On February 12, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, spoke of his ideals for an Armenia under a new constitution. CivilNet compares words to facts.
Serzh Sargsyan- We must create an Armenia where people are happy and don’t contemplate leaving.
Number of people who left Armenia
Facts: Over the 8 years of Sargsyan administration, about 10 percent of Armenia’s population has left the country. A total of 300 thousand people left Armenia in between 2008-2015. (source: National Statistical Service www.armstat.am)
Serzh Sargsyan- We have to ensure social accord within the country. Social issues are closely linked to justness, and we must considerably boost the pace of establishing justice in social relations.
Index of the financially insecure percentage of Armenia’s population
Facts: According to data from a 2008 survey, 28 percent of Armenia’s population was considered poor. In 2014, the poor account for 30 percent of the population. (source: National Statistical Service www.armstat.am)
Serzh Sargsyan-We must create a society where there are no privileged; a nation which is united, which is disciplined, law abiding, peace loving and proud.
Facts: In 2014, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and his spouse Rita Sargsyan declared 471 thousand US dollars in cash.
National Assembly speaker Galust Sahakyan and his wife declared 214 thousand US dollars in cash.
Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan and his wife Julieta Abrahamyan declared 5 million 400 thousand US dollars in cash.(source:The Commission on Ethics of High-Ranking Officials of Armenia www.ethics.am)
In 2014, Serzh Sargsyan, underwent stem cell therapy in an expensive clinic in South Korea, paying about 190 thousand dollars from his personal funds, which amounts to about 16 years’ of Serzh Sargsyan’s presidential salary.
Also, the monopolies of importing many products to Armenia, including sugar, grain, petroleum, fruit and other consumer goods, belong to a few privileged.
Serzh Sargsyan- Just like the basic rights and freedoms of our citizens, democracy too needs protection. Firstly, protection from corruption which breeds self-interest, unfreedom, and injustice.
Facts: The Anticorruption Council was created in 2015, under the leadership of Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan. According to investigative press reports, the Prime Minister and other members of the Council, having no officially registered businesses, have accumulated millions of dollars during their time in office.
Serzh Sargsyan-We also have to get rid of the mistrust and sometimes even contemptuous attitude towards law and the justice system, which has become a sad “tradition”.
Facts: In 2013, the Ombudsman’s special report on fair trial, mentions the amounts of bribes accepted within the judicial system. The amount of the bribe is determined based on 10% of the claim value. Overall rates of bribes fluctuate within the following ranges: (source: Ombudsman’s Special Report, 2013)
Court of First Instance: 500-10.000 USD
Court of Appeals: 2.000-15.000 USD
Court of Cassation: 10.000-50.000 dollars.
Serzh Sargsyan-We went through 2015 pretty smoothly, while indicators were favorably different from the countries of our larger region. In 2015, the index of economic activity in Armenia compared to the previous year was 3.1 which is the highest in our immediate economic milieu.
Armenian GDP in relations to foreign debt
Facts: In 2015, Armenia’s state budget underperformed by about 15% or about 400 million US dollars. During Serzh Sargsyan’s administration, Armenia’s national debt increased almost three times. The country’s foreign debt reached 5. 1 billion USD in 2016; about 50% of Armenia’s GDP. (source: RA Ministry of Finance & National Statistical Service)
