The international non-governmental organization “Transparency International” does not record the level of corruption in a given state, but the index of its perception in this or that country. And perception, as is known, is a subjective phenomenon. For example, the number of speedometers and street cameras not only did not decrease in these five years but also increased, and people continue to pay fines. But until 2018, through purposeful and professional propaganda, it was possible to convince the citizens that “everything goes into Sashik’s pocket,” and now people are sure that their fines go to the state budget.
It’s a matter of perception, in short. My perception has also changed. When I see young police officers on the street now, I think they will unlikely stop a car to extort 5000 drams from drivers. But, as is well known, corruption is not only the bribery of fat “gaishniks”- traffic cops and customs officers, but that is what first catches the eye of ordinary citizens.
But in our small country, sooner or later, other facts related to the authorities become known, which worsens the “Transparency” score. Who can say that the lifestyle of the current rulers and their cronies is precisely the same as it was in April 2018? Cars, apartments, positions of relatives, businesses, tenders, bonuses – all that cannot be hidden. It is theoretically possible, but then you have to be an “underground millionaire” like Alexander Ivanovich Koreyko, and there seems to be no such person in the post-Soviet space. If the government members want to know about corruption in Armenia and its causes, I recommend reading the materials of hetq.am – everything is written there.
One solution, of course, is income control for all citizens. But not half-heartedly, as suggested, but also property declaration and cost transparency. Hopefully, the imperfection of the proposed project is a coincidence.
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ARAM ABRAHAMYAN
