“It is obvious that Raffi Hovannisian’s hunger strike has foiled the authorities’ plans and they are now unable to counter it with logical actions,” writes “Zhamanak.” “Many consider Raffi Hovannisian’s actions to be beyond any logic. Even oppositionists. In fact, oppositionists in the first instance … Yet it is the illogical steps that have left the authorities as well as oppositionists in deadlock. The authorities do not know what to do. There is no excuse for traditional [use of] force. And Raffi have left them with no room for doing something else.” The paper says the authorities are now so jittery that they are “making one mistake after another” and pinning their hopes only on external support.
“Chorrord Inknishkhanutyun” wonders how long Hovannisian will keep up his struggle. The paper is highly skeptical about his promises to form an alternative government and even name new judges. “Of course, he can organize such things. That would be interesting. Many would come to Liberty Square to follow meetings of the alternative government. But everyone realizes that that situation cannot last for long,” it says, adding that “at one point the authorities will run out of patience and they will forcibly end all that.”
“Zhoghovurd” quotes Naira Zohrabian, a leader of the Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK), as accusing the government of putting the country “on the brink of a socioeconomic catastrophe.” Zohrabian says various BHK figures have every reason to criticize the government and Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisian in particular. “We will continue … demanding answers from concrete individuals responsible for governance,” she says. Zohrabian dismisses government claims that the Armenian economy grew by 7 percent last year. “There is simply no rise in living standards behind it,” she says. “This is an economic manipulative bubble and any economist can prove that that percentage figure is baseless.”
“Hayots Ashkhar” alleges that Hovannisian’s Zharangutyun (Heritage) party is so certain that it will lose the upcoming mayoral elections in Yerevan that it is already preparing to demand ballot recounts in all polling stations in the capital. The pro-government paper says relevant written petitions will be handed out to Zharangutyun proxies on election day “so that the latter submit them to precinct election commissions immediately after the end of the voting.”
(Tigran Avetisian)
“Chorrord Inknishkhanutyun” wonders how long Hovannisian will keep up his struggle. The paper is highly skeptical about his promises to form an alternative government and even name new judges. “Of course, he can organize such things. That would be interesting. Many would come to Liberty Square to follow meetings of the alternative government. But everyone realizes that that situation cannot last for long,” it says, adding that “at one point the authorities will run out of patience and they will forcibly end all that.”
“Zhoghovurd” quotes Naira Zohrabian, a leader of the Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK), as accusing the government of putting the country “on the brink of a socioeconomic catastrophe.” Zohrabian says various BHK figures have every reason to criticize the government and Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisian in particular. “We will continue … demanding answers from concrete individuals responsible for governance,” she says. Zohrabian dismisses government claims that the Armenian economy grew by 7 percent last year. “There is simply no rise in living standards behind it,” she says. “This is an economic manipulative bubble and any economist can prove that that percentage figure is baseless.”
“Hayots Ashkhar” alleges that Hovannisian’s Zharangutyun (Heritage) party is so certain that it will lose the upcoming mayoral elections in Yerevan that it is already preparing to demand ballot recounts in all polling stations in the capital. The pro-government paper says relevant written petitions will be handed out to Zharangutyun proxies on election day “so that the latter submit them to precinct election commissions immediately after the end of the voting.”
(Tigran Avetisian)