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Press Review


“168 Zham” believes that the March 1 street fighting in Yerevan was both a “tragedy” and a “development stimulus.” “However tragic the March 1 events were in the human, moral and social senses, the ten casualties of March 1 were enough to force us and, more importantly, the political elite to face up to reality,” explains the paper. “Thanks to March 1 we looked and saw.” It says at least two politicians, Serzh Sarkisian and Levon Ter-Petrosian, have “reviewed and made sense of their past.” “March 1 gave the authorities a political and moral opportunity to start changes within themselves,” concludes “168 Zham.”

“Zhamanak Yerevan” reports that at least 16 opposition supporters were detained and interrogated by law-enforcement bodies on May 5-6. “Several other citizens were taken to police stations from May 3-4,” says the paper. “Thus, on the one hand, the authorities make emotional judgments about the need for a dialogue with the opposition. On the other hand, they are continuing the manhunt, failing to honor the demands contained in the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly resolution. Probably this is how Serzh Sarkisian sees the process of bringing down the ‘wall of misunderstanding’ between the public and the authority.”

“Haykakan Zhamanak” says that as much as one third of Armenia’s courts are involved in the prosecution and imprisonment of “innocent” opposition activists. “Judges and trial prosecutors have begun sending messages, through various channels, to the government elite so that the issue of political prisoners finds a quick political solution,” claims the paper. “In particular, one proposed solution is to declare an amnesty dedicated to the May 28 anniversary of the establishment of the first Armenian Republic and thereby terminate political persecutions resulting from the March 1 case.”

“Hayots Ashkhar” says that the authorities should have arrested Levon Ter-Petrosian before prosecuting prominent members of his “gang.” “Instead of holding Levon Ter-Petrosian accountable, they made offers of dialogue [with the opposition,]” complains the paper. It says Ter-Petrosian will ignore those offers as long as he remains “untouchable.”

“In effect, the regime has once again deceived the people,” claims “Chorrord Ishkhanutyun,” pointing to government claims earlier this week that local liquefied gas companies have decided to partly reverse the latest gas price hike. “That turned out to be a propaganda ploy,” says the paper. “One cubic meter of gas continues to cost 200 drams (65 U.S. cents) in gas stations.”

(Armen Dulian)
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