“During the more than two-decade-long post-Soviet period, Russia has not brought any modern values to the South Caucasus,” writes “Zhamanak.” “Furthermore, Russia has not initiated any up-to-date processes with its ally Armenia or tried to introduce any competitive economic or political technology to Armenia … The [Armenian] public seems to increasingly realize that Russia has not been and cannot be a development partner for Armenia. In other others, in the in-depth philosophical sense Russia is not even a security guarantee for Armenia. The only thing the Russians can guarantee for Armenia is stagnation and provincialism.”
“Zhoghovurd” comments on claims by Andranik Nikoghosian, a controversial pro-Russian Armenian activist based in Russia, that Armenians will eventually demand and vote for their country’s incorporation into Russia. The paper also reports that some Armenian opposition and civic figures have already called for Nikoghosian to be stripped of a number of Armenian state honors granted to him in the past several years. “The problem is that this individual was once a beloved guest of Armenia’s entire ruling elite,” it says. “He nearly became a media magnate in Armenia. But the most tragic thing is that Nikoghosian received medals from not only Armenia’s parliament speaker and police chief but, as “Zhoghovurd” had revealed, but also Defense Minister Seyran Ohanian. He also received medals from the culture minister and the governor of Ararat [province.]”
“Hraparak” writes in this regard that there is no legal procedure for revoking awards handed by the Armenian parliament speaker. “That is, the chairman of the National Assembly has the authority to give awards but cannot withdraw them,” explains the paper. “Also important is the fact that Nikoghosian was awarded by [former] National Assembly speaker Hovik Abrahamian. So it is [the current speaker] Galust Sahakian who would have to invalidate Abrahamian’s decision.”
“One can certainly refuse to take seriously statements made by such individuals,” editorializes “Aravot.” “But let us be honest and admit that Armenians do not really feel the honor and pleasure of having a sovereign state nowadays. Otherwise, such individuals would not have dared to suggest that Armenia become part of another country.”
(Hovannes Shoghikian)