Bomb...
This morning a bomb blew up a car with someone who works in the tax department on Byron Street. That's the first time I've heard of such a thing happening here. I guess most of the people in Armenia (including me) are pretty cynical, since our first thoughts seem to have been - I wonder who he was trying to screw?? Not a good commentary on our ol' civil service. Tax collectors have a habit of wanting big bribes, in return for even bigger reductions in your tax bill. A win-win situation for both parties, except that the whole country pays the price... some companies are fighting this sort of thing (similiar things go on at the Customs dept - you should see the mansion of the guy running customs, and the two military police guarding his house every night). Royal Armenia coffee is a great example. I wonder if this was someone resisting a bribe??? Who knows, we probably never will....
posted by Raffi K. at 6:26 PM
10 Comments:
THAT'S MY STREET!!!! I was freakin out all day after my rommate called and said there was an explosion accross the street. Everything is okay with him and the apartment, I was at work already. But I walked right by there just minutes before it happened. Can't say I'm really surprised though.
This is the end of the beginning of Armenia ? I just can’t understand anymore what is happening in Armenia. The country is in total anarchy and so is the diaspora. Lawlessness in Armenia, mafia state Armenia as it is becoming to be known. Who would like to travel to Armenia when there is no guaranty for basic respect of law. As a tourist you want to feel safe and secured and this can’t be guaranteed in Armenia. Yes the diaspora is traveling to Armenia but they are in euphoria about been in the motherland and don’t know about the collapse/ breakdown of the system in Armenia or just don’t see or want to see it ! The diaspora only care’s or knows only one thing, that is the Armenian genocide which they ones a year remember or don’t most of the time. When the diaspora tries to help Armenia they send money or they build churches in Armenia. The money goes to the gangsters and the churches well, who goes their?
When you read the news and the situation in Armenian it becomes apparent, that everyday is APRIL 24 for the Armenian people. I SAY PEOPLE because only Armenians care for Armenians contradicted to the general belief among Armenians that other people are going to support us because WE are such a god and decent people !
The Ottoman/Turkish nationalist killed 1,5 million Armenians. During 15 years of modern Armenian independence the population in Armenia has decreased from a total of 4 million to 1 million and so is the population in Nagorno-Karabakh decreasing! Armenians are following the same mistakes that their ancestors did trusting other people and distrusting and killing on another. Their was prior to the genocide in 1915 two separate incidents wear Turks committed mass killings of Armenians. In Sumgat Azerbaijan, mass murders of armenians was committed. Armenians today are following the same path of mistakes and inability to control their destiny. And as time goes Armenia and the armenians are coming closer to the END……
The last car bomb I remember was after the 2003 Presidential Election. The target was the head of the Erebuni district of Yerevan. He survived.
Otherwise, contract killings, assassinations and shoot-outs between competing government-linked clans are becoming increasingly common again.
Here's a good article about the bombing: http://www.armenialiberty.org/armeniareport/report/en/2006/09/C1A04A16-3F22-4CC5-A0C8-AAF2C981CB74.ASP
It is interesting that the guy was head of the tax evasion dept... some of the biggest companies in Armenia hardly show up on the tax collection lists: http://www.armeniapedia.org/index.php?title=Taxpayers_in_Armenia
and Patrik - take a chill pill!
Hey Patrick,
Watch out! The sky is falling!
With downers like you, the Turks won't have to finish the Armenians off - you'll do it for them.
My suggestion is that you go to Yerevan. Have a cup of coffee and take in the scene.
Then do something productive like help build a toilet at one of Armenia's tourist attractions.
Once you've done that, flush some of your worries down the drain.
These types of targeted killings against corrupt officials are absolutely necessary when the state fails to deal with them legally. There are many more on the list that need to be hunted down in order to clear the way for less corrupt officials. Stealing from the country's budget is tantamount to killing Armenia and it should be dealt with the severest penalties. Hopefully the state will realize this soon and begin dealing with corrupt officials legally so that anarchy doesn’t continue.
Pedro, the assassinated guy was a member of the so-called Karabakh clan ruling Armenia. Do you mean to imply that other, more important members of the clan, who gave him the top job, should also be wiped out?...
The karabagh clan is not a united one and from recent readings it appears that this killing may be as a result of that. This character may have in fact been trying to put an end to tax evasion and paid for it dearly, in which case it's a sad loss. But yes, there are several key figures who are overly influential in that country and need to be moved aside in order for Armenia to progress with normal standards. I just hope the people will get more active with their right to struggle.
damn......the things I miss out on when I take off suddenly. Sonetimes I think its a shame the customs dude attempt didn't work out, would've given me a lot more privacy!
Seriously though, that's some crazy, not too unexpected shit.
You worry about taking care of the baja trip plans, I'll take care of the customs privacy issues ;-)
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