{"id":6688,"date":"2009-03-13T17:04:00","date_gmt":"2009-03-13T17:04:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/onnik-krikorian.com\/new_site\/?p=6688"},"modified":"2022-05-06T17:18:15","modified_gmt":"2022-05-06T17:18:15","slug":"student-anti-corruption-protest-raises-eyebrows","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/onnik-krikorian.com\/new_site\/student-anti-corruption-protest-raises-eyebrows\/","title":{"rendered":"Student Anti-Corruption Protest Raises Eyebrows"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”346px” custom_padding=”3px||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”-48px||||false|false” custom_padding=”8px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n

Miasin anti-smoking demonstration, Yerevan,\u00a0Armenia \u00a9 Onnik James Krikorian 2009<\/i><\/p>\n

Conversation\u00a0in Yerevan was ablaze this week with talk of an anti-corruption protest that bore all the hall-marks of a coloured revolutionary youth movement at work. On the walls and other structures close to many universities and colleges, the names and photographs of lecturers or other administrative staff alleged to be on the take were posted and accused of taking bribes.<\/p>\n

However, despite ostensibly appearing to be a grassroots campaign to fight corruption in the education sector, those responsible for the action were not rebellious young students linked to the political opposition, but members of Miasin, a pro-government youth movement modeled on the pro-Putin\u00a0Nashi in Russia.\u00a0Miasin is believed to be controlled by the Armenian presidential spokesperson, Samuel\u00a0Farmanyan.\u00a0<\/p>\n

A statement on the organization’s web site explained why the action was being staged.<\/p>\n

\n

The time has come for the students themselves to work for the establishment of the rule of law in the schools. Corruption in the education system merely serves to spawn similar practices in other sectors since it is the educational system that is churning out the corrupt leaders of tomorrow.\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Nevertheless, Miasin had until now largely been considered a joke. Its first actions staged last summer against smoking were seen as a way to deflect the attention of young Armenians away from pro-opposition youth movements such as Hima and more neutral progressive groups such as Henq. Its later action of staging a rock concert with free beer handed out to passer-bys was seen as an attempt to confront overnight anti-government strikers camped out opposite.<\/p>\n

Now, questions are being raised about the purpose of Miasin’s most recent action. Certainly, corruption remains a huge problem<\/a> in the Armenian education sector with one dean even being shot in uncertain circumstances in recent years, but nobody is sure if the anti-corruption activity is genuine or not. Other youth groups, usually restricted in their activities on-campus, have used the issue to mobilize disenchanted youth in the past.<\/p>\n

Is Miasin simply trying to exploit the problem of corruption in Yerevan’s universities and campuses, or does it represent a genuine attempt to tackle the problem with the tacit approval of the authorities? Time will tell, but protests initiated by other student groups have resulted in pressure from police, interrogation by the National Security Service, and threats of explusion.<\/p>\n

\n

The police, which react harshly to similar actions by opposition groups, have not questioned any of those activists so far. This fact prompted speculation that they were instructed not to stop the leaflet distribution.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

But Major-General Nerses Nazarian, chief of the Yerevan police, brushed aside such suggestions. \u201cWe can not support or participate in such actions,\u201d he said. \u201cWe certainly do not agree with that view. If people have any evidence [of corruption] they can apply to the police.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Nazarian argued that the police can not investigate the legality of the Miasin action without receiving a written complaint from individuals or organizations targeted by the youth group supporting President Serzh Sarkisian. \u201cI am told that Yerevan State University is preparing to lodge a formal complaint,\u201d he told a news conference<\/a>. \u201cThe police will certainly deal with that fact.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

For more updates, follow me on Twitter at onewmphoto<\/a>.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Conversation in Yerevan was ablaze this week with talk of an anti-corruption protest that bore all the hall-marks of a coloured revolutionary youth movement at work. 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