Prosperous Armenia campaigns in Komitas

Is it just coincidence or do philanthropic acts seem to increase during pre-election campaign periods? Take today, for example — a Sunday — yet even so, at apartment buildings in the Arabkir district of Yerevan it was hard to walk from many a main entrance. Hot asphalt was everywhere, but how dare anyone try to link such a situation with the municipal election campaign rally of the Prosperous Armenia (BHK) party scheduled in the same area just a few hours later.

Formed in 2005, the BHK is no stranger to such controversy. Headed by Armenia’s richest and most powerful oligarch, former world arm wrestling champion Gagik Tsarukian, few dare to call him by his old nickname anymore. Not only do his shaven headed bodyguards act with impunity, but the party is now the second most powerful in the country. True, it only has 18 seats in parliament, but who needs representation when you have money?

According to some, handing out humanitarian aid or directly paying voters just $10 for their support during elections has become synonymous with parties such as the BHK.

Prosperous Armenia pre-election campaign rally, Komitas, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia 2009

Still, at least they’re doing something. Nobody believes campaign promises anyway, and so if you can get something for one month only, why the hell not? Maybe that was why in addition to half of the few hundred people attending the rally bussed in especially for the occasion, there were also quite a few mothers with seemingly ill or disabled children. Again, probably coincidence, but heading the party list for the position of mayor is none other than the current Minister of Health, Harutyun Kushkyan.

Prosperous Armenia pre-election campaign rally, Komitas, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia 2009

There were also no election manifestos being handed around or even any speeches attempting to woo voters with promises of rectifying some of the many problems affecting Yerevan’s capital. Probably, that was just as well. Who needs to speak about repairing roads when in office when you can do it beforehand, or raising the issue of depleted green zones is probably problematic when those organizing the rally in the district are the very same people who have long since taken over the adjacent park with two cafes and an amusement park.

Prosperous Armenia pre-election campaign rally, Komitas, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia 2009

Harutyun Kushkyan, Prosperous Armenia pre-election campaign rally, Komitas, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia 2009

Gagik Tsarukyan, Prosperous Armenia pre-election campaign rally, Komitas, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia 2009

So, why bother attend such meetings in the first place? Well, here’s why.

Incidentally, the video above was streamed live from mobile phone at the rally, but I also shot some offline higher quality video. However, the files at anywhere between 60-100 megabytes are just to large to upload to YouTube even on what passes as broadband on PC in Armenia. Have had to down sample the quality by 8-10 times to get the following video upload so sorry for the loss in quality:

Well, without any green area to play in, it’s about time the kids got at least 1 day out of 365 when someone thought about providing them with some entertainment. Still, fair play to the BHK. Not only do they know how to put on a show, but they’re also perhaps the most sophisticated in terms of using new media to spread their message. Indeed, they even presented their online campaign at an event held recently in Yerevan.

The coordinatoor of “Prosperous Armenia” Party “New web tools for public relations” Hayk Akarmazyan represented the wide complex of PAP web tools used in internet based informative sphere, pointing the role and specifity of each web tool. Mr. Akarmazyan mentioned that the official website of “Prosperous Armenia” Party is updated every day, Armenian, English and Russian versions are functioning. The information about “Prosperous Armenia” Party and PAP leader Gagik Tsarukyan activities is placed here. “Prosperous Armenia’ Party blog is constructed for more fortifying the communication between the party and society as well as has purpose to be acquainted with public opinion”,-informed Mr. Akarmazyan.

PAP channel in “Youtube” videoblog was also represented to the attention of the reporters. Those video materials which show the activity of “Prosperous Armenia” Party and PAP leader Gagik Tsarukyan are placed in “Youtube”, having also their short descriptions. “The supporters of the party carry out their activity in social networks, “Facebook” is among them”, - mentioned Mr. Akarmazyan.

But fair enough. Who so far has mentioned any of the issues adversely affecting the lives of Yerevan’s residents? If it’s not scaremongering about “selling out Karabakh,” vote-buying in one form or another remains the order of the day. As one foreign diplomat commented to The Caucasian Knot recently, the party that actually genuinely seeks to address the concerns of people living in the city might well be surprised by how much support it can gain them.

Unfortunately, however, that logic seems to be lost on all the political parties so far.