The emergence of the great absent

 Vaհe H Apelian 

Politics make strange bedfellows is a well-known saying for good reason that needs no elaboration. Ronald Reagan famously joked, "Politics is supposed to be the second-oldest profession. I have come to understand that it bears a very close resemblance to the first."

Especially the following caught me off guard as the post June 7, 2026 election government takes shape; the political fall of Robert Kocharyan, and the emergence of Samvel Karapetyan who was, for all practical purposes absent from  Armenia, surely during the upheavals of the last eight years that shook the Armenians to the core in Armenia and in Diaspora. 

On August 10, the National Assembly distributed the positions of chairmen and deputies of 12 standing committees among the three factions that make the National Assembly, that is to say among Civil Contract party that commands 64 seats, Strong Armenia party that commands 29 seats, and the Armenia alliance, that commands 12 seats. These 12 standing committees, much like any parliamentary standing committees, will review draft laws before they reach the main floor, present expert opinions to parliament, and lead legislative oversight over government policies.

The “Civil Contract” faction received 8 committee chairs and 7 deputies. 

“Strong Armenia” received 3 chairs and 4 deputies. 

The “Armenia” faction received only 1 chair and 1 deputy.

It was interesting to note that the standing committee for European Integration will be chaired by Strong Armenia party that is a staunch ally of Russia, and is for the “integration” of Armenia with the Russian Federation to have the Russian Federation as Armenia’s guarantor – yerashkhavor. Although he could not take part in the election, Strong Armenia’s de facto leader is Samvel Karapetyan who boasted at one time that he is the only leader that holds a European citizenship. Along being a Russian Federation national, Samvel Karapetyan is also a citizen of Cyprus which is a member of European Union and Euro is its official currency. The Civil Contract party, will  chair the standing committee for  Eurasian Integration, although the party advocates an independent course for Armenia but continues to have Armenia as a member of EAEU – Eurasian Economic Union - and has no intention of discontinuing Armenia's  membership.

The grand loser surely of the election and in the ensuing governance of Armenia is Robert Kocharyan. Samvel Karapetyan who was a big absent, surely during the turmoil after the 2018 upheaval due to Velvet Revolution, has emerged as the de facto leader of the opposition in Armenia, although he legally cannot take part of it.  It appears that Moscow has hedged its bet on Samvel Karapetyan and not on Robert Kocharyan.

The grand rule of politics is every politics is local. Armenia is no exception. Diaspora is not local. It is futile for Diaspora to align itself politically with Armenian factions. Diaspora’s stand with Armenia should be principled that transcends the local politics. During the past 70 years or so of Soviet rule, a faction of Diaspora stood against Soviet Armenia governance on principle. The other faction stood with Soviet Armenia, also on a principle. In the post-Soviet era Armenia, Diaspora should continue on standing by Armenia on principle as its fledgling democratic homeland, albeit in turmoil to chart its course, not Diaspora’s course. Free, independent and democratic Armenia will always lead the global nation we have become.

Attached is a tabulation of the 12 standing committees with their chairs and co-chairs.

Standing Committee		Chaired by	Co-chaired
1	Foreign Relations	Civil Contract	Civil Contract
2	Education, Science, Culture, Sports and Diaspora Issues	Civil Contract	Civil Contract
3	Healthcare	Civil Contract	Civil Contract
4	Labor and Welfare	Civil Contract	Civil Contract
5	Regional and Eurasian Integration	Civil Contract	Strong Armenia
6	Defense and Security Issues	Civil Contract	Strong Armenia
7	Economic Issues	Civil Contract	Strong Armenia
8	State and Legal Issues	Civil Contract	Armenia
9	Financial, Credit and Budgetary Issues	Strong Armenia	Civil Contract
10	Territorial Administration, Local Self-Government,	Strong Armenia	Civil Contract
11	European Integration	Strong Armenia	Civil Contract
12	Human Rights Protection and Public Affairs	Armenia	Strong Armenia

 

 

 

The 12 Armenia National Assembly Standing Committees.

Vaհe H Apelian 

 

 

I would not have expected that Civil Contract party will head the Eurasian Integration standing committee and the Strong Armenia will head the European Integrationstanding committee of the Armenian National Assembly. For me, the chairing of these standing committees is unexpected turn of events, given the election rhetorics.  

On August 10, the National Assembly distributed the positions of chairmen and deputies of 12 standing committees among the three factions that make the National Assembly, that is to say among Civil Contract party that commands 64 seats, Strong Armenia party that commands 29 seats, and the Armenia alliance, that commands 12 seats. These 12 standing committees, much like any parliamentary standing committees, will review draft laws before they reach the main floor, present expert opinions to parliament, and lead legislative oversight over government policies.

The “Civil Contract” faction received 8 committee chairs and 7 deputies. “Strong Armenia” received 3 chairs and 4 deputies. The “Armenia” faction received 1 chair and 1 deputy.

It is interesting to note that the standing committee for European Integration is chaired by Strong Armenia party, that is a staunch ally of Russia and is for “integration” with the Russian Federation and have it as Armenia’s guarantor – yerashkhavor. But on the other hand, Strong Armenia’s de facto leader in absentia is Samvel Karapetyan who boasted at one time that he is the only leader that holds a European citizenship. Along being a Russian Federation national, Samvel Karabetyan is also a citizen of Cyprus which is a member of European Union and Euro is its official currency. The Civil Contract party, that chairs the Regional and Eurasian Integration standing committee, advocates an independent course for Armenia and continues Armenia’s EAEU – Eurasian Economic Union - membership.

The grand loser surely is Robert Kocharian and the Armenia Alliance he heads. Samvel Karapetyan who was a big absent in the turmoil since 2018 upheaval due to Velvet Revolution led by Nikol Pashinyan has emerged de facto leader of the opposition in Armenia although he legally cannot take part of it.  It appears Moscow has hedged its bet on Samvel Karapetyan and not Robert Kocharyan.

The grand rule of politics is every politics is local. Armenia is no exception. Diaspora is not local. It is futile for Diaspora to align itself politically with Armenian factions. Diaspora’s stand with Armenia should be principled. During the past 70 years or so of Soviet rule, a faction of Diaspora stood against Soviet Armenia governance on principle. And in the post-Soviet era, Diaspora should stand by Armenia on principle as its fledgling democratic homeland, albeit in turmoil to chart its course, not Diaspora’s course.

Attached is a tabulation of the 12 standing committees with their chairs and co-chairs.

Standing Committee		Chaired by	Co-chaired
1	Foreign Relations	Civil Contract	Civil Contract
2	Education, Science, Culture, Sports and Diaspora Issues	Civil Contract	Civil Contract
3	Healthcare	Civil Contract	Civil Contract
4	Labor and Welfare	Civil Contract	Civil Contract
5	Regional and Eurasian Integration	Civil Contract	Strong Armenia
6	Defense and Security Issues	Civil Contract	Strong Armenia
7	Economic Issues	Civil Contract	Strong Armenia
8	State and Legal Issues	Civil Contract	Armenia
9	Financial, Credit and Budgetary Issues	Strong Armenia	Civil Contract
10	Territorial Administration, Local Self-Government,	Strong Armenia	Civil Contract
11	European Integration	Strong Armenia	Civil Contract
12	Human Rights Protection and Public Affairs	Armenia	Strong Armenia

 

 

If the Armenian church is at stake, so is the Armenian state

Vaհe H Apelian 

 

If the present church and state conflict is viewed and presented to the interested public that the Armenian government is against the church, and not at the Etchmiadzin Church hierarchy; then I can make the same counter argument that the Etchmiadzin Armenian Church is against the Armenian statehood, The sovereignty of the Armenian statehood faces a formidable opposition from within within led by the Etchmiadzin Armenian church ecclesiastical hierarchy, that is plainly aligned with the Russian Orthodox church in cahoots with the Russian state against the sovereign Armenian statehood, in favor of an Armenian state subservient to the Russian state.

It is hard to envision that Armenia faces the formidable opposition of the Russian Federation, when Armenia cannot harm Russia let alone the fact that Armenia does not to harm its longstanding ally. After all, Armenia hosts the largest Russian battalion in South Caucasus. The 102^nd Russian military base is stationed a few kilometers away from Gyumri. Not only Armenia hosts it, but also shares with Russia the cost maintaining the basej.

Just fathom for the following for a second:

Russia is roughly 575 times larger than Armenia, with a total area of about 17.1 million square kilometers compared to Armenia’s 29,743 square kilometers

Russia is vastly more populous than Armenia. Russia has approximately 143.4 million people (ranking 9th globally), while Armenia has a population of about 3.0 million people (ranking 136th globally). This makes Russia's population roughly 47 to 48 times larger than Armenia's.

Russia's economy is vastly larger than Armenia's, with a nominal GDP of roughly $2.56 trillion compared to Armenia's $29.2 billion. This makes the Russian economy nearly 90 times larger than Armenia's in total nominal output.

Russia's military dwarfs Armenia's in every measurable category, with roughly 1 million active-duty personnel compared to Armenia's tens of thousands, and a massive advantage in tanks, aircraft, and defense spending. Russia is a global military superpower, while Armenia maintains a much smaller regional defense force.

Why is then Russia bringing its mighty weight against Armenia?

The only plausible explanation I can come with is the Russian imperial pride, that its smallest ally wants to exercise its sovereignty and diversify and chart its course as it sees fit. I can find no other explanation. Those who can, may share their thoughts. No, TRIPP is not the cause. TRIPP is the current excuse.

Do Armenians support Russia?

I do not think there is a grass root opposition against the policies of the Nikol Pashinyan government for the general welfare of the citizens Surely there is lingering nostalgia of Soviet Armenia by an older generation. 

There also is the interest of a narrow opposition that is obviously led by a few oligarchs, and a cadre of former Soviet era nomenklatura, who amassed a formidable fortune and who understandably have reasons to believe that they can keep their ill-gotten fortune by having Armenia as a protectorate of Russian Federation, if not subservient to it. They have found a staunch ally with the church hierarchy and are exploiting the church against the state, for their own sake. Those who think otherwise  may share their views.

The issue for me is the Armenian Church hierarchy that opposes reform and wants to retain its status quo.   I propose the government not to pursue legal action against the Catholicos and the members of his council. It is politicizing the issue.  That does not mean the Armenian state should not be critical of the Church for their temporal privileges. Let the people decide if the Catholicos Karekin II and his hierarchy deserve and are worthy of. their respect and obedience. It is us the people, who  extend ourselves and ask for their blessings; have them baptize our children; have them bless us and  children as we kiss the right hands of the Catholicos and his high placed clerical entourage, as a testament of our obedience to the divinity they represent on earth for  us Armenians; or whether the Armenian Apostolici church is in dire need for reformation for the well fare the Armenians and longevity of Armenia.

After all our existence as a people is all about having a sovereign Armenian State of our own,

 

 

Do not negate Real Armenia

Vaհe H Apelian

Stop negating real Armenia because the Republic of Armeia is also constitutionally known as Armenia, which surely is real

I read Dikran Jinbashian’s emotional outburst in an article he posted today, on August 6, 2026, in Aztag Daily. I singled him because I can claim that I know him. In a sentimental outburst he concluded his last article, having tilted it, “Accepting the status quo or changing it at all cost?”, with the following rhetorics, “Are we a nation or are we citizens of Armenian origin of various states and, in turn, of Armenia? Is it acceptable? Of course not. Is it changeable? Of course, yes. Is it necessary to change? Of course, yes. The upcoming struggle is for that change. “ 

Change to what? Specificity and detail are what may make or break us, especially in the Diaspora where we do not have recourse the citizens of Armenia have. There simply is no salvation in rhetorics.

It also behooves to accept the following historical event.

-        The Soviet Socialist Republic of Armenia (Armenian SSR) was established on November 29, 1920, at the demise of the First ever Republic of Armenia.

-        The Armenian Declaration of Independence was adopted on August 23, 1990 by the Supremes Council of the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic, declaring that, “The Armenian SSR is renamed the Republic of Armenia (Armenia). The Republic of Armenia shall have its flag, coat of arms, and anthem.”

-        The Republic of Armenia adopted its constitution on July 5, 1995 by a nation-wide referendum. 

First and foremost, Dikran or any Armenian for that matter, should accept that the Republic of Armenia is an evolution of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Armenia. The citizens of Armenia have accepted that reality and ruled upon it through the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution they adopted.  Any change has to come from citizens of Armenia by amending their upcoming constitution and the Diaspora has to follow suit as the reality of Republic of Armenia. In other terms accept the reality Armenia because the Armenian Constitution through its Declaration of Independence states that the Armenian SSR is renamed the Republic of Armenia, in short Armenia. In Armenian Article 1 of the Հրչակագիր - Hrchagakir - reads as follows: ”Հայկական ԽՍՀ-ն վերանվանվում է Հայաստանի Հանրապետություն՝ կրճատ՝ Հայաստան:  Հայաստանի Հանրապետությունն ունի իր դրոշը, զինանշանը և հիմնը:”

In translation, article one of the Declaration of Independence reads as follows: “The Armenian SSR is renamed the Republic of Armenia, in short Armenia. The Republic of Armenia shall have its flag, coat of arms, and anthem”. 

Surely the Republic of Armeia, also constitutionally known as Armenia, is real.

***

 

P.S. All those interested may read my translation of Dikran Jinbashian’s article titled, “Continue the status quo or changing it at all cost?”, I attached the link to the original article below.

“Parliamentary elections are held to make a change of power possible. When a political force that has seized power is not satisfied with merely implementing effective governance, but also claims to overturn the country’s value system and impose a new definition of independence and sovereignty on the people under the name of “real Armenia,” it inevitably deviates from democracy and falls into the abyss of totalitarianism. Historically, all totalitarianisms appear shrouded in the veil of democratic justice. Elections are held, meetings are convened, speeches are delivered, and responsible persons are appointed. At the same time, by virtue of the distorted law, arrests, dispossessions, persecutions, and imprisonments become commonplace, and people get used to considering them natural and fair.

These thoughts come to mind while following the sessions of the National Assembly of Armenia that began on August 2. The first session is naturally devoted to the formation of the leadership of the National Assembly. The election of the Speaker of the National Assembly and his three deputies (one of whom is from the opposition), the formation of twelve permanent committees and the election of their chairmen. All of this is regulated by the Law on the Constitutional Regulations of the National Assembly. At the time of writing, the Speaker of the National Assembly has been elected and the election of one of the deputies is almost complete. Logically, the discussions should have focused on the work programs presented by the nominated candidates. However, the supporters of the government boast about the popular mandate they have received and demonstrate an arrogant and complacent attitude. The parliament was elected with numerous violations. The legitimacy of the National Assembly is highly questionable. Legality is formal, because it is confirmed by the bodies that voluntarily implement the instructions of the special power of totalitarian states: the Central Election Commission and… the Constitutional Court. When legality is absent, arbitrariness takes its place.

On August 2, the government resigned. On the same day, the President of the Republic, Nikol Pashinyan, reappointed Prime Minister. Nikol Pashinyan’s candidacy was nominated, according to the law, by the parliamentary majority. A day later, the deputy prime ministers and ministers were reappointed, with the exception of one minister who wished not to continue serving.

Speaking after nominating his candidacy, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Ruben Rubinyan, made a remarkable proposal to the opposition. Ruben Rubinyan promised to become the president of everyone, without exception, the majority and the minority, and proposed, while maintaining political convictions, to adopt a well-mannered style of behavior. Well-mannered behavior implies a refusal to swear and insulting descriptions. The essence of the proposal is the following: accept what has happened, tolerate injustices, do not complain, criticize gently. And we will continue the justice and security bodies, using the work we have begun, but we will stop accusing and naming you for our mistakes. The opposition has not yet responded to the proposal.

The most inveterate, even slanderous, swearers in the previous parliament are now part of the new parliament. Will they be able to restrain their madness? And what will be the behavior of Nikol Pashinyan, who has been reappointed as Prime Minister, who has gradually adopted the style of a supreme leader, an exceptional ideologist, and an undisputed leader of the state? Let's wait to understand.

After the First World War, numerous empires collapsed and nation-states were created. The Second World War entrenched this process, and after the collapse of the Soviet Union, new nation-states emerged. However, globalization, which was the result of great technological progress, created large migration flows that disrupted the nationally formed face of many states. Now, former imperialist states accept citizenship as the criterion of statehood. The concept of nation belongs to the past. The homeland and the state are confused. The nation-state is dead. This format is being tried to be injected and implemented everywhere. Also, in Armenia.

The confusion of the concepts of country, state, homeland, sometimes even power, tries to push the Armenian nation, which is scattered to the four corners of the world, out of the reality of being a child of the homeland of Armenia, to recognize the current Republic of Armenia as the only and eternal homeland and the state established there as the only and final.

Are we a nation, or are we citizens of Armenian origin of various states and, in turn, of Armenia?

Is it acceptable? Naturally, no. Can it be changed? Naturally, yes. Is it necessary to change? Naturally, yes.

The upcoming struggle is for that change.”

 

Link: “Շարունակե՞լ Գոյութիւն Ունեցածը, Թէ՞ Անպայման Փոխեl”,https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1476992301112724&set=a.450811050397526

 

 

 

Adana in the 9th Convocation of the National Assembly of Armenia

  Vaհe H Apelian

Historical Armenia Adana, courtesy Houshamadyan
Modern Day city of Adana

The National Assembly of Armenia is the highest legislative body where everything discussed is expected to have implications for passing legislation.  But the issues raised and voiced in the start of the 9^th convocation of the National Assembly, appear to make the National Assembly more a forum for historical deliberation and debate, than a legislative body. 

The other day, Narek Karapetyan mangled when he criticized the Civil Contract party that constituted the government as well in the 8^th convocation, closing his remark by saying the following in verbatim: “Our relations with Turkey should have developed in such a way that our intelligent youth would not relate to Adana for its kebab, but would know that it is part of our homeland, not of the Republic of Armenia, but part of another republic, but part of my homeland.” His comment was received with applause. I am not sure if the representatives of the “Armenia Alliance” joined the applause as well, but surely “Strong Armenia” party representives, whose de facto leader is Narek Karapetyan, did.

The problem is that Narek, for an example, while criticizing the government, does not claim or even imply to claim that should “Strong Armenia” be in power, it will have Adana stated as an extension of historical Armenian homeland in the history textbooks of the public schools of Armenia or implicate Adana when negotiating with Turkey. 

Why Adana is then being made into an issue in the National Assembly? Surely, the National Assembly is not a depository of the Armenian history, nor will Narek Karapedyan live up to his talk invoking the tragic Armenia History. Understandably he will not walk his talk, when in power.  

More disturbingly, Narek Karapetyan and surely his applauders, if not also others, appear to relate to Adana Kebab and do not know that Republic of Armenia, which the Armenian people have constitutionally ruled that it is the former Soviet Socialist Republic of Armenia, depicts the Armenian Cilician Kingdom in its coat-of-arms.  A lion holding a cross represents the royal coat of arms of the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia, and is depicted on the lower right quadrant of Armenia coat-of-arms, depicting a lion holding a cross.

Armenia coat-of-arms, Cilician Armenian Kingdom 
represented in the quadrant at the lower right hand side.

Apparently Narek Karapetyan and surely others in NA appear do not also know that the Rubinian family and especially the name Ruben Rubinian, is synonymous with Cilician Armenia of which Adana is part of.  Coincidentally the speaker of the 9^th convocation of the National Assembly Ruben Rubinyan is the namesake of the founder of the Cilician Armenia. Who is teaching Armenia history and nationalism to who? Obviously, Ruben Rubinyan has made the Republic of  Armenia, not history, his mission for the sake of safeguarding the safety, security, and prosperity of the citizens of the Republic of Armenia. 

For God’s sake, have not these people not heard the Adana Lament haunting song, where the demise of the Rubinian Dynasty is mourned, but kebab comes to their minds?

As to that haunting song, attaches is my translation and a YouTube recording. 

 

Adana Lament	Ատանայի Ողբը
The massacre was merciless, let the Armenians cry,	Կոտորածն անգութ, հայերը թողլան,
Desert became the magnificent Adana	Անապատ դարձաւ շքեղ Ատանան.
The fire and the sword and the ruthless plunder	Կրակն ու սուրը եւ անխիղճ թալան
The Rubinian house, oh, they undid.	Ռուբինեանց տունը ա՜խ, ըրինվերան։
Not a minute passed and the poor Armenians,	Րոպէ մը չանցաւ ՚ ու հայոց խեղճեր
Fell under the sword of a terrible mob,	Ինկան սուրին տակ խուժանինահեղ,
Churches and schools were lost in the flames,	Ժամեր ու դպրոցք բոցի մէջ կորան,
Thousands of Armenians were killed mercilessly.	Բիւրաւոր հայեր անխնայ մեռան։
Desolate alas became the rich Adana,	Պարապ էր աւա՜ղ, հարուստԱտանան,
All of Cilicia was turned into ashes.	Մոխիր էր դարձէր ամբողջԿիլիկիան.
Only the beautiful Hadjin survived,	Միայն ապրեցաւ Հաճընը սիրուն,
Why doesn't the rock like Zeytun budge?	Ինչու չի շարժիր ապառաժ Զէյթուն։
Day and night, the fire from within,	Ցերեկ ու գիշեր կրակը մէջէն,
The enemy's sword, the bullet from without,	Թշնամուն սուրը, գնդակը դրսէն,
They wiped out the Armenians from the face of the earth,	Ջնջեցին հայը երկրին երեսէն,
Blood runs in our pristine rivers.	Արիւն կը վազէ մեր ջինջ գետերէն։

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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