The society’s skepticism toward the latest steps taken by the President is natural – why now and not, say, 2-3 years ago? Really why? I am asking that question too and the representatives of the government don’t give me an honest answer, “We are not doing it only now, we have always done it everywhere” etc. In reality, we saw the cases of Hovhannes Tamamyan and Margar Ohanyan in the past – admittedly, it is very positive that they are in prison, but tens of high-ranking officials like them continue to serve in the police. This time, however, the approach seems to be more systemic.
Certainly, all that should have been started in 2008. However, taking into account the situation in Armenia after the events of March 1 – tensions were not only political, but also social. In order to change that situation, one needed roughly three years, although I think one could have acted more quickly here too. Then came the parliamentary election. Regardless of how it was held, the result was rather optimal from the state perspective – the government, maintaining its position, gained moderate oppositionists represented by the Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) and radical oppositionists represented by the Armenian National Congress (ANC) at the official, parliamentary level. The sharper the questions are, the better, the more vigilant officials will be. By the way, the governor of Kotayk shouldn’t be surprised or angry – he is entrusted with the money of the budget, the taxpayers and he must personally report to the parliament on every penny of those sums; this is one of the principles of a democratic state.
At the end of the day, it is about the very people’s money – those sums are collected from us to serve us. In reality, they often serve dissolute, impudent officials. They are not poor as it is – they have their share in different businesses and one will have to deal with that fact in the future. However, they are not satisfied with the businesses and want to have a finger in the budget too. It is logical that after the general talk with the Cabinet, the President started with the army – the generals who steal from the soldiers standing on our borders must be condemned to many years in prison. Construction is as important – businessmen claim that there is NO construction ordered by the state, for which the ministry or the regional government doesn’t demand a 10% kickback. The Ministry of Healthcare is a similar “business” – according to the Minister of Finance, the price of one purchase may vary by one billion AMD, so it is understandable that thousands of socially unprotected people are deprived of medical treatment.
I am convinced that there will be new dismissals and arrests. Perhaps the “victims” of those will be called “scapegoats.” But one shouldn’t compare corrupted officials with those harmless animals. They are not goats, they are real predators.
Read also
ARAM ABRAHAMYAN
