Opposition rep sums up the passing year

Member of Armenian National Congress (ANC) opposition bloc, economist Vahagn Khachatryan considers the most important event of the passing year the non-competitive and rigged parliamentary elections, and what he said the logical continuation of which we have today.

“As to the assessment, I should remind that even the European observers said the elections as such did not take place as the competition opportunities were not equal. They have mentioned bribes, usage of administrative resources, lists that were the bases of the rigged elections,” he said, speaking to Tert.am, summing up the passing year. Khachatryan stressed that not a citizen elected but the system headed by authorities.

In its turn it gave birth to the growth of emigration. “Armenian citizen does not want to live in our country. They want to go out of the country,” he said, adding that the polls held to find out the causes of emigration showed that previously the 85% left the country for not having jobs, today their number makes 60% with the other 40% leaving because of lack of justice.

The other important fact, according to him, is related to the presidential elections and the candidates.

“When it appeared that Serzh Sargsyan does not have serious contenders. I do not want to offend people going to participate in the electoral farce, but it is the reality,” he said.

“We have such situation when the outcome of the presidential election is already known,” he said, stressing that the 2012 is being wrapped up but the Armenian citizen has no hope that the future will be better.

Khachatryan said he is rather surprised that the authorities perceive the non-competitive situation as victory. “May be in their program it is a victory, but it cannot be a victory for the state and a citizen,” he said, adding that victory is when everyone participates in the processes taking place in the country and it is being registered that in the competitive situation the country has authorities, new system that will be addressed toward the development of citizen’s welfare.

While he claimed that today Armenia’s citizen witnesses reproduction of the authorities. “The authorities are being reproduced for themselves, and they will work only for their welfare,” he said, adding that even the statement of the finance minister testifies it. “When he said they have ensured 7% economic growth but the poverty level is not down. So, how does it happen? What does it mean 7% growth? Where does the money go?” he asked.

After all this it means either it is necessary to come to terms with the created situation or reorganize and raise the voice or continue the half-done work. “I mean the members of Congress as well, their movement, find ways and not allow authorities to be re-elected. Our issue that was not solved in 2012 and will not be solved in 2013 is to return our citizen its deprived constitutional right to form the authorities. It must become a priority and we must find associates,” he said.