Maro Matosian
Most of Armenia’s infrastructure, including energy, railways and mining, was sold to Russia to pay off debt. Over a 10-15 year span, Armenia has lost its sovereignty to Russia. However, not only it is subject to economic hegemony, but the liberal democratic fabric of Armenian society is under threat. The principles of human rights and democracy are perceived as a tool for the opposition to rally against the establishment. Rightfully so, civil society in post-communist states like Armenia is fighting for human rights and against autocratic and dictatorial rule.
Though unable to categorically forbid human rights as in Soviet
times, Russia has shrewdly found a more subtle and effective method in
shaking the liberal democratic order by spreading alternative news, lies
and fear. Let’s observe more closely how “information” is disseminated
in Armenia to create public confusion and derail public opinion,
ultimately impeding legislation that advances human rights.
Post-independent Armenia has ratified a number of international
treaties that guarantee protection from gender discrimination through
specific measures to improve inclusivity in the workforce, education,
and economy, as well as to combat gender-based violence. Part of
Armenia’s obligation in accordance to these treaties is to educate and
train civil servants and punish perpetrators. To date, the state shows
no political will to implement such measures. More specific mechanisms
are needed than simply stating in the Constitution that “all men and
women are equal.”
In 2012, Armenia was prepared to pass well-written legislation for
gender equality with a number of provisions to dissuade discrimination
in all areas. During this time, we saw how Russia began to finance smear
campaigns and use social media to spread falsehoods. Identical video
clips and articles – all in the Russian language – appeared in Armenia,
Moldova, the Ukraine, and other states that sought to align themselves
with European standards. The well-organized campaign had individuals
paid by Russian organizations spread misinformation and lies among the
population as a scare tactic. Traditionalists objected to the use of the
term “gender,” arguing that the legislation would give unwarranted
benefits to sexual minorities in Armenia. They equated the word “gender”
with homosexuality, pedophilia and zoophilia. Distorting the narrative,
they attacked and even threatened women’s and LGBT rights
organizations, accusing them of promoting homosexuality.
The Russian-sponsored campaign was virulent and ferocious. They
blacklisted many human rights defenders, and frankly, many of us were
concerned for our safety. The draft law was erroneously dubbed as a “gay
propaganda law.” Subsequently, the title of the gender equality law was
changed to the “Law on Equal Rights and Equal Opportunities for Men and
Women” and the term “gender” removed from all state documents. This has
had a trickle-down effect, to the point where even state universities
are discouraged from using the word.
In 2016, the international community pressured Armenia to adopt a
domestic violence law in accordance with the Convention on the
Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), an
international treaty that the State ratified in 1993. For over a decade,
women’s rights organizations and feminists have advocated for such a
law and shed light on the endemic nature of gender-based violence in the
country. To this day, the general public is convinced that domestic
violence is a Western concept and not a problem in Armenia. But the more
authorities are in denial of the issue, the more cases of gender-based
violence and femicide continue to be registered.
Once again ultra-conservative groups have started to actively promote
propaganda against the passage of a domestic violence law, as the
European Union has made the adoption of the law a precondition to the
large amounts of money the government is receiving for other structural
improvements. The propaganda has engulfed both Armenia and Russia at a
time when the Duma has prepared to decriminalize some forms of domestic
violence and child abuse. These measures not only go against human
rights but can be fatal for many who are left unprotected by the state.
Arch-conservatives and the Armenian Church alike argue that such a law
is “anti-family” and interferes in family affairs. Similar arguments
around domestic violence were made in the United States in the 70s.
The misinformation propaganda machine has been activated. However,
this time civil society is better prepared. Women’s NGOs in Armenia that
work to prevent and combat domestic violence have brought high profile
court trials into the public eye, which in turn have sparked a huge
interest in the media to cover such cases and murders, though in a very
sensationalist way. Feminists have worked hard to raise awareness among
the population and make this invisible crime visible. Survivors of
domestic violence have started to speak out and show other women that
there is a way out of living in an inferno of fear and battering. We
marched in the streets with banners reading “Silence will kill you” and
“Violence is not love.” We widely disseminated our hotline number,
appeared in numerous TV shows, gave hundreds of interviews over the
years, organized press conferences and had many street events to raise
awareness, using evidence-based advocacy as a powerful tool.
Union of Informed Citizens NGO recently carried out investigative journalism that disclosed
all the financial backing by Russian organizations funded by the state
and even the Russian embassy in Armenia to individuals and organizations
in Armenia with the mission of spreading misinformation to the public
and creating hysteria and panic. For example, it was found that Russia
financed the most active group, Pan-Armenian Parental Committee, which
spreads smear campaigns about the domestic violence law through social
media and TV programs. Russia has also financed anti-gender grassroots
movements, such as Stop G7 and Restoration and Sovereignty as well as
the organizations Yerevan Geopolitical Club, Luys Information and
Analytical Center, Iravunk newspaper, and the Armenian branch of the
Russian Sputnik radio station Sputnik Armenia.
The above-mentioned Russian affiliates carry out vicious and
primitive anti-gender campaigns based entirely on lies. Heavily
dependent on Russian financing, they have the capacity to disseminate
their messages to a wide audience. For example, Hayk Ayvazyan of Stop G7
spread false information about US-funded laboratories in Armenia
preparing biological weapons. The famous pro-Russian blogger Tigran
Kocharyan (also known as “Pigh”), who advocated against the draft
domestic violence law, is also the head of the “What? Where? When?”
Russian Club that operates with funding from Vladimir Putin’s Ruskiy Mir
Foundation. It is interesting that the majority of these Russian-bought
manipulators communicate primarily in Russian while promoting Armenia’s
sovereignty from the West.
Russia has well understood how easy it is to manipulate post-Soviet
societies using discourse steeped in racism, misogyny, homophobia, and
xenophobia. In post-independence societies that underwent enormous
transformations and continue to suffer from poor socio-economic
conditions, the only thing that people can hold on to is the family.
Thus, perceived threats on the family become a very sensitive issue.
Yet, instead of educating and emancipating society, Russia’s politics
manipulate and breed conservatism and anti-West sentiments. The local
Armenian government and church by its de facto alliance with Russia also
are part of the campaign to spread fear among the population. No one
talks about the numerous deaths due to domestic violence or the hundreds
of victims who come to Women’s Support Center with their children to
escape abusive and violent husbands or mothers-in-law; yet, they purport
that passing legislation to protect primarily women and children is
akin to destroying the Armenian family.
In an excellent article
published by the New York Times, “Kompromat or the Danger of Doubt and
Confusion in a Democracy,” the author points out how leaders such as
Putin use technology as a tool for repression: “Material is manufactured
as needed to serve political purpose… Deliberately accurate and
fabricated details are blended in to create distrust and confusion.” For
example, a law to prevent domestic violence in Armenia will guarantee
the opening of shelters, protective orders for victims to keep the
abusers away, training of professionals in the field and appropriate
punishment for perpetrators (instead of a small fine for abusing one’s
wife for a number of years). Shelters, protective orders and just
punishment are misinterpreted by these conservatives as interfering with
the family and not as protecting and saving women and children from
abuse. They wrongly argue that one slap can get one into prison or take
children away from families, which we know to be complete lies.
We as Armenians must fight to protect women’s rights. Manipulations
that normalize violence against women are a threat to the entire society
and a huge cost on the state. Victims who are controlled, isolated and
not allowed to work cannot escape poverty and care for their families.
Violence is a learned behavior; witnessing violence leads many boys to
become abusers and girls to enter abusive relationships. Women suffer
with poor health and emotional well being, and children perform poorly
in school as they become withdrawn or socially inept. Many girls are
sexually abused, as well, and become emotionally scarred. We must put an
end to this. Our government must take a responsible stance towards its
citizens and condemn such behavior publicly rather than allow
Russian-sponsored individuals carry out propaganda campaigns.
You can follow more about gender issues in Armenia on the Women’s Support Center NGO Facebook page and website.
"Asbarez," February 24, 2017
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