“Aravot” says a key reason why an opposition alliance led by billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili won Georgia’s parliamentary elections is that the tycoon has never held a government position before and “has therefore not been in a position to do anything bad in that country.” “He did not live in Georgia for a while, whereas other oppositionists are associated with unpleasant things because they used to be part of the government,” editorializes the paper. “The same is true for Armenia.”
“Orakarg” carries an interview with Liz Fuller, a veteran British analyst specializing in the South Caucasus. Fuller says there are only “superficial” similarities between Ivanishvili and Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) leader Gagik Tsarukian. “Mr. Tsarukian and Prosperous Armenia have been part of Armenia’s political landscape for a fairly long time,” she says. “They are not the only alternative to President Sarkisian. In contrast, Ivanishvili emerged from nowhere one year ago and quickly became the sole truly effective and attractive opposition leader. Having said that, the victory of [Ivanishvili’s] Georgian Dream is sending a message to Armenian voters: a peaceful regime change is possible.”
“168 Zham” says that unlike former President Robert Kocharian, Tsarukian has personally made no statements condemning the lifting of BHK deputy Vartan Oskanian’s parliamentary immunity. The paper also says that in his statement on the issue Kocharian implied that he does not consider himself the main target of the criminal case against the former foreign minister.
“Zhamanak” notes that Kocharian attacked the Armenian parliament majority and the ruling Republican Party (HHK), rather than President Serzh Sarkisian, in that statement. The paper claims some senior Republicans are already worried that Kocharian and Sarkisian could cut secret deals at the HHK’s expense.
In an interview with “Hayots Ashkhar,” Galust Sahakian, a deputy chairman of the HHK, plays down the fact that six HHK deputies voted against Oskanian’s prosecution. He insists that this is not a sign of discord within the HHK faction in the National Assembly. “That fact confirms that there is political unity within the Republican Party but everyone there can freely express their position and will,” says Sahakian.
(Aghasi Yenokian)
“Orakarg” carries an interview with Liz Fuller, a veteran British analyst specializing in the South Caucasus. Fuller says there are only “superficial” similarities between Ivanishvili and Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) leader Gagik Tsarukian. “Mr. Tsarukian and Prosperous Armenia have been part of Armenia’s political landscape for a fairly long time,” she says. “They are not the only alternative to President Sarkisian. In contrast, Ivanishvili emerged from nowhere one year ago and quickly became the sole truly effective and attractive opposition leader. Having said that, the victory of [Ivanishvili’s] Georgian Dream is sending a message to Armenian voters: a peaceful regime change is possible.”
“168 Zham” says that unlike former President Robert Kocharian, Tsarukian has personally made no statements condemning the lifting of BHK deputy Vartan Oskanian’s parliamentary immunity. The paper also says that in his statement on the issue Kocharian implied that he does not consider himself the main target of the criminal case against the former foreign minister.
“Zhamanak” notes that Kocharian attacked the Armenian parliament majority and the ruling Republican Party (HHK), rather than President Serzh Sarkisian, in that statement. The paper claims some senior Republicans are already worried that Kocharian and Sarkisian could cut secret deals at the HHK’s expense.
In an interview with “Hayots Ashkhar,” Galust Sahakian, a deputy chairman of the HHK, plays down the fact that six HHK deputies voted against Oskanian’s prosecution. He insists that this is not a sign of discord within the HHK faction in the National Assembly. “That fact confirms that there is political unity within the Republican Party but everyone there can freely express their position and will,” says Sahakian.
(Aghasi Yenokian)