Elmira Tariverdiyeva, commentator of Trend's European desk
Anti-democratic Armenia has all the prerequisites to catch the revolutionary fever from the Middle East and North Africa, whose countries have been shivering with increasing degree of social unrest for already two months.
Opposition Armenian National Congress on Friday, Feb.18 opens a regular "season of meetings" on the eve of the third year of the Armenian presidential elections. As the Armenian National Congress coordinator Levon Zurabyan told journalists, during the rally all issues will be raised, which are related to the restriction of democratic freedoms, the dire social conditions of the population, "draconic" measures of the government against the small and medium entrepreneurship, RIA Novosti reported.
The rallies, initiated by opposition from the traditional protests against the illegitimacy of the current government and its policies, can turn into social protests, similar to the Egyptian, Tunisian and other Middle Eastern peoples' protests.
Living conditions in Armenia due to many reasons cause outrage in society and this discontent will only increase in the near future.
After "Black Tuesday" in April 2009 when the Armenian dram has lost over thirty percent in one night, Armenia has not yet recovered from the consequences of the financial crisis. Reduction in the volume of transfers also played a role here, which is due to difficult economic situation in post-crisis Russia, as only from this country Armenia received a bulk of transfers. Besides, there was a decline in foreign direct investments, also mostly coming from Russia, which is struggling to cope with the consequences of the crisis.
Moreover, goods delivery from Russia to Armenia though Georgia after the August war in Tskhinvali is hampered by Tbilisi's reluctance to let Russian goods pass through its territory, which was equal to a slow death to Armenia, which is blockaded by Azerbaijan and Turkey. In addition, Armenia is isolated from all transport and energy projects in the region.
All these leads to the growth of discontent inside the country. The vast majority of the citizens of Armenia faces daily problems with their social conditions, primarily because of an increase in the consumer prices.
According to the data provided by the National Statistical Service of Armenia, the consumer prices in Armenia in 2010 increased by 10.6 percent. The largest price increase - 13.1 percent - was registered in food, that is the sector of social security, without which it is impossible to exist. Prices for industrial goods rose 5.6 percent, and tariffs for services - 4.2 percent.
As a result of searches by the UN - FAO Food Program, Armenia was among the top 10 countries where in 2010 the fastest growth in food prices was recorded. Growth was registered in January 2011 compared with December 2010.
In this case, inflation exceeds 9 percent, the poverty rate reached 35 percent, which forced 60,000 people to leave Armenia last year. In 2010, the average monthly salary in Armenia increased by 6.7 percent under the inflation of 9.4 percent. Decline in living standards is obvious.
Also Armenia's huge problem is the monopolization of the economy, the government policies and the lack of real market competition lead to the closure of small and medium businesses, which consequently bring to higher prices.
If to add to this the upcoming price rise in gas tariffs, the lack of indexing, the tendency to devalue and problems pursued by monetary and tax policy, there is no doubt that people's patience will run out sooner or later.
The more, because the Armenian people should not wait the changes.
During the presidential elections in 2013, Armenia's ruling coalition will nominate a single candidate - current president Serj Sargsyan, the press service of the Armenian state head reported. And this means that it is not worthy to expect positive changes in this country soon, because both external and internal - the current government - politics are guilty in trouble of people.
And the staff changes initiated by the president in late 2010, which should demonstrate to society that the government is aware of the ineffectiveness of their activities, are unable to change the situation.