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Armenia: redemption price

Politics Materials 12 February 2013 12:53 (UTC +04:00)
Only a week left before the presidential elections in Armenia. Despite this, political passions run high.
Armenia: redemption price

Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 12 / Trend /

Trend commentator Arzu Naghiyev

Only a week left before the presidential elections in Armenia. Despite this, political passions run high.

While estimating its dependence on Russia as the biggest blow to the independence, Armenia's political and other elite assessed the need for European integration in 2012. However local experts and political analysts have preferred to remain silent on the issue.

There is an interesting point that the Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and even the President have constantly spoken about Armenia belonging to the Christian European family and stressed that the country's foreign policy must be aimed at EU integration. At the same time, the upper echelons of power criticised media representatives in their pro-Russian policy.

It seems that despite the supreme power's persistence, the media and politicians do not want any changes in their activities, or simply did not receive such an instruction.

Obviously, the European topic during the election campaign was an action that would bring certain political dividends to the authorities and pro-Western candidates for getting pro-Western votes.

After the candidates were determined, the CSTO Academy was rapidly created. A statement was made that KAMAZ will be assembled in Armenia. The document on 'Additional elements ensuring security in the region' was discussed.

There was no comment what 'additional elements' might mean, but one can assume what it is about. The main objective was to show who will be Armenia's master and servant.

Moreover, pro-Western presidential candidate Paruyr Hayrikian was attacked in the centre of Yerevanr 18 days before the elections.

One can say that one tour of the presidential election will be held in Armenia and incumbent president Serzh Sargsyan will win it

According to preliminary estimates, around 49-50 per cent of voters will vote for him, the remainder will probably be shared between Raffi Hovhannisyan and Hrant Bagratyan.

All processes give grounds to the conclusion that Armenia is a country with an authoritarian society and power. The business sector is highly dependent on the authorities in this country. As a result, business is merged with the authorities. At this stage Armenian society is not ready to get rid of this authoritarianism.

Migration of the economically active population from Armenia, which took place over the last 20 years, has significantly weakened society. As a result, 1.5 million of the official population of 3.5 million people fall to pensioners, 600,000 to housewives and the same number of children. All these people are dependent on the state and need help.

Armenian incumbent president Serzh Sargsyan's re-election wouldl traditionally lead to increased migration after the elections.

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