YEREVAN. - The bones of this country are deep and strong but the muscles on these bones need to be exercised, renowned Armenian Canadian film director Atom Egoyan, who has arrived in Armenia to conduct observation mission during the parliamentary elections, told journalists Friday.  

In his words, democracy is a muscle which allows us to express ourselves: without democratic process we fall into tyranny.

Citing a famous philosopher, Egoyan noted that “to truly overthrow tyranny, we must first destroy all that is tyrannical within us. The decision not to vote on Sunday is a form of self-tyranny: it is telling yourself that you have no voice, the film director said.  

“We are not here to consecrate Sunday’s vote. We are here for the future. We are here for the time when brilliant young leaders will change the democratic system in Armenia. We must develop the democratic muscle on our glorious old bones. We must not fall victim to tyranny, self-tyranny and apathy. We are here to observe a prosperous and sustainable future,” Egoyan stressed.

A number of artists from the Diaspora, including Serj Tankian, director Atom Egoyan and actress Arsinee Khanjian arrived in Armenia to carry out an observation mission during the parliamentary elections as part of the “Justice in Armenia” initiative.