I was just reading a news story published by RFE/RL about Yerevan police pledging to crack down on anyone heard to be making offensive comments against government authorities in public. It’s not clear what would necessarily be considered offensive coming out of someone’s mouth. As the article makes clear people like to shout, “Sergik, Get Out.” Maybe referring to him by this nickname his opposition created for him is enough to warrant being jailed by the police. It wouldn’t surprise me if that happens at the next opposition rally, assuming one will be held any time soon.
In any case, some interesting data was released in the article. In the first eight months of the year crime in Yerevan increased by 60 percent, with 4,700 cases registered by the police. The Major-General of Yerevan’s police force Nerses Nazarian, stated that “The rise in crime mainly stems from the economic crisis and the socioeconomic plight.”
Strange that on the surface life in central Yerevan is much better than it was a year ago this time, and with the “economic crisis” shows of opulence and pretentiousness are on the rise along with crime. Also, it’s not exactly clear what kinds of incidents are being recorded as crime, other than cases that you read about in the press. What about oppositionists who are arrested based on nonsensical accusations, like they resisted arrest when eyewitnesses state otherwise or whatever else, are their presumed offenses considered crimes? If for instance next month I happen to shout out in front of a police officer that President Sarkisian is a [use your imagination] for allowing the border to open with Turkish preconditions, will that be considered a crime, even though thousands of people may share my opinion?
Apparently so. So much for freedom of speech and democracy.
Sure, thanks in advance.