Armenia steps back from democracy, US ambassador says

Any democracy needs opposition that ensures the accountability of the government, the ambassador said in his interview to galatv.am, as cited by Novosti-Armenia. 

Mills said active political opposition is one of Armenia strengths. The ambassador expressed concerns over the recent developments when the government used its power for selective application of the law. 

Speaking on February 12 at a meeting of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia, president Serzh Sargsyan criticized harshly the leader of Prosperous Armenia party tycoon Gagik Tsarukian and said Tsarukian, as a political actor, is an evil for the country. The president signed a decree withdrawing Tsarukian from the national security council due to his systematic failure to attend the council meetings. The president also instructed to look into cases of the tycoon’s absence in the parliament sessions and the rumors about his tax evasion. 

The leader of the Prosperous Armenia, in turn, said the reason for the president’s statements is his refusal to contribute to the reproduction of the political power through a constitutional reform. In particular, the tycoon said he refused to become a president after the country turns to parliamentary form through constitutional amendments. 

The PAP was going to hold a rally on February 20, together with two other opposition parties, Armenian national Congress and the Heritage, but cancelled the rally later. PAP leader Gagik Tsarukian urged people to solve problems only through peaceful, legal and political means. 

At the PAP congress on March 5 Tsarukian resigned as party leader and nominated Naira Zohrabyan who made a statement saying the PAP moved into opposition. –0—