“Zhamanak” finds it “interesting” that President Serzh Sarkisian has still not reacted to any of the statements by his predecessor Robert Kocharian criticizing the current Armenian government. The paper suggests that Sarkisian is thereby telling people that he does not consider Kocharian a serious rival. It says that the Armenian public is curious to know what Sarkisian thinks of his former close ally and what happened to their tandem that “used to look inseparable.” The relationship between the two men continues to hold the key to political processes in Armenia, it says.
“Chorrord Ishkhanutyun” says it is already evident that the Armenian authorities will falsify the results of the December 6 referendum on constitutional amendments put forward by Sarkisian.“The opposition will cry foul over the disgraceful falsifications, hold rallies and, at best, appeal to the Constitutional Court,” writes the paper. But, it says, the authorities are undaunted by “serious difficulties” awaiting their vote rigging scenario.
“Zhoghovurd” comments on an Internet video shat shows an elderly resident of Yerevan approaching Sarkisian on the street and complaining about what he called unfair court rulings on his properties. “Serzh Sarkisian’s reaction was incredible, saying that ‘it’s possible’ and ‘this is why we are changing the constitution, so that the courts work properly,’” writes the paper. “It’s hard to comment on this nonsense. But since it was said by the person occupying the post of our country’s president, we are left to conclude that with this answer Serzh Sarkisian effectively admitted that the courts in the country governed by him do not function properly.”
“168 Zham” ridicules government officials and other Sarkisian allies for claiming that things in Armenia will improve dramatically if voters approve the constitutional amendments. “As if the existing constitution has been violated by aliens,” says the paper. “It’s hard to tell who the author of this propaganda ploy is,” it goes on. “But it will be interesting to see what the authorities tell the public come December 7, when the constitution will have been amended and when it will emerge that the aliens have not stopped their overnight visits [to Armenia.]”
(Tigran Avetisian)