A friend, almost upon arriving at our home, began telling about his cousin’s recent court case, in which the cousin lost ownership of part of his home to a family he had given the right to live there, but had clearly not given them ownership rights. “Before legally appealing for ownership, they made arrangements with the judge of that area, in other words, bribed him. The case was already decided when my cousin went to court. He found out later what had happened. He knows that if he doesn’t somehow bribe the judge at the next court hearing, which will happen since he filed a protest, he’ll lose again. Things are out of line here. What can I say?”

On television, we watched a news report about sect activity in Armenia on “R,” the show featuring conversations with a priest and the head of an organization that supports citizens who have in some way become victims of sect activity. According to both, there are several large business owners in Yerevan who are members of this or that sect, and who secretly insist on their workers being members of their sect. When someone refuses, he is released from his position, the real reason of course not mentioned. According to the organization head, cases are pending in court, in which those who lost employment are trying to be reinstated, but, “the sects almost always win these cases.” He added that large amounts of money come into Armenia, funding the sects, especially the three or four major ones.

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Unfortunately, a short break is in store for Yerevan Journal, as family matters abroad demand attention. Entries will resume on or about January 18, 2009.