any opposition force, as mass gatherings can be ended within an hour.

However, regardless of how the authorities will respond to the activities of the opposition (every government has its methods and ways to silence dissent), it is far more important to understand what the opposition genuinely wants and what methods it employs to achieve its goals.

A rally is not an end in itself. If the logic of speeches and emphases will be the same as what Tsarukyan has been saying at various meetings recently, it indicates that politically, this process does not yield anything. Moreover, if it is to be reiterated that the BHK demands 100% resignation of the government, it means saying nothing new. The public has already heard all of this, yet it has yet to witness any actions directed toward this end (perhaps the opposition’s current behavior was also dictated by the state of emergency).

Furthermore, BHK members also state that they still do not have an agenda for the rally, meaning it will be an improvised discussion around some topic. It is obvious that there are countless issues in the country, but must a rally be held every time to voice them? Is it even appropriate for a parliamentary force to demand the resignation of the entire government but only focus on one or two related topics for the rally? These topics can certainly be addressed successfully by the members of the faction from the podium of the country’s number one chamber.

Ultimately, the primary responsible party for all existing issues is the Prime Minister of the country. Will Gagik Tsarukyan directly declare at his rally that he demands Nikol Pashinyan’s resignation, or will he be satisfied with routine statements, merely documenting the problems? Additionally, as the largest parliamentary opposition force, the BHK has not even exhausted all parliamentary mechanisms for struggle; perhaps this is where the practical steps for the government’s 100% resignation should begin.”

For more details, see today’s edition of the newspaper.