The Huffington Post: Armenia still a Russian colony
By Trend
Approaching its 25th anniversary, Armenia remains as one of the
poorest countries in the former Soviet Union, said human rights
activist Armine Sahakyan in her article published by The Huffington
Post.
“It should be a time for joy. But like many Armenians I will be
thinking about what might have been, about the opportunities lost,”
said the author.
Corruption is rampant, and there’s a huge gap between the rich and
poor, said Sahakyan.
“The government’s pension reform program of 2013 didn’t help our
strapped pensioners,” said the author in her article. “It simply
made working people’s paychecks smaller by forcing them to make
mandatory pension-system contributions.”
The change led to street demonstrations, as did the government’s
approval of transit-fee increases in 2013 and electricity-price
increases in 2015, according to the article.
During the Soviet era, all of Armenia’s brightest students could
gain entry to a top university, said Sahakyan adding that
currently, mediocre students can enter an elite university by
paying bribes.
“Money also talks in health care,” said the author. “If you need an
operation or extensive treatment, you’d better have bribe money.
Otherwise, you may not last long.”
“One of the major reasons why Armenia has been unable to do better
since independence is that it is independent in name only,” reads
the article. “In reality, it is still a Russian colony.”
Armenia had a great chance to reduce its economic dependence on
Russia when, in the fall of 2013, it was ready to sign an
association agreement with the European Union, said the author.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has been trying to recreate
the Soviet Union, summoned Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan to the
Kremlin for talks, she added.
“Shortly after the discussion ended, Sargsyan announced that
Armenia would be joining the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Community
instead of the EU,” said Sahakyan. “The announcement was greeted
with street demonstrations in Armenia — to no avail.”
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