“Chorrord Ishkhanutyun” reports that an aide to Syunik Governor Suren Khachatrian vandalized a shop in the provincial capital Kapan belonging to the family of one of the four arrested men charged with attempting to kill the governor. The aide, Zarzand Nikoghosian, admitted smashing the shop’s door and windows in retaliation for the alleged attempt on Khachatrian’s life. The paper condemns the attack and says that the Armenian authorities would have prevented many violent incidents had they imprisoned Khachatrian and his henchmen many years ago.
“Zhamanak” says the criminal case on the alleged assassination attempt represents a “microcosm of modern-day Armenia.” The paper notes that it was allegedly masterminded by Ara Budaghian, whose two brothers were killed and wounded outside the Khachatrians’ home in Goris. “It is this Armenia that has to confront many political, economic and security challenges,” it says. “Liska (Khachatrian) and his delinquent entourage are the Armenian authorities’ response to those challenges facing Armenia.”
“Hayots Ashkhar” is encouraged by the recent street protests in Yerevan and other parts of Armenia against the increase in electricity prices. The paper emphasizes the fact that Armenia’s “apathetic” opposition forces hand no part in what it regards as a successful campaign. “The public’s achievement is all the more valuable in these circumstances,” it says.
“Zhoghovurd” says that the anticipated acquisition by the Armenian military of Russian Iskander-M ballistic missiles would “substantially restrain Azerbaijan’s bellicose stance” in the Karabakh conflict. The paper argues that the missiles are powerful and precise enough to hit targets in Baku or any other part of Azerbaijan. It is worried, however, that the Azerbaijani leadership will save no effort to also get hold these missile systems. The Russians, it claims, have finally realized that “they have armed Azerbaijan so much that they have disrupted the Armenian-Azerbaijani military balance.”
(Tigran Avetisian)