“Zhoghovurd” says that the family massacre in Gyumri was a serious test for Armenia’s government, population in general and Gyumri residents in particular. “So far only the Gyumri residents have coped with that calamity with honor,” writes the paper. “It is shameful and unfortunate that support expressed for the people of Gyumri is negligible.” It points to the “unacceptable conduct” of President Serzh Sarkisian, his entourage and even leaders of virtually all major Armenian opposition parties. “As regards us, ordinary citizens of Armenia, while deeply mourning the deaths of the innocent victims, we have not managed to articulate our sorrow and demands in a nationwide, powerful and united outburst,” complains the paper.
“The slaughter of the Avetisian family exposed the wretchedness of Armenia’s government and the very severe situation in which the country has found itself in terms of the risk of losing its sovereignty,” writes “Hraparak.” “For a whole week, until the [Russian] tsar spoke up, Armenia’s rulers did not know how to respond to the tragedy … The situation began to change after Vladimir Putin’s phone call [to Serzh Sarkisian.] What has kept Serzh Sarkisian, the prime minister, the Catholicos from going to Gyumri, taking part in the requiem services for the victims, standing alongside the people, declaring a day of mourning and mourning the tragedy in a dignified way?”
“Zhamanak” quotes Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamian as saying in Gyumri on Tuesday that the Armenian authorities are doing everything to have custody of the Russian soldier charged in the massacre. A spokesman for Putin made clear, however, that the suspect will be tried in a Russian court and under Russian law. The paper suspects that Abrahamian is simply “not informed about the state of affairs.”
“Hayots Ashkhar” accuses Azerbaijan of “continuing last year’s adventurist tactics” on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border and “the line of contact” around Nagorno-Karabakh. The paper suggests that the latest Azerbaijani armed incursions on the frontlines were a “coordinated attack” on Armenian army positions. “Our armed forces certainly control the situation and hit back at the enemy,” it says. “But the question is what the enemy’s objective is.” The paper says Baku is heightening tensions there to try to step up pressure on the Armenian side.
(Tigran Avetisian)