“Zhamanak” sees a lack of public intolerance of electoral violations in Armenia. “We must admit that the society is not quite intransigent towards fraud and that there are types [of fraud] that receive public understanding or are ignored,” writes the paper. “For instance, vote bribes or unequal opportunities for candidates’ self-expression.” It says that Armenians must be taught to resent even the most insignificant electoral crime.
According to “Hraparak,” the Armenian society is also tolerant of corruption. “How to fight against corruption when your society is not inclined to join such a struggle and, what is more, justifies corruption and envies those who abuse their government position?” writes the paper. “Sometimes it looks like popular discontent with corruption is simply a discontent with the fact that somebody else, and not they, are given such an opportunity. How to fight against corruption if any media report could lead to the closure or bankruptcy of a particular media outlet or leave it deeply bogged down in judicial proceedings?”
“It appears that our authorities react rather indifferently to alarming reports about emigration,” editorializes “Aravot.” “No matter how skeptical we are about any official report, we would be somewhat reassured if the government said that it’s not true that more than 47,000 people left Armenia in the first four months of this year … If there are no such denials, one can assume that those alarming figures are true. But if they are true, the authorities must say what they are doing to stop those processes. General philosophical judgments or [references to] 1.1 percent economic growth do not seem convincing.”
“Azg” is disappointed with the composition of Armenia’s new Central Election Commission. “Does the president of Armenia not really want to see people enjoying public respect and trust in the CEC?” asks the paper. It says the way the new CEC was formed does not suggest that the authorities are committed to holding democratic elections.
(Tigran Avetisian)
According to “Hraparak,” the Armenian society is also tolerant of corruption. “How to fight against corruption when your society is not inclined to join such a struggle and, what is more, justifies corruption and envies those who abuse their government position?” writes the paper. “Sometimes it looks like popular discontent with corruption is simply a discontent with the fact that somebody else, and not they, are given such an opportunity. How to fight against corruption if any media report could lead to the closure or bankruptcy of a particular media outlet or leave it deeply bogged down in judicial proceedings?”
“It appears that our authorities react rather indifferently to alarming reports about emigration,” editorializes “Aravot.” “No matter how skeptical we are about any official report, we would be somewhat reassured if the government said that it’s not true that more than 47,000 people left Armenia in the first four months of this year … If there are no such denials, one can assume that those alarming figures are true. But if they are true, the authorities must say what they are doing to stop those processes. General philosophical judgments or [references to] 1.1 percent economic growth do not seem convincing.”
“Azg” is disappointed with the composition of Armenia’s new Central Election Commission. “Does the president of Armenia not really want to see people enjoying public respect and trust in the CEC?” asks the paper. It says the way the new CEC was formed does not suggest that the authorities are committed to holding democratic elections.
(Tigran Avetisian)