“Haykakan Zhamanak” says that few in Armenia expected that a group of people will one day mount an armed revolt against the government. Hardly anyone also thought that such action would be backed by many Armenians. “One of the reasons for such support for the armed rebellion is the socioeconomic situation in our country,” writes the paper. “You can’t constantly feed the society with rosy economic indicators and try to make it believe that the domestic economy is developing. It’s impossible to develop a country where there is a complete political and economic monopoly. Such a situation increases the likelihood of people rising up on a particular occasion.” This is why, it says, the Armenian authorities keep a disproportionately large security apparatus.
Armen Martirosian, a leader of the opposition Zharangutyun (Heritage) party, tells Lragir.am that the Armenian authorities are “destroying” the country. Martirosian strongly condemns security forces’ overnight actions taken against pro-opposition gunmen holding a police station in Yerevan. “It was once again demonstrated that the authorities cannot be our partner,” he says. “The people who led the protest last night made a mistake.” Martirosian, who is one of those leaders, urges Armenians to again take to the streets on Wednesday.
“Zhoghovurd” suggests that Martirosian and other opposition figures organizing the daily rallies do not know exactly what they should do next to help the gunmen. “Their speeches contradict each other and contain no ideas on further steps,” writes the paper. “Some of them call for an attack [on security forces,] while others tell people to go home, prompting criticism from them. Their speeches essentially amount to a litany of abuse addressed to Serzh Sarkisian.”
“The aura of the 19th century [Armenian] national liberation struggle has been transported to the 21st century with practically no changes, forming not only a corresponding public and political rhetoric but also mentality,” “Aravot” editorializes on the continuing unrest in Yerevan. The paper believes that this anachronistic nationalism is no answer to grave security challenges facing Armenia at present.
(Tigran Avetisian)