“Haykakan Zhamanak” says that the current economic uncertainty facing Armenia is causing growing unease among ordinary Armenians. “When such a situation emerges in a normal country its authorities know very well that they will lose power soon,” writes the paper. “In countries like Armenia the situation is diametrically opposite. When asked what is going to happen next, the authorities there sound remarkably optimistic and enthusiastic because they know that whatever happens they will not lose power.”
“Zhamanak” comments on Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamian’s assurances that consumer price inflation in Armenia will not exceed 5 percent this year. “Of course, compared with the content of income and asset declarations filed by Hovik Abrahamian and his relatives, a 5 percent inflation is not only ‘normal’ but also not really inflation,” the paper says tartly. “But if we compare such an inflation rate with the officially poor 35 percent of Armenia’s population … then it’s a real tragedy for those people.”
“The mutual economic sanctions that have been imposed on each other by the West and Russia are proving a real salvation for Serzh Sarkisian and his administration,” claims “Chorrord Ishkhanutyun.” “Had it not been for those sanctions, the fall in oil prices in the international markets would not have led to the depreciation of the Russian ruble, and Serzh Sarkisian’s administration would have had no excuses to justify its own failings.”
“Zhoghovurd” condemns a Yerevan district court judge, Ruben Nersisian, for ordering it on November 25 to pay almost 1.8 million drams ($4,000) in damages. The paper alleges that Nersisian has “particular antipathy towards journalists.”
(Nane Sahakian)