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Armenian authorities steal money despite terrible economic situation

26 December 2016 17:12 (UTC+04:00)
Armenian authorities steal money despite terrible economic situation

By Rashid Shirinov

The economy of Armenia remains troubled, the population is growing tired of its politicians, and the popular dissatisfaction is increasing.

Corruption is still one of the biggest problems of Armenia, while it ironically feeds interests of the oligarchs, business leaders, and top officials, who dominate the economy.

The so-called fight against corruption declared by the Sargsyan regime has brought no result so far. The reason is that the criminal clan, which in fact rules the country, controls almost all areas of the economy.

Today the ruling clan holds huge illegal capital accumulated through the large-scale corruption. Therefore, even if the real fight against corruption begins in Armenia, the first to be punished would be the representatives of the government.

The country’s state budget lacks tens of billions, the national debt already exceeds 50 percent of the country’s GDP, while foreign investment is close to zero. Moreover, the Armenian Finance Ministry forecasts the country's external debt to approach to $6 billion in the near future.

Another flagrant fact is that the Armenian government constantly borrows money from other countries and finance institutions for “fighting” against corruption, which in fact is just imitation.

The situation is so blatant that even the U.S., which is very lenient towards Yerevan, openly talks about the need to take specific steps for the improvement of the business atmosphere and eradication of the corruption in the country.

In early December, U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Richard Mills named Yerevan the conditions following which Armenia can hope for the assistance of the United States. In particular, the Ambassador focused on the fight against corruption, and noted that words must be followed by actions.

“In truth, expectations from the anti-corruption council were bigger than the situation actually is,” he said. “While talking with the Prime Minister, I noted that the work of this structure needs to be somehow intensified.”

Thus, Armenia gets alarm from abroad that the government’s fight against corruption does not work. Many sectors of the country’s economy paralyzed as they don’t receive money from the corrupt government. Ultimately, ordinary Armenian people become the victim of such wrong economic policy.

The attitude of the Armenian authorities to their population is utterly clear – while the country is in a deep economic crisis, they care only about money they can barrow. The interests of the nation are ignored as always.

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

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz

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