“Wealth acquired illegally? Show us the facts.” — we’ve been hearing this same refrain for over 30 years. Whenever facts are presented by the media, the response is that these are mere opposition rumors with no legal basis. Official corruption charges are brought only against the “former criminal regime,” and because this pattern is so persistent, trust in “official facts” has significantly eroded.
At the time, Manvel Grigoryan’s infamous “tushonka” (canned meat) had considerable propaganda value. But now, seven years later, even if it did exist, it seems more like a minor transgression in retrospect. Figuratively speaking, those currently in power have since amassed entire “mountains of tushonka.”
Just like before, exceptional entrepreneurial “talent” continues to emerge suspiciously among the relatives of those in power. As before, the government has its favored “oligarchs of the heart” who contribute to selected funds. And as before 2018, outlets like Hetq continue to report on alleged corruption, while those in power respond with the familiar: “Prove it. Show us the concrete evidence.” Concrete evidence, of course, will be provided by law enforcement — after a change in power. That’s when the large-scale confiscation of “illegally acquired property” will begin.
Personally, I believe this confiscation mechanism isn’t particularly lawful. If Armenia ever sees a sane and balanced government not driven by a thirst for revenge, this mechanism will likely be reviewed. But for now, it’s obvious that the narrative of “robbing the former regime” is no longer the government’s most powerful card — and this may explain Pashinyan’s recent outburst in parliament.
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Experience shows that holding power in Armenia almost inevitably leads to unchecked hedonism.
Yes, we have the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), which remained mostly unchanged in 2022–24, with a slight deterioration last year. But I have my own, subjective measure of corruption — the level of arrogance.
When people’s fortunes rise rapidly, they lose the ability to see others through the eyes of ordinary citizens. To them, the average person becomes “dumb,” “lazy,” and “pathetic.” And we’ve seen, time and again, where that arrogant attitude ultimately leads.
Aram ABRAHAMYAN
