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Armenians: country is in deep swamp

16 September 2016 11:42 (UTC+04:00)
Armenians: country is in deep swamp

By Rashid Shirinov

The appointment of Karen Karapetyan as the Prime Minister of Armenia seems not very encouraging for the Armenian population. Because there is a persistent notion that the country has got into a bog that has no way out, as the Armenian authorities are not just thieves and corrupt, but literally a gang.

For many years, pro-government experts from Armenian make rosy predictions on the country's future. But they never come true, and ordinary citizens think quite the opposite way.

“One person is unlikely to change anything, global changes are needed to improve the socio-economic situation of the country,” one of Gyumri residents told 1in.am in a survey.

Armenians do not place much hope in Karen Karapetyan. “Prime Minister, Ministers, the President - they all work just for themselves. It does not matter if Prime Minister or the President is replaced – we will still have to leave the country for work,” another resident complained.

The problem that existed while the previous Prime Minister of Armenia Hovik Abrahamyan held the office, was the lack of political will, that was only enough for creation of legislation, structures, but not for anti-corruption fight. This view was expressed by Varuzhan Hoktanian, head of anti-corruption center Transparency International.

In addition to the lack of political will, Hoktanian stressed the wrong economic model in Armenia, which stood unchanged during the Premiership of Hovik Abrahamyan. That caused other problems –dominance of oligopolies, dependence of the judicial system in Armenia and many other.

And the inaction of Armenian government to corruption is quite understandable – sufficient number of Armenian authorities themselves illegally conduct business in the country and corruption fight is not what they need.

So, as Hoktanian noted, Armenian economy sphere is at the bottom, and that ‘swamp’ will stay a permanent residence for the citizens of that poor country.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz

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