Crossroads of Sabotage

This year, Armenia is hosting the World Military Wrestling Championship. Granted, this is not a global climate conference, yet it is an important event for a country whose army has been facing constant external and domestic pressure. Thankfully, the Armenian army still has something to show the world, and despite the deplorable outcome of the 44-day war, both our sworn neighbours and the world know it very well. Particularly when it comes to an equal and fair battle. The memory of this is especially fresh in Azerbaijan, which, unlike Armenia, does not take to ‘goodwill’ gestures and withdrew from the tournament.

Instead, the leaders of Real Armenia, the Turkish delegation, showed up, with its strongest line-up. And, in the finest traditions of Armenian hospitality, ‘crossroads of peace’, and refraining from ‘unpleasant signals’, the strongest Armenian wrestlers, multiple champions of Europe, were eliminated from the competition just on the eve of its start. Pashinyan is itching to hoist the Turkish flag over Armenia, albeit only at a pedestal for now, and, of course, he would hate to upset his dearest guests with the display of Armenian flags and the sound of the Armenian anthem. Not that it helps the Turkish squad; despite these obstacles, the less experienced Armenian team still secures well-deserved gold medals. But at least now it should become obvious to everyone as to what principle the supreme commander-in-chief is arranging the ‘defence’ of the Armenian borders.

Yet who will be held accountable for the fact that whenever an Armenian professional – be it a military officer, athlete, or film director – dedicates immense effort to representing their country and receives prestigious international recognition, they are neglected by their own state? In the case of the latest Oscar nomination, these were abstract ‘film critics’, now there’s some nameless ‘Ministry of Defence decision-makers’.

Sadly, such news, firstly, have become so commonplace that they elicit no resistance and only deepen the widespread frustration, and secondly, are only utilised as an occasion to divert attention from other developments, whether it be the rise of transportation prices or the surrender of territories. The mundanity of the former and the latter diminishes the significance of these events per se, whereas they involve the honour of professionals, the ones who portray Armenia to the world, the ones to whom it is so vital to stay assured that the state and society, which they unconditionally defend, are willing to back them up.

Recently in Armenia, such information triggers have often been complemented with very timely shocking videos (domestic abuse, school bullying) designed to aggravate the Armenian’s disenchantment with what is commonly referred to as the Armenian people. Who, from the comfort of their homes in Cascade, Moscow, Glendale, or Lyon, would dare demand otherwise from those deprived of basic public goods for decades, living in families torn apart by poverty, and, most importantly, exposed to no positive role models at the top? One can only aspire to the higher matters and manifest their qualities in the environment where the strongest candidates are not dismissed from the competitions, where intelligent people run the country rather than shake hands with those dragging it into the abyss of obscurity. It’s not the national team we should be worried about. Adverse selection has already occurred, with the lamest elements of Armenian society now popped up and plainly visible. Little remains to be done.